Common Admission Test (CAT)

Common Admission Test (CAT)

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Pattern of CAT Test and Distribution of Sections

Common Admission Test (CAT) is a very formal test that assesses different competencies critical for management education. It is a computer-based test, and it is divided into three sections

: 1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
The VARC section consists of language skills, reading comprehension, and verbal reasoning. The questions under the VARC are mostly divided between reading comprehension passages and questions on grammar, vocabulary, and critical reasoning. Reading comprehension is mostly composed of passages where the candidate needs to read fast and analyze information. The skills tested in this section are as follows: understanding the main ideas, identifying arguments, and making inferences.
A fair understanding of the language plus routine reading and practice will make a candidate do well in VARC.
2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
DILR tests the candidate's ability to understand challenging data and logical reasoning to solve problems. Contenders need to read the data very fast while spotting the answer in time.
DILR requires matching of both numerical acumen as well as logical acumen; hence practice with varying sets of data is required to get success in this section.
3. Quantitative Ability (QA)
QA tests mathematical aptitude including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and number systems. Tests the candidate's problem-solving skills and his basic knowledge of quantitative concepts. Question is framed keeping in view the purpose of testing speed and accuracy, hence the applied mathematical shortcuts and formulae are useful.
To compete in QA, the exam of this year would need a decent practice of questions of previous years along with an understanding of the weaker areas of maths.
Pattern and Structure
Common Admission Test (CAT) is a test lasting for 120 minutes. There would be 40 minutes in each section. Common Admission Test (CAT) test is format bound in which candidates will not be allowed to shift from one section to another.
Each section would have multiple choice type questions as well as non-multiple choice type questions.
In the former, the negative marking is not applicable to the first one but to the multiple choice type, each right answer is attributed with three marks while each wrong answer is attributed with minus one mark.
Conclusion
Overall structure of Common Admission Test (CAT) along with sectional decomposition of the test would require a candidate to possess the language, logical reasoning capabilities, as well as quantitative ability, hence proper focused preparation in both sections would be required in order to clear the test.

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