CAT Prep Guide :

1) Understanding the pattern of an Exam and Target setting:

- Understand the pattern of the CAT examination:

Key Components Details

Total time duration 120 minutes

Total number of questions 66

VARC: 24
DILR: 20
QA: 22

Time allotted per section 40 minutes each for VARC, DILR, and QA
(Pre-ordered sections VARC-DILR-QA)

Mode of examination Computer-based

Medium of examination English

Section Types of questions Number of question

Verbal Ability Para summary, Para Jumbles, Odd 8(2 questions of type)
one out, and Para Completion

Reading 4 RCs 16 (4 questions per RC)

Comprehension

Data Interpretation 4 sets 20 (5 questions per set)

and Logical
Reasoning

Quantitative Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, 22

Aptitude Modern Maths, Mensuration,
Number system

Target setting :
The candidate must evaluate his/her strengths and weaknesses. The process for goal
setting may vary for each candidate.
If a candidate is appearing for the CAT first time then the goal setting varies from week
to week, after fulfilling weekly goals he/she can set up monthly goals (weekly goals
should lead to monthly goals and monthly goals should lead to the end goal in the CAT
examination). The main focus should be on the concepts and then mock tests.
 If a candidate is a repeater then he/she knows his end goals and what are his/her
strengths and weaknesses. The main focus should be on revision and giving mock tests.

2)Syllabus completion

Quantitative Aptitude :
Topics Sub-topics

Algebra Graphs, Linear equations, Quadratic equations, Higher order equations,

Logarithms, Modulus, Inequalities, Maxima and Minima

Arithmetic Averages, Profit and Loss, Simple and Compound interest, Mixtures
and Allegations, Percentages, Speed time and distance, Pipes and
cisterns, Ratio and proportion, Time and work

Geometry Circles, Polygons, Trigonometry, Quadrilaterals, Angles, Triangle,

coordinate geometry, Mensuration, Lines

Modern Math Permutations and Combinations, Probability, Progressions, Roots,

Sequences and Series, Geometric arrangements

Number system LCM & HCF, Base system, Factors, Higher powers, Divisibility, Digits,
Complex numbers, Surds and Indices, Remainders

First complete Arithmetic, get your concepts clear, and maintain a formula book(revise weekly).
Arithmetic concepts will help to make your calculation faster, so practice more and more.
Algebra concepts are mostly concentrated on quadratic equations and types of roots, and
Maxima and minima. Get yourself comfortable with different orders of equations and how to get
the roots of the equation. Geometry, Number systems, and Modern Maths are mostly related to
formulas and theorems. Make a formula book for different theorems, and formulas, and revise
them as much as possible.

Tip:
A question can be solved in multiple ways, learn the technique that requires minimum time.
Solve different difficulty-level questions from different sources such as Arun Sharma's books,
2IIM, and Iquanta. Do not limit yourself to a particular difficulty level questions, increase your
level with practice and revision.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning:

Data Interpretation Logical reasoning

Bar graphs Venn Diagram Calendars, Caselets and Logical

cubes, and tables Sequence
clocks

Column Graphs Routes and Puzzles, Number and Seating

Networks connectives Letter series Arrangement

Pi chart Line chart Binary logic Coding Blood relations

Decoding

For DILR, practicing different types of sets is crucial. Find out which types of sets you are
comfortable with. While solving DILR learn the ways to utilize hints in a proper manner, which
will give you fewer combinations and ultimately solve a question in minimum time.

Tip:
DILR is a game of selection of sets or questions. Sometimes 2-3 questions from a set can be
easily doable by solving the whole set. Solving 2-3 sets accurately will fetch you a very high
percentile.
Start your preparation by solving sets without a time limit and try solving by yourself. Then use a
timer and try to solve within the time limit. Attempting 2-3 sets of mocks daily will help you in the
set selection and mentally prepare you to solve sets under pressure and within time.

Verbal ability and Reading comprehension:

Topic Sub-topic

Reading Science & Technology, Economics & Finance, Philosophy,

Comprehension Psychology, History, Literature, and Biology

Verbal Ability Para summary, Para Jumbles, Odd one out, and Para Completion

Tip:
Practice makes your VARC better.
Familiarise yourself with diverse topics such as science & technology, economics & finance,
philosophy, psychology, history, literature, and biology. Prepare a schedule on a daily basis
covering at least 2 different topics, and read newspaper editorials or articles on the same. Learn
basic vocabulary for different genres, it will help you to eliminate wrong options quickly and
confidently. Reading different genres will improve your comprehension and will help to reduce
time while solving an RC. After reading a paragraph, make short summary or mind map in your
own words. Try to improve your accuracy by improving comprehension or solving more RCs.
3) Free Resources:
Free CAT 2024 Resources.xlsx (Multiple sheets)

4) Practice/Topic test/ Sectional test/Daily practice and

Analysis(Purpose: Identify strong areas, Improve weak areas, and
build stamina):

Quant:
Complete the basic concept, make a formula sheet, and revise it regularly, Solve
approximately 50 questions for a particular topic and various difficulty levels. Give a
topic test for each topic. Sectional tests do not consist of good quality questions but take
it to work on time management. Attempt Cracku Daily targets and CL’s Daily doses
regularly, it will help you to gain an understanding of different difficulty-level questions.
Arun Sharma will also help with practicing questions.
It is easy to identify weak areas and improve/revise and practice more questions of the
same and higher difficulty type questions. Plan a strategy like solving easy ones in
Round 1, then solve subsequent difficulty-level questions in Round 2 and Round 3.

