CAT 2017 must-read expert Tips-1: 5 things to note in new syllabus, changed exam pattern

CAT 2017 exam pattern on November 26 may not be based on the same syllabus and same CAT question pattern as it has been during last two years. In fact IIM Lucknow the CAT 2017 convener has changed substantially the CAT syllabus and CAT 2017 exam pattern  by adding and deleting many topics, number of questions in one part or on certain topics, question types calling for the change in the last 10 days CAT preparation strategy.

For example the official CAT Mock released by IIMs reflects 50% fewer questions on Logical Reasoning (LR). The share of questions has gone to Data Interpretation (DI) section. Check official CAT Mock here

Important Links

• CAT 2017: Follow the turns and twists in revised CAT syllabus and CAT exam pattern to score 95+
• CAT 2017: Prepare devising your own Exam day strategy; suggest CAT toppers
• Countdown to CAT 2017: Focus your preparation on syllabus, attempt Mocks; key tips from toppers
• The official CAT 2017 Mock test released by IIM Lucknow on October 30, is a clear indicator of the changes in the CAT 2017 exam pattern and CAT syllabus calling for changes in CAT preparation strategy.

IIMs CAT Mock: Perfect guide to CAT syllabus & exam pattern
So far, CAT official Mock test has always been the base that forms the expected structure and content of forthcoming CAT exam. Not only this, the past experience has established that CAT Mock test and actual CAT exam paper are not much different.  Accordingly, the recently enabled CAT 2017 Mock Test by IIMs which is accessible to all the candidates has brought about number of key changes in CAT 2017 exam pattern and CAT syllabus. The topics on which questions could be formed in actual CAT 2017 test may also not be very different.

Important changes in CAT Syllabus & exam pattern
You may find a different CAT 2017 exam on November 26. It may have a changed pattern based on revamped CAT syllabus as regards to type of questions and their scoring pattern. It appears that CAT 2017 exam will be held on 2015 exam pattern instead of 2016 pattern. This fact is revealed in official CAT Mock test. CAT 2017 preparation expert and mentor Prof S K Agarwal, shares below the key sectional changes in CAT exam pattern:  

50% questions reduced on LR in DILR section

DILR has remained a hard nut to crack for CAT aspirants during last year also.  There have been instances when the candidates who had scored more than 99 percentile in CAT could not be shortlisted by any IIM due to low percentile in DILR section in CAT exam.

DI questions are more time consuming in CAT exam and this year IIMs have increased the questions on DI and have reduced the share of LR questions.

Important changes in CAT syllabus and DILR sectional pattern are summarized below:

1. DILR in CAT 2017 to have 32 total questions
2. 50% questions from LR section reduced in official CAT 2017 Mock test marking a significant twist in CAT 2017 exam pattern and CAT syllabus
3. Total questions on DI in the revamped CAT exam pattern are: 20
4. Total questions on LR in the revamped CAT exam pattern are: 12
5. 1/3 Negative marking penalty questions in CAT 2017 in DILR: 24
6. No-negative marking penalty questions in CAT 2017: 8
7. No penalty questions in DI in CAT 2017: 4
8. No penalty questions in LR in CAT 2017: 4
9. CAT 2017 official Mock test reveals a few MCQs as No-penalty questions in DILR section.
10. It could be publishing error also by IIMs. However, if there are a few MCQs with no penalty of 1/3 negative marking, candidates should be happy as they will get answer options also to choose from in this section.
11. Topics covered in DILR section of CAT 2017 syllabus are: Table Analysis-data comparison; Bar graphs analysis, ratio, percentage; Pie chart; Line graph; Table Data Analysis; Team formation; Family pair

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC): Key changes
VARC could prove to be high scoring area with more clarity in CAT 2017 exam pattern. The CAT 2017 syllabus and exam pattern as revealed in CAT official Mock Test will have following changes:

1. No-penalty questions kept 10 in number and will be in Non-MCQ format
2. There will be no-answer options for Non-MCQs
3. You need to type in the answers in the given space for Non-MCQs on computer screen
4. All RC Based questions will be in MCQ format in CAT 2017
5. All Verbal Ability based questions will be in Non-MCQ format in CAT 2017
6. 24 questions in MCQ format will be based on 5 RC passages
7. 10 questions in Non-MCQ format will be based on Verbal Ability (VA)
8. Core topics covered in VARC syllabus in CAT 2017 are – Para summary, Jumbled paragraph and odd sentences out

Changes in Quantitative Ability (QA)
The official CAT Mock Test now reveals following changes in CAT 2017 exam syllabus and CAT exam pattern for Quantitative Ability (QA) section:

1. Quant section in CAT 2017 will have 34 questions
2. 10 questions are proposed as no penalty questions instead of last year 7 now, as per the updated CAT exam pattern revealed in CAT Mock test available on the site as on November 15.
3. As revealed in official CAT Mock, a few MCQs are also no-penalty questions apart from the Non-MCQs in Quant section
4. It is expected that the actual CAT 2017 exam paper may contain 3-4 MCQs without no penalty of negative marking as revealed in official CAT mock test.
5. The emphasis on Arithmetic based questions is expected to reduce in actual CAT 2017 exam and other topics on Geometry, Algebra, Number system, P&C may get prominence

CAT 2017: Scoring pattern
IIM Lucknow has shared following scoring pattern in CAT 2017 exam:

• All MCQs will carry 1/3 negative marking penalty for wrong answer
• All correct answers for MCQs and Non-MCQs will be awarded +3 positive marks for each right answer
• All Non MCQs will be free from penalty of negative marking. Accordingly no marks will be deducted for wrong answers of Non-MCQ type of questions.
• Maximum raw score will be 300
• The score obtained by the candidate will be scaled further and will then be converted to percentile score as per the GATE formula
• IIMs will shortlist the candidates as per their individual admission policy.

It is, therefore of utmost importance that you follow the right preparation strategy now weighing all the pros and cons and also devise your CAT 2017 test taking strategy well in time.

Experts at MBAUniverse.com will bring out next important tip to crack CAT 2017 with an improved percentile shortly. Watch the space…

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