CAT and the Art of Pattern Changing

Another season, yet another pattern. The news that came out on 25th of June, 2011 brought along the new pattern the IIMs will be implementing for this year's CAT season. No use describing the pattern in detail, those who are linked with the exam would already have gone through the pattern over and over again in the last few hours, possibly scornfully, possibly puzzled and some even without any particular conclusion whatsoever. Ok, lots of plot-setting, let me put down my views on how this pattern might turn out for this year's aspirants (and for teachers who give CAT just for 'the pattern analysis et al' and deprive students of precious seats). Here it goes-

1) What the changed pattern actually does is restrict students from over-spending time on one of the sections and completing the others in relatively less time. This means those who master, say, Quants and finish off the section in 25-30 min and use the extra time for other sections will have to find some other way this time around. In other words, no bigotry as regards the sections. You have to be balanced in all the 3 areas. Does it mean we had no sectional cut-offs till now?? No, we had! The process has only got tougher.

2) Also, one more strategy widely practiced by students is attempting the paper in two rounds, solving the easier questions in the first-go and saving the tougher/lengthy ones for the end. This too fails in this pattern. In 70 minutes, you solve both Quants and DI both, it would take some superman-like speed to give the section a second go. Summary? Be excellent! You either know a question or you don't. You do not have time to ponder over it or come back to it later.

3) And this one is rather psychological. A person while doing Section 2, if isn't so sure about the previous section, he might spoil his Section-2 as well. Too weak an implication, too emotional, is it? You bet! Even the brightest of minds can have this issue in the actual exam, given the conditions and in that all it needs is a moment of doubt and you lose your sense of accuracy and start doubting your instincts from there on. And gone is the time when we would love to go through the complete paper after completing it once, time issues you see...

4) Censure, criticize, castigate, berate.. are these the words striking in your mind while reading the above text?? If yes, then I should make myself clear. Honestly speaking, it's again not a no-good situation. The pattern does help. Who ? The most and best prepared students. How? Simple, the pattern, as said by the IIMC's director and the CAT convenor for this year, would allow only the 'brilliant' minds entry into the prestigious IIMs. The idea is simple. Go fully prepared. So completely that you do not have to worry about the 'tough' or 'lengthy' questions and also need not worry about what you did in Section-1. You are so confident that what you did is good enough not to be re-checked. What, in simpler sense,does it imply? The same thing, the entry only to the best. You can't hope for "Just that little luck" you could depend upon all these years.

So, having discussed all this, one thing is clear- It's tough as it always has been, just that these people want to make sure the ones who crack the exam are indeed the best prepared brains and of course, the best time managers!

A final word on the long term effects. Someone might ask- "Why so frequent pattern changes??", "What's the need?" Or even, "What the heck!! Again!"

And it really is serious, IIMs have been changing the exam pattern way too frequently these last few years. This doesn't augur well for the exam or the institutes for that matter. Why the need to change the pattern?? Aren't they able to find a solid(read unambiguous) system with which to decide their would-be alumni?

IIMs should really take this issue seriously, as it's casting some serious doubts on the effectiveness of the exam, the reputation of the colleges tagged along no doubt.

But for the time being, it's for the students to decide how to get through what they have been presented with, how could they turn it to their advantage and crack it with the same confidence. Someone surely will and so it's very doable without a doubt, they are just asking us to push ourselves to the limits. Too big a task? Well, the effort's worth it! And after all, nothing's impossible... not atleast for MBAs... ;)