Test Duration and Pattern The CAT 2011 will have only two sections.

The first section isQuantitative Ability & Data Interpretation; the second section isVerbal Ability & Logical Reasoning. These two sections will be implemented sequentially with separate time limits. The examination will be 140 minutes. Candidates will have 70 minutes to answer 30 questions within each section which will have an onscreen countdown timer. Within the 70 min provided for the section, candidates can review the answers. Once the time ends for the first section, they will move to the second section and will no longer be able to go back.

A 15-minute tutorial will be provided before the start of the test, and candidates are advised to go through that carefully before starting the main examination. The total duration will be two hours and thirty five minutes including the tutorial. A practice test to provide candidates with a feel of the timed sections, as well as navigation and functionality of the actual test will be made available in the coming weeks. Once again candidates are advised to go though them carefully to familiarise themselves with the screens, layout, and navigation.

At the test venue, each candidate will be seated at a desk with a computer terminal and he/she will be provided with a scratch paper for calculations. After the test, candidate must leave the scratch paper at the desk. Rough work cannot be done on any other paper/sheet, as nothing will be allowed inside the testing room. No breaks will be given during the test. CAT 2011 entrance examination syllabus There is no prefixed pattern for CAT 2011. The syllabus given below is based on the experience of previous CAT Papers, specially CAT 2009-2010. The list may not be exhaustive but almost the entire gamut is covered. In an earlier post, I have tried to list down best CAT preparation books. Quantitative Ability (QA) / Mathematics: ArithmeticRatios and Proportion, Ratios, Percentages, Profit & Loss, Averages, Percentages, Partnership, Time-Speed-Distance, Work and time, Number system, HCF, LCM, Geometric Progression, Arithmetic progression, Arithmetic mean, Geometric mean , Harmonic mean, Median, Mode, Number Base System, BODMAS,Alligation & Mixtures, Work, Pipes and Cisterns, Simple Interest & Compound Interest, Installment Payments, Clocks, Calendar, AlgebraIn-equations , Quadratic and linear equations, functions, Logarithm Geometry, Mensuration and solid Geometry Geometry (Lines, angles, Triangles, Spheres, Rectangles, Cube, Cone etc),Mensuration, Co-ordinate geometry. . Other Mathematical Topics:

Set Theory, Venn Diagram, Probability, Permutations & Combinations, Binomial Expansion, Maxima & Minima Progression, Surds & Indices and Complex numbers, etc. Data Interpretation: Data Interpretation based on text, Data Interpretation based on graphs and tables. Graphs can be Column graphs, Bar Graphs, Line charts, Pie Chart, Graphs representing Area, Venn Diagram, Data Sufficiency etc. . Reasoning: Critical reasoning, Visual reasoning, Assumption-Premise-Conclusion, Assertion and reasons, Statements and assumptions, identifying valid inferences , identifying Strong arguments and Weak arguments, Statements and conclusions, Cause and Effect, Identifying Probably true, Probably false, definitely true, definitely false kind of statement, Linear arrangements, Matrix arrangements, Puzzles, Family tree problem , Symbol Based problems, Coding and decoding , Sequencing , identifying next number in series etc. . Verbal Ability (VA) / English: Comprehension of passage, Verbal Reasoning, Syllogisms , Contextual usage, Analogies, Antonyms, Fill In the Blanks, Jumbled paragraphs with 4 or 5 sentences, Foreign language words used in English, Sentence completion, Sentence correction, odd man out, idioms, one word substitution, Different usage of same word, Errors in word choice, mania & phobia, Incorrect words, Mood, Conditionals & Multiple Usage , Punctuation, Proverb, Phrasal verb etc.

Xavier Admission Test (XAT) is conducted by Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI), Jamshedpur for admission into the post graduate management programmes at Xavier Institutes. XLRI is also the entrance test to be taken for aspirants seeking admission to many other reputed B-Schools in the country XAT 2012 Important Dates / Notification:XAT 2012 to be held on Sunday 8th January, 2012 Registration for XAT 2012 will start from 20th September 2011. XAT 2012 Eligibility:- A bachelors degree under 10+2+3 system from a recognized university or a deemed university. Duration & Timing:- The test will be of 2 hours i.e. from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm. XAT 2012 Test Pattern:Total Questions:- 127, XAT question Paper had 3 sections (Reading Comprehension & English - 40 Questions,Quantitative Ability - 44 Questions,Data Interpretation and Reasoning - 43 Questions) and every question was of 1 mark each and negative marking was 1/3rd for first five wrong answers and 1/2 marks for more than 5 questions in each sections List of the Institutes/ Colleges accepting XAT Score for admission:

Acharya School of Management Alliance Business Academy Bengal Institute of Business Studies Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan's Usha & Lakshmi Mittal Institute of Management BLS Institute of Management CORE Business School EMPI Business School Gitam Institute of International Business Goa Institute of Management IILM Institute for Higher Education Indian Business Academy Indus World School of Business Institute of Business Studies & Research Invertis Institute of Management Studies Jagran Institute of Communication and Management (JICM) Karunya University KIIT School of Management, Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies Kohinoor Business School Lovely Professional University Loyola Institute of Business Administration

MITCON Institute of Management (MIMA) S P Jain Institute of Management and Research Siva Sivani Institute of Management Suryadatta Group of Institutes Taxila Business School Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research

XAT 2012 Syllabus / Paper Pattern:The Test contains Questions on three abilities or skills. These are: * Analytical Reasoning and Decision Making * Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning * Data Interpretation and Quantitative Ability Analytical Reasoning and Decision Making:Conditions and Grouping Test Data Arrangement Test:- Complex Arrangement Logical Ability(Caselets) Decision Making Verbal Ability :English Grammar based questions English Proficiency :- Analogy, Fill in the Blanks, Parajumble, Cloze Test English Comprehension Logical Reasoning:- Fact Inference Judgement, Passage Conclusion, Statement Argument Data Interpretation and Quantitative Ability:Data Interpretation:- Caselets, Table Chart Data Sufficency Quantitative Ability :

Elementary Mathematics Arithmetic:- Number System, Ratio and Proportion Additional Topic in Arithmetic:- Problems on Trains, Clock and Calendar, Mixtures and Alligation Unitary Method:- Time and Distance Commercial Maths:- Profit and Loss, Interest Geometry:- Triangles, Circles

Mensuration Algebra:- Permutation and Combinations, Sequence And Series Trigonometry:- Heights and Distance Linear Programming Coordinate Geometry:- Cartesian Plane and lines Probability

SNAP 2012 Syllabus / Paper Pattern:SNAP Test 2012 is an objective test. Each question has 4 responses. Candidate should choose an appropriate response. There are four sections in SNAP 2012:Section :General English: Reading Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning, Verbal Ability:- 40 Marks Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency:- 40 Marks General Awareness: General Knowledge, Current Affairs, Business Scenario :40 Marks Analytical & Logical Reasoning:- 60 Marks Total:- 180 Marks Duration:- 120 minutes Marking:- Each wrong answer attracts 25% negative marks.