CAT Preparation Tips: 2 Month Study Plan, Last Minute Preparation Tips & Online Resources

Q: How many Mock Test are sufficient to take before the main exam?

As suggested by CAT toppers 35-40 mock test should be given before the actual exam. The important point to remember while giving CAT is to analyse the test afterwards and work on mistakes and weak points. Download Now Practice Papers

Q: Can Istart preparing for CAT 2020now?

Yes, around 2months areleft for CAT 2020to 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.

Updated On - October 20th, 2020

Urvashi Singhal

Exams Prep Master

CAT is one of the most competitive aptitude test for admission in India’s top B Schools taken by over 2 lakh aspirants every year. Candidates are judged on various parameters like analytical and verbal skills. Thus a sound preparation is required to get through prestigious IIMs.

CAT 2020 is scheduled to take place on November 29, 2020. CAT Online Preparation is a considered a good medium to prepare in such a situation of pandemic.

Table of Contents

5 Preparation Strategies to Ace CAT 2020
CAT 2020 Exclusive Study Plan
Section Wise Preparation Strategy
Section Wise Important Topics
CAT 2020 Month by Month Study Plan
- Month 1 Preparation
- Month 2 Preparation
Preparation Through Online Mode
Reference Books and Study Material
Last Minute Preparation Tips
CAT 2020 Preparation Tips FAQS

Some key questions should be kept in mind before drafting a preparation strategy:

How much time is left for CAT 2020?
Is self study enough or coaching is required?
What is the exact pattern and timeline of exam? Check Exam Pattern
How to revise the time table to cover the important topics in the syllabus?
Do you have access to resources and study material for preparation?

Must ReadAdvantages of Final Year Students in CAT 2020

5 Preparation Strategies to Ace CAT 2020

1. Follow CAT 2020 Exam Pattern & Syllabus

Review the outline of all 3 sections: verbal ability and reading comprehension, data interpretation and logical reasoning, quantitative aptitude and find mini mock tests / online tests that are able to target your weakenesses in each section
Do not ignore any section, there are sectional score weightage in selection. Continuously revise the weak topics.

Pattern	Detail
Total Number of Questions	100
Total Marks	300
Number of Sections	3 (Verbal & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude)
Duration of Exam	180 minutes (60 minutes per section)
Medium of Exam	English
Number of Answer Choices	4
Mode of Exam	Online
CAT Marking Scheme	+3 marks for the correct answer -1 mark for an incorrect answer
Questions with Negative Marking	MCQs-70 to 75
Questions without Negative Marking	NON-MCQs- 25 to 30

Must Read News

2. Decide the Mode of Preparation: Coaching or Self Study

Depending upon the level of candidates preparation and the amount of guidance needed, the mode of preparation should be decided.
If self study is opted, candidates have to be vigilant about the latest updates, right books and material and manage their time accordingly.
If preparation is done with the help of Coaching, choosing the right institute is of utmost importance.
Candidates can also opt for online coaching as a preparation tool. It is a beneficial option for working professionals who cannot find time to attend regular classes.

3. Break Down the Preparation: Section and Topic Wise

Smart way to prepare for CAT is to adopt a section wise strategy.
There are sectional scores cut offs, hence it is necessary to score well in all 3 sections.
Detailed section wise preparation tips are given down below.

4. Schedule your Preparation: Make a Time Table

There is no thumb rule in order to prepare the time table. It depends on the candidates level of preparation, strong and weak areas and time needed to prepare each section.
The time table should keep on evolving depending on the time left for the main exam.
Some basic elements should be a part of your schedule-weekly and monthly mock test and revision.
Check the exclusive time table for CAT 2020 preparation provided down below.

5. Check Preparation Level: Take Mocks and Solve Previous Year Papers

In order to develop the right strategy, candidates need to attempt mock tests at an initial level and solve previous year question papers.
Sectional and full length mock test should be given.
This will help to check the current preparation level and the amount of hard work required.
Practice online mock test, target to practice at least 25-30 Mock Test
Solve official mock test released by IIM.

