Know CAT evolution over the years

CAT 2017 conducting body, IIM Lucknow has announced CAT 2017 on July 29. As the prestigious national-level MBA entrance exam is famous for bringing changes over the years, CAT 2017 announcement was also expected to unveil surprises. However, there has been no change in CAT 2017 exam pattern as compared to last two years. The number of exam cities and application fee has increased. Over the past years, it has been observed that the CAT conducting body throws surprises either in terms of pattern, schedule or other exam features.

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CAT 2017 will be held on November 26, 2017 and CAT 2017 application form will be available from August 9, 2017.

Careers360 brings an in-depth analysis of CAT changes over the years. Let’s see how CAT changed colours over the years.

CAT Test Pattern Changes over the years

CAT underwent major changes in the past few years. In the year 2015, CAT was announced with an introduction of on-screen calculator and non-MCQs. The test paper was also divided into three time bound sections instead of two sections as in the previous year. The duration of the test was also increased to 180 minutes from an earlier duration of 170 minutes. Some of the experts suggested that the changes in CAT exam pattern were not new as prior to CAT 2011 the exam followed a three-section structure along with a sectional time limit. The sectional time bound of one hour was welcomed not only by the candidates but by the experts as well. VistaMind Education CEO, Arks Srinivas said, “The pattern is a continuation of what the IIMs have always believed in. All the CAT exams between 1999 and 2010 actually have been three section exams and the split among areas is exactly the same.”

Srinivas further stated that by stipulating time restrictions per section the IIMs have made decision making easier for the students. Therefore, the continuation of section wise time limit along with the same test pattern by IIM Bangalore in CAT 2016 is beneficial for the aspirants. 

The following table brings to you the test structure of CAT over the past 6 years.

CAT pattern changes over the years

In the year 2014, CAT was conducted by IIM Indore in an absolutely new pattern. There were two sections with 50 questions each. While in CAT 2013, there were two sections and each section had 30 questions.

CAT 2011, conducted by IIM Calcutta also underwent a major change in terms of the exam pattern. Instead of three, the exam had two sections, namely Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning & Verbal Ability. While the areas of testing remained same, the four areas were merged into two. The total number of questions remained 60 with each section having 30 questions.  

In the year 2009, from the traditional paper pencil based test, CAT became a computer based test with a duration of 2 hours and 15 minutes. IIM Ahmedabad conducted the test and it was Prometric India Pvt. Ltd.’s first year as the online testing partner. Owing to the huge shift in pattern, the first year of the computer-based CAT experienced massive technical glitches resulting in a retest. CAT takers also questioned the normalisation process of the test. Also, as per the Non-Disclosure Agreement, the question topics and the number of questions per area cannot be disclosed in detail. The overall difficulty level was even easier in the retest which was conducted in January 2010.

Changes in the CAT Test window over the years

Not only in the terms of exam pattern, CAT has observed changes in terms of its testing window too. As per the trend, CAT has been conducted in November every year. However, in 2016, IIM Bangalore conducted on Sunday, December 4, 2016, in two slots. This is for the first time that CAT was conducted in December since the introduction of the computer-based exam in 2009.  

Preferring the single day window, Gautam Puri, Vice Chairman, Career Launcher said that the single day testing helps minimise controversies around normalisation processes. He even expected that CAT 2016 will see a higher number of test centres and a single day and single slot testing window. Echoing the thoughts, Arks Srinivas had last year said, “I would be extremely happy if by CAT 2016, they conduct the exam in just one slot. The heartburn of flawed normalisation techniques would be gone and students can then compete and get judged on the same platform!”

Since its inception year 2009 till 2013, computer based CAT was conducted in a 20-day window starting from October to November, in two slots each day. In the year 2014, the conducting body-IIM Indore announced CAT as a two-day test to be conducted in November. While the test window was reduced gradually the number of slots continued to two throughout the years. However, candidates were not given any liberty to select their preferred slots from the year 2014 onwards. The following table brings to you the year wise testing window of CAT.

CAT Test Taking Window over the years

Also, prior to 2014, applicants the had liberty to choose their test date, slot, and CAT exam centre while filling their CAT application form. The option was, however, scrapped from 2014 as applicants could only provide exam city preference and rights to allotted test schedule and centre remained with CAT authorities.

CAT Registration Trend over the years

Last year, the number of CAT applications was 2,32,434, which was highest in past seven years. The actual number of test takers was around 1,95,000. This was the highest application number for CAT after the year 2009 when IIMs had received about 2.41 lakh applications. 

After witnessing the worst-ever application numbers for CAT 2015, IIM Ahmedabad was forced to extend the application deadline by five days. According to the IIMA officials, the total number of registrations received till the original registration deadline was 1, 38,000, compared to the registered 1.90 lakh candidates in the year 2015.

However, the fear of MBA crisis was allayed when the CAT 2015 registrations number increased to a total of 2.18 lakh, after the second deadline. Out of the total registered students, 1, 49,408 applicants were male and 69176 were female, and the rest of 80 applicants were Trans Genders. While the total number of applications received was 2,18,664 and the actual number of test takers was 1,79,602.

According to the experts, the positive sentiments in markets and economy might have been the key factors for an increased number of registrations in CAT 2016 as well. “MBA dream of aspirants are directly related to their perception towards an economy. Today, people are more optimistic and job scenario has also improved which reflects in placements at B-school campuses,” says Sandeep Manudhane, Chairman, PT Education.

CAT Application trend over the past 9 years

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