CAT 2015 to reduce guesswork; Candidates to solve problems instead of just selecting from options

Speaking about the latest introduction of direct answer questions in CAT 2015 test pattern, CAT Convenor Professor Tathagata Bandyopadhyay has said the idea behind this is to reduce the impact of guess work during the exam.

“We have decided to introduce a few questions which will require candidates to solve the problems and key-in the correct answer/s instead of just selecting the right options among the given choices. This we are planning to introduce for reducing the impact of guess work on the performance. Also, during the examination the candidates can use basic on-screen calculator for computation. This has been done to help the candidates focus more on the problem than on the computation,” said Professor Bandyopadhyay.

This year, CAT 2015 has returned with three sections:

• Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
• Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
• Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VRC)

A total of 100 questions need to be answered in three hours or 180 minutes.

“We have decided to introduce a new section on DILR. Last year DI was a part of QA and LR was a part of VRC. However, the number of questions from each section will remain same as that of the last year. The decision is taken keeping in view that the three sections are supposed to test different abilities of the candidates,” said Cat 2015 Convenor Professor Tathagata Bandyopadhyay.

Discussing the reason behind increasing time duration to 180 minutes, Professor Bandyopadhyay said, “The reason behind increasing the duration by 10 minutes is simply to allot equal time (60 minutes) to each of the three sections. This year the students will be given exactly an hour to complete each section. The test will automatically move to the next section once a candidate spends an hour in a section. Also a candidate cannot switch from one section to another while answering questions in a section. This is another change from the last year's test.”

Introduction of direct questions (to be typed on screen) in CAT 2015 exam has stumped experts and CAT aspirants. Some experts have speculated that it could mean introduction of analytical writing assessment similar to GMAT and GRE pattern.

Most experts, however, are claiming that CAT 2015 will make candidates solve a question and write (type) the correct answer. This means that each test taker will have to solve the questions, instead of simply resorting to guess work, based on tips, tricks and shortcuts.

Professor Bandyopadhyay’s explanation comes quite close to the above solve the question theory from his statement “candidates to solve the problems and key-in the correct answer/s instead of just selecting the right options among the given choices.”

The exact change in pattern will be unveiled on October 15 with the availability of tutorials. So all we can do, is speculate for the time being.

CAT 2015 notification was released on Sunday, July 26.

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