tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-378960472011-12-14T18:43:58.170-08:00For those looking for some good advice and fundaes on CAT preparation from a person who has cracked it. Not the same old ragged training that all the coaching classes and newspapers give youArjunnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1031100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-60290045116704169252009-01-03T23:46:00.000-08:002009-01-03T23:59:24.017-08:00

It has been some time since fundaes have been flowing from my side. But I thought that I should let people know about this nice site that I came across that would help both CAT aspirants and those preparing for GD. I have always said that the key for GD prep and to crack English section in CAT is to read good stuff regularly. Specially all the editorials of good newspapers.http://

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-34903536083373798262008-04-04T06:45:00.000-07:002009-01-11T00:18:31.087-08:00

Couple of people said that they had difficulty finding all the GD topics discussed. They could find the analysis, but had to go thru some searching to find the topics. Surprising that very few pointed out this problem during the peak activity days. So here is a post just to improve on the manouverability of the blog and accessibility to the GD Topics. Better late than never. Hope it will help

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-44571563356955746312008-04-04T05:59:00.000-07:002009-01-11T00:17:48.551-08:00

I guess there was similar problem with the Key Talking Points with the link on the main page pointing directly to the analysis rather than the topic. So here goes another post to make things better.Key Talking Points 6 - InflationKey Talking Points 5 - Cricket Telecast ordinanceKey Talking Points 4 - Energy and InfrastructureKey Talking Points 3 - Stock MarketKey Talking Points 2 - Company

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1167994724284862242008-04-03T02:58:00.000-07:002008-04-22T00:24:15.505-07:00

Click for Complete English FundaeClick for Complete Math FundaeCAT preparation is a subject that many people talk to me about. Most of them just want to hear things that they have already decided in mind. Like "work hard", "start early", "kill yourself studying day and night"...Well, it always surprised me that CAT required that kind of preparation. Think about it. The syllabus of CAT or any

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-75681850396514223982008-04-02T08:59:00.000-07:002009-01-11T00:17:29.977-08:00

The GDs and Interviews are almost over for the year and it is time to start for the new year. Though I have taken a break from writing on this blog for a few months, I thought that it will help to give links to all the maths and word usage posts that I had posted some time back.Maths Fundae Problems1. Fake Note problem2. The Hidden balls3. Guess and make a fortune4. Boys and girls5. Pick the

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-33970414616297513342008-03-11T07:04:00.000-07:002008-03-12T07:05:12.619-07:00

People would be wondering where on earth I am. Some would also blaming me for not keeping promises of frequest posts and analysis. Many would also have disappointed to see that their email queries on PI and SOP have taken a long time to be answered.Somehow, even with my best efforts, I am not able to give time on the blog at all. Apologies for that. I have decided to call it quits for this year.

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-76627740408223092912008-02-10T20:59:00.000-08:002008-04-05T07:28:17.028-07:00

Thought it was time for a vague topic. This is something that people are usually not comfortable with and hence I thought we should do a couple of them, so that we can learn better.The topic is "Smile, it is a weekend"It sure takes some time to come out of shock from a vague topic. And hence working on a couple of them prepares you well. I hope that you guys have read the previous years, fundae

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-13190628770761634192008-02-07T17:31:00.000-08:002008-02-07T20:45:33.600-08:00

I have given two of my approaches to this GD. Both are drastically different and given a choice I personally would go with Approach 2. But note that the approach you should take is what fits your thought process and where you think you will a natural.Approach 1 : TraditionalStart: In the last decade, women have been empowered legally - the active judiciary and pro-women laws, socially - equal

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-86706786569870498782008-02-04T20:39:00.000-08:002008-04-05T07:28:17.029-07:00

Good going on the GD preparation. I am happy to see good points on the second topic. Though you should not get complacent, because it was an easy topic. And I did not see anyone breaking ahead into the lead taking a strong surgeWhile I put my brains to work on the analysis, it is time for the new topic"One superpower is better than two"Discuss this in the confines of US being the superpower now

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-5345242546303245372008-02-03T19:15:00.000-08:002008-02-03T20:53:07.098-08:00

Click here for the topicIf the topic scared you, thats what it was meant to do. Time to brace yourself up and read. And read a lot. GD preparation does not come just by talking. It comes more by listening, reading and discussing. Shake the party mood of CAT victory and dive deep inNote that logical topics should be dealt with in a very step by step approach. Many of you are straying from the

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-49992145469333204472008-01-27T20:11:00.000-08:002008-04-05T07:28:17.029-07:00

Click here for the Complete AnalysisHi guys,The complete analysis for Topic 1 will come tomorrow. I have given the comments for everyone who participated though. Good try for the first attempt, but we need to move up up and away from here... Yes, it does require a superman effort :)So here comes the second topic, "Women empowerment - A cause for increasing divorce rate in India"Certainly a

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com168tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-14844084493096932582008-01-21T10:21:00.000-08:002008-04-05T07:28:17.030-07:00

Click here for moderator analysisThe online GDs for 2008 start from today. I shall post a GD topic once in a while (frequency two to three a week) and would like your comments on the same.Topic for the Day: "Tax cuts, a great boost for an economy heading towards recession"Click here for moderator analysisSome of you have asked for a case study. It will take me a little while to come up with one.

