WHAT IS CAT EXAM

What is Syllabus of CAT?

This is the most frequent question asked when one starts preparing for CAT. CAT is a test with no predefined syllabus, however past trends suggest that CAT tests in general aptitude including Verbal Ability (English), Quant Ability (Mathematics), Logical Resoning (LR) and Data Interpretation (DI) skills.

Similar to CAT, there are other admission tests - MAT, XAT, CMAT and SNAP. There are some B-Schools (like IIFT and IRMA) which conduct their own exam. And there are state level entrance tests for admission to colleges in respective states.

CAT Verbal/English Ability Syllabus: Reading comprehension, verbal reasoning, syllogisms, analogies, antonyms and synonyms, fill in the blanks, sentence correction, idioms, etc.

CAT Quant/Maths Ability Syllabus: Nu,ber systems, geometry, trogonometry, probability, permutation combination, algebra, mensuration, time and work, averages, percentages, profit and loss, quadratic and linear equations, etc.

CAT Data Interpretation Syllabus: Interpretation and analysis of data based on text, tables, graphs (line, area), charts (column, bar, pie), venn diagram, etc.

CAT Logical Reasoning Syllabus: Clocks, calendars, binary logic, seating arrangement, blood relations, logical sequence, assumption, premise, conclusion, linear and matrix arrangement, etc.

CAT - known as Common Admission Test is all-India national level computer based test conducted by IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) as entrance exam for admission to management programmes. Based on CAT percentile score, candidates are called for next stage of selection rejection process which usually consists of Group Discussion, Essay and Personal Interview (GDPI). CAT is multiple-choice based test with penalties for wrong answers.

CAT 2012 Paper Pattern: There are two sections. The first section is Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and second section is Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning. The duration of the exam is 140 minutes. Each section is separately timed (70 minutes) with 30 questions. 

From the year 2009, CAT is conducted online as Computer Based Test (CBT). Both CAT 2009 and CAT 2010 had 60 questions to be attempted in 2 hours and 15 minutes, plus 15 minutes tutorial.

CAT 2011 had only 2 separately timed sections. From 2011, Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) started using CAT score instead of JMET and FMS exam respectively.

                             COMPLETE SYLABUS OF CAT

Quantitative Ability

Quantitative Ability Syllabus

1. Number Systems
2. LCM and HCF
3. Percentages
4. Profit and Loss
5. Interest (Simple and Compound)
6. Speed, Time and Distance
7. Time and Work
8. Averages
9. Ratio and Proportion
10. Linear Equations
11. Quadratic Equations
12. Complex Numbers
13. Logarithm
14. Progressions
15. Binomial Theorem
16. Surds and Indices
17. Inequalities
18. Permutation and Combination
19. Probability
20. Functions
21. Set Theory
22. Mixtures and Alligations
23. Geometry
24. Co-ordinate Geometry
25. Trigonometry
26. Mensuration

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Data Interpretation

Data is given in form of tables, charts or graphs. In this section it is tested that how candidates can interpret the given data and answer questions based on it.

1. Tables
2. Column graphs
3. Bar Graphs
4. Line charts
5. Pie Chart
6. Venn Diagrams

Combination of two or more types linked to each other.

Logical Reasoning

1. Number and Letter Series
2. Calendars
3. Clocks
4. Cubes
5. Venn Diagrams
6. Binary Logic
7. Seating Arrangement
8. Logical Sequence
9. Logical Matching
10. Logical Connectives
11. Syllogism
12. Blood Relations

Verbal Ability

Types of Questions

• Vocabulary Based (Synonyms Antonyms)
• English Usage or Grammar
• Sentence Correction
• Fill in the blanks
• Cloze Passage
• Analogies or Reverse Analogies
• Jumbled Paragraph
• Meaning-Usage Match
• Summary Questions
• Verbal Reasoning
• Facts / Inferences / Judgements
• Reading Comprehension

Vocabulary: Vocabulary questions test the candidate’s knowledge of the primary meanings of words, secondary shades of meaning, usage, idioms and phrases, antonyms, related words, etc.

Grammar: Grammar-based questions test the candidate’s ability to spot and correct grammatical errors. CAT generally tests knowledge of high school level grammar and includes areas like subject-verb agreement, use of modifiers, parellel construction, redundancy, phrasal verbs, use of articles, prepositions, etc.

