The Common Admissions Test has three sections, each of which has an independent time limit. The CAT is notorious for not having a defined syllabus. Aspirants study based on the previous years, trends and the sample paper released every year. As a result, the portions of each section are vast and required dedicated preparation.
Of these sections, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation is often the most unfamiliar to aspirants. Students spend most of their lives studying Quantitative and Language abilities for tests, and logical reasoning usually gets sidelined.
The LRDI will have 20-22 questions for CAT 2020. Around 75% of these questions will be MCQs with negative marking, and the other 25% will be non- MCQs and won't have negative marking. The overall weightage of LRDIsection is 32%. It also has more topics than QA and VARC.
The LRDI section focuses on testing the candidate's swift decision-making ability
in a pressured environment. In a brief overview, LRDI has topics like Venn Diagrams, Bar Graphs, Data Tables, Data Charts, Team Formation, Seating
Arrangements, Clocks, and Calendars. The LRDI section can be divided into 7
broad categories of the most important topics, as follows:
| BROAD TOPIC | EXPECTED DIFFICULTY | EXPECTED QUESTIONS |
| Logical LI | Moderate level | 2 to 3 case lets (8-12 questions) |
| Graphs | Easy to moderate level | 2 to 3 case lets (8-12 questions) |
| Puzzles | Easy to moderate level | 1 to 2 case lets (4-8 questions) |
| Awkward DI | Moderate to difficult level | 1 to 2 case lets (4-8 questions) |
| Arrangements and selection | Easy to moderate level | 1 case lets (4questions) |
| Tournament based | Moderate level | 0-1 case lets (0-4 questions) |
Logical reasoning holds a heavy weightage in LRDI. Never try to approach a logical reasoning question with brute force, as that will waste a lot of time. Learn to recognize the different kinds of questions and build plans accordingly. Try to learn logical indicator words and their diagramming so that you are not confused on exam day. Also, learn as many reasoning flaws so that you can avoid making them. Some of the main topics in logical reasoning are:
● Seating Arrangements
● Syllogisms
● Assumptions
● Binary Logic
● Clock and Calendar based
● Puzzles
● Tournament based
Data interpretation is more strictly defined than logical reasoning. There are fixed formulas and shortcuts that you can learn that will always work. You can increase
your speed in data interpretation questions with rigorous practice, leaving more time for logical reasoning. Some of the most important topics in data interpretation is:
● Data Arrangement
● Data Sufficiency
● Tables
● Graphs
For data interpretation, ensure you are thoroughly familiar with the graphs that usually come in the paper. There will be 5-8 questions of moderate difficulty:
● Bar Graph
● Pie Graph
● Line Graph
● Tables
The difficulty of the LRDI section depends on the IIM that conducts the exam. If your aim is above the 95th percentile, you should ensure that you are answering at least 20 questions in this section.
Apart from solving the questions available in guides, candidates should indulge in puzzles like sudoku, solitaire, and riddles. Continuous practice is the best way to improve in the LRDI section. Even when you do not have LRDI planned for that day, you should practice at least 5 - 6 questions. Ensure that you practice each topic regularly and that the question pool is sufficiently varied. You do not want to get trapped in the familiarity of one easy type of question.
Before you begin to prepare for LRDI, you should understand that most questions are time-consuming and ticky. You should know the shortest method to solve each problem correctly. There are many tricks available online and in practice guides. To avoid confusion, make a notebook with your preferred methods and try to use only one way to solve a single type of problem. With sufficient practice, you will be familiar with the short-cuts and less likely to make silly mistakes.
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