How did the Common Admission Test 2005 fare as compared to CAT 2004 and CAT 2003?
rediff.com, in collaboration with Career Launcher, an organisation that trains CAT aspirants, brings you comparative notes:
Parameter |
CAT 2005 |
CAT 2004 |
CAT 2003 (Re-test) |
Number of sections |
3 x 2 |
3 x 2 |
3 |
Number of questions |
90 |
123 |
(3 x 50) = 150 |
Difficulty level (Overall) |
Difficult |
Difficult |
Difficult |
Difficulty level (Quant) |
Average |
Average |
Difficult |
Difficulty level (EU + RC) |
Average |
Average |
Average |
Difficulty level (DI + DS + AR) |
Difficult |
Difficult |
Difficult |
Expected cut-off (Overall) |
48-50 |
55 |
58 |
Expected cut-off (Quant) |
14-15 |
16 |
14 |
Expected cut-off (EU + RC) |
20-21 |
21 |
22 |
Expected cut-off (DI + DS +AR) |
10-11 |
14 |
16 |
Section I: Quantitative Aptitude
Topic-wise breakup
Topic |
CAT 2005 |
CAT 2004 |
CAT 2003 (Re-test) |
Overall |
30 |
35 |
50 |
Arithmetic |
9 |
13 |
15 |
Number system |
5 |
6 |
11 |
Percentage, SI-CI, PLD |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Ratio proportion |
0 |
4 |
1 |
Speed Time Distance, Work |
4 |
3 |
1 |
Algebra |
8 |
9 |
13 |
Equations & Inequalities |
2 |
2 |
7 |
Functions & graphs |
2 |
4 |
3 |
Maxima minima |
2 |
0 |
1 |
Series, sequences & progressions & logs |
2 |
3 |
2 |
Geometry |
10 |
10 |
14 |
Plane geometry |
6 |
9 |
4 |
Mensuration |
3 |
1 |
9 |
Co-ordinate geometry + trigonometry |
1 |
0 |
1 |
Modern math |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Miscellaneous math |
0 |
0 |
5 |
Section II: English usage & Reading comprehension
Topic-wise breakup
Topic |
CAT 2005 |
CAT 2004 |
CAT 2003 (Re Test) |
Overall |
30 |
50 |
50 |
English usage |
18 |
29 |
25 |
Usage dictionary |
3 |
10 |
8 |
Vocabulary: contextual meaning |
0 |
3 |
5 |
Parajumbles |
3 |
8 |
8 |
Sentence completion |
4 |
3 |
4 |
Sentence correction |
4 |
3 |
0 |
Replacement of words |
4 |
0 |
0 |
Critical reasoning |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Reading comprehension |
12 |
5 passages (21 Qs) |
5 passages (25 Qs) |
Politics & Social |
4Qs (2 marker) |
2 Passages (8 Qs) |
1 Passage (5 Qs) |
History & Mythology |
0 |
1 Passages (5 Qs) |
2 Passages (10 Qs) |
Science & Technology |
0 |
1 Passage (4 Q's) |
1 Passage (5 Q's) |
Business & Economics, Philo |
0 |
1 Passage (4Q's) |
1 Passage (5 Q's) |
Fiction & Philosophy |
4Qs (2 marker) |
0 |
0 |
Psychology & Management |
4Qs (2 marker) |
0 |
0 |
Section III: Data interpretation, Data sufficiency, Analytical reasoning
Topic-wise breakup
Topic |
CAT 2005 |
CAT 2004 |
CAT 2003 (Re Test) |
Overall |
30 |
35 |
50 |
Arithmetic |
9 |
13 |
15 |
Number system |
5 |
6 |
11 |
Percentage, SI-CI, PLD |
0 |
0 |
2 |
Ratio proportion |
0 |
4 |
1 |
Speed Time Distance, Work |
4 |
3 |
1 |
Algebra |
8 |
9 |
13 |
Equations & Inequalities |
2 |
2 |
7 |
Functions & graphs |
2 |
4 |
3 |
Maxima minima |
2 |
0 |
1 |
Series, sequences & progressions & logs |
2 |
3 |
2 |
Geometry |
10 |
10 |
14 |
Plane geometry |
6 |
9 |
4 |
Mensuration |
3 |
1 |
9 |
Co-ordinate geometry + trigonometry |
1 |
0 |
1 |
Modern math |
3 |
3 |
3 |
Miscellaneous math |
0 |
0 |
5 |
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Part I: CAT 2005, analysed
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