Great Lakes - PGPM & PGDM 2025
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Extended Application Deadline: 10th Feb 2024
It is just we are one month away from the most renowned CAT Exam 2025. Achieving an IIM degree requires dedication and hard work. In actual time, the competition for the CAT is becoming tougher each year due to the growing number of students and the increasing difficulty level of the exam. The whole exam is based on a student's performance in Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR). CAT looks for candidates who are good with people and good with numbers as well. The preparation should be logical and analyzed at every step. Staying one month away from the exam means that one candidate needs to plan very strategically. This article on CAT exam will guide you through a four-week preparation schedule that can help you maximize your score.
Here are the important factors that a candidate should consider before starting their CAT preparation in one month journey.
Try to divide your day very effectively, as the majority of students preparing for the CAT exam usually seek a specific number or statistic to understand the level of effort required. However, it's not just about the number of hours spent on preparation but about the quality of learning derived from the process. Throughout your preparation, it's crucial to continually assess your learning and ensure that you're reaching your learning goals. Setting clear goals with deadlines is very important, as it helps you stay focused and motivated. When goals are set with timelines, it becomes easier to track progress and make necessary revisions. It is important to set realistic goals and have a schedule that includes short breaks. Time management in CAT is an essential part of CAT's success. The candidates should also be aware of the CAT sectional time management skills.
Clarity should be there with weak areas and strong areas where you excel and those that require more attention. Now with the details of this assessment, create a CAT study plan that allocates more time to weaker subjects while ensuring adequate coverage of all topics. The target should be to make strong areas stronger and weak areas at least manageable within this short frame of time.
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
The next essential step is to establish a habit of self-assessment, as it illuminates areas for improvement. This enables you to tailor your preparation efforts to capitalize on your strengths and address your weaknesses, ultimately leading to success in the CAT examination. The objective is to further strengthen strong areas and fortify weak areas to confidently navigate the exam. Regularly participate in mock tests and practice quizzes to evaluate your level of preparation and enhance your speed and accuracy in answering questions. Many online platforms provide tailored mock tests for the CAT exam, allowing you to simulate exam conditions and pinpoint areas for improvement.
Believe in your skills and sail the journey with motivation and courage. Along with that, try to maintain a healthy lifestyle during your preparation phase. Get adequate sleep, eat nutritious meals, and engage in regular physical activity to keep your mind and body in optimal condition.
The target of the CAT exam is to test the student's communication, logical, reasoning, and comprehension skills, as well as their ability to work with numbers. The CAT exam consists of three major sections, and the test is conducted online. There is negative marking and the questions are a combination of both MCQs and Tita-based questions. The challenge is more as sectional cut-offs have to be cleared.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): Focuses on reading comprehension, para jumbling, and critical reasoning. Total 24 questions.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): Measures your ability to interpret data sets and solve .Critical Reasoning : Statments conclusions arguments actions and inferences Total 22 questions.
Quantitative Aptitude (QA): This section evaluates your mathematical skills, covering topics like arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and number systems. Total 22 questions.
CAT Exam always believes in Surprises, so while the fundamental sections remain the same, slight changes in the number of questions or the time allotted per section may vary each year. For 2025, keep an eye on any official updates from the CAT website and adjust your CAT strategy accordingly. For last year, 2024, there were major changes in the CAT question paper, with 2 questions added in the DILR section making the total number of questions to 68. So, a candidate has to be mentally prepared for all these sudden changes and needs to be agile with flexible skill sets.
In this last month of the CAT preparation, it's time to review. Review your list of strengths and weaknesses, and make sure there are no major topics in your weaker areas list. If you are still making mistakes in certain areas, go back and re-watch the lessons. If there are topics where you feel you don't have enough time to start from scratch, it's okay to leave them and not spend time on them for the CAT exam. Also, this month, revise all topics by practicing with questions and tests again, but try to solve them in less time this time around.
Make a strategy and fixed timing to revisit the fundamental and basic areas and concepts from each of the 3 sections.
This is the right time to revisit key mathematical concepts, particularly topics like percentages, averages, time and work, and profit and loss. Start with simple questions and gradually work your way up to more complex problems.
The set target should be solving 2 to 3 passages on a daily basis on reading comprehension. Reading 30 pages a day should be included, and that should be done from a variety of resources. Read Sunday newspaper very diligently. Along with that, practice summarizing passages and hone your vocabulary skills using quizzes, flashcards, or apps.
At this stage in DILR, solving two sets on a daily basis should be the set target. Clarity should be present when interpreting graphs, tables, and pie charts. Practice problems that involve calculation-heavy data sets and look for patterns in the data that can help you solve them faster.
Time to be logical with exam strategies and elimination and shortcut processes.
Mastering time management is the set target. Work on dividing your time between sections. For example, for solving one RC passage the set target should be 8 to 10 mins with accuracy.
