CAT or Common Admission Test is administered every year for students who desire to secure admission to the MBA course at top IIMs and other leading business schools. Lakhs of aspirants from different educational backgrounds take part in this entrance test. However, one trend that is unchanged every year is the majority of engineers securing top percentiles and IIM MBA admissions. The reason stated behind this dominance is their strong grip on the Quantitative Ability (QA) section. The engineering students are equipped with mathematics and logical problem-solving skills in their course. These skills make the CAT QA section less challenging for them. But what if CAT had no quant section? Will they still be able to dominate, or will every aspirant have an equal chance? In this article, we have compiled all the possibilities and implications of what if CAT had no Quant section for candidates’ reference.
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Why Engineers Currently Dominate CAT?
The CAT section is categorised into three sections such as Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Engineers are typically familiar with the QA section. Their academic background is often focused on areas like algebra, geometry, arithmetic, and modern mathematics. This gives them an edge over other non-engineering aspirants. Most of the 99+ percentile scorers and IIM calls are from engineering backgrounds. The reasons why engineers currently dominate CAT are given below:
- They can easily handle challenging questions within the given time limit.
- Most of them have previously appeared in the JEE and other competitive exams. This has solidified their quantitative skills.
- An engineering background builds an analytical mindset. This helps them excel in all three CAT sections.
- They are used to competitive tests where accuracy and time management are equally important.
What If CAT Had No Quant Section?
What if a CAT paper comprises only VARC and DILR, with Quant removed? This can lead to fluctuation in the nature of questions and make the CAT exam more unpredictable. Here is what will happen if CAT had no Quant section:
Level Playing Field in Numbers
Removing QA eliminates the numerical strength of engineers. Non-engineering candidates who struggle with QA will no longer suffer a disadvantage in scoring. There shall be a larger number of non-engineers in the top percentile scores, and a small scoring gap between streams.
VARC will be in the Spotlight
If there is no Quant in CAT, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) will hold higher weightage. The past trends reveal that many engineers find the VARC section difficult. Students with an academic background in English Literature may excel in this section. They have a strong grip on the comprehension speed and accuracy. They can achieve high marks in vocabulary and grammar-related questions.
DILR as the Decider
DILR aims to evaluate a candidate’s ability to think logically, interpret data, and systematically solve problems. It may still give engineers a minor advantage. However, the margin would be small compared to the QA section.
Will Engineers Still Dominate CAT?
Removing Quant may change the structure of the CAT exam. So, the answer cannot be a simple yes or no. We have listed below the arguments for and against regarding “Will Engineers Still Dominate CAT?” for the reference of the candidates.
| Arguments for Yes: Engineers Will Still Dominate | Arguments for No- Engineers’ Share Will Fall |
| Even after the removal of Quant, engineers still have an analytical mindset that can help them perform well in DILR and other related areas.Familiarity with time-bound tests helps many engineers solve questions quickly under pressure.Engineers are typically equipped with the ability to learn new patterns easily. They may prepare effectively for the VARC section to balance out the absence of Quant marks. | If VARC holds more weightage in CAT, non-engineers with solid language skills may excel.The typical QA advantage that engineers enjoy disappears.Commerce, arts, and non-engineering graduates will now have an equal chance to perform well in the CAT exam. |
What If CAT Had No Quant Section- Is it Really Possible?
The chances of CAT eliminating the QA section are very less. CAT is designed to judge different skills of the candidates. Elimination of any area can change the nature of the questions and make the entire test less balanced. Understand what the CAT exam measures in every section:
- The Quant section assesses numerical aptitude and problem-solving.
- DILR judges logical, decision-making, and analytical skills.
- VARC evaluate a candidate’s grammar, vocabulary and comprehension skills.
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If CAT Had No Quant Section- Will Engineers Still Dominate? FAQs
Yes. CAT exams are mostly dominated by engineers due to their strong grip on the Quantitative Ability (QA) section. They have an academic background in mathematics and experience in appearing in time-bound tests.
If CAT had no quant section, then students from a non-engineering background could also score high percentile in the entrance test.
