CAT 2017: 5 big changes in CAT over last 7 years; what to expect from IIM Lucknow in CAT this year

Since the year of going green with the 1st computerized Common Admission Test (CAT) conducted by IIM Ahmedabad in 2009, this largest MBA entrance exam of India leading to IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow among other IIMs and top B-schools like FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IMI New Delhi, IMT Ghaziabad, TAPMI Manipal, BIMTECH Greater Noida has gone with perceptible changes during last 7 years.
It is expected that IIM Lucknow which is convening CAT 2017 will again bring about more changes in the exam structure and content.

Related links

• Take CAT 2017 Sectional Practice test and Quiz to check your preparation
• CAT 2017: Convener IIM Lucknow may bring changes in exam; Insights of Last year exam
• CAT 2017: 5 Reasons why this is the best time for Non-Engineers to get into IIMs
• CAT 2017 sees change of guard: IIM Lucknow to convene CAT 2017; takes charge from IIM Bangalore

Reasons behind changes in CAT
The CAT exam structure and exam content is reviewed on yearly basis. It is also ensured by IIMs that CAT questions, their contents, type of questions are not repeated in the next year. This is the basic reason due to which CAT has no specific and defined syllabus. The topics on which questions are asked in one year may go missing in next year and after a few years such questions may come up again.
Responding to the query in regard to changes in CAT exam pattern and content, Professor Tathagata Bandyopadhyay CAT 2015 exam convener, Admission chair and faculty at IIM Ahmedabad shared with MBAUniverse.com Every year we review CAT and make certain changes- both operational and content.

Sharing about why every year CAT is reviewed and changed, Prof Bandyopadhyay was very clear on the objective of doing so and said one of our concerns is, score in Quant dominates the percentile rank in CAT. As a consequence it brings in skewness to the selection process towards a particular set of candidates from a particular background. This year we intend to address it by making some changes in the test content and also by rationalizing weights assigned to different components of the test. This we hope will create a level-playing field for all candidates, no matter what educational background they come from, and will remove skewness to a large extent that we referred to above.
Accordingly each year CAT exam would be different in one or other way from the earlier one. So the CAT 2017 aspirants should be prepared again to face more changes in the CAT 2017 exam pattern both in structure and contents. IIMs are now targeting for increase of non-engineers and women students in their class rooms and with this objective before them, the CAT exam is changed every year.

6 IIMs conducted 8 CAT exams since 2009
CAT used to be a paper pen based test till 2008. Since 2009, the exam has gone green and opted to become a computer based test. Beginning with IIM Ahmedabad as the convener for the first computer based CAT in 2009, the IIM Lucknow convened CAT 2010 followed by IIM Calcutta convening CAT 2011 and IIM Kozhikode convening CAT 2012. It was only IIM Indore who convened CAT for 2 consecutive years and the responsibility to convene CAT in 2015 was again assigned to IIM Ahmedabad. IIM Bangalore convened CAT exam for the first time in 2016. Now IIM Lucknow has been assigned the responsibility to conduct CAT 2017 after 7 years since the exam was computerised.

CAT exam year
CAT convening IIM

2009
IIM Ahmedabad

2010
IIM Lucknow

2011
IIM Calcutta

2012
IIM Kozhikode

2013
IIM Indore

2014
IIM Indore

2015
IIM Ahmedabad

2016
IIM Bangalore

2017
IIM Lucknow

Most Changes by 2nd time CAT convening IIMs
One of the key facts on record is that the IIMs who have convened CAT 2nd time have brought about more changes and totally revamped the CAT exam structure and content, although every time the changes in CAT have the objectives to improve academic and gender diversity in IIM class rooms. Whenever such changes indicate some difficulty for the CAT aspirants, IIMs notify changes in the admission policy to achieve these objectives as done by IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode, Indore for admission to academic session 2017-18.

IIM Lucknow, the convener of CAT 2017 is one of the 3 IIMs who have been twice assigned the responsibility to convene Common Admission Test (CAT) since it was computerized in 2009. Apart from IIM Lucknow, IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Indore have convened CAT twice since 2009.

IIM Ahmedabad was the first to convene the 1st computerized CAT 2009 and again convened CAT 2015; IIM Indore convened CAT for two consecutive years in 2013 and 2014 and now it is the turn of IIM Lucknow who convened CAT 2010 and has again been given the responsibility to convene CAT 2017.

