PREPARING FOR CAT 2013

Common Admission Test (CAT) is an all India level national test. The test is conducted by IIMs as entrance exam for getting admissions in top IIMs and leading institutes of the country. This year the CAT exam will be held in the month of Oct - Nov 2013. Based on CAT percentile and scores, candidates are called for next stage of selection process which generally includes Group Discussion, Essay and Personal Interview (GDPI). The pattern of the CAT exam is objective type multiple choice questions. There is negative marking in the exam, for each wrong answer 1 mark will be deducted & for correct answer candidate will get Three marks. There is no penalty for questions that are left unanswered.

Test duration will be of 140 min and 70 Minutes is allotted to each section. From this year there are only two sections in the exam.

The first section is Quantitative Ability & Date Interpretation:

The second section is Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning.

The time limit for each section may be different.  Candidates were given 70 minutes to answer 30 questions within each section, in CAT 2012. Each section have an on-screen countdown timer. Once the time ends for the first section, students will move to the next section and will not be able to go to previous section.

Before beginning of the test, there will be a 15-minute optional tutorial to familiarise candidates with navigation and functionality available during the test. Its highly recommended for Candidates to go through tutorial.

CAT 2012 Syllabus

CAT 2012 Syllabus for English:

Comprehension of passage,

Verbal Reasoning,

 Syllogisms ,

 Contextual usage,

 Analogies,

 Antonyms,

 Fill In the Blanks,

 Foreign language words used in English,

 Sentence completion, Sentence correction,

 idioms,

 Errors in word choice,

 mania & phobia,

 Incorrect words,

 Conditionals & Multiple Usage ,

 Punctuation,

 Proverb,

 one word substitution,

 Different usage of same word Phrasal verb etc.

CAT 2012 Syllabus for Quantitative Ability:

·         Geometry, (Lines, angles, Triangles, Spheres, Rectangles, Cube, Cone etc)

·         Ratios and Proportion, Ratios,

·          Percentages, In-equations

·         Quadratic and linear equations

·         Algebra

·         Mensuration,

·          Alligation & Mixtures, Work, Pipes and Cisterns

·         Instalment Payments, Partnership,

·          Clocks

·         Probability, Permutations & Combinations

·         Profit & Loss

·         Averages, Percentages, Partnership

·         Time-Speed-Distance, Work and time

·         Number system: HCF, LCM,

·         Geometric Progression, Arithmetic progression,

·         Arithmetic mean, Geometric mean , Harmonic mean, Median, Mode,

·          Number Base System,

·          BODMAS, etc.

CAT 2012 Syllabus for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

·         Data Interpretation based on text,

·          Data Interpretation based on graphs and tables.

·         Graphs can be Column graphs,

·         Graphs representing Area,

·          Bar Graphs, Line charts, Pie Chart, Venn Diagram, etc.

·         Graphs can be Column graphs, Graphs representing Area, Bar Graphs,

·          Line charts, Pie Chart, Venn Diagram, etc.

·         Critical reasoning,

·         Visual reasoning,

·         Assumption-Premise-Conclusion,

·         Assertion and reasons,

·         Statements and conclusions,

·          Cause and Effect,

·          Identifying Probably true, Probably false, definitely true, definitely false kind of statement,

·         Linear arrangements,

·         identifying Strong arguments and Weak arguments,

·          Matrix arrangements.

For the year 2012, there are only two sections. The first section is Quantitative Ability & Date Interpretation: the second section is Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning. The time limit for each section is different. The duration of the exam is 140 minutes. Candidates will be given 70 minutes to answer 30 questions within each section, each section have an on-screen countdown timer. Once the time ends for the first section, students will move to the next section and will not be able to go to previous section.

Overview of the CAT Paper FOR 2012

Time allotted	140 Minutes
Total no. of questions	60
Marking Scheme	Correct Answer: +3
Sections	2
Number of choices	4
Negative Marking	Wrong Answer: -1

Overview of Different Sections

Sr. No.	Sections	No. of Questions	Time Allotted	Difficulty Level
1	Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning	30	70 Minutes	Moderate
2	Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation	30	70 Minutes	Moderate to Tough

SECTIONAL ANALYSIS

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§  SECTION I: Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning

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Sr. No.	Area Tested	Description	No. of Questions	Difficulty Level / remarks
1.	Reading Comprehension	3 passages	10 (4+3+3)	Moderate
2.	Verbal Ability	Sentence Correction, Fill in the Blanks, Para Jumble, Para Completion, Word Usage	11	Moderate
3.	Logical Reasoning	Data Arrangement, Seating Arrangement, Logic based	9	Moderate
Overall			30	Moderate

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Evaluation:The level of the questions was moderate. Reading comprehension passages were manageable. Only 1 out of the 3 passages was tough. Questions on verbal ability covered entirely every topic of English usage. Logical reasoning witnessed 3 sets with 3 questions each.

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SECTION II: Quantitative ability & DI

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Sr. No.	Area Tested	Description	No. of Question	Difficulty Level /remarks
1.	DI: Data Interpretation	Combination of Graphs, Pie Chart, Table	9	Moderate-Difficult
2.	Quantitative Ability	Number System, Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Menuration	21	Moderate
Overall			30	Moderate-Difficult

Evaluation:The questions on quantitative ability were based on various topics and involved tough calculations. Overall, this section was difficult and speed, clarity of the fundamentals of DI and immaculate time-management were the key to success in this area.


NOTES:

Data interpretation and logical reasoning areas are skill-intensive. Hence, practicaning more will help you to sharpen your skills.

