CAT 2014 has brought many changes and challenges for the aspirants and more may be in stock to appear in due course but before the exam. CAT 2014 site still remains unfolded on various issues and an uncertain situation of ‘what next is there in CAT 2014 store’ continues to persist among the aspirants.
Aspirants are not yet aware about the CAT 2014 examination pattern; Type of questions as the practice test is still not available; What is expected and what to follow at the testing centre on CAT 2014 testing day; what would be the scoring, scaling and equating process for CAT 2014. Prof S K Agarwal, Verbal Ability expert on CAT preparation shares 5 big challenges that CAT 2014 aspirants are expected to face and how to be a winner in the situation.
CAT 2014: No facility to schedule the test as per convenience
The need to have a beforehand understanding of all the above is more for CAT 2014 since it is going to be conducted in 4 sessions on two testing days, namely November 16 and 22, 2014 across the country. Number of CAT aspirants used to schedule their test usually in the last week of CAT testing window, after getting a feel of different CAT exam days and sessions. It provided them more time to go for focused last moment preparation.
The facility however stands withdrawn now. Allotment of the testing centre at one of the preferred testing cities in CAT 2014 is the prerogative of the IIM and the testing agency for CAT 2014. The aspirant has to wait till October 16, 2014 to know about the allotted test centre, date and session. Not much favour can be expected except the fact that allotment will be subject to availability.
Challenge is a blessing
Expert on CAT preparation Prof S K Agarwal shares that it’s not a challenge and is a blessing in disguise. Now the CAT aspirants will be free from the test without getting panicky of reports describing technical problems in CAT exam, flipping one topic on one day and other on other day depending upon what appears in the exam. So far as question on more time to prepare is concerned the candidates are going to have additional one month of study before CAT 2014 takes place. Those who are preparing well will crack it even if it is conducted in a single session like XAT, those who are not confident enough will always it difficult to crack whether it has 4 sessions or 40 sessions. So better to focus on preparation.
LOD: No time to know
The reaction from CAT 2014 aspirants is mixed one as thousands of them feel that they are now deprived of knowing the question type and pattern as well as the level of difficulty in various sessions. It’s quite possible that out of the 4 sessions they may be allotted the first session and may have to face the first ball of the match.
In case the level of difficulty is high, they may lose their chances to score a high percentile. The panic is even more since the exam duration is longer than earlier with more number of questions and reduced time limit per question to solve.
LOD to be same; why to worry
Just Relax! Experts have a different opinion. Prof Agarwal suggests that CAT 2014 aspirants are expected to be weighed on similar level of difficulty throughout the 4 testing sessions in CAT 2014. As against 40 sets of test papers in 40 sessions in CAT 2013, there will be only 4 sets in 4 sessions in CAT 2014. So no issue on varying difficulty level should be there and all the candidates will stand on the same platform in regard to LOD. Better performer will get better percentile and this is always true.
CAT 2014 Exam pattern: No clue yet
CAT 2014, no doubt is sharing the information in parts. This is the high time for preparation to CAT 2014 but the site is still keeping the candidates in dark regarding the exact examination pattern. Aspirants have only been informed about the increase in number of questions from 30 to 50 in each of two sections with total number of questions coming to 100.
Nothing is available if there would be any significant changes in the type of questions, source topics and above all what the composition of the test would be? Will there be more questions on Verbal, RC or LR in the section or all the 3 parts will have more number of questions? Does the candidate has to wait till November 16, 2014 to know about this challenge and face its ingredients in the testing room as a surprise or IIM will share the information earlier?
Since the proportionate time to solve the higher number of questions has not so much increased, candidates are getting panicky what type of test CAT 2014 is going to be.
CAT New Pattern friendlier; overcome the fear
Shed the fear, suggest the CAT experts. Syllabus remains the same and even if there is any change in type of questions, it won’t affect adversely your ability to choose right answer option, if you know the concept and application. Presentation of a question in different manner is not such a challenge as a CAT 2014 aspirant cannot face. The need is to practice different type of questions that appear in different entrance tests apart from past CAT papers.
Challenge to manage time: Fear is more
It was 140 minutes for 60 questions in CAT 2013 and now it is 170 minutes for 100 questions in CAT 2014. It was already a big challenge to solve good number of questions to score a high percentile in CAT and now it has been further aggravated. This is what CAT 2014 aspirants feel.
In fact no proportionate increase in time to solve the questions is granted. On the contrary the time allotted per question to solve has been reduced by 1 minute. CAT aspirants earlier had 2.32 minutes at their disposal to solve one question and now it stands reduced to 1.70 minutes per question. What an aspirant should do to get over this big issue.
More practice is the key
‘Practice more to improve speed’ says CAT preparation expert, Prof S K Agarwal. The challenge to manage the time solely depends upon the ability of the aspirants. Since no CAT aspirant goes to solve all the questions in both the sections, it’s better to improve the speed and accuracy within the allotted time by practicing more and more. This strategy of preparation for CAT 2014 during next 3 months will not only boost the confidence level of the candidates but also will improve the accuracy.
Freedom to Move between the sections; a big challenge
CAT 2014 will allow the movement between the two sections. Now the candidates may switch from one section to another within the allotted time of 170 minutes. They can solve questions according to their preference in either section. While many CAT aspirants call it a welcome move, others feel that the freedom poses a big challenge in getting more output in less time.
Aspirants now will have full 170 minutes with them to focus on entire test and in case they do not follow an already devised attempting strategy, they may lose on one section or may tempt to lose more time on one question. This may result in poor sectional scores.
Be cautious; balance the attempts
The caution, according to experts is not to focus only on one section and aspirants now have to score high sectional percentile along with high overall percentile. If you get stuck and spend more time on one section, you wouldn’t be left with much time for another section. The strategy should be to equally divide the time for both the sections in your initial attempts and solve as many questions from both the sections as possible.
The best preparation strategy to keep it balanced in the 2 sections is to periodically go for a set of mocks with 100 questions. Keep a clock with you and start solving.
The score normalization in CAT 2014 is all set to bring more transparency in the process. Aspirants would know the Equating/Scaling Process prior to CAT 2014 examination. Now there will be the first hand acquaintance with the exact scoring, equating and scaling system before CAT 2014 begins.
Experts are of the opinion that CAT 2014 is more aspirant friendly and the aspirants are advised to practice and understand the practice test which is going to be available on CAT 2014 site shortly.
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