Surprisingly, IIM Indore and IIM Ahmedabad modified and revamped CAT structure and pattern when they conducted it second time only. Now it is the turn of IIM Lucknow which is convening CAT for the second time after 7 years. Going by the historical data, you should expect more changes in CAT 2017.

Big changes in CAT in 7 years
Prior to switching to the computerised format Common Admission Test (CAT) used to have a very large number of questions, shortest testing window, short time limit but after getting computerised CAT has not restricted itself either to continue with the same pattern structure or content apart from the testing window and test duration, number of sections and questions.
Number of total questions which were 240 in 1990 to be solved in 120 minutes were reduced to 75 questions in 2007. This number was increased to 90 questions in 2008. Since 2009 to 2013 total questions remained 60 but became more difficult to attempt. Number of questions, although, in comparison to 2008 in CAT, were reduced but the ratio of the same was increased.

CAT 2009 and 2010: Exam pattern, Testing window
The 1st and 2nd computerised CAT exams had 3 sections on Quant, DILR and VARC with total 60 questions equally divided with 20 questions for each section.
Apart from other type of questions, Grammar and vocabulary based questions in Verbal Ability and Reading comprehension (VARC) section played a major role in scoring high in this section. VARC, after 2010 had to bear the brunt of the most of the changes in CAT exam pattern.

In the partnership of testing agency Prometric CAT was conducted in a long testing window of 20 22 days with 2 sessions on each day making it a long testing window exam with 40 to 44 sessions. Candidates were allowed to choose their preferred date, time slot and test centre.

CAT exam in 2011; 2012 and 2013
In 2011 number of sections in the CAT exam reduced from three to two with same number of 60 questions. Earlier there used to be one section of Quant, one section of Verbal Ability and one section of Data interpretation & Logical reasoning. In 2011 Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning sections were clubbed to Quantitative and Verbal Ability sections respectively. Now each of the 2 sections had 30 questions making it a total of 60 questions to be solved in 140 minutes.

CAT aspirants were a little relaxed since they had to individually qualify in two sections instead of three. Another benefit they got was that they could compensate the tricky DI or LR questions by attempting more Quant or Verbal questions or vice-versa depending upon their skills. Those who had strong Quant or DI could get through the QADI section. Similarly an aspirant with strong Verbal or LR could get the same benefit.

However, this relaxation was there at the cost of difficulty level. The difficulty level had increased and more accuracy was desired.
Again the testing window for CAT exam remained long enough with 20 days 40 sessions. The choice of preferred date, time slot and test centre remained available for the test takers.

Last 3 Years: CAT totally revamped
In last 3 years CAT has taken absolutely different shape as the testing partner of CAT exam was also changed in CAT 2014 from Prometric to TCS. This change has also prompted IIMs to change the CAT exam pattern, testing window, number of questions, number of sections, scoring pattern, type of questions among others.

IIM Indore: Modified CAT 2014
IIM Indore that convened CAT 2013 and CAT 2014 brought about many changes in the Common Admission test when it convened it for second time in 2014. Major changes that were introduced in CAT 2014 as against CAT 2013 can be summarized below:

Key Changes over last CAT
CAT 2014
CAT 2013

Testing window
4 sessions (2 days with 2 sessions each)
40 sessions (20 days with 2 sessions each)

Eligibility
2 years of graduation degree in old pattern accepted (Initiative taken by MBAUniverse.com)
CAT 2014 last minute changes in registration: Will accept 14 years of study upto graduation

Minimum 3 years graduation degree required

Exercising the choice of test day; test session and test centre
No option to choose test day or session. Choice of preferred test cities could be exercised
Allowed with registration on 1st come 1st serve basis subject to availability

Number of questions
100
60

Sectional composition of questions
50 in each section
30 in each section

Time duration
170 minutes
140 minutes

Sectional Time limit
No sectional time limit. Test taker could move between both the test sections within overall time limit of 170 minutes
70 minutes for each section. Candidates could not move to next section before 70 minutes.

Time available per question
1 minute 42 seconds
2 minutes 20 seconds

IIM Ahmedabad: Revamped CAT 2015
IIM Ahmedabad was the first B-school which convened the first computerized format CAT in 2009 with the testing partner Prometric. The exam turned out to be night mare for many candidates as technical glitches marred the smooth conduct of the first computerized CAT. For many candidates, the CAT 2009 was conducted again.

