CAT 2014: How significant are mock tests in CAT new pattern

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MBAUniverse.com News Desk |
September 5, 2014
CAT 2014 aspirants depending upon various types of Mock test series available in the market, now have to search for revised and updated Mock tests
Significance of mock tests in CAT 2014 new pattern is still more prominent as the changes have been brought for the first time after 4 years

With so many changes announced in CAT 2014 new pattern, candidates are yet to know about the exact pattern of CAT 2014.  New pattern has not yet disclosed either the different question types or the proposed change in their formation and presentation. On the top of it CAT 2014 new pattern practice test has not yet been made available by the IIMs on CAT 2014 site.

CAT 2014 aspirants depending upon various types of Mock test series available in the market, now have to search for revised and updated Mock tests in accordance with CAT 2014 new exam pattern. The anomaly is that despite being claimed that the offered Mock tests are as per the CAT 2014 new pattern, how the aspirants can make sure that the claim is correct since the source practice test and pattern is still in the dark.

Significance of Mocks is more now

According to Prof S K Agarwal expert on CAT 2014 preparation, importance and significance of mock tests in CAT 2014 new pattern is still more prominent as the changes have been brought for the first time after 4 years and still the CAT 2014 new exam pattern has not been shared by IIMs.

For the last 3 years CAT has been running on the same pattern therefore, all the earlier CAT announcements didn’t require any different type of preparation and the there was no significant change either in test size or pattern. Aspirants were therefore in their comfort zone with almost similar type of mock tests. But the case is not so with the announcement of CAT 2014 new exam pattern

Key changes in CAT 2014 new exam pattern

Following key changes are proposed in CAT 2014 new pattern and because of these changes role of Mock tests has increased-

1. Number of questions in CAT 2014 new pattern will increase from 60 to 100

2. Time to solve the entire test paper stands increased from 140 minutes to 170 minutes

3. There will not be any additional section but number of questions in each of the two sections will be 50

4. Time restriction for each section has been removed and the test taker can move from one section to another during the overall time frame and can attempt any question.

 

Why updated and revised Mock tests needed

Prof S K Agarwal, expert on CAT preparation, shares the necessity and significance of updated mock tests as per CAT 2014 new pattern. He further emphasizes that CAT 2014 aspirants should go for plenty of right kind of mocks.

Difficulty level in updated Mocks

CAT aspirants had 2.32 minutes per question earlier now the time has been reduced to 1.7 minute per question. In the absence of any correct information, it may be inferred that CAT 2014 new pattern is expected to have low difficulty level.

The inference may or may not be correct. In view of Prof S k Agarwal, expert on Verbal Ability, in either case aspirants need to know the factual position. If the Mocks are offered on the same pattern as earlier and with the same difficulty level, it means the aspirants are now understood to have improved their efficiency level and as such they can attempt the same question in less time as per CAT 2014 new pattern as against in CAT 2013.  So the Mock in accordance with the similar difficulty level as expected in CAT 2014 new pattern, is required to be attempted.

Number of questions

Mock tests as per CAT 2014 new pattern are more necessary to solve since number of questions has increased for CAT 2014 new exam pattern. Earlier a candidate had to sit for 140 minutes to solve 60 questions, now he will have to drain his brain for another half an hour. The exam not only requires the stamina to sit but a mind that goes on working without break. A CAT aspirant has to test himself in the new scenario of CAT 2014 new pattern and Mock test is the best way to judge him on this ground.

Analyse the ability

Mock tests can prove to be the only solution to analyse one’s ability to take CAT 2014 in its new pattern. What errors I made, how to select the right type of questions in the test. Aspirants go on making similar mistakes of omitting the doable questions and getting stuck on difficult questions and then getting them wrong. All this can be understood with the help of Mock tests of right quality and their analysis.

Mocks help improve the attempts
Right kind of Mock tests as per the CAT 2014 new pattern will help you to improve your attempts. Number of times CAT aspirants suffer from the problem of low attempts. This happens even when they have necessary expertise to solve the questions. Mocks show the way to come out of this dilemma and the areas where you can improve.

Opportunity to weigh the strengths and weakness

When we prepare and practice, it’s but natural a thought that we have improved. The thought goes on and on the day of test all is not well. Unless you take plenty of right kind of mocks, you may never know where you stand. What are your strengths and weaknesses and which are the areas that need further improvement.

You may be having some strong areas in your weak ones and some weak areas in your strong ones. The strengths are to be further strengthened and weak areas are to be made strong. It’s not only knowledge and expertise but also your ability to choose right kind of questions in the test. You may attempt more questions and may attempt a few of them wrong, the negative marking will push you down in the merit and entire hard work, energy, time and money you invested will become futile. Mock tests are the panacea to this disease and can make you aware of these issues so that you may further improve in CAT 2014 new pattern.

Beware of freedom of movement: Take more mocks

No restriction in movement from one section to another during the overall time limit of 170 minutes will be imposed in CAT 2014 new pattern.  With this changed pattern, you may attempt any question from any section. It will be better, if you go for revised computer based Mocks which contain 100 questions covering more topics and usage.

But usually when there is no restriction and plenty of time is available with us we forget to utilize the time judiciously. The only way to understand the utility of  time, how much time to be spent and how many attempts, in what manner,  is taking more mocks. The rehearsal of real CAT 2014 new pattern will be needed number of times. It will provide an all round improvement and refrain you from experimenting in choosing the questions in testing room on CAT 2014 test day.

5 do’s to follow when you attempt Mocks

Prof S K Agarwal suggests CAT aspirants to follow a few guidelines when they get ready to attempt the mocks as per CAT 2014 new pattern

-Keep your mindset as if you were taking real CAT 2014 new pattern test. This will get you more concentrated in your approach of choosing the questions.

-Scoring pattern is expected to be slightly different in CAT 2014. So focus on both the sections in a balanced manner. Balanced high sectional percentile is more important than overall high percentile.

- Improve your number of attempts. More questions may be based on more topics. So wide coverage on topics will be available to opt for

- No need to solve all the questions. Focus on most doable questions followed by other questions which you can attempt and solve. Leave the difficult and more time consuming questions. Come to them later, if time permits.

 - Maximise your Attempts 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.

Please remember 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. Success in CAT 2014 new pattern test will open the gates to more than 4 thousand seats in 19 IIMs and more than 10 thousand in other top rated B schools.

CAT 2014 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. 

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