Mr Madhur Naneria, Center Head, PT Education, Indore answered questions from MBA-aspirants on MBAUniverse.com expert chat on CAT day itself. Here are highlights from the analysis and expert chat.
Highlights from PT Education of CAT 2008
Finally the BIG BANG happened. Approximately 2, 76, 000 atoms (students) who were in an atmosphere of very high pressure, temperature and density for months (possibly years for many) resulted in the BIG BANG i.e. CAT 2008.
The CAT 2008 was successfully conducted at more than 160 centres of 23 cities in India on 16th of November.
Overall the CAT 2008 paper can be classified as MODERATE to TOUGH. As it was declared in the CAT bulletin there were three testing areas: Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability and Logical & Data Interpretation. There were total 90 questions distributed across three sections.
The Verbal Ability section contained 40 questions whereas, Quantitative Aptide and Logical & Data Interpretation sections had 25 questions each. This clearly suggests that the paper setters are laying more stress on Language Skills. The Quantitative Aptitude section was of MODERATE level of difficulty.
In DI and LR section the LR questions were easier compared to the DI questions. In Verbal Ability section questions were of Easy to Moderate level of difficulty.
A birds eye view of the test is as follows
Section
Topic
No. of Ques.
No. of Marks
Difficulty Level
Time suggested
I
Quantitative Aptitude
25
100
Moderate
45 to 50 min.
II
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
25
100
Moderate to tough
45 to 50 min.
III
English Usage and Reading Comprehension
40
160
Easy to Moderate
50 to 55 min.
Total
90
360
150 min.
Expected Cut-Offs
Cut-off
Marks
Quantitative Aptitude
30 +
Data Interpretation / Logical Reasoning
29 +
Reading Comprehension / English Usage
47 49
Overall
115 - 120+
Mathematical Aptitude
Total number of questions: 25
In MA section there were total 25 questions. The questions were from topics like Numbers, Time, Speed and Distance, Ratio and Proportion, Quadratic Equations, Progressions, Functions, Permutation and Combination, Plane Geometry and Mensuration. There were two Data Sufficiency (5 Options-Standard) questions. Two other questions were based on Logical Reasoning.
Compared to last couple of years the weightage of Arithmetic has decreased while that for Geometry and Algebra has increased. An attempt of 16 to 17 questions with 80 to 85% accuracy would be required to get calls from A+ category institutes.
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation
Total number of questions: 25
In this section there were 12 questions from Logical Reasoning and 13 questions from Data Interpretation area. The LR questions were on Data Arrangement and Mathematical Reasoning. While the questions related to Bar Chart, Scatter Diagram, Table and Logic based DI constituted the DI part of this section.
Compared to the last year this year the section was balanced with 12 questions from LR and 13 questions from DI. The LR questions were easier compared to the DI questions.
An attempt of 15 to 17 questions with 80% accuracy would be considered as good performance.
Reading Comprehension + English Usage
Total number of questions: 40
There were 20 question were on RC and 20 questions on English Usage and Verbal Ability. EU and VA questions were easy with few sitters in between. On an average the passages were 700 to 900 words long. The passage were not that difficult to comprehend. The questions a mix of direct and inferential. In EU area the questions based on Fact, Inference and Judgement and Para Jumble were missing. Fill in the Blanks, variety of Sentence Correction questions, Vocab. based usage were major component of this section. With the increase in number of questions the cut-offs would be higher in this section compared to last year. Detailed breakup is as given.
An attempt of 10 questions from RC (two passages) and 15 questions from EU with an accuracy of 85 to 90% would be considered as a good performance.
Excerpts from MBAUniverse.com chat with Mr Madhur Naneria, Center Head, PT Education, Indore
MBAUniverse.com hosted a live chat on the CAT evening where we invited experts from IMS Learning, TIME, Career Launcher and PT Education for solving problems faced by MBAUniverse.com readers. Here are the excerpts from the chat with Mr Madhur Naneria, Center Head, PT Education, Indore:
Gitanjali: Hello Mr Madhur, according to you how did you find CAT 2008 paper? What is your analysis? ThanksMr Madhur Naneria, Center Head, PT Education, Indore: As per my experience, this has been one of the most BALANCED test that we have seen in the last few years. With a decent toughness for Maths and DI/LR Section, and a little bit more manageable Language, I rate it as a moderate test that will test the aptitude of an individual well. The cut-offs as announced by us on the website also seem to be reasonable for a good strategist.
