CAT 2016 exam like last year will again have 3 sections divided into VARC; DILR and Quant. Unless well synchronized and prepared with a target to score high in each of the 3 sections in CAT 2016, no call due to low percentile from IIMs could be expected.
The total number of questions may remain the same 100 but with sectional time constraint, candidates with more expertise in one section may not get any benefit even after saving their time as they will not be able to utilize it to solve questions in other section. As a result low score in any of the 3 sections may deprive them of getting shortlisted by any IIM.
Many 99 percentilers without any IIM call
Out of 1814 CAT takers who scored 99 percentile last year, many of them did not receive any call from any IIM as they could not score even the minimum qualifying percentile in one of the 3 sections and were not shortlisted for admission 2016.
If these candidates had not neglected the preparation for one section, they might be studying today in one of the top IIMs. Their lack of synchronizing the preparation for all the 3 sections gave them a miss. So it is advisable not to repeat this type of mistake in CAT 2016.
Target high percentile in all 3 sections
You will need high sectional percentile in all the 3 sections instead of 2 in CAT 2016. Preparing only for Verbal or only for Quant may not be a good strategy to attempt CAT 2016, if it continues to stay with 3 sections placing DILR as separate section.
Put-in extra effort
With the increase in sections from 2 to 3, now the CAT 2016 aspirants sincerely need to put in extra effort to ace each section and cannot depend on the sub-parts of any section as they have none nor could there be any guess work for the questions which have no answer options.
Quant remains de-linked from Data Interpretation and Verbal is separated from Logical Reasoning. Both the sub parts- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning have formed a new section DILR since last year CAT. Now you must award equal weightage to all the 3 sections while preparing for CAT 2016.
Non-MCQs also persist in CAT 2016, so the guess work is over. Now you will have to solve and type the answers on computer screen for Non-MCQs.
Those who are good in DI but weak in Quant may not expect to make good the lost score from other sub section. The low score in Verbal cannot be compensated by Logical Reasoning nor can the low score in Quant be compensated by DI. It is therefore needed to gain expertise and score high in all the sections. Too much deviation in percentile scores among 3 sections may not get you shortlisted for the final admission round.
All sections with equal weightage
There is no overshadowing the Data Interpretation questions by Quantitative Aptitude questions nor can your best preparation on Verbal Ability cover the Logical Reasoning questions. Earlier CAT aspirants did not pay much heed to DILR questions and probably less than a fortnight or very few sessions were devoted to DILR preparation in the entire period of 6-7 months of preparation journey.
But the situation is no more like this. CAT 2016 aspirants have to prepare well on DILR questions now. There is no savior like Quant or verbal questions, if you find DI or LR questions a bit lengthy or time consuming. Your preparation plan needs quick and well devised modification to award equal weightage to all the 3 sections.
You have been preparing well for Quant and Verbal and can sure score high in these 2 sections. But preparing less and scoring low in newly created DILR section may not be afforded as all the 3 sections will have equal weightage.
Target 20 correct in all sections
In CAT 2016 out of 34 and 32 questions in each of the 3 sections, you will need at least 18 to 20 correct to score 90+ percentile. Since sectional percentile forms the base for overall percentile, if you score good percentile in each of the 3 sections, you can simultaneously score high overall percentile. But if you target high overall percentile and fail to score required sectional percentile, you may again miss the bus to IIM.
How much to score for IIMs
Although IIMs prescribe 85 to 90 percentile in each section of CAT to shortlist the candidates for second phase of admission round, the actual CAT 2016 sectional cut-off percentile may go beyond 90 to 97. If you score as high as 99 percentile in 2 sections and score below 80 percentile in 1 section, you will not be shortlisted by any IIM despite scoring high over all percentile.
Please remember your time is most important to manage. Don’t waste it. Divide the preparation equally now. According to Prof S K Agarwal expert on Verbal Ability and mentor on CAT 2016 preparation, none of the sections has higher weightage than other section now and all the questions carry equal marks, a well devised preparation plan covering all the 3 sections is the need of the hour.
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