ISBR Business School PGDM Admissions 2025
Last Date of Applications- 22nd April | 250+ Companies | Highest CTC 16 LPA | Average CTC 8 LPA | Ranked as Platinum Institute by AICTE for 6 years in a row
It is commonly stated that "winners do things differently." Understanding the format of the CAT exam pattern is one method to improve your chances of success. Looking at prior years' exam patterns will help you understand how the examination is structured and what areas are addressed. This include areas such as Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability. Learning the tactics used by CAT toppers will give you an advantage and help you understand what makes them different. For more information on "How to Crack CAT 2025 Strategies from Toppers" and the recommended books for each part, read the entire article by Careers360.
CAT 2025: VARC, DILR, and Quant: MCQs & Weightages | Chapter-wise MCQs
CAT 2025 Study Material: VARC | Quantitative Aptitude | 60 Days Study Material by Experts
Online MBA: Complete Guide | Top Ranked Colleges | Best Courses by Top Universities
The CAT exam pattern consists of three main sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). The exam is conducted online and typically has 68 questions. The total duration is 2 hours. Questions are a mix of multiple-choice and non-multiple-choice types.
Creating a study plan for CAT involves a few key steps:
Understand the Syllabus: Know the topics covered in each section: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation andLogical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).
Assess Your Strengths and Weaknesses: Identify which areas you're good at and which ones need more work.
Set Realistic Goals: Break down your preparation into weekly or monthly goals, focusing on covering all topics.
Create a Schedule: Allocate specific times each day for studying different sections. Make sure to include time for revision and practice tests.
Practice Regularly: Solve previous years' question papers and take mock tests to get used to the exam pattern and improve your speed and accuracy.
Review and Revise: Regularly review what you've learned and revise important concepts and formulas.
Stay Consistent: Stick to your schedule and make studying a daily habit.
Take Care of Yourself: Ensure you get enough rest, eat well, and take breaks to avoid burnout.
Last Date of Applications- 22nd April | 250+ Companies | Highest CTC 16 LPA | Average CTC 8 LPA | Ranked as Platinum Institute by AICTE for 6 years in a row
Ranked #41 amongst institutions in Management by NIRF | 100% Placement
To prepare well for the CAT 2025 exam, follow unique tactics for each section. Make it a practice to read various sources, such as books and newspapers, to increase your vocabulary and comprehension. To improve your Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) skills, start with the basics and practice different sorts of questions regularly to increase your speed. To maintain speed and accuracy in Quantitative Ability (QA), ensure you have a good understanding of basic arithmetic principles, apply shortcut approaches, and tackle varied problems daily. Following these concentrated techniques will improve your performance in all sections of the CAT exam.
Develop a Reading Habit: Regularly read newspapers, magazines, and books to enhance your comprehension skills. Exploring different genres can broaden your understanding.
Build Your Vocabulary: Make a habit of learning new words and understanding their usage to improve your performance in this section.
Practice Reading Comprehension: Daily practice with reading comprehension passages and summarizing them can boost your speed and accuracy.
Master the concepts: Make sure you understand the concepts of logical reasoning and data interpretation methodologies.
Practice frequently: Solve multiple DILR tasks regularly to spot trends and improve your problem-solving skills.
Take mock exams: Taking mock examinations regularly allows you to simulate exam conditions and identify your weak points for targeted improvement.
400+ Company Visits | Highest CTC Offered: 21 LPA | Average CTC Offered: 8.65 LPA | 100% Placement Assurance | Last Date to Apply: 16th March
Highest CTC: Rs 18.33 LPA | Average CTC: Rs 7.39 LPA | Experiential Learning | Classes by Industry Professionals | Alumni Mentorship Program
Build a Strong Foundation: Focus on mastering basic mathematical concepts, including algebra, geometry, and arithmetic.
Learn Shortcut Techniques: Practice shortcut methods and formulas to solve problems quickly and accurately.
Daily Practice: Solve a variety of quantitative problems every day to keep up your speed and precision.
It is not easy to appear for and pass the CAT exam. CAT preparation requires an immense amount of effort and commitment. There are certain commonalities among toppers' strategies, such as their constant attention to critical subjects. In every section, each CAT topper has a unique viewpoint. For example, most high scorers state that "Even a non-reader can score well in Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section" while discussing VARC sections. In addition to this approach, they follow an organised study schedule and routinely administer CAT practice exams to evaluate their readiness and performance.
