XAT- Xavier Aptitude Test 2026
75+ years of legacy | #1 Entrance Exam | Score accepted by 250+ BSchools | Apply now
CAT Preparation: Myths vs Facts – Most MBA aspirants appear for CAT but look up all sorts of information about the exam before starting their preparation. It is also true that during CAT preparation, a lot of myths and facts that are baseless are propagated to them. In this article, we take a look at all such CAT preparation myths and facts to enable aspirants to segregate myths from facts about CAT and finetune their preparation strategies accordingly.
The statements given below are generally assumed to be true. While some may seem closer to fact, most of them have no bearing to CAT preparation. The simple fact remains that CAT can be easily cracked with the right sort of preparation and perseverance.
This is one of the CAT exam myths. Most feel that CAT requires a very high IQ and is difficult to crack. This is a common perception for all exams but totally a myth. The perception comes because of the difficulty in IIM admissions which is the dream for many. CAT is just like any other exam that can be cracked successfully with good preparation. However, it is a fact that there are limited IIM seats so not all get a seat.
While it is true that one needs Maths skills, the fact is that the CAT Quantitative Aptitude section is mostly based on topics learnt in class 9 and 10. Applicants are expected to first understand basic and core concepts to be able to apply them in different contexts. If one works and puts in a bit of effort, with time and practice, one can get better at cracking the CAT QA section well. Accuracy is more important and hence practice is crucial and a must.
75+ years of legacy | #1 Entrance Exam | Score accepted by 250+ BSchools | Apply now
Highest CTC: Rs 18.33 LPA | Average CTC: Rs 7.39 LPA | Experiential Learning | Classes by Industry Professionals | Alumni Mentorship Program
Totally a CAT exam myth. Coaching helps regulate the topics to cover but this is a personal decision. There have been many toppers in CAT’s history who have not taken any coaching but have done really well in terms of their performance in the CAT exam. Once can check out how to prepare for CAT without coaching.
There is a certain truth to this. The reason being most engineers are good at quantitative aptitude, analytical areas on account of their academic background. However, the IIMs and leading BSchools endorse diversity in their student community hence non-engineering students do have a good chance to get in.
The fact is the number of females appearing for the CAT exam as compared to males is much less. Most toppers in CAT are engineers and female engineering students appearing for CAT are again few. This doesn’t mean that females stand a lesser chance. It means that there is no strong basis to give credence to this CAT exam myth.
Again, this is a big myth about the CAT exam. The fact is that most toppers have devised their own methods and means to prepare. Their stories can be taken as examples for motivation but the fact still remains that aspirants must figure out their strengths and weaknesses to plan their CAT exam strategy. Blindly following the toppers would be a big no.
While speed helps, it is not the only factor to help in scoring. It is a CAT exam myth that one needs to be very fast in answering. Good reading skills are an advantage so aspirants must try to cultivate them. Speed can only come with practice and hence to keep this as a factor would be detrimental especially if one is in the initial stages of preparation.
A total myth with the CAT exam is that cracking it means an IIM admission. This is not really correct as the 21 IIMs have limited seats and only a few can be accommodated out of the 2 lakh students who appear for the exam every year. However, the main fact is that CAT is just a screening test. To get into IIMs, candidates still need to meet the selection criteria which considers academic performance as well as the scores obtained in group activities as well as personal interviews held by the respective IIMs.
Again, one of the myths of the CAT exam is that one can score well only if all questions are answered. This can be detrimental also. CAT has negative marking and one has to mind this as answering all can sometimes lead to loss of marks. Hence answering those questions to which one knows the answers would be the best method to go with.
This is a matter of time management, understanding and proper preparation. Many students who attempt CAT are working professionals and hence may not be able to devote time to preparing well for the exam. Other times, there are students who just attempt the exam to get the hang of it and start serious preparation. However, it is totally untrue to say that to crack CAT, one would need to prepare for one to two years. There have been many students who have cracked the exam in their first attempt. It all depends upon the preparation and hard work put in by the candidates.
The best part of the TITA questions that there is no negative marking. This makes them less risky unlike other questions. Preparation for these questions is ideally a good thing since one can attempt them without fear of losing marks.
