Putting a full stop to all the apprehensions, fears and problems that were being anticipated by many to come up in CAT 2014, the first two sessions of CAT 2014 exam with new pattern have been conducted successfully without any problem technical or managerial. The published full length CAT 2014 practice test, test day guide, exam duration and pattern on CAT 2014 have been of great help for the candidates.
Questions that appeared in the first 2 sessions of CAT 2014 on November 16, 2014 were more or less on the same lines as available in the CAT 2014 Mock test published by CAT Centre 2014 on CAT website on October 28, 2014. Prof S K Agarwal, expert on Verbal Ability and mentor CAT preparation after analyzing the trend on first day of CAT 2014 examination predicts that the composition of questions in different sections on second day of CAT 2014 i.e. Nov 22, 2014 is expected to remain on the same lines as on Nov 16, 2014.
Prof Agarwal also suggests the CAT 2014 aspirants to practice 1-2 mocks before the second day of CAT 2014 and practice with patience the mock available on CAT 2014 site understanding the navigation tools properly.
Before beginning the exam, it is expected that the test taker should go through all the instructions and understand the navigation tools like how to answer the questions, how to save the answers, how to change the answers and more importantly how to view the entire question paper in one go without visiting each individual question. CAT 2014 as is well known is presented in a changed pattern with 100 questions equally divided in 2 sections namely Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation as first section and Verbal Ability & Logical reasoning as second section.
CAT 2014: Section wise Division of questions on Nov 22
Both the above sections will have equal number of 50 questions each. These 50 questions in each section will be further divided in 2 parts-
Quantitative Ability
34 questions on Quant are expected to appear on the second day of CAT 2014 exam. The anticipated type of topics on which Quant questions could be framed on the second day of CAT 2014 are Arithmetic (Time distance speed; Percentage; Time and work; Interest; Profit and Loss; ratio), Algebra, Trigonometry, Geometry, Modern Math. The difficulty level is also expected to be moderate and the questions could be on the same lines as appeared on first day of CAT 2014.
Data Interpretation
DI questions in the first section are expected to be 16 in number on November 22, 2014 the second day of CAT 2014. Questions in this part would be divided in 4 sets based on 4 problems followed by 4 questions in each set. Candidates on the first day of CAT 2014 found DI questions more tricky and time consuming and no doubt in comparison to Quant, DI was more time consuming.
The 4 problem sets are expected to be placed in the form of tables, charts, diagrams, graphs and students need more time to read, analyse the data and crack the problem set.
Question sets are expected to test your skill whether you are able to compare the scattered and tricky data and arrive at the right answer option. The best way to crack this part in CAT 2014 is to practice about 10-20 different type of questions of versatile nature.
Verbal Ability
This section comprises questions on Verbal Ability; questions based on Reading Comprehension passages and questions based on Logical reasoning Problems. CAT 2014 first day had 34 questions based on Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension passages and 16 questions based on Logical reasoning. The same pattern is expected on the second day of exam on November 22, 2014.
Your skill in Verbal Ability implies that you should know English language usage. You need not be an expert on English Literature nor the IIMs expect you to be a professor of English but the basics of English language usage should be well understood so that you may write well and understand well.
Error correction
There are expected 4-5 questions based on Error correction in English Grammar and usage. The questions would be in the form of a paragraph containing 5 sentences marked A,B,C,D, E. Candidates would be asked to pick out the correct or incorrect sentences out of the paragraph.
The source topics on which the questions are expected to be based are usage of articles, nouns, pronouns, verbs, singular-plural, adverbs, modifiers, punctuation, Reported speech, Active Passive. 5 questions correct means 15 core marks and an increase of 30-35 in your percentile
Expected Questions based on short Paragraphs
Jumbled paragraphs- 2-3 questions to put the randomly placed jumbled sentences in coherent order are supposed to appear in CAT 2014 on Nov 22, 2014. Correct answers to them would mean a rise of 6-9 marks in raw score and a rise of 18-21 of percentile. CAT 2014 may not place questions on jumbled sentences with the opening or closing sentences already given in the question.
Odd man out-Try to recall the questions to pick the ‘out of context’ sentences in a jumbled paragraph that appeared in CAT 2012 and 2013. It is the same pattern with the only difference that you are asked to pick the ‘odd man out’ in the jumbled paragraph. You may expect 3 such questions on Nov 22, 2014. A little practice can add 9 raw marks and 18-21 of percentile in CAT 2014.
Short paragraphs- 3 questions on 3 short paragraphs of 50-60 words to pick out the correct option that best describes the summary of the paragraph are expected on Nov 22, 2014. Again the correct answers to them will get you an addition of 9 marks and an addition of 18-21 of percentile.
FIJ Questions- On Nov 16, 2014 on first day of CAT 2014, 2 short paragraphs appeared followed by one question each asking what could be inferred from the paragraph. You may expect such questions based on fact or Judgement also.
Another 2 short paragraphs were followed by 1 question regarding the views of the author. These 4 questions were not very difficult and are expected to appear again on Nov 22, 2014. The followed questions may be on inference or the questions could be based on FIJ statements as shared in the CAT practice test. Cracking these 4 questions correct means getting 12 marks and adding a percentile in a range of 24-28.
RC based questions: Not less than 12 questions would appear based on 3 Reading comprehension passages. There could be 3-4 passages followed by 4 questions each. In case there are 4 RC passages with 16 questions, you should expect reduction in questions on error correction, jumbled paragraphs, short paragraphs. If there are 3 passages the number of questions on other topics of Verbal Ability would increase accordingly.
All the questions are different from one another and need intensive reading of the passages as the answers options could be very close. An addition of 36 core marks cannot be ruled out if you can crack these 12 questions correct.
Logical Reasoning
16 questions would follow the 4 sets of Logical reasoning problems. The expected source topics are team formation, Blood relations, arrangements, statements-assumptions, Direction sense. In fact a candidate is expected to practice on versatile type of problems on logical reasoning.
Important Tips
In view of Prof S K Agarwal Expert and mentor on CAT preparation, the difficulty level may not rise on the second day of CAT 2014 as the overall time constraint to complete the entire test is more than past CAT exams. Test taker must have a clear testing room strategy on how to attempt and choose the right type of question to avoid tiredness and achieve accuracy.
CAT 2014 aspirants must well understand how to use the navigation tools. Marking of answers without saving the same will not be of any use and the answers will not be evaluated.
Despite removal of sectional time constraint, sectional cut off still exists in CAT 2014. You have to clear sectional cut off as well as have to score a high percentile. So manage the time as well.
Both the parts in each section i.e. DI in quant section and LR in verbal Ability section carry equal weightage. If you are good at quant solve more questions on it instead of getting stuck on DI questions. Same strategy may be applied in the second section.
Related Links
CAT 2014 New Exam Pattern: Live on Oct 28, 2014; familiarize with new pattern and questions
CAT 2014: Know the section wise expected number & type of questions while practice test awaited
CAT 2014 Test Day Guide out; reveals important dos and donts for the exam day
CAT 2014: Aspirants waiting for practice test to best utilize the Diwali Holidays
CAT 2014: 5 big changes revealed on Test day Video; listen and read carefully
CAT 2014 Test day video launched; Examinees to report 2 hours before the test at Exam centre
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CAT 2014 Admit Card is out: Download now and take the print
Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more tips and updates on CAT 2014
