CAT 2021: Last Minute Tips for LR, DI and Quant Sections

Crucial last minute tips for acing Logical Reasoning, Quant and Data Interpretation sections of CAT exam.

By MBA expert Girish Khare

With one week to go for CAT 2021, candidates should have begun final revision. The right way to go about it is to create a revision strategy, keeping in mind your strengths and weaknesses. Don’t try to study any new topic in the last week. The ideal thing to do is revise and relax. CAT aspirants have been preparing for the last few months. Now, in these final days, take it easy. Remember, all CAT 2021 aspirants will face the same question paper. Hence, no candidate will receive any undue advantage.

Girish Khare, MBA expert, shared some key insights on Logical Reasoning, Quant and Data Interpretation for CAT which will be helpful in last minute preparation.

Types of Questions in CAT

The questions that can be expected in Quantitative Ability section of CAT 2021 are likely to be from various areas in Mathematics such as Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Numbers, Permutation & Combination and Set Theory. In Data Interpretation, the questions can be either calculation based or observation based and can involve representation of data in different formats (Table, Pie Chart, Line Graph, Bar Graph, etc. or combination thereof). In Logical Reasoning, questions can be from arrangement (Matrix, Circular) or puzzle-based.

The Best Way to Prepare for CAT

In CAT exam day preparation, identification of strengths and weaknesses should be the first step. The identification of strengths/weaknesses should be on the basis of analysis of performance in CAT mock tests and not on the basis of what student perceives to be their strength or weakness. The area in which the student has been able to attempt more questions with high accuracy is the area of their strength while the area in which the student has not been able to attempt too many questions and/or with less accuracy is the area of their weakness.

Once the areas of strengths and weaknesses are identified, students are advised to build on their strengths and work on their weaknesses by solving questions from different areas. Analysis of every question is essential. Student should identify the reason for every question he/she got incorrect – whether the mistake was because of lack of understanding of important concepts or whether it was because of mere oversight or a calculation mistake. If the mistake was because of lack of understanding of important concepts, the student is advised relook the concept. Student should also see if there is any easier or faster method of solving the question for the questions.

Most importantly, student should ensure that they are adequately prepared in all the areas so that they can answer at least easy questions from all areas, including the weak areas as CAT throws surprises by asking several questions from one area.

For Data Interpretation, students are advised to make themselves familiar with different types of representation of data and the questions that can be asked based on the same. Students must revise all the approximation techniques so that calculations can be completed faster. For Logical Reasoning questions of CAT, practice is the key.

Download:

• CAT 2020 Question Paper: Download Free PDF
• CAT 2019 Question Paper: Download Free PDF
• CAT 2018 Question Paper: Download Free PDF
• CAT 2017 Question Paper: Download Free PDF

How to Tackle a Particular Section in CAT Exam

We advise students to solve each section in three rounds. In the first round, work on the section in the order of questions. Once a question is displayed on the screen, the student assess whether they can solve the question quickly (in about 1-1.5 minutes). If the answer is yes, the question should be attempted right then. If the student feels that the question is doable but is time-consuming, the question should be reserved for the second round. If the question appears really difficult and/or undoable, that is a fit case to be left out or attempted in the third round if time permits.

At the end of first round, student should have solved all the easy questions in the section and identified the questions to be solved in the second round. The student is advised to keep a watch on time continuously. If a particular question is taking too much time without any solution in sight, it is best not to spend any more time on to it and move on to next question.

In the third round, if time permits, the student should work on the questions not attempted in the previous two rounds.

Eliminating the incorrect options is a powerful technique that students can employ in Quantitative Ability section of CAT. If a particular question appears really difficult, before deciding to leave the question, student is advised to see if the option elimination technique can be used.

At times students tend to make an 'ego issue' in case they are unable to answer a question from area of their strength and end up spending disproportionately long time on such questions. Students are cautioned against this tendency. After all, getting into the dream B-school is more important than getting a particular question right.

5 Basic Tips for CAT

• Judiciously choose the questions you want to attempt. Identifying the right questions to attempt and getting them correct is the key to cracking the CAT.
• Do not leave any question just because it is from the area that you don't like or you are weak at.
• Make sure you do justice to all the sections at the time of preparation and in actual exam.
• In the one month up-to actual CAT, analysis of every practice test solved is must.
• Work on the weak areas to such an extent so that you can get at least easy questions right.

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