Another CAT exam myth is that learning shortcuts is a must as this would allow aspirants to quickly complete the exam. However, this is not true at all. While speed is a factor that can help, it will be advantageous only if combined with accuracy.
The other fact is that to learn shortcuts, one needs to not just know the concepts but practice them well. Sometimes, answers can be worked out with the help of the concepts understood.
Everybody has good days and bad days. Mock tests will only reflect the answers on a given day but if one works on the weak areas after every CAT mock test, there will only be improvement. Second, most aspirants get dejected after just a test which is the wrong way to go. Most toppers have persevered and appeared for many mock tests, improved on their performance after each test by working on the weak areas; questions where they have gone wrong.
This is another piece of bad advice. The last weeks and days are best spent on strengthening the already known concepts. Learning at the last minute is a bad idea as there is very little time to put it to use and this could facilitate making mistakes in the exam. That would be detrimental to the scores and morale.
Advice by experts is to fix a timetable and schedule the syllabus such that most topics are covered within half the time. The next step would be to put them to use with mock tests and practice sessions.
The above listed are some common myths of CAT exam and also the cause of unnecessary fears as well as stress. Aspirants should not be looking at these before starting their CAT preparation. Instead, they should make sensible achievable plans keeping in mind their constraints (time, effort etc.), strengths and weaknesses.
Hello aspirant,
The question papers for CAT MGU University can be found on their official website, or you can also visit careers360 website for the same.
The link of which, I am attaching here,
https://university.careers360.com/articles/mgu-cat-2025
Regards
Hello Anshuman!!!
You have gotten 86% in 10th, which is a good score. 70% in graduation is not the best but decent. But the main problem is your 12th score which is 62%.
You would be already aware that the Top IIMs (BLACKI) give a big emphasis on your academic score. Let me tell you one example of IIM Ahmedabad,
According to a research i read a few days ago, in IIM Ahmedabad,
70.8%
of students has 90+ percent in 12th,
25.8%
has 80-90 percent and around
3.8%
has less than 80% with the bracket of 60-69 having only
0.26%
students of the total batch. Nearly same is the case of the other top IIMs like IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode and IIM Indore.
Statistically, getting into these TOP IIMs is possible with 62% in 12th is possible (0.26% has done it) but practically you cannot get into these TOP IIMs unless you top the CAT exam.
See, I don't wish to dishearten or demotivate you but I wish to tell you the truth. Although the probability of you getting into these TOP IIMs is very less, but trying is better than doing nothing. You have a good score in 10th which will certainly help you. The least you could do is try your best.
My advice would be that you should not focus on these things like "Will I get top IIM" or negative talk like " I got low marks I won't qualify" etc.
The main focus should be on your preparation.
Give 100% in your preparation because that's the only thing in your hand. You can't change your 10th/12th/Graduation scores but you can put some more effort in your preparation which would certainly help to get better percentile.
Keep working hard and give your best. You might surprise yourself!!! And if not BLACKI, there are many other good colleges like FMS, MDI, newer IIMs etc.
Hello,
Yes, with a 622 rank in IPU CET for MBA and being a Delhi candidate, you have a good chance of getting admission in MAIT (Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology).
You don’t need to worry about not giving the CAT exam. IPU CET rank is enough for admission in MAIT under the CET quota.
Just make sure to keep MAIT high in your preference list during counselling.
Hope it helps !
Hello,
A NEET 2025 score of 333 marks, an All India Rank (AIR) near 3,56,000, and belonging to the SC category from Andhra Pradesh suggest a fair possibility of obtaining an MBBS seat within the state quota, especially in private medical colleges under Category A (government quota seats in private institutions).
In Andhra Pradesh, SC category cut-offs for Category A seats in private institutions generally vary from 320 to 370, influenced by the college and the counselling round. Government medical colleges tend to be more competitive, with the SC cut-off for MBBS frequently rising, often exceeding 400 marks.
Although obtaining a government MBBS seat is improbable, you stand a feasible opportunity in private medical colleges within A category (which offer lower tuition than B and C categories). In Round 2 or the Mop-Up round, you can anticipate improved opportunities, since cut-offs generally decrease when other students move to superior colleges or vacate seats.
