What is CAT Exam – Know Paper Timing, Date, Eligibility, Syllabus, Pattern

The Common Admission Test popularly known as the CAT is the gateway to make one’s way to the premier management institutes of the country. Those wanting to pursue MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, they are required to clear the CAT exam, meet the required cutoff of the IIM  from where they want to pursue the course. 

Know all about the changed CAT exam pattern?

Candidates who will appear for the CAT exam, they must be aware about the changed exam pattern. This year, CAT 2020 will be of less duration. In the past the CAT exam was of three hours. However, this year the exam will be of two hours and  there has been no change in the sections from which the questions will be asked. Candidates will be required to answer the questions from the following sections

Total Number of Questions

Since the duration of the CAT exam has been reduced, candidates are speculating that it is likely that the total number of questions which will be asked in the CAT exam will also be reduced. However, the air about  how many questions will be asked in the CAT exam was cleared by CAT 2020 convenor Prof Harshal Lowlakear who clearly said that since CAT is a competitive exam, revealing how many questions would be asked would not be correct.

What After the CAT exam? 
Candidates who meet the required cutoff criteria for the IIMs, they would be called for the next round of the selection process which comprises group discussion, interview and the written ability test. Weightage is given to each stage of the selection process and depending on the performance of the candidate in all the stages, the final merit list is prepared and accordingly the candidate is offered admission to the IIM or any other top b-school which admits candidates on the basis of the CAT score.

CAT Exam Pattern 2020 – Check New Section Wise & Marking Scheme

CAT Exam Pattern 2020- For the year of CAT 2020, IIM Indore has come up with certain changes in the exam pattern of CAT 2020. This time CAT 2020 will be two hours instead of three hours. As per the modified examination pattern of CAT 2020, the test will be held in computer-based mode in three slots on November 29, 2020 as per CAT paper date. If we talk about the sectional time limit for CAT exam, candidates will be allotted a total of 40 minutes to solve a particular section. Check the detailed overview on CAT exam pattern 2020 in includes the total number of questions, total time duration, marking scheme as well as exam mode.

CAT 2020 Exam Pattern Overview

The changed exam pattern of CAT 2020 specifies that the exam will be held in three slots i.e. morning session (8:30 AM to 10:30 AM), afternoon session (12:30 PM to 2:30 PM) and evening session will be held between (4:30 PM to 6:30 PM). While taking CAT 2020 candidates are not allowed to switch from one section to another.

CAT Detailed Exam Pattern 2020

ParticularsDetails
CAT 2020 exam time duration2 hours 
Sectional time duration for CAT 202040 minutes (for all categories)4 minutes and 20 seconds for PwD candidates
Total number of questions100
Exam modeOnline (Computer based mode)

CAT 2020 Exam Pattern (Section wise)

Section nameTotal number of questions Total number of TITA questionsTotal number of MCQs
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)34727
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)32824
Quantitative Ability (QA)341123

CAT Exam Pattern 2020- Marking Scheme

  • For every correct response, candidates will be awarded three marks
  • Candidates will lose one mark for every incorrect answer
  • No marks will be awarded for unattempted questions

How to navigate between sections while attempting CAT 2020?

Candidates will have to follow all the instructions which will be given on the computer screen while answering CAT 2020 questions. There are certain points which one needs to keep in mind while answering the CAT questions. Right after CAT login and start answering the question, the timer will start ticking. On the completion of the sectional time limit, the section will get locked and candidates will not be able to answer any more questions from a particular section.

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