Evolution of Combined Admission Test (CAT) through the years

Indian Institute of Management Calcutta and Ahmadabad were established in 1961. At that time, each business school started conducting their admission process on the basis of their own entrance examination

 

However, after IIM-Bangalore came up in 1973 and IIM-Lucknow in 1983, the management institutes decided to conduct a common entrance test

 

First CAT was conducted in 1984 in the pen and paper mode.

 

CAT 1984 – 2008

·         CAT was conducted from in the pen and paper mode only

·         Students used to mark their answers on the OMR sheet

·         There was no sectional time limit.

 

CAT 1995 – 1998

·         120 minutes for 185 questions

 

CAT 1999 – 2000

·         120 minutes for 165 questions

 

CAT 2001 – 2003

·         120 minutes for 150 questions

 

CAT 2004

·         120 minutes for 123 questions

·         Different questions in different sections had different marking scheme. Imagine that!!

 

CAT 2005 to 2007

·         75 questions for 150 minutes time limit.

 

CAT 2008

·         Three sections in the form of VARC, DILR and QA. There was no sectional time limit applied to the different sections in this type of paper. 90 questions in total. 150 minutes to attempt the test.

·         + 4 Marks for every correct answer and -1 for every incorrect answer

 

CAT 2009 to 2013

·         Held in a period of 20 days and in 40 different slots.

 

CAT 2009, 2010

·         First Computer Based Test was conducted in the year 2009 by IIM Ahmedabad

·         Faced a lot of glitches. Hence, a re-examination was conducted in January 2010

·         For CAT 2009 and 2010, there were three sections in the form of VARC, DILR and QA

·         No sectional time limit

·         60 questions in total. 150 minutes to attempt the test.

·         + 4 Marks for every correct answer and -1 for every incorrect answer

 

CAT 2011

·         Reduced to two sections from three, namely QA + DILR and VA

·         Total number of questions remained the same as 60 (30 in each section)

·         150 minutes to attempt the test.

·         + 3 Marks for every correct answer and -1 for every incorrect answer

 

CAT 2014

·         IIM-Indore conducted CAT with two sections with 50 questions each

·         Total time limit was 170 minutes. There was no sectional time limit in this paper.

·         In 2014, the CAT was conducted over a period of two days in four different slots.

 

CAT 2015 – 2019

·         IIM-Ahmadabad conducted exam with 100 questions (34 in two sections, and 32 in other)

·         TITA / Non MCQ type variety was introduced

·         Onscreen calculator was introduced

·         From 2015 to 2019, the examination was held in a single day in two different slots of 3 hours each

·         100 questions (34 in two sections, and 32 in other).

 

CAT 2020

·         Conducted by IIM Indore in three slots of two hours each. Each section had a time limit of 40 minutes. Total number of questions were 72.

 

CAT 2021

·         Conducted by IIM Ahmedabad in three slots of two hours each. Each section had a time limit of 40 minutes. Total number of questions were 66.

 

CAT 2022

·     Being conducted by IIM Bangalore in three slots of two hours each. Each section had a time limit of 40 minutes. Total number of questions were still 66.

 

CAT 2023

·        Being conducted by IIM Lucknow. Each section had a time limit of 40 minutes. Total number of questions were still 66.

 

 

Fun fact: CAT 2003 was the (only) time in which the paper was leaked. Unlike the recent NEET fiasco!!!

 

Feel free to connect with me at https://telegram.me/TheQuantMentor

 

PS: This will keep on getting updated

 

10 sutras while attempting an exam

 

 

For the upcoming CAT (and infact for XAT, SNAP, NMAT etc) exam; here are a few tips to make the best use of exam time. Use them wisely in your exam and you are bound to fare better than usual.

1. Go with an open mindset. Things may change a lot, still.
2. Set a strict time limit on reading each question
3. Set a time limit on attempting a question
4. Leave any question which doesn't fall in this limit
5. Spend 5 minutes in going through questions of each section. Pick the sets / Passages / Questions which you find to be easy.
6. Read the instructions / questions very very carefully. There is, often, trickery in language.
7. Double check your calculation in each question before mark an option.
8. After you mark an option, double check if you have marked correctly.
9. Remember: Quality over Quantity.
10. Don't Panic. All will be well.

