Common Admission Test (CAT)

Common Admission Test (CAT)

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Common Admission Test (CAT) Exam Structure and Section-wise Breakdown

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a very formal test that checks different competencies critical for management education. CAT is a computer-based test and is divided into three sections:
1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
The VARC section is about language skills, reading comprehension, and verbal reasoning. Questions under this section are usually distributed between reading comprehension passages and questions on grammar, vocabulary, and critical reasoning. Reading comprehension passages make up a significant portion of this section, wherein candidate expects to read fast and analyzes the information accurately. The skills tested are understanding the main ideas, identifying arguments, and making inferences.
Good exposure to the English language, combined with basic reading and practicing, will equip the candidate for good performance in VARC.
2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
DILR assesses a candidate's ability to read complex data and by using logical reasoning, solving problems. The contestants need to read the data quickly while spotting the answer in time.
DILR requires both numerical power and logical thinking, so practice with all kinds of data sets is necessary to come out with flying colors in this section.
3. Quantitative Ability (QA)
QA measures mathematical ability, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and number systems. Assesses the candidate's skills in solving problems and their knowledge of basic quantitative concepts. Questions are framed to assess the speed and accuracy of candidates; hence, the mastery of mathematical shortcuts and formulas helps.
Much preparation is required for QA by practicing previous years' questions and focusing on weaker math areas.
Structure and Marking Scheme
Common Admission Test (CAT) is a 120 minute test, with 40 minutes allocated per section. It is format bound and does not permit the candidates to switch from one section to another.
Each section consists of multiple choice as well as non-multiple choice type questions.
In the former, there is no negative marking for the former type, but for the multiple choice type, every right answer carries three marks while each wrong answer carries a minus one mark.
Conclusion
Overall structure of Common Admission Test (CAT) as well as sectional decomposition of the test requires that a candidate should be equipping with language and logical reasoning capabilities, along with quantitative ability. Hence, targeted preparation for the sections would be required for successful performance at the test end.

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