How did the Common Admission Test 2005 fare as compared to CAT 2004 and CAT 2003?

rediff.com, in collaboration with Career Launcher, an organisation that trains CAT aspirants, brings you comparative notes:

• Part I: CAT 2005, analysed

Parameter	CAT 2005	CAT 2004	CAT 2003 (Re-test)
Number of sections	3 x 2	3 x 2	3
Number of questions	90	123	(3 x 50) = 150
Difficulty level (Overall)	Difficult	Difficult	Difficult
Difficulty level (Quant)	Average	Average	Difficult
Difficulty level (EU + RC)	Average	Average	Average
Difficulty level (DI + DS + AR)	Difficult	Difficult	Difficult
Expected cut-off (Overall)	48-50	55	58
Expected cut-off (Quant)	14-15	16	14
Expected cut-off (EU + RC)	20-21	21	22
Expected cut-off (DI + DS +AR)	10-11	14	16

Section I: Quantitative Aptitude

Topic-wise breakup

Topic	CAT 2005	CAT 2004	CAT 2003     (Re-test)
Overall	30	35	50
Arithmetic	9	13	15
Number system	5	6	11
Percentage, SI-CI, PLD	0	0	2
Ratio proportion	0	4	1
Speed Time Distance, Work	4	3	1
Algebra	8	9	13
Equations & Inequalities	2	2	7
Functions & graphs	2	4	3
Maxima minima	2	0	1
Series, sequences & progressions & logs	2	3	2
Geometry	10	10	14
Plane geometry	6	9	4
Mensuration	3	1	9
Co-ordinate geometry + trigonometry	1	0	1
Modern math	3	3	3
Miscellaneous math	0	0	5

Section II: English usage & Reading comprehension

Topic-wise breakup

Topic	CAT 2005	CAT 2004	CAT 2003     (Re Test)
Overall	30	50	50
English usage	18	29	25
Usage dictionary	3	10	8
Vocabulary: contextual meaning	0	3	5
Parajumbles	3	8	8
Sentence completion	4	3	4
Sentence correction	4	3	0
Replacement of words	4	0	0
Critical reasoning	0	2	0
Reading comprehension	12	5 passages     (21 Qs)	5 passages     (25 Qs)
Politics & Social	4Qs (2 marker)	2 Passages       (8 Qs)	1 Passage        (5 Qs)
History & Mythology	0	1 Passages       (5 Qs)	2 Passages     (10 Qs)
Science & Technology	0	1 Passage         (4 Q's)	1 Passage        (5 Q's)
Business & Economics, Philo	0	1 Passage         (4Q's)	1 Passage        (5 Q's)
Fiction & Philosophy	4Qs (2 marker)	0	0
Psychology & Management	4Qs (2 marker)	0	0

Section III: Data interpretation, Data sufficiency, Analytical reasoning

Topic-wise breakup

Topic	CAT 2005	CAT 2004	CAT 2003     (Re Test)
Overall	30	35	50
Arithmetic	9	13	15
Number system	5	6	11
Percentage, SI-CI, PLD	0	0	2
Ratio proportion	0	4	1
Speed Time Distance, Work	4	3	1
Algebra	8	9	13
Equations & Inequalities	2	2	7
Functions & graphs	2	4	3
Maxima minima	2	0	1
Series, sequences & progressions & logs	2	3	2
Geometry	10	10	14
Plane geometry	6	9	4
Mensuration	3	1	9
Co-ordinate geometry + trigonometry	1	0	1
Modern math	3	3	3
Miscellaneous math	0	0	5

DON'T MISS!
Part I: CAT 2005, analysed

Career Launcher offers career-oriented training and preparatory education to over 35,000 students every year across South and West Asia. In addition to training students, they partner with schools, universities and education companies (publishers, e-learning companies and technology solutions providers) across the world, who utilise their bouquet of education support services.

DON'T MISS!

• Chat with the CAT gurus, Nov 21, 11 am to 12 pm
• Share YOUR views on CAT 2005
• Answer key for CAT 2005            
• Estimated cut-offs for CAT 2005
• CAT 2005 versus CAT 2004/2003
• Solutions to CAT 2005