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com222tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-10935309503370714582008-01-09T18:11:00.000-08:002008-01-09T18:46:26.394-08:00

With CAT results out, and many of you having won the battle, it is time to prepare for the war.For all those who did not make the cut, all I have to say is 'CAT is just an exam and there is more to life'. Take it chill, have a jolly good time till CAT comes around the corner next year and give it another good shot. You remember the scene in Matrix, where Keanu Reeves sees the CAT again after a

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-73336309419697990122007-10-24T01:59:00.000-07:002007-10-24T02:09:03.582-07:00

Hi All,Just wanted one consolidated post on all the 'word usage' fundae that I have put in the blog till now. I think this will help people who have come in late or for all those who want to do a quick revision before CAT.Its It's or ItsYou will or Shall you?Would you use Should, or should you use wouldWhich or ThatHope this helps. This post will also come along the right hand side of the

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-54912459077004122882007-10-24T01:50:00.000-07:002007-10-24T01:54:31.457-07:00

The use of aphostophy in any word brings the meaning "of", i.e., when I say Gyanee's Cat fundae it means 'CAT fundae of Gyanee'. But the usage is very different when it used with the word 'it' and many people dont realise this. So here comes a simple explanation to the word usageIts"Its" means 'of it'. Hence the sentence "I took bought a cat online. Its colour is white" is right.It's"It's" does

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-67472960936011881152007-10-22T05:16:00.000-07:002007-10-22T05:45:47.711-07:00

Here comes a small write up on the word usage of 'shall' and 'will'. Many people would be using them with ease, but this is just to the benifit of the larger crowd. Also, as you prepare for English, read a lot and nothing is going to help you better in CAT, than reading more novels. And when I say novels, it is not the likes of Sydney Sheldo, the Potter series and other thrillers. Of course I

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-17630421626820722572007-10-17T05:43:00.000-07:002007-10-17T06:32:12.807-07:00

I have seen many people using should and would interchangeably. Sometimes people use it very confidently to make sure that it does not get noticed :).But when it comes to the English section in CAT, things may not be so forgiving. So here is a take on the word usage of should and wouldWould:1. Used in conditional sentences: If it weren't so dark, I would have seen the house2. When converting "

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-90404254305667883932007-10-16T05:20:00.000-07:002007-10-16T05:42:02.717-07:00

Here is some help for RC in CAT. Many people find it difficult to understand the subtle differences of word usage. So here is a series starting today that will try and explain the difference in usage of the commonly used wordsThe first in the series will be 'which' or 'that'1. Many times they can be used interchangeably2. 'that' is usually used in a less formal sense3. Most importantly, 'that'

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-15934389793652858572007-10-16T04:45:00.000-07:002007-10-16T05:18:48.734-07:00

Here are the words and the meanings. Also note the usage of the words which is critical. Also dig online dictionaries for broader explaination of the words1. Prepone - There is no English word like that and it is just a wrong usage for the antonym of postpone. The antonym for postpone is 'advance'. Postpone is just one word and not to be split as post-pone since pone has no meaning2. Madeira - An

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-14569159198369171652007-10-15T05:02:00.000-07:002007-10-15T05:53:15.487-07:00

Here are the next five words that will help you prepare for the CAT verbal. Vocabulary is the place where you can get easy scores and also save time. The time you spend in the preparation is worth it. The advantage of preparing for vocab is that you can do it anywhere, anytime.In the coming days, I will be writing about some subtle mistakes people make in word usage. Hope that will be helpful in

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-5382203678161597322007-10-11T00:14:00.000-07:002007-10-15T05:11:40.799-07:00

It has been a long gap and some people would have been disappointed at the lack of flow. I have been doing too many things recently and have not been able to find time for thinking. Of course, I dont want to put in things here that you could get elsewhere. I am sure people are using lot of CAT course materials, attending coaching classes and doing whatever else they can.So I would rather go slow

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-71906468007543774032007-09-21T05:42:00.000-07:002007-09-21T05:49:25.902-07:00

Hey guys,It has been a busy week for me and hence you have not seen many problems from my side. And I think I have covered most basics on probability. Every other problem would more or less be an extension of these. Of course I have not dealt heavily with Permutation and Combination in these problems since I think it should be learnt as a seperate set.So here for the weekend is something light. 5

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-9300153294770855672007-09-19T23:34:00.000-07:002007-09-20T00:10:56.753-07:00

Click here for the questionSome basic assumptions on the rational strategy1. All of them dont choose to deliberately miss everytime :) Else the game is not on and the probability of each surviving is 1.2. Ugly and Bad will not shoot at each other and shoot at Good when he is alive. Because if they kill each other, then Good will kill them in the next shot3. Good will shoot Bad when both Ugly and

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-12953286811707820082007-09-14T03:12:00.000-07:002007-09-20T00:14:51.522-07:00

Hey guys,CAT Math is tricky and evolves every year. So here is an interesting problem for the weekend that will test your rational thinking apart from the basics of probability.I am sure that most of you have see one of the all time best movies, "The good, the bad and the ugly" starring Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef and Elli Wallach and remember the last scene of the movie where they have a 3 men

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-82644889526547564312007-09-12T07:26:00.000-07:002007-09-12T07:30:27.635-07:00

