Introduction
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a nationwide examination in India for admission into postgraduate management programs at various business schools across the country. It is one of the toughest entrance exams with over 2 lakh students appearing every year.
The CAT exam is conducted annually by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) to screen candidates for admission into their business administration and management programs. It evaluates a candidate’s Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability, Logical Reasoning, and Data Interpretation skills which are required for managerial effectiveness.
Cracking the CAT and getting into a top IIM requires thorough preparation over 6-12 months along with a strategic approach. With hard work and the right techniques, it is possible for any dedicated student to succeed in this exam in their first attempt.
Start Preparing Early
It is recommended to start CAT preparation at least 6-12 months in advance, depending on your background. Students with a strong academic record can start 6 months before the exam, while those with an average profile need 12 months or more (https://byjus.com/free-cat-prep/when-is-the-best-time-to-begin-cat-preparation/). The key is to start early and give yourself enough time to go through the entire CAT syllabus thoroughly. Leaving preparation until the last 2-3 months will make it extremely difficult to cover everything and boost your scores.
Experts advise starting preparation at least 1 year in advance if you have a weak academic profile or no background in quantitative aptitude. This gives you time to build your quantitative skills from scratch and work on your weaknesses (https://catking.in/the-best-time-to-start-cat-preparation). Focus the initial months on developing conceptual clarity in core topics before moving on to advanced concepts and mocks.
Have a Proper Study Plan
Having a well-thought-out study plan is crucial for cracking CAT in your first attempt. Make sure your plan balances preparing for all three sections – Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. One effective approach is to follow a month-wise routine:
June to August: Start with the basics and focus on building your conceptual clarity in each section. Solve previous years’ question papers to understand the exam pattern and level of questions asked.
September: Gradually increase your practice intensity. Take sectional mock tests regularly to identify your weak areas. Work on improving speed and accuracy.
October: Practice as many mock tests as possible under simulated exam conditions. Analyze your performance to refine your test taking strategy. Work on turning your weaknesses into strengths.
November: Take final mock tests. Brush up on key topics and important questions for last minute revision. Ensure you are comfortable with the entire syllabus. Stay confident!
Having a structured, monthly routine will help you steadily improve your CAT score without feeling overwhelmed. Make sure to revisit complex topics and give equal time to accuracy as well as speed.
Take Mock Tests
Taking mock tests is crucial for practicing the actual exam format and analyzing your performance. As per Quora, mock tests help you “identify strengths and weaknesses, work on speed and accuracy, build exam temperament and endurance, know the actual difficulty level, and more.” CatKing emphasizes that mock exams “instill confidence” in students by providing exam practice in a simulated environment. Review your mock test performance to target areas for improvement.
Work on Your Weak Areas
Identifying your weak areas and improving them is crucial to cracking the CAT in your first attempt. Start by taking practice tests to determine which sections you struggle with the most. Many experts advise giving extra attention to your weaker sections.
For quant, do targeted practice on the topics and question types you find most difficult. Some ways to identify weak quant areas include analyzing your mock test scores to see which areas have lower accuracy, and doing a quantitative aptitude diagnostic test focused on specific topics [1]. Work on strengthening these topics through practice sets and questions.
For verbal ability, note the question types where you lose most marks. Devote more time to improving vocabulary, reading comprehension, logical reasoning etc. in weaker areas. Take sectional mock tests for extra practice on tough sections [2].
Overall, be willing to put in the hard work required to transform weaker areas into strengths. With focused efforts, it’s possible to overcome weaknesses and boost your overall CAT score.
Master Important Topics
Some topics in CAT will have higher weightage than others, based on historical CAT question papers. Identifying and focusing on high weightage topics can help maximize your score.
As per this analysis, Quantitative Aptitude has the highest weightage at 34%, followed by Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning at 32%, and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension at 34%.
Within Quant, key topics include arithmetic, algebra, geometry and mensuration, data sufficiency, percentages, profit & loss, ratios and averages. For DILR, focus on sets, venn diagrams, graphs and tables. In VARC, comprehension passages, parajumbles and vocabulary have higher weightage.
