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Common Admission Test (CAT) is the toughest entrance exam expected to take place on November 24, 2024, for candidates who want to pursue an MBA. The CAT exam 2024 is basically required for admission to MBA and applied programmes offered by IIMs. Besides, many top MBA colleges accept scores from the CAT to shortlist students for the admission process. The CAT exam is a test of candidates' ability to solve problems in a time-bound manner.
The CAT exam consists of three main sections: Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR). Each section has a specific number of questions and an allotted time of 40 minutes. The QA section includes 22 questions, focusing on mathematical skills and problem-solving abilities. The VARC section has 24 questions, testing comprehension and verbal skills. The DILR section contains 20 questions, assessing the candidate's ability to interpret data and solve logical problems. The entire exam has a total of 66 questions, to be completed in 120 minutes, requiring efficient time management and strategic answering.
Section | No of Questions | Time Allotted |
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 40 Minutes |
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 Minutes |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 40 Minutes |
Total | 66 | 120 Minutes |
Candidates appearing for CAT 2024 must be significantly good at time management. The paper for the CAT exam 2024 will have three sections, and for each section, candidates will be given 40 minutes. Also, moving from one section to another is not allowed.
Keeping this in mind, it is vital that MBA aspirants learn time management skills to manage time effectively before and during the exam, to ace the CAT exam. Going by past trends, the number of questions will vary across the sections. But the time for each section will be the same. For that, candidates must know how to answer CAT questions in each section within the stipulated time. Here in this article, you will know tips on how to manage time.
Check out below the section-wise time management tips for the CAT exam 2024.
Now that you are familiar with the CAT syllabus, you must have been able to identify your strong and weak areas. This will enable you to understand how much time you require to complete the CAT syllabus for each section. For a person who is from either a science background or an engineering background, he or she might have an edge in quantitative ability, data interpretation, and logical reasoning.
They might take less time to complete the CAT 2024 syllabus as compared to the verbal ability and reading comprehension sections. Vice versa would be the case with the student who is from a humanities background.
Candidates must devote at least two months each from January onwards and become well-versed in the syllabus of CAT by July. For each section, candidates must devote two months each. Depending on your weakness and strength, one can decipher how much time you need for a particular section, as in, they can complete it in a month and devote approximately three months to the other one.
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Candidates must divide their week by devoting two days to each CAT section, and one day they must keep revising all three sections and whatever they studied during that week. On a daily basis, depending on one's grasping power, one should divide the hours in a day. Devote four hours to each section. Similarly, at the beginning of the week and the month, draw a plan stating what you will cover and make sure that you meet those deadlines, or else all the effort will be futile.
At the start of the CAT preparation, one should focus on the detailed topics of each section because one needs more time to understand these topics. So, initially, one will have an ample amount of time and would be able to allocate more time to understand the topics which they might find complex or detailed. Aspirants can get the advantage of the strategy two or three months before the CAT 2024 exam because then they will have to concentrate on the small and easy topics and would have to just brush up on the detailed topics.
Once the candidate has completed his or her CAT syllabus and is confident about it, they must start taking the CAT mock test. Candidates can start taking CAT mock tests for each section. It is when approximately three to four months are left for the exam that the candidates should take the CAT mock test along with CAT previous year papers, as this will help them to know how well they have studied and which areas they are lagging behind.
While the sectional time limit sounds like a limitation, it is actually a boon in disguise for all MBA aspirants. Below, we have decided how to handle the challenge of the time limit that you face while appearing for the CAT 2024.
Must-Read- List of CAT Toppers
The thumb rule for attempting any exam is to start with comfortable CAT questions, as they are expected to be less time-consuming. CAT Topper, Abhilasha Balakrishnan says, "From my CAT mock test preparation, I already knew one thing, that is, the one thing that puts me off is the timer. I always start getting worried whenever I see a timer. So I made it a point that I would never see a timer unless only a few minutes were left.
That really helped me to keep calm. Since one of my strong sections was VARC, the first section was pretty good, so I had the confidence that I could scale through with the exam."
Yes, you read it right. Practicing the art of leaving questions is how you will survive on the CAT exam day. It is one of the most important tricks you should have up your sleeve to crack CAT 2024. You have to let go of the rotten eggs so you go to the golden ones which are easy to crack. It must be noted that just giving as many answers as attempting the doubtful questions will lead to a negative marking thereby lowering your entire CAT marks.
Be sensible and quick enough to recognize the difficulty level of the questions that come at you and accordingly invest time on them as and when required or simply skip them.
