CAT 2014: New test pattern beneficial for students

CAT 2014 is out of the bag finally! And this time, several new changes have been introduced. Questions have been increased to 50 in each section, while time is up to 170 minutes. View new changes in test pattern here. To find out how the changes will affect MBA aspirants, we spoke to an IIM alumnus who’s also a senior official in a leading coaching centre. This is what the person had to say:

A total of 100 questions in 170 minutes should bring a huge relief to the student community for a reason rather difficult than simple. Everyone has a lot more questions /attempts to prove their worth in the exam.  Take this example: suppose earlier three to four questions each on geometry/ logarithm/ functions/ inequality/ Permutation & Combination has the potential to make or break the candidate’s performance (and future). With more questions, aspirants have more set of questions to prove themselves, despite the odds.

CAT 2014 is going to be held a month later than expected. But it makes a lot of sense for those who woke up late for CAT 2014 preparation.

What about those who started on time or are on the verge of completing their preparation over the next 45-60 days, to be ready in time for the mock tests?  To be engaged for the extra-time and maintaining the momentum, in order to peak one’s performance on November 16 and 22, is a challenge in itself.  It makes sense to go slow now and move into the final prep/revision gear 20 days later than planned. Revise with incomplete things and practice other things in the mean time to get over this extra time.

Know more about how to apply for CAT 2014. 

What November 16^th and 23^rd means to everyone?

Two days and four slots is the right way to go for the IIMs because:

1. Normalisation is a mess. Let us accept it sooner than later. Trying to get establish CAT on the lines close to GRE/GMAT is a thought too far. Without a professional body behind it, it’s nearly impossible to do so. Four papers in four slots make sense for fair evaluation.

2. However, playing it fair within the four slots would be tough, given the history of technical glitches in CAT. With over 50k aspirants in one slot in 99 cities, it’s a mammoth task by all parameters.

3. CAT’s question database has been constant over the last three years. All questions are out in the open now (Believe me, when I say that). Anyone who follows forums can easily get the entire list and maintain an edge over the others. Keeping this in mind, it is important for the authorities to create a fresh set of questions and starting with only 400 to begin with is easier than juggling with last year’s set of papers.

IIM Ahmedabad issues shortlisting criteria for PGP batch 2015-17

IIM Bangalore issues shortlisting criteria for PGP batch 2015-17

For aspirants it is tough to be engaged for another one month. For the authorities, all the best for pulling off what you have planned for CAT2014. Let us hope that finally we have a CAT exam which can rise up to the level of international exams finally.

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