Overview of the CAT Exam
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a standardized test for admission into postgraduate management programs in India. It has a long history, with the first CAT being conducted in 1950 (source). The purpose of the CAT is to screen and shortlist candidates for admission into the top business schools in India such as the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) (source).
The CAT exam is conducted annually by the IIMs. It is a computer-based test that consists of three sections – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. Candidates get a total of 180 minutes to complete the exam. There is a sectional time limit and candidates cannot switch between sections (source).
Performance in the CAT exam is assessed based on the number of questions correctly answered and the difficulty level of those questions. Candidates are given 3 points for each correct answer with a penalty of 1 point for each incorrect answer. The final score is used by IIMs and other B-schools to shortlist candidates for further admission processes.
Verbal Ability Section
The Verbal Ability section of the CAT exam tests your English comprehension, vocabulary, and verbal reasoning skills. This section focuses primarily on reading comprehension passages and the types of questions asked on them. Some key things to know about the Verbal Ability section:
Reading Comprehension – You will be given 3-4 passage sets with 5 questions each. Passage topics can range from science, humanities, social science, economics, etc. Questions test your understanding of the passage, main idea, tone, inferences, vocabulary in context, and more. You need strong reading skills to comprehend dense, academic passages quickly.
Verbal Reasoning – Questions like parajumbles, odd sentence out, para summary, fill in the blanks, etc. test your ability to understand structure, continuity, logic, and meaning within sentences and paragraphs. You must be able to identify relationships between parts of sentences/passages.
Vocabulary – Your knowledge of vocabulary, idioms, phrases is tested via fill in the blanks, odd word out, and synonym/antonym based questions. Improve your vocabulary through reading newspapers, magazines, books etc.
Para Completion – You must be able to understand the main idea of an incomplete paragraph and identify which sentence completes the paragraph logically. This tests your comprehension and reasoning skills.
Other question types – Critical reasoning questions based on short passages, statement and conclusion questions, fact/inference/judgment based questions are also asked.
The verbal section accounts for around 24 questions on the CAT. Strong grammar, vocabulary, reasoning, and reading comprehension skills are essential to score well in this section. Regular reading is the best way to build these core skills over time.
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
The Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) section of the CAT exam tests a student’s ability to analyze data presented in visual formats like charts, graphs and tables. It also examines the logical reasoning skills through critical thinking questions. Some common types of questions in this section include:
Charts/Graphs: Questions based on line charts, bar graphs, pie charts etc. Students need to understand the data and trends depicted in order to answer questions based on the inferences that can be drawn.
Logical Deductions: These questions test the ability to understand logical relationships and make deductions. Students may be presented with statements, arguments, courses of action etc. and asked to draw conclusions based on them (cite: https://bodheeprep.com/cat-logical-reasoning)
Some tips for tackling this section include: thoroughly reading the charts/passages presented, identifying all parameters involved, understanding the logic & relationships between different elements, avoiding assumptions, and practicing regularly with mock tests to build speed & accuracy.
Quantitative Aptitude Questions
The quantitative aptitude section of the CAT exam tests a candidate’s math skills in areas like arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and modern mathematics. This section aims to evaluate how accurately and quickly a candidate can solve quantitative problems. Some common types of quantitative aptitude questions on the CAT include:
Arithmetic – Questions involving topics like percentages, profit/loss, simple interest, averages, ratio and proportion, time-speed-distance, and mixtures and allegations. Candidates need a strong grasp of basic arithmetic concepts.
Algebra – Questions testing skills in solving linear and quadratic equations, inequalities, functions, polynomials, sets, logs, etc. Algebra forms an important part of the quant section.
Geometry – Questions based on concepts like lines, angles, triangles, quadrilaterals, circles, coordinate geometry, mensuration, etc. Geometry questions mainly test reasoning ability.
Modern Math – Questions involving topics like number systems, divisibility, remainders, factorization, permutations & combinations, probability, data interpretation, etc. Newer concepts get tested here.
Some key strategies for tackling the quant section include brushing up on math formulas and concepts, learning useful tips and shortcuts, practicing a variety of question types, and effectively managing time during the exam. Resources like Hitbullseye, 2IIM, and Bodhee Prep provide useful quant question banks and preparation tips for the CAT exam.
Exam Strategy
Having the right exam strategy is crucial for maximizing your score on the CAT exam. Here are some key strategies to keep in mind:
Time Management
The CAT exam has a time limit of 180 minutes to solve 100 questions. It’s important to pace yourself appropriately and not get bogged down on any single question. Skip questions you find difficult and come back to them later if you have time. Keep tracking your time during the exam.
Question Selection
Not all questions are worth the same number of marks on the CAT. Spend more time on questions that are worth higher marks. Also, attempt easier questions first to maximize your score.
Guessing
There is no negative marking on incorrect answers in the CAT exam, so it is advisable to make intelligent guesses rather than leaving questions blank. However, don’t randomly guess on questions you have no idea about, as it will waste precious time.