Hi,With many people visiting the blog, I thought that I shud post this old post of mine once again so that people can track what is happening on the blog in better ways than coming on the blog often and checking for updates1. Join the Google CatFundae egroup at http://groups.google.com/group/catfundae. By this you get emails on all the comments posted by the people on the blog. Gmail ID is not

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-87452156643741531692007-09-12T07:13:00.000-07:002007-09-20T00:15:35.408-07:00

Here is a post that makes it easy for people coming in new to dig out all the math problems we have discussed till now.For fundaes on how to crack Math problems in CAT, click hereProblems discussed till now1. Fake Note problem2. The Hidden balls3. Guess and make a fortune4. Boys and girls5. Pick the higher number6. Tennis ball or Cricket ball7. Hit or Get hit

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-24612625434795123882007-09-12T07:10:00.000-07:002007-09-12T07:13:50.709-07:00

The answer is 2/3.To think simple, let us list out the equally likely scenarios.1. First ball was tennis. Second ball was tennis. Rafael pulled first ball2. First ball was tennis. Second ball was tennis. Rafael pulled second ball3. First ball was cricket. Second ball was tennis. Rafael pulled second ballOut of the three cases, two correspond to the first ball being tennis. Hence the answer is 2/

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1796375439235142902007-09-11T06:55:00.000-07:002007-09-12T07:26:00.566-07:00

Hope that the small things you are learning here are increasing your knowledge arrows in your quiver. CAT is near. Happy hunting.Now the questionYou have a ball in a bag. It is either a yellow tennis ball or a red cricket ball with equal likelihood. We dont know which one is inside.Roger comes in and adds a yellow tennis ball into the bag.Rafael comes and pulls out a ball from the bag. The ball

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-89336825985515847072007-09-11T02:02:00.000-07:002007-09-11T02:16:11.065-07:00

Click here for the questionAll the people who answered hit it right.My only input on this would be to arrive at the same solution in a simpler way with less calculation. As I have said in some of the previous problems, conditional probability could involve some calculations and in some cases this could be avoided. (remember the hidden balls problem).So the solution:1. Say Aish picks up a number X

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-59350040558005835712007-09-07T06:25:00.000-07:002007-09-07T06:31:02.706-07:00

There are 15 folded chits numbered 1 to 15. Aish comes and picks a chit, notes the number and puts it back into the lot. Abhishek comes and picks a chit from the lot. What is the probability that the chit Abhishek has picked up has number higher than the one picked by Aishwarya.The rule as always is to 'think simple' :)

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-8288790360710727852007-09-07T01:44:00.000-07:002007-09-07T02:07:21.056-07:00

The answer is .4This was a very simple problem. The key in probability is to keep your thinking as simple as the problem allows one to.There are 16 permutations for the four children.2*2*2*2 = 16.GGGG, BBBB, BBGG, BGBG, BGGB, GGBB, GBGB, GBBG, GBBB, BGBB, BBGB, BBBG, GGGB, GGBG, GBGG, BGGGNow, since it is already given that one of them is a girl, the permutation of BBBB is ruled out. That leaves

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-30190580259990103922007-09-05T23:07:00.000-07:002007-09-05T23:11:02.204-07:00

What is the probability that a man having four children has two girls and two boys, given that he has at least one girl.The answer choices are a) 0.375 b) 0.5 c) 0.4 d) None of theseAnswers by tomorrow morning

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-59581029318222406172007-09-05T00:28:00.000-07:002007-09-05T00:32:01.179-07:00

Click here for the questionThe answer is that the contestant is better off making a switch.It is very difficult to articulate the answer is such questions, but let me make a try. If people dont get it, then I will make more tries from different anglesHere goes the argument:1. When the player chooses the box in the beginning of the game, the probability of him getting the fortune is 1/3.2. Let us

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-82212582443259071282007-09-03T03:10:00.000-07:002007-09-05T00:32:31.643-07:00

In a game of 'guess and make fortune', the rules are as follows.1. There are three boxes and hidden under one of them is a huge amount of money. There is nothing under the rest two boxes2. The host knows where exactly the fortune is3. The player has to choose one of the three boxes4. After the player chooses a box, the host opens one of the remaining 'empty' boxes5. The player is now allowed to

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-53406354667388472812007-08-30T02:49:00.000-07:002007-08-30T02:55:34.645-07:00

Click here for the questionThe answer is 1/3.The technical way to go about the answer is thru conditional probability. But that is the laborious way and CAT is not forgiving on those who take time to solve the problems :)The key basic idea to learn here is that when you dont know what balls were taken out, it does not change the probability. Hence the probability would remain the same 1/3 even if

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-9673897057868875772007-08-28T23:19:00.002-07:002007-09-03T03:29:12.198-07:00

For the last problem 72 people visited the blog, but only 2 posted the answers. Dont be shy in putting the answers, you can even do it anonymously or with a pseudoname. Only then can you gain confidenceHere comes the second problem. And as i have said, it is simple yet you need to have your basics perfect to answer these."There are 3 black, 5 red and 4 green balls in a bag. Ashok comes in, takes

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-8098332553819756092007-08-28T23:19:00.001-07:002007-08-29T00:48:56.875-07:00

