Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions about MBA, Business Schools, Written Tests, CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, GMAT, GD-PI-WAT, eligibility, syllabus and admissions.

The MBA (Master of Business Administration) is the world's most sought-after postgraduate education as it is an imperative stepping stone towards a successful management, leadership, and entrepreneurial career.
In the era in which we live, the reach and the scale of operations are necessities as companies are diversified and multi-faceted.
This global thinking and local planning increase the scope of an MBA substantially, as an education in management provides a basket of the requisite knowledge, skills, and mind-set needed to survive and succeed in this demanding environment.

MBA is Master of Business Administration.
Since it is a degree, it can be offered by a university or a deemed-to-be university or an institution which is affiliated to a university.

Autonomous institutes cannot offer a degree. Hence, they offer a diploma.
Different business schools, which are autonomous, use different nomenclature which connote the same idea.
PGP is Post-graduate Programme,
PGD is Post-graduate Diploma,
PGPM is Post-graduate Programme in Management,
PGDM is Post-graduate Diploma in Management,
PGDBM is Post-graduate Diploma in Business Management.

Which is better is not governed by the nomenclature.
It is governed by the institution which is offering the education.
Many top business schools of our country, which are globally renowned, are autonomous and hence offer diplomas.
On the contrary, many institutions which offer MBA are not up to the mark.

In this globalised and liberalised environment an MBA provides a passport towards :
• Wider career options
• Superior employment positions
• Faster career growth
• Enhanced income potential
No wonder it is the world's most sought-after postgraduate education.

Graduates from any discipline (Commerce, Engineering, Humanities, Management, Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, Technology, etc.) are eligible.

A three-year degree will suffice for students pursuing B.Com, BBA, BMS, B.Sc., BA.

They may choose to take the MBA-entrance examinations during their third year of college, exit graduation after three years, join a business school, and start their career one year earlier.

MBA entrance / entry to a business school is a two-step process.
• First, an aspirant must clear a written test (CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, GMAT etc.).
• Thereafter, success at the GD-PI-WAT (Group Discussion, Personal Interview, Written Ability Test) stage is also imperative.

While the list of specialisations offered by business schools is expanding continually, the broad areas that the students can specialise in (in alphabetical order) are :
• Finance
• Human Resources
• Marketing
• Operations
• Systems
Generally, in the first year a student is exposed to all the facets of management and to all the above functional areas.
The choice of specialisation is, usually, made in the second year based on one's competence, aspirations and interests.

The quality of a business school is governed by a host of factors as follows. These are indicative and not exhaustive.
Pedagogy, Methodology, Curriculum, Structure, Rigour, Lineage, Linkages, Students, Alumni, Infrastructure, Campus, Location and Placements.

Please click here to view The TCC Ranking of business schools.
This is a culmination of more than 26 years of research and experience in management education with continual feedback from industry.

Written tests / Online tests are the first stage of the MBA-entrance process. Earlier it followed the paper & pencil or paper & pen format.
With changing times nearly all the examinations have become a computer-based test.

The grandest one is of course CAT followed by XAT, SNAP, NMAT and GMAT.
GMAT and NMAT are computer-adaptive tests.
Others include MAH-MBA CET, MICAT, CUET-PG, CMAT, X-GMT, IBSAT, MAT, ATMA.

Syllabus / Curriculum for the Written tests / Online tests is as follows.
The aspirant will be tested on multiple areas from the following. This is largely exhaustive.
Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Reasoning, Non-verbal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Analytical Reasoning, Visual Reasoning, Deductive Reasoning, Data Interpretation, Data Sufficiency, Decision Making and General Knowledge.

The number of sections and the coverage differ amongst examinations.

Please click here for a detailed understanding of the various MBA-entrance examinations.

Please click here for a detailed understanding of the first-stage requirements of various business schools.

CAT, XAT et cetera are competitive examinations testing, amongst other parameters, a candidate’s aptitude.
Hence, there is no defined syllabus as such.
Nevertheless, a scrutiny of the archives and experience equips us with a more than a fair idea of what is in store.

The topics tested in English / Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension / VARC are as follows which is largely exhaustive.
Reading Comprehension, Verbal Ability comprising Summary, Parajumble, Grammar, Vocabulary, Text Completion, Critical Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Fact, Inference and Judgement.

Please click here for the TCC CAT Curriculum in English / Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension / VARC.

