CAT 2024 PREPARATION TIPS
NATIONAL LEVEL ONLINE TEST
CAT Preparation 2022 should start with the understanding of the detailed syllabus of the 3 sections i.e. VARC, DILR & QA, and deciding on which subject to start with. Check CAT 2022 Syllabus
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CAT Exam Analysis |
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | |
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Topic | Approx. Number of Days Required |
English Usage/Grammar | 8 |
Sentence correction | 8 |
Fill in the blanks | 8 |
Para completion | 20 |
Jumbled paragraph | 20 |
Odd sentence out | 20 |
Para summary | 20 |
Verbal reasoning | 6 |
Critical Reasoning | 6 |
Reading Comprehension | 24 |
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Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | |
---|---|
Topic | Approx. Number of Days Required |
Arrangements | 11 |
Venn Diagrams | 6 |
Set theory | 8 |
Selections & Ordering | 11 |
Networks & Routes | 6 |
Games & Tournaments | 8 |
DI based reasoning | 8 |
Tables | 8 |
Graphs | 19 |
Charts | 14 |
Caselets | 8 |
Combinations | 6 |
Data Sufficiency | 6 |
Quantitative Ability | |
---|---|
Topic | Approx. Number of Days Required |
Number System | 15 |
Averages | 6 |
Percentages | 5 |
Profit, loss & discount | 6 |
Simple & compound interest | 5 |
TSD | 6 |
Time & work | 4 |
Mixtures & allegation | 4 |
Ratio & proportion | 4 |
Linear equations | 4 |
Quadratic equations | 5 |
Inequalities | 4 |
Logarithm | 4 |
Progressions | 4 |
Surds & Indices | 4 |
P&C | 9 |
Probability | 5 |
Functions | 4 |
Geometry | 15 |
Coordinate geometry | 3 |
Mensuration | 8 |
For the candidate's convenience, find a breakdown of the ideal time that should be devoted to each subject for each day. This timetable can be modified based on the candidate's preference.
Day | 2 hours | 1-2 hours | 1 hour |
Monday | QA | DI/LR | VA/RC |
Tuesday | QA | DI/LR | VA/RC |
Wednesday | QA | DI/LR | VA/RC |
Thursday | QA | DI/LR | VA/RC |
Friday | QA | DI/LR | VA/RC |
Saturday | Take a Full-length Mock (3 Hours) | ||
Sunday | Mock Analysis( 2-3 Hours) and retaking the same mock (3 Hours) |
Quick Links of CAT 2022 Syllabus:
Candidates should begin revision with the Number System section and then follow it up with Algebra, Permutation and Combination and other topics
Important Topics | Answering Tips |
Number System | Elementary concepts of remainders, Divisibility rules, Concepts of Digits, Elementary Properties of Numbers, Factorization, HCF, and LCM |
Algebra | Linear and Quadratic Equations, Logarithms, Progressions, Functions |
Geometry | Similar triangles, Pythagoras Theorem, Fundamentals of Circles, Mensuration, Polygons |
Arithmetic | Percentage, TSD, Ratio, Profit & Loss |
Modern Maths | Set Theory, Sequence & Series, Principles of Counting |
Quick Links for Topic Wise CAT Quant Preparation:
For the past two years, DI/LR has proved to be the most difficult of the three sections. The absence of a set syllabus makes preparing for this section difficult. Practice is the only way to ace this section. You can follow the tips mentioned below:
Important Terms in CAT DILR |
“none”, “all”, or “some” |
Positive and negative prefixes like “non”, “dis”, or “un” |
“unless” and “only” |
Quick Links for Topic Wise CAT DILR Preparation:
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension is the section that scares a lot of aspirants. The section is designed to test your English skills in depth. It consists of the following types of questions.