Be flexible in understanding the different types of questions in each section. For QA, practice solving word problems, geometry, and algebra. For VARC, focus on reading comprehension and para-jumbles. DILR requires solving both simple and complex data sets.
Now, this time, it is very important to have an actual exam vibe, so the focus should shift from learning to practicing under exam-like conditions.
It is very important to solve questions from all three areas by giving equal importance on a daily basis. At least 1 to 2 RCS and non-Rc questions. Along with five quant questions and 5 Lr questions as well as two sets of Di are must.
Keeping a good track of progress is very important. Every segment should be of equal importance. Understanding and honing last-moment upskilling will be a big help. Every day, weak areas should be visited by clearly understanding their importance and with specific targets. It's all about revising, repeating, and reading.
In the final, the countdown to the CAT exam begins, it's crucial to devise a comprehensive strategy for preparation. In addition to CAT preparation books, it's essential to incorporate valuable resources such as newspapers, blogs, and articles for a well-rounded approach. Reading materials like The Hindu and Economic Times can improve reading comprehension and keep you updated with current affairs. Moreover, following reputable online resources like Pagalguy, Word Pandit, Time4Education, Career Launcher, Hitbullseye, Cracku, Unacademy, Careers 360, and Byju’s can provide access to mock tests and valuable preparation tips.
Imbue the final hours of preparation with a fervent revision of pivotal formulas and concepts.
For example-
In Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation: Review essential mathematical formulas, practice problem-solving techniques, and reinforce your grasp on data interpretation methodologies. Engage in solving a variety of logical reasoning puzzles, revisit fundamental principles, and familiarize yourself with different types of logical arguments and structures.
In Language Comprehension: Enhance your reading speed and comprehension skills by practising with diverse passages from newspapers, magazines, and literary works. Focus on expanding your vocabulary and improving your understanding of grammar and syntax.
It's important to review CAT previous year's papers as they provide insight into the paper's algorithm. Taking mock tests is a crucial strategy for success. It's essential to analyze mock tests in a timely manner and focus on specific areas. Analyzing each section provides clarity on overall progress. In addition, solving both practice and previous year papers is important for effective planning.
A balanced study routine is crucial for effective preparation, so try to ensure you get sufficient sleep, eat healthily, and take regular breaks to avoid burnout. Exercise and relaxation techniques can also help manage stress and keep you focused. Try to plan your days left for CAT preparation a daily target for concept, revision, and practice, too.
Strategies for Improving Analytical Reasoning Skills
In mastering Analytical Ability, aspirants should immerse themselves in Logical Reasoning and data interpretation.
Regular practice sessions help develop an intuitive understanding of logical frameworks and sharpen analytical skills.
Cultivating strong problem-solving abilities is essential for preparation.
Solving more puzzles can be a big help.
Work on fundamentals as much as possible to get hold of the topic.
Practice some common topics like Game theory as they are part of every year's cat paper.
Strategies for Improving Analytical Reasoning Skills
Reading Comprehension: Enhance your skills by practicing with a variety of passages and answering related questions.
Vocabulary: Strengthen your vocabulary through regular reading and the use of flashcards.
Read newspapers, magazines, and books to improve reading speed and comprehension.
Participate in discussions and debates to enhance verbal expression.
Use apps and online resources to practice vocabulary exercises.
Strategies for Improving Analytical Reasoning Skills
Arithmetic: Focus on percentages, ratios, averages, and basic arithmetic operations.
Algebra: Practice solving linear and quadratic equations.
Geometry: Study the properties of different shapes and solve related problems.
Graphs: Learn to interpret and analyze data from various graphs.
Practice mental math to improve calculation speed.
Break down complex problems into simpler steps.
Regularly solve practice tests to build familiarity with different types of questions.
Visit your own calendar on a daily basis and be consistent schedule-wise as well as practice-wise.
The holistic approach is very important, so time has to be given area-wise, sectional-wise, as well as overall analysis-wise.
The focus should be to hone your strength areas and your eyes should be on Weak Areas, so practice and practice more.
Daily reading will help to develop lots of skill sets including concentration power so be an active reader to be ready with an updated stock of vocabulary and recent new interesting topics from wide areas.
A calm and composed attitude is a must, so staying Positive and believing in one’s skills are important, so try to maintain a positive attitude and manage stress effectively.
Do’s | Don’ts |
Focus on building a strategy. | Don’t cram; build a steady understanding of concepts. |
Take regular mock tests. | Avoid comparing your preparation with others. |
Prioritize weak areas, but don’t ignore strengths. | Don’t stress over things beyond your control. |
The CAT exam consists of 3 sections and each section typically carries equal weightage.
Try to practice regularly, focus on mastering fundamental concepts, and develop time-saving techniques such as mental math and shortcut methods.
