Register & enjoy the perks of a Universal College Application, Easy Process, Time-saving, and Free Contact details and Brochures.
Monthly Users
Monthly Applications
Admissions
No Result Found
Updated on 07th August, 2023 , 7 min read
The CAT Exam is one of India's most popular and difficult tests. It is held annually to help applicants get into prestigious Indian B-schools. Cracking the CAT 2023 is not an easy task. It entails a great deal of planning and qualifying techniques. Is the CAT exam really tough? or is it just a myth?
The CAT Exam is recognized to have a moderate difficulty level; nonetheless, it is dependent on each candidate's preparation level. It is a national-level test, and the number of individuals applying and appearing for CAT is on the higher end of the range.
IIMs administer the Common Admission Test, or CAT, for admission to various management degrees. Passing the CAT test guarantees admission to top business institutions and management courses.
With the right planning and knowledge-based skills, applicants may succeed. Therefore, if you're asking "Is the CAT exam tough?" To gain an answer, let us first comprehend the CAT exam pattern, mark distribution, and qualifying criteria.
The CAT Exam Pattern provided here will give you a general concept of how the question paper is structured and how many questions are asked in the exam. Examine these specifics and plan accordingly. The information provided below will be updated whenever the official statement changes.
Particular | Details |
Total No. of Questions | 66-76 |
Total Marks | 198-228 |
Total Sections | 3 |
Names of Sections | Quantitative Aptitude Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension Logical Reasoning & Data Comprehension |
Total Exam Duration | 2 hours |
Mode of Exam | Online |
Type of Questions | MCQs and Non MCQs (TITA) |
Marking Scheme | +3 for every correct answer -1 for every incorrect answer 0 for unanswered questions |
Know More About: CAT Exam Pattern
The questions are covered from namely three areas:
1. Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
2. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
3. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Sections | Total No. of questions | MCQs (With negative marking) | Non-MCQs (Without negative marking) | Total Maximum Marks |
VARC | 34 | 24 to 27 | 7 to 10 | 102 |
DILR | 32 | 24 | 8 | 96 |
QA | 34 | 23 to 27 | 7 to 11 | 102 |
The VARC segment is moderate to challenging. The difficulty level of the verbal component has risen over time, making it more difficult for anyone, particularly engineers, to achieve high scores. In comparison to other exams like GMAT and XAT, the difficulty level stays slightly lower.
One can easily earn a respectable percentage in the VA portion if one reads high-quality books often and has a solid understanding of basic word and grammatical origins. This is the most difficult portion to break cat since you may easily score high. For preparation of Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section, check the links given below:
Preparation of Verbal Ability Section for CAT
Preparation of Reading Comprehension Section for CAT
This segment is moderate to challenging. DI and LR questions are becoming difficult for practically everyone. The questions are typically lengthy, time-consuming, and complex. You must be careful not to spend too much time on one question. This part is suitable for someone who enjoys puzzles and has above-average ability. To address the challenges, you must be quick and have a positive mindset. The greatest approach to improve your DILR score is to solve various puzzles and issues. A DILR question can have an n-number of permutation options, but if you are familiar with the important and fundamental type of questions, it will genuinely aid you on the main day of the test. For preparation of Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section, check the links given below:
Preparation of Data Interpretation Section for CAT
Preparation of Logical Reasoning Section for CAT
This section has a moderate difficulty level. The questions in Quant are tough to describe because they are frequently a combination of all three difficulty levels yet average out to moderate difficulty. Engineers dominate this division because they are more at ease with numbers. Non-engineers have a difficult time cracking Quants, but it is not impossible. There are higher and intermediate level questions, but if you can pick the simple ones first, you can maximize your score. Strategy and planning are essential for people who struggle with math.
Overall, every student should receive consistent question practice. This will not only increase the concepts, but also the pace with which you tackle this portion. It's usually a good idea to start with the basics and work your way up to more difficult tasks. Practice as much as possible because a slight difference in marks in this area has a large impact on your sectional percentile.
Preparation of Qualitative Ability Section for CAT
Know More About: CAT Syllabus
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) |
General arithmetic Algebra Mensuration Percentage Logs Set Theory & Function Simple Interest and Compound Interest Trigonometry Calculus Geometry | Reading comprehension and answering Appropriate vocabulary usage Usage of grammar Phrases & idioms Correction of sentence Reverse analogies or analogies Completion of paragraph Judgment of facts and their interference Use appropriate words to fill in the blanks | Bar chart Pie chart Line chart Pie Chart Column Graphs Sense of direction Venn Diagrams Solving puzzles Decoding series Clocks and Calendars Solving data structures Figuring out blood relations Arrangements of numbers Coding-Decoding |
The Common Admission Test is a computer-based admission test that assesses candidates' abilities in multiple components necessary to pass the exam. Although the CAT Exam Pattern has undergone multiple revisions over the past four years, the fundamental format has not changed.