 

Join appropriate groups

1. Questions, Guidance, Strategy and Motivation https://telegram.me/QuantSenseiMain
2. Daily newspapers https://telegram.me/QuantSenseiGDPI
3. Questions and discussion with like minded colleagues https://telegram.me/TheQuantSensei
4. B School related FAQs https://telegram.me/CATformFAQ
5. Backup Material Group https://telegram.me/+gYOj7lE3qcgzODQ1

Journey vs Destination

  

We often get so fixated on the journey that we forget the destination we started out for!

You start from home with a list of tasks. I will stop at A, go via road B and then stop at C to get XYZ. But as you started on route to A, someone honked from behind and overtook you. And that frustrated feeling of "How dare he" drove you to maneuver past the over-taker. You look to the car and its an old person slowly driving. But you got so engrossed in the "REVENGE" that you forgot to stop at A and skipped past road B.

Has it happened with you? Yeah, me neither!!

This is not all random blithering. There is a point here. The point being, MBA is NOT your destination. It is part of your journey. And while in some cases, we need to enjoy the journey being the main attraction, in our case completing the MBA isn't the star attraction. Its the destination after your MBA

The end Destination will be different for different people - For some it is a cushy job, For some their dream venture, Some intend to further their family businesses while some just want to get their parents to back off for a while!

The point being - DON'T GET TOO FIXATED ON MBA. It is just a tool. Just like CFA, CA, and myriad other qualifications. You might want to go for MBA. You might also get a job. Get an internship. Go for a course in the field of your choice. Work in your family business and get the in and out of it. Making a career out isn't only about MBA.

Don't lose the sight of your destination and if one route doesn't work out, try another one!!!

Regards
@TheQuantMentor

Join appropriate groups

1. Questions, Guidance, Strategy and Motivation https://telegram.me/QuantSenseiMain

2. Daily newspapers https://telegram.me/QuantSenseiGDPI

3. Questions and discussion with like minded colleagues https://telegram.me/TheQuantSensei

4. B School related FAQs https://telegram.me/CATformFAQ

5. Backup Material Group https://telegram.me/+gYOj7lE3qcgzODQ1

Quant Sucks - What do I do now?

One of the most common question that I often get – I am trying a lot in maths but I am not able to make a headstart.

It's completely okay to struggle with math, and you're not alone in feeling that way. Math can be challenging for many people.

But also realize the fact that if you have a majority of syllabus and even then, you aren’t able to perform on any kind of test, your basics are very weak.

There are several strategies you can try to improve your understanding and confidence in the subject:

1. Start with the Basics: Ensure you have a solid understanding of the foundational concepts. Without a strong foundation, more advanced concepts can become confusing. Take some time to review the basics before moving on to more complex topics.

2. Break It Down: Math problems can often seem overwhelming. Break them down into smaller, more manageable steps. Focus on solving one part of the problem at a time.

3. Practice Regularly: Like any skill, practice is crucial for improving in math. Set aside regular time for practice and work through different types of problems. Repetition helps reinforce concepts.

4. Use Multiple Resources: Don't rely solely on your textbook or class notes. Explore different resources such as online tutorials, video lectures, and interactive websites. Sometimes, a different explanation can make a concept click.

5. Seek Help: If you're struggling with a particular concept, don't hesitate to ask for help. This could be from a teacher, a tutor, a friend, or online communities. There are many platforms where you can ask questions and get explanations.

6. Visual Aids: Many people find visual aids like diagrams, graphs, and charts helpful in understanding math concepts. These can provide a more intuitive understanding of abstract ideas.

7. Real-Life Applications: Try to connect math to real-life situations. Understanding how math is used in everyday contexts can make it more relatable and engaging.

8. Patience and Persistence: Learning math takes time, and progress might not be immediately noticeable. Stay patient and persistent in your efforts.

9. Positive Mindset: Cultivate a positive attitude toward math. Believing in your ability to learn and improve can have a significant impact on your progress.

10. Set Achievable Goals: Set small, achievable goals for yourself. Each time you reach a goal, it will boost your confidence and motivation.

11. Learn from Mistakes: Don't be afraid of making mistakes. Mistakes are opportunities for learning. Review your errors and understand why you made them to avoid similar mistakes in the future.

12. Practice Problem Solving: Math is not just about memorizing formulas; it's about problem-solving. Focus on understanding the underlying concepts and applying them to solve problems.

Remember, everyone learns at their own pace, and improvement takes time.

Celebrate your successes, no matter how small, and don't be discouraged by setbacks. With dedication and consistent effort, you can make progress in your math skills.