Preparing for any competitive examination can be stressful. The fear remains constant for every applicant who might be brilliant or average in their studies. This anxiety stays until they deal with the day they get their results. One such nerve-wracking examination is CAT.

CAT, or Common Admission Test, is the biggest MBA ( Master of Business Administration ) entrance exam that provides plausible admission in 20 IIMs and some of the best business schools in India. The test majorly involves three sections that are inclusive of Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Quantitative Ability, and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR).

CAT Examination Details

VARC requires long-term preparation and development of English comprehension skills by reading and journaling. DILR tests critical thinking and analytical skills through multiple topics, whereas QA checks the mental ability to interpret meaning in mathematics and numbers.

Applicants can prepare topic-wise strategies and, on that basis, compete at this national-level management entrance exam.

Students need to prepare for at least 8-10 hours a day to achieve their desired marks. To know the admission criteria, the students must check the below table.

Tips to prepare for the CAT Examination

Below are some basic strategies for preparing for the CAT Exam that can be helpful in the long run.

Concentrate on your strength-

Appearing for mock tests can help you distinguish between your strengths and weaknesses. Once you find that strength, you can capitalize on your strengths. This is one of the best strategies to use for the CAT exam. You can also give mock tests according to your level of difficulty.

Managing time to optimum use-

When you prepare for the mock, divide your time accordingly to each section. Each section requires 40 minutes equally to solve and give the appropriate answers. At least 8-10 hours of studies are needed daily to see fruitful results. However, dividing time according to convenience is advisable.

Analyze the exam pattern and syllabus-

One of the fundamental elements of good preparation is thoroughly going through the exam pattern, understanding what kind of questions are repetitive, the difficulty level of questions, and checking with the previous year’s question paper to get a good grasp of it.

Start with covering the main areas of CAT. Prioritize for yourself to which section you need to invest your time first. The one which is weak, the one that holds more marks, or the one that is seemingly difficult to do. Prepare topic-wise strategies and solve accordingly.

Practice everything included in the paper-

Practicing everything in the question paper is necessary, meaning just because you have a good grasp of one of the sections doesn’t mean you should put it on the end of a to-do list or not practice at all. An equal amount of practice and attention should be given to each section to get better results.

Fortifying the basics-

Another crucial thing to remember is to strengthen your basics. Even if you cannot get your head around the difficult questions, making a solid foundation of topics can help you attempt more manageable questions and, with practice, even solve the difficult ones.

Opt for coaching or tuition for CAT if feasible-

Going to tuition or coaching for CAT can help clear many doubts and prepare and strengthen your basics. They also provide mock tests with multiple difficulty levels that can help you prepare better and check for yourself the number of questions you’re able to attempt and the accuracy of your answers.

Conclusion

The Common admission test is undoubtedly one of the most challenging exams in India. However, it is necessary to remember not to let down the guard or be overconfident. Making mistakes along the way is perfectly fine to get better results.

Other elements should also have your undivided attention with time, such as building up your profile and confidence and preparing for the group discussion and the interview. Apart from this, there are other management exams that you can always opt for if CAT doesn’t work out for you. However, Continuing preparation and practice can make you develop a habit of solving questions and seeking better results.