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Prepare for CAT in 60 Days: The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a very important test for people who want to get into top business schools in India. Since the test is coming up soon, it’s time to get ready and start studying. But here’s a common question – how can you prepare for the CAT in just 60 days?
Aspirants get tips and plans to help you do well in the CAT exam in these 60 days. Whether you’re just starting or you’ve been studying for a bit, these tips will make sure you’re ready for the exam.
What is CAT and why is it important for MBA aspirants?
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a big test given by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for people who want to do postgraduate management programs like MBA and PGDM in India. CAT checks how good you are at things like reading, understanding, interpreting data, solving problems, and math.
This test is tough and needs a lot of preparation and practice. If you do well on CAT, you can get into top business schools in India, including famous ones like IIMs, FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, IITs, IMT, and IMI.
Why CAT is important for people who want to do an MBA:
- Opens Doors to Top Institutes: CAT is like the main test for getting into the best 20 IIMs and other top business schools in India.
- Creates Career Opportunities: Good CAT scores can get you into different management programs, leading to jobs in finance, marketing, consulting, and more.
- Known Worldwide: Even though CAT is mostly for Indian schools, there’s another test called GMAT that’s accepted globally. It helps people study and work around the world.
- Changes Over Time: CAT has changed a lot over the years. It used to be on paper, but now it’s on a computer. The test pattern, time, questions, and even the types of questions have changed to make it better for people taking the test.
How to Prepare for CAT in 60 Days?
Preparing for the Common Admission Test (CAT) in just 60 days might seem tough, but with the right plan, you can do it. Here’s how:
- Know the CAT Exam: Learn about the CAT test pattern, the kinds of questions, and how they score it. Knowing this helps you focus on what to study.
- Check Your Strengths and Weaknesses: Figure out where you’re good and where you need more practice in each part of the test. This helps you use your time wisely.
- Make a Study Plan: Plan your study time for all parts of the test. Take breaks and rest too. Spend more time on the parts you find harder.
- Use Study Stuff: Use CAT books, online tools, and practice tests to get used to the test format and questions.
- Practice Regularly: Keep practicing a lot to get better. Do mock tests and practice questions to see how you’re doing and where you can improve.
- Look Back and Review: Go over what you’ve learned regularly. It helps you remember and understand things better.
- Stay Healthy: Eat well, sleep enough, and exercise. This helps you stay focused and do your best.
- Stay Calm and Sure: Stay positive and don’t stress about the test. Keep calm and believe in yourself.
- Ask for Help if Needed: If there’s something you’re finding hard, ask a teacher, mentor, or online for help.
- Be Consistent: Stick to your plan and don’t put things off. Doing a bit each day is the key to getting ready for the CAT in 60 days.
How to create a study schedule for CAT preparation?
To make a study plan for CAT, follow these easy steps:
- Know the CAT Test: Learn about the CAT test – what questions they ask, how they score it. This helps you plan your study better.
- Check What You’re Good and Not So Good At: Figure out what you’re good at and what needs more work in each part of the test. This helps you use your time wisely.
- Set Goals You Can Reach: Decide on goals you can meet every day, week, and month. It keeps you motivated and on track.
- Plan Your Time: Split your study time well among all the parts of the test. Focus more on tricky things and review the easier ones.
- Make a Schedule: Use a planner or digital tools to plan when you’ll study. Don’t forget to take short breaks to help you study better.
- Use Good Study Stuff: Pick CAT books, online courses, or coaching materials that cover everything in the CAT syllabus.
- Practice a Lot: Doing practice regularly is super important. Work on different problems, do mock tests, and see how you’re doing.
- Stay Healthy: Take care of your body and mind by sleeping enough, eating well, and exercising. This helps you stay focused and do your best.
- Check and Change: Look at how you’re doing regularly. Change your plan if needed based on how you’re doing.
- Do Mock Tests and Learn: Take practice tests regularly to see how you’re doing, find what you need to work on, and adjust your study plan accordingly.
How to manage time effectively during CAT preparation?
Here are some easy tips to help you manage your time well while preparing for the CAT exam:
- Divide Your Time: Split your study time for each section based on what you’re good at and what you need to work on. For example, if you’re good at engineering, spend more time on Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension.
- Solve Sample Papers: Practice with CAT sample papers twice a week to understand how the exam works and the types of questions you’ll face.
- Revision: After finishing a topic, take some time to review it. This helps you remember and understand better.
- Practice Questions: Work on practice questions for each topic to strengthen your understanding of the concepts.
- Start Early: Begin your preparation 5-6 months before the exam. Use the last month for a quick review.
- Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle: Take care of your physical and mental health. Get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise. This helps you stay focused during your preparation.
- Monitor and Adjust: Regularly check your progress. If needed, change your schedule based on how well you’re doing.
- Take Mock Tests: Regularly practice with mock tests to see how you’re performing, find your weak points, and adjust your study plan accordingly.
- Time Management on Exam Day: Start with the easy questions. If you’re unsure about a question, skip it to avoid losing points.
- Stay Calm and Composed: Keep a positive mindset during the exam. Staying calm helps you manage your time better and avoid unnecessary stress.
Understanding the CAT Exam Structure:
Before diving into your preparation, it’s essential to grasp the CAT exam’s structure. The test comprises three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Allocate time to understand the syllabus and the types of questions in each section.
Creating a Realistic Study Plan:
Divide your 60-day timeframe into phases. Start with an initial assessment to gauge your strengths and weaknesses in each section. Allocate more time to challenging sections while ensuring you maintain a balance. Dedicate the initial days to revising basic concepts and gradually progress to advanced topics.
Here’s the glimpse of 60 days enchanting CAT preparation strategy along with well designed topic structure:
CAT 2023 Exam – 60 days Timetable | |
Day 1: CAT Questions on LR, DI, and QA | Day 31: More CAT questions on trains, boats, and streams |
Day 2: CAT exam strategy | Day 32: Practice with CAT questions |
Day 3: Practice with CAT exam questions on QA, DI, LR, and VARC. | Day 33: CAT exam questions on linear and circular races |
Day 4: Practice with CAT questions | Day 34: Questions on escalators for the CAT exam |
Day 5: CAT preparation | Day 35: CAT questions on PnC: basics, counting, and arrangements |
Day 6: CAT exam questions on HCF, LCM, plus QA, DI, LR, and VARC | Day 36: Solve the CAT question paper |
Day 7: Solve cat percentage questions and QA, DI, LR, and VARC. | Day 37: More CAT preparation for PnC: selections and groupings, distributions |
Day 8: CAT questions for practice | Day 38: PnC: Ranking and Arrangement Questions for CAT |
Day 9: Practice questions for the CAT exam on profit and loss plus QA, DI, LR, and VARC | Day 39: CAT probability questions |
Day 10: CAT exam questions for simple and compound interest, QA, DI, LR, and VARC | Day 40: Solve the CAT paper |
Day 11: Practice CAT questions for loans and installments | Day 41: CAT questions for geometry |
Day 12: Solve the CAT question paper. | Day 42: Some more CAT exam questions on geometry |
Day 13: Check the CAT exam questions on algebra and linear equations | Day 43: CAT preparation for geometry |
Day 14: Practice with CAT exam questions for algebra and quadratic equations. | Day 44: CAT questions for practice |
Day 15 CAT questions on polynomials plus QA, DI, LR, and VARC | Day 45: CAT questions on mensuration |
Day 16: Solve the CAT paper | Day 46: Mensuration questions for the CAT exam |
Day 17: Solve the previous year’s questions on inequalities plus QA, DI, LR, and VARC | Day 47: CAT exam questions on mensuration |
Day 18: CAT exam questions on algebraic functions and graph questions | Day 48: Practice with CAT questions |
Day 19: Check CAT questions for maxima and minima. QA, DI, LR, and VARC | Day 49: Coordinate geometry questions for CAT |
Day 20: CAT practice questions | Day 50: CAT questions on set theory |
Day 21: Practice with CAT exam questions on logarithms | Day 51: CAT preparation for sequences and series |
Day 22: Practice questions for the CAT exam for quantitative aptitude and average questions | Day 52: Solve the CAT question paper. |
Day 23: Solve previous CAT exam questions on arithmetic age. | Day 53: CAT exam statistics questions |
Day 24: Practice with CAT questions | Day 54: Complex numbers questions for the CAT exam |
Day 25: Check questions from the CAT exam for mixture and allocation. | Day 55: CAT preparation for data sufficiency problems |
Day 26: Solve CAT QA, DI, LR, and VARC questions | Day 56: Solve the CAT paper |
Day 27: Check out CAT questions on QA, DI, LR, and VARC | Day 57: Questions on CAT data sufficiency |
Day 29: Solve time and work questions for the CAT exam. | Day 58: CAT data sufficiency questions |
Day 29: Solve time and work questions for the CAT exam. | Day 59: Miscellaneous CAT Questions |
Day 30: Practice time, speed, and distance questions for the CAT exam. | Day 60: CAT questions for practice |
Focused Approach for Each Section:
- VARC: Enhance your vocabulary by reading newspapers and articles daily. Practice reading comprehension exercises and solve previous years’ papers to get acquainted with the question patterns.
