Unlike CAT, RAT (Research Aptitude Test) is not a unified exam. Evert IIM conducts its own admission process for FPM and thus the pattern of RAT varies from IIM to IIM. One of the patterns is termed as minor RAT followed at IIMB and at a few other IIMs. The RAT consists of different types of CAT questions including questions on verbal skills, logical reasoning, quantitative etc. However, the quantity of questions is less and the questions are distributed differently. Questions are designed to determine minimum eligibility requirements and are not meant for elimination thus the overall test is not too difficult.

It's important to note that the RAT pattern for each of the IIMs changes every year. Though some preparation definitely needs to be made for these exams, I would not suggest giving more time to prepare for interviews than the written exam.

Trust me when I say, a year drop has no or very little influence during admission if you justify it rightly. In fact, with the right strategy, it might even work in your favor. The best way is to utilize the gap year in a productive way such as

• Get a recognized certification like CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) or an FRM (Financial Risk Manager).
• During your free time, volunteer at an NGO or do some social work. It might not add to your work experience but imply that you do contribute to society.
• Get yourself a good internship during your summer/winter break.
• Another effective way is to participate in a student exchange program.
• Make your profile unique by identifying your passions and pursuing them. The interviewers might get more impressed by your extraordinary talents than by your academic performance.
• Complete extra courses out of College from Coursera, edX, Udemy, etc to showcase your learning instincts.
• In this age of online platforms, it’s vital to be active with a great online profile. You can start your own blog, or a Youtube channel, or have a strong Quora profile.
• Learning a new language. It’s better to learn more than 3 languages as it adds to the credibility of your profile.
• Participating in various competitions will portray your enthusiasm and keenness for challenges.

Thus, don’t let a gap year dishearten you as you can make the most out of it and impress the interviewers.

I am an alumnus of IIT Ropar. I reached my classroom 15 minutes early, filled with enthusiasm for learning from some of the best professors in India. 

All my enthusiasm and spirit died when I noticed how the professor was least interested in us. He simply neglected our presence, plugged his pen drive into his laptop, and started reading the presentation. I had hoped for a more interactive and passionate environment. This bitter experience was not limited to just one teacher, all the other professors were equally disinterested in interacting with their students and teaching them something new.

Not just IIT Ropar, this is the story of every college and every IIT. With time, the passion for engineering starts to die and the students learn to somehow survive each semester. Some students feel that their coaching teachers were far more enthusiastic than their professors.

This was my bitter experience during my first day at IIT which I decided to share with you.

Supply Chain Management deals with the flow of goods and services from external businesses or places. Operation management is the management of internal processes. The skill-sets required for SCM and Operations Management are fairly similar. Many companies have different teams or individuals that handle these areas separately. Also, for some companies, a single team or a person handles both areas. The meaning of SCM and Operations are often interchangeable. In NITIE also, they mean the same thing. 

IM Ahmedabad is a prestigious business school located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. It has excellent infrastructure and many people wish to visit the splendid campus despite not being students of IIM Ahmedabad.

You can visit the campus by contacting the institute's admissions office or visiting the institute's website. They usually conduct tours for prospective students and visitors. Additionally, the "A Day at IIMA" event is organized by the Prayaas Club of IIMA, which is a student-run organization that focuses on social issues. To register for the event, you can visit the 

Casual visits, however, don’t require a formal procedure, and knowing someone from the institute can make your entry easier. For research purposes, it’s better to call the campus authority beforehand and get your permission and submit your identity proofs.