AIMA MAST February 2012 Notification has been issued just few days back and this blog article is being written to make you aware of this...
AIMA MAST February 2012 Notification has been issued just few days back and this blog article is being written to make you aware of this employability identification test so that you can apply and prepare for it.
In the very beginning, let me tell you that this test has been launched only very recently- MAST February 2012 would be the third such exam. It was held for the first time last year in February 2011 followed by another in September 2011. So a brief description of the same may be necessary.
What is MAST – a brief introduction;
MAST (Management Aptitude and Skills Test) conducted twice every year in February & September by AIMA (All India Management Association) is not an entrance exam but is a certification test for employment of fresh management graduates.
In other words, MAST is an employability identification test – it intends to find how much employable the management graduate is for modern day corporate world through three Computer Based Test (CBT):
1. Psychometric Test
2. General Ability Test
3. Domain Knowledge Test (i.e. for domains: Finance/ HR/ IT/ International Business/ Marketing/ Operations)
Candidates after appearing in this test should apply to recruiting organizations with his/her MAST scores and the organization if satisfied with the MAST score, calls him/her for the further selection process. AIMA also shares the database of MAST score of candidates with potential recruiters, so that recruiters can choose and call the candidates for employment.
In other words it helps MAST candidates (irrespective of which management institute she/he passed out from) to get a level playing field through this national test. On the other hand, it helps recruiting organizations to identify the right employee, without having to go individually for each institute. Thus it is a Win-Win-Win situation for all.
Well, let me tell you this sort of national level employability identification test is nothing so new. For example UGC has been organizing UGC NET to identify potential teachers for a long time. Also since from last year CTET (Central Teacher Eligibility Test) is being organized to identify potential teachers at national level.
MAST Eligibility:
Eligibility to appear in AIMA MAST is very simple: you just need to have a MBA/PGDM or equivalent degree/diploma in management from a recognized University/Institute.
There is no age restriction and is no minimum percentage requirement for taking the test. Even a final year student can also appear in MAST provisionally.
But this MBA/PGDM or equivalent qualification should be 2 year Full Time or 3 year Part Time or 3 year Distance Learning Programme. The courses having duration less than 2 year are not eligible.
And if you had passed the above minimum qualification before 2009, you are not eligible to appear in MAST. Only those candidates who have passed on or after 2009 are eligible.
MAST Test locations:
MAST is conducted in the locations in following sixteen city/towns all over India:
Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi and NCR, Dehradun, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna, Pune.
You can find the venues for MAST test at above city/towns in your AIMA MAST Admit card.
Is MAST recognized? Is it a MUST to appear in MAST?
Now the question that may come in your mind is whether it is worth to take MAST? Will you be getting that job after MAST? Is MAST recognized by industries?
Well, as per AIMA, over 40 top-ranked Indian industries recognize MAST, the list of which is as follows:
Arcvac, Big Apple Retail, Camlin, Corbus, Corporation Pvt Ltd., Dabur India, Expat India, Expat India, Fedders Lloyd Corporation Ltd, Forgecast, Harish Bijoor Consults Inc., HDFC, Home Shop 18, Indiamart, J. P.Morgan, J.M. Financial, Lenovo, Macafee, Malibu Plastics, Max New York Life, Metlife India, MMTC India, Moserbaer, Mother Dairy, MRS Bector Foods India, Nagarjuna Oil, Naukri.Com, Nokia India, Omaxe India, Pantaloons, Parle Products, Pidilite Industires, Price Waterhouse Coopers India, Quatrro BPO, Radio City, Reliance Ada Ltd., Religare Enterprises Limited, Schneider Electric, SRS Parivar, Steria India, Suzlon, Transport Corporation Of India.
So I think it is worth to take the test – since you can only stand to gain from it and not lose anything..
MAST Test Pattern:
MAST is a Computer Based Test (CBT), which has following three components:
1. Psychometric Test
2. General Ability Test
3. Domain Knowledge Test (i.e. for domain in which you specialized in: Finance/ HR/ IT/ International Business/ Marketing/ Operations).
You can find the details of MAST in my subsequent blog post titled: AIMA MAST Test Pattern, Papers & Books.
AIMA MAST February 2012 Online Form:
You can apply only online for MAST.
There are two ways to submit the MAST application fee of Rs.1750/=: by Credit/Debit Card & by Demand Draft. For the early birds, if you apply on or before 15th December 2011, the application fee is only Rs.1250/-
You have to take print out of the filled online application form, sign it and send it with your photograph to following address:
POST BOX NO 4334
KALKAJI HEAD POST OFFICE
NEW DELHI – 110 019
Last date of receipt of your AIMA MAST February 2012 form is: 25th January 2012.
Important Dates for AIMA MAST February 2012:
Last Date for Online Registration: 21st January 2012 (Saturday).
Date for downloading AIMA MAST 2012 Admit Cards: 13th February 2012 (Monday).
AIMA MAST February 2012 test date: 26th February 2012 (Sunday).
If you are appearing in AIMA MAST in the future, let me tell you that the next MAST will be held in September 2012, notification for which should come out in the last week of July/first week of August, 2012. Just keep checking this official website of AIMA MAST for the latest info.
Hope with above information you can apply confidently for AIMA MAST 2012. But how to prepare for the same? Please visit this blog again for a later post titled: AIMA MAST Test Pattern, Papers & Books which would give you the prep materials for this exam.
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