CAT 2024 Prep Guide: Exam Pattern, Study Plan, and Top Books

The CAT exam is divided into three sections, namely Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Each section is timed for 40 minutes, making for a total exam duration of 2 hours.

The tables below provide a recommendation of the best books suitable for beginners, categorized section-wise:

CAT Book for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

CAT Books for Quantitative Aptitude

CAT Books for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

Plan your preparation after knowing your strengths and weaknesses. For this you should take a diagnostic test as it will tell you where you stand. You can plan the journey to the destination well if you know the start point. So, identify your strengths and weakness and work out a strategy based on your strengths.

Like you can be strong in QA, average in DI & LR and a bit weak in VA. Then you should plan your exam strategy based on your strong area and attempt QA first so that you can score maximum in that section within stipulated time. You should always remember that cracking CAT is all about time management.

Also, you should plan to turn your weaknesses into strengths and ignore certain weaknesses if they are not important from exam point of you and improve your strengths.

• Familiarize yourself with the official CAT QA syllabus and high-weightage topics.

• Revisit elementary math concepts (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, basic statistics) using NCERT Maths textbooks up to Class 12.

• Master concepts and formulas with QA books and online resources.

• Practice progressively challenging problems from question banks and previous CAT papers.

• Learn time-saving calculation methods like approximation techniques and Vedic Maths.

• Develop relaxation techniques to stay calm and focused during the exam.

• Understand the CAT LRDI syllabus and question types thoroughly to know what to expect.

• Sharpen critical thinking skills by practicing identifying patterns and drawing logical inferences.

• Learn frameworks like Venn diagrams and truth tables for effective reasoning.

• Develop strong data analysis skills to interpret various data formats accurately.

• Quickly identify manageable sets in LRDI to prioritize your efforts.

• Focus on sets that align with your strengths and problem-solving approach for efficiency.

• Prioritize accuracy over speed to avoid making careless mistakes.

• Learn time-saving shortcuts and techniques to solve LRDI problems more efficiently.

• Read widely across genres like newspapers, journals, and books to explore diverse writing styles and topics.

• Actively learn new words by maintaining a vocabulary notebook with definitions, synonyms, and antonyms, revising regularly for retention.

• Before reading a passage, preview the title, introduction, and conclusion for better comprehension of the main topic and author's viewpoint.

• Engage with passages by underlining key points, making marginal notes, and summarizing paragraphs to improve comprehension and retention.

• Practice different types of RC questions like main idea, inference, tone, and vocabulary-based questions using past CAT papers and mock tests.

Read extensively across various genres like newspapers, journals, and books to enhance comprehension and vocabulary. Practice active learning techniques such as maintaining a vocabulary notebook and summarizing passages.

When you get a grip over the basic syllabus of the CAT exam, you should start taking regular mock tests to know your preparation status. Also you must see if you are improving after taking the tests and analyze your performance.

You should also try to improve with each successive mock test. Take these mocks very seriously and your hard labor will surely reap reward.

Attempt a mock test under timed conditions, simulating the actual exam environment. Start with a strategic approach, focusing on accuracy and managing time effectively. After completing the mock, review your performance and identify areas of strength and weakness.

Analyze the mock test thoroughly, reviewing each question to understand why you got it right or wrong. Identify patterns in your mistakes and areas where you can improve. Pay attention to time management and question selection strategies. Use the analysis to refine your preparation and focus on areas that need more attention.

These are few points you must plan out before taking the CAT – 

• Which section, whether it is English, Quantitative Ability or Data Interpretation, you are going to attempt in the beginning, followed by which section and which in the end. Within these sections, what will be your order of attempting the various types of questions? For example, within the English section, will you do Reading Comprehension first or begin with the Verbal Ability part?

• What is your time allocation strategy? How much time do you plan to spend on each of the sections? In particular, do you plan to devote equal time to each section or slightly more time to the section that you are the strongest at?

• How will you respond to a differential marking scheme if that is specified? For example, if there are 2 mark and 1 mark questions, do you plan to attempt the 2 mark questions first? (You never know, when the CAT pattern is changed without any notification!)

• Do you plan to spend some time at the completion of the exam, cross-checking or verifying some of the answers, especially of those questions that you are not really sure of and have just estimated or guessed the answer?

CAT's 99+ percentilers excel by mastering core concepts, practicing strategically with timed mocks, prioritizing accuracy, and analyzing weaknesses. They devise time management strategies, maintain consistent study schedules, and stay focused. Their success hinges on meticulous preparation and unwavering dedication.

Achieving a 99.9+ percentile in the CAT demands dedication and skill. Successful candidates boast a solid foundation, strategic practice, speed with accuracy, in-depth mock analysis, and exceptional mental fortitude. 

As mentioned earlier as well – CAT is all about Time management. The most important part of any competitive exam is the strategy that you adopt. Given enough time, you will realize that you can solve almost all the problems in the mock test. The fact that the same has to be done within a fixed time and that too by making as few mistakes as possible is what makes the task challenging on the final CAT day.

You must understand that CAT is not impossible to crack. People have done it before and will continue to do it, so why not you? You just need to continue systematic preparation and CAT could be probably one of the easiest tests to crack. 

Besides 13 IIMs, more than 100 B-Schools take CAT as a standard written test. Your idea of getting into a good B-School starts with CAT and such exams, and the route to the same is not as difficult as it is made out to be.

Student from any stream, be it B.E/ B.Tech/ B.Com/ B.A/ B.B.A/ MBBS, can become a manager. Hence, CAT that tries to test students from different streams has to be at a level which is comfortable to all students. The only common level that students from diverse streams have is the Std 10 exam. 

Hence CAT and other exams test aptitude at that level. Each one of you is capable of getting there if you prepare systematically. There is enough time to revisit your school level math. Start now.  All the best !

Stay informed, Stay ahead and stay inspired with MBA Rendezvous