But some students feel the implementation of sectional time limits will make it a test of competence and not strategy.
The new format of the common entrance test (CAT) is student-friendly and welcome for academicians and students.
However, some among them feel that the implementation of sectional time limits will make CAT a test of competence rather than strategy since candidates can no longer take the test in a way that maximises the return on their strengths and covers their weaknesses.
“The new mode of administration is student-friendly. The two major changes relate to the format and administration of the exam. This change is very thoughtful,” said Dr Gurumurthy Kalyanaram, dean of Amrita School of Business.
“First, the new format is more cohesive. By combining verbal abilities and logical reasoning in one section, the format composes two related cognitive functions into one section. Second, this approach is consistent with the basic format of the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) which largely consists of two sections — analysis and logical abilities,” Kalyanaram said.
The change was made since analytical and logical competencies are equally important in decision-making. So both the abilities are measured as accurately as possible.
The new mode of administration will prevent the student from getting obsessed over a section.
According to Tony Xavier, head of academics at IMS Learning Resources, with the implementation of sectional time limits, the CAT will become a test of competence. Test-takers can no longer take the test in a way that maximises the return on their strengths and covers their weaknesses.
“For example, a test-taker, whose forte is acing the verbal section of the CAT, could have finished the verbal section very quickly and allocated the surplus time to clear the Quant cut-offs. In the new format, this is no longer possible. The test-taker has no option but to improve his attempts and accuracy in the Quant section within the 70 minute time-limit,” he said.
“From our experience, we feel that test-takers who get calls from the IIMs tend to attempt about 80% of the questions in a section and get about 85% of them correct. So in the case of the new CAT, the target for test-takers should be to attempt about 24 questions in 70 minutes and get about 20 of them right,” he said.
Candidates have to realise that the new test-format places those with better verbal skills on a more even-footing with them, he added.
CAT 2011 will be held between October 22 and November 18.
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