TNN

Mumbai, Nov 19: Dadar resident Pankaj Srivastava didn't look like a candidate for a seat in a management college. But there he was, early on Sunday morning, waiting for the bell to ring.

In fact, the 56-year-old was probably the only one not sweating or going through last-minute pointers while waiting outside King George School, one of the centres for the Indian Institute of Management's Common Admission Test.

Many might have taken him for a parent but Srivastava has been taking this entrance test for the past 10 years, successfully cracking it the last three times.

A chartered accountant by profession, Srivastava registers himself for CAT because he enjoys solving "mind teasers" and, since CAT is held on Sundays, it never affects his tight schedule. "It amazes my friends and family, but I just enjoy sitting for CAT. I solve almost every brain game. It keeps me sharp," he said.

Over the years, he has realized that CAT has become more of a mind teaser than just a race to finish in time. "I can remember that I would find it difficult to even read all the questions nine or 10 years ago, but for the past three to four years, there have been fewer questions, though they require me to think more," he added.

Srivastava has got calls from several IIMs over the past three years, but he has had to let the precious seats go.