What is the ideal time to begin the CAT preparations?
This is one of the most commonly asked questions as students are often mistaken about the time frame and requirements of the examination. While beginning with the preparation of the CAT exam you need to understand that it is a tough exam and requires long hours of study and practice. Hence, one must set aside at least 6-8 hours for your CAT preparation each day. Continue reading for a comprehensive guide on the strategy.
2024 CAT Exam Preparation Tips
We have already talked about the difficulty level of the CAT exams. The exam requires a strategic approach, consistent effort, and a clear understanding of the exam pattern and syllabus. Here we have provided some tips to help you prepare efficiently:
Understand the Exam Pattern
While getting started with the exam preparations you need to be familiar with the exam pattern. The exam consists of three sections namely- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. Each section of the exam has a time limit of 40 minutes.
Read the Syllabus
Once you have understood the exam pattern it’s time to learn about the exam syllabus. You must be aware of all the topics which are covered in each section of your CAT exam. In the VARC section, there is grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.
The DILR section consists of data interpretation sets and logical reasoning problems. While in the QA section, you will find questions that cover the mathematical concepts up to the 10th-grade level.
Create a Study Plan
Make a time table and set realistic goals based on how much time you can spare for the exam preparation. If you are a student you will be able to study for more hours. While working professionals have a lesser amount of time. Break down your preparation into manageable segments and allocate time for each section based on your strengths and weaknesses.
Focus on Strengthening the Basics
Instead of jumping to an advanced level you must focus on understanding the fundamental concepts. Some chapters such as quantitative ability require a strong foundation as it involves complex questions. We recommend you to practice basic problems before moving on to advanced questions. Students can make use of a standard CAT preparation book or online resources.
Practice Mock Tests and Previous Years’ Papers
This is one of the most important parts of clearing the CAT exam. You need to take full-length mock tests as this helps in getting you adapted to the exam condition, builds stamina and improves time management skills.
After you take a mock test, you need to evaluate your performance. Once you have identified your strengths and weaknesses, its time to work on improving your weak areas. Students can also emphasize on solving the previous years’ CAT papers to understand the question patterns and difficulty level.
Stay Updated with Current Affairs
CAT does not have a current affairs section, but if you are aware of current affairs being updated allows you to perform well in group discussions and interviews. To stay updated with current affairs you can read newspapers and follow news portals.
Enhance your Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
For the CAT exams you need to work on your data interpretation and logical reasoning skills. Solve multiple DI and LR sets to get accustomed to different types of data and logic problems. To enhance your logical skills you must work on solving puzzles and games that improve logical thinking, such as Sudoku, crosswords, and chess.
CAT 2024 Exam Pattern
Here you can find the exam pattern of the CAT 2024 exam:
| Section | Number of Questions | Time Allotted | Question Types |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 minutes | MCQs and Non-MCQs |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 40 minutes | MCQs and Non-MCQs |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | 40 minutes | MCQs and Non-MCQs |
| Total | 66 | 120 minutes | – |
CAT 2024 Exam Dates
Here is a table that contains the exam dates for the CAT 2024 exam:
- Notification Release- July 2024
- Start of Online Registration- August 2024
- Last Date for Registration- September 2024
- Admit Card Release- October 2024
- CAT 2024 Exam Date- November 2024
- Result Declaration- January 2025