Click here for the questionGot a mail saying that some people at Pagalguy got it right. I dont mind people posting the questions on pagalguy, since it would benifit more people. But if you guys can also put the answers here, it would benifit all and also help me answer queriesYes the answer is $5. Here are some fundas on how to think simple and not get confused.1. Lenovo's loss has to be

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-53689723029778260182007-08-27T03:55:00.000-07:002007-08-29T00:44:29.906-07:00

Hey guys,It has been a long time since I wrote on the blog. I had said that I would come up with a website to help people preparing for CAT after I got a good response for the GD and PI preparation. But, since I had to travel overseas on some assignment for three months I could not devote enough time to get the website on. So I thought that atleast I should devote some time for your CAT prep. So

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-83054985299253651982007-03-16T05:53:00.000-07:002007-04-04T06:11:19.900-07:00

Hey guys,Many of you have been complaining to me that there is nothing much happening on the blog these days. I had been a little lazy I shud admit. But apart from that, was a little busy replying to queries on forms and PI questions on mail, was a little busy at work and also thot that there was enough preparation on GD. Am also trying to work out something for the website too.In the meanwhile,

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-31313824046115884312007-03-07T01:42:00.000-08:002007-03-07T01:46:37.000-08:00

It is touching to see so many people come and say that I cannot stop the blog. It has been a splendid journey for me and I am not going to let the enjoyment of learning and teaching go. I am doing what I like best and with so much support, I have no doubt that I want to keep doing it.Now that it is going to go on, the question comes on what to do next and how to do it best. The best way forward

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-66902547764770592742007-03-05T03:49:00.000-08:002008-12-09T13:25:16.523-08:00

Courtesy: Nidhi“The long tail” is being talked about in a number of contexts these days – music, books and advertising being most popular. Very simply put, the theory reverses the logic of ABC analysis and Pareto’s 80-20 rule (For businesses, this meant that 80% of your revenues come from 20% of your customers). The earlier theories proposed optimization by focusing on few entities (products/

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-54446781483489373662007-03-01T03:17:00.000-08:002007-03-01T04:38:34.989-08:00

No, god did not call me like he did to Bush and ask me to save the worldIt has been two months and the journey of guiding so many people for GD/PI has been enthralling. Lots of people have said ‘thank you very much’ through comments, personal mails and even phone calls. Now with the interview and GD schedules at most colleges coming to an end, I thought I should write on what inspired me to take

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-67059826513943710152007-02-26T03:41:00.000-08:002007-02-26T03:57:36.670-08:00

Hey guys,Here comes a post that has been so different from what you have seen from my desk. The GDs have paused since most of you are busy with your GD/PI schedules. I also have a GD to analyse that has been pending for sometime and I will try and do it by tomorrow.Since we have been discussing issues of national and international importance over so many GDs and proposing ways of doing things

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-19475919868334938942007-02-19T05:00:00.000-08:002007-02-21T00:28:36.395-08:00

Hey guys,I got some good news from couple of active participants in the group that they got into SIMB. Congratulations and it is heartening to note that your hardwork has paid good dividends. I am sure there is more good news to come from others as time progresses.I have been writing little on the blog these days since I am pretty busy answering the interview and form questions on email. I am

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-28053243589712971032007-02-15T23:01:00.000-08:002007-02-15T23:09:13.866-08:00

1. Most of the time, with reduced inflation, the farmer gets a lower rate for his produce. At the same time he spends less on the goods he buys. But note that there is a negative impact on his savings. So he may be on the slight negative side.Curbing inflation may mean that only the end price is reduced and may sometime have little impact on the price that the farmer gets. (E.g., in case of

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-71847821123027517942007-02-13T02:41:00.000-08:002007-02-13T02:51:30.648-08:00

Hi guys,The discussion was brief and the participation low. Inspite of this, I think the topic was well covered. I would have liked to see some more details on ‘what needs to be done’, while the group concentrated on ‘what the situation is’. A surprise was that the group did not perceive China as a big threat. Though it is true in the short term, we still need to be prepared for the long term

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-16597768243390389602007-02-12T21:35:00.000-08:002007-02-15T23:55:20.029-08:00

With Bangalore standing still, the posts on the blog grounded to a halt on Monday. So the analysis for the last two topics are pending and are coming in a while. I had allowed more time hoping for a larger participation.I am also enthused by the fact that many people wrote to me that they discovered the site a few days back and found it very useful. That is feel-good factor for me as I have tried

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-35115889460840837602007-02-08T02:37:00.000-08:002007-02-09T01:05:59.481-08:00

Hey Guys,Here is an interesting and deeply political and historical topic. There is a wide scope for arguments and counter-arguments. Also there is a wide scope for discussions from various angles. So take the opportunity and get cracking."Would converting LOC into border solve kashmir issue. And should India agree to such a solution"Please keep two things in mind.1. Avoid over-bashing Pakistan 2

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-54841420543266790202007-02-07T06:10:00.000-08:002007-02-07T06:34:52.790-08:00

Hi guys,Here comes my analysis of the situation. My answers are at logger-heads with all comments. So if you disagree after reading my answers, lets have a discussion.Note that the audience of cable channels and DD are almost mutually exclusive. Most people who have cable, though they get DD, do not watch it these days (Anybody contesting this??:). Hence the ordinance gives an opportunity to the

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-24792172420561195342007-02-07T04:08:00.000-08:002007-02-07T04:09:15.637-08:00