Understanding the distribution of scores is another important aspect of preparing for the CAT exam. Distribution of scores for each section of the CAT exam is shown in the table below:
Section as per CAT Exam Pattern | Total Questions | Allotted Time | Allotted Time for PwD Students |
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 Minutes | 53 minutes and 20 seconds |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 40 Minutes | 53 minutes and 20 seconds |
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 20 | 40 Minutes | 53 minutes and 20 seconds |
Total | 66 | 120 Minutes | 160 minutes |
For students applying at various levels, the qualifying requirements change.
The minimum qualification is a bachelor's degree in any discipline with at least 50% in aggregate from a recognized university.
Know More About - CAT Eligibility Criteria
A brief description of the eligibility criteria is given below:
Qualifications | |||
Academic | Degree | Final Year Students | Work Experience |
Bachelor's Degree | Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Technology | Candidates will be admitted only if they graduate securing at least 50% marks | Firstly, it is not mandatory to hold work experience |
50% marks in aggregate for General Category | Degree equivalent to bachelor's degree in Engineering & Technology of Professional Societies | Must show an original certificate in case of qualifying the examination | It contributes to some weightage by the IIMs |
45% marks in aggregate for Reserved Categories | Bachelor's degree recognized by Association of Indian Universities | Must submit the photocopy of original certificates when asked | It does not contribute to selection until the final stage of selection |
Now that you are familiar with the CAT's fundamental format and subject matter, let's discuss how difficult the test actually is. The difficulty levels of the CAT exam is increased by a few factors. Candidates who can overcome these barriers will pass the CAT exam.
Level of Questions - The CAT test has been increasingly difficult over the years. CAT is often applied by the students who have recently completed their bachelor's degree or are in the last year of their bachelor's degree. As a result, individuals have a difficult time adapting to the study strategies and procedures for passing the exam. However, we have already discussed the full breakdown of marks and the syllabus. Candidates are recommended to adhere to the same and study for the CAT test.
Confusion over Questions - There is a persistent air of doubt surrounding questions. The sections and question format stay the same, however the length of the questions fluctuates. For example, the VARC is lengthy, but the QA is quite short.
Time Limitation: Another reason that makes the CAT exam difficult is the time constraint. In 180 minutes, you must answer all the 100 questions. The comprehension and math sections both take a long time. As a result, completing the full paper in a restricted amount of time becomes quite important.
Complicated Syllabus: Complicated syllabus patterns are another problem. The curriculum includes a wide range of topics. To sit for the exam, a candidate must understand the fundamentals of each topic. Each section demands focused attention and devotion.
Pressure: The CAT test may provide professional prospects. As a result, lakhs of people take the test each year, and attaining a perfect score or simply passing the exam is not easy. The true issue is living up to your own expectations. You should have a good idea of how difficult the CAT exam is by now.
Examine the questions: Candidates should concentrate on choosing the best strategy for presenting the provided information to respond to the question. Candidates must not make any assumptions about the questions. As a result, you should concentrate on answering the question based on the available information.
Direct your Syllabus: Candidates should thoroughly research the topic because the majority of the logical reasoning questions will be about arrangements.
Learn about priority-based clockwise and counterclockwise directions, priority-based clockwise and counterclockwise directions, and cardinality laws.
Examine the Difficulty level: The applicant must recognize the easiest collection of questions and the hardest set of questions within the first few minutes after getting the section. The candidate will save time and increase the accuracy of their attempts if they set aside these few minutes to attempt simpler questions first. As a result, when practicing, you must use this technique to swiftly determine the question order.
Speed and accuracy: Candidates must work swiftly during this section while also answering the questions quickly. Therefore, the candidate should concentrate on continuously increasing their speed and accuracy while practicing. Setting timers for practice sets and gradually reducing the time will help you achieve this.
Was this Article Helpful/Relevant or did you get what you were looking for ?
👍 1,234
👎234
How to Prepare for CAT : Preparation Tips for CAT 2023-VARC, DILR AND QA
By - Prachi Bhatia 2023-08-07 06:11:52 , 8 min readCAT Books 2024: Best Books for CAT Preparation
By - Chetna Verma 2023-12-19 15:57:01 , 7 min readThere is no limit for attempting CAT.
If you have clear concepts then by practicing mock tests you can easily prepare for CAT without coaching.
As one of the most well-known and sought-after MBA entrance exams, the CAT Exam is somewhat difficult. The Quantitative Aptitude part is regarded as the most difficult of all. While Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning rank second and third, respectively.
Depends. If your third year is your final year of graduation, you are qualified to apply for the test. Final-year students are entitled to take the cat test, according to the qualifying conditions.
The CAT 2022 Exam Date is 27 November 2022. IIM Bangalore has released a notification declaring the exam dates of CAT Exam 2022.
communication@collegesearch.in
+91 84482 99862 
Download Brochure