CAT, XAT et cetera are competitive examinations testing, amongst other parameters, a candidate’s aptitude.
Hence, there is no defined syllabus as such.
Nevertheless, a scrutiny of the archives and experience equips us with a more than a fair idea of what is in store.

The topics tested in Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning / DILR are as follows which is largely exhaustive.
Logical Reasoning comprises Arithmetical Reasoning, Grid-based Reasoning, Games-based Reasoning, Motley Reasoning, Statistical Reasoning, Syllogism & Deductive Reasoning, Binary Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Integrated Reasoning, Visual Reasoning and Functional Reasoning,
Data Interpretation includes Data Representation and Dovetailed Data,
Data Sufficiency

Please click here for the TCC CAT Curriculum in Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning / DILR.

CAT, XAT et cetera are competitive examinations testing, amongst other parameters, a candidate’s aptitude.
Hence, there is no defined syllabus as such.
Nevertheless, a scrutiny of the archives and experience equips us with a more than a fair idea of what is in store.

The topics tested in Mathematics / Quantitative Ability are as follows which is largely exhaustive.

Number System,

Arithmetic comprising Average, Percentage & their Applications, Profit & Loss, Stocks & Shares, Simple Interest, Compound Interest, Annuities, Ratio, Proportion, Variation & their Applications, Partnership, Mixtures, Linear, Circular & Relative Motions, Time, Distance, Speed, Acceleration, Time & Work, Pipes & Cisterns,

Geometry Family consisting of Geometry, Trigonometry, Coordinate Geometry, Mensuration,

Basic Algebra including Algebraic Fundamentals, Indices & Surds, Equations, Inequations, Inequalities, Logarithm, Set Theory,

Higher Algebra encompassing Progressions & Sequences, Permutation & Combination, Probability,

Functions containing Functions, Relationships, Graphs, Derivatives, Applications, Maxima-Minima,

Mentation involving Cubes, Clocks, Calendars,

Data Sufficiency

Please click here for the TCC CAT Curriculum in Mathematics / Quantitative Ability.

GD-PI-WAT (short for Group Discussions, Personal Interviews, Written Ability Tests) is the second stage of the MBA-entrance process.
Aspirants are invited for the second stage on successful completion of the first stage which is the written test / online test.
This stage is primarily a test of Hard Skills and Soft Skills.

The candidates will have to face and surmount multiple activities from the following. This is largely exhaustive.

Essay Writing, Written Ability Test (WAT), Psychometric Testing,

Extempore, Case Study / Case Discussion (CD),

Group Discussion (GD), Group Activity, Group Exercise, Group Task,

Personal Interview (PI), Group Interview

Please click here for a detailed understanding of these activities.

Please click here for a detailed understanding of the second-stage requirements of various business schools.

Hard Skills refer to domain knowledge and technical expertise.
A candidate will be tested on Academics, Professional Qualifications (if any), Extracurricular Activities (if any), General Knowledge, Application Knowledge, Work Experience (if any), Knowledge about oneself et cetera.

Soft Skills involve attitudinal and behavioural competencies.
It comprises evaluation of Communication skills, Analytical Skills, Team Skills, Organising Skills, Leadership Skills, Creative Skills, Disposition, Ability to work under pressure, Ability to handle stress, Ability to manage change et cetera.

Work Experience is not at all mandatory to get admission into a business school including the top ones.
Theoretically, the eligibility is graduation.
Practically, the biggest evidence lies in the stupendous TCC Results. Year-after-year freshers from TCC have got admission in top business schools including the top 5 of the country, namely IIM-A, IIM-B, IIM-C, IIM-L and XLRI, Jamshedpur.

Please click here for details of this extraordinary success of TCC.

As far as preference is concerned, like all good things even a high-quality work experience will stand the candidate in good stead.
So will high-quality academics, high-quality professional qualification, high-quality extracurricular activities and so on.
All good things are welcome.

This like the previous question is another misconception.

Fundamentally, a good candidate will be preferred. The graduation discipline has no role to play. The candidate should be able to prove that (s)he stands out amongst candidates from the same background.
Further, in this case also the biggest solace lies in the awe-inspiring TCC Results. Year-after-year general graduates (B.Com / BBA / BMS / B.Sc / BA) from TCC have got admission in top business schools including the top 5 of the country, namely IIM-A, IIM-B, IIM-C, IIM-L and XLRI, Jamshedpur.

Please click here for details of this path-breaking success of TCC.

Interestingly, the IIMs are promoting both gender and discipline diversity. As a consequence, girl candidates are given extra marks as are non-engineering graduates.