Arun Jagannathan talks to SHAlINI SAKSENA why students are now looking at GMAT over CAT scores
What are the reasons for the rise in the number of executive MBA programmes in IndiaIJ
More and more professionals are realising the need for management education that would help them fast-track their career path. This trend is aided by the exposure to the western world, where routinely mid-career executives look for executive education.
Why Indian B-Schools are looking at GMAT over CAT for entranceIJ
Apart from limiting students to taking it just once a year, the CAT is not designed to accurately capture the management potential of a candidate. It was designed to be largely a test to differentiate the grain from the chaff for the IIMs. The GMAT is a more scientifically designed test that accurately captures the potential success of a candidate in a management programme and beyond.
Do students have a preference to foreign B-schools over Indian onesIJ
Some students prefer the safety and comfort of doing a world class education from India. Over the last few years, many top institutes in India like the top four IIMs at Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, and lucknow offer an MBA. Another school that has risen in the rankings in the last decade has been ISB. So a student is really spoilt for choice in India. Having said that, the most popular destination abroad for management education has been the US, which was the country where the MBA programme was invented. Students preferring the US schools tend to slightly younger, and more willing to take risks, for greater rewards.
What are changes that have taken place in GMAT in the last 10 yearsIJ
Ten years back, the best GMAT teacher might have been sitting in a different city, and the only way to reach him might have been to travel there. Today with technology, there has been a level playing field so we see some of our students from smaller towns like Jalandhar, Vadodara, and Bhilai opting for our online courses. In terms of the impact of the test-scores, a better-evolved GMAT teaching pedagogy has resulted in better outcomes. The average GMAT score is on the rise. For example scoring 750 out of a possible 800 would have gotten you a 99 th percentile 10-years back,but today it is reduced to a 98 th percentile.
There is a lot of stress on technology to prepare for tests. Why and how does it helpIJ
Technology helps in two aspects. First, it helps the students learn in the comfort of their homes. With increasing travel times, students prefer not to travel long distances on weekends. Online GMAT coaching such as the one offered by us, provides them the flexibility. Second, it also helps in personalisation so a student can pick and choose the components that he needs the most help on. In some cases, personal tutoring along with an online course can help boost his preparation.
Should a student opt for online courses or traditional classroom programmes to prepare for such testsIJ
This is pretty much a question of personal preference. The student today has the best of both worlds — he can choose to attend a traditional classroom programme if he feels he wants the discipline and rigour of a classroom setting. Or he can choose to attend an online programme if he prefers the flexibility and personalisation of an online course.
What is making mobiles a smart way to learningIJ
We are spending more time on the mobile than in front of our computers. So the biggest advantage it offers is it is always with us. For a busy professional, preparation might mean stealing sometime from a busy work schedule, or doing a long commute to work. There is no need to do anything — just put on the headphones and consume content. With better internet bandwidth and greater mobile penetration, mobile learning is changing the face of test prep.