1) The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer-based exam that is required for admission to top MBA programs in India. It tests students' skills over 300 marks across verbal ability, reading comprehension, data interpretation, logical reasoning, and quantitative sections. 2) Preparing for CAT requires mental strength and discipline, studying regularly for 3-4 hours per day over 6 months. It is important to gain mastery over at least one section. 3) Mock exams are essential for building confidence and analyzing weaknesses, with a minimum of 15 mocks recommended before the actual exam. Coaching is not required but can provide structure, resources, and practice exams.

1. How to Crack CAT
Overviewof CAT
A lotof aspiringMBA studentsinIndiahave a desire togetadmissionintoIIMs,preferablythe top
six.But,howto get admissionintothese IIMs?The answerisbyappearingforanentrance test
knownas CommonAdmissionTest(CAT).CATisthe mostpopularandalsothe toughestentrance
testto crack forgettingadmissionintoaMBA programme inIndia.ApartfromIIMs a lotof other
InstitutesconsiderCATasthe benchmarkfortestingastudentsskill.Itisa Computer-Basedexam
and isof 300 marks and to topit youjust have to score 50% of the total marks,but,it isn’ta piece of
cake.Everyyear more than 2 lakh aspirantsappearforCAT whichinitself isahuge numberand to
be among the top scorersiseveryaspirantsdream.So,how to be a topscorer? How to crack the so-
calledtoughestexam?We’ll helpyouanswerthisquestion.
Mental Strength and Discipline – The key to Success
The firstand foremostthingtodo ismentallyprepare yourself forstudyingregularlyforabout3-4
hoursa day,dependinguponwhenyoustartpreparingforthe examand how quicklyyoucan grasp
the subjectsandstudythe whole syllabus.And regularly meanseachandeverydayuntil the day
before the D-Day. Discipline isthe mostimportantqualityastudentrequirestocrackCAT.
Accordingto toppersfrompreviousCATsapreparationtime of 6 monthswouldbe adequate fora
studenttoace in the exam.Sobrace yourself accordinglyandstartstudyingfromthisdayitself.
More time mustalwaysbe appreciated.
Pattern for CAT
CAT has 100 questions where everyquestionhas3 marks witheverywronganswerfetchinga
negative mark of 1. The sectional breakupisgivendown
Section Total
Questions
Total
marks
Total Time Marks required for 99
Percentile
(Approx)
VA/RC– Verbal Ability
and Reading
Comprehension
34 102 60 Minutes 70
DI/LR – Data
Interpretationand
Logical Reasoning
34 102 60 Minutes 51
Quants 32 96 60 Minutes 57
Total 100 300 180 Minutes 165(Overall)
Studentcan attemptonlyone sectionata time whichispre determined,inthe same orderasabove.
When60 minutesfromone section are overa studentwill automaticallybe takentothe next
section.
Is Coaching Required?
Andnowthe mainquestionthateverystudenthas.Shouldone joincoachingwhilepreparingfor
CAT? The answerdiffersfrompersontoperson.Italsodependsonwetheryouare a student
pursuingyourBachelorsora Workingprofessional.Mostof workingprofessionalspreferjoining
online coachingasitbecomesconvenientforthemtoaccessit whereverpossibleandalsotimingis
not an issue inonline coachingaslecturesare pre-recorded.Previoustoppershave alsobeenthose
whohave done it withoutjoininganycoaching.But,mostof the aspirantspreferthe traditional
route by joiningcoachingasitgivesa systematicandplannedwayforward.Live/In-classtraininghas

2. beenthe mostpreferred optionbystudentswhileOnline coachingisbecomingpopulardaybyday.
So choose accordingto yourneedas to whatfitsyouthe best.
We at CATKingprovide youwithOnline andOfflinecoursesthatare designedtoboostyour
knowledge andwillhelpyouace the exam.Considergoingthroughthose.
Sectional Overview
Now,one musthave a general ideaaboutCATand the three sectionsthatit has:
1. VA/RC- Which containsmainlyReadingComprehensions (RCs)aswell Parajumblesand
Sentence CorrectionandVerbal Questions
2. DI/LR - ContainingDataInterpretationquestions(mainlybargraphs,pie-charts,tables) and
Logic questions(PuzzleType)
3. Quants- General mathstopicswhichwe have studiedupto10th class
How to Study for CAT
Firstwe must start withthe basicsand after learningall the basicconceptsovertime,we mustmove
up and solve the difficultquestions.One mustprefermasteringatleastone of the sectionsi.e.no
matterwhicheverquestionyouare givenfromthatsection,solvingitmustbe a piece of cake for
you.
To helpyouimprove yourbasicknowledgewe atCATKingprovide youwithbooksthose are must
go-throughwhichwill giveyouaclear ideaof conceptsto be learntandquestionstobe solved.
Aftergettingthoroughwiththe basicconceptsandsolvingall the questionsfromourbasicbookswe
wouldrecommendyoutoreferBooksof ArunSharma for DI/LRand Quantsand Normal Lewisfor
improvingyourvocabulary.Alsoforone toscore well inthe verbal sectionbeingthoroughwith
NormanLewisisimportant.Gothrough 2-3 timesbefore yougive the CAT.ConsiderNormal Lewisas
your Bible forVocabulary.Readingisalsoveryimportanttodogood inRCs. The more you readthe
fasteryoubecome to knowwhatsthe maintheme of the RC.
Studyingeachandeverysectionandacingit isan importantqualityof a topper.Nothingmustbe
left.Minimumof 5-10 Questionsfromeverysectionmustbe solvedeverydaywhichwill helpyou
gainconfidence andbuildyourspeedinattemptingquestions.DorememberDisciplineisof utmost
importance.
Mocks are a Must
Now,afteryouare done withthe basicsineverysection,startgivingmocksweekly,whichwill help
youbuildconfidence, analyseyourperformance andbuilduponyourweaknesses. Analyse the
mocksthoroughlyandmake a note of the most difficultquestionsfromthatmockandkeepitwith
youfor lastminute preparation.Workonthe topicsin whichyouface difficultyorare slow in
solving.We wouldrecommendaminimumof 15 mocksbeinggivenbefore youappearforthe test.
We at CATKingprovide youwithfree mockswhichare veryclose tothe actual CAT examand also
provide youwithpastCAT papersforFree.Do checkthose out!You can also purchase more CAT
Level Mocks.
Be Ready and Go get it all..!!
At last,be confidentforgivingCATanddo notletothersdiscourage youduringyourtime of
preparation.SetaGoal and Go for it!No one butonlyyou can stopyourself fromachievingit.
All the Best!