Are you planning on attempting the CAT 2023 but have confused about where to start? With students acquiring the 100 percentile, the exam is quite competitive. But with proper guidance and knowledge, you can chalk out the perfect CAT 2023 preparation plan for you.
Key Factors to Focus for CAT Exam preparation
If you wish to crack the CAT exam, you are going to need to have a proper balance between theory and practice. Covering the CAT syllabus will not be enough if you don’t know how to deal with the key questions that are dealt with in this exam. This makes learning theory and attempting practice questions and mock papers exceptionally crucial.
The CAT exam is all about assessing the students’ logical, analytical and verbal skills that qualify them as good candidates to enter the field of business management.
Here are a few CAT exam essentials and tips to help you through your journey of preparing for the CAT exam:
Arrange Proper Study Material
Needless to say that your first step should be to prepare good quality CAT exam preparation books and study material. Don’t buy notes from other people but rather prepare your notes.
There are many CAT exam books and study resources available online but do your due diligence and choose quality study material rather than purchasing different books for the same topic.
Not only that’s a bad idea but it would leave you much less time during your CAT exam preparation time to practice your knowledge when you are busy going through every other book that you purchased.
Study the Exam Pattern
Another important thing is that you should invest your time in studying the exam pattern before starting your preparation. This helps you differentiate between important topics and be more aware of what you are dealing with rather than going into the whole preparation journey blindly.
Also, sometimes changes are made to the exam pattern, so don’t rush on this.
Attempt as many Mock Papers as you can
It is one of the most essential parts of your CAT exam preparation journey to attempt as many mock papers as you can. There are tons of previous year question banks available offered by just as many different publishers which you can purchase online and then test your knowledge. It builds your confidence during your CAT exam preparation times and makes you aware of your weakness for the exam.
Learn Time management
The next important part of how to prepare for CAT exam is learning proper time management. You get an average of 40 minutes to attempt one section and that means you can’t go losing track of time solving one question and then rushing through the final minutes of the exam. Not only does it increase your chance of making more mistakes but it is a bad strategy altogether!
To avoid such circumstances, you should follow these tips:
- Learn smart techniques to save time and increase accuracy.
- Work on your vocabulary by reading good literature, newspapers, journals, blogs etc.
- Increase your analytical skills. Study the question and analyze it properly before trying to solve it.
Seek the Guidance of Experienced Coaches
When you are dealing with a highly competitive exam like CAT, it is a good idea to seek the guidance of someone who has experience in this field and can help you through things that might not be possible if you solely depend on self-study.
Enrolling yourself in a CAT coaching institute like ours-The CAT Coaching will certainly help you and make your journey of preparing and attempting the CAT exam so much easier. We help you adopt the best strategy for CAT and provide personalized training. You are provided with quality question papers for practice and you are tested regularly to assess your progress.
CAT exam preparation books
Here is a list of CAT exam preparation books that you can follow according to the topics you need to prepare for this exam. But it is not a concrete list and you should feel free to take it as a suggestion:
1. Quantitative Aptitude Books for CAT Exam:
- How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma
- Quantitative Aptitude Quantum by Sarvesh Kumar (2020)
- Quantitative Aptitude for All Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha
- Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Nishit K. Sinha
2. Verbal Ability Books for CAT Exam Preparation:
- Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
- How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay
- The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT by Nishit Sinha
3. Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation Books for CAT Exam Preparation:
- A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by R.S.Agarwal
- Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation by Nishit Sinha
- How To Prepare For The Data Interpretation And Logical Reasoning For The CAT by Arun Sharma
Lastly, there are going to be many moments of discouragement during your preparation journey but allow yourself to remind yourself of the end goal and why it matters. Good luck!
FAQs
1. How many months it takes for CAT exam preparation?
It depends on a candidate’s own ability on how much time they take to be fully prepared for the CAT exam. If you are an aspirant with a strong grip on logical and analytical areas, then two to four months is enough for you. However, six to nine months are sufficient for an aspirant with an average academic past.
2. Can you prepare for the CAT exam online?
There are many online courses available online that you can purchase to prepare for the CAT exam. You can also join a coaching institute that provides online classes.
3. Is CAT easy to pass?
The CAT exam is considered a highly competitive exam with moderate difficulty but with proper preparation, systematic strategy and determination, the CAT exam is not that hard to pass.
4. How many times can I attempt the CAT?
As many times it takes you to succeed. There is no limitation on how many times you can attempt the CAT exam. All you need is a Bachelor’s degree and you can decide to attempt it at any point in your career afterwards.