CAT 2017 Preparation Strategy with On-Screen Calculator: 3 key Tips

CAT exam pattern has witnessed a number of changes this year. One of the major changes that has been seen is the ‘on-screen calculator’. With the introduction of this feature, a number of students approached to Shiksha.com enquiring about the exam strategy to be opted for this year.

Read here to know if CAT changes have been made for better or worse?

After talking to a number of MBA experts, Shiksha.com discovered that changes that have taken place should not intervene in the present strategy followed by students during CAT preparation. The most important thing that students appearing for CAT exam should understand is ‘how to manage their time in exam’.

To understand more on how can test-takers make use of on-screen calculator in CAT, Shiksha.com had a word with Gautam Bawa, IIM Calcutta Alumni and MBA head at CL. Read the following three tips which Gautam suggests for all CAT test takers.

Read here what Gautam has to say on introduction of on-screen calculator in CAT:

“There have been quite a few changes in the CAT pattern for 2015 vis-à-vis CAT 2014. One of the more superfluous changes has been the introduction of the on-screen calculator. This pleasant (or is it?) surprise provided to the inquisitive candidates has some direct and indirect implications. It calls for some deliberation to understand how to make the best use of this enticing new feature.

1. The Intent

Extremely evident from the inclusion of the on-screen calculator is the fact that CAT is still an aptitude exam. The IIMs don’t expect the students to be great at calculations. The stress is on the student’s logic and his/her comprehension ability. Application and implication of numbers is more important than being a human calculator.

2. ‘What to calculate’ and not ‘How to calculate’

The most crucial part of cracking a DI set is to understand what needs to be done and how to operate on the data. The on-screen calculator will be of no use if it is not backed by the art of comprehension and common sense. This brings us to the point that CAT is not a calculation intensive exam. Approximations, rather than exact calculations through the use of a calculator, are still the best way to judge aptitude.

3. The Possibilities

One of the indirect signs of the presence of an on-screen calculator is the direction in which the CAT exam is slowly moving. An on-screen calculator is a regular feature in international exams like SAT and GRE. If CAT is on course to emulate these international exams, it is likely that most of the nitty-gritties of these exams will be taken up by CAT as well. SAT and GRE are high on Data Sufficiency and Critical Reasoning questions and a similar stress on these topics could be experienced by the candidates in CAT.

Amidst all the speculations, the only few things that don’t change are the basics. A candidate is expected to be well prepared with enough calculation tactics in his repertoire. The on-screen calculator is generally extremely inconvenient to operate and could slow down the candidate’s speed. Having said that, it must also be made clear that a candidate must not refrain from using the on-screen calculator whenever there is a dire need for it. But for most part of the paper, abating the temptation of using it will pay rich dividends”.