Wiley's Smart Tips and Tricks To Crack CAT 2017

Wiley’s Smart Tips and Tricks to Crack CAT 2017
WILEY’S SMART TIPS AND TRICKS TO CRACK CAT 2017

The Common Admission Test (CAT) exam is an aptitude test that is conducted annually by
the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). Each year, one of the IIMs sets and conducts
the CAT exam. In 2017, it will be set by IIM Lucknow.
CAT is administered across India as a common entrance exam for admission to the Post-
Graduate and Fellowship Programs of several management institutes in India including
the IIMs. Close to 150 management schools accept the CAT scores as a criteria for
admission.
Apart from the IIMs, some other well-established institutes that accept the CAT scores
include:
• Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi

• SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai
• Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon
• National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai
• Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), Mumbai
• Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad
• IIT Schools of Management (IITSOMs), Across India
• MICA, Ahmedabad
• Goa Institute of Management (GIM), Goa
• National Institute of Technology, Trichy
www.wileyindia.com/CAT
WHAT IS BEING TESTED?

The exam focuses on general aptitude skills, and is divided into 3 sections:
• Section-1: Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VRC)

• Section-2: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
• Section-2: Quantitative Ability (QA)
These areas have remained constant since inception but the structure and composition
of the exam have varied from year to year.
Historically, the CAT exam was a paper-based test but w.e.f 2009, the CAT has become a
computer-based examination.
THE CAT EXAM EXPERIENCE

CAT 2017 will be held on November 26. This year, CAT 2017 will be conducted in
approximately 140 cities across India. The test is a computer based test.
• Since the test is not adaptive, the questions are static and pre-determined before the
test starts. All test takers in a slot attempt the same set of questions.
• You do not need to complete all the questions. However note that you need to
complete as much as possible and as accurately as possible to get a good score.
• There are three sections, which have to be attempted in the order in which the exam
presents them. You can skip questions within a section, and come back to them as
long as you are in the same section.
STRUCTURE AND PATTERN OF CAT 2017:

S. No. Section Number of Total Marks Duration in
Questions minutes
1 Verbal & Reading Comprehension 34 102 60
2 Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning 32 96 60
3 Quantitative Ability 34 102 60
Total 100 300 180
HIGHLIGHTS OF CAT EXAM PATTERN 2017
Sr. No. CAT Highlights Details
1 Duration of the Test 3 hours
2 Total Number of Sections 3
3 Sectional Duration 1 hour
4 Total Number of Questions 100
5 Total Marks 300
6 Marks per question 3
7 Negative marking for wrong question 1
SECTIONAL TIME LIMITS – Each section has a time limit of one hour and candidates are
not allowed to switch between sections. Also, the sections will appear in a pre-defined
order. This means that the candidate is not allowed to determine the order in which he/
she will attempt the sections. However, test takers are free to attempt and answer any
question within a particular section.
NON-MCQs – Since 2015, IIMs have introduced questions where the candidates have to
type in answers in the space provided with the help of mouse through a virtual keypad.
Such questions are referred to as ‘Type-in-the-answer’ types (TITA). Each section has the
TITA type questions, but the numbers are not defined.
MARKING SCHEME - Each question carries three marks with a penalty of one mark for
each wrong answer. However, this marking scheme is applicable only for MCQ’s. For
questions that require the answer to be typed, there is no negative marking.
PREPARATION STRATEGY FOR CAT

ORGANIZED BEGINNING
As stated above, CAT does not have a defined syllabus. This poses challenges for the
aspirants and they find it difficult to plan and strategize for their preparation. The
examination also keeps undergoing constant revisions and this further complicates the
process. Hence, it is important to first identify one’s scope of study. Analyse the pattern
of the examination over the years to identify the frequently asked topics.
ASSESS YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

Once you have done this, prepare a plan to review all the fundamentals and revise
the key concepts. While preparing the revision plan, focus on your areas of strengths
and weaknesses. If you believe that you have a strong aptitude for solving questions
on Quantitative Ability or that have a strong command over the English language, you
should devise your revision plan in such a way that you are able to devote more time
to practising your weak areas and building competencies in them. This will allow you to
make the most efficient use of your time.
REVISE THE FUNDAMENTALS

In CAT, the questions are more application driven. Hence, it is important to have clarity
with respect to the underlying concepts. Only then can you hope to enhance your ability
to apply these fundamentals in various scenarios.
SOLVE PRACTICE TESTS AND SECTIONAL MOCKS

Your preparation strategy should be aimed at intensive practice. There are several free
mocks and study material available online. You should make it a point to take numerous
sectional mock tests and practice tests. This will not only help you build your abilities, but
will also enhance your time management skills as well as your comfort with the online
medium of examination.
Now we provide you certain section specific preparation strategies:
1. The Verbal and Reading Comprehension Section

