If you’re considering cracking the CAT 2022, you should definitely read what experts say about how to prepare for CAT in 90 days only. 90 days duration before the CAT exam is perhaps the most conclusive period for the CAT preparation. Just like any race or sport, a lot can change during the final stages of CAT preparation.
Top B schools in Kolkata like Calcutta Business School also prefer CAT for selecting students for their job-oriented PGDM courses in Kolkata.
In this article, we will unfold an effective step-by-step study plan along with proper time management for CAT preparation in 90 days. But let’s start with the basics of the CAT exam first.
CAT stands for Common Admission Test which has to be cleared by the students who are willing to pursue an MBA or PGDM course in any Indian Institute of Management (IIM) or top Business schools in India.
The syllabus and pattern remains the same over the last ten years. The syllabus is divided into three major sections – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).
The pattern of the CAT exam is Computer Based Test, also known as CBT, which is taken with combined formats of MCQs and non-MCQs.
Before we dig deeper into the 90 days CAT preparation, let’s clear some myths first. CAT is an aptitude test and not a knowledge checking test. In essence, you don’t need to keep in memory a lot of information, but you will need to solve the questions with the most primary concepts that are mostly taught till the 10th standard.
Most CAT questions are quite tricky to either confuse you or pass your time, but if you’re strong in basic concepts and good at solving questions fast, then the game is yours.
Let’s have a look at the step-by-step 90 days study plan for your CAT preparation that can help you make the most of your last remaining quarter. We have divided the total duration of 90 days into 6 parts of which each part holds 15 days. Let’s get into them one by one.
The first and foremost thing you will need to do is to take a CAT mock on day 1. Taking a CAT mock will help you understand your current standing point of getting into this exam and how much effort you would require to put into it to get the desired percentile.
Now in the first week, it’s time to get all the basic concepts of all sections including QA, VARC, and DILR in which you will put more stress on the Quantitative Aptitude.
Try to cover all the necessary concepts of Quantitative Aptitude within a target of 10 to 12 days. You can consider following a good Quantitative Aptitude book or taking study materials from a trusted coaching organization with a good track record. Wisely choose books or study materials that offer practice sets with solved examples and guides.
In the last 2-3 days of this phase, try to focus on only practice sets with solved examples.
In the next fortnight, you should consider solving actual CAT Quantitative Aptitude questions of the last ten years. And do not forget to take a mock test every week with an in-depth analysis.
The next goal of your CAT exam is VARC. In the mocks you are taking every week, you would also need to attempt all the VARC questions. Your target should be around 80% accuracy in your VARC questions.
For preparing DILR, try to figure out easy questions of Vedic math and fractions that you already covered in the first week across the sets and solve them. Also, keep an eye on these types of questions in your coming mocks.
By this time, you should have covered an adequate amount of Quantitative questions of the previous years. From now onwards, all your CAT preparations need to be through mocks. You will also have to increase the frequency of your mock from one per week to two per week for the next fortnight.
Every mock needs to be followed by an in-depth analysis and you should reattempt all the questions that you were not able to solve in your previous attempts. This process will help you understand where you should focus more and revise your concepts.
From this time onwards, your focus should be on learning entirely from mock exams. Increase your mock test frequency to three mocks every week.
Emphasize on VARC questions. Revise the mock solutions and try to discover the author’s way of solving them.
By this time, possibly CAT admits might be out. Hence, it’s best to take all mock tests in exactly the same time slot as mentioned in the actual CAT exam.
Follow the deep analysis of each mock you have done so far and revise the concepts that you feel you are not so good at. Give stress to the DILR section and try to make up the gaps.
By the end of this fortnight, you will be able to develop your own personalized strategy and it’s recommended to follow your own specific strategy in your actual CAT exam.
Take a short break and decrease your mocks to about one or two per week. Do a full revision of all mocks and concepts of all subjects and try to refresh your mistakes. In the last three days get a complete break from your study and rejuvenate your mind and body with complete relaxation.
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