Posted by TCYonline.com on November 12, 2009
CAT 2009 Pattern
Now that most of the surprises related to the computer version of CAT have been uncovered in the last two months (except for the ones you have yet to face between November 28 and December 7 at your test centres), it’s time to take a closer look at the new Official Test Interface. Moreover, the need to utilise the tabs and buttons most effectively can not be over-emphasised at this point.
Here, computer-based examination experts from TCYonline help you familiarise yourself with the test interface so as to make the most out of each feature that it offers. So here’s how to master the art of managing time effectively in CAT 2009.
Know thy battlefield
The first step in the preparation process is to know the features of the test interface introduced by Prometric. The following is a snapshot of the testing interface that TCYonline has prepared which precisely simulates the official CAT interface:
Official CAT Interface
The above snapshot shows us the four tabs. Additionally, it has also been confirmed that questions will appear one at a time as shown above. Of the four tabs, the most important are ‘Review’ and “Mark’. ‘Review’, because it is the only way one can jump through the sections and multiple questions and ‘Mark’, because, if utilised properly, it can be the perfect time-saver.
How to attempt CAT
These tips might be the same as those advised since CAT 1999 (for a paper-based test), nevertheless, the difference lies in utilising the ‘Review’ and ‘Mark’ tabs to your advantage. Here is what you need to do before starting to solve any question:
* The test will be attempted in three rounds. R-1 must take between 15-20 per cent of the total time. R-2 must take 50 per cent of the time and R-3 will take 25-30 per cent. You must, therefore, calculate the time line for the complete test the moment you read the total time on the computer screen.
* Calculate the average time per question (we’ll call it your ‘alarm time’) that you have, so that you know the maximum time a question can take. This helps you avoid getting personal with a question.
* If the initial introduction gives a listing of the sections, please take a note of the section number for your strength area be it Quant (Q), Verbal (V) or Data Analysis (DA).
* Whether you are interested or not, you MUST have at least a quick glance through the tutorial that will appear before the test.
* In order to avoid panic, please recall that:
o The only way to reset a question is to ‘re-click’ on the selected answer option. You will not find a ‘reset’ or ‘de-select’ button on the computer screen.
o In ‘Review’, you CANNOT move to a desired question unless you double-click on the question number. This is important because many of us would have practiced a ’single click’ option in their mocks and may conclude that the software is not responding properly.
Now that you know what to expect, TCYonline recommends the following three stages to help you escape the stress:
Round 1: Raise your confidence
Focus on attempting only the questions that are on topics you are strong in. A question that is expected to take less than alarm time for you qualifies to be taken up in R-1.
Now, you should also work smart. While attempting the selected questions in R-1, you must automatically prepare a list of questions that deserve to be attempted in R-2.
How?
Just put the ‘Mark’ tab to its best use. That is keep on marking the questions that are expected to take a little more than the alarm time, so that when you start R-2 you do not lose focus. Also, ensure that you do not mark more than 22 to 25 questions as you will not have enough time in R-2 to answer more than these many questions.
We urge you to start with the section that is your strong area, no matter if it is Section 3 of the test. You may jump sections using the ‘Review’ screen. This is how the Review screen will appear:
CAT Review Screen
Remember that in DI, most of the questions appear in sets of three or four. It is recommended that one set of three-four questions should be attempted in this round. Moreover, graph / table / chart-based questions should be preferred over logical games in R-1.
In Verbal, try more questions based on grammar and vocab. You should also try a few RC questions based on some specific stanza (and not the complete passage). Avoid doing inference-based RC questions, para-jumbles and FIJ in the R-1. Do para-jumbles only if the jumbled paras are very small.
