Verbal Ability
- TIME AIMCAT series
- TIME online sectional tests
- Manhattan/Princeton GMAT Critical Reasoning
- Manhattan/Princeton GMAT Sentence Correction
- Word Power Made Easy
Reading Comprehension
- TIME AIMCAT series
- TIME online sectional tests
- Manhattan/Princeton GMAT Reading Comprehension
- Total Gadha 1000 Reading Comprehension sets - You may download this file from here (it's available for free)
Data Interpretation
- TIME AIMCAT series
- TIME online sectional tests
- Arun Sharma's Data Interpretation for CAT
Logical Reasoning
- TIME AIMCAT series
- TIME online sectional tests
- Arun Sharma's Logical Reasoning for CAT
Quantitative Aptitude
- TIME AIMCAT series
- TIME online sectional tests
- TIME Quantitative Aptitude modules
- Arun Sharma's Quantitative Aptitude for CAT
Previous Year Question Papers
Solving past CAT questions is of utmost importance during your preparation. In addition to taking mocks, one must definitely try to solve all the previous years' questions. If you are constrained on time, I would recommend solving questions from 2001-2008. That would give you immense look-and-feel of the question pattern in each section. You can easily find these papers online. If not, you may buy the compilation here.
Edit: You can practise from the CAT 2018 and CAT 2019 question papers too. Please click here to download!
Happy Studying!
I'd be more than happy to answer any queries you may have. All the best!
***
About the Author
Akshita Agarwal is an alumna of IIM Ahmedabad PGP class of 2017-2019. She scored 99.87%ile in CAT 2016 and bagged final admission offers from IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, and IIM Lucknow.
Comments
Pushparaj Singh
Thanks a lot Ma'am for these tips. But, I am from commerce background and that's the reason I have been facing lots of difficulty in quant. Although, other sections are good but for me quant is out of the box. What should I do to improve from the basics?
2 May 2017, 02.23 AM
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Akshita Agarwal
Akshita Agarwal is an MBA candidate at IIM Ahmedabad, Class of 2017-19.
Hi Pushparaj, The books I've mentioned for QA work irrespective of your background. The strategy for you should be to familiarize yourself with all QA topics by solving exercise A from each chapter in TIME modules and solving LOD I exercises from each chapter in Arun Sharma's Quantitative Aptitude for CAT. After you are through with these, you can move to exercises B and LOD II respectively.
2 May 2017, 02.54 AM |
Pushparaj Singh
Yes Ma'am. I am also a Student of TIME and I will follow this strategy. Thank you. :)
2 May 2017, 06.18 AM |
Varun Vaidya
Hello Akshita, can you suggest a good strategy for verbal section too? Please also share your view on Arun Sharma 's verbal book.
4 May 2017, 05.53 AM
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Akshita Agarwal
Akshita Agarwal is an MBA candidate at IIM Ahmedabad, Class of 2017-19.
For VARC strategy, you may refer to my other post: https://insideiim.com/faqs-for-cat-preparation-by-a-99-87iler-cat-2016-akshita-agarwal/
5 May 2017, 01.10 AM |
Varun Vaidya
Thanks :)
5 May 2017, 07.47 AM |
Divayanshu Deo
Hello Akshita, can you tell how much percentile should i target to get call from any IIMs Profile - 10th 78% 12 - 71% graduation (Bsc) 71%
4 May 2017, 01.17 PM
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Akshita Agarwal
Akshita Agarwal is an MBA candidate at IIM Ahmedabad, Class of 2017-19.
I think a definite 99+
5 May 2017, 01.10 AM |
Divayanshu Deo
I am joining ims simcat is it enough or should i join aimcat also
5 May 2017, 11.59 AM |
Akshita Agarwal
Akshita Agarwal is an MBA candidate at IIM Ahmedabad, Class of 2017-19.
I suppose any test series taken seriously should suffice. Go ahead with IMS Simcat. All the best!
5 May 2017, 01.31 PM |
Divayanshu Deo
Thank you
7 May 2017, 02.10 AM |
Mohit kumar Singh
Thank you very much ma'am.This will be very helpful for me. I want to ask some other thing.How much should I aim for old IIMS. 10th-91%,12th-84%,grad-68%, OBC.
5 May 2017, 10.11 AM
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Akshita Agarwal
Akshita Agarwal is an MBA candidate at IIM Ahmedabad, Class of 2017-19.
From my experience of meeting some OBC candidates during WAT-PI, I have seen a range of percentiles from 90 to 99. You should aim for 95+
5 May 2017, 11.51 AM |
Tarini Mohanty
Hello Akshita, I have average academic throughout. 89.3-10TH 62.2-12TH 7.24- B.TECH Currently I am working in a non technical job in a company for last 1 year.So is there any chance of converting any IIM even if I scored good percentile in CAT(I'm in general quota)??
5 May 2017, 10.43 AM
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Akshita Agarwal
Akshita Agarwal is an MBA candidate at IIM Ahmedabad, Class of 2017-19.
