Strategies for Mastering the CAT Exam in Under 6 Months
Introduction to CAT Preparation
Preparing for the CAT (Common Admission Test) can be an overwhelming task, especially when you have limited time. This article will provide a strategic approach to mastering the CAT, focusing on the Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA) sections. Learn about my personal journey, starting from a beginner's stage and moving to more advanced levels, which will help you achieve your desired percentile within a short period.VARC Preparation
Beginner Stage
As a beginner, your primary goal should be to build a strong foundation. Here are some key steps you should follow:
Understanding Basics: Start with free CAT Grammar videos on YouTube channels like the Bodhee Prep. These videos are crucial in understanding the structure of the language, which can significantly improve your reading skills. Developing Reading Habits: Reading is a skill that requires consistent practice. Begin with newspaper articles in areas of interest, such as editorials, and gradually expand to other topics like politics, science, business, and economics. Reading from Aeon Essays can be challenging but beneficial for long reads and similar to Reading Comprehension (RC) articles. Going Through Syllabus: Familiarize yourself with the CAT syllabus, which includes areas such as Reading Comprehension (RC), Critical Reasoning (CR), Para Jumbles, Odd Sentences, and Para Summary. Understanding these components helps in planning a study schedule. Solving Past Papers: Download recent CAT question papers online to understand the types of questions and their difficulty levels. The focus should initially be on getting familiar with the exam format rather than accuracy.By consistently following these steps, you will be able to approach VARC more strategically, reducing the reliance on guessing and improving your chances of scoring in the 99th percentile.
Intermediate Stage
At this stage, it's crucial to shift focus to more structured preparation. Consider whether joining a coaching program suits your learning style. For example, I initially opted for offline coaching with Team Satyam but later switched to online coaching with BodheePrep due to the pandemic and personal preferences.
Coaching Material: Relied heavily on coaching material, particularly Brijesh Sir’s teaching at BodheePrep, which was invaluable in understanding complex RCs and CR. Focused Practice: Start with para jumbles and odd sentences, then move on to paragraph summary and CR. Gradual practice in these areas improved my reading comprehension abilities significantly. Maintaining a Steady Pace: Consistency is key. Regular practice focusing on increasing speed and accuracy is essential. Dedicate a particular time for practicing VARC and aim to practice at least every alternate day. Improving Critical Reasoning: While continuing RC practice, adding CR to the routine significantly improved my accuracy and logical reasoning.Advanced Stage
Reaching the advanced stage involves focusing on mock-taking strategies. Time management and accuracy are crucial.
Timed Practice: Solve everything within a time limit, such as finishing an RC in 10 minutes. This helps develop the knack for selecting questions wisely. Mock Tests: Give numerous mocks from platforms like SIMCAT, BodheePrep, Cracku, CL Takshzilla, and AIMCAT. Analyze each mock test to identify weak areas and improve gradually. Maintain an excel of all mock results and strategies for different types of questions. Balancing Speed and Accuracy: A balanced approach between speed and accuracy is essential. Regular practice and mock tests help maintain this balance, ensuring you can handle exam day pressure.DILR and QA Preparation
Basic Stage
Understanding the Pattern: Study changes in DILR patterns over the years by solving past CAT papers from 2017 onwards. This helps in getting a grip on the type and difficulty of questions. Regular Practice: Practicing puzzles like Sudoku and using mental math apps can enhance your pattern-spotting and calculation skills, which are crucial for this section.Intermediate Stage
Using Coaching Material: Use resources from channels like Elites Grid and BodheePrep for practicing DILR sets. Keep a notebook with strategies for different set types for reference. Mock Tests: Giving multiple mocks and analyzing them helps in identifying weak areas and improving. Take mocks from different coaching platforms to get used to various paper styles and difficulty levels.QA Preparation
For QA, rely on concept videos from BodheePrep and then move to solving mixed sets. Basic revision starts with NCERT books, and maintaining a separate notebook for formulas and concepts is crucial. Watch concept videos on solving questions quickly and practice basic questions for conceptual clarity.
Advanced Practice
Using Coaching Material: Move to solving difficult sets from your coaching material and LOD 2 from Arun Sharma’s books. Following the Two-Minute Rule: Follow the two-minute rule for solving questions to manage your time better.Topic and Sectional Tests
Resources like BodheePrep and IMS offer the closest level of questions to the actual CAT. Regular practice, including full-length mock tests from multiple sources, provides a well-rounded preparation. Analyze each mock test for crucial refinement of your strategy.