How to attempt the CAT 2022 Paper?

Also Read: CAT Preparation Tips

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension:

Most of the candidates who have a knack for Quantitative Aptitude find this section to be tough. However it is a fact that this section can be scoring with lots and lots of practice. After we have solved hundreds of comprehensions and grammar questions, it is time now for some important points to remember.

1. Usually CAT question papers have 4 passages for reading comprehension. Many CAT toppers have admitted that all of these can be easily solved in the first 30 minutes. But in order for this to happen the candidate should have lot of practice in reading and comprehending as the passages can get confusing at times.
2. One trick that candidates can use is to skim quickly through the passage, solve the questions which are basic or easy (The ones that have factual straight forward answers) and then move on to questions that are indirect and require your full attention.
3. All of this procedure should not take more than 7.5 minutes for one passage which will give you time for other verbal questions.
4. The other questions depend completely on your preparation and the different types of questions that you have encountered. Here too, follow a simple procedure. Scan all the questions and attempt the ones that you find easy or the ones you are familiar with the most.
5. While attempting you can use the choosing by eliminating method. Eliminate all the options that are definitely not the answer and zero down on the right one. Answer those and if you have time on your hands you can attempt the difficult ones. But be careful as MCQs have negative marking.
6. Another important thing to remember, because this year the Non MCQ questions will have to be typed via virtual keyboard through a mouse, remember to save enough time because more time will be spent on typing the answer than framing it. Unless you are used to a virtual keyboard, keep this point in mind as the Non MCQ section does not have negative marking which means, well you can do the math.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning:

This is one section that most candidates let go of as it sounds easy however truth be told it is not. Logical Reasoning section too like other sections has different levels of difficulty which is so confusing at times that if taken lightly can be risky even for the one who excels at it. Even for data Interpretation, it is important to be familiar with different data types, which again, comes by practice. Some pointers for this section are:

1. The most important part, read the question carefully. Read it twice or thrice if needed but be absolutely clear about what the question demands of you. DI and LR sections have the most confusing questions in all management entrances.
2. Do not, at any point, assume any data which is not specified in the questions. At times you may be tempted to do so as it would seem “obvious” but this section is not the test of your knowledge of that field in general but your reasoning skills with the available data.
3. For the DI questions, identify which data type questions you are comfortable with. It is okay if the number of questions is less. Accuracy and not losing marks is what we have to focus on. Attempt the questions which come easy to you and you are familiar with.
4. Again as specified in the VA section, choose the answer by the process of elimination. Eliminate the answers which are definitely not the answer and zero down to the correct one.
5. LR is all about word play. Pay attention to important words like “all”, “some”, “none”, “other than”, “unless” and more. These words are game changers and can change the meaning of the question completely, which is why you should stress on point no. 1. Other game changers can be “un-“, “non-“, “dis-“, “only”- which can mean there are other ways and “if and only if”-which specifies there is no other way.
6. For LR draw diagrams on your rough sheet to understand the question better. If a question says a table of 12, draw the table first and avoid doing the permutations and combinations in your head. As you do it on paper, you will be more sure of your answer.
7. Follow the pattern specified at the start. Scan, Identify and Attempt questions in the order of Easy, Moderate and High difficulty levels. It will be very useful.

Quantitative Aptitude:

Quants is one section which comes naturally to majority of the crowd. Ask anyone and 7 out of 10 people have strong mathematical skills. Which is why, the entrance tests too have a higher difficulty level for particularly this section as compared to the other two. Some important to-do’s to keep in mind for this section are:

1. Start off first and foremost rule specified above. Reiterating again: Scan, Identify and Attempt questions in the order of Easy, Moderate and High difficulty levels.
2. Look and attempt familiar questions first. Most of your time will go in vain if you try to understand a question that you have never come across which will leave almost no time for the ones that you can easily solve. Remember, an exam is not a place to sit and solve a difficult question, it is something that has be done at home. Exam is where you solve as many problems as accurately you can.
3. This is a pointer for preparation phase, even though there is not much time left. Try to solve simple mathematics in your head. Do not take out a pen and paper for every little problem. Every second in CAT is precious so train your brain to make simple calculations in seconds to give you ample time for the other questions.
4. After you are done with easy and moderate questions, if you have time, do not move to the difficult questions straight away. Check your previous answers, cross check if needed. This will help you be confident of your answers, even if the number is less. Then if you have time, move to the questions in higher order of difficulty.

Also Read: Points to remember for CAT

Each section for CAT has some or the other hack. But there are also many common points that you have to remember while giving the exam.

• When in doubt, take a chance on the question only if it is a choice between 2 options. Don’t take a chance if there are 3 options as the probability of the answer to be wrong is more, 66.666%.
• There is no need to attempt all the questions. Difficult question or not, every question carries the same amount of marks, 3. So for every easy question you solve you get 3 marks but for every difficult question that you are not sure of can make you lose a mark. Accuracy is important than quantity.
• Opt a method mentioned above for questions that are doubtful. Choose the answer by the process of elimination. Eliminate the answers which are definitely not the answer and zero down to the correct one.
• Follow the S-I-A in the order of E-M-H level of difficulty rule. Scan, Identify and Attempt questions in the order of Easy, Moderate and High difficulty levels.
• Last but not the least, be confident, cool and composed. It will do wonders.

It took you approximately 7 minutes to read this article and it was not your time wasted. This can help you save lots of time in CAT 2017 that otherwise would have gone vain.

Hope the article is of help and CAT 2017 proves to be the turning point of your life.

Best wishes of luck to all!