Great Lakes - PGPM & PGDM 2025
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Application Deadline: 1st Dec 2024
Welcome back, CAT 2024 candidates! The CAT exam for MBA admissions from 2025 to 2027 is scheduled for November 24. In this 60-day preparation guide series from Careers360, we'll cover the strategies for Day 26 to help you prepare effectively and succeed in the CAT 2024 entrance test.
This article focuses on questions about ratio and proportion, selection, and reading comprehension—key topics that frequently appear on the exam.
Comparing the quantities (a : b)
Dividing in the ratio by parts method
Learn the concept of the compounded ratio
Duplicate ratio of a : b is a2 : b2
Triplicate ratio of a b is a3: b3
Sub-duplicate ratio of a: b is a1/2: b1/2
Sub-triplicate ratio of a: b is a1/3: b1/3
Practice complex problems
Free Study Material: VARC | DILR | Quant | Chapter-wise Practice MCQs
CAT 2024: 60-day study material | CAT'23 Official Question with Solutions (Slot 1, 2, 3)
Test: 20 Free Mock Test | 10 Year PYQs | Most Scoring Concepts
New: CAT Preparation- 60-day Study Material by Experts
Latest: CAT Mock Test Series - 20 Sets, Questions with Solutions
Don't Miss: CAT 2024 Most Scoring Concepts PDF - VARC, DILR and QUANT
AT Exam Focus on Ratio, Proportion, Selection-based Puzzle Questions and Strategies for RC & PYQs- Day 26
Ratio and Proportion are fundamental concepts used to compare quantities and establish relationships between them. They are extensively used in various fields, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and real-life problem-solving. We have to learn the ratio and proportion formula, the difference between ratio and proportion, and practice various ratio and proportion problems on the ratio and proportion worksheet to have more grasp on this topic.
Examples of Ratio:
Fruit Basket : In a fruit basket, there are 4 apples and 6 oranges. The ratio of apples to oranges is 4 : 6, which can be simplified as 2 : 3.
Students in a Classroom: In a classroom, there are 30 boys and 20 girls. The ratio of boys to girls is 30 : 20, which can be simplified as 3 : 2.
Examples of Proportion:
Mixing Juice: To make a fruit juice mixture, you need to mix 2 cups of apple juice with 3 cups of orange juice. The proportion of apple juice to orange juice is 2 : 3.
Speed and Time: A car travels 300 miles in 5 hours. To find the proportion of speed to time, we divide the distance by time, which gives us 300 miles / 5 hours = 60 miles per hour.
Q1. The product of two positive numbers is 616. If the ratio of the difference of their cubes to the cube of their difference is 157 : 3, then the sum of the two numbers is:
[CAT Exam: 2019]
58
95
85
50
Answer: (D)
Let the numbers be x and y.
So, xy = 616
Also, (x3 – y3)/ (x-y)3 = 157/3
⇒ [(x - y) (x2+ y2+ xy)]/ (x-y)3 = 157/3
⇒ (x2+ y2+ xy)/ (x2 + y2 - 2xy) = 157/3
⇒ 3(x2 + y2) + 3xy = 157(x2 + y2) - 314xy
⇒ 154(x2 + y2) = 317xy
⇒ 154(x2 + y2) = 317 × 616
⇒ (x2 + y2) = 1268
We know that, (x + y)2 = x2 + y2 + 2xy
⇒ (x + y)2 = 1268 + 2 × 616
⇒ (x + y)2 = 2500
⇒ x + y = 50
Hence, the correct answer is 50.
Q2. Raju and Lalitha originally had marbles in the ratio 4 : 9. Then Lalitha gave some of her marbles to Raju. As a result, the ratio of the number of marbles with Raju to that with Lalitha became 5 : 6. What fraction of her original number of marbles was given by Lalitha to Raju? [CAT exam: 2018]
1/5
¼
7/33
6/19
Solution: (C)
Let Raju and Lalitha initially have 4x and 9x marbles with them.
