Chandigarh, Nov 27: As the Common Aptitude Test (CAT) goes online from this year, experts caution students to not press the panic button. The entrance test for most of the prestigious business schools in the country will be held in the city from November 28, spanning 10 days, ending on December 7.
The online version of CAT sees changes in the examination pattern. For instance, the number of questions has been reduced and the students will now have to attempt 60 to 70 questions as against over 75 questions in the earlier written version.
“Since this is a maiden attempt, the Indian Institute of Management has reduced the number of questions. While the number is never mentioned in the application form, this time they specified it,” said Hridesh Madan, who runs a CAT preparation centre. The new pattern will prove advantageous to students as they will not have to rush through the paper.
The number of options for each question has also been reduced to four. Earlier, students were asked to choose the correct answer from five choices. The test duration, however, remains 2 hours and 30 minutes, in which students will be assessed for their verbal, quantitative and logical and data interpretative abilities.
Experts also say that the paper is expected to have lesser variety of questions and a basic pattern will be followed. Students will be provided with a computer terminal and a paper to do rough work. “It is a novel concept but with all the hardware sourced by IIM, CAT will be very systematic and smooth. Students do not need to feel anxious,” said Sumit Khanna, a teacher.
However, only three examination centres have been set up in the tricity this year, which experts say will not work in students’ favour. These are Gian Jyoti Institute of Management and Technology (Mohali), Indo Global College of Engineering (Abhipur), and Rayat And Bahra Biotechnology Centre Of Excellence (Kharar).
“Over ten thousand students from the tricity and the region are expected to appear for CAT. Earlier, students had the advantage of appearing at examination centres that were within the city. With instructions to report two hours before the examination, someone staying in Panchkula will have to leave very early which can be stressful,” said Madan.
Students, meanwhile, have a mixed opinion about the new pattern. “Though I have done adequate practice of the test online, I am still apprehensive about it,” said Vivek Sihag, a CAT aspirant.
–Agencies