As the registration for CAT-2021 has started, the time to seriously work on the dream to make it to a top B-school has come. Can you score a decent percentile in CAT-2021 if you start preparing in August, the answer is hell yes! The only requirement would be to give your 1% extra each day and rest the compounding effect would do. Here are the few things one must start with, to be in the race.
Focus on the basics- Most of the time in the pursuit of solving difficult problems we miss out on basics. So one must build the basic foundation in the month of August.
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For Quantitative Ability
Following are the chapters, one must focus on, in the initial months and develop mastery gradually:
- Ratio Proportion Variation
- Percentages Profit Loss and Partnerships
- Simple Interest and Compound Interest
When one is well versed with these rudimentary concepts of the topics one must move to the following topics such as:
- Time, speed, and distance
- Time and work
Post Arithmetic’s concepts one must start building the concepts of Algebra such as :
- Quadratic Equation
- Series and Progression
- Indices and Surds
Post Arithmetic and Algebra, one must gradually move towards other miscellaneous concepts like Numbers and Permutation& combinations, this will create a sense of confidence, as you would be able to score and attempt more questions in the mock test. From the previous trend in CAT, it has been seen that the topics from the above-mentioned concepts have comparatively high weightage and usually are in the range of easy to medium range difficulty with few exceptions. Finally, in the last couple of months, one can move towards concepts of geometry.
Also Read→ How I Got From 49%ile To 97%ile In QA || Ft. Ankita Goomer, IIM L'22
For Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
- Inculcate the habit of reading in your daily routine, start by reading books like Animal Farm by George Orwell or any autobiography. Gradually increase the reading appetite.
- Read different blogs and articles published on editorials, this way you will be able to gain a lot of general knowledge which can be used during interviews and WAT of various IIMs.
Also Read→ 10 Must-Read Books To Improve VA-RC %ile - Recommendations By A 99%iler
For Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
Start with basic topics like:
- Seating Arrangement
- Permutation and Combination
- Basic caselets
One can gradually move towards difficult concepts and topics. Apart from studying and preparing from online material or material provided by coaching classes. One must try to solve past year question papers and try to attempt them without a solution to develop a thinking pattern to solve similar types of questions.
Also Read→ From Not Clearing Cut Off To 98+ In LRDI - How To Ace CAT 2021's LRDI Section
For overall preparation:
- Start taking mocks every week from August itself to check your progress, even if you think you haven't prepared enough still attempt mocks and analyze them thoroughly.
- Give sectional mocks of Reading comprehension and Verbal ability every 2 days
- Don't focus on speed while solving LR DI or QA questions initially, after few weeks you will gain momentum and with ample practice, you'd be able to solve questions within the stipulated time.
- Understand the past pattern of questions and try attempting them post-learning any new topics
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Finally, the last piece of advice would be to focus on getting better each day and be consistent in efforts.