Verbal Reasoning: Verbal reasoning questions are designed to test the candidate’s ability to identify relationships or patterns within groups of words or sentences.

ICET Syllabus

The test is designed to measure the candidate's ability to think systematically, to use the verbal and mathematical skills and to assess his or her aptitude for admission into MBA or MCA programme. The Test emphasizes accuracy. Therefore, the candidate is required to go through the instructions carefully. This is an objective type test and the questions are of multiple choice. Out of the given options, the candidate has to choose the correct answer. If the Candidate gives more than one answer to any question, such answers will be ignored while awarding marks.

The test consists of 200 questions of one mark each in the following topics.

Section - A: Analytical Ability

• (i) Data Sufficiency: 20 Questions
• (ii) Problem Solving: 55 Questions

Section - B: Mathematical Ability

• (i) Arithmetical Ability: 35 Questions
• (ii) Algebraical and Geometrical Ability: 30 Questions
• (iii) Statistical Ability: 10 Questions

Section - C: Communication Ability

• (i) Vocabulary: 10 Questions
• (ii) Business and Computer Terminology: 10 Questions
• (iii) Functional Grammar: 15 Questions
• (iv) Reading Comprehension: 15 Questions

ICET Test Pattern

Section - A: Analytical Ability (75 Questions)

(1) Data Sufficiency (20 Questions): 

A question is given followed by data in the form of two statements labeled as i and ii. If the data given in i alone is sufficient to answer the question then choice (1) is the correct answer. If the data given in ii alone is sufficient to answer the question then choice (2) is the correct answer. If both i and ii put together are sufficient to answer the question but neither state¬ment alone is sufficient, then choice (3) is the cor¬rect answer. If both i and ii put together are not suffi¬cient to answer the question and additional data is needed, then choice (4) is the correct answer.

(2) Problem Solving (55 Questions):

• (a) Sequences and Series (25 questions): Analogies of numbers and alphabets, completion of blank spaces following the pattern in a:b::c:d rela¬tionship; odd thing out: missing number in a sequence or a series.
• (b) Data Analysis (10 questions): The data given in a Table, Graph, Bar diagram, Pie Chart, Venn Diagram or a Passage is to be analyzed and the questions pertaining to the data are to be answered.
• (c) Coding and Decoding Problems (10 questions): A code pattern of English Alphabet is given. A given word or a group of letters are to be coded or de¬coded based on the given code or codes. 
• (d) Date, Time and Arrangement Problems (10 questions): Calendar problems, clock problems, blood-relationships, arrivals, departures and schedules, seating arrangements, symbol and notation, interpretation.

Section - B: Mathematical Ability (75 Questions)

(a) Arithmetical Ability (35 questions): Laws of indices, ratio and proportion; surds; num¬bers and divisibility, L.C.M. and G.C.D; Rational numbers, Ordering.; Percentages; Profit and loss; Partnership, Pipes and cisterns, time, distance and work problems, areas and volumes, mensuration, modular arithmetic.

(b) Algebraical and Geometrical Ability (30 questions): Statements, Truth tables, implication converse and inverse, Tautologies-Sets, Relations and functions, applications - Equation of a line in different forms.
Trigonometry - Trigonometric ratios, Trigonometric ratios of standard angles, (0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°, 180°): Trigonometric identities: sample problems on heights and distances, Polynomials; Remainder theorem and consequences; Linear equations and expressions; Progressions, Binomial Theorem, Matrices, Notion of a limit and derivative; Plane geometry - lines, Triangles, Quadrilaterals, Circles, Coordinate geometry-distance between points.

(c) Statistical Ability (10 questions): Frequency distributions, Mean, Median, Mode, Standard Deviations, Correlation, simple problems on Probability.

Section - C: Communication Ability (50 Questions)

Objectives of the Test: Candidates will be assessed on the ability to:
i) Identify vocabulary used in the day-to-day communication
ii) Understand the functional use of grammar in day-to-day communication as well as in business contexts
iii) Identify the basic terminology and concepts in computer and business contexts (letters, reports, memoranda, agenda, minutes etc.).
iv) Understand written text and drawing inferences

• Part-1: Vocabulary (10 questions)
• Part-2: Business and Computer Terminology (10 questions)
• Part-3: Functional Grammar (15 questions)
• Part-4: Reading Comprehension (15 questions)