Great Lakes - PGPM & PGDM 2025
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How to Crack CAT 2025 in the First Attempt: The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a highly competitive entrance exam for MBA aspirants in India. It is the most difficult MBA entrance exam, and cracking it in the first attempt can be a daunting task. However, with proper planning, preparation, and a strategic approach, it is achievable. If you're planning to take CAT 2025 and want to increase your chances of cracking it on the first attempt, then this article is going to be very helpful for you. Here, you will learn some of the best tips and tricks suggested by toppers on how to crack CAT in first attempt.
Know how to prepare for CAT in 3 months
The first step towards cracking the CAT exam in the first attempt is to understand the exam pattern and CAT syllabus thoroughly. CAT is a computer-based test, consisting of three sections - Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability.
It is essential to have a clear understanding of the exam pattern, the number of questions in each section, the duration of the exam, and the marking scheme. With a clear idea of the CAT exam pattern, you can get your CAT preparation right by improving your weak areas and strengthening your strong areas. Time management is also crucial while preparing for CAT 2025, as it is a time-bound exam, and you will need to solve a large number of questions in a limited amount of time.
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Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Extended Application Deadline: 10th Feb 2024
250+ Companies | Highest CTC 16 LPA | Average CTC 8 LPA | Ranked as Platinum Institute by AICTE for 6 years in a row | Awarded Best Business School of the Year
To crack the CAT exam in first attempt, candidates are advised to follow the steps below;
No one knows you better than you do. So, candidates are advised to assess themselves and try to know where they stand in the race for the most difficult entrance exam for MBA admission in India. When they know their weak and strong points, they will be able to diligently study for CAT 2025. After having analyzed it, candidates will know that they would need the guidance of the coaching institute.
Many resources will be helpful. Also, in this article, some of the best tips on how to clear CAT exam in 1st attempt is given. Coaching may help understand the basic concept of the exam and draw the right CAT preparation study plan. But it is not a guarantee of success.
Through self-preparation, candidates can crack the exam and achieve a good score enough to get a call from the IIMs, and other top MBA colleges in India. All you will need is to remain focused, set targets, and draw the right strategies to crack CAT to achieve the target score.
To get the fruitful results for any task, one must put time and effort into it. It is usually believed that six months to one year is a good amount of time to crack CAT 2025 in the first attempt. One of the biggest advantages of starting early for CAT preparation is that in the fag end, candidates will not panic in case they had difficulty understanding any topic or subject.
Early preparation would mean that they would have a good amount of time to revise whatever they had studied during the early stages of CAT preparation. They would have ample amount of time to prepare for CAT 2025 and would not be jostling towards the end. Therefore, aspirants, who are only aiming to crack CAT 2025, must start preparation as early as possible.
An answer to the question of “how to crack CAT exam for MBA” is that one should have a good grasp of the syllabus of CAT. Though the IIM which conducts the exam does not prescribe any specific CAT syllabus, the relevance of the topics can be understood by going through past years question papers on CAT. Based on the CAT sample papers and question papers, one gets to know the topics and sub-topics from which the questions are primarily asked.
By knowing this, the candidates will be able to determine for themselves how much time they would need to devote to each of the topics. Having a good understanding of the CAT 2025 syllabus will pave the way for being studying well and answering the questions with ease.
After going through the syllabus thoroughly, the candidates need to start section-wise preparation. Here are some tips that are given below for the same.
Preparation for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section - This section broadly consists of questions based on Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Vocabulary, and Verbal Reasoning. Each area in this section needs a different approach to preparation. To prepare for the reading comprehension part, students should inculcate the habit of reading newspapers and novels, for Vocab and Grammar, part one should go for a good book for regular practice of both and should practice lots of questions based on verbal reasoning.
Preparation of Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) section - This section in the CAT is there to check one's analytical skills and logical rationale or reasoning. To deal with this section it is important to understand and clear the basic concepts. The DILR section consisted of questions based on Line charts, Pie charts, Bar charts and Mixed charts. Candidates should regularly practice lots of questions based on the mentioned topics to have a strong grasp and better concept clarification.
Preparation for Quantitative Aptitude section - This section requires lots of practice and excellent command of the formulas, concepts and theorems as it is the section in which questions are asked from Maths topics only. Usually, candidates find this section the most rigorous one among all but having a strong command of basic concepts of the topics would lead you to have an edge over others. This section includes questions based on Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry and Mensuration. Strong mental calculation serves a lot to cater for this section.
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While you prepare for each section, make sure that you proceed towards learning the basic concepts first and then move towards more difficult ones. If your basics are strong then you will be able to do well as you will be able to solve the most complex problems without much difficulty. You should build your preparation on the principle that a durable house has a strong foundation and will be able to survive in all kinds of adverse situations. Similar is the case with CAT preparation.
With regards to reading comprehension, start with reading books written in simple language and after each paragraph or completion of a chapter comprehend what was mentioned in it. In the initial stages, it might be difficult, but later on, it will prove beneficial. Similarly with quantitative ability, first be thorough with your class ninth and tenth maths and after knowing the formulae and their applications in easy questions move on to the more difficult ones.
It is normally stated that time lost never returns. Therefore, the candidates must divide the time that they have in hand as they prepare for CAT and how to crack IIM entrance exam itself. An average to brilliant student might easily prepare for CAT in six months. Therefore, going by the past years' trends, one can assume that questions will be asked from three sections.
Hence out of the six months, candidates must try to finish all three sections within a span of three to four months and keep the last two months before the exam to take the mock tests as they will be able to know the type of questions that are asked in the entrance exam.
Mock tests are an elixir to the preparation of any entrance exam. Candidates must take two to three mock tests in a week and should analyze them thoroughly to make their SWOT analysis. While taking the CAT mock tests, candidates must ensure that they adhere to the sectional and overall time limit.
