CAT 2013: Question analysis of Day 1 and tips for Day 2

CAT is finally out of bag! Based on the CAT 2013 Day 1 analysis (October 16), MBAUniverse.com presents to you a guide for Day 2 CAT (October 18). This guidance series is based on inputs by CAT experts and past toppers who actually took the exam on Day 1.

Analysis of DAY 1 Test Before we talk about the guidance & tips for Day 2, lets start with the analysis of Day 1 paper pattern.

Section 1: Overall analysis of Verbal and LR Second section comprising 30 questions, had 20 questions on Verbal Ability including three questions on critical reasoning - completion of last sentence of paragraph and 10 questions on Logical Reasoning. The section was not very tough and therefore would have a higher cut-off percentile.

Questions were good in verbal section with LOD 2 with no surprise elements. There were three Reading Comprehension passage with 10 questions based on them. The passages were not tough on Vocabulary. Two passages were short with 800-900 words followed by three questions each and one passage was slightly more in length with 1000 words and followed by 4 questions. Close and attentive reading of the passages could lead to the right answer options. There were a few common questions on these passages. Out of 10 questions two questions were What is the Tone of the passage;3 questions were on summarise the Main idea of the passage. Other questions were based on meaning of the phrases and information available in the passages

Threeparagraphs with jumbled sentences appeared in the examination. The surprise of CAT 2012 was repeated and onequestion to pick out the Out of context sentence again found the place in parajumbles, though there was no fresh surprise. The two other questions were based on random jumbled sentences. The questions were not very difficult. Those who practiced a little could attempt them well.

Four questions were thereoncontextualvocabulary usage. Two of themrequiredthe candidates to fill in the blanks with the appropriate pair of words. Other two questionswere formed with one key word in each question which was used infour different ways in four sentences and the candidates were asked to pick out the incorrect usage. No question on use of similar words in sentences was found, although might appear in future sessions.
The lone Error correction question asked to pick out the correct sentences in the paragraph. The question was based on the understanding of core grammar.

Threequestions each with a deleted last sentence appeared and asked the candidates to find out the most appropriate answer options that would bestplace as the last sentence of paragraph. Questions were not very difficult.
Logical reasoning constituted sets, arrangements, arguments and was not very difficult although a little time consuming.

Section 2: Overall Analysis of Quant Section Geometry and Algebra had the lions share in formation of questions in Quantitative Ability Test. Other topics contributing to this section were Arithmetic, Trigonometry, Functions, Mensuration, Time speed & Distance. Number Systems, Permutation & Combination were not present in manyquestion sets. Data Interpretation area saw questions on Pie Chart and Case lets.

Out of total 30 questions in this section, 21 were based on Quant and 9 on DI. There were 6 questions based on Geometry, Algebra contributed 4 questions followed by Number system with 3 questions and 1 question was on Permutation and combination. Concept of compound interest found its place in Arithmetic which formed 3 questions; 2 questions were formed on Venn Diagrams and 2 questions were based on the concept of Functions.
According to Mr. Arks Srinivas, Quant guru and well known CAT expert, level of difficulty in Quant questions was moderate to difficult while the 9 questions in Data Interpretation were less difficult but time consuming due to their calculation intensive nature.

Recommendations for CAT 2013 aspirants for next few days Based on Day1 paper pattern, no major change in type and style of questions is expected in CAT 2013. Here is our recommendation on how to orient for CAT Day 2.
RC passages: Make sure that you understand the tone of the passage. MBA Universe has shared many articles on how to detect the tone of the passage. These questions are expected in every session ofnext CAT sessions. You will get two questions right, if you can crack the tone which is not difficult to understand. Anothercommon question is to detect the main idea of the passage. You will get 3 questions correct, if you can understand it. The strategy should be to write down the important sentences and words from each paragraph on your scratch sheet and by the time you finish reading the passage, you will have fair idea ofcomplete passage. Marking these 5 questions correct, you may have a good improvement in your percentile.

Jumbled paragraphs: Level of difficulty in this section is expected to remain the same. Parajumbles use the connecting words like those, these, this, who, as giving the clue to connect them with other sentences. Besides, any sentence depicting a thought, different from the flow of action, should be construed as outof context sentence. The need is to practice more and you will be able to crack them.

Contextual Vocabulary: It is not required to cram your head on learning the words. Better will be to practice contextual usage. Common words like stand, let, turn, take when suffixed by the prepositions in, by, down, against, off, form phrasal verbs. Read and understand their usage. It will help to mark at least two of the vocabulary questions right. Error Correction: There may not be more than one question on error correction in future sessions. Proper understanding of singular-plural, subject-verb agreement, usage of articles before comparatives and superlatives and the punctuation, will bethe key to crack this type of question. Go for a close reading of direction and remember not to pick out the opposite of what is asked for.

Last sentence of Paragraph: The trick is to opt for the sentence that should conclude the paragraph and should not take the thought to any further discussion. Those who have been practicing such questions wouldnt take much time to crack it. The words like Besides, Apart from, in answer options, should be avoided as these sentences would lead to next idea of discussion and hence, must not be opted as correct answer options. The candidates should concentrate on such sentences that would conclude the discussion instead of opening a domain of further discussion.

Logical Reasoning: Recommendation is to practice more on sets and arrangements in logical Reasoning. You may be able to find around 4-5 questions based on these concepts.

MBAUniverse readers and users will remember that we published the most relevant articles in last few weeks, giving the clue to the CAT aspirants on surprising and anticipated elements. CAT aspirants, going to take the test in forthcoming days should go through the following How to crack surprise questions in Verbal section for CAT 2013 ; types and tricks to solve CAT questions in Logical Reasoning; Error correction in paragraphs and sentences ; Tips to solve 6 Vocabulary questions; and How to score more in Reading Comprehension.They may prove to be of great help to the aspirants on preparation strategy during the next few days of their CAT examination.

Quant and DI CAT aspirants should now devote more time to practice questions on Geometry and Algebra also. Both the sessions on first days opened the future pattern of CAT. The difficulty level is supposed to remain the same. With this difficulty level, a higher percentile can be scored, if the aspirants can crack 13-15 questions in Quant and DI with 100 percent accuracy level.

More questions are to be attempted in this section, if the accuracy level is less say 85-90 percent to score a high percentile.