CAT has finally changed its colours!

Dear Student,

The CAT is out of the bag। The IIMs have finally come public with their decision on conducting the CAT online from 2009. Click here for the formal communication from IIM-Bangalore.

It is now time to act. At the outset, we assure you that there is nothing to “fear” about this online CAT. We, at CL, are well prepared to take it head on and ensure that you have the requisite skills.

We have anticipated this and have been silently working at the backend to create requisite Computer Based Tests to make you comfortable with this format. We have been doing this for a long time now. CL started its first CBTs under the name “Web Sprints” way back in 2000 itself. In 2002, XLRI proposed conducting the test online and as CL we came up with a series of tests which were considered the best in this Industry. Let me try to analyze the impact of this decision on your preparations. I shall address this in a question and answer format.

Q: I am not very comfortable working on the computer? Will this affect my performance in the exam?

A: Absolutely, if you continue to keep yourself off from taking computer based tests. There are two stages of getting used to this. One, getting used to working on the computer. Two, getting used to reading and comprehending from the computers.

The first is still a smaller problem to tackle. I am not aware of any student taking GRE/GMAT who has had a problem getting used to the interface of the test. You just need to know how to click on the correct answer, submit the answer or skip the answer by clicking on the relevant radio buttons on the screen.

The second is a slightly long drawn process. Reading from the computer and comprehending is slightly different from doing the same from a sheet of paper. That is because we have been used to the “paper formats” for such a long time that our eye – mind coordination has got used to it. So you need to practice quite a bit to make yourself as efficient through a computer screen. Practice is the key factor.

Q: Where can I practice tests from ?

A: Are you aware that there are batteries of tests that are being updated every week on your SIS. I am aware of a large number of students who are already taking tests regularly on the SIS. If you have still not done it, you better get cracking fast. Please visit your SIS today. Better late than never.

Q: If CAT is conducted on different dates, would the students get different papers?

A: Absolutely. The plan is to conduct it on 10 different days. You may be asked to book your time slots and take the tests at some designated center which has the “Computer Infrastructure” to conduct the tests. You may be aware that BITSAT is computer-based test conducted for admissions into the Engineering programmes for BITS - Pilani, Goa and Hyderabad campuses. About 1.8 lakh students are taking this test this year.

So each of you, in different time slots, could get a different paper. But care would be taken to ensure that all the papers are of “similar” levels of difficulty. I believe you should not be worried about this aspect much.

Q: Would the paper pattern change?

A: Not much. Do not think that the paper would be a lot easier. It may be marginally. The length of RC passages is likely to reduce, so also would be the amount of data in DI. Prepare the way you are preparing now. We will take care of these in our online tests.

Q: What should we do now?

A: I think there are a few things that you must immediately do:

a) Start taking tests on the SIS immediately. Make sure that you have sufficient practice of taking computer-based tests especially in RC and DI.
b) Read e-newspapers, e-books.
c) Make sure that every test that is made available to you by CL is completed. I can assure you that it would be more than sufficient for you to get cracking in CAT.

Q: What is CL planning for me?

A: We have anticipated this for some time now. We have planned it out completely. The ‘appetisers” have been put on the SIS now. There are broadly 2 things that you would see happening:

a) More tests on the web – Many more sectional tests will be uploaded onto the SIS across sections.
b) Mocks in the CBT formats – We will conduct the mocks both in the CBT formats as well as in the paper based formats. We shall ensure that you get comfortable with all the possible formats that CAT can try out.

Q: What should be my preparation strategy?

A: There are three stages for your preparation:

a) Learn: You learn as you are doing now. Just because CAT has gone online the conceptual learning is not going to change. Just stick to your Fundabooks and move onto the online tests for practice.
b) Practice: Part of this must be offline and part of it online. We would upload many more tests online in the next few weeks to enable you to get as much practice as possible online.Note that practice on SIS is essentially to get you used to taking a test on the computer.
c) Testing: Testing for a significant part must be online. This is because your strategies would significantly change since it is no longer a paper based format. You need to experience enough Full Length Tests on the computer to make yourself aware of what is working for you and what is not.

Q: Anything else I need to know?

A: Normally CBTs are of different formats:

a) A computer based test that lets you scroll all the questions. So you can access any question randomly.
b) A computer based test that throws question one at a time. You can access questions randomly. This is the most likely format for CAT 2009.
c) A computer based test that is adaptive. This means the test adapts to how you are attempting the paper. The questions thrown at you are based on whether you have got the earlier questions right or wrong. We expect this pattern from 2010 or 2011.

If you have any queries please mail us at pune.cl@careerlauncher.com.

All the best!