Ritu: Sir, how would you rate this CAT in comparison with last one on a scale of 1 to 10? From difficulty level point of view and cut off point of view.Mr Madhur Naneria, Center Head, PT Education, Indore: Please read it section wise: Maths - 2007 - Scale 5 2008 - Scale 8
DI/LR - 2007 - Scale 6 2008 - Scale 8
Language - 2007 - Scale 9 2008 - Scale 7
Overall - 2007 Scale - 6 2008 - Scale 7
Dr. Patwardhan: Hello Mr Madhur, my paper is 222. no 65. I think ans is 2. Congenital; education. Is it correct? What is correct and why? ThanksMr Madhur Naneria, Center Head, PT Education, Indore: The correct answer is the same. Please check our website for the same. I will still give you the logic: On one hand there is this Endowment. Endowment means what already exists. Therefore the word congenital ... hopes that justifies.
Preeti: Sir, what is the reason for increase of questions in English?Mr Madhur Naneria, Center Head, PT Education, Indore: A few possible answers ofcourse no-one except the CAT designers know the same:
1. A possible shift to the next years expected Online test ... very similar to GRE and GMAT
2. Testing more of language at the first place, to ensure the right set of candidates ... especially with IIMs seeing an increase in International placements.
3. Giving adequate score for testing of RC and EU both. These are some that have come to my mind ofcourse there could be more answers to the same.
| Check Top MBA Colleges in India by Cities | | |
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Mr Madhur Naneria, Center Head, PT Education, Indore answered questions from MBA-aspirants on MBAUniverse.com expert chat on CAT day itself. Here are highlights from the analysis and expert chat.
Highlights from PT Education of CAT 2008
Finally the BIG BANG happened. Approximately 2, 76, 000 atoms (students) who were in an atmosphere of very high pressure, temperature and density for months (possibly years for many) resulted in the BIG BANG i.e. CAT 2008.
The CAT 2008 was successfully conducted at more than 160 centres of 23 cities in India on 16th of November.
Overall the CAT 2008 paper can be classified as MODERATE to TOUGH. As it was declared in the CAT bulletin there were three testing areas: Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability and Logical & Data Interpretation. There were total 90 questions distributed across three sections.
The Verbal Ability section contained 40 questions whereas, Quantitative Aptide and Logical & Data Interpretation sections had 25 questions each. This clearly suggests that the paper setters are laying more stress on Language Skills. The Quantitative Aptitude section was of MODERATE level of difficulty.
In DI and LR section the LR questions were easier compared to the DI questions. In Verbal Ability section questions were of Easy to Moderate level of difficulty.
A birds eye view of the test is as follows
Section
Topic
No. of Ques.
No. of Marks
Difficulty Level
Time suggested
I
Quantitative Aptitude
25
100
Moderate
45 to 50 min.
II
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
25
100
Moderate to tough
45 to 50 min.
III
English Usage and Reading Comprehension
40
160
Easy to Moderate
50 to 55 min.
Total
90
360
150 min.
Expected Cut-Offs
Cut-off
Marks
Quantitative Aptitude
30 +
Data Interpretation / Logical Reasoning
29 +
Reading Comprehension / English Usage
47 49
Overall
115 - 120+
Mathematical Aptitude
Total number of questions: 25
In MA section there were total 25 questions. The questions were from topics like Numbers, Time, Speed and Distance, Ratio and Proportion, Quadratic Equations, Progressions, Functions, Permutation and Combination, Plane Geometry and Mensuration. There were two Data Sufficiency (5 Options-Standard) questions. Two other questions were based on Logical Reasoning.
