CAT 2014 brought with it number of changes as well as last moment surprises. Now CAT 2015 is not going to lag behind. The largest MBA/PGDM entrance test of the country CAT 2015 proposes to bring many changes both at the operational level of convening the exam and in content part of the test.
IIM Ahmedabad, the top rated B school of India will be convening CAT 2015 with testing partner TCS sometime in October 2015. Prof T Bandyopadhyay convener CAT 2015 when asked about the proposed changes in CAT 2015 replied that “Every year we review CAT and make certain changes- both operational and content”. In fact, if we go by the past pattern of CAT exams we may understand its ever evolving process. In 2009, CAT changed from paper pencil mode to computer based test with more than 2 sections and uneven number of questions having varying time limits. Gradually CAT got stabilized to 2 sections where 30 questions in each section were supposed to be solved in 70 minutes. At operational level the CAT testing window continued for 15-20 days with 2 sessions on each day.
In 2014, the process was suddenly changed and CAT 2014 was summed up only in 2 days, 4 sessions. At the content level, the CAT 2014 had 100 questions equally divided in 2 sections and the entire test paper had to be solved in 170 minutes without any sectional time constraints. Various questions topics didn’t appear in the exam. The practice test that earlier used to be present along with opening of registration process made its present just a few days before the exam and the candidates continued speculating on it. During the last many years it was for the first time in CAT 2014, that registration for the exam was reopened for a very short period. FAQs in CAT 2014 continued getting changed and updated frequently in accordance with the feedback received by the CAT 2014 centre.
While some changes in CAT 2015 are proposed and can be anticipated to further glorify the exam, some may remain surprise and unexpected till you appear in the exam.
IIMs and other top rated B schools who are going shortlist the candidates only on the basis of high sectional and overall scores in CAT 2015 shall also have higher intake of students in the academic session 2016-17 for their 2 years MBA/PGDM batches 2016-18. It is also expected that intake in some of the proposed 7 new IIMs would also increase and therefore more candidates would be shortlisted for final admission round.
Proposed changes
MBAUniverse.com has been following CAT 2015 centre to keep the aspirants abreast regarding expected or unexpected changes in CAT 2015. As shared by CAT 2015 convener Prof Tathagata Bandyopadhyay, faculty IIM Ahmedabad following changes are proposed in CAT 2015
Early CAT 2015 notification
Notification for CAT 2015 is proposed to be released on July 26, 2015. It would enable opening of early registration process for CAT 2015. Usually registration for CAT remains open for 55 days. This period may be shortened to enable the CAT 2015 centre to process the further exam schedule earlier than before.
Strategy to attract greater gender diversity in IIMs
To attract more female candidates take CAT 2015, the allotment of test centres for girl candidates is proposed to be near the city areas so that they do not face any inconvenience in locating the test venues or transportation issues.
More test centres
CAT 2015 is proposed to be conducted at the highest number of test centres across the country. There would be 115 test cities with more than 400 test venues in CAT 2015. There were 99 test cities with 354 test venues in CAT 2014.
Early CAT 2015 exam
CAT 2015 may be held in the month of October instead of November as happened in CAT 2014. The early exam will also help the candidates to get ready for their MBA entrance exams which are held in the month of November for example IIFT among others.
Shortest Testing window
CAT 2015 is proposed to be conducted on a single day in 2 sessions as against in 4 sessions on 2 days in CAT 2014. The aim is to accelerate the process of completing score normalization and declare an early CAT 2015 result.
Focus on all academic streams
CAT 2015 test is proposed to be designed to provide level playing field for all candidates from different academic backgrounds. The test paper may not be the heaven to the candidates coming from Engineering back-grounds only.
Things that you should remember
Although CAT 2015 Centre is not going to disclose the syllabus before enabling the practice test, it is expected that a few different vocabulary based questions could make their presence in CAT 2015.
Since CAT 2015 will have more testing centres, you do not have to worry much about your journey plan. It is very much possible that your CAT 2015 test venue could be in the vicinity of area.
One very important thing to remember is that you are not going to have time to know from CAT 2015 taker of the previous session how the exam was. The last minute tip from the earlier test taker may not be able as the exam is going to be conducted in a single day. According to prof S K Agarwal expert on Verbal Ability and mentor CAT 2015 preparation the important part is your own preparation level. There should be extensive and diversified preparation in the initial days so that all the weak areas can be overcome. Please also remember it is not necessary whatever topics and questions did not appear in CAT 2014 can not be asked in CAT 2015. You may expect questions on such topics that could not find their place last year. So prepare them well also. For example do not leave vocabulary based questions, they may reappear in different form.
Besides, unlike CAT 2014 which had full length sample practice test with 100 questions, CAT 2015 site may not provide you with such a facility. The practice test could be shorter with 20-25 questions of different types.
Related Article
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Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on CAT 2015
