CAT Preparation Tips for Beginners

Updated On: April 19, 2024 05:27 pm IST | CAT

Are you preparing for CAT exam for the first time? Don't worry; go through the CAT preparation tips for beginners curated by our MBA experts to help you crack the exam easily!

Table of Contents

CAT Preparation Tips for Beginners
CAT Preparation for Beginners: Common Mistakes to Avoid
CAT Preparation Plan for Beginners
Section-Wise CAT Preparation Tips for Beginners
CAT Exam Pattern
CAT Syllabus: Section-wise Important Topics
CAT Preparation Books for Beginners
Faqs

CAT Preparation Tips for Beginners: Appearing for CAT for the first time? Don't know how to get started and score an exceptional percentile to get admission into IIMs? Don't worry, we have got you covered. If you are just beginning your journey of CAT preparation, you should first get well-versed with the CAT syllabus and exam pattern.

Knowing the different sections and important topics in each one of them will give you a headstart and you can plan how to move forward. There is so much that goes into the preparation of the CAT exam which can be quite overwhelming to beginners. To sort things out for you, we have provided here some of the best CAT preparation tips for beginners.

Also Read: Important Topics for CAT 2024 Algebra and Modern Maths

Here are the preparation tips for CAT for Beginners.

How to Prepare for CAT for Beginners

1. Check the Exam Pattern and Syllabus

Candidates should check the exam pattern and syllabus before starting the preparation. They should note down all the important topics that they should cover while preparing for the exam. The CAT exam pattern 2024 will allow the candidates to know the marking scheme and the section-wise weightage of the exam.

2. Decide your Strategy

Candidates are advised to prepare their own strategy to tackle the problems in the exam. They should solve the CAT previous year papers to know what type of questions they can face in the exam. After that, they should prepare strategies to solve similar kinds of problems.

3. Improve your Speed and Accuracy

Candidates should note that the sectional limit for the CAT exam is 40 minutes per section. Since no extra time will be provided to any candidate they are advised to work on improving their speed and accuracy. Candidates can start answering the easy questions first and leave the difficult questions for later. Besides this, candidates are also advised to work on improving their calculation speed so that they can solve mathematical problems quickly.

Also Read: Exam Day Tips for CAT

4. Choose the Best Books for CAT Preparation

Candidates are advised to choose the preparation books that cover all the important topics provided in the CAT syllabus. They can choose separate books for all the sections of CAT. Some of the good books available for CAT preparation are Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Nishit K. Sinha, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension by Arihant Publication, Word Power Made Easy by NORMAN LEWIS, and Arun Sharma's How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT.

5. Solve Mock Test

Candidates are advised to solve the maximum number of mock test papers for CAT preparation. The mock test papers of CAT will allow the candidates to know the exam structure and what type of questions are asked in the exam. The duration of CAT mock test papers will be the same as the actual CAT paper.

Also Read: Importance of CAT 2024 Mock Test During Preparation

6. Read Newspapers and Magazines

Candidates are advised to read magazines and newspapers at regular intervals to improve their communication skills. It will also help you to clear the GD/ PI round of MBA admission.

CAT Preparation for Beginners: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Candidates aspiring to appear for the CAT exam must try to avoid the following mistakes to excel in the exam:

1. Doing a Sluggish Start

Preparation for the CAT exam should start as soon as possible. One CAT preparation tip from top performers is that verbal ability can't be improved in a month or two because it takes constant practice and focus. Students need to understand that developing a reading habit takes time, therefore developing strong reading skills requires an early start. The optimal period to start studying is nine months prior to the exam, according to experts.

2. No Awareness of the CAT Syllabus and Exam Pattern

Understanding the CAT curriculum is one of the most important and essential things to undertake. Numerous students spend too much time on abstract ideas. For instance, they may be aware that reading comprehension is a crucial part of verbal ability, but they do not have the knowledge that it is ineffective to practise reading comprehension without having a firm understanding of the topics that are asked in the exam. The topics that are covered in each section must be listed by the students, along with the percentage of each question asked.

3. Absence of Proper Strategy

Avoid focusing only on one skill set's questions when practicing. Keep in mind that there is probably an issue in your strategy if you can't answer simple questions while practicing. Make sure you have a weekly timetable for how many practice questions and mock tests you will solve. Since the CAT syllabus is extensive, make sure you cover all the topics by making weekly targets and learning formulae to boost your preparation level.

