A lot of candidates have to go that extra mile for CAT Preparation and a lot of it depend upon the current level of expertise in the sections. If you are planning to start preparing for CAT now, then 9 months are time enough if utilized properly.
Close to two lakhs candidates who register for CAT exam each year, are from varied graduation degrees, educational levels or work experiences, and hence, the preparation strategies are going to be different for all. You need a sound preparation strategy to enter the 99 percentiles bracket to open the doors of top management institutes including the IIMs. This year, major changes have been done to the CAT exam pattern and number of questions in each section has been increased as well. We will discuss in detail about the pattern and changes done.
But first, let’s have a look on what exactly is CAT exam?
Every year, the IIM (Indian Institute of Management), most prestigious MBA college in India, conducts the Common Admission Test (CAT) It tests a candidate on their quantitative ability, data interpretation skills, logical reasoning and verbal aptitude.
The exam is preferred for by all the IIMs and most of the top B schools in India like FMS, SP Jain, MDI, IMI, NITIE, IMT, JBIMS, etc. Over two lakh students take this exam every year, where sixty candidates compete for a single seat. It tests a candidate’s ability to deal with data, numbers, logic-based problem statements .Preparing for CAT also prepares students for various other aptitude based exams like other management entrance exam (NMAT, SNAP, XAT, MAT etc) and also is useful for Bank PO, placement exams like litmus, AMCAT etc.
What are the important dates for an CAT exam aspirant to note?
CAT Notification release Date: 26th July 2016
Registration window for CAT 2016 : From August 6th to September 25th
CAT 2016 Admit Cards will be available from : October 15th 2016
Test date: 29th November
Declaration of CAT 2016 results with Score Card : Second week of January 2017
What is pattern and duration of CAT exam?
CAT exam duration has been increased from 170 mins to 180 mins. It consists of 2 sections – Quantitative Aptitude and Verbal and Reading Comprehension From this year CAT 2016 is going to be held in completely new form. The number of question has also been changed section wise as:
Quantitative Aptitude and Verbal and Reading Comprehension will have 34 questions each and Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning will have 32 questions. The candidate will cannot switch between
sections while answering.
What is the syllabus? CAT Exam Syllabus is not predefined; however in general CAT test includes questions on Quantitative Ability (Mathematics), Verbal Ability (English), Data Interpretation (DI), and Logical Reasoning (LR) skills.
- Verbal Ability :
Questions Types you can expect: Vocabulary Based (Synonyms Antonyms); English Usage or Grammar; Sentence Correction; Fill in the blanks; Jumbled Paragraph; Cloze Passage; Analogies or Reverse Analogies; Meaning-Usage Match; Verbal Reasoning; Summary Questions; Reading Comprehension; Facts-Inferences-Judgments.
Vocabulary: Vocabulary questions test the candidate’s comprehension in English like primary meanings of words, idioms and phrases, secondary shades of meaning, usage, associated words, antonyms, etc.
Grammar: Grammar-based questions test the candidate’s capability to mark and correct grammatical errors. CAT generally tests knowledge of high school level grammar and includes areas like use of articles, prepositions use of modifiers, subject-verb agreement, parallel construction, phrasal verbs, redundancy etc.
- Verbal Reasoning: Verbal reasoning questions are designed to test the candidate’s potential to identify relationships or patterns within sentences or groups of words.
- Quantitative Ability Syllabus topic wise:
Number Systems; LCM and HCF; Profit, Loss and Discount; Percentages; Speed, Time and Distance; Time and Work; Interest (Simple and Compound); Ratio and Proportion; Averages; Quadratic Equations; Linear Equations; Complex Numbers; Logarithm; Binomial Theorem; Progressions (Sequences and Series); Surds and Indices; Inequalities; Probability; Permutation and Combination; Set Theory; Functions; Geometry; Mixtures and Allegations’; Trigonometry; Coordinate Geometry; and Menstruation.
- Data Interpretation Syllabus
Data is given in form of tables, graphs, and charts. In this section it is tested that how a candidate interprets the given data and answers the questions based on it.
Case lets; Tables; Bar Graphs; Column Graphs; Line Charts; Venn Diagrams; Pie Chart; Combination of two or more types linked to each other.
- Logical Reasoning
Number and Letter Series; Calendars; Cubes; Clocks; Venn Diagrams; Binary Logic; Seating Arrangement; Syllogism; Logical Matching; Logical Sequence; Logical Connectives; Blood Relations
The candidates need to prepare for the test according to the pattern and syllabus.
CAT exam syllabus is not predefined; however in general CAT test includes questions on Quantitative Ability (Mathematics), Verbal Ability (English), Data Interpretation (DI), and Logical Reasoning (LR) skills.
Who can appear the CAT exam?
There is simply no age limit to take the CAT as long as you hold a valid graduation degree.
CAT examination can be taken at any age and after any graduate degree.
The list of equivalent qualifications, for CAT 2015 Eligibility Criteria were:
The candidate can hold a Bachelor’s degree or is in the final year of graduation in Engineering or Technology or B.E/B. Tech equivalent examinations, of Professional Societies, recognized by MHRD/UPSC/AICTE (e.g. AMIE by Institution of Engineers-India, AMICE by the Institute of Civil Engineers India).
Any Qualification recognized by Association of Indian Universities, which is equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree awarded by UGC recognized University/Institutions.
Are you planning to prepare for CAT exam this year? Click here to access the free videos and study materials for CAT preparation and learn from the best trainers of India.
The study materials and free Mock Exams by Byju’s will cover full CAT Exam syllabus along with other preparation material such as video lectures, question papers, test series, topic specific articles, textbooks etc. As the content on this page is a free resource, an aspirant has the liberty to share and print the material for the purpose of exam preparation. Download the study materials from the Byjus App.
CAT Aspirants can follow the link www.byjus.com/free-cat-prep/, to read the CAT articles and know all about CAT related notifications and news.
All the best for CAT !