Will the CAT 2020 Be More Challenging Due to Lockdown?

Introduction

With the ongoing lockdown, many CAT aspirants have found themselves with ample time for preparation. This situation raises the question: will the CAT 2020 be more challenging compared to the past few years?

Consistency of Pattern and Difficulty

Looking back at the past five years, the CAT has generally maintained a consistent pattern and difficulty level. Overall, scores have remained relatively stable. There have been instances where the topper's sectional score was scaled up to 102, but this adjustment has been maintained across the board. This consistency seems to be working for the IIMs, and there appears to be no reason to change a system that is functioning well.

Increased Preparation Due to Lockdown

While the pattern and difficulty level are likely to remain unchanged, the situation has prompted a significant change in preparation patterns. This year, we can expect more students to push harder due to two primary reasons:

Ample Time for Preparation

The lockdown has provided aspirants with an extended period of time for preparation. Mentors have also become more proactive in generating content and addressing queries, leading to unprecedented activity on platform groups. Even non-serious aspirants are solving at least two quizzes daily. Given that the lockdown has lasted longer than 50 days, most have solved over 1000 questions, compared to the usual, more relaxed pace during this time of the year when exams would have concluded.

Increased Frustration in the Workplace

There is a growing frustration regarding job opportunities and hiring trends, which has driven many towards CAT preparation. With uncertainty in the job market, individuals are keen to secure better career prospects. This collective frustration is expected to intensify the competition for CAT 2020.

Expected Outcome

While the actual content and pattern are unlikely to change drastically, we can anticipate a slight increase in the number of test takers and an improvement in the overall performance of the candidate population.

In conclusion, although the CAT 2020 is not likely to be significantly harder in terms of content and difficulty, the additional time and motivation provided by the lockdown and the job market situation should result in a more intense preparation and a more competitive pool of candidates.