Low scores in CAT/ XAT? What should be your next steps?

After results of most of the MBA exams including CAT 2013, XAT 2014, IIFT Entrance 2013, SNAP 2013 are out, your focus must have now shifted to your admission options to different B-schools depending on your scores or percentile in different MBA exams.

But what if you have not fared well in your MBA exams like CAT and XAT? What options do you have after scoring low in CAT or XAT? How can you still get into a top B-school?

To prepare for CAT 2014 click here

Careers360 brings you advisory on your next steps towards your MBA dream.

Explore options for top B-schools:

You might be disappointed with your MBA exam results, but you should not lose heart as you may still get calls from B-schools which give very low weightage to MBA exam scores like CAT or XAT. Such B-schools shortlist candidates with percentile range as low as 50 to 60 or above.

Thus, you should explore your B-school options based on your existing CAT and XAT percentile.

Besides CAT and XAT scores, such B-school look for other components like academic profile, extra-curricular activity, soft skills, personal traits, attitude and social behavior along with many other personal characteristics while finalizing admission offers. In many B-schools CAT or XAT scores carry only 20-30 per cent weightage in their selection process.

IFIM Business School Secretary Sanjay Padode says, “We believe that scores of exams like CAT should be one of the components during the admission process. There are other aspects like academic performance, personality traits, and other skills that carry major weightage for admission at our institute.”

Thus, despite your low percentile in CAT or XAT, many B-schools may shortlist you as the MBA exam scores are not the deciding factor for them. If you find B-schools which can shortlist you basis your existing CAT/XAT percentile, you can still apply to them provided they are open for applications.

Shortlist the B-Schools before they shortlist you. Predict your college with our CAT/XAT Pathfinder Tool

All MBA exams are not yet over

If you are still not satisfied with the B-school options that you are getting based on your CAT and XAT scores, you must now gear up for other MBA exams which are scheduled to be conducted in next two months.You can explore admission opportunities in top B-schools for academic year 2014-15 by taking two more MBA exams - CMAT February 2014 and MAH-CET 2014, which will be conducted in the month of February and March.

Though application for CMAT February 2014 was closed on January 16, MAH-CET 2014 application dates is still to be announced. While CMAT is a national level exam, MAH CET is a state level exam for admission to B-schools in Maharashtra. According to Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), Maharashtra, the examination will be would be conducted in a two-day window on March 15 and March 16, 2014. Both CMAT and MAH-CET will be computer based tests.

A good score in CMAT February 2014, which will be held in a five-day window from February 20 to February 24, 2014, can bring you admission opportunities to top B-schools accepting CMAT like JBIMS- Mumbai, DMS -NIT Durgapur, SIMSREE-Mumbai amongst public institutions and Great Lakes Institute of Management- Chennai,  Prin. LN Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research- Mumbai,  KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research- Mumbai, Institute of Public Enterprise-Hyderabad,  Balaji Institute of Modern Management (BIMM) –Pune, Jaipuria Institute of Management – Lucknow,  PSG Institute of Management, Coimbatore amongst many other private B-schools in India.  

Similarly, a good score in MAH CET will bring you admission opportunity at over 400 B-schools in the state of Maharashtra. Top B-schools which accept MAH-CET scores  include JBIMS- Mumbai, SIMSREE-Mumbai, DMS (PUMBA)-Pune amongst public institution besides many other top private B-schools.

Prepare for remaining MBA exams and GD-PI-WAT simultaneously:

So, what should be your next steps now?  Since two important MBA exams are scheduled in next two months and many B-schools are scheduling their GD-PI in coming weeks also, your preparation for written test and GD-PI should go side by side.

As you would have already prepared your basic during your preparation for exams like CAT and XAT, you should now go back to CMAT syllabus and MAH CET syllabus to cross-check your preparedness for the two exams. You should plan your preparation strategy for the two exams very carefully because you may also have to continue your preparation for GD-PI as many B-schools may shortlist you despite your low score. Toppers however advise that you should not start a new topic for written test now. Instead, you should revise the topics that you have already covered for CAT and XAT exams.

Careers360 has launched a prep meter tool where you can check how prepared you are to score well in CMAT and MAH CET.

Get your personalized preparation report and improvement plan. Analyze your preparation level with “CMAT Prepmeter” and “MAH-CET Prepmeter"

For any doubts and questions related to MBA exam pattern, preparation and other related queries, students can call the MBA Exam Helpline at 011-40360360.

Begin afresh for the next year exams:

If your CAT 2013 results and XAT 2014 results are not satisfactory and you still want to enter Indian Institute of Management (IIM) or XLRI Jamshedpur, you should seriously start afresh with a long term plan for MBA admission in academic year 2015-16.

An early preparation strategy may give you an edge over the other CAT/XAT aspirants who begin preparation after the admissions to this academic year is over.

Stay tuned to bschool.careers360.com for more news and updates on MBA admissions.