CAT 2015: Test pattern changed, exam to be held on a single day

New Delhi: Common Admission Test (CAT), which is scheduled to take place on November 29 will see major changes this year.

The test, which has been conducted on multiple days over two sessions since 2009, when it became computer-based, will now be conducted in as many sessions in a single day.

Changes in the CAT Format: Question Pattern: According to the new change, the CAT 2015 will have non-multiple choice questions along with an on-screen calculator.

Test Duration: Duration of the test would be longer with each section lasting 60 minutes. The exam will be have three sections - Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension; Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Ability.

Sectional Time Limit: Earlier, there was no sectional time limit and candidates could move between sections.

"With the introduction of sectional timings, CAT 2015 is now like three short tests. Each section will be given 60 minutes and once the time is over, a candidate cannot come back to that section,'' said MBA Guru founder director Deekshant Sahrawat.

"Therefore, candidates can no longer give more time to a section they are weak in. So they will have to increase their skills for all sections and qualify in each of them. In a way CAT 2015 has become a knowledge test than a management one.''

"CAT 2015 is more like what it used to be in the pen and paper format," he added.

CAT Reference Books/Study Material

No Negative Marking

There would be no negative marks for non-MCQ type questions and all questions carry equal marks. Candidate must type the answers. IIM, Ahmedabad, is conducting the CAT 2015 exam this year, has not divulged the number of non-MCQs each section will have.

TOI