Preparing for an exam like CAT can easily set you back by tens of thousands of rupees, specifically if you invest in coaching classes, mock test series and study material. However, with excellent learning resources available at the tip of your fingers at no cost, is spending so much money prudent? While classroom learning through traditional and expensive methods is always an option, we've compiled this list of the best free resources you can explore to minimize your costs of preparing for CAT 2024!
CAT 2023 Resources - Free Concept Videos And Other Material For CAT 2024 Preparation
1.
Rodha Education YouTube Channel - Rodha is the go-to YouTube channel for CAT aspirants for concept videos. You can learn all VA-RC, DI-LR and QA concepts for free on the Rodha YouTube channel. The channel promises to begin with basics and take the difficulty level of practice questions to 30% above that of CAT.
2.
Khan Academy YouTube Channel - Khan Academy is one of the world's most popular free learning platforms offering courses on their official website and YouTube channel. Their YouTube channel, founded by HBS and MIT graduate Sal Khan, comprises innumerable concept videos for a plethora of subjects, including core mathematics concepts. These are immensely helpful and teach concepts from beginner to advanced level, for free! If you're looking to clarify important QA concepts, this is a must-visit channel for you.
3.
2iim YouTube Channel - 2iim is a CAT-coaching platform founded by Rajesh Balasubramanian, a 4-time CAT 100 percentiler, an alumnus of IIM Bangalore, and a popular Quoran. The channel produces videos ranging from detailed solutions for previous years' CAT papers to FAQs related to preparing for the exam. The channel also provides longer-term CAT preparation strategies.
4.
TIME YouTube Channel - TIME is one of the leading CAT-coaching organizations in India, and has made their concept videos available on their official YouTube channel. These concept videos cover all three sections of CAT are taught by TIME faculty.
5.
Takshzila's Free FundaBooks - Takshzila, one of the most popular and loved learning forums for CAT aspirants, has made available downloadable PDFs of important CAT QA concepts, segmented by major topics like Arithmetic, Algebra, Number Systems etc. These are free of cost and include practice questions as well.
Takshzila also provides fantastic and reasonably priced (earlier freely available on their YouTube channel) concept videos on the Takshzila Learnyst website. These also include topic-wise practice tests, and their courses are highly revered in the CAT-preparation universe. They also take online classes for all three sections of CAT.
6. Study Material By
TathaGat,
Wordpandit - Tathagat and Wordpandit are online learning platforms for CAT aspirants, and both provide downloadable concept lessons for all three sections of CAT, with a greater focus on Quantitative Ability lessons. This study material can be found on the respective websites of these platforms.
7.
Best Downloads of GMATClub - GMATClub is one of the world's biggest forums that brings together GMAT aspirants looking to make it to the world's top business schools. There is a significant overlap in the syllabus of and the type of questions asked on the GMAT and the CAT, and aspirants of the latter exam can download free study material and question banks provided by the forum.
8.
The Best Resources For VA-RC Preparation - This is a compilation of the best free resources you can use to prepare for the VA-RC section of CAT. This comprises a reading list compiled by a two-time CAT VA-RC 99+ percentiler, and will be very helpful if you're looking to improve your verbal ability and passage comprehension skills.
9.
Cracku YouTube Channel - This channel contains CAT exam shortcuts, formulas, tips, tricks for all sections of CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).
10.
TestPrep By InsideIIM - This channel contains section-wise concepts explained by CAT toppers, CAT preparation strategies, sessions by seasoned CAT trainers. I
CAT 2024 Resources - Free Question Banks To Practice And Apply Concepts
1.
CAT-Holic - The CAT-Holic blog is the brain child of two IIM graduates, one of whom is a 10-time CAT 100 percentiler. The blog mainly focuses on the QA section of CAT, providing an excellent sub-topic-wise question bank for CAT aspirants to practice. Some of their posts also cover the VA-RC section. This is highly recommended if you're looking for a fresh question bank beyond Arun Sharma and TIME, IMS material.
2.
2iim CAT Question Bank - Rajesh Balasubramanian of 2iim has created spectacular CAT-level questions for various QA sub-topics. The question bank has 1600 questions and 300 video solutions, where Rajesh himself explains concepts and tricks to solve even the most complex questions. This question bank is recommended once you've finished a significant chunk of your QA syllabus and want to challenge yourself with CAT-level questions.
3.
Best Downloads of GMATClub - Apart from study material, GMATClub also provides downloadable question banks for practice. For CAT aspirants, solving 600-700 (beginner) and 700-800 level (advanced) questions is recommended. If you're looking for excellent questions posted daily on the forum, follow the author Bunuel on GMATClub, and you'll be provided a daily list of questions in your inbox! Additionally, you can also sign up for the GMATClub tests which can be challenging and good practice for CAT.
4.
MBAtious - MBAtious is a forum for CAT-related discussions and problem-solving. The forum has a extensive question bank, especially for the QA section including the
best of the best questions from the likes of CAT 100 percentilers. This question bank is updated by the community on a regular basis, so you can visit the website regularly to receive fresh questions sets for you to practice.
5.
HitBullsEye's Study Material & Question Bank - HitBullsEye is a CAT-coaching organisations set-up by a team of IIM and XLRI alumni. They provide free study material, formulae lists, and question banks for all three sections of CAT.
6.
3 Free Mock Tests With Analysis By Cracku - Cracku provides 3 free mock tests as per the latest CAT pattern, and offers detailed analysis of the same. You may also take past official CAT papers as mock tests
here.
CAT 2023 Resources - Free Advice By CAT Toppers, Exam Coaches On CAT Prep Strategies, Pitfalls To Avoid
InsideIIM - The InsideIIM community provides some of the most comprehensive strategy guides created by hundreds of IIM students and alumni who've scored 99+ percentile in CAT. You can access the following posts, videos and archives to get started:
1.
How To Crack CAT 2023 - Hear From IIM Students And CAT 99.5+ Percentilers
2.
InsideIIM's Free CAT Preparation Archive
3.
InsideIIM's Free Mock Test Analysis Archive
4.
InsideIIM's Best Stories To Keep You Motivated In Your CAT Journey
5.
InsideIIM's Free Mock Tests
6.
InsideIIM's Comprehensive Quant Formula Cheat Sheet
Apart from this, it is also recommended that you join Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram groups to solve problems and learn/share preparation hacks with your peers also preparing for the exam. These can be immensely helpful and cost nothing.
Join InsideIIM's Telegram Group, Discord Group and WhatsApp Group and stay updated with our content!
Have more resources or suggestions in mind? Post them in the comments!