Lalitha gave y marbles to Raju, then
(4x+ y)/ (9x – y) = ⅚
⇒ 24x + 6y = 45x – 5y
⇒ 11y = 21x
⇒ y = 21x/11
she gave a fraction of Lalitha’s original number of marbles to Raju = (21x/11)/ 9x =7/33
Q3. If the evaluation of company A and company B are in the ratio of 3 : 4 while that of B and C are in the ratio 2 : 1, then which one of the following is a possible value of evaluation of company A if the difference of evaluation of company B and company C is multiple of 14?
323 crores
268 crores
423 crores
420 crores
Solution: (D)
A : B : C = 3 : 4 : 2 (since A : B = 3 : 4 and B : C = 2: 1)
Then the evaluation of companies A, B, and C are 3y, 4y, and 2y respectively where y is a positive integer.
According to the question:
4y- 2y = 2y is multiple of 14
Evaluation of company A = 3y is a multiple of 7 and 3.
420 satisfies this condition.
Hence, the correct answer is 420 crores.
Q4. In a bag there are coins of three denominations of Re. 1, Rs. 2 and Rs. 5. The first two are in the ratio of 2 : 3 and the last two in the ratio of 4 : 5. If the total number of coins in the bag is less than 100, the total value of coins in the bag can be Rs. _____________. Fill in the blank.
107
214
321
Cannot be determined
Solution: D
In terms of number of coins, Re. 1 : Rs. 2 = 2 : 3 and Rs. 2 : Rs. 5 = 4 : 5.
∴ Re. 1 : Rs. 2 : Rs. 5 = 8 : 12 : 15
Total number of coins = 8 + 12 + 15 = 35 units
Thus the only integral possibilities below 100 coins in total are 35 coins or 70 coins.
If the total is 35, then Re. 1 = 8 coins, Rs.2 = 12 coins and Rs. 5 = 15 coins.
∴ Total Value = 8 + 24 + 75 = Rs. 107
If the total is 70, then Re.1 = 16 coins, Rs. 2 = 24 coins and Rs. 5 = 30 coins.
∴ Total Value = 16 + 48 + 150 = Rs. 214
Both the values are there in the options.
So, the content of the blank cannot be determined.
Hence, the correct answer is " Cannot be determined ".
Fraction and comparison
Basics of calculations
CAT syllabus: References to Study (Theory):
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma (7th Edition: Page No 281- 285)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfoJBivWlnQ (CareerRide YouTube Channel)
CAT syllabus References to Study (Practice):
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma (7th Edition: Page No 286- 300)
CAT 2024 Syllabus Topic: Strategy to prepare Problem-Solving/Puzzle (Selection)
In this article, we make our strategy for the CAT exam through examples. Puzzles questions include “chess puzzles”, “sudoku puzzles”, “math puzzles”, “crossword puzzles”, “jigsaw puzzles”, etc.
Comprehension:
Princess, Queen, Rani and Samragni were the four finalists in a dance competition. Ashman, Badal, Gagan and Dyu were the four music composers who individually assigned items to the dancers. Each dancer had to individually perform in two dance items assigned by the different composers. The first items performed by the four dancers were all assigned by different music composers. No dancer performed her second item before the performance of the first item by any other dancers. The dancers performed their second items in the same sequence as their performance of their first items. [CAT exam: 2019]
The following additional facts are known.
No composer who assigned the item to the Princess assigned any item to the Queen.
No composer who assigned the item to Rani assigned any item to Samragni.
The first performance was by Princess; this item was assigned by Badal.
The last performance was by Rani; this item was assigned by Gagan.
The items assigned by Ashman were performed consecutively. The number of performances between items assigned by each of the remaining composers was the same.
Q1. Which of the following is true?
The second performance was composed by Dyu.
The third performance was composed by Ashman.
