How to Prepare For CAT 2024: Tips For Success

CAT, also known as the Common Admission Test, is a recognized management aptitude test. IIM has compiled it for students seeking admission to MBA programs across its 21 campuses and over 1,200 colleges give admission based on CAT Score across India. NITIE Mumbai and IIM Mumbai are the two institutions that are now part of that group. More than one lakh candidates appear for the CAT exam every year. Last year, CAT 2023 registration numbers reached more than 3.30 million applications.

The CAT exam is conducted every year in three sessions at around 400 exam centres across 155 cities in India. As CAT 2024 exam results are recognized by Indian governments and private colleges, MBA candidates in 2024 must appear for this exam.

Indian Institute of Management (IIM) will conduct CAT 2024 on November 24, 2024. The Common Admission Test will be conducted at IIM schools and top B-schools offering MBA and PGDM programs. Candidates can crack the CAT exam with the right CAT exam preparation 2024 strategy which includes the CAT exam syllabus, notes, CAT sample questions and images, CAT preparation material and CAT exam day strategies. Read the complete article to know how to prepare for CAT 2024. 

How to Prepare for CAT Exam 2024

Before preparing for the CAT exam, it is better to know what is CAT exam. There are many topics in IIM CAT so a clear schedule always helps. To strategize for CAT 2024, it is very important to understand the CAT exam syllabus before jumping straight into CAT 2024 preparation. Then analyze the paper pattern related to CAT's previous year's papers. This analysis will help you identify weak and strong areas. With this information, you can understand which part of your page requires the most effort

Know about the CAT Exam: Pattern and Syllabus

In the last stage of the CAT exam, the most asked question is "Can I prepare for the CAT exam in 2 months?". The answer to this question is yes. The CAT exam will be tentatively conducted on 24th November 2024. With proper CAT exam preparation tips and guidelines and a planned strategy, you can crack the CAT 2024 exam with a good percentile.

Before starting the MBA CAT preparation, candidates must go through the exam pattern and syllabus to familiarize themselves with the test system question types and exam structure. The CAT 2024 exam pattern can be called exam layout/structure. It provides information about CAT exam duration, total number of questions asked, exam mode, scoring system, number of sections, etc.

There might be some changes in the CAT exam syllabus and pattern but it should be very similar to last year's exam pattern. Candidates preparing for CAT 2024 are advised to go through the exam pattern and CAT syllabus as it will help them to know what and how much they have to study. 

CAT Exam Pattern 2024

Changes to the CAT exam pattern over the years

CAT Syllabus 2024

Candidates can check the details of the CAT exam syllabus 2024 below.

CAT Exam Syllabus 2024: Section-Wise Details:

How to Prepare for CAT 2024: Sectional Strategy

Candidates who are participating or preparing for the CAT exam 2024 usually ask questions like "Can I prepare for the CAT exam in 3 months?" in the last months before the exam. For CAT preparation within 3 months, candidates must follow a structured study plan, attempt multiple mocks, do a previous year's CAT paper and analyze their results. They should start their preparation in sync with the CAT 2024 exam pattern and syllabus.

Preparing for the CAT Exam Syllabus is easy and effective. This allows students to cover more topics in less time because they know exactly what to study and what not to study. Also, instead of using one strategy for the entire CAT syllabus, create a separate strategy for each section to crack CAT Quantitative Aptitude. Below CAT preparation strategy below will be of great help to the candidates. 

Quantitative Ability (QA)

1. Focus on improving your math basics.
2. Study topics like profit and loss, number systems and geometry as they form the core questions of CAT 2024.
3. Practice as much as you can and take mock tests. 

CAT 2024 - Topics for Quantitative Ability Topics:

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

1. Reading as much as you can is the best way to crack this section and get good marks. So you will understand how to prepare for the CAT VARC section.
2. Browse newspapers, magazines, blogs, articles, etc. to improve your reading skills.
3. Try to solve the questions based on Comprehension, Inference and Para-Scramble. Candidates can join any private tutoring or attend CAT coaching and prepare based on the core booklets provided to them. 

CAT 2024 - Topics for VARC:

Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation (DILR)

1. It is considered one of the most difficult sections of the CAT 2024 exam and requires a lot of hard work from the candidate.
2. Check the CAT's previous year's question paper and try to answer the questions again.
3. Try to study basic topics like seats, kinship, syllogisms etc to understand this section.

