Choosing to appear for CAT was one of the most challenging decisions of my academic life. As someone from a Humanities background with a triple major in Economics, Psychology, and Sociology, an MBA wasn't an obvious next step—especially not through an exam notorious for its Quantitative Aptitude section. But deep down, I knew I wanted to pursue management. I wanted to challenge myself, grow holistically, and open doors to opportunities beyond the boundaries of my academic past.
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I hadn't touched mathematics since class 10. That’s a gap of over five years. The thought of re-entering the world of numbers after such a long break was, frankly, intimidating. I questioned myself many times—was it too late? Was I aiming too high? But I also knew that I had strengths that I could lean into. And so, with a mix of anxiety, ambition, and determination, I decided to give it my all.
Mastering VARC: Turning My Background into My Strength
One of the first things I realized while preparing for CAT was that the exam isn’t just about crunching numbers—it’s about strategy. Coming from an Arts background turned out to be an asset, especially in the VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension) section. Years of academic reading, critical analysis in subjects like Sociology and Psychology, and writing essays had honed my comprehension and language skills more than I had realized.
But that didn’t mean it was easy. The VARC section, particularly reading comprehension, is not about just reading and understanding—it’s about speed, elimination, and inference. I spent weeks trying to get a grip on the kind of questions asked. My biggest breakthrough came when I shifted from trying to understand everything to strategically choosing what to answer. I focused on learning the art of elimination—identifying traps in options, avoiding extreme answers, and trusting my instincts.
Over time, I was able to score above 99.5 percentile in VARC in both CAT and XAT. That not only boosted my overall percentile but also gave me immense confidence. For anyone from a non-engineering background, let me say this—your reading habits, your analysis skills, and your grasp of language are superpowers. Don’t underestimate them.
Quant: Rebuilding from Scratch
Quants was my biggest fear—and rightly so. After a five-year break, even simple percentages and ratios felt foreign at first. But the truth is, CAT Quant isn’t about complicated math—it’s about clear logic and a strong grasp of fundamentals. So, I started from the very basics: arithmetic and algebra.
I didn’t rush through chapters. I would take one concept, understand the theory behind it, and then solve problems till I got comfortable. For every wrong answer, I’d go back and understand what I missed—was it the concept? Did I make a calculation error? Or did I fall into a trap the question set?
More than speed, I focused on accuracy and logic. I realized that in Quants, understanding why a question is asked in a certain way often helps you figure out how to solve it. I used free resources online, joined study groups, and practiced a lot of sectional tests to improve gradually.
The progress was slow at first, but steady. My biggest takeaway? Don't let fear of numbers hold you back. If you're consistent and patient, Quants will slowly become your friend.
DILR: The Game of Sets and Selection
DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning) was somewhere in the middle for me—not a strong area, but not a weak one either. My strategy here was very specific: choose the right sets. CAT is designed so that not all sets are meant to be solved. That’s not a flaw in your prep—that’s the design of the exam.
I made it a point to look at all the sets first and identify two that seemed doable. I never skipped this scan. Then, I would commit to solving at least two complete sets. This gave me a good base score. If I had time left, I’d look for individual questions or parts of sets that seemed approachable.
The goal was always score maximization, not ego. It’s easy to get stuck on one tough set, waste 20 minutes, and walk out frustrated. I had to train myself to let go and move on. DILR is a mental game more than anything else, and managing pressure is as important as managing time.
Conclusion: Your Background is Not a Barrier
Today, as I reflect on my journey, I realize that one of the biggest myths about CAT is that it’s only for engineers or math wizards. It’s not. It’s for anyone with the right strategy, persistence, and mindset. Your academic background does not define your potential. I’ve learned that if you play to your strengths—like I did with VARC—and patiently work on your weaknesses, you can crack CAT.
To every Science or Humanities student reading this—don’t let fear stop you. Don’t look at your background as a disadvantage. You bring a unique perspective to the table, one that B-schools value more than ever. Focus on your journey, trust the process, and remember that every small step counts.
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