Hey guys,Noting that many of you have your GD and PI this month, and that some have finished, I am thinking of closing the GD topic sessions after another two topics. And I want to choose topics in areas that you want me to cover. Let me know in the comments section as to what you want and that’s what you will have. Till now, we have had wonderful sessions. If you track all the GDs from the

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-76354382315460929012007-02-06T04:18:00.000-08:002007-02-06T04:34:29.083-08:00

When you think that you don’t know much about a topic, try and draw parallels. Note that the boom in the stock market is similar to the real estate boom and hence you can derive lot of points from there. Read the points below and try to relate to the real estate market and you will see parallels.About reading up about the markets, I am sure you can find a lot of material on the net. Beware that

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-60958801733740213252007-02-06T02:51:00.000-08:002007-02-06T04:54:25.763-08:00

Hey guys,Here are some of the ways how you can utilize the group learning we have done at the blog. I think it is time that we consolidate on the learning since the interview time is nearing.1. Join the Google CatFundae egroup at http://groups.google.com/group/catfundae. By this you get emails on all the comments posted by the people on the blog. Gmail ID is not necessary. If you do not want to

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-4318603446880272652007-02-04T23:13:00.000-08:002007-02-04T23:19:04.297-08:00

Click here for Key Talking points 4Hey guys,I was surprised that not many people were keen on reading the articles and answering the questions. Though I think that it is a great way of learning and we shud all read well, I did not get a great buy-in from the group. I even registered on NYtimes so that everyone need not waste time.Anyway, my comments and points togetherArticle #11. Aparna was

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-3836418485561234572007-02-02T04:13:00.000-08:002008-01-10T21:13:09.396-08:00

Click here for Complete Analysis by moderatorHey guys,Here comes the GD topic for the weekend. China being the favourite of many, I am sure there will be pretty interesting points."Chinese competition to Indian IT industry - How to take the bull by the horn"I want to see people come up with various threats that we face and how Indian companies can mitigate them.Things from my side1. I have not

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-36692473598119685042007-02-02T02:40:00.000-08:002007-02-02T02:49:55.902-08:00

I think the group has done a good job especially with the limitations that the topic had. The topic was chosen because it was very very difficult to rise above average in such a discussion.My comments1. Many people in the group gave many examples rather than drawing inferences out of this. Do not get yourself into such a trap. If you give 10 examples for the same thing that you want to say, you

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-79065616661177454582007-02-02T00:50:00.000-08:002007-02-15T23:54:01.843-08:00

Hey guys,Here comes some simple questions on a recent Govt decisionGovt of India has decided to make an ordinance regarding cricket telecast. The ordinance makes it mandatory for the rights holders of sporting events to share advertisement-free live broadcast signals with Doordarshan. DD will sell advertising time for these matches and give 75 per cent of the earnings to the rights holder, using

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-60564997297845742022007-02-01T03:16:00.000-08:002007-02-01T03:32:04.667-08:00

Hey guys,Here comes the article that I had promised a few days back. People have been going great guns in Case GDs apart from being splendid in ‘Vague topics’. So I think all I am doing here is consolidating our learning. Also as I had complained in my posts, the starts were not great and hence some fundae and examples on that. The fundae on start in ironically at the end of the post :) I have

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-70378024030477244672007-01-31T02:37:00.000-08:002007-02-02T04:57:44.150-08:00

Hey guys,Click here to go to the caseVery very good GD. The focus was on both online business, entrepreneurship and real estate. I am sorry that I have not had time to analyze this before and had to do it too late. The points covered were varied and the number of people participating also was good. So the group does take brownie points as whole. So let me keep my analysis simpler by just giving

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-15681166556308133102007-01-30T05:20:00.000-08:002007-02-09T00:57:40.843-08:00

Complete AnalysisHey guys,I assume that the disappointing participation for the last GD was because of the lack of knowledge of the stock market. I accept that the topic may have been tough. I shall give some pointers on that in my analysis tomorrow.So here comes a new topic so that people are comfortable and we carry on the learning and the preparation with the same zeal that we did

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1170078662971745242007-01-29T04:54:00.000-08:002007-02-15T23:51:58.971-08:00

Hey guys,As I told you in my previous post that I will be in a training for almost the whole day for today and tomorrow. So the analysis of the case GD will have to wait till wednesday noon. I am also planning to do a write up on how to handle case GDs since some of you have been asking on how to start, what to do etc.Surprised at the low participation in the recent GD. You can find it at http://

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1170066182413831022007-01-29T02:21:00.000-08:002007-01-31T03:46:16.633-08:00

To go to the case click hereHey all,Many complained to me that the questions were very tough. I am sorry for the same, though after reading some of the answers I am sure you would learn some basics. Will try to keep them more ‘within syllabus’ next time :) In the meantime, let me know any area you want me cover in the future group discussionsNote: When you answer these questions, you have to note

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169733448731706162007-01-25T05:49:00.000-08:002007-02-09T01:02:32.916-08:00

Hey guys,Here is the GD topic for the long weekend. Let us see the group coming up with more than obvious analysis. C'mon guys go for the assault. It is a vast topic, so invest time, be very specific and read comments of others before adding yours to avoid repetition."Boom in the Indian stock market - Is it for real"And sorry for the delay in case analysis. It may take some time since I have day

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169732577549073812007-01-25T05:39:00.000-08:002007-02-15T23:56:24.187-08:00

Hey guys,Here are the list of all 'Key talking points' analysis so that they can be at one place for you all to review before going for Group Discussion and personal interviewsKey Talking Points 6Key Talking Points 5Key Talking Points 4Key Talking Points 3Key Talking Points 2Key Talking Points 1

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169730872548094802007-01-25T03:40:00.000-08:002007-01-25T05:38:24.416-08:00

Click here to go to the caseExcept for some confusions, I think people have been fairly on the mark for the first set1. Most are correct. He is not 'entitled' to more than 5% inspite of the fact that he gave it in goodwill at a lower than market price and Chandu profited from it2. Rakesh has the right to oppose since he would have considered all factors in balance sheet while paying a certain

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169721202997062902007-01-25T02:30:00.000-08:002007-01-25T05:37:09.713-08:00

Click here to go to the case1. Yes most of the guys are right, The company owns the intellectual property rights. But only if it is mentioned in the agreement of employment, and it is usually is. Note that my company cannot have IPR on the blog I write, since it will not be covered in the agreement2. Neither Anand, not the company can file for a patent. Computer programs/algorithms are covered

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169718204619731692007-01-25T01:41:00.000-08:002007-01-29T02:28:51.046-08:00

Some questions on stock market and economy this time1. If Government goes ahead with the decision to invest about 5% of pension funds in the stock market, would is push the stock market higher?2. A company has a PE ratio of x and is doing 30% profit growth every year. If starts doing 50% growth a year, does the PE ratio go up?3. If company A has profits higher than that of company B, who would

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169710161088718982007-01-24T23:28:00.000-08:002007-02-02T04:59:09.018-08:00

I am not happy with the GD. The topic was very mundane and that was the trap and the group fell in en-masse with a few exceptions. You need to raise above the easy topics. Do not keep giving more examples and more obvious statements. If one says, police are corrupt, somebody else says it is there in military too. What is the value you are adding there. The group has agreed on the point that

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169646124050769022007-01-24T05:40:00.000-08:002007-01-25T03:04:48.750-08:00

Hey guys,My analysis for the GDs are still pending. Hope to catch up tomorrow since today I was involved in the below initiativeI just tried some changes in the blog to make it more user friendly and effective too. People found it difficult to figure out old topics, analysis etc and the new users found it hard to follow. So some minor changes, since one cannot change much in a blog :))1. I have

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169645836867459392007-01-24T05:22:00.000-08:002007-02-08T04:31:46.526-08:00

Here are the list of topics on which I have given my analysis till now. Go on, read them and enjoy the treatise.Red Vs BlueIs copying western culture good for Indian cultureIs the stock market boom for realThe case of Online Real estate EntreprenuershipBribery - Menace or Economic balancing factorJudicial intervention in ParliamentThe case of Abhi and KabhiCensorship of the internetThe world with

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169626335913692162007-01-23T23:12:00.000-08:002007-01-25T05:34:56.110-08:00

Here comes one more.On May 2003, Chandu opened a company called 'Bricks real estate' that invests in real estate in India. The idea was to buy and sell land and make money with the difference. The property would be registered in the company's name. He invested 50 lakhs of his own. His uncle who thought the idea was good agreed to lend his company about 50 lakhs for a year at 5% interest (below

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169622264470563532007-01-23T22:38:00.000-08:002007-01-25T02:37:19.353-08:00

Hey guys,While the real estate case is still on, here is something different from the GDs. I am trying to do a format that I think takes less time and also increases the knowledge base of people. Just trying this since we have learnt a lot about discussions already. We will be having GDs too in between. Please send me your comments on this format so that I know if I have to continue this or get

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169559081682262812007-01-23T02:26:00.000-08:002007-01-25T01:54:13.983-08:00

Hey guys,Some people suggested that the analysis takes too much space in the main page of the blog and some may miss the ongoing GD topics. So I thought that i will just give links to the complete page here so that people can go and see my comments. Note my comments are at the end of the page.Link is http://catfundae.blogspot.com/2007/01/topic-for-day-take-8.htmllet me know if this is

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169533628538943342007-01-22T22:22:00.000-08:002007-02-09T00:57:16.547-08:00

Complete AnalysisGuys here comes a case GD on Real Estate that I have been working at.There are some who have already commented on the previous GD. So I thought that I shud post something early so that they have more time to think thru. Other please comment on both the topicsPuru and Shuru, both from Jaipur have been working in Yahoo, Bangalore for about five years and are well versed in

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169466508463295902007-01-22T03:43:00.000-08:002007-01-24T05:06:09.253-08:00

Hey guys,Good analysis of the case. Though people hovered around the average many times, they were able to get in a few very good points and that made the case worth it. My analysis goes thus.1. Kabhi’s family is concerned about his financial security (Please note not about ‘job security’). He can be compensated with the salary in the new venture. It is important to understand such subtle

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169455478574184292007-01-22T00:41:00.000-08:002007-02-09T00:56:54.951-08:00

hey guys,Here comes the topic of the day even when there is analysis of the case and another GD pending. I thinking I am lagging in the effort when you guys are putting that extra hardwork. Well, I promise I will catch up and have the analysis by the end of the day or tomorrow.So the topic is "Bribery: A menace or a means of correcting social and economic imbalance - Discuss this in Indian