Make sure to practice a lot of questions from these high-weightage topics. Solve previous years’ CAT papers section-wise and analyze your performance to identify weak areas. Regular practice will help you master these topics and maximize your overall score.
Learn Effective Time Management
Time management is crucial for cracking CAT in your first attempt. The exam has 3 sections – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) – and you only get 60 minutes for VARC and QA each, while DILR has 45 minutes. You need to solve a total of 100 questions in 180 minutes, so you cannot afford to spend too much time on any single question.
To manage your time effectively, first allocate time limits for each section based on the number of questions. For example, give yourself around 1 minute for each MCQ and around 2 minutes for the non-MCQs in VARC and QA. In DILR, you can spend slightly more time on each question – around 1.5 to 2 minutes per MCQ and 3 minutes per non-MCQ. Secondly, practice solving mock tests within the sectional time limits to improve your pacing. Your speed and accuracy will improve with regular practice.
As per experts, in VARC, you should complete reading comprehensions with 6 questions in 8-10 minutes (https://collegedunia.com/news/e-242-cat-tips-for-effective-section-wise-time-management). In DILR, try to complete seating arrangement sets in 15 minutes or less (https://www.collegedekho.com/articles/section-wise-time-management-tips-for-cat/). Follow similar time limits for other sections.
Stay Motivated
Consistency and determination are key to cracking the CAT in your first attempt. It’s important to stay motivated throughout your preparation period, which can last 6 months or more. Here are some tips to stay motivated:
Break down the larger goal of cracking CAT into smaller, more achievable targets. Set monthly, weekly and even daily goals to fulfill. Reward yourself when you achieve each target, like going out for a nice meal or watching a movie. This provides short-term motivation boosts along the way (Source: https://byjus.com).
Remove any unnecessary pressures from your mind. Focus only on your CAT prep goals without worrying about expectations from others. Becoming fully independent in your thinking helps motivation (Source: https://online.2iim.com).
Make a vision board with motivational quotes, your targets, and rewards. Refer to it daily for an inspirational boost. Share your goals with supportive friends and family to keep you accountable.
Manage Exam Day Stress
It’s natural to feel stressed on exam day, but too much stress can negatively impact your performance. Try to relax as much as possible leading up to the exam. Get plenty of sleep the night before so you can think clearly. Eat a healthy breakfast and avoid too much caffeine as it may heighten anxiety. Take some deep breaths before the exam to calm your nerves. Visualize yourself staying focused and confident during the test.
On exam day, arrive early so you don’t feel rushed. Listen to calming music on the way to the testing center. Avoid talking with other students about the exam as it may increase stress. Take a few minutes of quiet reflection right before the exam starts. Remind yourself that you’ve prepared extensively and to simply do your best.
During the exam, take deep breaths if you start feeling anxious. If you get stuck on a question, move on and come back later so you don’t waste time. Stay positive and trust your preparation. You’ve got this!
Sources:
https://cetking.com/7-tips-for-managing-cat-exam-preparation-stress/
https://www.percentilers.in/blog/top-7-tips-for-managing-cat-exam-preparation-stress
Key Takeaways
Cracking the CAT exam in the first attempt requires thorough preparation and a strategic approach. Here are some of the key strategies to keep in mind:
Start your CAT preparation early, ideally 6-12 months in advance. This will give you sufficient time to cover the entire syllabus and attempt multiple mock tests.
Have a proper study plan that covers all sections – Verbal Ability, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude and prepare topic-wise. Solve previous CAT papers and mock tests.
Identify your weak and strong areas through mock tests. Work on improving weaker sections by solving more questions from those topics.
Master important and frequently asked topics like algebra, arithmetic, reading comprehension etc. These topics carry higher weightage in the exam.
Learn effective time management techniques like skipping difficult questions and maximizing attempts in your strong areas first.
Stay motivated throughout your prep by setting smaller goals, taking breaks and believing in yourself. Proper preparation and a strategic approach are key to cracking CAT in the first attempt.