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1) Download your Guide to crack CAT in first Attempt

That CAT is one of the toughest entrance examinations in India is a well-known fact. That CAT
preparation instils fear and anxiety in the aspirants’ minds is a foregone conclusion. But, what every
CAT aspirant needs to know and must believe is that CAT can be cracked in the first attempt itself.
There is no reason why a fresher straight out of graduate college or a working professional looking to
upgrade his skillset, cannot clear CAT in the first attempt itself. With the right ingredients such as Early
and Thorough Preparation, Time Management, Accuracy, Perseverance, Section-wise Strategy, to
name a few, aspirants can achieve their dream clearing the biggest hurdle.

This guide bridges the gap between the aspirants and their aspiration (CAT). It is divided into
four sections, namely:

1. CAT Preparation Plan

2. Section-wise CAT Preparation Plan
3. Time Management
4. FAQs on CAT Preparation

CAT Preparation Plan

a. KYC (Know Your Curriculum)
Before you chart out a plan to crack CAT in the first attempt, you must familiarize yourself completely
with the curriculum. Note down the detailed topics and their sub-parts which figure in the prescribed
curriculum. Though some changes in the curriculum and weightage can happen, the major areas of
the curriculum remain the same. The following table highlights the main divisions in the CAT
curriculum.

Section Sub-topics Weightage

Verbal Ability and Reading Jumbled Paragraphs, Para 26-34 questions
Comprehension (VARC) Summary, Odd Sentence Out,
Sentence Completion,
Inferences and so on
Data Interpretation and Venn Diagrams, Seating 24-32 questions
Logical Reasoning (DILR) Arrangement, Bar Graphs,
Tables and so on
Quantitative Ability Arithmetic, Mensuration, 26-34 questions
Trigonometry, Geometry,
Algebra and so on

b. KTS (Know The Structure)

Once you know the topics and sub-topics, you can identify your strengths and weaknesses and work
accordingly. The next part of the plan is to know the structure, pattern and duration of the exam. Last
year, due to COVID, the structure of CAT underwent a change, as opposed to 100 questions previously,
only 76 questions were asked in the 2 hour exam. The following table gives an overview of the general
structure of CAT exam and also points out the changes made last year. With the COVID situation still
critical, last year’s pattern may continue.

Elements 2020 Previous Years

Number of Questions 76 100
Exam Duration 2 hours 3 hours
Total Score 228 300
Mode of Exam Computer Based Mode Computer Based Mode
Section Wise Questions
-VARC -26 -34
-DILR -24 -32
-QA -26 -34
Marking Scheme +3 for every correct answer +3 for every correct answer
-1 for every wrong answer -1 for every wrong answer
 -No negative marking for - No negative marking for
questions other than MCQs questions other than MCQs

c. BE (Begin Early)
Those aspirants who begin their preparation early reap rich dividends. The preparation of CAT must
begin not when the notification comes out from IIM but much earlier when the aspirants make up
their mind to appear for CAT. It helps them pace their preparation schedule comfortably and gives
them ample time to revise all topics. Aspirants, who begin their preparation earlier, get enough time
to iron out their weaknesses and convert them into areas of strengths. This advantage is not available
to aspirants who begin late, as they don’t have enough time to revise all topics and work on their
weak areas.

Thus, beginning the preparation early:

• Helps in finishing and revising the curriculum thoroughly
• Work on the weak areas
• Helps in staying calm throughout the process
• Gives plenty of time to attempt mock tests, which help in getting ready to face the exam and
builds confidence
• Enables aspirants to prepare their strategy for the exam
• Gives aspirants an edge over their competitors

Section-wise Preparation Plan

The next thing to do in your journey towards the CAT exam after you have familiarised yourself with
the curriculum and structure of CAT and drafted a general plan, is to brace up for the particular
sections comprising the exam. Three main sections need your attention in CAT.
They are:
• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
• Quantitative Ability

a. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

VARC is a test of an aspirant’s language skills. For candidates with good command on English, VARC
becomes a high scoring section. The structure of VARC is as follows:
 VERBAL ABILITY READING COMPREHENSION

• Around 24 questions
• Around 14 questions • Both MCQ and Non-MCQ
• Both MCQ and Non-MCQ form • Question types include context based, main
• Question types include Jumbled Paragraph, idea, inference based, tone
Para Summary, Sentence Elimination etc. based, title based questions etc.

