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With the Common Admission Test drawing near, aspirants are busy measuring their odds of belling the CAT. Dr Balvinder Shukla, Director-General of Amity Business School, shares some tips and counsels aspirants on their last-minute doubts on a special CNN-IBN show, Bell the CAT.

Given the tremendous boom in the media industry –sectors like television, cinema, print and other audio and video media – I wish to pursue a management course in any of these segments. Could you tell me the management programmes related to these sectors and what are the top 25 institutes that offer these courses? (Ramanathan Tyagrajan, Chennai)

Dr Shukla: There are various programmes which you can do. Now, apart from the general MBAs, there are also specialised MBAs which you do. You can do an MBA very specific to those sectors.

Last year, I got 75 percentile and this time my score is fluctuating. It’s not stable. What strategy should I adopt? I want to ensure 95%. (Priyanka Sharma, Chandigarh)

Dr Shukla: Don’t worry too much about the fluctuating scores. What’s important is how you perform on the D-day. You concentrate and pick up questions about which you are very confident. And attempt others later on. It’s not necessary that you attempt all the questions. It’s important that you attempt the correct ones and answer them. Because, there is negative markings for wrong answers.

If you try and attempt 100 per cent and if you end up scoring lots of negative marks, there is no meaning. That’s why you need to attempt only those questions about which you are hundred per cent sure that the answers are correct. The toughest section you should always attempt at last.

If the format of questionnaire is similar to that of previous year, and since they have 30 minute extra time this year, how do they manage it around to make it better than the previous attempts? (Question on IBNlive)

Dr Shukla: It’s simple. First you attempt all the questions where you are sure that you know the correct answers. And then take on the tough ones. As for the tough ones, it’s not that you have to look for answers from within. Look for answers from outside. But be confident that the answer is correct.

Does it help to first check the options that you have and then attempt the questions?

Dr Shukla: Yes, it does help. But the key is to attempt questions where you are hundred per cent sure. And then only go for the doubtful ones. And then even if you have the slightest of doubts on any question, don’t attempt that. Because that may mean minus marks. But then, I must add that you should believe in yourself and do your best.

I am a little weak on logical reasoning and Quant, but my strongest areas are English and Data Interpretation. So, what do I do on the examination day? Should I concentrate on my area of strength and what do I do about logical reasoning? (Nitin Kataria from Ghaziabad)

Dr Shukla: It’s good that you know your strength. The important thing is that you have the speed. And attempt only those questions and those sections where you are very confident that you will go right. Attempt the toughest ones at last. Quickly take a look at the questions and where you think that you have the slightest doubts, keep that for last.

The problem occurs when an examinee is too enticed to attempt some questions when he is left with no time for the easy ones. There is no problem if you miss a tough one. But missing an easy one can cost you some sure scores.