CAT 2014, the gateway to more than 4 thousand seats in 19 IIMs and more than 10 thousand in other top rated B schools, will be a computer based test to be held in two sessions a day on November 16 and November 22, 2014 at 354 centres in 99 cities across the country.
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. CAT 2014 will have 100 questions as against 60 that used to appear in earlier CAT exams.
CAT 2014: Not an Internet Based Test
It is a misconception to think that CAT 2014 is going to be an online test. According to IIMs, ‘CAT is not an online exam. CAT 2014 is a digital or Computer Based Test (CBT); not an Internet Based Test (IBT). A candidate will not take the exam on an internet site. Instead of reading the questions in a paper booklet and darkening the ovals on the answer-sheet, a candidate will read the questions on a computer terminal and choose an answer by clicking on the correct option.’
Display of the timer on the screen that tells you how many more minutes are left to complete the exam is an additional feature of CAT in comparison to paper pencil based test.
CAT 2014: Practice test on site in mid October 2014
CAT has not yet shared the practice test however the same is to be made available by the IIMs on CAT 2014 site in mid October 2014, after completion of registration process.
100 questions: need for more source topics to cover
The test has announced increase in number of questions from 60 to 100 divided in 50 questions in each of the two sections. So it is certain that number of sections is not going to be increased. The change in pattern poses challenge before the CAT 2014 aspirants since it has more questions and less availability of time. The major aspirant friendly feature announced in CAT 2014 is that the test takers will have freedom of movement from one section to other.
CAT 2014 has moved in the direction of overhauling the test pattern by bringing about substantial changes in number of questions in each section, total allotted time and testing window. Dr Rohit Kapoor, Convener CAT 2014 has already given the hint that CAT 2014 will have a different exam pattern with no change in syllabus.
Aspirants have so far been devoting time to prepare and practice on the existing pattern which according to CAT Verbal Ability preparation expert Prof S K Agarwal, is the right strategy in the right direction and needs a little more intensive study and practice on a few more source topics.
Fundamentals in Verbal Ability; high probability source topics
Only one or two questions on usage of basics like parts of speech, tenses and syntax pattern have so far been asked in earlier CAT exam. Not only increase in number of questions on these topics is expected but the type and shape of questions are also expected to change.
The major topics to study are- Articles, Collective nouns, Personal and relative pronouns, placement of adverbs and adjectives, verb pattern, Modifiers, Tenses, conditionals, Active passive, Reported speech.
Focus more on RC; 16 questions expected
10 questions on Reading Comprehension passages are expected to increase to 16. It’s not the number of questions only but also number and size of RC passages which may get a new shape in CAT 2014. In view of Prof S K Agarwal Verbal Ability expert the size of an RC passage is expected to decrease to 700 words with yet higher difficulty level and number of RC passages may increase to 5 instead of 3. Aspirants are suggested to study more and practice different type of questions on Reading Comprehension.
Questions like ‘tone of the passage’ may have different pattern asking the ‘Attitude of the Author’; ‘thought prevailing in the author’s mind’. At least 2 passages a day should be studied and questions on each of the passage should be solved in not more than 12-14 minutes.
Prepare different questions on paragraphs
• There could be a question to find the first sentence of a paragraph instead of last sentence.
• Questions to explain figures of speech in paragraph can be asked
• Questions on confused words might be there in CAT 2014
• Vocabulary questions on collocations, phrasal verbs are expected to find their place in CAT 2014
How to win
• CAT 2014 will have no restriction and you will be permitted to solve any of the 100 questions from any section during the overall time limit of 170 minutes. With this changed pattern, you should go for revised computer based Mocks which contain 100 questions covering more topics and usage.
• Scoring pattern is expected to be slightly different in CAT 2014. So prepare and practice in the manner that you focus on the both the sections in a balanced manner. Balanced high sectional percentile is more important than overall high percentile. Therefore during your practice sessions, keep a clock with you and find out periodically how many questions from each of the sections you have solved.
• More questions may be based on more topics. So wide coverage on topics will be available to opt for and attempt
• No need to solve all the questions in CAT 2014. Focus on 60-70 questions with no constraints in navigation from one section to other. You will then have more than 2 minutes per question.
• Prepare with an open mind, it will be easier to pick more questions out of 100 questions
• One always prefers to solve those questions in first attempt which one can solve confidently. More attempts should accordingly be made in order of expertise.
• Avoid wastage of time. If you stick to one difficult question and try to waste your time, you may remain far behind in scoring. Time saved out of these attempts will be available before you to utilize for further attempts. Your level of preparation will equip you to make as many attempts as possible with accuracy.
Prof S K Agarwal, expert on CAT preparation is of the view that the changes in CAT 2014 are expected to add to the difficulty level, need innovative preparation strategy, require practicing the different type of mocks. CAT 2014 takers are advised to improve their reading speed and accuracy level to crack CAT 2014..
Related link
Trends in CAT Exam; Still in Evolution process; impact will be on CAT 2014 test takers
Petty mistakes that create chaos in CAT 2014 Registration process; know how to get rid of
Do not miss the chance to enter IIM; CAT 2014 offers more chances this year
Speed Accuracy will be the big factor to ace CAT 2014 new exam pattern with 99+ percentile
Next 52 days of CAT 2014 Registration: What should Dr Rohit Kapoor Expect?
CAT 2014: How alarming with tricky questions will be the CAT new pattern
Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more preparation tips on CAT 2014