Round 2: Reaching the threshold
The main target of R-2 is to clear cut-offs and ensure high accuracy. The best way to do this is to go to the ‘Review’ screen and click on ‘Review marked’ written at the bottom. Here, since you have planned and already marked the R-2 specific questions in the R-1 itself, you should be quite comfortable. Here’s how your ‘Review marked’ screen will look:
CAT Review Marked Screen
Questions of R-2 are the ones that may require a little over alarm time and need a few more calculations than those in R-1. You must try attempting two RCs in this round. The first aim is to have a balanced attempt in R-2, for achieving which you must start working on questions from your strength areas. Remember not to get carried away with only one section in R-2 and ignoring the other two. You must do that ONLY AFTER you are certain that you have managed cut-offs in all the three sections.
Round 3: Optimising the score
We say ‘optimising’ and not ‘maximising’ since a difference in attitude can make or mar your percentile in CAT. Keep your cool and be very choosy in selecting the right questions to spend your time on.
But how would you determine which questions to do in R-3? Should you choose to ‘Review all’ or to ‘Review marked’?
Actually, in this round, the ‘Review’ screen decides your navigation. You may click on the ‘Review incomplete’ tab or select one untouched question at a time and remember to get back to the ‘Review’ screen after attempting each question. However, first you have to see whether all the marked questions have been attempted in R-2 or not. If there are still a few remaining, prefer those.
Then, check the number of questions attempted in each section and see if one section has not been attempted much. If you find that you had a balanced attempt, you may now attempt the section that is your strength area to optimise your score.
The time limit for the three rounds may vary from person to person but lies almost in the given range. We recommend you to try this method in your mocks to ensure perfection.
TCYonline offers the largest benchmarking pool and the most comprehensive online CAT preparation course with access to TCY Analytics, Test Generator, Audio Visual Lectures, All India e-CATs on the real CAT pattern and e-Non-CAT Series for SNAP, IIFT, NMAT, FMS, JMET & XAT.
Posted by TCYonline.com on September 18, 2009
“There is no need to panic, guys;
CAT 2009 is no different from any past CAT as regards Quant & DI.”
As a serious CAT-09 aspirant, do you completely agree to it?
Although there is no need to panic, CAT 2009 is certainly different from the past CAT as regards the right ways to approach it. We have been assured many times through official notifications about CAT 2009 that IIMs are trying to keep the test as close to the old-paper-pencil-based pattern as possible. The freedom offered in a Linear-Computer-Based format supports their claim. However, the fact that it will be held on a computer screen is strong enough to make us re-visit our test taking strategies. The need to reduce or counter-balance the time-wastage-per-question, which seems to be a certain outcome of reading the data from computer screen, cannot be over emphasized. This, together with the fact that CAT Quant & DI are getting more reasoning oriented, would prove our excessive dependence on the quick-calculation-faculties a mere illusion. This mirage, if not dealt with carefully today, will anyhow disappear in November end. Nevertheless, today’s mistakes would be tomorrow’s blunders.
THE LOGIC PREVAILS
Past few years have proven to each serious MBA aspirant that a 99.99 Percentile in CAT is beyond quick calculations and Vedic Math. Though these skills are essential to set the mood, they hardly have helped a CAT taker who does not know how to logically approach a Quant or DI problem. Probably, that’s the reason why test makers are turning towards more logical problems and less calculation-thirsty sitters. Your MOCK Online CAT scores stand witness to the hard fact that as the Quant and DI problems turn more logical the time per question is bound to increase. This is because a logical problem needs a logical solution and to break the code you must spend time analyzing the given data. Hence, there is a need to curb this time-flu before it causes major damage.
A HOLISTIC APPROACH
If we analytically assess the challenges a computer can pose, we can reach the so called Holi-grail strategy for CAT-09 Quant and DI. The analysis by TCYonline experts broadly exposes 5 major challenges a CAT 09 Quant or DI problem can pose. They are:
1. Concentration
Challenge… which is the root cause of “having to RE-RE-RE-Read” a question statement / answer choices / a chart / an equation in order to un-lock the relevant information in it.
2. Optical-Illusion Challenge… which leads us to assume the “Not-otherwise-givens” thereby deviating from the logic and falling into the set trap.