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169453445146764662007-01-22T00:10:00.000-08:002007-01-22T00:10:45.156-08:00

We had a good GD session this weekend. Though some of the guys did not turn up and it could be communication gap.Anyway 6 people did turn up, though a little late and we were able to have one GD with a long analysis session and a query session on Personal Interviews.We were also able to discuss some points on ‘body language’ tooThe topic of discussion was “Population of India – Resource or menace

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169197864015419742007-01-19T01:00:00.000-08:002007-02-09T00:56:30.398-08:00

Hey guys,Have to leave the office a little early today. So putting out the topic for the weekend. The topic will stay on till Monday. Thhe analysis for the case will probably also come on Monday if I dont have enought time. But I will drop some hints for further discussions there.Since we have covered topics in areas like 'economics', 'international politics', 'vague', 'media', 'development' and

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169121410251573782007-01-18T02:07:00.000-08:002007-01-24T05:02:55.706-08:00

Hey Guys,It was surprising that a group that came up with such a stellar performance on a vague topic came out so mundane and average in this one. I had deliberately put a topic which had so many obvious points. But the group did move beyond the obvious points.Here are the consolidated comments.1. The group on the whole did not rise above pornography, terrorism, hatred sites etc. Some attempts

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169108195238429442007-01-18T00:11:00.000-08:002007-02-09T00:54:00.740-08:00

Hey guys,Here comes the promised case GD. I have written the case myself to make sure that people have not read it somewhere else. It is a problem that many of us may have faced or may face in future. I want to see people pitching in with good arguments and perspectives. There is lot to talk on this anyway.Abhi and Kabhi were bright kids doing their b.tech in Comp Sc from IIT Madras. They had

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169038909396225702007-01-17T04:51:00.000-08:002007-01-17T05:01:49.406-08:00

Hey guys,Was thinking that I cud spare some time this saturday to help you guys prepare for the GD. I will be available to moderate if enough guys are interested and are ready to meet somewhere in Koramangala. 11 to 1 would be a good time. If place is an issue, may be we can use my flat for this weekend :)If most of you have joined the coaching instis and think you are having a decent prep, then

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169034231014457222007-01-17T03:39:00.000-08:002007-01-24T05:02:36.283-08:00

Guys,The topic for today will come tomorrow :)) So till then I will keep the censorship topic open for people to dig in. It is a very open ended topic and I want to see people bring in strong points and taking good stands.And for the Sunday topic -- Oops! so many people getting senti on Sundays being gone:). The perspectives were amazing and I would give credit to the whole group for coming up

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1169021425042128432007-01-17T00:01:00.000-08:002007-01-17T00:20:35.043-08:00

Hey guys,Some of you have been writing comments saying that you need help in writing your SOP and answering other questions on the forms of the insitutes. I shall try my best to do that in this blog. Some of you have been asking for my ID to mail these answers too. One request is for people to read the fundaes I had written for SOP at http://catfundae.blogspot.com/2007/01/how-to-write-sop.html#

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1168953189194938782007-01-16T05:11:00.000-08:002007-01-24T05:02:11.716-08:00

Nuclear issue - The hypocrisy of USA There were only three people participating, but the points brought in were pretty good. All the starts were good too and that raised the quality bar. Good show guys.I did not know that this was a tough topic. And please note that you have to pitch in even if you don’t know anything on the topic on your GD day. So if you have nothing to talk on a topic check

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1168949719181106402007-01-16T02:24:00.000-08:002007-02-09T00:15:41.762-08:00

Sorry for the late posting of the topic. Here it goes. I will come up with a case study for tomorrow. Analysis of the two pending topics will follow later in the day. And this topic will close later tomorrow so as to allow most to participate.Topic"Govt censorship of the internet - An instrusion of Freedom of speech"Get bashing!!Click here for the Complete Analysis of the this topicPrevious

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1168872761194362132007-01-15T06:39:00.000-08:002007-01-24T05:01:37.100-08:00

I am deeply disappointed. I am sure that the group made very good points but did not take your arguments ‘forward’. Rise above the shallow waters and swim deeper. You are competing for the top B-Schools and you are the cream of the country. I want to believe that it was the weekend lethargy since Aparna came fresh on Monday evening and made some straight forward simple arguments to clinch the

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1168862887238102022007-01-15T04:05:00.000-08:002007-01-15T04:08:07.240-08:00

Anamika had asked what kind of questions shud one ask at the end of the interview. So some fundaes that I did not want the group to miss since it was hidden in the PI section. For complete discussion on the PI fundaes, you can go to http://catfundae.blogspot.com/2007/01/pi-prep_05.html#links For questions at the end of the interview, I would say, 1. Ask only those question that spontaneously crop

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1168860974895656872007-01-15T03:19:00.000-08:002008-02-10T21:20:59.809-08:00

Click here for the Complete Analysis of the this topicHey Guys,Mondays being hectic as usual with series of meetings, I have not been able to comment on the previous topics. And I shall be doing it now. Till then, time to mull over a new topic for the day and this time I thought that it shud be a little abstract.Please read the rules at the end of the post before you begin so that we all discuss

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1168611728431077022007-01-12T06:16:00.000-08:002007-02-09T00:13:46.505-08:00

