Detail about CAT Exam
The CAT
paper has traditionally been a 120 - minute
test
.
The questions in the CAT paper are
generally not very difficult but there is always an
exceptionally high emphasis on the speed required to solve
the questions in the paper.
CAT
mandates that the test taker perform equally well in all
sections of the test. It is not sufficient to get a good
score in the test as a whole - the candidate also has to
perform well in each of the three/ four sections of the CAT
paper. When we talk of performing equally well, we have to
look at it as a relative measure. Among the one lakh plus
candidates expected to take CAT this year, you should be
able to score a certain number of marks more than the
average in each of the selections in order to qualify. Hence
you have to aim at crossing a minimum cut - off mark in each
section to be eligible to get a call for the Group
Discussion (GD) and Interview stage.
The
minimum cut-off required in each section could vary from IIM
to IIM and also for each of the other 30+ institutes that
use CAT scores for their selection process.
It would
be fair to assume that the cut - off scores required for
many of the other institutes would be slightly lower than
those required for the IIMs.
If proper planning is not done, there is a danger that one
may actually get much more than the total minimum required
marks to be eligible for the IIMs but one may not cross the
cutoffs in a particular section. This brings us to the basic
rule that applies to the CAT paper - do reasonably well in
every section rather than concentrating on and doing
extremely well in every section rather than concentrating on
and doing extremely well in one/ two sections.
Getting a very high score in one or two
sections at the expense of the others would fetch you
nothing and defeats the very purpose for which you are
taking the test!
The key to crack the CAT exam is to keep your cool and
maintain your composure during the entire length of the
test. This may sound deceptively simple but is easier said
than done. The pressure levels would be high, yes, but you
have to use your adrenaline to work faster and smarter.
There is no point getting bogged down at any point in the
paper. CAT does not require/ expect you to attempt all or
even nearly all the questions. It is test of speed but not
only of speed. Accuracy is needed too!
It is no great secret that the test itself comprises a
significant number of questions that are not very difficult.
The knack, then, would be to maximize your score by
completing the easy ones rather than getting bogged down by
the more difficult ones especially since, no extra marks are
awarded for solving the more difficult questions.
Even within each section, there is very clear need for a
planned strategy of attempting questions. Unless a clear cut
timed strategy for attempting the test is in place, there is
every chance that one may miss out on very easy questions
which may be at the end of the section and instead end up
solving all the difficult questions that may have been given
at the beginning. It is imperative to realize that there is
no rule that says that the difficult questions will be at
the end of the section nor is there a rule that says that
easy questions are at the beginning of each section. Then
why should there be any discrimination while attempting the
questions? The common tendency among
students is to start the section from the
very first question. Much as it may be the best starting
point, it loses its relevance if all the questions in a
particular section are not read. By not reading a question
or a set of questions, one is obviously at a disadvantage
when compared to a
student who carefully plans out the time
limits within each section and ensures that he or she picks
and solves the easy questions given in each section.
One important point to note for the CAT exam is that, there
are no individual cutoffs for the areas within a section.
The instructions on the front page of the question booklet
of CAT clearly specify that you should do equally well in
all sections. Hence, depending on your comfort level in each
of the areas, you should allocate the time for the areas
within a section.
There is negative marketing in the CAT paper and for every
wrong answer a certain score is deducted from your total.
The IIMs do not disclose the way they calculate the negative
marks for the wrong answers.
One
Golden Rule that needs to be followed is to ensure that
there is no question which is unread at the end of the test.
This will ensure that all possible easy questions have been
attempted or at least looked at. Unfortunately, CAT does not
have any special notations pointing to the easy questions
and neither do they scream out at you from the paper. It is
up to you to find them and make sure you do most of them.
The easy ones could be anywhere - at the beginning, in the
middle or at the end - just about anywhere.
As you know CAT 2009
exam is
online for the first time. On every day of CAT Exam from date 28th
November to 7th December, the
question paper will be different, The percentile will be
decided on one day exam basis.
It is now very difficult to get question paper of CAT
examination. You should not expect question paper of any CAT 2009
exam day will be out before 7th December, As CAT committee has given
clear instruction that nobody should reveal the asked questions.
If Question or Solution of CAT 2009 will appear in any other
website, i will put the link here to download the question paper,
solution paper, cutoff marks details or analysis of CAT 2009.
Keep visiting here, i will put the link here as soon as i will
get it.