Keep a maximum of two to three minutes for a question. If you are not able to figure out the way to solve it, move ahead to the next question. Another CAT topper, Ashish Sen says, " For the exam, I just keep an eye out for the timer, so that I don't end up spending too much time on one question. Also, I had kept the last 12 mins of the VARC section solely for the VA questions irrespective of how far I had progressed on the RC part."
Considering the paucity of time, with each section in the CAT exam given 40 minutes as per last year's CAT exam pattern, spending it pondering on one question can prove to be lethal. Thus, spend a maximum of 2 to 3 minutes on one question. If you are still unable to recollect go to the next question.
Also Read- CAT Exam: 10 Dos and Don'ts for the exam day
While juggling between sections is not allowed in CAT 2024, the possibility of candidates switching between questions within a section can also lower their chances of scoring. Thus, dividing each section into three rounds will help ease the process.
Revision is equally important for ensuring a good percentile. After the completion of the CAT paper, revise the answers to ensure that there are no mistakes. Allot at least 10 minutes at the end of the CAT exam for the revision of each section. Tanya Gupta, an IIM Kozhikode student mentions, “I made sure that I attempted all the questions that I was sure of. After this, I revised my answers in whatever time I was left with.”
Mark the time-consuming questions for review and revisit them once you complete the section. After a thorough revision, try and solve those questions. “In the first step, I solved all the questions which I could do in one go till the end. In the second step, I attempted those questions which I thought I would be able to do after giving it a try. After attempting all such questions, if there was some time left, I attempted those which I thought were the hardest for me,” mentions CAT topper Shubrajyoti Saha of IIM Shillong.
Effective time management is crucial for success in the CAT exam, as each section—Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR). andidates need to allocate their time wisely within each section to maximize accuracy and attempt as many questions as possible. Balancing speed with precision is key, ensuring that sufficient time is given to all questions without compromising on accuracy.
CAT Management Tips for VARC 2024 | CAT Management Tips for QA 2024 | CAT Management Tips for DILR 2024 |
Focus on improving reading speed and comprehension. | Start with basic concepts and gradually move to complex topics. | Practice different types of DI and LR sets daily. |
Practice para jumbles and odd one out questions regularly. | Solve a variety of questions to strengthen problem-solving skills. | Analyze each set to identify patterns and shortcuts. |
Regularly read newspapers, magazines, and editorials. | Focus on accuracy before attempting to increase speed. | Work on improving calculation speed and accuracy. |
Take mock tests to get used to the exam pattern. | Take mock tests and analyze your performance to find weak areas. | Time yourself while solving DILR sets to improve efficiency. |
Work on vocabulary by learning new words daily. | Practice mental math to reduce dependency on calculators. | Regularly review and revise key concepts and techniques. |
As per experts, dividing the CAT exam into sections limits candidates from spending much time switching between them. As they are supposed to attempt one section at a time, it also gradually increases the chances of gaining higher sectional scores. Moreover, taking a buffer time of approximately 10 minutes for each section also aids in saving more time at their disposal and completing the CAT exam beforehand.
The advantages that applicants can have with this pattern of the CAT 2024 exam that has been a constant over the last couple of years are:
Right after entering the examination hall, the countdown begins, and aspirants taking the CAT exam have only two hours to complete all the questions. It is necessary to manage 120 minutes accordingly. The most important thing is to keep calm and not let the anxiety take over. Here are some suggestions that one should follow on the day of the exam.
The CAT exam has a sectional time limit, which means each section needs to be completed in 40 minutes. Due to the sectional time, limited candidates cannot switch to the other section. As per last year's trend, the sequence is VARC, DILR, and QA.
When one starts to solve questions from any section, they should take a look throughout the section and try to mark which one they will attempt first. Candidates can select such questions on the basis of their strength or interest level or the difficulty level of the section.
While taking questions from the RC or DILR section, always read CAT passages or questions thoroughly. Through this, candidates get an idea of what set or passages hold in it.
If, in this case, any particular CAT question is taking more than your estimated time, then it is better to skip such a question and solve it later if the sectional time limit permits.
While taking the DILR section, it may be hard to solve all the CAT DILR questions. The expert says, even if a candidate is able to solve all the questions from the DILR section, they still solve any 2 questions per set, leave the rest for that moment, and solve them later if they still have time left in hand for the DILR section.
Try to keep 2-3 minutes for revision. So, one can take a look at all the attempted CAT 2024 questions in a particular section.
Here are some of the most important tips that candidates must consider to avoid so that they can successfully manage their time during the CAT exam.
Don’t Spend Too Much Time on One Question: Avoid getting stuck on difficult questions; move on if you can’t solve them quickly.
Don’t Start with the Toughest Section: Begin with the section you are most comfortable with to build confidence and save time.
