Ides of October 2014 has arrived and has gone but IIMs have not been able to publish the much promised CAT 2014 practice exam on CAT site. It would have been better had the exam pattern and practice test were made available along with the opening of registration process for CAT 2014.
Publishing the new exam pattern and practice test will help not only the first timers in CAT 2014 but also those who have been burning mid night oil to crack CAT 2014. In reply to the question ‘What does a CBT exam look like?’ CAT 2014 conducting IIMs respond ‘A CAT practice exam will be available on the website www.iimcat.ac.in for candidates to get familiarized with the functionality and navigation of the actual exam. This link will be made available in mid-October 2014.’ Mid October 2014 has arrived and now October is all set to usher in its second half but neither the exam pattern nor the CAT 2014 practice test is available on CAT site till date.
Aspirants waiting for more than 2 months
With the publication CAT 2014 announcement on July 27, 2014 and with the opening of CAT 2014 registration process on Aug 6, 2014 comprising number of proposed changes in CAT 2014 test pattern, the CAT 2014 aspirants have since been worried what the structure of the test would be in new pattern.
CAT 2014 conducting IIM Indore or testing agency TCS has not been able to clarify the various doubts hovering the minds of CAT aspirants. The only fact visible on the CAT 2014 site is that the CAT 2014 test will contain 100 questions and there will not be any sectional time constraints.
Exam pattern in the form of practice test related to CAT 2014 has not yet been made available, despite the promise shared on CAT site.
CAT 2014: Not an easy test-new pattern needed
Except for the guess work shared by number of preparation centres to the aspirants, there is no factual release from the IIM on CAT 2014 site or otherwise. CAT is not an easy test, aspirants have been preparing for last many months to enter their dream B school. But they are still in dark about the exact nature of the test.
Barely a month remains to appear in CAT 2014 and candidates going for various mock test sessions have to depend upon what they are advised to solve based on the experience of their peers and mentors. It is also not necessary that the past CAT papers will be of much help since the testing pattern has been transferred from earlier testing agency to new testing agency.
CAT 2014: Look beyond normal surprises
According to Prof S K Agarwal, expert on Verbal Ability for CAT 2014 preparation, candidates may expect any form of surprise element till IIMs clarify on exam pattern and publish practice test on CAT 2014 site. The questions in CAT 2014 may be twisted. Entire test pattern may change. What has never appeared in CAT may appear in 2014. The standard type of questions which the candidates normally see in the test may disappear and questions in different format may appear.
Going by the reputation of CAT testing pattern, surprise elements appear in CAT even when there is no change in exam pattern. Now with so many changes especially when CAT 2014 is being handled by new testing agency how can a candidate expect that the exam pattern will remain the same.
No need to delay
In earlier years, CAT aspirants were able to attempt the practice tests as many times as they liked. What has caused the CAT 2014 to linger on the publication of practice test and new exam pattern is not known nor any candidate is concerned about the reasons for delay. Timely publishing of the exam pattern and practice test for CAT 2014 would also helped the aspirants to have good familiarity to the proposed changed CAT 2014 exam which is very close now.
In case any substantial change in exam pattern is introduced now, it may be difficult for CAT 2014 aspirants to cope with it and reorganize their preparation and testing room strategy.
Related Links
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Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on CAT 2014
