Common Admission Test (CAT)

Common Admission Test (CAT)

Blog Article

Common Admission Test (CAT) Exam Pattern and Overview of the sections

Common Admission Test (CAT) is one formal test that tests various competencies essential in management education. CAT is computer-based test; there are three sections to the test :
1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
The VARC section includes language skills, reading comprehension, and verbal reasoning. Normally, questions in this section are allocated between reading comprehension passages and questions on grammar, vocabulary, and critical reasoning. Reading comprehension passages mainly constitute this section where the candidate is supposed to read fast and accurately analyze the information passed on.
Skills assessed
Include an understanding of ideas that are underlying, the detection of arguments, and making inferences.
A good grasp of the language itself, coupled with reading and practice, will be enough to help the candidate to tide over VARC.
2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
DILR is a test that checks the candidate's ability to understand complex data and use valid reasoning to come up with solutions. In DILR, contenders must read data within time and spot the answer in time.
DILR involves both numerical power and logical thinking; thus solving different types of data sets would be helpful to ace this section.
3. Quantitative Ability (QA)
QA tests mathematical power including arithmetic, algebra, geometry and numbers. Tests the candidate's problem-solving ability and basic quantitative concepts. Questions are designed to test the speed and accuracy of candidates; hence mastering the mathematical shortcuts and formulas is useful.
A practice of previous years' questions and focus on the weaker math areas would be required to do well in QA.
Pattern and Scheme for Marking
Common Admission Test (CAT) is a 120 minute test, consisting of 40 minutes devoted to each section. It is format bound and does not allow the candidates to shift from one section to another.
Each section consists of both multiple choice and non-multiple type questions.
In the former, there is no negative marking for the former type, but in the case of multiple choice type, every right answer bears three marks while each wrong answer carries a minus one mark.
Conclusion
Overall structure of Common Admission Test (CAT) along with sectional decomposition of the test requires a candidate to have language, logical reasoning capabilities, and quantitative ability. Hence, focused preparation for both the sections would be needed to succeed in the test.

Report this page