Common Admission Test (CAT)

Common Admission Test (CAT)

Blog Article

Common Admission Test (CAT) Exam Pattern and Section-by-Section Analysis

 
Common Admission Test (CAT) is a very formal test, which tests different competencies crucial for management education. Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer-based test, and the test is divided into three sections:
1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
VARC is a portion of language skills, reading comprehension, and verbal reasoning abilities. Questions under this section are divided between reading comprehension passages and questions on grammar, vocabulary, and critical reasoning. Reading comprehension passages form a large part of this section, where the candidate has to read fast and analyze information correctly.
The abilities tested are the main ideas, arguments, and inferring from the given information.
Good command over the language, coupled with habitual reading and practice, will amply qualify the candidate to shine in VARC.
2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
DILR is the test that checks a candidate's ability to understand complex data and logical reasoning leading up to the solution. Contestants have to read the data at the speed of the hawk to spot the answer in time.
DILR requires numerical strength and logical thinking to come together; hence practicing multiple types of data sets are a must to emerge successfully in this section
3. Quantitative Ability
Quantitative Ability tests for the mathematical ability of the student - arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and number systems. These will test the problem-solving ability of a candidate and his understanding about simple quantitative concepts. So it is helpful to be strong in mathematical shortcuts and formulas while answering questions that measure how fast and accurately the candidate could answer.
Questions of previous years require practice and weaker areas in math required to be good at QA.
Pattern and Marking Scheme
Common Admission Test (CAT) is a 120 minute test, with 40 minutes per section. It is format bound and does not allow the candidates to switch from one section to the other.
Multiple choice type questions as well as non-multiple choice type questions appear in the section.
In the former, there is no negative marking for the former type while for the multiple choice type, every right answer carries three marks and each wrong answer carries a minus one mark.
Conclusion
Overall structure of Common Admission Test (CAT) as well as sectional decomposition of the test requires a candidate to have language, logical reasoning capabilities, and quantitative ability. Therefore, focused preparation for both the sections would be needed to clear the test.