CAT 2020 Exclusive Study Plan

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension		Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning		Quantitative Ability
Topic	Number of Days	Topic	Number of Days	Topic	Number of Days
English Usage/Grammar	5	Arrangements	8	Number System	10
Sentence correction	5	Venn Diagrams	4	Averages	4
Fill in the blanks	5	Set theory	5	Percentages	3
Para completion	10	Selections & Ordering	7	Profit, loss & discount	4
Jumbled paragraph	10	Networks & Routes	3	Simple & compound interest	3
Odd sentence out	10	Games & Tournaments	5	TSD	4
Para summary	10	DI based reasoning	5	Time & work	2
Verbal reasoning	4	Tables	5	Mixtures & allegation	2
Critical Reasoning	4	Graphs	12	Ratio & proportion	2
Reading Comprehension	14	Charts	9	Linear equations	2
-	-	Caselets	5	Quadratic equations	4
-	-	Combinations	4	Inequalities	2
-	-	Data Sufficiency	4	Logarithm	2
-	-	-	-	Progressions	3
-	-	-	-	Surds & Indices	2
-	-	-	-	P&C	5
-	-	-	-	Probability	4
-	-	-	-	Functions	3
-	-	-	-	Geometry	10
-	-	-	-	Coordinate geometry	2
-	-	-	-	Mensuration	5
Total	77	Total	71	Total	78

Time Required for Each Subject

The given time table can be modified and accommodated as per a candidate’s day to day schedule. One needs to invest a minimum of 3-4 hours daily for CAT 2020 preparation.

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)

Get acquinted with CAT section wise Syllabus and Pattern

CAT 2020 Section Wise Preparation Strategy

The first step is to collect all the relevant study material. Join a coaching center, as they can help immensely. Also, enroll in some test series.
Start by learning the concepts of each topic. CAT syllabus includes Class X and XII level mathematics, logical reasoning, and English.
Practice with a timer and do not use a calculator, especially while practicing Data Interpretation.
Practice each topic properly. This will help in assessing your strengths and weakness.
Instead of solving 20 questions of one type, solve 4 questions of 5 types from each topic.
Make a list of your strong and weak areas. In the initial stage, emphasize strengthening your weak areas.
Start taking mocks as early as possible. Don’t be disheartened if you are scoreless. Mocks are for you to recognize the areas you need to put more efforts in.
Analyze each mock you take. The more mocks you take, the better the strategy you will be able to form. It is recommended to take a minimum of 1 and maximum of 3 mocks in a week.
Once you finish the entire syllabus, focus primarily on mocks and sectional tests.
In the final 2 months, do not prepare for any new topics. Work on strengthening the ones you are good at.
Attempt previous years’ CAT question papers. Question papers from 1990-2008 are readily available for the purpose.
Take adequate breaks, and get enough sleep while preparing for CAT.

CAT 2020 Preparation Tips for Quantitative Ability

Quantitative Ability covers the following areas of mathematics:

Algebra
Arithmetic
Geometry
Trigonometry
Mensuration
Modern Mathematics

While preparing for QA, you can follow the tips mentioned below:

Lay the foundation and brush up the concepts. If you don’t know the basics of any topic, you cannot solve for complex questions.
Learn time-saving techniques like tables till 40, squares up to 30, cubes up to 20 and percentage equivalent of fractions till 25.
Maintain a formula book. Note down all the essential and direct formulas and go through them regularly.
Practice solving questions within 2 minutes. This is the average time you get to spend on each question in Quant.
When you attempt QA in mocks, break the entire section into three parts as per the difficulty level of the question- easy, moderate, and difficult.
You need to solve more questions in less time. It is better to solve 3 easy questions than 1 difficult question.
Lastly, practice a lot. Only practice can help you master this section.

Check How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude

CAT 2020 Preparation Tips for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

For the past two years, DI/LR has proved to be the most difficult of three sections. 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:

Get familiar with all kinds of graphs and charts in DI and puzzles in LR.
Practice quick calculation. Learn the percentage equivalent of fractions. They are a big time saver
Learn to compare fractions in DI. This will help in your massive calculations
Solve puzzles like Sudoku and crossword to sharpen your grey cells.
Attempt 20 questions or 4 sets each of DI and LR daily. Each set usually takes 10-15 minutes to solve. Try to solve them within 8-12 minutes.