Quick Links-
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) is all about understanding the text and comprehending the ideas that the author or writer wants to convey. Usually, the reading comprehension section consists of a total of 4-5 passages with approximately 300 to 400 words and each passage will consist of a minimum of five questions. Read the following tips from CAT toppers on how to prepare for the CAT VARC section.
Ravi Prinshu - On asking for VARC preparation strategy Ravi says- “I used to read a lot of novels and while preparing for VARC, I used to just give the mock tests. To ensure that I could answer the question with ease, again I used to practice a lot of CAT mock test”
Ashish Sen - For VARC preparation, Ashish added “This was the section that troubled me a lot in mocks and I put a lot of effort into it. I used to read articles daily from sites such as aeon (aeon.co) and aldaily(aldaily.com). Along with that, I used to solve at least 3 RC Passages daily. Consistent practice improved my performance in this section considerably."
Shivam Chandak - On the other hand, Shivam Chandak says, "My VA was weak, so I had to really work for it, like a lot of reading but was not pretty consistent with it, which got me really scared. I knew I wasn’t good at VARC. So in the first few CAT mock tests, I tried to understand the questions I could solve correctly in the section. This is where analysing the mocks comes to the rescue. Once I understood that I wasn’t comfortable with inference-based questions and para jumbles, I started practising more RCs and more para jumbles daily. Also, I started reading an article or two daily for one month to increase my reading speed."
Books Name | Author |
Word Power Made Easy | Norman Lewis |
Mastering the Verbal Ability for CAT | Ajay Singh |
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT | Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay |
While preparing for the Quantitative Ability section one should focus on their mathematical skills, numerical ability as well as problem-solving skill. Most of the questions asked in the QA section are related to elementary mathematics. As per experts, those who have good command over fundamental concepts can easily ace this section.
CAT topper, Ashish shares his CAT Quantitative Ability preparation tips. He says “I first focused on strengthening my concepts in all the topics asked in CAT, for this I completed the entire module provided by TIME, after which I was pretty confident about my Quantitative section."
CAT topper, Ravi Prinshu also shares his QA preparation tips. He quoted “I searched Facebook groups from where I could get to know about the formulae and their short cut and I could execute them while solving the questions. For Quantitative ability, I used to give four to five hours in a week. After every CAT mock test, I used to analyse the questions and see where I had made a mistake and work accordingly and ensure that i fix my mistakes at the earliest."
The Quantitative Ability section is considered as the most challenging section for all CAT aspirants. Aditya Devalla (CAT topper) shares his QA preparation journey and says, “For Quantitative Aptitude, I made the short notes of all the important concepts of quantitative aptitude. I managed my time for each section equally. I appeared in sectional and overall tests every week to know my performance. Also, it is very important to go through your wrong answers, this is what I used to do after all tests.”
Book name | Author |
How to prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT | Arun Sharma |
Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT | Nishit K. Sinha |
To attain a high sectional and total score on the DILR exam, applicants must follow an effective preparation plan throughout. Following the QA section, the most difficult section in the CAT syllabus 2025 is Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. Consistent and intense preparation can give you an advantage in the DILR section. In the DILR section, evaluate the toppers' techniques and advice.
For Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, Shivam Kumar (CAT 2020 topper) says “For DILR, I religiously solved all the sets which were there in the mocks. I maintained a list that detailed my analysis of all types of sets. It helped me in categorising the sets into easy, medium, and tough buckets."
Aditya Devalla also shares his preparation strategy for DILR section. He quotes “ For DILR, I practised a lot. The more you practice the better you will be. The practice helped me to attain accuracy in the CAT exam. I would further move on to the last minutes, I would just solve the questions which could be solved with either specific data or less data and eventually would end up doing 4-5 complete sets and around 2 partial. Even on the D-day, I attempted 6 complete sets and 2 sets partially. DILR is more about accuracy than speed. On the exam day, I found the Quantitative section easy and I can say I solved easily. The DILR section was definitely the toughest this year. It was not easy to answer the questions in one go. Meanwhile, Data interpretation and logical reasoning questions were on moderate level, you can answer if you practiced and appeared for CAT mock tests."