The second performance was composed by Gagan.
The third performance was composed by Dyu.
Q2. Which of the following is FALSE?
Samragni did not perform in any item composed by Ashman.
Princess did not perform in any item composed by Dyu.
Queen did not perform in any item composed by Gagan.
Rani did not perform in any item composed by Badal.
Q3. The sixth performance was composed of
Badal
Ashman
Dyu
Gagan
Q4. Which pair of performances were composed by the same composer?
The second and the sixth
The first and the seventh
The third and the seventh
The first and the sixth
Solution:
Trick 1: Look for concrete information first
P, Q, R, S (Four finalists)
A, B, G, D (Four Composers)
Each dancer performed on items by two different composers.
P and Q have no composer in common.
R and S have no composer in common.
First four performances on items by four different composers and so the last four.
Items by A for two consecutive performances i.e., Dance 4 and Dance 5.
P performed 1st (Item by B) and 5th.
R Performed 4th and 8th (Item by G).
Trick 2: Using the above information, draw a table for the selection.
D (2nd or 3rd item and 6th or 7th item)
G (2nd or 3rd)
B (6th or 7th)
Trick 3: Elimination of Possibilities
Clue:
The number of performances between items assigned by each of the remaining composers was the same.
Case 1: If item 2 is composed of G which is performed by Q (From table) then item 3 will be composed of D which is to be performed by S. Then item 6 is performed by Q and must be composed by D. Item 7 is performed by S and must be composed by B.
Now Sequence of items should be B G D A A D B G which is a violation of the above condition.
Case 2: If item 3 is composed of G which is performed by Q (From table) then item 2 will be composed of D which is to be performed by S. Then item 7 is performed by Q and must be composed by D. Item 6 is performed by S and must be composed by B.
Now Sequence of items should be B D G A A B D G which is a violation of the above condition.
The number of items between B and B is 4.
The number of items between D and D is 4.
The number of items between G and G is 4.
All conditions are satisfied.
Trick 4: Draw Final Table.
Answers:
Q1. (1)
Q2. (3)
Q3. (1)
Q4. (4)
Ranking, Blood Relations, Directions
Puzzles on Selection (Basics)
CAT syllabus 2024: References to Study (Theory):
LRDI for CAT by Nishit K. Sinha
https://online.2iim.com › blogs › cat-preparation-strategy
Cat preparation-iQuanta (YouTube Channel)
CAT exam: References to Study (Practice):
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R S Agrawal
In this section, we will make strategies for Solving Reading Comprehension with the help of the previous year's questions from the CAT Exam.
Comprehension:
Read the passage and answer the question based on it.
Understanding where you are in the world is a basic survival skill, which is why we, like most species, come hard-wired with specialized brain areas to create cognitive maps of our surroundings. Where humans are unique, though, with the possible exception of honeybees, is that we try to communicate this understanding of the world with others. We have a long history of doing this by drawing maps – the earliest version yet discovered was scrawled on cave walls 14,000 years ago. Human cultures have been drawing them on stone tablets, papyrus, paper and now computer screens ever since.
Given such a long history of human map-making, it is perhaps surprising that is only within the last few hundred years that North has been consistently considered to be at the top. In fact, for much of human history, the north almost never appeared at the top,
according to Jerry Brotton, a map historian… “North was rarely put at the top for the simple fact that north is where the darkness comes from,” he says. “West is also very unlikely to be put at the top because the west is where the sun disappears.”
Confusingly, early Chinese maps seem to buck this trend. But, Brotton, says, even though they did have compasses at the time, that isn’t the reason that they placed north at the top. Early Chinese compasses were actually oriented to point south, which
was considered to be more desirable than the deepest darkest north. But in Chinese maps, the emperor, who lived in the north of the country was always put at the top of the map, with everyone else, his loyal subjects, looking up towards him. “In Chinese culture, the emperor looks south because it’s where the winds come from, it’s a good direction. North is not very good but you are in a position of subjection to the emperor, so you look up to him,” says Brotton.