Read How to prepare for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

CAT 2020 Preparation Tips for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

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

Tips for VA/RC Section

You need to read to get better at this section. Read fiction and non-fiction novels, newspapers, business magazines, etc.
Learn the basics of grammar like articles, adjectives, tenses, modifiers, etc. and practice them as well.
Prepare cue cards. Put down all the new words, you come across, along with its meaning. Revise these cards regularly.
Get in the habit of reading questions first instead of passages. Just give a glance to these questions and get an idea of the difficulty level.
Then sweep through the passage quickly and assess how easily you understand it.
Make a combination of both. Attempt the ones with more straightforward questions first.

CAT 2020 Section Wise Important Topics and Answering Tips

Quantitative Ability

Candidates should begin revision with the Number System section and then follow it up with Algebra, Permutation and Combination and other topics
Important topics in ‘Number System’: Elementary concepts of remainders, Divisibility rules, Concepts of Digits, Elementary Properties of Numbers, Factorization, HCF and LCM
Important topics in ‘Algebra’: Linear and Quadratic Equations, Logarithms, Progressions, Functions
Important topics in ‘Geometry’: Similar triangles, Pythagoras Theorem, Fundamentals of Circles, Mensuration, Polygons
Important topics in ‘Arithmetic’: Percentage, TSD, Ratio, Profit and Loss
Important topics in ‘Modern Maths’: Set Theory, Sequence and Series, Principles of Counting

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

Candidates need to be careful about terms that denote quantities such as “none”, “all”, or “some” when they’re answering questions.
Terms like “unless” and “only” also need to be paid special heed
Positive and negative prefixes can also act as a signficant “indicator” in a question. For e.g. “non”, “dis”, or “un”
Syllogims is a very scoring section and thus candidates should pay ample attention and use venn diagrams to solve important questions
To solve questions that are formed on the basis of inequality, candidates should use the King, Soldier and Public Technique For questions that involve arrangements, candidates should start by solving questions that have a small amount of variables, and then gradually move up to questions that have more. For e.g. starting by solving questions that have only 5 variables and then moving to questions that have 7-8.
Important topics in DI/LR include: Seating Arrangement, Blood Relations, Propostions, Syllogism, Data Arrangement, Puzzles , Statements and Assumptions
Candidates should re-read the questions multiple times in this section because it is easy to misinterpret questions that involve complex logic

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

For unseen passages in the ‘Reading Comprehension’ section, candidates should select the questions and passages that they are comfortable with. Thus, if someone is comfortable with factual passages, they should try to avoid inferential questions that involve critical thinking
Candidate’s should not just apply guesswork or answer blindly in grammar related questions or in sentence correction sections that involve applied knowledge. Candidates need to make sure that at least an educated guestimate is made on the basis of inference. If a question is too complex, the candidate should move on to the next question
Use a two step strategy. Divide the VARC section into one section that includes Reading Comprehension and include the rest in the second section.
Due to the fact that para jumbles and deductive logic require logic, candidates can move to and fro between the questions in order to make the most accurate choice.For eg. in para jumbles, test takers can pinpoint the beginning and ending of a logical pair and remove the choice that does not seem to fit
Reading the choices alongside the question may make it easier for an individual to locate the correct answer after eliminating the options that do not make sense
Prospective candidates that are attaining below 85%ile in their practice tests should focus on the Reading Comprehension sections and Odd Sentence Para Jumbles
Candidates that are currently attaining above 85%ile should focus on the following: Vocabulary and Sentence Completion, Grammar , Deductive Logic , Para Jumbles,Critical Reasoning , Para-Completion, Summary Questions

Must Read News

CAT 2020 Month by Month Study Plan

CAT 2020 Month 1 Preparation

Now, the next task is to start preparing for CAT examination. Follow the steps given below every week while preparing:

In each week, give first 2 days to quantitative section, next 2 days to verbal ability section and finally next 2 days to logical reasoning and data interpretation section.
Keep 1 day to take a break and revise all the topics that you have done in last week.
You can use NECRT Mathematics textbooks from classes 6^th to 12^th to prepare for quantitative topics.
Start reading newspapers regularly, this will help you in brushing up your language skills.
Attempt topic tests to help you are prepare better. You can purchase online test series of reputed institutions for the same.
You can also buy books for preparing for these sections or can take coaching materials.
Prepare notes while studying, this will help you at the time of revision.