4. Inadequate Practice

It is important for students to distinguish between passive and active learning. Passive learning is when an idea is understood through lectures and videos but not put into practice. Active learning, on the other hand, entails comprehending an idea and practicing a variety of questions based on it Therefore, without practicing at least 5–10 questions from each set, students can not assume that they have a solid understanding of the topic.

5. Inability to Balance Between Strengths and Weaknesses

It is usually simple to answer questions from your areas of strength, but one of the most crucial CAT preparation advice for beginners is to focus on long-term objectives by strengthening your areas of weakness. Before moving on to another topic, spend enough time understanding the one you are struggling with.

CAT Preparation Plan for Beginners

Candidates who have just completed their graduation are advised to start preparing for CAT at least 6 months before the exam. Some experts also recommend following a 1-year plan for CAT preparation. They should have a preparation plan in place so that enough time is allotted to all the sections of CAT. A detailed CAT preparation plan for beginners is provided below.

Ideal Time for the CAT Preparation	6 Months
Total number of hours to be dedicated for CAT preparation in a Day	Minimum 5 - 6 Hours
Minimum number of topics to be covered in a week	At least 5
Total number of days for last-minute preparation	15 Days
Total number of days to complete the syllabus of CAT	150 Days
Total number of sample papers/ mock test papers in a week	4 - 5
Preparation Routine	Start your day with the latest news & headlines Choose one topic from the syllabus of the CAT Start solving the beginner to advance level questions from that topic Solve at least 2-3 sample papers from that topic At last, revise all important formulas and concepts that you have learned Solve 2-3 comprehension passages daily

Also Read: CAT 2024 Exam Day Instructions

Section-Wise CAT Preparation Tips for Beginners

Provided below are some CAT section-wise preparation tips for Beginners

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

The VARC section covers questions from Para Completion, Reading Comprehension, Para Jumble, and Analogies. Candidates should try to solve at least 3-4 reading comprehension questions in a day.
Candidates should read different types of articles. This will help them to explore different areas of education.
Candidates are advised to focus on improving their vocabulary. Around 3-4 questions related to vocabulary are asked in CAT and other MBA entrance exams.

Also Read:How to Prepare for CAT VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)

Quantitative Ability

This section tests the calculation speed of the candidates hence candidates are advised to improve their calculation skills.
They should learn shortcuts and formulas to solve mathematical problems quickly
Candidates are advised to do the calculation part mentally since it will help them to save time.
Candidates should practice at least 30-40 questions from each type of question of the Quantitative Ability section.
Candidates can start with the basic difficulty level of questions and then they can proceed to the higher difficulty level questions.
Candidates are advised to learn some commonly used square roots and trigonometry pairs

Also Read: How to Prepare for CAT Quantitative Ability (QA) 2024

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

The Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning section comprises sets of 4-5 questions that need to be answered using the data provided in the question.
Candidates should try to solve at least 10-20 questions from some important topics of this section such as Blood Relations, Clocks and Calendars, Propositions, and Seating Arrangements.
The LR section is all about understanding the logic and then answering the questions hence candidates are advised to first understand the logic behind the question and then only proceed to answer the question.

Also Read: How to Prepare for CAT DILR 2024

CAT Exam Pattern

The question paper of CAT will be divided into three sections namely Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension. The total duration of the exam is 120 minutes and candidates will be provided 40 minutes to attempt each section. Around 66 questions will be asked in CAT. The table provided below contains the exam pattern of the CAT exam.

Sections	No. of Questions	Marks Allocated
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning	20	60
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension	22	66
Quantitative Ability	24	72
Total	66	198

CAT Syllabus: Section-wise Important Topics

Check out some of the most important topics from every section of CAT so that you can prepare for them well and crack the exam easily.

Quantitative Ability

QA Topics	Sub-topics
Arithmetic	Number System, HCF, LCM, Ratio & Proportion, Simplification, Percentage, Average, Age Calculation, Time & Work, Distances
Algebra	Theory of Equations, Quadratic Equation, Permutation & Combination, Sequence & Series
Geometry	Angles, Lines, Triangles, Circles
Mensuration	Areas and Volumes – Rectangles, Squares, Triangles, Circles, Cubes, Cones, Spheres, Pipes and Cistern
Calculus	Maxima and Minima, Function
Trigonometry	Trigonometric Ratios, Heights, and Distances

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

Fact Inference Judgment	Grammar
Fill in the blanks	Para Completion and Inference
Para Jumble	Sentence Completion
Verbal Reasoning	Word Usage (Vocabulary)
Idioms	Analogies
Syllogisms	Reading Comprehension
Sentence Correction	Contextual Usage
Verbal Logic	Different Usage of the Same Word
Antonyms	One-word Substitution
Foreign Language Words Used in English	--