Given that each culture has a very different idea of who, or what, they should look up to it’s perhaps not surprising that there is very little consistency in which way early maps pointed. In ancient Egyptian times, the top of the world was east, the position of
sunrise. Early Islamic maps favoured south at the top because most of the early Muslim cultures were north of Mecca, so they imagined looking up (south) towards it Christian maps from the same era (called Mappa Mundi) put east at the top, towards the Garden of Eden and with Jerusalem in the centre.
So, when did everyone get together and decide that the north was the top? It’s tempting to put it down to European explorers like Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan who were navigating by the North Star. But Brotton argues that these early explorers didn’t think of the world like that at all. “When Columbus describes the world, it is in accordance with the east being at the top,” he says “Columbus says he is going towards paradise, so his mentality is from a medieval Mappa Mundi.” We’ve got to remember, adds Brotton, that at the time, “no one knows what they are doing and where they are going.”
Q1. Which one of the following best describes what the passage is trying to do?
It questions an explanation of how maps are designed.
It corrects a misconception about the way maps are designed.
It critiques a methodology used to create maps
It explores some myths about maps
Answer: B
Trick: See the first 2-3 lines of the first paragraph and the last 2-3 lines of the last paragraph to get an idea of the passage.
Q2. Early maps did NOT put the north at the top for all the following reasons EXCEPT
the North was the source of darkness
the South was favoured by some emperors.
East and south were more important for religious reasons for some civilisations
East was considered by some civilisations to be a more positive direction
Answer: B
Trick: Search the given line in the paragraph
Option A: Given in the second paragraph (True)
Option C: From third paragraph (True)
Option D: From the third and fourth paragraph (True)
Q3. According to the passage, early Chinese maps placed north at the top because
the Chinese invented the compass and were aware of magnetic north
they wanted to show respect to the emperor.
the Chinese emperor appreciated the winds from the south.
north was considered the most desirable direction.
Answer: B
Trick: Search the question in the passage
See the third paragraph to find the answer.
CAT 2024: Prerequisite:
Tenses and Parts of Speech
Comprehension reading skills
Read first then attempt
After reading the questions, refer to the paragraph.
Rationale (Eliminate wrong options generally with words like ‘never’, ‘always’, and ‘maybe’
CAT exam 2024: References to Study (Theory):
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension for CAT by Meenakshi Upadhyay and Arun Sharma (9th Edition)
CAT exam: References to Study (Practice):
CAT Previous year Papers.
2iim (Web)
CAT 2024 Quantitative Aptitude Study Material PDF - Geometry and Mensuration | CAT 2024 preparation tips with 30-day study material by Experts |
The student cannot join the postgraduate MA program directly in the second year of the MA after completing the MBA.
Universities generally expect students to begin the first year of a masters' program even though they had qualifications at the level of a bachelor's degree. The university's curriculum along with the courses are planned to give an in-depth knowledge of the subjects.
But you could opt for:
Postgraduate Studies:
Research Career: In case research interests you, then you can pursue a Ph.D. in your specific interest.
Specialized Master's Programs: Find any specific master's course that supports the career goal.
Professional Certifications:
Make a professional certification in CFA, CA, or FRM to enhance the professional skills and better opportunities in the career field.
Job Entry via MBA
After gaining an MBA from a renowned institution, it's possible to get entry into the corporate world where the diversity in the career field is assured.
In the end, it would depend on what you would like and what you are particularly interested in. It will be better if you take a suggestion from your academic advisor or career counselor.
Hello Pratik,
If your family income exceeds 8 LPA, it will affect your eligibility for the NC-OBC category under the CAT reservation rules. The NC-OBC category requires that the family income should be below 8 LPA to qualify. If you anticipate that your income will exceed this threshold, you should update your status and notify the CAT authorities .
