Language the key to CAT this year

The Common Admission Test CAT is known for its surprises. This year, too, it was no different with an unexpected weightage given to the verbal section, which tests a candidate8217;s language proficiency.

The Common Admission Test CAT is known for its surprises. This year, too, it was no different with an unexpected weightage given to the verbal section, which tests a candidate8217;s language proficiency.

The test was held on Sunday in 230 centres across the country, including 17 in Lucknow and around 42 in Delhi.

For the authorities, the reason behind this move was to balance the ratio between male and female students in each batch. According to a senior official, after conducting a proper research, it was found that female candidates perform better in the verbal section.

Prof S K B Nair, chairman of the admission cellnbsp;at IIM- Lucknow, told The Indian Express from Delhi: 8220;Two things have been kept in mind while increasing the weightage. First, we want multi-faceted people to enter the IIMs and additional knowledge could certainly give them an upper hand.nbsp;Secondly, it8217;s kind of an experiment to maintain a balance between male and female students in the class.8221;nbsp;

Unlike previous years, the three sections in the question paper 8212; Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Reasoning and Data Interpretation 8212; had different weightage.

Earlier, there were 25 questions for each section. Now, while the number of questions in Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation section remained the same, the Verbal Reasoning section was expanded to contain 40 questions.

The change was, however, not welcomed by all candidates.

For Amit, who is from a Hindi medium background, this change was indeed unpalatable. 8220;I cannot compete with those coming from convent schools.nbsp;The increased weightage given to English left us surprised.8221;

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The picture was somewhat different for Shruti Sinha, who has just been offered a job by Larsen 038; Toubro. 8220;I found the language section to be comparatively easy. The case is opposite for those who are not comfortable with this section.8221;

Maulshree Seth

Maulshree Seth is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, based in Lucknow. With over 15 years of experience in mainstream journalism, she has built a formidable reputation for her on-ground reporting across Uttar Pradesh. Her expertise spans a wide array of critical beats, including state politics, governance, the judiciary, and rural development. Authoritativeness Maulshree’s work is characterized by depth and historical context. Her coverage of high-stakes state elections and landmark judicial rulings has established her as an authoritative voice on the intersection of law and politics in Northern India. She is frequently recognized for her ability to gain access to primary sources and for her nuanced understanding of the socio-economic factors that drive the world's most populous sub-national entity. Trustworthiness & Ethical Journalism Her reporting is rooted in rigorous fact-checking and a steadfast dedication to neutral, unbiased storytelling. By prioritizing field-based verification—often traveling to the most remote corners of the state—she ensures that her readers receive a truthful and comprehensive view of events. ... Read More