The CAT paper may be going the GMAT way. Sample this - from 2003 to 2006, the number of questions has fallen from 150 to 75. The GMAT paper has 78 questions.
The number of choices and the duration of the CAT examination have also changed resembling a GMAT paper. And now, the CAT test might soon become an online exam like the GMAT.
Mumbai T.I.M.E institute Director Arks Srinivas says, “The CAT paper's quantitative section used to be considered very difficult but 2004 onwards, it is becoming easier and more arithmetic driven which is what GMAT follows. And if you look at the verbal section, it was very grammar driven while GMAT is more reasoning based. Again we see a trend change.”
IIMs have long wanted to be globally oriented. This could be their latest attempt.
“For IIMs it makes sense as a business proposition because now not only can they reach over 100 domestic institutes but by doing this, IIMs can reach across borders to South Africa and in course of time in Europe and us as well,” Srinivas adds.
The CAT exam is taken by more than 2 lakh students while about 16,000 students take the GMAT exam. So, foreign universities can choose from a wider base if they can consider cat score. For students, opportunities will increase and it will cost less.
That's because taking the GMAT exam is eight times more expensive than taking the CAT – clearly a win-win situation.