Book name | Author |
How to prepare for Data Interpretation for the CAT | Arun Sharma |
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT | Nishit K. Sinha |
To prepare for the CAT exam, students should focus on each section with the strategies like, Read newspapers and books to improve comprehension and vocabulary, Understand key concepts and practice different problem types regularly. Master basic math concepts, use shortcut techniques, and solve problems daily.
CAT toppers focus on key topics and follow a structured study plan. They believe even non-readers can do well in the Verbal Ability section and regularly take mock tests to track their progress.
Yes, many candidates find it difficult because it includes lot of calculations, analysis and interpretation
For DILR, understand key concepts and solve various problems regularly to recognize patterns. Take mock tests to simulate exam conditions and identify weak areas.
To excel in QA, master basic math concepts like algebra and geometry. Use shortcut techniques for faster problem-solving and practice different problems daily to maintain speed and accuracy.
Improve your basic math skills and practice consistently. Focus on grasping arithmetic, algebra, and geometry topics, as well as learning shortcut approaches for problem-solving.
Practice solving DILR sets regularly. Categorize them as simple, medium, or difficult, and focus on improving accuracy over speed.
Solve several sets from prior mocks. To improve, focus on accuracy and examine your faults after each mock.
Yes, sample exams are essential for learning the exam format, increasing speed, and identifying areas of weakness. Always evaluate your performance following each mock.
Each portion of the CAT exam is crucial, but you should try to complete them all on time. Practising using a timer helps you strike a balance between speed and precision.
Concentrate on practising RC portions and comprehending the sense of the text. Regular practice with these types of questions can help you answer them more efficiently.
Prioritize practising different DILR sets. To increase performance, focus on accuracy rather than speed and practice in exam-like settings.
The CUSAT CAT previous year question papers are available on the Careers360 website. You can find question papers from 2012 to 2023, which can be downloaded in PDF format HERE
Additionally, the official website of Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) also provides previous year question papers. To access them, you can follow these steps:
- Visit the CUSAT official website - admissions.cusat.ac.in.
- Click on the resources tab from the homepage.
- Select the previous year's question papers from the drop-down menu.
- Select the Common Admission Test (CAT) question papers link.
- Now click on the B.Tech course.
By practicing with these previous year question papers, you can get familiar with the exam pattern, identify important topics, and improve your time management skills.
Hey Shathvika,
Let's dive deep into MBA Entrance Exams (Other than CAT)
1. XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)
Conducted by: XLRI, Jamshedpur
Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
Exam Pattern:
- Sections: Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge.
- Duration: 3 hours.
- Marks: No negative marking for General Knowledge.
Key Highlights:
- The Decision-Making section tests analytical and situational judgment skills.
- General Knowledge is evaluated during interviews, not for percentile calculation.
Official Website: https://xatonline.in
---
2. SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test)
Conducted by: Symbiosis International (Deemed) University
Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks (45% for reserved categories).
Exam Pattern:
- Sections: General English, Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency, and Analytical & Logical Reasoning.
- Duration: 1 hour.
- Marks: Total 60 marks (MCQs).
Key Highlights:
- Specifically for admission to Symbiosis institutes like SIBM Pune and SCMHRD.
- Easy-to-moderate difficulty level.
Official Website: https://snaptest.org
---
3. CMAT (Common Management Admission Test)
Conducted by: National Testing Agency (NTA)
Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
Exam Pattern:
- Sections: Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship.
- Duration: 3 hours.
- Marks: 400 marks.
Key Highlights:
- Accepted by over 1,000 AICTE-approved institutes.
- Includes an optional Innovation & Entrepreneurship section.
Official Website: https://cmat.nta.nic.in
---
4. MAT (Management Aptitude Test)
Conducted by: All India Management Association (AIMA)
Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
Exam Pattern:
- Sections: Language Comprehension, Mathematical Skills, Data Analysis & Sufficiency, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, and Indian & Global Environment.
- Duration: 2.5 hours.
- Marks: 200 marks.
Key Highlights:
- Held multiple times a year in PBT, CBT, and IBT modes.
- Accepted by more than 600 MBA colleges in India.
Official Website: https://mat.aima.in
---
5. NMAT (NMIMS Management Aptitude Test)
Conducted by: Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)
Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks.
Exam Pattern:
- Sections: Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning.
- Duration: 2 hours.
- Marks: 360 marks.
Key Highlights:
- Allows three attempts, with the best score considered.
- Accepted by NMIMS and partner universities worldwide.