- DILR: Strengthen your analytical skills by solving puzzles, Sudoku, and logical reasoning problems. Time yourself to improve your speed and accuracy. Analyze your approaches to understand which strategies work best for you.
- QA: Begin with fundamental concepts and then move on to complex problem-solving. Create a formula sheet for quick revisions. Practice is key; solve a variety of problems to develop a strong grasp of mathematical concepts.
Strategic Time Management:
Time management is critical during the CAT exam. In your preparation, simulate exam conditions by setting a timer for each section. Initially, focus on accuracy; as you progress, work on completing within the time constraints. This strategy will enhance your ability to manage stress and perform optimally.
CAT 2024 Preparation- Week 1
Here is the required CAT 2024 preparation strategy for week 1 listed below, candidates can check the same over here:
Day | QA | DILR | VARC |
Day 1 | Basic Numbers, Classification, conversions (Decimal to a Fraction), Base conversion | Bar Graph | Nouns |
Day 2 | Unit digit and last two digits | Pie Chart | Pronouns |
Day 3 | Divisibility and Remainders | Line Graph | Verbs |
Day 4 | Practice Set -1 | ||
Day 5 | Factors and Trailing Zeroes) | Tables | Conjunction |
Day 6 | HCF and LCM | Spider | Articles |
Day 7 | Percentage | Caselett | Prepositions |
CAT 2024 Preparation- Week 2
Here is the required CAT 2024 preparation strategy for week 2 listed below, candidates can check the same over here:
Day | QA | DILR | VARC |
Day 8 | Practice Set -2 | ||
Day 9 | Profit and Loss | Data Interpretation | Reading |
Day 10 | Simple Interest and Compound Interest | Blood Relation | Tenses |
Day 11 | Loans and Installments | Ranking | Tenses |
Day 12 | Practice Set -3 | ||
Day 13 | linear equation | Direction | Tenses |
Day 14 | Quadratic Equation | Cubes | Sentence correction based on Tenses |
CAT 2024 Preparation- Week 3
Here is the required CAT 2024 preparation strategy for week 3 listed below, candidates can check the same over here:
Day | QA | DILR | VARC |
Day 15 | Polynomials) | Cubes | Subject verb agreement |
Day 16 | Practice Set – 4 | ||
Day 17 | Inequalities | Linear Arrangement | Learn new words and their uses |
Day 18 | Functions and Graph | Linear Arrangement | Conditionals |
Day 19 | Maxima and Minima | Circular Arrangement | Sentence improvement based on Articles |
Day 20 | Practice Set – 5 | ||
Day 21 | Logarithm and Modulus) | Circular Arrangement | Cloze test based on articles, tenses, prepositions etc. |
CAT 2024 Preparation- Week 4
Here is the required CAT 2024 preparation strategy for week 4 listed below, candidates can check the same over here:
Day | QA | DILR | VARC |
Day 22 | Average | Distribution | Sentence correction |
Day 23 | Strategy to prepare problems involving Ages | Distribution | RC and PYQs |
Day 24 | Practice Set – 6 | ||
Day 25 | Mixtures | Selection | RC and PYQs |
Day 26 | Ratio and proportion | Selection | RC and PYQs |
Day 27 | Ratio in partnership | Miscellaneous | RC and PYQs |
Day 28 | Practice Set – 7 |
CAT 2024 Preparation- Week 5
Here is the required CAT 2024 preparation strategy for week 5 listed below, candidates can check the same over here:
Day | QA | DILR | VARC |
Day 29 | Miscellaneous | Time and Work | Strategy to solve the problems based on RC and PYQs Part-5 |
Day 30 | Time, Speed and Decision Making | Distance | Active and Passive Voice |
Day 31 | Train, Boat and Stream | Decision Making | Direct and Indirect Speech |
Day 32 | Practice Set – 8 | ||
Day 33 | Linear Races and Venn diagram | Circular Races | Verbal Analogies |
Day 34 | Escalators | Venn diagram | Participles |
CAT 2024 Preparation- Week 6
Here is the required CAT 2024 preparation strategy for week 6 listed below, candidates can check the same over here:
Day | QA | DILR | VARC |
Day 35 | PnC: Basics, Counting and Arrangements | Syllogism | Parallelism |
Day 36 | Practice Set – 9 | ||
Day 37 | PnC: Selections and Groupings, Distribution | Syllogism | Comparison |
Day 38 | PnC: Ranking and Derangements | Logical Deduction | One word substitution |
Day 39 | Probability | Data sufficiency in LR | Synonyms and Discussion on PYQs |
Day 40 | Practice Set – 10 | ||
Day 41 | Geometry | Data sufficiency in LR | Synonyms and Discussion on PYQs |