You can score well in this section if you:

• Develop a habit of reading regularly. What you are reading does not matter as long as you are
reading, be it newspapers, novels, blogs or magazines. Try reading for one or two hours
everyday and diversify your reading material.
• Bruce up your vocabulary by constantly looking out for new words. Both components of VARC
section rests on vocabulary in some form or the other. If you don’t understand the literal or
contextual meanings of words, VARC will become an impediment to your aim of cracking CAT
in the first attempt.
• Practice solving reading comprehension passages everyday to develop the habit of
uncovering the gist of the passage, what the author is trying to say as quickly as you can.

b. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

DILR is a test of your analytical and reasoning skills. Aspirants, who are good with numbers usually
find this section to be scoring. The structure of DILR is as follows:

DATA INTERPRETATION LOGICAL REASONING

• Around 10 questions
• Around 14 questions • MCQ type questions
• Both MCQ and Non-MCQ Form • Question types include blood relations,
• Question types include tables and charts, bar coding and decoding, logical sequence,
diagram, pie chart graph etc. seating arrangement etc.

You can score well in this section if you:

• Improve your calculation speed. The faster and accurately you calculate, the better you will
attempt this section.
• Become comfortable with numbers. The questions involve calculations with large number,
Hence, you should enjoy playing with numbers and solving such questions.
• Practice games which sharpen the mind such as Sudoku, Puzzles and so on.
• Attempt questions from this section regularly
c. Quantitative Ability
QA is a test of your Mathematical skills, accuracy and speed. The structure of QA is as follows:

QUANTITATIVE ABILITY

• Around 26 questions
• Both MCQ and Non-MCQ form
• Question types include Ratio and Proportion,Polygons,
Statistics,Averages,Permutation,Probability etc.

You can score well in this section if you:

• Ensure that your basics are strong and focus on concept clarity.
• Develop Speed and Accuracy while solving this section. The aim of this section is not just to
check whether you can solve the Mathematical questions given but whether you can do it
quickly and accurately. So, devise shortcut methods to solve the given question.
• Practise regularly and solve mock tests

Time Management
Time is of essence in CAT. If you want to crack CAT in first attempt, you will have to work on managing
time. Time Management does not only mean using your time judiciously in the exam but also while
preparing for the exam. After careful consideration, you will have to allot your time to different
sections and different topics, such that the entire curriculum is covered. While attempting questions
in the exam, you must keep in mind that you have only 40-45 minutes per section. This does not leave
you with much time. Hence, you need to make smart choices regarding the questions you want to
attempt and those you want to leave.

FAQs on CAT Preparation

1. Is it possible to crack CAT in first attempt?
A1. Yes, it is. As daunting as it sounds, CAT can be and has been cracked in the first attempt. You need
to follow a set routine, based on the above guide, religiously and work hard.

2. Should I take coaching or rely on self-study?

A2. This is a subjective question. You know where you are placed in terms of the curriculum, speed
and accuracy. If you can follow a disciplined routine every day and meet your daily targets, self-study
will work for you. But if you think being in a competitive and focussed environment will motivate you
to do better, then coaching is your answer. The goal is to crack CAT, whichever medium helps you
achieve it, go for it.

3. How early should I begin my CAT preparation?

A3. Looking at the extensive curriculum of CAT, it is better to begin at least 6 months prior to the exam
if not more. This is assuming that you will completely immerse yourself in the preparation and will
remain focussed.

4. Is there sectional time limit in CAT?

A4. Yes, there is. Aspirants get approximately 40-45 minutes to complete one section, which translates
into nearly 1 minute per question. This is one of the reasons why CAT is so tough to crack.