Hey aspirants! Have you ever wondered why taking the CAT exam is so important for getting into IIMs for an MBA? The CAT, or Common Admission Test, is a challenging and prestigious MBA entrance exam held every November.
IIM Calcutta will be conducting the CAT 2024 exam on 24th November 2024 in various centers across the country. This exam is highly regarded due to its difficulty level, sectional timing, high cutoffs, and evaluation process.
The CAT exam consists of 66 questions divided into sections on Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability, each with a specific time limit.
These are just a few reasons why the CAT exam is so popular. Let's keep scrolling to learn more!
Why is CAT the Top Pick for MBA Aspirants?
Around 2-3 lakh MBA aspirants yearly appear for the CAT exam. It's not only about the popularity. There are specific reasons for it like:
#1 Gateway to Elite B-Schools
The CAT exam opens the door for the Indian Institute of Management (IIMs), one of the leading business schools in India. Not only this, but the CAT scorecard is also accepted by 1200+ B-Schools like FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, and many other institutes in the country.
#2 Highly Competitive Exam
The evaluation process and the difficulty level make the CAT the toughest MBA entrance exam. However, over 2 lakh students take the CAT yearly, making it a competitive exam. It's a chance to challenge yourself and stand out in a crowd of sharp minds.
3 Evaluates Your Skills
The CAT exam is a skill-based exam that analyses the candidate's thinking ability in verbal, reading comprehension, Data interpretation, logical reasoning, and quantitative ability.
Preparation Tips to Ace the CAT Exam in the First Go!
Since the CAT exam is not everyone's cup of tea, it requires smart ways and effective preparation tips like:
#1 Knowing the Exam Pattern
The CAT exam pattern has three main sections: Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC). Understanding what's on the test is the first step towards success.
#2 Practicing Mock Tests
Practice is key! Take as many mock tests and solve past papers as possible. This will boost your speed, sharpen your accuracy, and give you a feel for the exam.
#3 Practice PYP's
Solving CAT previous year's papers is the best way to know your strengths and weaknesses. Try to solve as many PYP's in the limited time to handle exam pressure and improve your speed and accuracy.
#4 Work on Your Weaknesses
Don't just focus on your strengths; work on your weak areas in every subject. Spend extra time working on the areas where you struggle. Whether it's quant, logical reasoning, or verbal ability, the more you practice, the better you'll get.
#5 Master Time Management
CAT is all about balancing speed with accuracy. Each section has its timing, so practice managing your time to handle the pressure when it matters most.
The Final Thoughts
The CAT exam is all about practice, practice and practice. You can only clear it by clearing concepts, managing time, giving mock tests, and solving PYPs.
To boost your preparation, you can join Supergrads, the leading MBA preparation coaching, either online or offline. They provide the best industry experts, premium study material, and test series to help you ace your CAT score.