Here's what you can do:
Email the CAT authorities
: Inform them about the potential change in your income status and request to be considered under the
General
category, if applicable. You should do this before the examination or any further processing, as your eligibility for the OBC category depends on the income criteria.
Documents and Proof
: Make sure you have a valid
OBC certificate
and any relevant documentation regarding your family income, in case they require verification. Also, be aware that if your income exceeds 8 LPA, you might need to apply under the
General
category, as the OBC-NC reservation is no longer applicable.
General Category Consideration : If your application is accepted as General, you will be evaluated based on the General category criteria, including cutoffs and ranking.
To summarize, notifying the CAT authorities is the correct approach to avoid discrepancies later, and if your income is above the threshold, you will be treated as a General candidate for the admissions process.
For more details about CAT exam you can check out an article by Careers360 whose link is given below:
Link: https://bschool.careers360.com/exams/cat
I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.
Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.
Hi Shreya ,
Having a tattoo on your wrist should not create a problem during the CAT exam as long as it does not contain any content that violates exam rules , such as communication-related symbols , unauthorised messages or any text resembling formulas or answers .
For a safe side , it is recommended :
1. Inform the Invigilators : Let them know about your tattoo during the identification check , so there are no misunderstandings .
2. Follow the Guidelines : Ensure you follow all instructions regarding permissible items and dress code on the exam day .
Hope this helps you .
ALL THE BEST .
To know about this please prefer our college predictor
Hello,
Yes, you can also join IIMs two years after graduation, depending upon the justification in interviews and your performance in entrance exams. If you are not sure about CAT, try those other management exams less hard:
Common Management Admission Test: Easier than CAT; 4-5 months of continuous preparation will suffice.
MAT : Much easier and takes place thrice a year.
SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test): A bit easier than CAT, apt for Symbiosis Institutes.
Xavier Aptitude Test or XAT : Hence, easier than CAT but the unique decision-making section.
Use exams like CMAT and MAT as a challenge to be competitively prepared. This can be given about 4-5 months, along with a few rounds of mock tests and smart studying.
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 (BDE) is a professional responsible for identifying growth opportunities and fostering strategic partnerships to enhance a company's market position. Typically, a BDE conducts market research, analyses industry trends, and identifies potential clients or business prospects. He or she plays a crucial role in developing and implementing sales strategies to achieve revenue targets.
A BDE often collaborates with cross-functional teams, including marketing and product development, to align business objectives. Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills are essential for success in this role. BDE strives to expand the company's customer base, drive sales, and contribute to overall organisational growth in a dynamic and competitive business environment.
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 is a revenue-generating source for a company. Any organisation or company which sells a commodity or service requires sales to generate revenue. A Sales manager is a professional responsible for supervising the sales team. An Individual as a sales manager works closely with salespeople, assigns sales territories, sets quotas, mentors the members of the sales, assigns sales training, and builds a sales plan.
The Sales Manager work also includes hiring and laying off sales personnel after evaluating his or her work performance. In bigger entities, sales quotas and plans are usually set at the executive level. He or she is responsible for overseeing the set target or quotas met by salespeople or upholding any policy. He or she guides his or her fellow salespeople and allows them to sell.
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.
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.
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Application Deadline: 1st Dec 2024
Highest CTC: INR 28.25 LPA | Average for Top 100 offers: INR 17.34 LPA | Ranked #63 in India under Management category by NIRF | 148 Recruiters
180+ Companies | Highest CTC 15 LPA | Average CTC 7.5 LPA | Ranked as Platinum Institute by AICTE for 6 years in a row | Awarded Best Business School of the Year
Ranked No. 1 Business School in India and no.35 in world by Financial Times MiM 2024 Ranking | Highest CTC: INR 81 LPA
Highest CTC 70 LPA | Avg CTC 11.22 LPA | Ranked #55 by NIRF
9 IBS Campuses | Scholarships Worth Rs 10 CR