CAT includes 3 sections:

VERBAL ABILITY – 34 Questions (60 minutes)

DATA INTERPRETATION

AND LOGICAL REASONING – 32 Questions (60 minutes)

QUANTITATIVE ABILITY – 34 Questions (60 minutes)

Plus one mark on every right answer and minus one-third marks on every wrong answer.

To crack the exam with 100% you must follow a simplified approach for your preparation. Here are some tips that will definitely lead you to score good.

So firstly divide the three sections and put emphasis on each one according to your comfortability with the section.

PART 1: VERBAL ABILITY: The verbal section in CAT not only tests the Grammar and English of a candidate but also the critical thinking skills. Since the last 3 years, VA-RC is one section in which candidates have particularly faced difficulty. In this post, we give you a guide on how to approach Reading Comprehension in the Verbal Section and the pattern for the section in CAT 2018

DISTRIBUTION OF QUESTIONS:

6-7 questions on error correction

5-6 questions on jumbled paragraphs

4-5 questions on facts, inference or judgment

3-4 questions on para summary

15-16 questions on reading comprehension

PART 2: DATA INTERPRETATION AND LOGICAL REASONING:

1. Quick Calculations and approximations– This is specifically true for DI section. Be sure to do as much as mental calculations as possible and memorize things like squares, cubes, roots, fractions and percentage conversions. You can use approximations up to 1% in your calculations as the options in CAT are general varied by at least 3%. For ex, you can use 3 instead of 3.453 to speed up calculations.

2. Focus on keywords: There are a few keywords that can completely change the meaning of a statement. Some words that should be paid attention to are: all, some, none, other than, only, unless, if and only if, and some prefixes like non-, un-, dis- etc

3. DIAGRAMMATICAL APPROACH: You should organise the information in a systematic manner by using tables, symbols and diagrams. This minimises the work involved and helps you solve a different set of questions based on one main problem. The symbols used should be such that they convey the proper meaning to you as given in the question

4. Don’t get stuck in a Question: It is quite possible that while scanning, you choose a data set that looked simpler, but while solving, it turned out to be tough or highly calculation-intensive. You should detach yourself from the data set as soon as you find it very tough or time-consuming, even if you have invested time in it.

5. Use Options – Be sure to look at the options before you start solving the questions. It will help you eliminate some of the variables which are not a part of the options and, more often than not, includes clues which will help you solve the answer in less duration.

PART 3: QUANTITATIVE ABILITY:

When you start preparing for quants and start progressing through topics, it is advised to have a personal formula bank with yourself. There are always more than 1 way to write a formula, keep the formula bank handy with the the formulas that suit you the best

A lot of times, rather than solving questions, it’s possible to get the answer by plugging in the values given in the options than working out from the actual algorithm.

There are a number of tricks for speed maths. Go through these as they are really handy

While practicing problems, identify your weak areas and keep a track if there has been some progress in the topics. If the mistakes are recurring then evaluate on WHY this is happening. It might be a case of a conceptual gap rather than a question-to-question mistake.

When you are done with individual section preparation, move to mocks and try giving as many tests as you can. Here are some tips to that:

PREPARATION:

1. Mocks: In every mock, always aim to solve at least 50% of the test in the stipulated time. This allows you to give ample amount of time for each set and improve accuracy.

2. Fixing approach for different types of questions: There is a limit to the sets that can be made. Exposure to variety, traps, and fixed approaches to problems will help you do well in the section. Also, focus on the thought process.

3. Practice: Along with your preparation for QA and VA, be sure to devote at least 1-1.5 hours and solve 2 sets of LR and DI each. Be sure to experiment with different approaches to discover the one that suits you the best.

LR & DI COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE FOR CAT 2018

How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude to crack CAT 2018 - MBA Preparation

Go through this plan and you will definitely crack CAT 2018.

Also, here are some tips and tricks which you should follow while preparing for CAT.

Tip 1. Take mock tests in an online environment

You must take computer-based mock CAT so that you are familiar with the actual test environment. Start taking the mock CAT as they will make you feel in the real environment and completely help you to prepare and save any wastage and you will be able to learn many tricks of how to solve the questions, which type of questions to be opt first.

Tip 2. Analysis and Evaluation is mandatory