The CAT is a competitive exam admission exam for the top B-schools in India.
Each year, the IIM campus that is conducting the CAT releases a sample paper.
This sample is the closest hint to the CAT syllabus since it is not formally defined.
However, the paper format of the CAT generally remains the same, with three
sections over 180 minutes.
The three sections, Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, and Quantitative Ability, are each assigned 60 minutes.
The time does not carry over to the next section. It is a defining feature in the
CAT usually affects how students approach the exam. Time management becomes an essential skill on the day of the exam. Here are
some general pointers you should keep in mind throughout your preparation.
1. Expect the unexpected
Your preparation should cover two fronts. Firstly, you should be familiar with what
However, remember that anything can happen in the CAT, so you should be
adaptable and have backup plans if things do not go your way.
2. Be familiar with the sweet spot of every section
As a timed exam with negative marks, the CAT demands a balance between the
questions you attempt and the time you have. You should know how many
problems you need to try in every section. A general minimum benchmark for the
99th percentile is 23 questions in Quant, 22 in DILR, and 20 in VARC. Of course,
you should adjust these numbers based on your strengths. Be prepared to leave
the remaining questions to increase the time per question.
3. Go through all the questions first
At the beginning of every section, skim through all the questions and mark the
ones you plan to attempt. Try to pick topics that you are confident in and that you
know take less time. Once you finish, ensure the number of chosen problems is
close to your benchmark. Now, you are ready to start attempting the questions.
4. Choose quality over quantity
In usual tests, attempting more questions leads to higher marks. However, in the
CAT, can lead to negative marking and undue time pressure. Do not go too
high over your benchmarking when you are marking. Once you have finished
your chosen problems, pay heed to the time. Only attempt more if you have more
than 5 minutes left because you will also need to decide which one to try. If you
choose the wrong question or do not have enough time, you can throw yourself
off in the next section as well.
5. Learn to cut your losses
Once you have marked problems, it will seem imperative to solve every one of
them. However, the CAT is notorious for complicating seemingly simple topics.
Based on your benchmark, you will know how much time you can dedicate to
each question. If you find yourself exceeding that limit without making much
progress, move on to the next problem. If you preserve your time, you may be
able to come back to it later or to solve an unmarked problem. However, if you
stick to it because you have already given it time, you may ruin your entire
schedule, which will stress you out and affect your speed and accuracy.
6. Give yourself a buffer
As mentioned above, you should not attempt any new problem if you have less
than 5 minutes left. You should also not start a marked one if you have less than
3 minutes left. The last few minutes of the hour should be a buffer so that you
can recheck all of your answers. After rechecking, if you have time left, it is better
to use it to relax before the next section so that you can start afresh. The
confidence of rechecking and the relaxation will reset your mind and give you a
better chance of success for the next section.
7. Work on your stamina
As soon as you decide to give the CAT, you should begin developing your mental
endurance. The CAT occurs over three continuous hours, throughout which you
need to be attentive and focused. Treat your self-study hours and mock exams
as seriously as you would the CAT, and train yourself to endure the long
duration. Quant is relatively easier to score marks in, so you mustn't lose your
efficiency and accuracy throughout the three hours.
It is important to note that the format of the CAT 2020 paper is different. It will
occur over 120 minutes, with 40 minutes for each part. There is no confirmation
about the number of questions; the benchmarks for each section will change.
However, the rest of the tips remain the same. The CAT format will likely be over
180 minutes for the future, but there is no formal confirmation yet.
The most important thing while preparing for and attempting the CAT is to remain
calm and be confident in yourself. With a firm mental attitude and sufficient
preparation, you will be ready for anything on exam day.
Launch your Graphy