CAT 2015 exam pattern: Has it changed for better or worse?

There’s one thing about CAT 2015 that all experts agree. The exam is back to the classic CAT pattern – the written exam (up to 2008) with three sections.  

In CAT 2015, both accuracy and number of attempts becomes crucial. Moreover, with the introduction of on-screen computers and non-multiple choice questions, it’s become a level-playing field for candidates from all backgrounds.

Herein comes the question. Are the changes in CAT 2015 good or not so good? Are the experts and academicians happy about the changes?

We decided to speak to Manish Harodia and Sandeep Kaushik from Genesis Mentors.

 

1. What do you think about the new CAT exam pattern? Has it changed for better or worse?

This is a pattern favourite to us. With constrained time limits. As an aspiring manager, apart from education, time management and decision making are some important aspects one needs to develop. It will be a more level-playing field now since people have to 'compulsorily' show their competence across multiple sections, thereby making prudent question selection a key to success.

 

2. What changes should an aspirant make in their study plan while preparing for CAT?

Students devoting at least 70% of their preparation time to Quantitative Ability section only, need to be a little cautious now. Verbal Ability will be an independent section and requires as much time, if not more, to develop command. This is especially true for engineering background students as they derive more thrill by solving a lot of quantitative ability questions.

 

3. Will it be a level-playing field for candidates from all background?

We believe they have removed this parameter anyways. Constraining to answer in a certain time frame gives students the choice of maximising their energy for their favourite section and be a little cautious in others. This is like the classic CAT of the last decade, where, in my honest and humble opinion, accuracy again becomes more important than merely maximizing attempts.

 

4. Which section/s may contain the non-MCQ questions? What will these questions be - problem based or analytical or something else?

In our view, Logical Reasoning and Verbal Ability are most likely to get the non-Multiple Choice Questions. Quant and Data Interpretation have lower chance of getting non-MCQ questions.

We can’t guess what kind of problems may constitute these questions. We do feel, that these will be caselet-centric. Analytical and logical reasoning may be the core behind these questions.

 

5. What should be a candidate's strategy to tackle these non-MCQ questions?

Simple. Read well and answer.

 

6. Based on changes in CAT 2015 test pattern, do you think there may be a significant change in short-listing criteria of top B-schools?

There shouldn’t be much of a criteria change in top B-Schools like IIM Ahmedabad. It’ll remain pretty much same. They’ll follow certain benchmarks and will continue to do so. However, other B-Schools might change their shortlisting criteria. Some B-Schools may start accepting XAT or other MBA exam scores to ensure that they don’t compromise on quality of students. Other MBA colleges may follow the same.