CAT 2024 - Topics for DILR:

Prepare for CAT 2024: Know the Best Books for CAT Preparation

Candidates are advised to choose and purchase CAT study material wisely for exam preparation. Below is the list of the best CAT 2024 preparation books for each section in tabular form: 

CAT 2024 Preparation Book for QA Books

Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation Books for CAT Preparation 2024

CAT 2024 Preparation Book for VARC

CAT 2024 Preparation: Common Tips for All Sections

The common Admission entrance exam is a quick test of your knowledge, so it's not worth studying more and more. Instead, focus on improving your speed, time management and practice. Apart from sectional preparation, here are some other but most important tips that a candidate must follow while preparing for the CAT. Some basic and easy-to-use strategies include:

CAT 2024 Preparation: Basic Guidelines

Time Management

During the exam, 40 minutes are allotted for each section, so candidates must plan their strategy to answer all the questions. Managing your time helps candidates turn their efforts into fruitful results. Divide your 24 hours so that you practice each part each day. Talking about time management, CAT topper Rounak Tikmani said that he considers time management as the fourth part of IIM after the other three parts. For candidates appearing in CAT for the first time, Time Management offers them the following benefits during CAT preparation:

1. Enhance your efficiency
2. Increase your productivity
3. Lower stress level

Nishakar Kumar, topper of CAT, sharing his personal experience said, "I believe time management is much easier when you are passionate about what you do, so understanding that makes a big difference”.

Analyze and Understand

Before making any strategy for CAT 2024 preparation, candidates are advised to check the CAT 2024 exam pattern. Analysis no. sections, topics sub-topics and difficulty levels asked in previous years' exams. Candidates also need to decide how they want to prepare for the CAT exam, whether it is better to prepare for the CAT exam online or offline. For CAT preparation online or offline, candidates should thoroughly research the CAT exam coaching institutes while opting for the offline mode, considering all the factors like fees, travel costs, timings etc.

Opting for online CAT preparation is more convenient and cost-effective if the candidate needs to maintain discipline while preparing for the CAT exam. Before taking any test, analyze these steps and try to find out which are your most important areas, which topics need improvement, etc. Analysis is not only done before CAT 2024 preparation but it can also be in between and at the end of CAT preparation. CAT topper Suvam Debnath worked relentlessly, analyzed his mistakes and overcame them to score 99.52 percent. 

Focus on strengths & Goal Accomplishment

Rahul Manglik, CAT chief says, "Play to your strengths and work on your weaknesses". After analyzing your strengths, strengthen them through regular practice. Come up with the right strategies to overcome and improve the areas that need improvement. For CAT topper Ronit, "Candidates must develop a concrete understanding of their strengths and weaknesses". To achieve good results, candidates must first use their strengths and then move on to areas of lesser strong areas.

CAT topper Aditya Devalla said his calm attitude and focus only on what is necessary for the exam. Cracking the CAT exam with a good percentile is no less than a challenge, but anything is possible if you focus on what you want to achieve. CAT 2024 is no different from previous exams. 

Attempt Mock Test

CAT candidates agree that their success to some extent depends on their participation in the CAT exam. One of the best strategies to prepare for CAT 2024 is to take the CAT Mock test as it provides a simulated environment for the exams. The advantages of the pilot test are self-evaluation, time management, accuracy in answering questions and understanding the level of nervousness on the day of the exam.

Practice everything you studied

CAT experts advise candidates to practice every syllabus. Regular practice will help you understand what is required in CAT preparation. Study each topic and then practice it every week to keep it fresh. For CAT head Abhilasha Balakrishnan, regular practice and many trials helped him achieve his goals. Know what other CAT toppers say about the preparation.

Reverse Action

If you find the questions a little difficult while solving the mock CAT or the actual CAT exam, you can choose the reverse function and scan the given answers first. It often happens that the answers contain valid hints that help solve the questions more accurately.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Ques. When will the CAT 2024 entrance test be conducted?

Ans. The CAT 2024 entrance exam will be held on November 24 tentatively. The CAT exam is conducted in three sessions.

Ques. How many questions are asked in the CAT exam?

Ans. As per the standard pattern of the CAT exam, there are a total of 66 questions in the CAT question paper. There are 24 questions in the VARC section, 20 questions in DILR and 22 questions in the QA section.

Ques. Is there any negative marking in the CAT exam?

Ans. Yes, negative marks are applicable in the CAT exam. One point is deducted for each wrong answer.

Ques. When should I start preparation for CAT 2024?

Ans. Candidates can start CAT 2024 training 6-8 months in advance and clear the CAT exam within the time prescribed in the syllabus. CAT 2024 is a tough exam but with the right strategy and determination, one can clear it.

Ques. Can I prepare for the CAT by myself?

Ans. The preparation one must do for the CAT exam 2024 includes the implementation of tips such as:

1. Examination of CAT 2024 syllabus and exam pattern
2. Time management and proper study plan
3. Mock tests, and so on.