3. Challenge of Relevance… which, if ignored, may push us into the data-ware-house-of-the-chart or graph.
4. Challenge of Consistency… which although a by-product of poor concentration on computer screen, can challenge our capability to stay consistent with a single unit of the data – especially the one used in the answer choices.
5. Challenge of Interpretation… which is caused by many statements which are difficult to retain in mind (because you cannot highlight any of them).
And there is only one way to meet these challenges – “Common-sense”. However, it can be easily translated into specifics as follows challlenges:
• Concentration• Optical-Illusion
• Relevance>• Consistency Interpretation
This has been explained in an example from past CATs below
Here are a few examples from the Past CATs:
Concentration
Question 1: In a tournament, there are n teams T1, T2, …,Tn, with n > 5. Each team consists of k players, k>3. The following pairs of teams have one player in common:
T1 & T2, T2 & T3, ……., Tn – 1 & Tn and Tn & T1
No other pair of teams has any player in common. How many players are participating in the tournament, considering all the n teams together?
(1) n(k – 1)
(2) k(n – 1)
(3) n(k – 2)
(4) k(n – 2)
(5) (n – 1)(k – 1) (CAT 2007)
Solution 1 :
Such question statements demand good concentration. Here, the given pairs confuse us. However, if we start formulating the problem on the scratch paper as we read, life gets easier.
For instance, Our notes go something like this:
There are “n” teams
“k” players in each team
“n” pairs (the confusing part was this simple) of teams have 1 player in common.
So, the answer is nk – n = n (k– 1).
Answer (1)
Optical-Illusion
Question 2 : In the figure, AB = BC = CD = DE = EF = FG = GA. Then DAE is approximately
1) 15o
(2) 20o
(3) 30o
(4) 25o
( CAT 2000)
Solution 2: It is given that AB = BC = CD = DE = EF = FG = GA; However, in the figure, these sides do not seem to be equal. Hence, in order to accurately reach the solution, we have to proceed with the given data and NOT according to the given figure.
Work from the choices.
If we put A = 15, then C = 15 (isosceles) and then keep calculating the angles further we can reach the solution fast (for this you must have drawn the figure on to the scratch paper).
Make adjustments in your assumptions by keeping in mind that the sum of angles of the big triangle must be 180o
You will find that only 25o comes as the result.
Answer (4)
Relevance
Question 3 :
(Note: Availability is defined as production less export.)
In which year during the period 1996–99 was Chaidesh’s export of tea, as a proportion of tea produced, the highest?
(1) 1996
(2) 1997
(3) 1998
(4) 1999
(CAT 2003)
Solution 3 : A lot of data, isn’t it?
But if you really refer to the question first you will find that in order to answer it, we don’t at all require the first chart. Just concentrate on the required data to solve this question.
From second chart we can say that it is highest in 1997.
Hence, remember – the more you read without referring to the question, the more you’ll get confused (and therefore waste time).
Consistency :Directions : Eighty five children went to an amusement park where they could ride on the merry-go-round, roller coaster, and Ferris wheel. It was known that 20 of them took all three rides, and 55 of them took at least two of the three rides. Each ride cost Re 1, and the total receipt of the amusement park was Rs 145.
Question 4 : How many children did not try any of the rides?
(1) 5
(2) 10
(3) 15
(4) 20
Question 5 : How many children took exactly one ride? .
(1) 5
(2) 10
(3) 15
(4) 20
Solution 4 & 5:
Total children = 85
Children who have taken 3 rides = 20
Children who have taken 2 rides = 55 – 20 = 35
Children who have taken 1 ride = 145 – (20 × 3 + 35 × 2 ) = 15
Children who have taken 0 rides = 85 – ( 20 + 35 + 15) = 15.
Therefore, if we put all the given information in a consistent way, we can answer both the questions together.