Official Website: https://www.mba.com/exams/nmat
---
6. IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade)
Conducted by: National Testing Agency (NTA)
Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree (final-year students can also apply).
Exam Pattern:
- Sections: Quantitative Analysis, Reading Comprehension & Verbal Ability, Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation, and General Knowledge.
- Duration: 2 hours.
- Marks: 300 marks.
Key Highlights:
- Specifically for IIFT’s flagship MBA in International Business.
- General Knowledge plays a significant role in shortlisting.
Official Website: https://iift.nta.nic.in
---
7. TISSNET (Tata Institute of Social Sciences National Entrance Test)
Conducted by: Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree.
Exam Pattern:
- Sections: English Proficiency, Mathematics & Logical Reasoning, and General Awareness.
- Duration: 100 minutes.
- Marks: 100 marks.
Key Highlights:
- Focused on social sciences, HRM, and public policy programs.
- General Awareness is crucial (with emphasis on current affairs).
Official Website: https://admissions.tiss.edu
---
8. MICAT (MICA Aptitude Test)
Conducted by: MICA, Ahmedabad
Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree and a valid CAT/XAT/GMAT score.
Exam Pattern:
- Sections: Psychometric Test, Verbal Ability, Quantitative Ability, General Awareness, Divergent-Convergent Thinking, and Descriptive Test.
- Duration: 2.5 hours.
Key Highlights:
- Psychometric Test is a qualifying section.
- Specifically for MICA’s flagship PGDM-C program in Strategic Marketing and Communications.
Official Website: https://www.mica.ac.in
---
9. GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)
Conducted by: Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)
Eligibility: No specific eligibility; bachelor’s degree recommended.
Exam Pattern:
- Sections: Analytical Writing, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Verbal Reasoning.
- Duration: 3 hours 7 minutes.
- Marks: 800 (scaled score).
Key Highlights:
- Globally recognized for MBA programs.
- Popular for Indian B-schools like ISB, SPJIMR, and Great Lakes.
Official Website: https://www.mba.com
---
10. MAH-CET (Maharashtra Common Entrance Test)
Conducted by: Maharashtra State CET Cell
Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for reserved categories).
Exam Pattern:
- Sections: Logical Reasoning, Abstract Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension.
- Duration: 2.5 hours.
- Marks: 200 marks (MCQs).
Key Highlights:
- Accepted by top Maharashtra B-schools like JBIMS, SIMSREE, and PUMBA.
- Known for its speed-intensive nature with 200 questions in 150 minutes.
Official Website: https://cetcell.mahacet.org
Let me know if you have any doubts regarding a specific exam or any other query.
Have a nice day !!
Hello Ayush,
K.R. Mangalam University utilizes a blend of MCQs, descriptive formats, and practical assessments to evaluate student performance. The continuous evaluation system ensures that students are assessed regularly throughout the semester, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of their academic progress.
Hello,
Here are some simple tips to prepare for the CUSAT CAT exam:
1. Focus on Physics, Chemistry, and Maths (PCM).
2. Give equal time to all subjects.
3. Use NCERT Books as they are best for basics.
You can refer to following study materials for better practice :-
Hope it helps !
Hello there,
Yes, you can apply for CAT examination after completion of Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) .
The Common Admission Test (CAT) has no restrictions regarding your educational background thus allowing you to submit your application following your completion of a Pharm. D degree.
The Common Admission Test permits candidates to take the exam after completing any undergraduate degree without any restrictions to the area of study. The professional doctoral degree of Pharm. D (Doctor of Pharmacy) functions as an equivalent to bachelor's level for CAT eligibility recognition.
Therefore, Candidates who received their Pharm. D degree can pursue the CAT exam application process based on their qualification standards.
Hope this will help!
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.
Amongst top 3% universities globally (QS Rankings)
MBA @ P P Savani University | NAAC A+ Grade | 100% Placement Assistance | Apply Now
Ranked #41 amongst institutions in Management by NIRF | 100% Placement
NBA Accredited | AICTE Approved | Avail 50% Off on Application Forms | Last Date: 19th Apr’25 | Use Code: Careers360
International Tie Ups | Project Based Learning | State of the art infrastructure | Attractive Scholarships | Last Date: 10th Apr'25
NAAC A++ Grade | Only Indian University member in the Global Liberal Arts Alliance