CAT 2014 - Changes Decoded!

With some significant changes announced in the CAT 2014 paper pattern, we’ve got Career Launcher’s CAT mentors, Gautam Puri and Gejo to help you adapt and prepare for these changes!

We advice each of you use your own judgement while you act on these recommendations at the time of preparation and examination.

Let us first look at the list of changes this year:

• CAT examination window period has been reduced from 40 to 4, spread between two days.
• Sectional time limit has been reduced.
• Increase in the number of Questions from 60 to 100.
• Time limit has been increased from 140 to 170 minutes.
• Time per question has been reduced from 140 seconds to 102 seconds.

Questions which still lie ahead of us:

What type of questions should we expect- Topics like grammar and critical reasoning and algebra are still in the grey area as to what type of questions can be asked.

Assumption: Not many changes in the type of questions.

What will be the breakup of questions, in each sub-section of Quantitative Ability and Verbal Ability - For e.g., how many sets of Data Interpretation (DI) or how many sets of Reading Comprehension (RC) should we expect?

Assumption: Composition of questions will most likely be similar to that of CAT conducted from 2004 to 2008. Before Prometric took over the setting of CAT question paper from 2008 onwards, it was set by the IIM’s. This year, since TCS is setting the paper, it is safe to assume that the paper will again be set by the IIM’s. Hence, you can go back to looking the question paper of CAT 2004 to CAT 2008.

Will there be a change in number in the answer choices?
Our Assumption: Any increase in number of answer choices will increase the difficulty level especially in topics like RC. It will also impact the negative marking, i.e.
A> 4 Answer choices- negative marking of 1/3
B> 5 Answer choices- negative marking of 1/4

Learning from the Past:

You can assume that 2014 CAT can have a pattern quite close to that of CAT 2004 to CAT 2008. Keeping that in mind and also leaving a good scope for flexibility (as CAT is known for throwing surprises), you can develop an understanding of the expected questions and the strategy to tackle them.

Take a look at the derivations made from the previous question paper:

Topic Wise Expected Question Distribution:

Note - One of the major shifts from last year’s CAT to this year’s is that now the students cannot do away with RC and Reasoning. In order to meet the cut-offs in the Verbal section; you need to crack the questions from these topics as Grammar and Vocab questions cannot be banked upon.

Strategy to hit the Bull’s Eye! (98+ percentile)

• You need to score a minimum 97+percentile in each section
• You need to get 50% (25) questions correct in QA and 60% (30) questions correct in VA
• You may attempt less number of questions but the focus must be on accuracy

Time the CAT!

Practice Mantra!

• Solve 2 mocks per week
• Analyze every performance. It’s the reflection of where you stand in terms of preparation.
• Time your each move.
• DI, LR and RC a day keeps a bad CAT day away!

So gear up and get going! May you bell the CAT to reach your Dream B-School!

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