As per the Indian Institutes of Management – the Common Admission Test 2011 (CAT 2011) will have only two sections instead of three. The first section will focus on quantitative ability and data interpretation; the second on verbal ability and logical reasoning.

Two sections will be implemented sequentially with separate time limits. The examination will be of 140 minutes. Candidates will have 70 minutes to answer 30 questions within each section, which will have an onscreen countdown time. Once the time ends for the first section, they will move to the second and will no longer be able to go back.

A 15-minute tutorial will be provided before the start of the test to help out the candidates.

The total duration will be 2-hours and 35-minutes, including the tutorial. A practice test to provided candidates with a feel of the timed sections, as well as navigation and functionality of the actual test, will be available soon.

The number of test days has been retained at 20days within the window from October 22 to November 18, 2011.

Three new cities – Bhillai, Jammu and Dehradun – have been added to previous 33 locations. To reduce the difficulties in purchasing CAT vouchers, now candidates will also be able to purchase CAT vouchers from 201 Axis Bank branches.

A video on the conversation of CAT to computer-based test and candidate impressions of this transition will be available on YouTube by end of this week. Details will be available on the website www.catiim.in By August 8.