Verbal Ability Questions
The verbal ability section of CAT tests your proficiency in English and focuses on evaluating your reading comprehension skills. Some of the most common types of verbal ability questions include:
Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehension passages are given followed by questions testing your understanding of the passage content, tone, main idea, implications etc. You may get passages from a variety of topics including arts, science, humanities etc. (Source)
Verbal Reasoning
These questions test your ability to analyze arguments and relationships between words/phrases. Common types include syllogisms, statements and conclusions, strengthening/weakening arguments etc. You need strong reasoning skills for this area. (Source)
Vocabulary-Based
Questions testing vocabulary focus on word meanings and relationships between words. Synonyms, antonyms, analogies, odd one out etc. are some typical examples. Having a strong vocabulary and understanding nuances between similar words is key. (Source)
Practicing a variety of verbal question types and developing your reading and reasoning skills is the best way to prepare for this section.
Logical Reasoning Questions
Logical reasoning questions test your ability to analyze information, evaluate arguments, and draw conclusions. These questions make up a significant portion of the CAT exam’s DILR section. Some common types of logical reasoning questions on the CAT include:
Syllogisms: These present two premises followed by a conclusion. You must evaluate whether the conclusion logically follows from the premises. For example:
Premise 1: All athletes are healthy.
Premise 2: Some healthy people are rich.
Conclusion: Therefore, some athletes are rich.
In this case, the conclusion does not logically follow from the premises. Just because all athletes are healthy and some healthy people are rich, it does not necessarily mean some athletes are also rich.
Arrangements: These involve ordering elements according to certain rules or criteria. A common arrangement question type is sequencing:
P is taller than Q
R is shorter than P
Q is taller than R
What is the correct order of their heights, tallest to shortest?
A. P, Q, R
B. Q, R, P
C. Q, P, R
D. R, Q, P
The correct answer is C, as P is the tallest and R is the shortest based on the information provided.
Selection: These present rules, conditions or criteria and ask you to deduce which element satisfies or violates the conditions. For example:
Of the following, which one cannot be classified as a mammal?
A. Bat
B. Parrot
C. Whale
D. Lion
Here, B is the answer since parrots are birds, not mammals.
Practicing a variety of logical reasoning questions and identifying the reasoning patterns is key to mastering this section. Some helpful sources for practice questions include 101+ CAT Logical Reasoning Questions [LRDI] Sets with Solutions and the CAT Logical Reasoning Questions with Solutions from Shiksha.
Quantitative Aptitude Questions
The Quantitative Aptitude section of the CAT exam focuses on testing a candidate’s mathematical, analytical and problem solving skills. Some of the most frequently asked and important quant topics include:
Arithmetic – Questions on topics like averages, mixtures and allegations, time and work, pipes and cisterns etc. are commonly asked. For example: “Find the average of first 50 natural numbers.”
Algebra – Algebraic expressions, equations, inequalities, functions, graphs etc. comprise the algebra portion. Questions such as: “If x
Geometry and Mensuration – Concepts like triangles, quadrilaterals, circles, perimeter, area and volume of different shapes are important. An example is: “The diagonals of a rhombus are 12 cm and 16 cm. Find its perimeter.”
Number Systems – Types of numbers like integers, fractions, decimals etc. are covered. Questions like: “What is the decimal expansion of 1/7?” may be asked.
Data Interpretation – Tabular data, charts, graphs and tables are provided that need to be analyzed. For example: “If A:B = 3:5 and B:C = 5:9, what is the ratio of A:B:C?”
To prepare for the quant section focus on frequently asked topics and practice a wide variety of questions from past year papers like CAT 2021 Slot 1 Quant.
Mock CAT Exams
Taking mock CAT exams is one of the most important parts of preparing for the actual CAT exam. Mock tests allow you to experience the actual exam format and environment, identify your weak areas, and work on improving your speed and accuracy.
There are many free and paid mock CAT exams available online. Some of the most popular platforms include Career Launcher, InsideIIM, and Cracku. These provide full-length mocks based on the latest exam pattern as well as sectional tests focused on individual topics like QA, DI, and LR.
It is recommended to take multiple mock tests in the months leading up to the CAT exam. Review your performance after each test, analyze where you lost marks, and work on strengthening those areas. Slowly increase the difficulty level of the mocks. The closer it is to the actual exam, the mocks should mimic the real CAT exam setting.
Apart from taking the tests, it is important to go through the solutions provided to understand your mistakes. See where you went wrong and how you could have arrived at the right answer. This helps reinforce concepts and strategies.
Consistently taking mock CATs boosts your speed, accuracy, time management, and confidence for the final exam. Target taking at least 15-20 full-length mocks before the CAT exam.
Additional Preparation Tips
To maximize your scores on the CAT exam, here are some additional preparation tips to keep in mind:
Use high-quality resources for practice and study. Some recommended books include Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S. Aggarwal (2017), How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma, and Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis (1949) (source).
Take as many mock CAT exams as possible – aim for 40-50 practice tests. Mock exams give you exposure to the real exam format and help identify weaknesses to work on (source).
Manage your time wisely during practice and the real exam. Budget time for each section based on your strengths and weaknesses. Don’t spend too long on any single question (source).
Learn shortcuts and strategies to increase speed. For example, in quant and logic sections, look for quick ways to eliminate wrong answer choices.
Stay motivated by tracking your mock test progress. Aim to improve each time rather than focusing on getting every question right.