I think you stand a chance. IIM C, for instance, would not weigh your grad scores a lot, so that's a positive for you. Although you would have to aim for 99.5+ in CAT to get calls from A,B,C,L
5 May 2017, 11.49 AM |
Mayank Kumar
Hey Ma'am congrats.. I'm a literature student.. I scored 8.2 52% and 64% in 10th 12th and graduation respectively... Do i have a chance to get into IIMA if I score a 99+ in CAT..??
5 May 2017, 11.02 PM
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Akshita Agarwal
Akshita Agarwal is an MBA candidate at IIM Ahmedabad, Class of 2017-19.
Hi there, I cannot really comment specific to one institute, if you're able to score above 99.5, there are greater chances of getting shortlisted.
6 May 2017, 11.27 AM |
Suraj Iyer
The 10th, 12th and graduation marks do occupy a lot of importance while getting calls for ABC and other institutes. But the question to ponder here is can you really change any of them now? The only thing under your control is probably your CAT percentile, and that goes out to anyone an everyone who is eager to know if X% , Y% and Z%(where X,Y and Z are real numbers) in 10th,12th or Graduation would suffice. Be safe, try to get your best percentile, probably 99.7+, because there are folks who have secured a 100%ile and yet have no calls. TL DR; score a 99.7+ and stop worrying about the past.
7 May 2017, 06.14 AM |
Akshita Agarwal
Akshita Agarwal is an MBA candidate at IIM Ahmedabad, Class of 2017-19.
I would echo your thoughts to all fellow aspirants! Makes perfect sense.
8 May 2017, 11.51 AM |
Mayank Kumar
Thanks and one more question... Like other courses like HR and finance is there any course for international business in IIMs??
9 May 2017, 10.11 AM |
Ganesh kumar Krishnan
Hello Akshita, First up, congratulations for success and wish you many more to come. My academics are as mentioned below, please do share your opinion on my chances of IIM - ABCLIKS. 89 -10TH 93.4 -12TH 7.94- B.E - Mechanical Engineering Currently I am working in an Engineering services company for last 2 years. So what are my chances for IIMs and at what percentile..? I'm a GEM.
9 May 2017, 03.57 AM
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Akshita Agarwal
Akshita Agarwal is an MBA candidate at IIM Ahmedabad, Class of 2017-19.
I would have to say above 99.5 at the minimum.
9 May 2017, 02.11 PM |
Subhrajit Saha
Hi Akshita, I am a CAT repeater, in CAT 2016 though i scored a decent 98+ in QA and VA my DI LR percentile was an abysmal 81...i am unable to form a strategy around it...what will you suggest?
17 May 2017, 03.44 AM
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Akshita Agarwal
Akshita Agarwal is an MBA candidate at IIM Ahmedabad, Class of 2017-19.
I would simply suggest that you practice as many questions as possible in DILR. There is no simple strategy for this section. You have to solve multiple sets to understand for yourself which type of questions are easy and which ones aren't. Devote maximum time on practicing DILR sets as I see you have a good hold on QA and VARC.
20 May 2017, 04.55 AM |
Abhishek Singh
Hello mam, First of all congratulations on your success....I would like to know whether reading just TIME study material and taking AIMCATs would suffice for CAT preparation?
20 May 2017, 02.45 AM
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Akshita Agarwal
Akshita Agarwal is an MBA candidate at IIM Ahmedabad, Class of 2017-19.
I suppose it could suffice if you are scoring 99+ in mocks with just TIME materials. If not, you may add Arun Sharma's books to your study list.
20 May 2017, 04.52 AM |
Abhishek Singh
Thank u mam....
20 May 2017, 11.53 PM |
Swani Ramchandani
Hi Ma'am Congratulations! Can you please share the links of Manhattan GMAT resources? Would be of great help. Thank you.
29 May 2017, 10.52 AM
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Akshita Agarwal
Akshita Agarwal is an MBA candidate at IIM Ahmedabad, Class of 2017-19.
Hi Swani, You'd have to buy those books online. I had them in a pdf format on my office laptop which I had to return when I resigned. I wish I could help!
31 May 2017, 11.34 AM |
Kalinga Kishore Pani
MBA aspirant
Hi Ma'am Congratulations!! and all the very best for your future endeavors. I have past years mocks of TIME ,CL,ims ,etc.. are they enough to use or I should look for a formal coaching from any top institute. Are these mocks enuf to use as a book itself ?
31 May 2017, 02.04 PM
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Akshita Agarwal
Akshita Agarwal is an MBA candidate at IIM Ahmedabad, Class of 2017-19.
Past year mocks would not give you an assessment of your current standing between test takers. I would suggest you join a test series. You don't need to enroll for a full-time classroom program.
1 Jun 2017, 01.16 PM |
Chetan Singh
I am preparing for CAT
Hello Akshita, Congratulations on your IIMA convert... What were your sectional cutoff and sectional scaled score?
1 Jun 2017, 12.20 AM
+Read Replies (2)
Akshita Agarwal
Akshita Agarwal is an MBA candidate at IIM Ahmedabad, Class of 2017-19.
