The MBA Entrance Puzzle !!!

An information to start with. I have written and failed to clear CAT for three consecutive years. But I did manage to get admission into XLRI. I believe that should be reason enough for u to read ahead further. What is it abt MBA Entrance Exams in India that I want to talk abt ?? Especially so when it has been discussed and debated in numerous MBA forums & Blogs ? (to understand what I am talking abt visit www.pagalguy.com!!). Well nothing new. I just want to narrate my experience and take on this whole thing. Going by the reactions of people who have failed as well as cleared to scale it, I can say with much conviction that it continues to remain a mystery. I mean what does it take to bell the CAT( or XAT or MAT as the case may be !!) ? Is it only abt hard work ? Is it abt brains ?? Is is abt luck? Is it abt really having managerial potential which gets reflected in the entrance results ? Just to shed some more light on the 'brains' thing. There are always some nerd who comes up with a score which is more than the average number of questions attempts in any mock/non-mock CAT/XAT exams. So for them the puzzle is not a puzzle at all. But I address the average junta who also writes, struggles in and hopes to clear such exams.

Is it only abt HardWork ? -
First things first. We cannot qualify 'hard' in hard work with a proper metrics. Consider this. A working profession who spends 10hrs a day slogging in office, even able to put in 2hrs of unadulterated effort for preparation is hard work. Wheres for a final year college grad or some one sitting out after graduation being able to put even 8hrs of daily effort is plausible ? Since people from both backgrounds find the exams equally tough & intriguing explains that its not simlpy abt effort ones put in. Some might argue abt 'qaulity' effort. But 'quality of effort' again is a subjective term and so I wont deliberate much on this.

Is it abt brains ? -
I know many people do not think so. But I personally think to some extent it is. Anybody who has seen the Quant or Logic questions would agree when I say that a guy who has topics like algebra,probability/p&c/geometry in their finger tips & has a knack for solving logical question will sail thrugh easily pratise or no practise. But then generally not the case. Some people are comfortable with some topics some not. So for them it boils down to practise to get familiar with the patter of questions that r normally asked (and popularised by coaching insti) and if possible master some quick calculation techniques (it might come handy u never know they retort when asked).

Is it abt practise ONLY ?? -
This is most popular belief amond wannabe MBAs. Practise and only practise can see u through. Forget brains & funda, if u can attempt a paper a day along with analysis & re-analysis then u r almost there. But then as most of us aware, that every year the entrance paper throws in fresh 'pattern' thereby rendering all ur expertise gained by practise obsolete. Even the RC nd English sections also can bewilder u with their variety & ingenuity. That is probabaly the reason that students find it so difficult to maintain their ranks in the series mock exams (the variations r as wide as the 'black hole' !!). Some surprsingly are consistent n they r the ones who really make it ultimately. Now who r those and how do they manage to be consistent continues to befuddle both them n us.

So then is it only abt luck/destiny ?
Now that we have seen that neither decent brains or rigorous practise can guarantee ur success in the MBA entrances, does it mean that destiny or luck has got to play a role. Many does. Statments like 'I-was-destined-to-do-MBA-n-hence-got-thru' r not uncommon amongst those who finally manages to clear the exams. There are others who attribute it to luck for more 'technical' reason. They say since its abt identifying the right questions and answering it rightly. Now identifying the 'right question' is not as easy as it sounds. Not when there are 150+ questions to choose from and 2hrs clock ticking down. Thus some peple let out expressions of sighs on overlooking a series of seater questions while others r elated for being on the other side. But both invariably attribute it to luck. None on their ingenuity or mastery acquired thru practise.


So the mystery is still on. I have tried many times to come with a solution which is actually a combination of all the above factors. But till now I have not been able to convince myself with it.The day I do that I will publish it. Till then let the enigma entwine u & me.