CAT 2020 Month 2 Preparation

For month 3, your sole focus should be on making yourself comfortable with the exam pattern and working on efficiency and accuracy. Given below are the things that needs to be done in last months.

Start attempting mock tests, sample papers, or solving previous year papers.
Attempt 1 mock in 2-3 days.
After attempting mock, analyse the entire mock test. Check for other approaches that could have been used to save time and solve the questions where you got stuck.
Revise your weak areas. The areas where you get stuck while attempting mocks.
Read newspapers or books or anything that interests you. This not only helps you work on your vocabulary but also relaxes you.

CAT Preparation Through Online Mode

With the growth of technology in education sector, online coaching classes have grown in popularity and candidates are opting for them for various competitive exams. Though Online Coaching Centre provide smart tips and preparation strategy, no less than an offline coaching institute, the difficulty lies in choosing a good online coaching learning centre.

Best Online Exam Coaching Institute for CAT are- IMS Learning, Oliveboard, Byju’s and Unacademy Plus.

Benefits of online coaching classes:

They are cost affective- offline coaching centres demand a handsome amount of money for the classes and material they provide. Online coachings provide the same amount of money in a reasonable package. The online classes price range is between 10,000 to 25,000 depending on the course. Whereas a candidate has to invest around 50,000 in offline traditional coaching institutes.

Ease of classes- since no commutation is required for online classes, candidates can take classes as per their schedule and routine. The cost and energy invested in commutation is also saved.

No physical presence required- as classes are held in online mode, candidates are not required to visit any centre for classes.

Suitable for working professionals- online classes are popular among management aspirants who are working professional. As online classses are held in several shifts throughout the day. They can match their timings acoordingly.

Matches the candidates learning pace- candidates in online classes like in self study go through topics and classes at their own pace, depending upon their methodology and learning speed.

Check CAT Online Coaching

Join Online CAT Study Groups

There are numerous groups on Facebooks and other community portal for CAT aspirants. It is benefficial to join these groups for doubt clearing sessions and practice. Discuss important topics, tricks and strategies by interacting with fellow aspirants.

Personal watsapp group with friends can also be created. There arecertain moderated forums on Facebook like Hundakafunda Facebook Group for like minded aspirants. Inaddition 2IIM also has a FB forum. Discussion on a particular topic is quite an affair on these forums.

To top on, there are a couple of quora threads like IIM preparation which is an interactive space for IIM alumni, CAT trainers students.

Books and Study Material for CAT 2020

For QA, it is recommended that candidates prepare from Class X and XII NCERT books.
The best source to prepare for VA/RC is your daily reading material like novels, newspapers, magazines, etc.
Go through the pages of the dictionary at random. This helps in learning new words.

Given below are additional reference material for each section of CAT:

Reference for CAT Quantitative Ability

How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma, Publisher- Tata Mcgraw Hill.
Pearson Guide to Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation for CAT by Nishit Sinha, Publisher- Pearson.
Quantum CAT: Quantitative Aptitude Common Admission Test for Admission into IIMs by Sarvesh K Verma, Publisher- Arihant
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examination Tips, Techniques, and Short-cut Methods by Abhijit Guha.
NCERT Mathematics books for class 8^th, 9^th, 10^th and 10+2.

Reference Books for CAT Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation

Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning for CAT by Nishit Sinha, Publisher- Pearson.
How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT by Arun Sharma, Publisher- Tata Mcgraw Hill.
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for the CAT by Arun Sharma, Publisher- Tata Mcgraw Hill

Reference Books for CAT Verbal and Reading Comprehension

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension by Ajay Singh, Publisher – Arihant.
3o Days to More Powerful Vocabulary by Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis, Publisher- Simon & Schuster.
Wren and Martin English Grammar
Business English and Communication by Clark Zimmer, Publisher- Mcgraw Hill Ryerson.

Read Best Books for CAT Preparation

Recommended Magzines for CAT 2020 Preparation

Here are the 5 magazines recommended for CAT and all other aspiring business students.