Thank you, Chetan! Here are my scores: Overall - 187.36 (99.87%ile) VARC – 62.54 (95.2%ile) DILR – 57.87 (99.78%ile) QA – 66.95 (99.87%ile)
1 Jun 2017, 01.17 PM |
iim a
congrats ma'am for all your efforts, Can you share 1) your attempted questions in cat 17 and 2) your initial and final scores of 5 mocks 3) your va-rc avg percentile in mocks
11 Mar 2018, 03.26 PM |
nihal m
minimum number of mocks to be attempted to get 99% with proper analysis?
28 Jul 2017, 06.48 PM
Saikrishna NAGASAI
I am an IIM aspirant
Hi akshitha I just started my CAT preparation and I wanted to give CAT 2017. I am doing good in quant and DI. But I am lagging in verbal and RC . In AIMCATS I am scoring 84 percentile. My 10th class percentage is 91 12 th-96.2 B.tech 9.3 /10 So please give some tips to me
28 Jul 2017, 08.29 PM
Prathvi Cr
Serious cat aspirant
Mam, Sorry for a big post.Need you suggestion.Please read through Will it be a good preparation strategy if one studies or does the following : 1.QA section - (Mon and Tues) from only TIME QA material and nothing else ,solve all the problems in the TIME QA material and nothing else,solve the problems of AIMCAT 2017 mocks. Analysis of mocks. 2.LR and DI :(Wed and Thurs) from only TIME LR and DI material and nothing else,solve all the problems in the TIME LR and DI material and nothing else.,solve the problems of AIMCAT 2017 mocks.( Focussing mainly on AIMCAT mock questions-solving and resolving the same ).Analysis of mocks 3.VA and RC :(Fri and Sat)-from only TIME VA and RC material and nothing else,solve all the problems in the TIME VA and RC material and nothing else.,solve the problems of AIMCAT 2017 mocks.( Focussing mainly on AIMCAT mock questions-solving and resolving the same ).Analysis of mocks. Sunday: 3hrs for each section. Finish the syllabus and problems solving part by September 2017 and revise In Oct and November.Join another test series IMS or CL by mid Sept 2017.(already enrolled for AIMCAT) 4.HINDU newspaper for 1.5 hr/day and 20 words per day. 5.Regular TIME sectional tests. Please suggest if anything has to be added or has to be removed from the above plan( as only 4months are left out and it's only I recently started solving TIME materialso very less practice under my belt)
28 Jul 2017, 08.44 PM
kashish kathuria
Hello, Akshita. Thanks for sharing your experiences. Please tell me about the GMAT books to enhance VARC preparation. This is abig hurdle form me.
17 Aug 2017, 12.51 AM
Divya Agarwal
Hello ma'am Can u suggest me the strategy for the RC section .?
17 Aug 2017, 09.47 PM
Rohit Verma
Hello ma'am what should i score to get a call from old IIMs with 68% in 10th ,81% in 12th and 68 in graduation and i am a SC candidate
23 Sep 2017, 06.52 PM
Diya Mitra
Am a MBA aspirant,so want to keep updated
hi Akshita, congratulations for your success, and thanks for sharing these. but also i want to know how i should prepare for GDPI rounds, how should i improve in that field?
11 Mar 2018, 10.26 AM
Avinash S
Hello Ma'am , my grads are 10th - 95 12-91.6 And engineering - 7.6 What percentile I should target?
11 Mar 2018, 11.00 AM
Arbaaz Munshi
Myself Arbaaz Munshi Last year of Graduation (T. Y. B. M. S) Planning to appear for CAT Any suggestion for pre-CAT will be better for me
Hello mam I'm from a commerce background and I am weak in all four areas If I worked hard I know I can achieve this Then too I can utilize my time in cat or should I go to to other opportunities
11 Mar 2018, 12.13 PM
Apoorva Shukla
GOAL : IIM A.
Hello ma'am, what should be the strategy to tackle reading comprehensions?
11 Mar 2018, 02.11 PM
Saiesh Chaparala
An MBA aspirant.
Hello Akshita, first of all congrats for your admission into IIM A. How much should I score in Cat to get a call from the old IIM'S. My profile Class 10: 90.5% Class 12: 92.9 B.tech: 6.42(Mech)
12 Mar 2018, 01.02 PM
Akshay Kichloo
Ambitious. Thinker.
The Total Gadha reading comprehension sets are not available on the mentioned link. Could you provide another?
20 Jun 2019, 12.12 PM
+Read Replies (1)
Ankush Gupta
you can use this: http://tathagat.mba/wp-content/uploads/wpforo/attachments/581/101-1000RC.doc
15 Apr 2020, 06.05 PM |
Pranjal Rai
Hello ma'am I am in 3rd year of my B. Tech how should I plan my prepration? & Thanks for the information
29 Jun 2019, 03.24 PM
QUSHAGRA SHEERSH
Akshita Ma'am I am a GEM candidate with 0 months of work ex and with the following academic details: 10th:- 10 CGPA (cbse board) 12th:- 92.40% (cbse board) Btech:- 7.11 CGPA (as of now, I'm currently in the 6th sem) Questions: 1. What is the minimum%ile that can fetch me a call from IIM INDORE? 2. Calls from which B-Schools can I expect with a %ile in the range of 97.5-98?
15 Apr 2020, 01.03 PM