Compared to last couple of years the weightage of Arithmetic has decreased while that for Geometry and Algebra has increased. An attempt of 16 to 17 questions with 80 to 85% accuracy would be required to get calls from A+ category institutes.
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation
Total number of questions: 25
In this section there were 12 questions from Logical Reasoning and 13 questions from Data Interpretation area. The LR questions were on Data Arrangement and Mathematical Reasoning. While the questions related to Bar Chart, Scatter Diagram, Table and Logic based DI constituted the DI part of this section.
Compared to the last year this year the section was balanced with 12 questions from LR and 13 questions from DI. The LR questions were easier compared to the DI questions.
An attempt of 15 to 17 questions with 80% accuracy would be considered as good performance.
Reading Comprehension + English Usage
Total number of questions: 40
There were 20 question were on RC and 20 questions on English Usage and Verbal Ability. EU and VA questions were easy with few sitters in between. On an average the passages were 700 to 900 words long. The passage were not that difficult to comprehend. The questions a mix of direct and inferential. In EU area the questions based on Fact, Inference and Judgement and Para Jumble were missing. Fill in the Blanks, variety of Sentence Correction questions, Vocab. based usage were major component of this section. With the increase in number of questions the cut-offs would be higher in this section compared to last year. Detailed breakup is as given.
An attempt of 10 questions from RC (two passages) and 15 questions from EU with an accuracy of 85 to 90% would be considered as a good performance.
Excerpts from MBAUniverse.com chat with Mr Madhur Naneria, Center Head, PT Education, Indore
MBAUniverse.com hosted a live chat on the CAT evening where we invited experts from IMS Learning, TIME, Career Launcher and PT Education for solving problems faced by MBAUniverse.com readers. Here are the excerpts from the chat with Mr Madhur Naneria, Center Head, PT Education, Indore:
Gitanjali: Hello Mr Madhur, according to you how did you find CAT 2008 paper? What is your analysis? ThanksMr Madhur Naneria, Center Head, PT Education, Indore: As per my experience, this has been one of the most BALANCED test that we have seen in the last few years. With a decent toughness for Maths and DI/LR Section, and a little bit more manageable Language, I rate it as a moderate test that will test the aptitude of an individual well. The cut-offs as announced by us on the website also seem to be reasonable for a good strategist.
Ritu: Sir, how would you rate this CAT in comparison with last one on a scale of 1 to 10? From difficulty level point of view and cut off point of view.Mr Madhur Naneria, Center Head, PT Education, Indore: Please read it section wise: Maths - 2007 - Scale 5 2008 - Scale 8
DI/LR - 2007 - Scale 6 2008 - Scale 8
Language - 2007 - Scale 9 2008 - Scale 7
Overall - 2007 Scale - 6 2008 - Scale 7
Dr. Patwardhan: Hello Mr Madhur, my paper is 222. no 65. I think ans is 2. Congenital; education. Is it correct? What is correct and why? ThanksMr Madhur Naneria, Center Head, PT Education, Indore: The correct answer is the same. Please check our website for the same. I will still give you the logic: On one hand there is this Endowment. Endowment means what already exists. Therefore the word congenital ... hopes that justifies.
Preeti: Sir, what is the reason for increase of questions in English?Mr Madhur Naneria, Center Head, PT Education, Indore: A few possible answers ofcourse no-one except the CAT designers know the same:
1. A possible shift to the next years expected Online test ... very similar to GRE and GMAT
2. Testing more of language at the first place, to ensure the right set of candidates ... especially with IIMs seeing an increase in International placements.
3. Giving adequate score for testing of RC and EU both. These are some that have come to my mind ofcourse there could be more answers to the same.
| Check Top MBA Colleges in India by Cities | | |
| Also Read Important Articles on MBA Admission | ||
| Top MBA Colleges in India | MBA Admission | MBA Entrance Exam |
| MBA Placements | MBA Ranking In India | GD Topics |
Soon after the CAT got over, leading test prep company PT Education shared their detailed analysis of CAT 08 with MBAUniverse.com.