CAT 2014: Exam Pattern and changes in 2014

CAT, the common admissions test for MBA aspirants dates are out for the session 2014 is scheduled to take place on two days - November 16 and November 22. The Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indore will conduct the exam this year. IIM Indore Director Professor Rishikesha T  Krishnan would act as CAT 2014 Chairman while Professor Rohit Kapoor as the CAT-2014 Convener. IIM-Indore will be conducting the test for the second consecutive time.

CAT 2014, exam pattern and has undergone some significant changes this year. Earlier, the exam was conducted over a period of 22-days. But this time, it will be held only on two separate dates. Hence, candidates do not have the option of selecting their preferred slots. Also, aspirants will be given three options to select their test cities.  Candidates hence need not rush in the initial registration days for blocking their slots and sites. Candidates will be given their first preferred city across the four sessions on random basis as far as possible.

CAT 2014 will be conducted in 99 cities comprising of 354 test sites, details of which will be published later.

CAT (Common Admission Test) 2014 is conducted by the 13 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). CAT 2014 is being conducted by IIM Indore.

Test Pattern and changes to be followed in 2014:

The test duration has gone up by half an hour i.e from 140 minutes to 170 minutes (two hours 50 minutes in total)
Questions in each section have been increased to 50 in each section from the existing 30 questions.
Candidates have the flexibility to devote more or less time to each section according to their ability. One can switch over from one section to another section at any point during the examination timing.
The tutorial will not be available before the start of the examination and the candidates are advised to do the tutorials from the website well in advance.

There's been no change in the exam syllabus. Candidates will receive questions in four sections: Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning.

The registration for the CAT 2014 will remain open for 56 days beginning from August 6 and closing on September 30. Students will be able to download admit card from October 16 to till examination date. The results will be declared in the third week of December 2014.

Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS), which has conducted examination like GATE, JEE, AIPMT, JIPMER etc will be in charge of conducting CAT too this year.