CAT (Common Admission Test) is a national-level management entrance test conducted in India, used as a benchmark for admission to MBA programs and other management courses offered by institutes across India. It is conducted on a rotating basis by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
CAT is included in one of the most prestigious and competitive examination schedules in India. Hundreds of thousands of candidates who appear for this exam every year are tested on quantitative ability, verbal ability, and reading comprehension as well as skills in data interpretation and logical reasoning. Scores obtained in the CAT exam are used by various management institutes for their admission process.
Who Can Appear In The CAT Exam
Students who have completed their bachelor degree with minimum 50% marks are eligible to appear in CAT exam. But for SC, ST, PwD students minimum 45% marks are eligible to apply. From now you can clearly understand that any Indian can appear in this exam after graduation with specific marks.
There is no age limit and no additional work experience is required to appear in the CAT exam. Apart from all Indian students, foreign students with proper passport visa can also appear in this exam.
Know About CAT Exam Syllabus Very Well
The first step to prepare for any exam not just CAT exam is to understand the syllabus of that exam very well. In this place we will discuss about CAT Exam Syllabus. The syllabus of CAT exam is based on 3 main Subjects. They are Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), Quantitative Ability (QA). The questions that come from this main subject are discussed below.
The duration of CAT exam is 2 hours i.e. 120 minutes where 22 X 3 = 66 questions have to be answered from these three subjects. Each question marks 3 i.e. total 198 marks exam is organized. By the way CAT exam is taken through Computer Best Test (CBT).
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Reading comprehension passages
- English grammar and usage
- Para jumbles
- Sentence correction
- Vocabulary-based questions (synonyms, antonyms, idioms, etc.)
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Data interpretation (tables, graphs, charts, etc.)
- Logical reasoning (syllogisms, logical sequences, analogies, etc.)
- Data sufficiency
Quantitative Ability (QA)
- Arithmetic (percentages, profit, and loss, time and work, etc.)
- Algebra (equations, inequalities, functions, etc.)
- Geometry (triangles, circles, quadrilaterals, etc.)
- Number system
- Modern mathematics (permutations and combinations, probability, etc.)
Know About CAT Exam Pattern Very Well
Well I have mentioned some parts of CAT Exam Pattern earlier but in this part of the page we will discuss the details of CAT Exam Pattern.
- Mode of Exam: Computer-based test (CBT)
- Number of Sections: There are three sections in CAT, namely Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).
- Duration of Exam: The duration of the exam is 2 hours or 120 minutes. Each section has a time limit of 40 minutes.
- Type of Questions: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) and Non-MCQs. In MCQs, candidates have to choose the correct answer from four options, whereas in Non-MCQs, candidates have to type the answer using a virtual keyboard.
- Total Number of Questions: There are a total of 76 questions in CAT. VARC has 26 questions, DILR has 24 questions, and QA has 26 questions.
- Marking Scheme: Each correct answer carries 3 marks, and each incorrect answer has a penalty of -1 mark. However, there is no negative marking for Non-MCQs.
- Sectional Time Limit: Candidates cannot switch between sections during the exam. They have to attempt each section within the given time limit. Once the time for a section is over, they will not be allowed to attempt the section again.
- Difficulty Level: The difficulty level of CAT varies from moderate to high. The exam is designed to test the candidate’s analytical and logical reasoning skills along with their verbal and quantitative aptitude.
One thing to mention here is that the CAT exam syllabus and exam pattern may change at any time so don’t forget to keep an eye on the official website.
This Study Plan Is Key Point For Your CAT Exam Preparation At Home
Studying with attention helps a student to get good results. And for that careful study you have to make a study plan. Below are some ideas for making a study plan.
- Develop a Study Plan: Based on the exam pattern, create a study plan that covers all the topics in each section. Allocate time for each topic and set achievable targets for each day.
- Start with the Basics: Start with the basics of each topic and gradually move towards more advanced concepts. Make sure to practice as many problems as possible to understand the application of concepts.
- Improve Reading Speed: Read newspapers, magazines, and books regularly to improve your reading speed and comprehension. This will help you in the VARC section.
- Practice with Mock Tests: Take mock tests regularly to evaluate your performance and identify areas that need improvement. Analyze your performance after each mock test and work on your weak areas.
- Improve Time Management: Time management is crucial for CAT. Learn to manage your time efficiently and effectively. This will help you to attempt all the questions in the given time.
- Focus on Accuracy: Focus on accuracy while solving problems. This will help you to avoid negative markings and improve your overall score.
- Revise and Repeat: Revise all the topics regularly and practice as many problems as possible. This will help you to retain the concepts and improve your performance.
- Stay Motivated: Stay motivated and confident throughout your preparation. Keep a positive attitude and believe in yourself.
Make Connections With Former Students
Connect with as many old students as possible and study their experiences well. and create group discussion. Because group discussion is a highly effective way to understand any topic very easily. I hope the experiences of former students will prove useful in your study approach and increase your motivation.
Participate As Many Mock Tests As Possible
Currently, for all kinds of exams, there are many websites or many mobile applications on the Internet, which gives you the opportunity to participate in the mock test for absolutely free. So you must try to participate as much as possible inside all these mock tests.
Collect The Good And Authentic Study Material
When it is being talked about how to prepare for the CAT exam at home, then you need good and authentic books that you have to collect. Along with the partner, your identity has some coaching notes, collect it and study well. As I have told the exam syllabus in the top, follow the practice of exam study.
Solve CAT Last Year Exam Paper
Solve the question paper of the old CAT exam which is very easy on the Internet. Keep solving the same paper again and again. This will also increase your speed and increase knowledge.
Final Words
According to me, you can descend on any exam as well as you do as much as you prepared. And here, how can you prepare for the cat exam by staying at home. I told you that if you have no ability to take coaching, then you have to prepare for this exam at home, and also have to pass it. Keep studying well for him.