Since the weekend has come, and it is a long one for some, putting in an extra topic with the feeling that people will put in extra effort. "Nuclear issue - The hypocrisy of USA"Wanted to have an 'international politics' topic and I have kept it very broad and open to get in more points. You have to be careful in such topics so that the group does not waver too much. A good start takes the trophy

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1168610697531568752007-01-12T06:04:00.000-08:002007-01-24T05:01:14.516-08:00

End Game:Here are my comments on the GD. Summary of the whole discussion and my points/ideas will follow.Comments:1. The group fell into the negative trap that I had set with the topic. Beware. The group is expected to look at all angles and generate views/counter-views. I am sure lot of people will have positive things to say about media once you read a few of my points2. Good to see people

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1168584162164670832007-01-11T22:37:00.000-08:002007-02-09T00:13:18.996-08:00

Good going on he fisrt two topics. So here comes the third. I have tried to put in an general issue with a little economic touch."Farm loans at lower interst rate - An economic burden caused by populist politics"This can have a wide variety of views and approaches. So wud like to see people coming in full flow and pouncing on this. Some research on the net is allowed so that you can add more

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1168583627575175312007-01-11T22:28:00.000-08:002007-01-11T22:33:47.586-08:00

Hi,I think some of you joined my blog effort late. So I am posting an old GD topic that I had discussed under the section 'vague topics' since some people thought that it added good insights on how to handle such topics. For the weekend, we will be having one more such topic.The topic was "Blue vs Red" and though there was no group discussion, here are the comments that I had given. It would be

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com77tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1168514176295930222007-01-11T02:47:00.000-08:002007-01-24T04:22:33.066-08:00

End Game:Hey guys, really appreciate the effort you are putting in your preparation. And good approaches and points too. So here is the conslidation of the topic "Alternate solutions to solve the growing pressure on infrastructure in the big cities in India". Additional points that cud have added value are at the end of the topic1. Start - As I noted in my previous comment, it shud give a

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1168498979970209792007-01-10T22:59:00.000-08:002007-02-09T00:12:58.652-08:00

It was good seeing your responses yesterday and I loved giving comments on them. I will be writing a complete fundae comment at the end of the day on yesterday's topic. I will also consolidate the whole thing at the end of the day so that you can reference it at one place in future.Till then, all who want to move on to the next topic, here it comes."24/7 News Channels - A bane to the

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1168434103458367482007-01-10T05:00:00.000-08:002007-01-10T05:01:43.470-08:00

This is the most important question that you need to prepare for. The answer to this question should take 80% of your interview preparation time. Preparing for this will help you prepare for most of the questions in the interview. You may not get this question directly, but may also get it in various forms.Tips to prepare1. Write down everything that you have done in your life that you think is

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1168422487483377082007-01-10T01:36:00.000-08:002007-02-09T00:08:09.264-08:00

Hey guys,"Alternate solutions to solve the growing pressure on infrastructure in the big cities in India"Starting from today, I shall post a GD topic once in a while (frequency of a day or two) and would like your comments on the same. To make it more organized and hence more useful to everyone interested, I suggest the following broad framework1. Write down the way you wud start such a GD - Name

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1168421712033313712007-01-10T01:32:00.000-08:002007-01-10T01:35:12.040-08:00

It is not a very happy situation when the panel gives you a topic that you know very less about. Or worse, that you know nothing about. The situation is similar to what Virender Sehwag had in SA, he had no clue what was going on. The idea is to come down the order and not open the innings. That way you have the ideas from other people who have batted before you and situation is in better

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1168326716148120792007-01-08T23:05:00.000-08:002007-01-08T23:19:01.546-08:00

One of you had put the following comments for which I thought I should do a posting."Wot happens in case of a vague topic, say 'Pen is Mightier than Sword'...Shud v cite an example and show the cases where this has occurred??And even if that being more specific, wot if the topic is 'Red or Blue' "I would encourage that more people add on to this topic in comment section so that we can have a good

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1168326319328971472007-01-08T22:57:00.000-08:002007-02-01T23:13:07.785-08:00

Shankar had posted a comment and had asked my suggestions on how to handle a chaotic discussion. He was concerned that the whole group would get eliminated in such a case and had asked if there was some room for selection in such a case. I had replied with my comments on the 'comment section', but thought I will post it here so that people dont miss out on it.GDs become fish markets either due to

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1168262832705734832007-01-08T05:26:00.000-08:002007-01-24T01:38:44.620-08:00

Some of the guys specifically wanted to know how to write the SOP. So here goes the brief. And as always, please post comments if you want specific help. Also if you want me to evaluate your SOP, I will be very glad as long as you are not asking me to write it for you.One suggestion that tops them all – “Writing SOP is a time taking process. It will atleast need 12 man hours for the first draft

Arjunnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37896047.post-1167996395908170052007-01-05T03:26:00.000-08:002007-02-01T23:13:51.593-08:00

Click for Complete PI Prep FundaeClick for Complete SOP Writing FundaeGroup Discussion is something that scares people a little bit. Just because of lack of experience. You would have attended a lot of interviews for jobs but few GDs. My opinion is GD is easier. While in an interview, you are being probed by a superior, in a GD you are in a "discussion" with your peers. It is similar to any daily

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