CAT 2020: Preparation Tips for Non Engineers; Read Details Here

IIMs aim for diversity in classrooms, and with practice, everyone can succeed in the CAT exam. Students with a non-engineering background can also easily crack the CAT 2021 exams.

CAT 2021 has less to do with a candidate’s background and more to do with his/her perseverance and receptiveness. Students must overcome the fear and apprehension and start believing that you have a fair chance of doing well in CAT.

To perform well in the CAT, candidates need to know the structure of the exam and the topics that are covered.

CAT Structure

The pattern of the CAT includes three sections. For each section, one gets 40 minutes. These sections are as follows:

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
Quantitative Ability

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

The verbal ability and reading comprehension section tests analyze the information presented to you in the form of passages, paragraphs, or jumbled sentences.

For the past few years, the CAT exam has become more focused on checking reading comprehension skills among the candidates. Newspaper editorials, literary essays, fiction are some of the sources from which a large number of questions are based.

To get the best results in this section, candidates need to expand the scope of the content you read and get comfortable with reading various topics. Consistent reading, mock tests, and continuous performance evaluation can help you get a higher percentile and boost your confidence.

Tackling the DI-LR section

The DILR section is considered as less knowledge-based and more skill-oriented. As per the recent question paper patterns, the majority of the sets are a combination of both DI and LR.

Whether you have a science background or not, this section works as an equalizer. The three fundamental skills include comprehension, case analysis, and interpretation.

Apart from this, students need to know the basics of percentages and comparing fractions. The CAT has consisted of cases with some information followed by three to four questions based on the given information.

Acing the QA section

It is a common myth that CAT is a math-heavy paper and that the non-engineers will find it very hard to score great in the exam.

However, students don't realize that nearly eight to ten questions are based on simple, foundational topics, including time and distance, simple equations, ratios, time and work, percentages, profit, and loss, among others.

The complex topics comprise progressions, permutations and combinations, and geometry, which become an obstacle to score well in the section.

The best way to ace this section is to spend time getting used to the language of quantitative aptitude questions. Learn the art of decoding information. Additionally, time-bound practice will help you learn and identify concepts that need revision.

Furthermore, learning fundamental mathematical skills is just one field of the QA section. The ability to perform in a pressure situation, observation skill, adaptability/flexibility, decision-making, and the ability to comprehend the questions is equally crucial. This all can be achieved if you start preparing in advance and plan your test-taking strategy.

Importance of mocks

Taking mocks frequently is the only way to know where you stand and how far your preparation has been. It will check your areas of strengths and weaknesses so that you can spend time on specific sections accordingly.

Not only the full mock test will help, but taking a sectional mock test will help to clear all your concepts. Thus, believe in your dream, work for it, and nothing will be able to stop you from succeeding in the exam.

Also Check: CAT Preparation Tips: Last Minute Preparation Tips & Online Resources