CAT Preparation Tips for Logical Ability and Data Interpretation – Part 6

Here is the most useful preparation guide for CAT test. CAT exam conducted online by IIMs for admission to PGDM programmes consists of Logical Ability and Data Interpretation sections. Here we are giving some useful tips for the preparation. The questions in Logic can be broadly said to come from three areas viz. Puzzles, Venn Diagrams & Cubes, Deductions and Logical Connectives.

Of these, the Questions on puzzles have been most common followed by Deductions and Venn Diagrams. Working out problems from the Study Material Booklets is often the best way to prepare for the different varieties of Questions that appear in CAT. Puzzle books like those by Shakuntala Devi, George Summers etc. provide exposure to high level logic puzzles and the approaches to tackle them.

Data Interpretation: The skills required to crack questions in DI are

1. Ability to analysis and understand difficult / complicated data: This is a skill which one can acquire through regular practice. The practice needs to involve questions of various difficulty
levels and types. One approach would be to start solving all the DI sets from your study material. Once this is done, it is time to move online using ‘Online Practice Tests’.

2. Ability to do calculations quickly: Speed of calculations is where the students should focus on, along with practicing different sets. Acquiring this skill is often easier said than done as it is difficult to get over the old habits of scribbling numbers on a paper even for simple additions.

Other Sections in CAT Exam:

Verbal Ability Preparation

Quantitative Ability Preparation

CAT Preparation Tips for Quantitative Ability – Part 5

Quantitative Ability is the most important section in CAT examination conducted for admission to PGDM in IIMs. List out the areas / topics to focus on: As the sections are timed individually, selective preparation is very risky, as one may end up getting questions from the areas that he/she has left out of preparation. There fore, till the last 3-4 weeks running up to the exam, the students should focus on getting better on all the topics in Quant. Then the focus should be shifted to concentrating on specific areas which would give them the maximum return for their time. A two pronged approach needs to be adopted for this

Mock-CAT Performance Analysis: Students should have a clear understanding of their comfort level in all Quant topics. Mock-CAT performances should be analyzed at a topic level. The areas where the students have been scoring below par repeatedly and the areas where the scores have been fluctuating should be the areas of focus.

Previous CAT paper analysis: The areas which have been consistently contributing to the CAT exam over the years should be identified and attention should be given to them. Follow these simple steps while preparing:

1) Understand the basics concepts of the selected topic thoroughly

2) Write down all the formulae and concepts related to the topic on a chart to use as a ready reckoner

3) Ensure that you know when a particular formula is to be used

4) Solve at least 30-40 questions (CAT level) from the topic.

Also See: Verbal Ability Preparation Strategy