Preparing for the CAT Exam: A Comprehensive Guide
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Preparing for the CAT Exam: A Comprehensive Guide
CAT Exam is a prestigious entrance exam for admission to b-school and IIM. It is the largest and most challenging entrance exam for MBA programs. The notification for CAT Exam 2024 is out, and the registration is starting from 1 August 2024. If you’re aiming to crack the exam, then buckle up your preparation.
This article will provide all the details relevant for you to schedule an effective preparation and score well.
What is CAT?
Common Admission Test, popularly known as CAT, is a national entrance test carried out in India to admit students to top management colleges and IIMs for their MBA and PGDM courses. Every year, one of the IIMs conducts the test.
It is conducted in more than 156 locations across the country, and the score is used for admission to the MBA program at 20 IIMs along with many other top business schools such as S.P. Jain, FMS, and MDI among others.
CAT Exam Date
| Events | Tentative Dates |
| CAT Notification Release | Last week of July 2024 |
| Start of Registration | 1st week of August 2024 |
| Ending of Registration | 3rd week of September 2024 |
| The window opens for Form Correction | 4th week of September 2024 |
| Mock Test release | 1st week of October 2024 |
| CAT Official Tutorial Release Date | 1st week of November 2024 |
| Issue of Admit Card | Last week of October 2024 |
| CAT Exam Date 2024 | To be notified |
| Answer Key Release Date | 1st week of December 2024 |
| Announcement of Results | 1st week of January 2025 |
CAT Exam Pattern
The CAT test format has varied in past years, largely because of the pandemic. The exam is expected to bear 66 questions, and you will be allowed 120 minutes to complete them. Each correct answer carries +3 marks, and for each wrong answer, 1 mark is deducted. There is no negative grading for non-MCQ questions. Though the pattern of the CAT exam 2024 keeps on changing every year, there is a chance that this year it may remain the same. It comprises the following sections:
- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Ability (QA)
The pattern of the exam is described as follows:
| Sections | No. of Questions | Duration | Marks |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | 40 minutes | 66 |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
(VARC) |
24 | 40 minutes | 72 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 40 minutes | 60 |
| Total | 66 | 120 minutes | 198 |
CAT Exam: Eligibility Criteria
A certain eligibility criterion should be followed to appear in the exam. Candidates should follow these details to track their eligibility.
Eligibility:
Graduation – The candidate should hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in any discipline from a recognized institution.
Minimum Marks: Candidates should possess at least 50% marks in their graduation. In the case of a reserved category candidate, the minimum aggregate marks are 45%.
Age Limit: No upper age limit criteria have been prescribed for appearing in the CAT examination 2024.
Final Year Students: Candidates in the final year can also be considered for the test. However, to be provided with admission after graduation, candidates have to fulfill the minimum required marks criteria of 50% (40% for SC/ ST/ PwD). In addition, those who have completed their final examination and are awaiting results are also considered eligible to apply.
Degrees: Graduation degrees such as CA/CS/ICWA will also be accepted to submit the application form of CAT .
CAT Exam: Syllabus
The CAT Exam 2024 Syllabus comprises three sections. The sections are as follows;
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Syllabus
This section contains 22 questions, out of which 14 are Non-MCQ questions. Aptitude syllabus constitutes the largest among three sections, and maximum time is invested in its preparation. Very few topics of geometry constitute the CAT exam 2024. Arithmetic and Algebra have a very high weightage in quant.
- Number Systems; LCM and HCF; Profit, Loss and Discount; Percentages; Speed, Time and Distance; Time and Work; Simple and Compound Interest; Ratio and Proportion; Averages.
- Quadratic Equations; Linear Equations; Complex Numbers; Logarithm; Binomial Theorem; Sequences and Series; Surds and Indices; Inequalities.
- Probability; Permutation and Combination; Set Theory; Functions; Mixtures and Alligation.
- Geometry; Trigonometry; Coordinate Geometry; and Mensuration.
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) Syllabus
This VARC comprises 24 questions out of which 19 questions are Non-MCQ. The majority of the questions are that of Reading Comprehension. Some of the crucial topics in this section that needs to be prepared are as follows;
- Paragraph Summary: This area has gained importance over the last couple of years.
- Reading Comprehension: The exam comprises 16 RC questions and 4 passages.
- Para-jumbles & Misfit Sentences: These two topics have emerged as consistent in the exam pattern over the last couple of years.
Over 70% weightage of VARC is given to RC questions only. It is to be noted that there were only 8 VA questions in the previous year examination, all of which were non-MCQs. Some other important areas are:
- Sentence Completion
- Verbal Reasoning: Fact-Inference-Judgement
- Grammar & Usage
- Vocabulary-based questions mainly Fill in the blanks.
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Syllabus
DILR section is most undefined compared to the other sections in the CAT Exam. Most of the questions in DILR are in the form of sets with 2-6 questions each.
Go through the following DI and LR topics to thoroughly understand this section:
1.Column Graphs, Line Charts, Caselets, Tables, Bar Graphs,Venn Diagrams, Pie Charts, and Combinations of two or more types are linked.
- Games & Tournaments, Number and Letter Series, Calendars; Cubes, Clocks, Venn Diagrams, Binary Logic, Seating Arrangement; Syllogism; Logical Sequence; Logical Connectives; Blood Relations.
Conclusion
The student has to keep himself/herself updated with all the essential information in order to perform well in the CAT examination. The student is required to know all relevant details of the exam, beforehand, before making a preparation plan for the same. These details, therefore, will surely help the candidate prepare an effective strategy and hence increasing the chances of scoring a good percentile. Most of the questions asked in the CAT Exam 2024 are solvable because it tests the candidate on their basics. A good thorough knowledge of the basics and strong core concepts can be a great medium to score a good percentile. Success will be obtained with hard work and persistence over some time. So, candidates must not get frustrated in the middle and should maintain persistence with practice.
