The end of registration process for the Common Admission Test (CAT) for entry to the IIMs has seen an increase both in the number of registrations as well as the number of female candidates.
Though the registration went up by a marginal four per cent over last year, officials said that it is an indicator that aspirants are expecting the economy to improve soon.
S.S.S. Kumar, convenor for CAT 2012 and faculty at IIM Kozhikode said that compared to last year’s 2.05 lakh candidates, this year 2.15 lakh candidates got themselves registered.
“CAT aspirants may be expecting opening of new job avenues and the economy to improve in the years to come,” he said, adding that the increase in the number of female candidates was due to more openings for female candidates in the job market. The female registrations have also gone up from 27 per cent last year to 28 per cent this year, he added.
The registration window for CAT 2012 closed on the midnight of September 19 and the testing windows will be open from October 11 and will go on till November 6. Results of the same are expected to be out in January 9, 2013.
The tests will be conducted at 61 test centres in 36 cities across the country.
The pattern of the test is going to be the same as last year with two sections quantitative ability /data interpretation and verbal ability/logical reasoning and a duration of 70 minutes each.
“For students, the following aspects should be considered for planning; ability and aptitude, interest, time available/required per day for CAT preparation and coaching,” said an official from a coaching institute that provides CAT training.