Interpretation :
Question 6 : A chemical plant has four tanks (A, B, C and D), each containing 1000 liters of a chemical. The chemical is being pumped from one tank to another as follows:
From A to B @ 20 liters/ minute
From C to A @ 90 liters/ minute
From A to D @ 10 liters/ minute
From C to D @ 50 liters/ minute
From B to C @ 100 liters/ minute
From D to B @ 110 liters/ minute
Which tank gets emptied first and how does it take (in minutes) to get emptied after pumping starts?
(1) A, 16.66 (2) C, 20 (3) D, 20 (4) D, 25 (CAT 2005)
Solution 6 : Would you take the chance to write all the data on the paper again???
Hey! You have got to work smart here!
Just put the given information in the required format.
–A ———– B—————-C———-D
- 20 ——- + 20———–+ 90 ——- – 90
- 10———+ 10 ———- – 50——- + 50
- 100——–+ 100——– + 110—— – 110
50 liters is going away from tank D every minute. Hence it will get emptied first and in 1000/ 50 = 20 minutes.
Answer (3)
A few more things one can exercise in his MOCKs are:
• Keep in mind the same old plan of doing the paper in 3 rounds. Now as the test is on computer you must follow a very logical approach to select the questions in Round 1 and 2. For instance, In DI you must attempt the questions that can be answered by read minimum information from the graphs / charts. In Quant, ones involving minimum equations should be preferred. Also, sometimes there are 2 – 3 questions based on one set of data. They are also expected to consume less time once the problem is properly drawn on to the scratch paper. Here we are assuming that Prometric will allow you to move back and forth among the questions. However, if it did not allow (highly unlikely) you to move back, your time per question will definitely increase as you will have to skip a question only if you know you cannot do it at all given the fact that you will never come back to it.
• Also it is expected that as the test goes online the percentage of Data-Sufficiency question will increase. Moreover, it is also expected that the amount of data in the Graphs and charts will be less and with a logical approaches described above you would be able to come up winners!
All the Best!!!
Posted by TCYonline.com on November 26, 2008
NEW DELHI, Nov. 26 – Recession or no recession, the modern Indian student always aspires for more – more knowledge, more money and more challenge. The just concluded CAT and the very thought of fat MBA pay packages spur him on to perform better each passing day.
Be it upcoming SNAP, FMS and XAT, or for that matter any college/school or competitive exam, the student’s Net gains have made him more confident after he has learnt how to wriggle out of difficult situations. Online testing being his new success mantra, all he has to do is benchmark his performance against the best in India and abroad, and raise his bar.
Today, we see a study shift from chalk-and-board to computers with the greater impact of education websites like TCYonline.com which have brought a revolution of sorts in the test prep sector. A smart student is supplementing his classroom education with online practice tests, which are taking precedence over traditional ‘bookish’ learning.
It is worth noting that enjoying the privilege of being India’s Number One Testing Platform, www.tcyonline.com has today over 2.70 lakh students in the age group of 13–32 years on its portal taking advantage of its various free resources — online tests ranging from CBSE to MBA to GRE and Medical/Engineering exams.
Talking of the CBSE, scores of practice tests are available on the website for the benefit of the school students. As a gesture of goodwill, like previous years, TCYonline.com will also make available number of pre board tests for the February 2009 exam.
Student benchmarking being the hallmark of this web-portal, its recently launched two testing tools – the ‘Challenge Zone’ and the ‘Test Generator’ – are making good rounds among the academic community.
Being the free website for the students, the portal has also found great favour with some schools, colleges and universities in the country. Of late, some academic institutions have shown keen interest in TCYonline.com’s elite testing platform.
TCYonline.com’s exhaustive and free material catering to all the major national and international exams coupled with technology-enabled tools is not only becoming a rage amongst students but is also catching the eye of educational institutions and other companies.
A huge student base and separate exam categories on the website provide a perfect platform for educational institutions to showcase their offerings to prospective students. With continuous product innovation and technological upgradation taking place every second, this platform offers a host of opportunities to education institutions in India and abroad, virtually on a platter.
