Hello Ravi,

Well, to answer your first question, you definitely have to start your preparations early for the CAT exam if you wish to get into IIMs. I would suggest getting a couple of years of post qualification work experience under your belt before applying to a reputed B school. Start your CAT prep once you join your first job but be committed to sitting for CAT, as a lot of people lose interest once they start receiving a steady flow of earnings in their hands. If you feel that you are not able to get much done through self-study, join at a coaching institute, wherein you at least will be in touch with the subjects.

But if you feel like once you start doing a job or anything else, you won't be able to leave it in the middle or devote that much time for CAT, because of the hectic office schedule then plan your preparations for CAT in such a way that you could appear for it in the year of completing your CA and CMA or maybe the next year. Though my suggestion would be next year as CA and CMA are a lot of pressure already and you should focus on passing with a good grade in both although you will require a lot of effort, so start your prep right after your exams get over in June. Another reason why you should be focusing on your CA and CMA results right now is that IIM Bangalore and IIM Indore has additional weightage in the selection procedure for commerce professionals (CA, CS, CMA). However, to be considered, you would have to pass the sectional as well as the overall cut-offs in the CAT.

The CAT tests you on math that might require tremendous practice. I would suggest that you first finish your CA finals, and then take up preparations for the CAT with all your might at once. Both exams require tremendous effort to crack, and I would not suggest compromising your performance in one by simultaneously preparing for the other.

Plus, being a CA, you might have a small advantage, as all MBA colleges look for a good mixture of candidates and they definitely will give a CA a preference when your CAT score is similar to others in the pool.

If you wish to do your MBA from the top IIM,s then a 99.2+ percentile is required to get a call from the top four IIM's. You would get a lot of preference most of the candidates applying will be engineers. However, you should get that top percentile required to get a call from one of the four IIM,s.

The final decision is always upon you my friend. Choose wisely and have a great future!

hello,

* firstly both exam pattern is different don't mess them, have a single thought for only one goal.

* clearing only CAT exam is not enough, you must have a good score in your past result too to get into top IIM.

* the more qualification or experience is there in your resume the more chance you will have to crack the interview of top IIM.

* as well as it will also help you at the time of placement on day 0.

* so, have some work experience first.

* but still if you want to have this year only, admission in IIM or top B school and you manage to get in then obviously don't leave, but with that have some work experience if possible.

best wishes :)