CAT preparation experts and CAT toppers have similar as well as varying views regarding the measurement of preparation level for CAT 2014 through Mocks. CAT 2014 new pattern practice test has not yet been made available by the IIMs on CAT 2014 site despite number of changes are proposed in CAT 2014. New pattern of CAT 2014 has not so far disclosed either the types or the proposed change in question formation and presentation nor CAT 2014 has shared what would be the changed number of questions on different topics. The preparation centres are offering various types of Mock test series for CAT 2014 in accordance with their anticipation and visualization of CAT 2014.
CAT preparation, Question of the day
How Mocks can help in CAT 2014
Mock tests are like guess papers for CAT 2014. In earlier CAT sessions many CAT toppers were lucky enough to find the similar questions in exam as appeared in their Mocks. They happened to go through the Mocks that had practice questions to the CAT standard and later in their real examination the aspirants found questions on topics covered in those mocks quite close in CAT. This could definitely lead to the status of evaluating their preparation level and provided a good opportunity to them to know about the probability of scoring a high percentile in CAT.
CAT toppers suggest that more mocks will let you know what topics you have missed and which are your weak areas where improvement is required. Even in the strong areas, the weak points, weak topics might need more improvement. CAT preparation Expert Prof S K Agarwal is of the view that analysis of only right quality of mocks can provide the right opportunity of self evaluation and suitability of getting shortlisted in CAT 2014 based on high percentile.
CAT 2014 Mocks: the replica tests can create confusion also
CAT 2014 Mocks as available in Market are trying to find the pearls in the dark since the exact formation of CAT 2014 test paper is still not revealed. With so many changes announced in CAT 2014 new pattern, candidates are yet to know about the exact pattern of CAT 2014. Despite being claimed that the offered Mock tests are as per the CAT 2014 new pattern, aspirants have no yardstick to know how good they are except to go by the claims of various Coaching Institutes. CAT Preparation expert Prof S K Agarwal and number of other CAT toppers warn the CAT 2014 aspirants to be on their guard as these mocks for CAT 2014 may have questions types as appear in XAT, SNAP, CMAT. Such Mocks may not exactly reveal your level of CAT 2014 preparation. On the contrary, they might create more confusion and you might go off-track while preparing for CAT 2014. Your dream of scoring a high overall as well as sectional percentile will depend on your performance in CAT 2014 and mocks despite being an indicator may lose their relevance given the changed CAT 2014 pattern.
It is definitely better to prepare and practice right type of questions instead of falling into the trap of wrong type of Mocks for CAT 2014.
CAT 2014 Mocks: Assessment opportunity
If Mock Test providers are good enough to anticipate the ratio of right type of questions from various source topics in CAT 2014, you may utilize this opportunity to assess your preparation level and the expected percentile in the exam. You will be lucky enough, if you find the such types of Mocks in the market. However, Aspirants can make sure to some extent about the quality of Mocks whether the claim is correct based on following parameters. However the source practice test and pattern is still in the dark.
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.
CAT 2014:What should the Changed Mocks contain
Mocks as per CAT 2014 new pattern are required to give a lead to preparation level. Analysis of such Mock tests will surely have more important role in assessing the aspirants to CAT 2014 standard.
- CAT 2014 Mocks need to have 100 questions instead of 60 of good Level of Difficulty.
- CAT 2014 will have 170 minutes to solve 100 questions. Mocks should provide 10 minutes less time to solve the entire test paper. The time could be increased by 10 minutes in later mocks.
- CAT 2014 Verbal Ability part in Mocks should have at least 15 questions based on RC; 5 on Vocabulary; 5 on error corrections; 4 on para-completion; 6 on jumbled paragraphs. If this number is present in CAT 2014 Mocks with the same difficulty level as has been appearing in earlier CAT papers, you may expect that a good research work has been done to bring mocks before you.
- While attempting the mocks, please remember that 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. The proposed mock should also be attempted on the same pattern
Why updated and revised Mock tests needed
Prof S K Agarwal, expert on CAT preparation, shares the necessity of updated mock tests as per CAT 2014 new pattern and emphasizes that CAT 2014 aspirants should go for plenty of right kind of mocks.
Same difficulty level
CAT aspirants had 2.32 minutes per question earlier now the time has been reduced to 1.7 minute per question with no anticipated change in difficulty level. In the absence of any correct information, it may be inferred that CAT 2014 new pattern is expected to have almost same difficulty level, may be with different type of questions
In view of Prof S K Agarwal, expert on Verbal Ability, aspirants need to attempt the Mocks in accordance with the similar difficulty level as expected in CAT 2014 new pattern. 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 pattern of CAT 2014 and only right type of Mock test would be the best tool to go through it.
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