Topic | Number of Questions |
---|---|
Reading Comprehension | 24 |
Sentence Correction | 3 |
Summary | 3 |
Para Jumble | 4 |
Quick Links for Topic-wise CAT VARC Preparation:
With the growth of technology in the education sector, online coaching classes have grown in popularity and candidates are opting for them for various competitive exams. Though Online Coaching Centre provides smart tips and preparation strategies, no less than an offline coaching institute, the difficulty lies in choosing a good online coaching learning center. Best Online Exam Coaching Institute for CAT 2022:
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CAT Online Coaching | CAT Preparation Tips for Working Professionals |
Name of CAT Books | CAT Magazines for Preparation |
---|---|
How to Prepare Quantitative Aptitude for CAT | The Economist |
How to Prepare Logical Reasoning for CAT | Bloomberg Businessweek, Frontline |
How To Prepare For Data Interpretation for CAT | Outlook Business, Business Today |
The conducting IIM releases the official mock test is an outline of the pattern of the exam. Do not rely solely on it and take mock tests from the beginning of your preparation.
CAT 2022 aspirants must solve CAT previous year question papers to get valuable insights into the paper pattern, type of questions, distribution of MCQs & TITA questions, difficulty level of each section, weightage of important topics, and your weak & strong points.
CAT 2021 Question Paper | CAT 2020 Question Paper | CAT 2019 Question Paper |
CAT Sample Papers | CAT 2018 Question Paper | CAT 2017 Question Paper |
CAT 2022 aspirants can also go through the preparation tips followed and recommended by CAT 2021 toppers.
CAT Topper | CAT 2021 Percentile | CAT Preparation Tips for VARC | CAT Preparation Tips for DILR | CAT Preparation Tips for QA |
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CAT Topper Ritik Gupta | 99.99 percentile | Practicing and giving mocks can make you better in that part. | Solving more sectional mock tests and practicing Sudoku for increasing analytical skills | Learn the basic concepts, shortcuts, and tricks from Youtube channels |
CAT Topper Aditya Bansal | 99.95 percentile | Read newspapers and online magazines regularly to improve reading speed and increase vocabulary. | Try to structure each DILR set into tabular form for easy comprehension | Devote maximum time to prepare this section and adopt an option elimination strategy for saving time. |
CAT Topper Aman Goel | 99.66 percentile | Read online articles, newspapers, novels, or any other books on a regular basis | Refer to Arun Sharma CAT books and practice maximum questions. | Solve different types of questions and refer to Career Launcher’s books for CAT quant preparation. |
CAT Topper Ashna Dawar | 99.73 percentile | Read editorials in The Hindu and solve questions of varying difficulty | Practice 2-3 sets every day and take mock tests. | Revise basic concepts and solve previous year papers and sectional mock tests. |
CAT Topper Chetan Bhatt | 99.77 percentile | Practice mock tests and review them after completion. Read a lot of books and articles to improve vocabulary and speed. | Learn the important ratio-percentage conversions and practice as many questions as possible. | Refer to Arun Sharma CAT books and solve overall & sectional mock tests. |
Also Read CAT Preparation Strategy by more CAT 2021 Toppers:
Ques. How to prepare for CAT?
Ans. First of all, understand the syllabus and pattern of the exam, appear for a mock test and note down the weak and strong areas, gather the relevant books and study material, cover the syllabus section-wise and then again practice the mock test. Check Complete CAT Syllabus
Ques. Is there any ideal preparation time for CAT?
Ans. There is no specific rule on a time limit, going by strategies of CAT toppers 3 months is the minimum required for a dedicated and serious preparation to gain a good CAT percentile.
Ques. Can I self-prepare for CAT 2022?
Ans. Yes, there are numerous candidates every year who score well in CAT by relying on self-preparation. Start by gaining a good knowledge of syllabus and exam patterns, gather the relevant study material, prepare a timetable, utilize the online sources available and test your preparation by giving mock tests.
Ques. Which is the best institute to prepare for CAT 2022?
Ans. There are a lot of coaching institutes both online and offline. Candidates should decide in which mode they want to prepare and select the coachings as per their needs. Nowadays, online coaching options are very popular and user-friendly. Check Best CAT Coaching Institutes.
Ques. How many Mock Tests are sufficient to take before the main exam?
Ans. As suggested by CAT toppers, 35-40 mock tests should be given before the actual exam. The important point to remember while giving CAT is to analyze the test afterward and work on mistakes and weak points. Download Now Practice Papers
Ques. Can I start preparing for CAT 2022 now?
Ans. Yes, around 2 months are left for CAT 2022 to take place candidates should gear up their preparation. Make a preparation strategy and start working on it. There is still plenty of room left to score well.
Ques. Is it compulsory to score 90% or above in the 10th and 12th boards to get admission to IIM?