Don’t Skip Regular Practice and Mock Tests: Consistent practice is essential for improving speed and accuracy.
Don’t Neglect Analyzing Mock Tests: Reviewing your mistakes is crucial for learning and improvement.
Don’t Ignore Time Management Strategies: Practice with a timer to simulate real exam conditions and improve your pacing.
Don’t Overlook Sectional Time Limits: Pay attention to the time allocated for each section to ensure you can attempt all questions.
Don’t Panic Under Pressure: Stay calm and composed to make the best use of your time during the exam.
Stick to Sectional Time Limits: Each section—QA, VARC, and DILR—has a strict 40-minute limit. Ensure to stay within this time frame, as there’s no option to move between sections.
Prioritize Easy Questions First: Start with questions you find easier or more familiar to secure quick marks, leaving more time for tougher problems later.
Avoid Getting Stuck: If a question is taking too long, move on and return to it later if time permits. It's important not to spend too much time on one question.
Monitor Your Progress: Regularly check the time remaining to ensure you’re on track to complete all sections within the allotted time. Adjust your pace as needed.
Book Title | Author(s) |
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT | Arun Sharma |
NCERT Mathematics Books (Class 6 to 10) | NCERT |
Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT | Sarvesh Sharma |
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | Abhijit Guha |
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT | Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay |
30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary | Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis / Simon & Schuster |
High School English Grammar and Composition | Wren & Martin |
PSC for VA for CAT | Nishit Sinha |
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for the CAT | Arun Sharma |
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT | Nishit K. Sinha |
Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency | Ananta Ashisha |
CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | Gautam Puri |
Hello Greetings,
With a CAT 2024 score of 93.94 percentile, you can expect calls from newer IIMs like *IIM Udaipur*, *IIM Raipur*, and *IIM Kashipur*. These institutes have relatively lower cutoffs compared to the older IIMs. Additionally, you may also consider other top MBA colleges like *IIT Madras*, *IIT Roorkee*, or *IIT Kharagpur*, which offer MBA programs with slightly lower cut-offs. To get a better idea of your chances, you can use online CAT College Predictor tools, which estimate the probability of receiving interview calls from different IIMs and other top MBA colleges based on your CAT percentile and academic background .
Have a great day
Hi,
With a CAT 2024 score of 93.94 percentile, you have a good chance of getting calls from several prestigious IIMs. Here are some possibilities
IIMs:
- IIM Indore: 90 percentile (General Category)
- IIM Ahmedabad: 80 percentile (General Category)
- IIM Bangalore: 85 percentile (General Category)
- IIM Calcutta: 85 percentile (General Category)
- IIM Lucknow: 90 percentile (General Category)
- IIM Kozhikode: 85 percentile (General Category)
- IIM Shillong: Sectional Cutoffs
Other Top B-Schools:
- SPJIMR (S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research): 90-95 percentile
- MDI Gurgaon (Management Development Institute): 90-95 percentile
- XIME (Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship): 90-95 percentile
- FMS Delhi (Faculty of Management Studies): 95-99 percentile
- IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay: 90-99 percentile
These are general estimates and cutoffs can vary each year based on the difficulty of the exam and the number of applicants. It's always a good idea to check the official websites of these institutes for the most accurate and updated information.
Hello,
Given that you scored 93.94 percentile for CAT 2024, you should get interview calls from some of the newer and baby IIMs in Nagpur, IIM Amritsar, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Sambalpur, IIM Sirmaur, and IIM Jammu. The list will be pre- cut based on your academic profile, work experience, category, and performance in other criteria like WAT/PI.
In addition to IIMs, you may also consider the top B-schools like IMT Ghaziabad, XIM Bhubaneswar, TAPMI, Great Lakes Institute of Management, FORE School of Management, and KJ Somaiya. All these institutes have good placements and are known for quality management education.
Use the CAT college predictor to explore more of your options. This predicts colleges considering your score, profile, and category, and tools that provide a comprehensive list of institutes that you can consider applying for.
Hi,
Based on the previous year analysis, According to your CAT 2024 percentile you have chances to get call from some of the IIM including:
Some of the good colleges other than IIM in which you have chances to get a seat are the following
You can predict the colleges in which you have chance to get a seat for MBA course using the CAT 2024 college predictor tool.
Hope this information will help you
Based on your CAT and NMAT scores, here's a suggested preference order for the colleges you've applied to, keeping in mind that MBA Finance specializations often have specific cutoffs:
You must make considerations on specialization, placements, faculty, curriculum and campus life and go for the college that you believe suits you the best.
All the very best!
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