The Economist

It is a fabulous publication sworn by many IIM students. The Economist prepares candidates for CAT, business schools and for the rest of their professional life.
It generally focuses on world economy. It brings a sophisticated perspective to issues related to micro and macro economics.
The magazine also has articles on all kinds of international affairs like politics, culture, sports, art and books.
The magazine falls on the pricey side. However, students can read 3 articles per week free of cost.
The writing style is excellent and crisp articles with near perfect grammar are published in the magazine.
It is an essential instrument for a wholesome understanding of the various issues affecting the world.
The Economist’s articles on short words, Lexington and Bagehot columns are very insightful and something to watch out for.

Bloomberg Businessweek

This is a lighter and more entertaining version of The Economist. It is a perfect choice for CAT aspirants looking to get a regular dose of business news.
It is a weekly magazine that provides articles on the latest events and trends in finance, technology, finance, management and entertainment.
It is a good magazine for introducing student to the business world whereas the Economist is for individuals who already know a lot about business.
Apart from in- depth coverage of business world and events, it also provides financial news and stock advice.
Bloomberg Businessweek proves to be substantially worth the cost and effort to read. One of the added advantages is that it is also entertaining.

Outlook Business

This business magazine has articles which analyze information from all business sectors.
It covers a variety of ventures and enterprises– information through which individuals appearing for CAT 2020 can gain a sound understanding of business dynamics, decisions, and movements.
The key concepts covered in this magazine are enterprise, markets and strategy.
Outlook Business offers a detailed analysis of market trends, stock prices, and sales strategies of several business undertakings to its readers. It is one of the most popular business magazines in India. It covers the stories and perspectives of all the leading organizations and businessmen.
It is the fastest growing business magazine in India with a readership of more than 8 lakh and a fortnightly circulation of 1.41 lakh.

Frontline

It is a fortnightly English magazine published by The Hindu group.
Like its parent newspaper, this is one of the most preferred magazines due to its rich content.
This magazine offers comprehensive articles that feature stories from all over the world. It provides thorough knowledge about issues prevalent in India as also various about various policies undertaken by the government.
Frontline magazine can help a CAT applicant to build opinions regarding the events unfolding around him.
It is highly recommended for cracking the interview round.
One downside is that the magazine does entail heavy reading. It will surely build an individual’s vocabulary because of the usage of different words.

Business Today

It is a fortnightly magazine that was established as a solution to increased variations in business trends.
Business Today was one of the first magazines to cover management theories and their applications in current and relevant business scenarios.
It provides comprehensive reports on the effects of the Indian economy on business strategies and covers a plethora of industries so students preparing for CAT can take away many lessons from on- going stories.

Preparation Through CAT 2020 Quiz

CAT Logical Reasoning Quiz	CAT Percentage Quiz	CAT Ranking Quiz
CAT Coding Decoding Quiz	CAT Compound Interest-Simple Interest Quiz	CAT Clock Quiz
CAT Blood Relation Quiz	CAT Geometry Quiz	CAT Cubes Quiz
CAT Series Quiz	CAT Average Quiz	CAT Calender Quiz
CAT Sequence Quiz	-	-

CAT 2020 Last Minute Preparation Tips

Overlook the entire CAT Syllabus and Exam Pattern to make sure you have not kept any topic completely unsupervised
Instead of strengthening the topics that you are already good at, focus on improving the areas in which you struggle
Make sure you have set aside a daily set period of 3-4 hours for regular preparation
Set aside a major portion of your preparation time to work on improvement
Sit for timed sectional and full length mock tests that have different ranges of difficulty
Complete your full CAT preparation atleast 10 days in advance so that you have time for revision
Treat your mock tests like the final CAT exam

Previous Year CAT Topper Tips

Make sure you keep a record of how much time you spend completing each mock test as well as its distinct sections
Revise the formulas for Quantitative Ability before solving the questions
If you only have a couple of days left for the exam, do not start anything brand new
Keep practicing mock tests regularly and try to improve your timing and efficiency
Do not get stuck onto a question you cannot answer, come back to it later if required
Do not judge your entire capability and worth on the basis of the mock test results
Manage your time well during the examination, do not spend an exessive amount of time on one section
Make sure you have slept and eaten adequately before the exam so that you can give it with a cool mind

CAT 2020 Preparation Through Mock Test

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.