Ans. No, there is no such rule to score 90% or above in boards to secure admissions in IIM. Overall weightage to CAT scores, graduation marks, class 10th and 12th boards, and WAT/GD/PI scores is given by IIMs before offering admissions.
Ques. What are the factors that affect the preparation of a student?
Ans. Factors like relying completely on coaching institutes and not focussing on self-study, keeping yourself too mentally tired, lacking time management skills and dedication for the exam, not working on weak areas affect the preparation of CAT aspirants.
Ques. What are some time management tips for CAT?
Ans. CAT test the accuracy and speed of candidates. Hence time management is the key required to excel in the exam. Remember, not to spend too much time on one question, start working on the section you are comfortable with, spare some time for revision. While preparing, time management skills can be acquired by giving Mock Test.
Ques. Is there a limit on the number of attempts for the CAT exam?
Ans. No, there are no limits on the number of attempts for CAT. there is no restriction on the age limit as well. The only restriction is the educational qualification, candidates have to be
Ques. Is it required to have 5 to 7 books to study from when you sit to prepare for CAT?
Ans. Having a pile of books and a bunch of notes in addition to it will not help you. You can decide which book suits you best as a complete guide to all the sections will be enough. You can also have a book separately for each section but try to keep the number low as to 2 or 3 books to prepare.
Ques. Is joining a Coaching Center a great investment in studies for CAT?
Ans. The benefit of joining a coaching institute is they provide a proper study schedule and material, candidates just have to follow them. Coachings are suitable for candidates who can spare time for the classes. In the case of working professionals, online coaching websites or weekend classes are an option. Candidates can also opt for crash courses, full-time coaching is not required.
Ques. Is the Study Material provided by the coaching center reliable?
Ans. Coaching institutes provide updated study Material that is prepared on the basis of past data and can be very useful although there is no harm in referring to a new book if you have time. But candidates should not lose focus on self-study despite coaching guidance.
Ques. How can reading prove to help study for the CAT exam?
Ans. The key to excelling in verbal ability and reading comprehension is to read a lot of books, newspaper editorials and improve your vocabulary and grammar. Being an expert in English is not required but cultivating a habit to read and write will also help in WAT/GD.PI sessions.
Ques. How does a series of tests help ace CAT?
Ans. Test series are an essential part to score a good percentile in CAT. It should be a weekly ritual while preparing. Writing at least 30 tests before giving the final exam will give you an idea of the level of questions and the way to solve them. Also, subscribing to a series of Mock Tests is helpful as it provides you an edge over the actual exam.
Ques. How does having a great deal of General Knowledge helps in CAT exam?
Ans. General Knowledge questions are a part of WAT/GD/PI rounds. G.K might not be part of the exam but is still useful to be updated on recent national and international political and economic developments. Also, good G.K. helps build confidence in a person to face people and converse.
Ques. How can I prepare Current Affairs for WAT/GD/PI round?
Ans. Read newspapers like The Hindu, The Indian Express, Economic Times, New York Times. Candidates can also refer to magazines like Frontline, Business Standard, and The Week to prepare for current affairs.
Ques. Does having a full-time job affect preparing for CAT exam?
Ans.With the proper strategy in place having a full-time job will not affect your preparation but not to a great extent. CAT preparation can be done parallel to your work. But, you must build a schedule and stick to it to devote the required time for the preparation. Prior experience added to your CV can only benefit from getting admission.
Ques. Can preparing 2 sections of the exam thoroughly give an edge over the paper?
Ans. It is not advisable to leave any section while preparing. If you want to score well in your CAT exam, you need to prepare well enough for all three sections of the paper. CAT score comprises of sectional cut-off which doesn’t leave you with many options.
Ques. How many hours of study is enough for a candidate to prepare for CAT?
Ans. Candidates are advised to study for at least 2 to 3 hours daily for good preparation. This schedule will suit in cases where a candidate has enough time to prepare for CAT. It also depends upon the study habits of the candidate and the study hours can always go up relating to every individual’s study habits
Ques. How do problem-solving methods help to prepare for the exam?
Ans. Candidates should make a note of the fact that they should constantly try solving the questions through more than one method with accuracy. Depending on their method of solving and mastering is more helpful than following tips from outside.
