The CAT (Common Admission Test) exam, which is conducted annually for admission to various prestigious Indian business schools like the IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management), consists of three main sections. Here's a detailed breakdown of the sections:
1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Duration: 1 hour (60 minutes)
- Total Marks: 75
- Question Type:
- Reading Comprehension (RC)
- Topics Covered:
- Reading Comprehension (RC) passages with questions based on understanding, inference, and analysis.
- Vocabulary-based questions (synonyms, antonyms, and contextual usage).
- Grammar (sentence correction, fill in the blanks, etc.).
- Para-jumbles, sentence completion, and other verbal reasoning tasks.
- Difficulty: The section typically tests candidates' understanding of complex texts and their ability to analyze and interpret them.
2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Duration: 1 hour (60 minutes)
- Total Marks: 75
- Question Type:
- Topics Covered:
- Data interpretation (tables, graphs, charts, and data sets).
- Logical reasoning (seating arrangements, puzzles, blood relations, and logical sequences).
- Difficulty: This section requires analytical skills, critical thinking, and the ability to work with large data sets under time pressure. It’s considered challenging for many candidates.
3. Quantitative Ability (QA)
- Duration: 1 hour (60 minutes)
- Total Marks: 75
- Question Type:
- Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, and Number Systems.
- Modern Math (Permutations and Combinations, Probability, Functions, etc.)
- Word problems involving quantitative reasoning.
- Topics Covered:
- Arithmetic (percentages, ratios, profit and loss, speed-time-distance, etc.)
- Algebra (equations, inequalities, quadratic equations, etc.)
- Geometry (lines, angles, circles, mensuration, etc.)
- Number Theory (LCM, HCF, divisibility rules, etc.)
- Difficulty: This section tests mathematical reasoning and problem-solving ability. It has a reputation for being time-intensive but is manageable with thorough practice.
Overall Exam Structure:
- Total Duration: 2 hours (each section is 60 minutes long)
- Total Questions: Around 66 questions (this number can vary slightly from year to year)
- Total Marks: 228
Additional Key Details:
- Negative Marking: For every incorrect answer, typically 1 mark is deducted. However, in the non-MCQ type questions (in QA), there is no negative marking.
- Computer-Based Test: The CAT exam is fully computer-based, and you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the interface before attempting the test.
- No Sectional Cutoff: While some of the IIMs and other B-schools may have sectional cutoffs, CAT itself does not impose a strict sectional cutoff. However, a well-balanced score across all sections is generally recommended.
Changes in CAT 2025 (Expected):
- Question Format: CAT exams have evolved over the years, with varying question types in each section. However, the general structure of MCQs and Non-MCQs (descriptive) is expected to remain.
- Difficulty Level: It may vary each year, and the exam tends to get progressively difficult, especially in terms of the logical reasoning and quantitative ability sections.
To perform well in CAT, it is important to develop skills in speed and accuracy, as time management plays a crucial role in scoring well across all sections.