Verbal areas require you to have strong fundamentals in grammar.

A good vocabulary and a varied reading habit are a must to do well in RC.

Once your basics are more or less in place, you should take plenty of mock tests that are similar to the CAT and are taken by a large number of students. Mock tests play a crucial role in:

Understanding your relative strengths and weaknesses vis-à-vis other test takers so that you can work on the same and improve.

Fine-tuning your time management and question identification skills that help you to attempt maximum possible questions.

Understanding the reasons behind your mistakes so that you do not repeat these again.

Developing stamina and temperament for a 140-minute computer based CAT.

Use the last one month before the CAT to take and thoroughly analyse yourperformance in each mock test so that you are ready to take the actual test confidently.

§  Continue reading till the last day. Do not stop. 

§  2 Identify specific areas of discomfort and try to read as much in those diversified areas. This will help in Reading Comprehension; Theme based questions and Para formation questions.

§   Focus on Grammar. The weight-age for the same is increasing day by day.

§   English Usage questions typically the Fill in the blanks types can best be handled by knowing proper usage of words. So focus on vocabulary development.

§   Multiply numbers whenever you see them.

§   In Quantitative Areas – focus on Geometry and Number systems.

§   Number Systems have always been an important chapter from the point of view of CAT and Geometry has gained a lot over the last 2 years.

§  Barring a set or two based on Quantitative Reasoning, .

§   DI has to be more on the visual understanding of graphs / tables. Spend a lot of time reading good quality material such as The Economist where you get excellent variety of graphs to see.

§  Work on your mental mathematics. Learn to do calculations mentally. Memorize standardized formulae and try to use shortcuts wherever possible.

§   Try to gather as much information you can.

§   Stick to time. If you are taking a 2 hour test, take it for 2 hrs only. Be merciless, especially if you are taking them in your room/home. Don’t let anything disturb you in those 2 hrs.

§   Have a strategy in mind before you start the test. Take 2-3 minutes to analyze the paper.

§   solve a problem for 2-3 minutes. If you get it in 1 min, its ok, beyond that, learn to leave problems.

§   Try to read as many as possible and decide what to solve quickly.

§   Always calculate accuracy/speed figures for individual sections and net. And try to maintain a stable figure of speed and accuracy. If there is an abrupt change in those figures, try to investigate and find out the reasons. Ideally 60% speed with 80% + accuracy will help you in getting good scores. But speed sometimes varies with easiness of the paper. \

§   Before starting the first mock, try to complete as many fundamentals as possible on QA topics. Use a note to jot down the unknown formulae/shortcuts.

§  While analyzing the QA Section, try to find out the sitters/easy ones you have missed out during taking the mock. And try to reason out.

§   Revise

§   Don't give undue weight-age to one section in terms of time because the other sections are going to suffer.
 Read into diverse topics and, most importantly, read to enjoy.

§   Divide your entire time into a reasonable time chart with milestones in between & plan your studies accordingly. 

§   You are advised to leave free time in between so that if any module gets delayed you don’t have to change the plan.

§  Give priority to important topics & try to put them in early stage of your preparation to avoid any possibility of them being left.

§   Most of the questions are based on fundamentals & their applications. So, the first step is to establish a solid base by mastering the fundamentals.

§   Devote equal Time to each section. Devote more time to subject/topic you are weak in . Make sure that you do not ignore any section & allocate adequate time to each section

§   Quality is more important than Quantity

§   Improve your strike rate. Always keep track of your average speed of solving questions.  

§   It has been observed that most of the students loose 15-20% of their marks not because they do not know the subject but because they fail to apply the basic concepts correctly. This is basically due to examination fear & pressure. These marks that a student looses because of silly mistakes (calculation errors, confusion, fail to apply the right concepts, solving the problem by long method) can be reduced if a student regularly participates in test series based on the pattern & level of CAT exams.

§   Compare your preparation.  Always try to share your mock scores/analysis with others. This will give you a better overall picture and good understanding of your relative standing.

§   Get a feedback on your preparation by getting yourself tested by a body other than your College

§   Please remember that both speed & strike rate are important for success. Continuously develop the ability to do things fast & accurately.

§   Keep interacting with people who are preparing. Since the competition is on National level it is important to compare your preparation with other students preparing across the country.

§   Budget your time realistically. Allocate the study time into several manageable study sessions.

§   Prioritize to ensure that material weighted more heavily in the exam gets sufficient study time

DURING THE TEST

• Be very sure of your answer before proceeding
• Do not get bogged down with complicated or lengthy calculations
• Use guessing intelligently and deploy the Selection by elimination method
• Learn how to work backwards, i.e., plugging the most attractive option in the question and see if it makes sense
• Convert quantities freely like ¼ is nothing but 25% of any given quantity.
• In questions that ask you to select a valid conclusion, always choose the one conclusion that must definitely follow from the information you are given and vice-versa.
• Pay special attention to words like “all,” “some,” or “none” when you read the factual information each question gives you
• Pay attention to negative prefixes also, such as non-, un-, or dis-
• Pay special attention to negative numbers when they are used in some questions
• Pay close attention to the word “ONLY” and to the phrase “IF AND ONLY IF”
• Don’t stick to one question for too long
• Aim to answer as many questions as you can

Importance of solving Mock Test Papers

Preparation for any entrance examination is incomplete without practicing mock tests. These are usually question papers which are similar to the pattern of the main exams. Mock tests
Enlightens you about main exam

Helps in time management

You know where you stand
Mock test is a yardstick of your performance