While it is heartening to note that TCYonline.com is crossing the five-lakh registration mark during the next few months, the web-portal gives education bodies an opportunity to describe their programs, organize mock tests and virtual education fairs. Moreover, the students can gain by asking questions and interacting with the university representatives through an online chat facility.
TCYonline.com has in a way squeezed the whole world to such an extent that a now a student sitting in any part of the world, say in the US or Canada, can prepare for any international entrance exam like GRE or GMAT or TOEFL. Practice tests for all these entrance exams are available on the website free of cost.
All said and done, TCYonline.com has become the ‘testopedia’ of the modern student today. He can’t think of his life without it.
Posted by TCYonline.com on November 17, 2007
Following the high-voltage war of nerves that CAT test generates every year, Top Careers & You (TCY) would cool down thousands of IIM aspirants with CAT analysis on their website TCYonline.com.
This North India’s premier chain of test preparation has always been the first to provide such ‘threadbare’ analysis for the students across the nation. This year an estimated 2.3 lakh students will be vying for 1500 IIM seats in the country. The students can checkout CAT solutions on the website at 2.30 p.m. on November 18, 2007.
“This solo exercise would be in maintaining our rich symbiotic relationship with CAT for the last five years in providing a deep analysis of the test”, commented Rakesh Kumar, IT Manager.
Benefits to the IIM aspirants are immense, with CAT analysts providing:
* answer keys or solutions for all the questions
* comparative CAT 07 analysis with previous years question papers
* an overview of the difficulty level
* estimation on the expected cut-offs for IIMs & other premier B-Schools
* topic wise graphical analysis of all the sections
“Every year thousands of aspirants take our online help to assess their performance in the CAT exam. The students can come on live chat or e-mail their queries to our experts to seek admission guidance for various B-schools in the country”, added Mr. Rakesh.
The website www.tcyonline.com is the fastest growing education portal. The company distributes FREE online practice test for MBA and other standardized tests.
The web portal has essentially been the reference site on test preparation, admission notifications, practice tests, B-School updates, etc. Its focus lies in preparing the students interested for a career in MBA, MCA, GRE, GMAT and SAT.
Posted by TCYonline.com on October 30, 2007
Every youngster knows which mobile offers best value, with all complicated data on talk-time, free SMS, rate of local call, the pulse, etc., taken into account. Why does a simple similar
question based on ratio proportion or unitary method looks so confusing inside the CAT exam room?
Have you ever seen a child of III or IV standard committing a calculation mistake, while buying toffees or chocolates? Why does he commit a mistake while doing a similar question in CAT, after studying maths for another decade?
Even an illiterate lady would know exactly how many more potatoes she must get, if subziwala doesn’t have the change of say, Rs. 1.50, to return. Why then a learned graduate is at sea to find this out with a paper and pen?
The answer to all these paradoxes is simple. In the former situations, Commonsense is used, and in the latter, Maths.
Let’s take an example. In this season of “sale” every where, you find on one shop a board that says “Buy 3, get 1 free”. And on the nearby shop “Get 30% off”. Ask the students in a maths class to find out the better offer and they are zapped. Many of the mathematicians will promptly find the discount in the first case to be 33.33 % and in the other to be 30%, thus declaring the first offer better. However, a little common sense (which somehow appears only when you are in the market and disappears as soon as you enter the class room!!!) would tell that in the first case, you are getting a discount of 25%, as you are not paying for 1 out of 4.
Now, ask someone to find out the sale price when an object costing Rs. 151.25 is sold at a loss of 130%. The mathematician will enter the jungle of formulas and calculation, while the one with commonsense (a rare species!!!) would know that nothing could be sold at a loss of more than 100%. Even if you give something free to someone the loss is 100%. And even if you spend something further on its disposal, that is added to the cost and the percentage loss still remains 100%.