The top rated IIM Ahmedabad was again assigned the responsibility to convene CAT 2015 after 6 years under the convenership of Prof Tathagata Bandyopadhyay, faculty and admission chair at IIM Ahmedabad. This year CAT was totally revamped in the structure as well as in contents and carried the exam to the next level that was not anticipated earlier. Even IIM Indore even after making so many changes when it convened CAT second time, lagged behind in number of changes brought about by IIM Ahmedabad.
Major changes brought about by IIM Ahmedabad in CAT

Changes over last CAT exam
CAT 2015
CAT 2014

Testing window
1 day; 2 sessions
2 days; 4 sessions

Noida (Delhi NCR) as Test centre
Discontinued*
Available

Number of sections
3 (DI and LR questions were clubbed to make separate section; other sections were VARC and Quant)
2 (Quant+DI; VARC+LR)

Sectional time limit
No freedom to move between sections. 1 hour time limit for each of the 3 sections reintroduced
Freedom to move between the sections available

Number of questions
Sectional composition changed:
VARC -34 questions
DILR-32 questions;
Quant 34 questions
(Total 100)
2 sections with 50 questions each

Type of questions
72 MCQs and 28 Non-MCQs
100 MCQs

Time duration
3 hours (180 minutes)
170 minutes

Time available per question
1 minute 48 seconds
1 minute 42 seconds

Scoring pattern (penalty for wrong answers)

MCQs: 33% negative marking
Non-MCQs: No penalty for wrong answer

33% negative marking for all questions (There was no Non-MCQ in CAT 2014)

CAT 2016: Scoring pattern changed
IIM Bangalore conducted CAT 2016 for the 1st time. The exam was marked with paper leakage at one of the centres although CAT 2016 convener Prof Rajendra K Bandi, faculty and admission chair at IIM Bangalore addressed the issue timely and it did not harm the prospects of the test takers.
IIM Bangalore changed the scoring pattern and reduced the number of questions without negative marking penalty in the exam. Number of questions in each of the 3 sections remained the same with same time limit.

Changes over last CAT exam
CAT 2016
CAT 2015
Non-MCQs (Questions without negative marking)

25
28

Scoring pattern
1 mark for each correct answer
3 marks for each correct answer

Negative marking
0.33 mark deduction for each wrong answer (Only for MCQs)
1 mark deduction for each wrong answer (Only for MCQs)

Noida (Delhi NCR) as Test centre
Restored
Discontinued

CAT 2017: Expect a different exam by IIM Lucknow
Moving on the path of changes in structure and contents in CAT exam, last 3 years have seen more and more changes in every CAT exam. IIM Lucknow is convening CAT 2017 after CAT 2010. Going by the trends, it is expected that CAT 2017 might be a different experience for the test takers.
CAT 2017 aspirants can anticipate following friendly changes in the exam pattern this year from IIM Lucknow:

Testing window in CAT 2017 may go to 2 days from present 1 day as the aspirants have been demanding it since last year
The sectional time limit which was withdrawn in 2014 had helped the CAT takers to focus more on their strong areas in the exam. However, the sectional time constraint of one hour was reintroduced in 2015. It is possible that IIM Lucknow may withdraw sectional time limit in CAT 2017 exam.
Change in number of Non-MCQs could be there or the Non-MCQs may remain absent in CAT 2017. In 2016 IIM Bangalore reduced the number of Non-MCQs from 28 to 25. It is very much possible that this number is reduced further.

MBAUniverse.com anticipates that Prof Neeraj Dwivedi, Convener CAT 2017 and faculty at IIM Lucknow would bring about more changes in the exam structure and pattern on the lines of CAT 2015 and CAT 2016.

Stay tuned MBAUniverse.com for more updates on CAT 2017
Also See:

• CAT 2017: Self - Preparation is key to crack CAT; emphasize IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore toppers
• CAT 2017: IIM Lucknow PGP Admission Chair Prof Neeraj Dwivedi is CAT Convenor
• CAT 2017 in changed pattern:Know all about CAT 2017 exam notification date, registration, pattern, IIM cutoffs
• MBA Ranking 2017:Check MBA Ranking 2017 for top 100 B-schools in India to guide you in MBA admission decision