Ques. What preparation pattern should a candidate follow to score well in the exam?
Ans. Starting by understanding the syllabus and exam pattern, candidates must pay more attention to concept building. Afterward, mock tests and practice papers can be considered to analyze the preparation level. It is also advised that a candidate should try to study 2 topics simultaneously with 1 easy topic and the other difficulties which will save a lot of time for other topics.
Ques. Does CAT preparation for candidates who are in their final year of graduation a difficult task?
Ans. Candidates can divide their study time and utilize them in the best possible way. It is advised to prepare for the CAT exam while completing the graduation simultaneously. Though graduation marks should never be compromised as they are considered in the final selection bt B Schools.
Ques. How long should a candidate study in a day to get good grades in the entrance exam?
Ans. Regularity is important while preparing for CAT. Preparing a schedule that is convenient for you and helps you score better should be implemented Candidates should not over-pressurize themselves by studying for many hours, but regularly studying should be in practice.
Ques. What should a candidate do in case he/she has left mathematics as a subject in their 12th standard and is pursuing graduation in some other course?
Ans. Maths is important for the Quantitative Aptitude section. Candidates in such cases are advised to polish their 10th-grade mathematics as the basic concepts asked in CAT are up to 10th grade only. A thorough revision of previous math questions can help them prepare well for the paper.
Ques. Is CAT a tough exam to crack?
Ans. CAT is not difficult, it is just competitive. If you have your concepts clear and practice mocks regularly, you can easily score 90+ percentile in CAT.
Ques. What is the syllabus for LR/DI? How do I prepare for it?
Ans. LR/DI is generally considered a tough section to attempt. There is no fixed syllabus for LR/DI. You can prepare for it by practicing the previous year question papers and following the type of questions that came in LR/DI section.
Ques. I am scared of Maths. How do I prepare for Quant in CAT?
Ans. Start with the basic concepts and refer to Arun Sharma for initial preparation. Develop a habit of solving questions regularly and prepare alternate solving techniques for them. If well practiced through Mocks and previous year question papers candidates can score a good percentile in Quant.
Ques. My English is not very good. Can I still take a CAT?
Ans. CAT requires one to have a decent level of command of English. You can strengthen your English skills by reading books and watching grammar lectures on youtube and such sources.
Ans. Before taking any decision, you must go through all three options that you have in great detail. There are a few reasons why you should not go for IIM-Kozhikode. First, the fees are extremely high, estimated to be around Rs 19.00 lakh. Second, the average package offered at IIMK is around 16-17L, and you will earn more than that after two years. But, once again, if you are desperate for an MBA, you can enroll in IIMK, which comes with the 'IIM' label, which will be very useful in the long run. Give CAT once more. You only need to get a high CAT score and then leave the rest up to their selection process. Second, CAT is extremely unpredictable. With proper preparation, you can achieve excellent results. So, if you're willing to work another year and are confident enough to take the CAT, this is the perfect way to take it. You should look into PGPX from ISB or elsewhere. This option is appealing, but it requires hard work and careful consideration. If you enjoy working in IT and want to advance quickly, this is the path to take. Read more
Ans. Every IIMS and other management colleges make a shortlist based on the percentile after CAT result is declared. With percentile, IIMs also consider other factors like academics, category, gender factor, diversity, etc. The list is made for the second round i.e. GD/PI or WAT/PI. GD/WAT will have a generic topic. There can be a topic from current affairs. PI is taken by some of the faculty and alumni of the institute. In institutes like FMS, there is an extempore after PI. After these rounds, a final shortlist is made with weightage given to GD/PI or WAT/PI performance and CAT percentile. Individual IIMs also have some additional factors. The offer letters are then sent out to top candidates in each category up to the maximum number of seats. The rest candidates are waitlisted. As students choose admissions, the waitlist continues to change. Read more
