No MBA entrance test has gone through so many perceptible changes as CAT which opens the gates to IIMs and other top rated B schools. Admission in 6 more proposed IIMs, going to start functioning in 2015, will be through CAT 2014. It’s going to substantially increase the intake in IIMs in 2015. This is the reason that despite these changes and surprises, varying number of questions, changing pattern and composition, CAT has always been the aspirants’ most favourite of all the MBA/PGDM entrance tests conducted in the country. No other test than CAT gets around 2 lakhs registrations despite its high level of difficulty.
Single day CAT of 80s and 90s had more questions
The single day CAT that used to contain 240 questions in 1990 had to be solved in 120 minutes. While the single day CAT continued till 2008, the time to attempt the test and number of questions continued changing from year to year. However, CAT remained an efficiently managed paper pencil based test till 2008. There were fewer testing centres than now, across India which contributed to glorify this top rated MBA entrance test
In 2006 & 2007, CAT had 75 questions equally divided in 3 sections of Quant, DI & LR, and Verbal Ability. Number of questions was again increased to 90 in 2008 while the paper pencil mode of CAT continued. CAT aspirants thought as if CAT was going back to higher number of questions but CAT had other plans and in 2009 the test went green throwing more surprises and technical glitches in its first year of computer based test.
CAT goes green in 2009 with longer testing window
Switching from single day paper pencil based CAT in 2008, the test adopted 11 days computer based testing window in 2009. CAT 2009 convening IIM Ahmedabad in partnership with newly appointed testing agency Prometric had to bear the brunt of poorly organized CAT 2009.
Those who appeared in CAT 2008 and planned to appear in CAT 2009 felt the heat of changed pattern of CAT. The test takers had to go through number of technical glitches and at some testing centres CAT continued from morning till evening without moving on for next session in the day. The problem was so severe that Ministry of HRD called for the detailed report from the CAT convener Prof Satish Deodhar of IIM Ahmedabad. Second phase of the test had to be conducted in the month of January 2010 for those who couldn’t attempt their test due to these technical problems.
Number of questions reduced since 2009
The first computer based test CAT 2009 had 60 questions divided in 3 sections. While Quant and Verbal had 2 separate sections with 20 questions each, DI & LR were clubbed into one section comprising 20 questions. The trend with 3 sections and 60 questions continued in CAT 2010 also. The testing window days were increased from 11 to 20 to give more leverage to CAT 2010 aspirants. However, 2010 didn’t see so many technical problems and CAT aspirants were also not mentally tortured as in CAT 2009
CAT 2011; 3 sections clubbed into 2
Again in 2011, CAT changed its face by switching from 3 sections to 2 sections. The testing window that began on October 22, continued till November 18, 2011. The section of DI & LR was split. While Data interpretation part was merged with Quant, Logical Reasoning found the place in Verbal Ability section. Number of questions remained 60 with 30 in each section.
In 2012, CAT had a testing window from October 11, 2012 to November 6, 2012. There were however, 2 sections with 60 questions as were present in CAT 2011. But CAT 2012 sprang up with surprise questions like ‘out of context sentence in a paragraph’ the challenge was again accepted by the aspirants and they adapted themselves to such unanticipated level of difficulty.
Till 2013 CAT adhered to changed pattern
CAT 2013 again had 40 sessions in 20 days. The Computer Based test (CBT) began on October 16 and continued till November 11, 2013. Number of questions remained the same but surprise element of CAT 2012 was repeated in CAT 2013. Ironically CAT 2013 despite being a smooth CAT season was confronted with scaling/equating normalization of scores issue. Court cases were filed in the court of Indore when it was found that even those who didn’t attempt any question in CAT 2013, were awarded fairly good percentile around 50. It was an embarrassing situation. Probably this called for replacement of testing agency Prometric from next CAT 2014.
CAT 2014; setting past trends
Is CAT 2014 going back to its past trends? It appears so. The forthcoming CAT 2014 will be conducted in 4 sessions in 2 days on November 16 and 22, 2014. Both are weekend days. The test has again announced increase in number of questions from 60 to 100 and undoubtedly, the change in pattern is again a challenge before the CAT 2014 aspirants. Another important feature which is aspirant friendly is that CAT 2014 takers will have freedom of movement from one section to other.
Will CAT 2015 be a single day test?
Better to appear in CAT 2014! With the consistent evolution of CAT in a circular form and its nature of throwing successive surprises, it won’t be out of place, if it goes back to its old pattern of limiting the CAT 2015 in a single day, single session with more number of questions without any increase in duration.
This could happen once CAT 2014 passes off successfully and without any technical glitches which can be considered as the only obstacle to organize CAT in a single day.
Please remember CAT was organized in a single day without any problem even when it was paper pencil based, the process required more manual intervention and more efficient administration. Now when CAT is computer based test and requires lesser administrative interference, it can be organized more efficiently in a single day. The need is to have even more test centres and test labs. This will further reduce the financial burden since the expenses will be a bit less; will reduce the time taken in declaration of results and will also not pose any difficulty in scaling/equating of scores. So be ready for single day CAT in coming years.
Impact on CAT takers; Expert tips
The impact is again on the test takers which they will accept in the same spirit as they have always done with a slight modification in their preparation strategy. With a few expert tips they will surely adapt to this revised pattern.
Prof S K Agarwal, expert on CAT preparation is of the view that these changes undoubtedly add to the difficulty level, need innovative preparation strategy, require practicing the different type of mocks and CAT takers are always worried about the unanticipated type of questions, but fascination for CAT never goes down.
CAT 2014 aspirants, raising the query whether they would be able to cope with the changed new pattern of CAT 2014 shouldn’t be worried. How can they come out with flying colours despite the revised CAT 2014 pattern is shared for the benefit of CAT 2014 test takers by CAT verbal ability expert Prof S K Agarwal.
Although CAT 2014 has not yet shared the practice test on its site, it has already shared its intention to overhaul the test pattern by bringing about substantial changes in number of questions in each section, total allotted time and testing window. Don’t forget to solve all the questions of CAT 2014 practice test going to be live in a few days
The good aspect is that you have the freedom to switch to either section without any time constraint during the overall allotted test duration. The need is to have more concentration to drain your brain for continuously 170 minutes without break.
Aspirants, at least for CAT 2014, should prepare for different type of questions on all the old and new topics and should practice as much as possible. Please do not take it for granted that in CAT 2014 difficulty level will be low and questions will be on similar pattern. So practice more on all the topics. In CAT 2014 with more number of questions, you will have the option of choosing more questions from more topics.
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