It is then only that they will be able to solve the questions with ease on the day of the exam. If one adopts a leisurely approach, then in such a case they would be decisive themselves and once the CAT result is out, then it might not be to their liking. The primary objective of the mock tests is to identify one’s strong and weak areas.
Candidates should also practice from the model test papers of the different coaching centres as they are updated and consist of new types of questions based on the same concept that you have studied throughout the preparation. Aspirants should practice a question of a new type at least two to three times to understand the pattern
The above-mentioned preparation tips will help you to land in one of the premier MBA colleges in India. So, pull up your socks and start preparing for CAT 2025.
Here are some tips and strategies by previous year toppers. Rahul Gupta (100 percentiler) of CAT 2019 shares his section-wise preparation strategy of CAT. Rahul says “Since I appeared for the CAT last year, also, this time I gave four to five months for serious preparation for the CAT. I started preparing for the CAT in June and took up the basics in each section”. Check the section-wise preparation strategy of Rahul.
For the English Section - As far as my preparation for reading comprehension and verbal ability is concerned, I used to read a lot of fiction novels as well as newspapers. In order to ensure that I could answer the questions with ease, again I used to practice with CAT mock tests.
For DI and LR Section - I used to practice a lot of questions from particular topics and also focussed a lot on them while taking the mock test.
For Quantitative Ability - I studied basic theory, arithmetic, and number systems. Two months before the exam I used to regularly take mock tests and used to devote at least four to five hours. I practised a lot of questions on Geometry so that I can solve it with ease as solving more questions gave me the confidence to respond correctly on the day of the exam
Preparing for CAT in just three months requires focused and efficient planning. Here’s how you can approach it:
Firstly, familiarize yourself with the CAT exam pattern and syllabus. Understand the types of questions in each section: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). This will help you prioritize your study areas.
Secondly, create a detailed study plan for each section. Allocate time based on your strengths and weaknesses. Focus on improving your weaker areas while maintaining your strengths through regular practice.
Thirdly, practice consistently. Solve previous years’ CAT papers and mock tests to get accustomed to the exam format and time constraints. Analyze your performance to identify areas needing more attention.
Lastly, revise strategically. In the final weeks leading up to the exam, focus on revisiting concepts, formulas, and shortcuts. Stay calm and confident, and remember to take care of your health and well-being during this intensive period of preparation. With dedication and smart studying, you can make significant progress in preparing for CAT within three months.
The CAT entrance exam is not as easy to crack. It is one of the toughest MBA entrance exams in India and requires thorough practice and preparation.
With the proper strategy and dedication, a focused aspirant can aim for the top CAT percentiles even on the first attempt.
Hello there,
Congratulations on securing a C-CAT Rank of 803 in Category II (A+B) ! With this rank, you have a good chance of securing admission to reputable institutes for the PG-DAC course .
Institute Options Based on Your Rank:
Based on previous cutoff trends, here are some institutes you might consider:
Sunbeam Pune
: Typically accepts ranks below 650. While your rank is slightly above this, it's still worth considering due to possible variations in cutoffs.
IACSD Akurdi Pune
: Generally accepts ranks below 1500, making it a viable option for you.
Sunbeam Karad
: Accepts ranks below 1100, which aligns well with your rank.
VITA Mumbai
: Typically accepts ranks below 1400, making it another suitable choice.
CDAC Kharghar Mumbai
: Accepts ranks below 2400, providing a comfortable margin for your rank.
CDAC Knowledge Park (Bangalore) : Generally accepts ranks below 1900, making it a feasible option.
Preference Filling Strategy:
When filling your institute preferences, consider the following approach:
Prioritize Institutes with Higher Cutoffs
: Start with institutes that have higher cutoff ranks than yours to maximize your chances.
Consider Location and Facilities
: Factor in the institute's location, infrastructure, faculty, and placement records.
Backup Options : Include a few institutes with cutoffs comfortably above your rank as backups.
Suggested Preference Order:
IACSD Akurdi Pune
Sunbeam Karad
VITA Mumbai
CDAC Kharghar Mumbai
CDAC Knowledge Park (Bangalore)
CDAC JUHU Mumbai
YCP Mumbai
MET Mumbai
CDAC Electronic City (Bangalore)
CDAC Hyderabad
Important Considerations:
Cutoff Variations
: Cutoffs can vary each year based on factors like the number of applicants and their performance.
Stay Updated
: Regularly check the official CDAC website and individual institute announcements for the most current information.
Consult Alumni : If possible, reach out to current students or alumni for insights into the institutes you're considering.
By carefully selecting your preferences and staying informed, you can enhance your chances of securing admission to a reputable institute for your PG-DAC course.
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.
Hello,
Here are some good institutes where you can apply for the PG-DAC course based on your C-CAT rank of 803:
Preference Order for Filling Institutes:
Be sure to check the latest cutoff trends for a more accurate preference list.
You can also use the CAT college predictor tool to predict which college you can get based on your rank or score.
Hope it helps !
Hi,
Based on the previous year analysis, According to your JEE MAINS percentile some of the best management colleges in which you would have chances to admission includes:
You can predict more colleges using the CAT college predictor tool
Hope this information will help you
Hello,
Yes, B Category (Management Quota) students can prepare for exams like UPSC or Bank PO. The type of admission (merit-based or management quota) does not impact your eligibility for these competitive exams.
Hello,
Your chances of being shortlisted for BITS School of Management (BITSOM) with a 90 percentile in CAT 2024, a 9/9/8 academic profile, and 19 months of work experience in a Private Bank Corporation (PBC) are quite good.
Your profile is competitive, and you stand a good chance of being shortlisted for BITSOM. Focus on crafting a strong application, including your SOP and preparing for the interview.
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