Common Admission Test (CAT)

Common Admission Test (CAT)

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Structure and Section-wise Breakup of CAT

Common Admission Test (CAT)  is an extremely formal test that evaluates different competencies critical for management education. Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer-based test and is structured into three sections:
Section 1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
This section assesses language skills, reading comprehension, and verbal reasoning. Typically, questions under this section are distributed between reading comprehension passages and questions on grammar, vocabulary, and critical reasoning. Reading comprehension passages amount to a significant percentage of this section; the candidate is expected to read fast with an ability to analyze information accurately. Skills tested: chief ideas, identifying arguments, and inferences.
A good command of the English language, along with regular reading and practice, will enable a candidate to do well in VARC.
2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
DILR tests a candidate's ability to understand the sticky data and apply logical reasoning for its resolution. In DILR, contestants need to read data quickly while spotting the answer in time.
DILR requires numerical strength along with logical thinking and hence intense practice on the wide types of data sets is required to excel in this section.
3. QA
QA is used for assessing mathematical ability of candidate which include arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number systems, it test problem solving of a candidate as well as quantitative concept's base knowledge because all these questions are used for the assessment of candidate's speed and accuracy; so proper mastery over mathematics short cut formulas helps a lot.
A good practice of previous years' questions and a focus on weaker math areas is necessary to perform well in QA.
Pattern and Test Duration
The 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.
Questions in each section are both multiple choice as well as non-multiple choice type.
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
Both the overall structure of Common Admission Test (CAT) and sectional decomposition of the test require a candidate to have language, logical reasoning capabilities, and quantitative ability. Focused preparation on both the sections would thus be the need for success in the test.

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