Colleges such as NRI Medical College (Guntur), Katuri Medical College (Guntur), Great Eastern Medical School (Srikakulam), Alluri Sitarama Raju Academy of Medical Sciences (Eluru), and Fathima Institute of Medical Sciences (Kadapa) are among those where seats could become available for SC students in subsequent rounds under Category A.
Hope this helps. All the best!
Yes, candidates who qualify in CUSAT CAT can gain admission to various participating institutes based on their rank. These include engineering colleges associated with CUSAT, such as its own School of Engineering in Kochi, Model Engineering College, and over 20 government and private engineering colleges across Kerala like College of Engineering Thrikkaripur, Co-operative Institute of Technology Vadakara, and MG College of Engineering Thiruvallam. The final seat allotment is based on your rank and your choice of program during the counselling process.
A career as Marketing Director is also known as a marketing expert who is responsible for the overall marketing aspect of the company. He or she oversees plans and develops the company's budget. The marketing Director collaborates with the business team to plan and develop the marketing and branding strategies for the company's products or services.
A Business Development Executive identifies and pursues new business opportunities to drive company growth. They generate leads, build client relationships, develop sales strategies, and analyse market trends. Collaborating with internal teams, they aim to meet sales targets. With experience, they can advance to managerial roles, playing a key role in expanding the company’s market presence and revenue.
Content Marketing Specialists are also known as Content Specialists. They are responsible for crafting content, editing and developing it to meet the requirements of digital marketing campaigns. To ensure that the material created is consistent with the overall aims of a digital marketing campaign, content marketing specialists work closely with SEO and digital marketing professionals.
A Sales Manager leads a sales team to meet targets, formulates strategies, analyses performance, and monitors market trends. They typically hold a degree in management or related fields, with an MBA offering added value. The role often demands over 40 hours a week. Strong leadership, planning, and analytical skills are essential for success in this career.
A marketing manager is a person who oversees a company or product marketing. He or she can be in charge of multiple programmes or goods or can be in charge of one product. He or she is enthusiastic, organised, and very diligent in meeting financial constraints. He or she works with other team members to produce advertising campaigns and decides if a new product or service is marketable.
A Marketing manager plans and executes marketing initiatives to create demand for goods and services and increase consumer awareness of them. A marketing manager prevents unauthorised statements and informs the public that the business is doing everything to investigate and fix the line of products. Students can pursue an MBA in Marketing Management courses to become marketing managers.
An SEO Analyst is a web professional who is proficient in the implementation of SEO strategies to target more keywords to improve the reach of the content on search engines. He or she provides support to acquire the goals and success of the client’s campaigns.
Digital marketing is growing, diverse, and is covering a wide variety of career paths. Each job function aids in the development of effective digital marketing strategies and techniques. The aims and objectives of the individuals who opt for a career as a digital marketing executive are similar to those of a marketing professional: to build brand awareness, promote company services or products, and increase conversions. Individuals who opt for a career as Digital Marketing Executives, unlike traditional marketing companies, communicate effectively through suitable technology platforms.
Individuals who opt for a career as a business analyst look at how a company operates. He or she conducts research and analyses data to improve his or her knowledge about the company. This is required so that an individual can suggest the company strategies for improving their operations and processes.
In a business analyst job role a lot of analysis is done, things are learned from past mistakes and the successful strategies are enhanced further. A business analyst goes through real-world data in order to provide the most feasible solutions to an organisation. Students can pursue Business Analytics to become Business Analysts.
Amongst top 3% universities globally (QS Rankings)
NAAC A+ Grade | Among top 100 universities of India (NIRF 2024) | 40 crore+ scholarships distributed
Ranked #41 amongst institutions in Management by NIRF | 100% Placement | Last Date to Apply: 15th July
25+ years of legacy | NAAC A+ Grade | 800+ Recruiters | 1.5 CR-Highest Package
NAAC A+ Grade | Ranked No.1 Private University in India (QS World University Rankings 2025)
100% Placement Assistance | Avail Merit Scholarships