Enhance your logical thinking skills by practicing puzzles, syllogisms, and critical reasoning questions. Also, diagrammatic representations can be used to visualize and solve complex logical problems.
Definitely try to Improve reading comprehension by practicing regularly and increasing reading speed. Like a bird's eye focus on vocabulary building through exercises, flashcards, and contextual learning.
Read on a daily basis from a variety of resources and wide areas, too. Expose yourself to solving at least 3 to 5 RCS per week in this last moment.
Preparing for CAT in just one month is challenging, but it is possible with a focused and strategic approach. In this short time, you should give importance to revising key concepts, especially in Quantitative Aptitude, VARC, and DILR, and focus on improving your weak areas. Take as many mock tests as possible to get comfortable with the CAT exam format, time management, and to analyze your performance. While you may not be able to cover everything, practicing with real exam papers and focusing on important topics can help you maximize your score. Make sure to stay consistent and avoid getting overwhelmed.
Top MBA colleges based on CAT, XAT, SNAP, and NMAT scores include some of India’s best institutions. For CAT, the IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta) and FMS Delhi are highly regarded. XAT results in prestigious colleges like XLRI Jamshedpur and XIMB. SNAP is known for Symbiosis Institutes, such as SIBM Pune and SCMHRD. NMAT scores open doors to NMIMS Mumbai, SPJIMR Mumbai, and ISB Hyderabad. Each exam has unique eligibility requirements, and their cutoffs vary, so it's important to research the specific criteria and select based on your preferences and strengths.
Hello,
Here are important points regarding your query :-
Hope it helps !
Hi,
Based on the previous year analysis, According to your CAT 2024 percentile some of the colleges in which you have chances to get a seat includes:
You can predict more colleges using the CLAT 2024 college predictor tool .
Hope this information will help you
Hello Greetings
With a CAT 2024 percentile of 68.28%, you may face a challenging time getting into IIT Delhi, as their cutoffs are typically higher. However, being an SC female student, you may be eligible for relaxation in the cutoff criteria .
To give you a better idea, here are some general CAT cutoff percentiles for IITs and other top B-schools:
- *IIT Delhi*: Typically above 90 percentile for general category students.
- *Newer IIMs*: Such as IIM Vishakapatnam, IIM Shillong, and IIM Udaipur, may have lower cutoffs, around 80-90 percentile.
- *Other top B-schools*: Like IMT Ghaziabad, XIM Bhubaneswar, and TAPMI, may also consider students with lower percentiles.
It's essential to note that CAT cutoffs can vary from year to year, and other factors like your academic background, work experience, and performance in the personal interview (PI) and written ability test (WAT) also play a significant role in the admission process.
To explore more options and predict your chances of getting into various colleges, you can use online CAT college predictor tools .
Have a great day
Hello Greetings
Considering your 82.58 percentile in CAT and 22 months of industry experience in IT and Financial analysis, you have several options for General Management PGDM or PGPM programs.
*Decent Colleges Accepting Low CAT Percentile:*
- _SPJIMR_: Offers PGDM and PGPM programs, accepting CAT scores, with a minimum eligibility criterion of 50% aggregate in graduation ¹ ².
- _SOIL_: Provides PGPM and PGDM programs, considering CAT scores, with a focus on experiential learning ³.
- Other institutes like _IMT Ghaziabad_, _XIMB_, and _IRMA_ might also accept candidates with lower CAT percentiles, but this may vary depending on the program and intake.
*Key Factors to Consider:*
- _Work Experience_: With 22 months of experience, you might be eligible for PGPM programs, which typically require more work experience than PGDM programs ¹.
- _Career Gap_: Explain your career gap effectively in your application, highlighting any relevant activities or skills gained during that period.
- _Profile-Based Selection_: Some institutes consider profiles, including work experience, academic background, and extracurricular activities, in addition to CAT scores ¹.
*Next Steps:*
1. Research the institutes mentioned above and their programs.
2. Review the eligibility criteria, admission process, and fees for each program.
3. Prepare your application, ensuring you effectively communicate your strengths, work experience, and career goals.
4. Be prepared for interviews, focusing on your profile, experience, and motivation for pursuing a PGDM or PGPM program.
Remember, a lower CAT percentile doesn't necessarily limit your options. Focus on showcasing your strengths, experience, and fit with the program to increase your chances of admission.
Have a great day
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 | 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
Highest CTC 35 LPA | Median CTC 9.27 LPA | 172+ Recruiters
FINAL Deadline: 30th January'25 | No more Deadlines | UGC Approved Programs | 100% Placement Record | Up to 100% Scholarships | Highest CTC 21.74 LPA
Average CTC 15.22 LPA | Ranked 91 by NIRF in Management Category 2024 | Highest Stipend – 1.2 Lakhs | Average CTC 15.22 LPA
India’s first Urban Multidisciplinary University | Case-based pedagogy