The last date to make corrections in CAT 2020 application form is September 29, 2020. IIMs will close the facility at exactly 5 PM. Until then, MBA aspirants can edit their application forms at iimcat.ac.in via the candidate login.
A three days window has been provided to the candidates to change photograph, signature, and test city preferences. Besides these details, other fields cannot be edited.
Once this process gets over, all applicants will be issued admit cards to appear in the exam. The admit card will be available for download from October 28, 2020. Thereafter the exam will be held on November 29, 2020, at 156 cities in 3 shifts.
The IIMs notified that this year the exam pattern will be different, through a media release earlier this month. As per the new pattern the exam duration will be 2 hours, as opposed to 3 hours of earlier years. Besides this there is no significant change.
Though the reduction in time will probably automatically mean that the total number of questions will reduce. However number of questions are not disclosed beforehand and thus candidates will get to know about it when they actually sit for the exam.
With this new pattern in mind, experts recommend that candidates should start taking mock tests of 2 hour duration only, instead of 3 hours. This will help them become familiar with the new scheme. Moreover, candidates should also polish their section wise skills by taking sectional mocks of 40 minutes or 1 hour duration.
Overall the preparation plan does not require an overhaul as the syllabus remains the same. However the new timings will need one to be mentally prepared for it.
For instance, 2 hours will be divided into 40 minutes for each section. The good thing is that earlier candidates were prone to fatigue by the third hour, though less time means being able to focus better. However less time per section also means less time to waste, and improving accuracy.
One more advantage of reduced exam duration, is that by taking 2 hour mocks, candidates can take more mocks in the same time. A quick analysis after each session should enhance their preparations even better.
Another thing being noted by CAT mentors is that test takers should refrain from discussions on whether the exam would be tough or easy. It is seen by the past year CAT exam records that the exam is overall unpredictable. Whatever be the level, it will be common for all, and hence, focus should be only on doing the best in the given time.
IIMs will also provide tutorials for the new exam pattern at iimcat.ac.in, next month.
Will CAT 2020 be postponed?
This is a popular question among CAT 2020 aspirants eyeing MBA / PGDM admissions 2021. However there is no concrete answer to it as even the officials are leaving it upto how the pandemic plays out. The media release states clearly, “CAT 2020 process is to be conducted taking into account the COVID crisis. The information provided by the CAT website is contingent upon the decisions and directions issued from time to time by the Central & State governments and IIMs. Candidates are advised to regularly check the CAT website for further information.”
