CAT:-
It is conducted in two sections each consisting of 30 questions each. There are two types of scores involved viz. raw score and scaled score.
The raw score is calculated for each section based on the number of questions one answered correctly, incorrectly, or omitted. Candidates are given +3 points for each correct answer and -1 point for each incorrect answer. There are no points for questions that are not answered. The raw scores are then adjusted, as necessary, through a process called equating. Equated raw scores are then placed on a common scale or metric to ensure appropriate interpretation of the scores. This process is called scaling.
Three scaled scores will be presented for each candidate: an overall scaled score and two separate scaled scores for each section. As the two sections evaluate distinct sets of knowledge and skills, scores do not correlate across sections. A high score in one section does not guarantee a high score in another section. Percentile rankings are provided for each individual section as well as for the overall exam score.
Before 2009, CAT was a paper based test conducted on a single day for all candidates. The pattern, number of questions and duration has seen considerable variations over the years.
Joint Management Entrance Test (JMET) was an admission exam used by some institutes in India as the first step in the admission to postgraduate programs in management. Institutes which used the exams included Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the IIT Schools of Management. The results of JMET were used to short-list the candidates for subsequent part of the selection process. In 2011 JMET was discontinued and replaced by Common Admission Test (CAT).
Symbiosis National Aptitude test (SNAP) is an admission exam to get into Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (SIMS), situated in Range hills, Khadki in Pune city, Maharashtra, India. It is more time based than difficulty in questions. It lays more stress on verbal part rather than quantitative analysis and data interpretation.
Xavier Admission Test (XAT) Conducted by: Xavier Labour Research Institute, Jamshedpur (XLRI) the test is conducted as an important component in selecting students for the business administration programs. The test is conducted every year by XLRI, which ranks among the top 10 B-schools in India. It has a level higher in quantitative analysis.
Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) All India council for Technical Education (AICTE) will conduct the Common Management Admissions Test (CMAT) as an entrance test for admission to 4,000 colleges that offer MBA and 500 colleges which run postgraduate diploma in management programs.
Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardized, computer-based assessment with proven validity in predicting success in the first year of graduate management education. More than 5,400 programs offered by more at 1,500 universities and institutions in 83 countries use the GMAT exam as part of the selection criteria for their programs site. Business schools use the test as a criterion for admission into a wide range of graduate management programs, including MBA, Master of Accountancy, and Master of Finance programs.
P.S. The only shortcut for getting into a good institution whether for MBA/MS/M.Tech lies in knowing beforehand what you want. As someone said, the key is to start early and to start well. I do hope the information presented above has been useful to you up to a small or large extent. And in my coming blog I would write more on how to crack GRE the right way. Also, once again a many thanks to Aman, Nishant, and Manoj..! Kudos guys..! Without your co-operation this blog would not have been possible..! J