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

Section	Topics
Data Interpretation	Bar Graph, Combination of Graphs, Caselet, Data Sufficiency, Line Graph, Pie Chart, Tables, etc.
Logical Reasoning	Assumptions, Blood Relations, Binary Logic, Clocks and Calendars, Constraint-based puzzles, Data Arrangement, Family Trees, Matching Puzzles, Propositions, Statements, Seating Arrangement, Sets, Syllogism, Venn Diagram

CAT Preparation Books for Beginners

Candidates are advised to choose the best books for CAT 2024 preparation with easy language. They can check the table provided below to know some of the best books available for CAT preparation.

Section	Books
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension	Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay's How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension by Arihant Publication Word Power Made Easy by NORMAN LEWIS
Quantitative Aptitude	Arun Sharma's How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT NCERT Books of 10th, 11th and 12th Quantum CAT by Sarvesh K Verma
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning	Arun Sharma's How to Prepare for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning for CAT Nishit K. Sinha's Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT

CAT is one of the most popular MBA entrance exams conducted every year. Every year more than 2 lakh students appear for CAT out of which 70-80% of students are beginners. The entrance exam is conducted for admission to the IIMs, IITs, and many other popular top MBA colleges in India. Preparation for CAT is more challenging for fresh graduates since they are not familiar with the exam pattern. They need to go through the syllabus, exam pattern, and marking scheme before starting the preparation.

Also Read:

How Many Questions to Attempt in CAT 2024 for a 99 Percentile Score	50+ Important Formulas for CAT Preparation
Important Topics for CAT	What is a Good Percentile in CAT 2024?

Candidates who want to know more preparation tips for CAT may ask their questions on the Collegedekho QnA zone. Besides this, those who want admission-related assistance may fill out our Common Application Form.

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FAQs

When should beginners start the preparation for CAT?

Beginners should start the CAT preparation at least 6 months before the exam.

What are some of the CAT preparation tips for beginners?

Beginners should check the exam pattern and syllabus of CAT before starting to prepare for the exam. They should also have a preparation plan in place so that enough time is allotted for all the sections of CAT.

What is the duration of the CAT exam?

The duration of the CAT exam is 2 hours. The sectional time limit of the CAT exam is 40 minutes.

What are the CAT preparation books for beginners?

Some of the CAT preparation books for beginners are How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma, Word Power Made Easy by NORMAN LEWIS and Nishit K. Sinha's Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT.

How much time should beginners dedicate to CAT preparation in a day?

Beginners should dedicate at least 5-6 hours for CAT preparation in a day.

What are the mistakes beginners should avoid during CAT preparation?

Following are the mistakes beginners should avoid during CAT preparation-

Starting the preparation late.
Not understanding the syllabus properly.
Not focusing on the important topics.
Studying haphazardly.
Solving previous years’ question papers without studying.
Taking mock tests before the preparation.
Not developing a good reading habit.
Not following a strict study schedule.
Not eating properly and overexerting themselves.
Taking too much stress and not feeling depressed.

Is qualifying for CAT more difficult for beginners?

Qualifying for CAT may not be more difficult for beginners since it depends on how well a student has prepared for the exam. Some candidates fail to crack the exam in 4-5 attempts while some crack it on the first attempt. However, if you have already appeared for the exam, you will have a better understanding of everything.

Can I crack CAT exam on the first attempt?

Yes, one can crack CAT exam on the first attempt with proper preparation. Since CAT is considered the toughest MBA entrance exam, students need to leave no stone unturned during the preparation. With a strategic plan, excellent preparation, and confidence, one can easily qualify for the exam on the first attempt.

I am preparing for CAT for the first time. How should I study?

Candidates preparing for CAT for the first time can study in the following ways-

Begin by knowing all the important topics from every section.
Start with aby section of your choice.
Make notes to revise important topics after completing the syllabus
Note down important formulas and tricks to solve questions easily.
Make a proper schedule and stick to it.
Solve previous years’ question papers.
Take mock tests.

What are the best CAT 2024 preparation tips for beginners?

The best CAT 2024 preparation tips for beginners are-

Know the syllabus and exam pattern to get an idea of what to study.
Plan a strategy a solve questions during the actual exam.
Work on your speed and accuracy to complete the exam on time.
Study from the best books and materials.
Take mock tests to analyze your preparation.

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