CAT 2015 pattern Change!

CAT 2015 Pattern Change. What does it mean for you?[/b]

Firstly, calm down. It is not a game changer nor does it fundamentally alter the exam.

At VistaMind and earlier in TIME, We have trained CAT aspirants for over 15 years and have seen many pattern changes. The changes are always minor and incremental.

3 Section CAT:[/b]

QA 34 Qs

RC/VA 34 Qs

DI/LA 32 Qs.

How many Qs did we have last year (CAT 2014)?

QA 34.

RC + VA 34

LA + DI 32.

So number of Qs is exactly the same! Please note that we have had 3 section CAT papers in the past and the area wise distribution was exactly the same.

Sectional Time limits:[/b] Again we have always advised students to have their own area wise time limits even if the exam did not have sectional time limits.

Some Qs may not have answer choices:[/b] PLEASE note Qs will be Objective type. It only means that you have to type in the answer using the keyboard or an onscreen number pad. So if the answer is 25, you will have to type in '25'. In QA, it makes hardly any difference, in DI, using choices helps a bit, so it reduces elimination based answering.

Basic Onscreen Calculator:[/b] Those of you are a little weak in calculation will rejoice, but for good students it won't make much difference. Please note that for most calculations paper pencil will be faster!

While Prometric included calculation intensive Qs, We predicted that the IIMs will focus on Logical DI and we have been proven right in CAT 2014, where very few Qs were calculation intensive. This is expected to continue.

Summary:[/b] The changes are minor and incremental in nature. Your preparation doesn't change much. We will be conducting an Webinar on CAT Strategy based on new pattern soon. And of course, we will be updating the pattern for the remaining Mocks so that you get sufficient practice.

The Author is an alumnus of IIM Calcutta and has been the All India CAT Director at TIME. He is currently the CEO of VistaMind Education. VistaMind is the only National Level Training institute which prepares students for CAT through LIVE ONLINE CLASSES. For more information, write to [email protected] OR Visit cat.vistamind.com

For more information, visit at: http://vistamind.com/lp/ppt/CAT_2015_Pattern_Change.pdf

 

[Simran Rai]

Thank you for this much-needed perspective on the CAT 2015 pattern change. The clarification that the number of questions remains exactly the same across all sections is reassuring. Many aspirants tend to panic when they hear “pattern change,” so your explanation that these adjustments are minor and incremental helps put things into perspective. The introduction of a sectional time limit may actually work in favor of students who struggle with time management, and your continued emphasis on logical DI over heavy calculations is consistent with recent trends. The insight about typing answers (TITA questions) is valuable too—it encourages students to sharpen their accuracy rather than rely on option elimination. Also, your honesty about the limited value of the onscreen calculator is refreshing. Overall, this post cuts through the noise and keeps students focused on what really matters—consistent, smart preparation. Looking forward to the webinar and updated mocks!​