CAT 2024 Preparation- Week 7
Here is the required CAT 2024 preparation strategy for week 7 listed below, candidates can check the same over here:
Day | QA | DILR | VARC |
Day 42 | Geometry | Games and Tournaments | Games and Tournaments |
Day 43 | Geometry | Games and Tournaments | Games and Tournaments |
Day 44 | Practice Set – 11 | ||
Day 45 | Mensuration | Binary Logic | Parajumbles and PYQs |
Day 46 | Mensuration | Binary Logic | Parajumbles and PYQs |
Day 47 | Mensuration | Logical Connectives | Parajumbles and PYQs |
Day 48 | Practice Set – 12 |
CAT 2024 Preparation- Week 8
Here is the required CAT 2024 preparation strategy for week 8 listed below, candidates can check the same over here:
Day | QA | DILR | VARC |
Day 49 | Coordinate Geometry | Inequalities | Idioms and Phrases and PYQs |
Day 50 | Set Theory | Mathematical Grid | Idioms and Phrases and PYQs |
Day 51 | Sequence and Series | Picking up of Coins | Critical Reasoning |
Day 52 | Practice Set – 13 | ||
Day 53 | Statistics | Clocks | Critical Reasoning |
Day 54 | Complex Numbers | Calendars | Critical Reasoning |
Day 55 | Data Sufficiency |
CAT 2024 Preparation- Week 9
Here is the required CAT 2024 preparation strategy for week 9 listed below, candidates can check the same over here:
Day | QA | DILR | VARC |
Day 56 | Practice Set – 14 | ||
Day 57 | Data Sufficiency | Roots and Network | Misc Part-1 |
Day 58 | Data Sufficiency | Number Series | Misc Part-2 |
Day 59 | Miscellaneous | Alphabetic and alphanumeric series | Misc Part-3 |
Day 60 | Practice Set – 15 |
How to balance CAT preparation with other commitments?
To juggle CAT preparation with other things, here are some easy steps:
- Set Goals You Can Reach: Decide on goals you can meet every day, week, and month. It keeps you motivated and on track.
- Plan Your Time: Split your study time well among all the parts of the test. Focus more on tricky things and review the easier ones.
- Make a Schedule: Use a planner or digital tools to plan when you’ll study. Don’t forget to take short breaks to help you study better.
- Use Good Study Stuff: Pick CAT books, online courses, or coaching materials that cover everything in the CAT syllabus.
- Practice a Lot: Doing practice regularly is super important. Work on different problems, do mock tests, and see how you’re doing.
- Stay Healthy: Take care of your body and mind by sleeping enough, eating well, and exercising. This helps you stay focused and do your best.
- Check and Change: Look at how you’re doing regularly. Change your plan if needed based on how you’re doing.
- Do Practice Tests and Learn: Take practice tests regularly to see how you’re doing, find what you need to work on, and adjust your study plan accordingly.
- Stay Positive: Keep a good attitude, believe in yourself, and keep going. With hard work, you can do well in the CAT and open up exciting possibilities for your future.
- Ask for Help if Needed: If there’s something you find hard, ask a teacher, mentor, or online for help. They can make things clearer for you.
Physics Wallah offers online coaching for the Common Admission Test (CAT) through their MBA Pioneer Pro 2024 batch. This batch includes online classes for management examinations for 2024, including CAT. Join now to enhance your preparation journey.
CAT Exam Important Links | |
CAT Score Vs Percentile | CAT Percentile Predictor |
CAT Syllabus for MBA | CAT Exam 2024 |
CAT Exam Analysis 2023 for Slot 1, Slot 2, Slot 3 | CAT Exam Pattern 2024 |
How to Prepare CAT in 60 days FAQs
Can I get ready for the CAT in 60 days?
Yes, you can! Focus on important topics, study regularly, and stay determined.
How should I split my time between subjects in the last 60 days?
Spend more time on subjects you find tricky, but make sure to cover a bit of everything.
Is it necessary to practice with mock tests in the last two months?
Absolutely! Mock tests help you get used to the real exam and figure out where you need to improve.
Why is revision important in the last 60 days?
Revisiting what you've learned helps you remember better. It's like a quick refresh before the exam.
How can I stay excited and not get stressed during this time?
Take breaks, celebrate small wins, and keep a positive attitude. Also, make sure to take care of yourself by exercising and getting enough rest.