The Verbal Section can be broken down into:
• Reading Comprehension(RC)
• Verbal Ability (VA)
Historically, around half of the questions are RC and the other half are VA.
• RC questions come in the form of passages with 3-5 questions. All questions are
multiple-choice questions.
• VA questions typically would focus on the following skills:
} Argument Construction / Evaluation—Critical Reasoning
} Paragraph Structure—Paragraph Completion and Jumbled Paragraphs
} Sentence Structure—Fill in the Blanks
} Grammar—Sentence Correction
} Vocabulary—Usage Related Questions
• During the exam, try to do all the VA questions and then choose passages that you
are comfortable reading, and attempt those.
• Wherever possible, VA and RC questions should be answered with the process of
elimination. You never find the correct answer; you merely eliminate the incorrect
ones.
2. The Quantitative Ability Section

• The questions in CAT are less formula-oriented and more concept-oriented. So
ensure that you focus on having a clear understanding of mathematical concepts.
• Going through the earlier CAT papers will give you a good sense of the kind of
questions that were asked and can be asked.
• CAT 2015 onwards, test-takers can use an onscreen calculator. However, note that you
should not make a habit of using this to perform simple calculations, and therefore
lose precious time. While you should be familiar with using an onscreen calculator,
use this efficiently only when you are performing long and tedious calculations.
3. The Data Interpretation-Logical Reasoning Section

There are two distinct components of this section:
• Data Interpretation (DI)

• Logical Reasoning (LR)
These elements require different skill sets.
DI requires comfort with reading charts, understanding how they can be related to
each other and some amount of computational comfort. With the introduction of the
calculator in 2015, computational skills are no longer that important.
LR, on the other hand, requires good logical skills. To solve questions, you may need to
arrange items in circles and lines. Questions could be of the following types:
• Line Graphs
• Bar Graphs
• Pie Charts
• Circular Arrangements
• Linear Arrangements
• Family Trees
• Each DI-LR problem can be quite different from the others that you may have solved
in the past. Hence, practice as many DI-LR questions as possible.
 DI-LR questions usually occur in sets. Each question stem has 3–4 questions associated
with it. Hence set selection is quite important. Some of these questions may be time
consuming and tricky, so practice as many questions as possible to understand the
patterns and boost your confidence.
 Along with different sets ensure that you also have sufficient practice of basic line
charts, pie charts, etc.
WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE EXAM DAY

KEY POINTERS
• If possible, visit the exam centre a day before the exam so that you can identify the
best way to commute.
• Report an hour or hour and a half before the scheduled exam time. Do NOT arrive
late for the exam, as you will not be allowed entry after the stipulated time.
• Carry a couple of good copies of the admit card.
• Carry a valid and original ID proof.
• At the venue, check and note down the test lab allocation number.
• Once you are inside the exam hall, you will be asked for a thumb impression and a
photo capture along with your signature on the attendance sheet.
• The signature on your original ID proof and the one used by you on the attendance
sheet should be the SAME.
• You will be provided writing material like pen and rough sheets at the exam centre.
Mention your name and registration number on every rough sheet you use.
• You are required to return the pen and rough sheets at the end of the exam.
• Please note that you are only allowed to use the mouse to mark your answers, so do
not use the keyboard.
• Log in to your exam once instructed to do so. Do not hurry.
• Pay attention to the 15 minute tutorial and read all the instructions carefully- The
purpose of the tutorial is to acquaint you with the procedure of the online test and
other things like navigating through the sections and keeping track of the timer. So
pay attention to it and read all the instructions carefully before proceeding with the
exam.
• You need to sign the declaration which appears on the test screen to open the test
link.
• Virtual keyboard can be used for the non-MCQs.
• There is an auto-timer which will submit your answers for each section once the time
is up. You will automatically move to the next section.
• You can leave some questions for ‘review’ and answer them later if you wish to.
However, you have to answer these questions before the stipulated time gets over. If
you are unable to do so, the system will mark them answered even if they are still in
the ‘review’ status.
A warning: Bathroom breaks are not allowed.
All the Best!

Wiley's Smart Tips and Tricks To Crack CAT 2017

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Wiley's Smart Tips and Tricks To Crack CAT 2017

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Wiley's Smart Tips and Tricks To Crack CAT 2017

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Wiley’s Smart Tips and Tricks to Crack CAT 2017

WILEY’S SMART TIPS AND TRICKS TO CRACK CAT 2017

• Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi

WHAT IS BEING TESTED?

• Section-1: Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VRC)

THE CAT EXAM EXPERIENCE

STRUCTURE AND PATTERN OF CAT 2017:

HIGHLIGHTS OF CAT EXAM PATTERN 2017

Sr. No. CAT Highlights Details

1 Duration of the Test 3 hours

2 Total Number of Sections 3

3 Sectional Duration 1 hour

4 Total Number of Questions 100

5 Total Marks 300

6 Marks per question 3

7 Negative marking for wrong question 1

PREPARATION STRATEGY FOR CAT

ASSESS YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

REVISE THE FUNDAMENTALS

SOLVE PRACTICE TESTS AND SECTIONAL MOCKS

Now we provide you certain section specific preparation strategies:

1. The Verbal and Reading Comprehension Section

2. The Quantitative Ability Section

3. The Data Interpretation-Logical Reasoning Section

• Data Interpretation (DI)

WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE EXAM DAY

All the Best!

You might also like