LRDI:
Learn about different kinds of sets asked in the examination and solve at least 5-10 sets
of each type. After taking a mock try to solve questions that you are not able to solve in
the examination. Give sufficient time to questions after mock and solve it by yourself.
Find your own way of solving the technique. Learn about how you can minimize the
possible combinations to reduce the time(you can minimize the possible combinations
by using hints properly). Attempt Cracku Daily targets and CL’s Daily doses regularly, it
will help you gain an understanding of different types of sets and increase speed.
Work on set selection and mentality to handle pressure during an exam.
YT Playlist:
Anastasis Shankar
:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgdxDqtv4Gt-4vXeT_OuiwJ7-jBujAEru
Aptitude jab
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxht4dVcisIIGMmxx0bTZv9F68dtuD9hY

VARC:
Various topics also have different difficulty levels with respect to comprehension. Read
more difficulty-level passages from sources such as Aeon, Guardian, New York Times,
etc. Solve all the questions, no question should be left unattempted. Try to read a
passage in 4-5 minutes and solve questions within 3-4 minutes. Make mind maps and
para summaries to retain the essence of the passage. Use the technique for option
elimination. Also, you can divide time for VA and RC separately. Attempt Cracku Daily
targets and CL’s Daily doses regularly. Get yourself comfortable with all kinds of topics,
and work on your accuracy. Plan a VA strategy too according to your own strengths and
solve daily 5 questions of each type and analyse them thoroughly.

4) Mock Test:
Sources: IMS SimCATs, Career launchers CDCs, IMS take-home mocks

- Start giving mocks from June or early July(target 1-2 mocks every week)
- Attempt mock on the last day of the window so you remember what was your thought
process while solving a question
- Concentrate while reading the questions to avoid silly mistakes
- Replicate the exam environment while giving a mock. (Calm mindset and environment,
and be serious while attempting a mock)
- Solve questions neatly on paper so you can identify your mistakes and techniques.
- Managing time is crucial. Do not miss out on any questions. If you are unable to solve
a question/set, it is completely fine but do not stick to that particular question and waste
time on it.
- Do not affect your performance in one section to subsequent sections.

- VARC: Try to solve all the questions. For RCs, it is quite easy to eliminate two wrong
options, and if two options sound similar then try to figure out a minute differentiating
point between the two( if you are unable to figure out those differentiators then it is
better to leave the question otherwise attempt it). For the PJs, Odd One Out, and Para
completion, read all the sentences and find the connections between sentences.

- DILR: first go through all the sets and questions and rank them in easy, medium, or
difficulty levels and order of solving. Do not waste more than 10-12 minutes on a
particular set without solving any question. (Every second counts in the examination)

- QA: Go through all the questions and solve comfortable questions while going through
questions. Identify your strong areas and solve those questions in round 1, then attempt
questions that can be solvable but take some time in round 2, and then solve the
remaining questions in round 3. Revise the formula sheet regularly.
- Plan a strategy for each section (with respect to time management also) and
implement it in at least 2-3 mocks then analyze it (if working then stick to it, if not find
why not working and plan a different one and repeat the process)
- Question/set selection is crucial(The examination is not about solving an entire paper
but it's about selecting and solving few questions)

5) Mock analysis: (Track scores, not percentiles in mock)

-Keep a notebook track of important tricks/jugaads (Use bookmark feature in Mock

platform) and revise it properly.
- Solve unattempted questions and wrong questions (you can also solve correct
questions and go through the logic in the solution part that matches with your logic or
not)

-VARC: Identify where the fault lies while attempting an RC such as comprehension,
wrong interpretation of question, and faulty logic. Also, try to give a reason for each
option of a question(why the particular option is correct and the other three are the
wrong ones). For VA, analyze your logic with the solution. Improve your reading speed
such that each passage gets sufficient time for reading and solving.

-DILR: Evaluate your priority order of sets after each mock whether it is correct or
needs to be improvised. Analyze a time that you took while solving a particular set.
Identify the problem whether it is related to set selection, concepts, or time. Watch
solution videos and techniques used in it. Solve unattempted sets after mock and if you
can solve the sets, try to figure out the reasons for not attempting those sets during the
mock.

-QA: Find out that you did not miss out on easy questions and did not waste much time
on difficult questions. It is very easy to find out whether the logic and formula that you
have applied are correct or not. Try to match your solution with the solution given in the
question. Learn alternate techniques or juggads and keep a note and revise them.
Identify the problem for the wrong answers. If it is silly mistakes or calculation mistakes,
then concentrate more while solving the questions and repeat them again and again. If
it is related to a concept or formula, revise that topic and solve some 15-20 questions
for that particular topic.
- Make a sheet for the mock score (that you get in Mocks) and potential score( Adding
mock score to questions that you believe that you should have solved in the exam
correctly and didn't attempt).
- CAT is the game of time management: Utilise time properly and don't waste much on
any particular set/question. Keep a note of your mistakes(calculation mistakes, or silly
mistakes) do not repeat the same mistakes more than 2-3 times.

6) PYQs:
- These questions are the most important ones and attempt as a sectional test if
possible and analyze as per point 4. If you are planning to give it as a mock test then
follow point 5.
- Make note of some repeated kinds of questions, and revise and solve them (this will
help to reduce time on a particular type of question)