The Good And Bad News About CAT

The CAT just had to go online someday or the other. With the number of students answering the test is increasing every year, offline administration is overwhelming. This increase puts a heavy burden on assessment and testing. Only online testing cannot help. The CAT 2009 will be similar to the GMAT GRE pattern. There’s bad news about the new CAT pattern. These obstacles however, can be overcome with practice and preparation.

More stress on Verbal Ability
If the CAT pattern is intended to be similar to online tests like GMAT, refreshing and building-up verbal skills is crucial for a high percentile. In the past, there have been attempts to make the CAT Verbal Section Centric. The unexpected emphasis of the Verbal Section in CAT 2008 and the fact that 2009 will see a computer-based CAT simply reiterates that one kids to focus greatly on this section. The verbal percentile has a higher impact on overall percentile than the percentile in other sections. So for those of you for whom English is not a strong point, will have to put in more time and effort during preparation.

Getting used to RC on the computer screen
When looking at Reading Comprehension on the computer screen, it appears vertically on the left half of the screen and the right half has questions one after the other. This is of course, a very different experience from doing an RC on paper. The inability to underline the keywords in the passage is a drawback. Hence, write down the keywords, topic sentences and inferential information in the passages on a paper if you wish to answer questions later. Read e-versions of newspapers to become comfortable with reading online.

No underlining of key words
Managing so much data in the DI section without any option of writing or underlining key information on the screen is a difficult task. One will have to either calculate mentally or constantly move the eyes from the screen to the paper writing down the figure for calculations. Hence, the time spent on each question increases.

Cannot be dependent on Paper-based Tests
Since the ultimate test is online, exercise computer-based preparation and practice. With the CAT now going online, expect other tests like SNAP, JMET, XAT, MAT, NMAT, FMS and IIFT to go online soon. Therefore, get acquainted with answering tests on the computer.

But CAT 2009 has a bright side too.

CAT 2009 will actually be easier
The biggest advantage of CAT 2009 is quick access to the tests and preparation material at any time of the day if it is available online. This will offer adaptability and flexibility to the test-taker.

Trainers can help you
Test analytics are available for each test a student takes. Trainers must be trained on how to infer data from graphs and tables so that students can improve the percentiles in the test. Trainers who are well-versed with technology will help in creating an objective approach to answering the CAT 2009. Thorough knowledge of the subject is essential.

An analytical approach to CAT 2009 is the key. So monitor everyday how much closer you are to 99+ percentile, if you want to get a good rank. Whether a chapter-wise or mock test, analyze question by question, topic by topic, strength and weakness analysis of each test that you take, to ascertain your contribution to the ultimate percentile. Good luck!

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