CAT never leaves an opportunity to baffle its test-takers. Its unpredictable nature each year gives cold feet to the candidates due to the varying CAT exam pattern, number of questions and duration over the years. CAT 2019 will be conducted on November 24, 2019 through online (computer based) mode. 

Latest: CAT 2019 Admit Card is available from October 23, 2019. Download Now

CAT Registration 2019CAT Eligibility 2019CAT Syllabus 2019CAT Score Calculation 2019 CAT Paper Analysis 2019CAT Exam Pattern 2019CAT Answer Key 2019CAT Accepting Colleges

Fret not! For all of you preparing for CAT 2019, we have curated the analysis of past two years, along with what you can expect from this year’s exam. The model papers provided to you by Collegedunia will help you prepare better for the battle. With more than 2.5 lacs test-takers each year, CAT tends to give jitters to all. But a rigorous practice and preparation can help you land in your dream college. 

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CAT 2019

As per the trends of past years, here is what Common Admission Test 2019 will have in store for you:

• Some questions in each section may not be of multiple choice type. So, direct answers will have to be typed on the screen.
• Use of basic onscreen calculator for computation will be provided.
• Sectional time-limit was withdrawn in the year 2014 and then reintroduced in 2015. For CAT 2019, candidates will be allotted exactly 60 minutes to attempt each section. They do not have the option of switching sections.
• More emphasis is likely on the QA section, making it easier for candidates to attempt. This is order to improve the diversity in classrooms, giving a fair chance to all.
• Having said that, DILR can give you a tough time. It can be tricky, time-consuming, so as to check your intelligence and decision-making skills.
• With an influx of more number of CAT test-takers, the testing window is expected to run for 2 days.
• In the year 2016, CAT was conducted in 136 cities. This year, there will be 140 CAT 2019 exam cities across the nation.

Also Check CAT Paper Analysis

CAT 2019 Model Paper by Collegedunia

Aspire to have an excellent CAT Score? Collegedunia comes to your rescue! We have prepared an exclusive model test paper for all of you appearing in CAT this year. This will give you a fair idea about what to expect in the exam.

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CAT 2018

As candidates must already be aware of the CAT 2018 Exam pattern, the paper comprised of three sections i.e Quantitative Ability (QA), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) with 34, 32 and 34 questions, respectively. The sections appeared in a fixed order and the time limit for each section was 60 minutes. 

CAT 2018- Section wise Analysis

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

• In Slot 1, Verbal section had 4 passages of 5 marks each and 1 passage of 4 marks. There were 3 questions on mis-fit, 4 on summaries and 4 on Para Jumbles.

• The VARC section of Slot 2 was similar to that of Slot 1 in terms of composition, with easy to moderate level of difficulty.

• Candidates found the RC section to be easier to that of 2017.

• The language was relatively easy and fast to comprehend yet because of options were similar, hence raising confusions about the accurate option.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

•  As per the reviews of test-takers of 2017, Slot 2 was slightly tougher than Slot 1. 

• Slot 1 had questions on number grid system, note denominations, a pie chart set et cetera. Slot 1 was believed to be overall doable in terms of difficulty level.

• In Slot 2, there were 8 sets of 4 questions each out wish 2 were easy and doable and rest were moderate to tough in terms of difficulty level.

Quantitative Ability

• The popular review of QA section 2017, is that it was tough in terms of difficulty level with no clarity in terms of the accurate option.

• Slot 1 had questions from algebra, geometry, number system, Probability. The questions on algebra, geometry and arithmetic came across as difficult ones to the test takers.

• As per the candidates, Slot 2 was similar to Slot 1 in terms of difficulty level. The questions on ratio were very calculative. Algebra questions were moderate to tough in terms of difficulty level. The 4 questions on time and work as per the candidates were also very calculative and application based.

CAT 2017

CAT Exam 2017 was conducted in 2 sessions on the same day. Questions from Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DI & LR) and Quantitative Ability (QA) were asked. As per the reactions of the test-takers, the difficulty level of the exam was moderate.

CAT 2017  Paper Analysis (Slot 1)

Read below CAT 2017 Analysis for Slot 1:

• In VA, there were 7 Non-MCQ & 3 MCQ questions. RC in CAT Exam 2017 had 24 questions. The overall difficulty level of the section was moderate.
• DILR continued to be tough, since the questions were reasoning based. There were 8 sets of 4 questions each which were quite indirect and tricky in nature. Four sets were completely MCQ whereas the remaining four were a combination of TITA and MCQs. 
• QA was the easiest section to attempt, giving students a sigh of relief. Questions were direct, giving room to a higher CAT Cut off this year. Questions were easily manageable and were not time-consuming.

CAT 2017 Paper Analysis (Slot 2)

Slot 2 was conducted from 2.30- 5.30 pm. The difficulty level of the paper was similar to the first slot i.e. moderate. Read below CAT 2017 Analysis for Slot 2:

• DILR was the toughest to attempt, although it was easier than the first slot.
• VARC was of moderate difficulty level. Questions were either direct or inference based. TITA or non-MCQs were from the Verbal Ability or English Usage area. 
• QA was the easiest to attempt in both the slots.

CAT 2016

• CAT 2016 was conducted on December 4 in two slots.
• The exam pattern of CAT did not see any major changes. The paper was divided into 3 main sections with a total of 100 questions.
• Overall, both the papers were moderate on the difficulty level. 
• While VARC was easy to attempt, DILR was troublesome for the examinees.
• Quant’s section gave nightmare to candidates in terms of the difficulty level and topic distribution.

CAT 2016 Sectional Details

As the IIMs had already put on ground, the non-MCQ made an appearance for the second time in CAT 2016. Out of the total 100 questions, 25 were non-MCQ in nature. While the MCQs carried -0.33 marks for an incorrect answer, there was no penalty for non-MCQs. 

CAT 2015

• CAT 2015, organized by IIM Ahmedabad, saw changes in its structure and contents. 
• CAT 2015 was successfully conducted on November 29, 2015.
• Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning section was a tough nut to crack. CAT 2015 Exam Pattern was more or less on what was expected.
• In a first, CAT 2015 saw some Non-MCQ questions. Out of 100 questions in all, there were 28 questions of Non-MCQ types.
• Non-MCQ did not carry any negative marking, while the other objective-type questions carried +3 for a correct response and -1 for an incorrect response.

CAT 2015 Sectional Details

• Most number of questions were asked from QA and VARC (34 each).
• QA bought a sigh of relief for the test takers due to reduction in weightage for higher Maths and addition of online calculator.
• Dominance of Arithmetic and Geometry (18/ 34 questions) gave a better chance to non-engineers to score a better CAT Result.
• For most of the test takers, LR area was a nightmare to attempt. With the advent of non-MCQ questions, the answers became lengthy, difficult and more time consuming.
• DI section consisted of relatively easy sets and most of the questions were doable.
• VARC section of CAT 2015 consisted of 5 passages for 24 questions overall.
• With 10 non-MCQ questions in this part, questions on Para-Jumbles were significantly tougher to attempt.
• Overall, the difficulty level of the section was easy.

CAT 2015 Overall Analysis

In contrast with CAT Exam in the year 2014, CAT 2015 was definitely easier to attempt. With a sectional time-limit of 60 minutes, candidates lost of the scope of maximizing their CAT scores by giving more time to the area of their strength. While it was evident that DILR was the toughest section, the overall CAT Cutoff was expected to be 20-25 marks lesser than last year.

We hope this article was of help in your CAT 2019 preparation. All the best for the test this year.

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