It is essential to join a good test series for mocks. They are available with coaching centers like T.I.M.E, Career Launcher, etc. as well as online on site like HundakaFunda, Pagalguy, etc.
Mocks tests help in eliminating most of the surprise elements.
The more mocks are attempted, the better speed and accuracy get.
CAT Mock Test help in identifying areas of strength and weakness.
They also help in accustoming your body to sit for a 3-hour extended test.

Know Management Colleges other than IIMs

CAT 2020 Preparation Tips FAQS

Ques. How to prepare for CAT?

Ans. First of all understand the syllabus and pattern of 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 mock test. Check Complete CAT Syllabus

Ques.Is their any ideal preparation time for CAT?

Ans.There is no specific rule on time limit, going by strategies of CAT toppers 3 months are minimum required for a dedicated and serious preparation to gain good CAT percentile.

Ques. Can i self-prepare for CAT 2020?

Ans. Yes, there are numerous candidates every year who score good in CAT by relying on self preparation. Start by gaining a good knowledge of syllabus and exam pattern, gather the relevant study material, prepare a time table, utilise the online sources available and test your preparation by giving mock tests.

Ques.Which is the best institute to prepare for CAT 2020?

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 Test are sufficient to take before the main exam?

Ans. As suggested by CAT topper’s 35-40 mock test should be given before the actual exam. The important point to remember while giving CAT is to analyse the test afterwards and work on mistakes and weak points. Download Now Practice Papers

Ques. Can I start preparing for CAT 2020 now?

Ans.Yes, around 2 months are left for CAT 2020 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 10th and 12th board to get admission in 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 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 proper study schedule and material, candidates just have to follow them. Coachings are suitable for candidates who can spare time for the classes. In case of working professionals online coaching websites or weekend classes are an option. Candidates can also opt for crash courses full time caching is not required.

Ques. Is the Study Material provided by the coaching center reliable?

Ans.Coaching institutes provide updated study Material which 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 excel 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 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 affects preparing for CAT exam?

Ans.With 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 in your CV can only benefit from getting the 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 the 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 test and practice papers can be considered to analyse the preparation level.

It is also advised that a candidate should try to study 2 topics simultaneously with 1 easy topic and the other difficult 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 Quantitative Aptitude section. Candidates in such case are advised to polish their 10th-grade mathematics as the basic concepts asked in CAT are up to 10th grade only. With 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 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?

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 to 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 on English. You can strengthen your English skills by reading books and watching grammar lectures on youtube and such sources.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College

Admin

Hi Sheetal, Yes, You can prepare for CAT in 3 months. Overview on How to Prepare for CAT 2020 in 3 Months:

Sectional Division of Overall Preparation.
Know your strengths along with weaknesses.
Accept the importance of previous year question papers.
Time management.
Coaching or self-preparation.
Mock test.

For more information, please refer to the following link, CAT Preparation Tips.

28 Oct, 2020 23:17

Dear Puja Sao

Greetings from Collegedunia. You can prepare at home through Online Preparation and can invest 3-4 hours in CAT Exam Preparation. For more preparation tips in amidst of Covid-19, kindly go through this link – CAT Exam Preparation Tips

28 Oct, 2020 12:01

Dear Aalen

Greetings from Collegedunia. We are providing you both VARC and DILR Preparation Strategy. Kindly choose both and prepare for CAT Exam to get a good score. From my point of view, focus on DILR is important because it contains a lot of puzzles, logical reasoning questions as you are good at VARC. For more details, kindly go through this link – VARC Preparation Strategy and DILR Preparation Strategy

28 Oct, 2020 13:21

Hi Shiya, This depends on how clear your basic knowledge is. Practice and Practice and solve previous years’ questions to improve. For more information, please click on the following link, CAT Preparation Strategies.

23 Sep, 2020 23:39

Hi Ibashisha, if you plan your studies in a systematic manner and practice the CAT syllabus efficiently, three months could be sufficient for cracking CAT. All the best!

05 Sep, 2020 12:58

THANK YOU

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