A record number of students — 2.9 lakh — appeared for the Common Admission Test (CAT) held across the country on Sunday, for a place at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). The number marked an increase of 40,000 over last year.

In the National Capital Region, 55,000 sat for the exam in 47centres, compared to 42,000 last year.

Those who took the CAT justified their enthusiasm by pointing out that the job market was bound to pick up because of the sound fundamentals of the Indian economy. “Going by what the experts are saying, the slowdown should be over by the time we graduate,” said Nishca Arora, a third year student of Jesus and Mary College.

“With campus placements in other disciplines like engineering on the decline, students will prefer to enhance their qualifications by opting for management courses. A considerable jump in the number of CAT aspirants in likely next year too,” said Shiv Kumar, Director (R&D), Career Launcher.

The question paper saw an increase in the number of questions, from 75 last year to 90. The aspirants, however, said the section on Data Interpretation was tough but on the whole the paper was more balanced. There were 40 questions in the English section, a rise from 25.

“English was definitely easier, while the two sections on mathematics had some tough questions,” said Shashwati Das, who has dropped a year after her graduation to prepare for CAT.

With the results slated to be out in January, candidates are keeping their options open by looking at other management institutes. “Since it is too early to predict what the score will be, it is better to have a backup plan ready,” said Nishca.