The CAT exam is a computer-based test (CBT) that is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top B-schools in India. It is a gateway to some of the most prestigious MBA programs in the country. here is an article on cat exam format
The questions are divided into three sections:
- Quantitative Aptitude (QA): This section tests the candidate’s ability to solve mathematical problems.
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): This section tests the candidate’s ability to understand and interpret written material.
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): This section tests the candidate’s ability to analyze and interpret data.
- The CAT exam is a competitive exam, and the cut-off scores vary from year to year. However, in general, a score of 90 or above is considered to be a good score.
- The CAT exam is a challenging exam, but it is not impossible to crack. With proper preparation, you can score well in the CAT exam and get admission to your dream B-school.
Here is a more detailed description of each section of the CAT exam:
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
The Quantitative Aptitude section of the CAT exam tests the candidate’s ability to solve mathematical problems. The questions in this section cover a wide range of topics, including:
- Number Systems
- Algebra
- Geometry
- Trigonometry
- Mensuration
- Probability
- Statistics
- Data Interpretation
The Quantitative Aptitude section is the most important section of the CAT exam, and it accounts for 35% of the total score. It is important to have a strong foundation in mathematics in order to do well in this section.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section of the CAT exam tests the candidate’s ability to understand and interpret written material. The questions in this section cover a wide range of topics, including:
- Grammar
- Vocabulary
- Reading Comprehension
- Word Usage
- Idioms and Phrases
- Antonyms and Synonyms
- One Word Substitution
- Fill in the Blanks
- Cloze Test
- Para Jumbles
The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section accounts for 35% of the total score. It is important to have a strong vocabulary and to be able to read and understand complex passages in order to do well in this section.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
The Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section of the CAT exam tests the candidate’s ability to analyze and interpret data. The questions in this section cover a wide range of topics, including:
- Data Interpretation
- Basics of Probability
- Probability
- Permutations and Combinations
- Logical Reasoning
- Statements and Assumptions
- Inferences
- Analogies
- Classification
- Coding and Decoding
- Puzzles
The Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section accounts for 20% of the total score. It is important to be able to think logically and to be able to solve puzzles in order to do well in this section.
The CAT exam is a challenging exam, but it is not impossible to crack. With proper preparation, you can score well in the CAT exam and get admission to your dream B-school.
CAT Exam pattern FAQs
The CAT exam is a computer-based test (CBT) that is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top B-schools in India. It is a gateway to some of the most prestigious MBA programs in the country.
The CAT exam is a 3-hour exam with 100 questions. The questions are divided into three sections:
Quantitative Aptitude (QA): This section tests the candidate’s ability to solve mathematical problems.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): This section tests the candidate’s ability to understand and interpret written material.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): This section tests the candidate’s ability to analyze and interpret data.
Each section has a different number of questions and a different time limit:
Quantitative Aptitude (QA): 35 questions in 75 minutes
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): 35 questions in 75 minutes
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): 30 questions in 60 minutes
The CAT exam is a computer-adaptive test (CAT), which means that the difficulty of the questions you are asked depends on how well you answer the previous questions. This means that the earlier you answer the questions correctly, the easier the later questions will be.
The marking scheme for the CAT exam is as follows:
Quantitative Aptitude (QA): Each correct answer is awarded 3 marks, and each incorrect answer is penalized by 1 mark.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): Each correct answer is awarded 2 marks, and each incorrect answer is penalized by 0.5 marks.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): Each correct answer is awarded 3 marks, and each incorrect answer is penalized by 1 mark.
There is negative marking for the CAT exam. This means that you will lose marks for answering a question incorrectly. The amount of negative marking depends on the section:
Quantitative Aptitude (QA): Each incorrect answer is penalized by 1 mark.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): Each incorrect answer is penalized by 0.5 marks.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): Each incorrect answer is penalized by 1 mark.