Ans. I know this decision is a bit difficult to make. What you need to keep in mind is that these two colleges should not be compared to other great IIMs or even ISBs. Those B Schools are at another level and cannot be on par with Kashipur or Raipur. To facilitate a better decision, I will mention the circumstances of these B Schools then you can choose after considering all options. IIM Indore and IIM Kashipur: Both these colleges are not worth a year drop as they will help you earn only an extra 1.5-2 LPA. Moreover, in the coming years, Kashipur and Raipur will have almost the same brand value as that Indore and Kozhikode. IIM Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Lucknow and Bangalore: All these top IIMs are definitely worth a year's drop provided that you are confident enough to cope with the cutoff. All these IIMs consider your academics while selecting so if that is your reason for the year drop I don’t think it will help. There is no surety of admission even after a percentile of 100. ISB: This one is at a whole different level and is in the category of elite B Schools like UCB, NYU, HBS, etc. The top-notch faculty offers amazing pedagogy at relatively low fees. CAT is sufficient for IIMs. But if you want to go for ISB, a work experience of 4+ years and a GMAT are a must. Read more
Ans. IIMs shortlists students for admission based on their CAT score. The second step of selection is GD-PI. For final selection, students are usually shortlisted based on their past academic performance, entrance examination score, and performance in GD-PI. IIMs also consider other factors such as work experience, gender diversity, academic diversity, etc. while shortlisting students. Weights given to these factors are different for different IIMs. Having relevant work experience can certainly help you get a shortlist. Read more
Ans. Everyone knows that IIM A values diversity over grades. There have been students who were not even waitlisted at IIM K but were at IIM A due to their extremely unique profiles. If you want to build a profile for IIM A, strive for originality. Do something that no one else is doing, such as starting a blog, having a strong digital presence on Instagram, writing on Quora, and so on. Consider what students with a 99 percentile typically do, such as being brilliant in academics and receiving a call from IIM Ahmedabad. Choose a domain in which these students are unlikely to excel and excel in that domain. Furthermore, activities such as writing a blog or hosting a YouTube channel will undoubtedly help you, in the long run, to secure summer and final placements during your MBA. As a result, you will gain valuable insights and hands-on experience with various social media tools such as SEO, SEM, Analytics, and so on. Read more
Ans. If you are aiming for old IIMs such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, you will need to score above 99 percentile in CAT. For IIMs and other top-tier B-Schools in India, the CAT cutoff stays above 90 percentile. If you have a good profile, and 99+ CAT score, you can expect to get calls from old IIMs, XLRI, JBIMS, IIFT, FMS, etc. Read more
Ans. Here are some of the things that you will realize after appearing for the CAT examination. Spend the first few minutes going over the papers before diving in. Browse through the problems and start with the ones that you know you can solve in one go. CAT prioritizes solving not sequence. If you aren’t sure about an answer, leave it. Concentrate on other problems. You shouldn’t spend more than 2-3 minutes on a single problem. Don’t use the elimination method, if you can solve the problem in less than 1 minute. Do rough work thoroughly. Don’t answer any questions, just by guessing. There will be a few lengthy questions. Try to ignore these. Even CAT toppers don’t score the full marks. CAT doesn’t test your knowledge. The only thing matters are how much you score. So, try to attempt as many questions as you can correctly. Read more
Ans. You need to practice a lot in order to be able to solve Quantitative Aptitude in the CAT examination. Quants involve using mathematical ability as well as imagination. You need to memorize some concepts as well as formulas. CAT syllabus for Quants includes a lot of topics that we have studied in 9th and 10th and only the application is different for topics such as PNC & Algebra, Numbers, etc. Most important topics in terms of weightage are as follows. Arithmetic Algebra Geometry Numbers P&C, Series, Log Several chapters are easy and can be completed in a short period of time. You should start your preparation with numbers, it is the base for the quants topics. Once you are a clear knowledge of the topics, start giving time-based mocks. Analyze the mocks and work on the common mistakes that you made. Read more
Ans. Yes, average students can crack CAT. Students who get through CAT at one go, have the right aptitude for CAT, which was built over time. They have been practicing Maths right from their school days and have been avid readers. If you are average at your studies, you need to spend a lot of time practicing, in order to score good percentile in CAT. Most students usually have gaps in Maths or DILR or English. You need to put in the extra hours to bridge the gap. Find out the subjects in which you are weak, clear the basics, and practice as much as you can. Read more
Ans. Take a look at the below table to know what CAT score will fetch what CAT percentile, for 2022. Percentile Score VA-RC Score DI-LR Score QA Overall Score 90% 29 1 26 72 95% 32 20 29 81 In 2021, for 90 percentile the required score was 59 and for 95 percentile the required score was 72. Read more
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College
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