This national-level exam CAT or Common Admission Test is conducted by IIM Bangalore and nearly two lakhs candidates apply for this examination which is conducted in online mode with a time duration of 2 hours. The candidates with a 50% aggregate in graduation can sit for this exam, it is 45% for SC/ST candidates. The CAT Exam includes questions based on the objective type and non-objective type. And the exam is conducted in English language only. The Application form can be filled out online, the application fee is Rs 2220.
Highlights of CAT Examination
According to the previous year’s trends candidates prepare for this examination. By devoting 6-7 months, one can prepare for the CAT examination. The main elements of the CAT examination are Practice, Revise, and Conceptual clarity. The CAT test is divided into three slots: computer-based test(CBT) and the first slot is conducted in the morning, the second slot in the afternoon, and the third in the evening. All three slots are conducted on the same day. There are three sections in the CAT exam paper namely: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning(DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). And the time duration for this examination is 2 hours. For each section 40 minutes is given and it is 53 minutes and 20 seconds for the differently-abled candidates. And the paper comprises a total of 66 questions which are 198 marks. There is no Negative marking for non- MCQs.
Some Preparation Tips for CAT Examination
Firstly analyse and write your strengths and weaknesses. There are ample sources from which you can prepare easily, take help as YouTube, Telegram, etc. Find authentic sources, and collect books recommended by genuine institutions for CAT preparation. Write daily tasks or goals and accomplish them on the given date. After learning complex concepts try to practise questions related to such concepts.
What is the Syllabus for the CAT examination?
The CAT Syllabus is mentioned below.
The Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension(VARC) section has 24 questions of 72 marks, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) comprises 20 questions of 60 marks, and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) involves 22 questions of 66 marks.
The VARC sections indulge Para completion and Inference, Verbal Reasoning, Sentence Completion, Verbal Logic, Syllogism, Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Analogies, Idioms, Sentence Correction, Jumbled Paragraphs, Parts of Speech, Antonyms, Errors in tenses, Preposition, Types of Clauses, Different usage of the same word, Article usage, Subject-verb agreement, Foreign language words used in English, Phrases Modifiers, Para jumbles, Critical reasoning. The Reading Passages can be based on History, literature, Mythology, Politics, Abstract topics, Environment, and Society.
The Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning ( VARC) includes Clocks and Calendar, Data Arrangement, Proposition, Syllogism, Venn diagram, Series, Statement, Binary logic, Data Sufficiency, Pie chart, Puzzles, Seating Arrangement, Direction sense, Tables, Sets & Caselets, Family tree, Bar & line graphs, Coding-Decoding, Data structures, Blood Relations, Assumptions.
The Quantitative Aptitude (QA) comprises Trigonometry, Time and Work, Number systems, Percentages, Algebra, Profit and Loss, Geometric Progression and Mensuration, logarithms, Time- speed and distance, Surds and Indices, Square Root and Cube Root, Mean median mode, Probability, Partnership (Accounts), Binomial Theorem and Geometry, Simple Interest and Compound Interest, Ratios and Proportions, Inequalities, In equations Quadratic and linear equations.Stay tuned with BYJU’S Exam Prep to get updated syllabus for CAT Exam.
Some important books for CAT examination are Logical Reasoning and Data
Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit K Sinha, How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency by Ananta Ashisha, CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri, and How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi, High school English Grammar Composition by Wren and Martin, 30 days to a More Powerful Vocabulary Mass Market Paperback by Wilfred funk & Norman Lewis; Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT by Sarvesh Sharma, NCERT Mathematics books(Class 9 to 10), Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Nishit Sinha and How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma.