What if You Miss a Sectional Target on CAT 2024 Exam Day? Recovery Tactics
The Common Admission Exam (CAT) is a national-level Entrance Exam conducted by IIM, for admission to MBA programs in IIMs and also other recognized B-Schools. The CAT exam held on 24 November 2024, in various cities nationwide. It is fine to have numerous doubts regarding how to crack the exam, how to manage the task, and more importantly where to start. Today, let us discuss some tips necessary while solving the exam. Firstly, let us brush up on the sections of the highlights of the CAT.
CAT Highlights:
| Particulars |
Details |
| Name of the Exam |
Common Admission Test (CAT) |
| Exam Conducting Body |
IIM |
| Exam Mode |
Online or Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Duration |
120 minutes |
| Total Questions |
66 questions |
| Total Marks |
198 marks |
| Negative marking |
Yes |
CAT Section-Wise Pattern:
The CAT exam is divided into three sections: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Each section is allotted 40 minutes, and there is no switching between sections. Each section is attempted separately
| Sections |
Number of MCQs |
Non MCQs (TITA) |
Total Questions |
Section time (Minutes) |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning |
14 |
6 |
20 |
40 |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension |
14 |
8 |
22 |
40 |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
21 |
3 |
24 |
40 |
| Total |
49 |
17 |
66 |
120 |
Tips to understand the exam questions:
- First, go through the exam questions before answering.
- Classify the questions as easy, moderate, and difficult based on your strengths and weaknesses.
- Solve the questions in the order of easy to difficult level questions in each section.
- Manage your time accordingly, by allotting less than 1–2 minutes for each easy question in each section.
- There are less than 2–3 minutes for moderate questions and less than 4–5 minutes for solving difficult questions.
- If any question is taking more time than your preferred time, just skip the question and come back later if time permits.
- Keep at least 2–3 minutes of free time to recheck your answers and revise your paper while solving each section.
Oops, I have reached the sectional target and what do I have, no time left to solve the remaining questions.
Yes, this is the situation sometimes we face during the exam. But do not panic about the situation, we can still do better.
Tips to recover if missed the Sectional target:
As we discussed, each section in the CAT exam is provided with a time slot of 40 minutes. As per that, the student has to manage the time by making sure to allot specific time for each question based on the weightage of the questions. In case the aspirant has extended the preferred time, here are some tips to boost back:
- Do not panic, stay calm and breathe.
- There is no point in thinking about the lost time, if you have missed the target in the first section focus on the other section and perform well.
- There is no way we can switch between sections, but we can switch between the questions of the same sections. So if you are unsure of an answer, come back later to solve it.
- If you have exceeded the preferred time in your first section, make sure you allot extra time in the next sections, so you get enough time to solve the difficult question in the remaining sections.
- Always keep 3–4 minutes as a spare time to revise your answers, if you have missed one section just make sure you have enough time in the next section.
- It is not mandatory to solve all the questions, hence use the time allotted to that question as an advantage.
For more queries on the CAT exam, visit, planedu.in
FAQs:
1)Can I still do better even if I have limited time during the CAT exam?
Yes, you can still do better by managing your remaining time conveniently.
2)How much time is allotted to each section in the CAT exam?
Each section is allotted 40 minutes.
3)Is it recommended to switch sections during the CAT exam?
You cannot switch sections during the CAT exam.
