CAT-2007: What to Expect in CAT-07?

Folks,

Once again I am back with my gut feelings about CAT... the upcoming CAT-07 on 18th November 2007.

As is well known fact that CAT-07 is once again going to be for 150 minutes, and most expectedly with 75 to 90 questions. (Don't you see the CAT likening to GMAT - Increased time frame, fewer questions, easy quants and difficult verbal......)

Once again IIM-A has already given out minimum cut-off scores in each section, as in 2006. IIM-C has joined the club by announcing minimum cut-offs for various sections, though differential, unlike IIM-A.

As my observation for years suggest, when there were no pre-decided cut-offs and CAT was becoming tougher every year i.e. up till CAT-2005 - cut-off in quants section was going down with each passing year. In CAT-2005 it being as low as 7 for IIMs. This translated in just about 14 percent of the sectional marks. In earlier years too the quants cut-off had been just about 9-12. Since last CAT, IIM-A has made 25% score in each section a must and 33.33 % overall. In CAT-2004, overall cut-off was just about 48, and in CAT-2005 it was about 44. Once again 32% and less than 30% respectively.

I believe you understand why all these discussion became necessary here. This amply explains why the quants and DI sections were easier last year. Can they be any different this year? I doubt....!

Why then verbal section was tough last year? Well... I would ask you a question to answer this question... Was it tough? Or was it ambiguous? I believe it was ambiguous more than it was tough. I am still not convinced of a few answers given by IIMs in their published keys. Probably nobody is....

Well, as for sections....

Verbal: Fact, Inference and Judgements can surely be expected. But remember to read definitions well. They may just play a trick by altering the definition of these terms. RC and paragraph completion must also be there. Para-jumbles may just make a comeback, or it may be grammar that makes re-entry in CAT.

Quants: I believe the emphasis on arithmetic is only to continue, with Geometry getting little more or at least equivalent weightage as Algebra.

DI & Logic: For long, in fact, IIMs have done away with Data nterpretation. The emphasis in recent years have been more on analytical reasoning and data construction. The trend is here to stay.

Friends, I believe CAT is being divergent from other examinations. While focussing on CAT, which you must, do not loose sight of other examinations. Do not overlook old rules of the game, for still many a games are played by old rule book. I am refering to CATability test series of FuturiSM.

Wishing you all the Best of You....