Admission to an MBA program in a top-rated B-School is tough. Every year, around two lakh plus students appear for one of the most competitive and challenging management entrance exams in India, Common Admission Test (CAT). The CAT exam is a highly competitive examination that serves as a gateway to prestigious management programs in India. While the CAT exam is often associated with engineering students, non-engineering students can also excel in this test with the right preparation strategies and mindset. Engineering background students usually have an upper hand in preparation, but non-engineering background students may find the following eight tips that can help them crack the CAT exam and secure admission into top-notch management institutions.
Understand the Exam Pattern: Start your CAT preparation by thoroughly understanding the exam pattern. Familiarize yourself with the sections — Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Analyze the weightage and difficulty level of each section to strategize your study plan accordingly.
Understand the Exam Pattern and Concepts: Start your CAT preparation by thoroughly understanding the exam pattern. It is observed that non-engineering students struggle to crack the exam due to its nature. However, over time, it has been established that concepts like Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Quantitative Ability are crucial. Most of the time, CAT aspirants start cramming concepts in a hurry, leading them to struggle in making sense of the questions. With the right time investment, one can develop a deep understanding of these concepts and crack the exam with ease. Daily practice of the quantitative part can be very beneficial, especially for non-engineers.
Does coaching play a significant role in your preparation? There is a debate about whether one can crack the CAT exam without coaching. Some individuals prefer coaching, regardless of whether they are working professionals or non-working professionals. Hence, it is ultimately up to the aspirant to choose between a coaching and a non-coaching approach. These aspects should be taken into account when preparing for the test because it revolves around developing a strategy, managing time, and, most importantly, remaining calm.
Section-wise Preparation Tips As a non-engineering student, it is crucial to focus on building a strong foundation in mathematics and logical reasoning. In section-wise preparation, it is crucial to have the right study material to effectively prepare for VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension), DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning), and QA (Quantitative Aptitude). This approach in the preparation strategy can assist candidates in scoring well on the exam by focusing on the specific questions related to each section. Additionally, this strategy allows candidates to improve their grammar and vocabulary skills, develop personalized strategies for DILR, and work on utilizing shortcuts. So, candidates can learn all the basic concepts and formulas for each topic and subject to score more marks.
Every Quarter Plan for the Preparation: It is advisable to plan quarterly for the exam depending on the time availability of the candidate. In the first month, prepare for the VARC, DILR, and QA sections of the syllabus. Once you have mastered both sections, work on their mock tests rigorously. These mock tests can be useful as they will examine your strong and weak points. In the second month, once you achieve conceptual clarity, start solving previous year’s CAT papers so that you have a better idea of how the exam paper is prepared and what the approach would be. Revise in the third month, read the newspaper daily, and stay calm. Revision is a must!
It’s not about answering all questions quickly: When interacting with CAT aspirants, I have observed that first-time candidates or non-engineers often attempt every question to increase their chances of selection. However, answering the questions correctly is more important than attempting all of them. This exercise can be accomplished through practicing mock tests, which helps in developing a time management routine. This way, when you appear for the exam, you can manage your time effectively, complete the exam within the allotted time limit, and aim to answer the questions accurately.
Problem-solving skills and speed of the learners: Speed is crucial when it comes to finishing an exam on time. It is achieved when you have a clear understanding of each topic and practice the study material regularly. Understanding the concepts and consistent practice are two important mantras for success. It is advisable to practice mock tests to gradually reduce the time taken per question. This enables you to analyze the questions effectively and attempt to find faster ways of answering them. By doing so, you can develop problem-solving skills and quickly grasp the nature of the questions. Once you master this, your chances of being selected are significantly increased.
Discussion with fellow CAT aspirants: While preparing for CAT or after writing the CAT exam, it is very important to have continuous conversations with fellow CAT aspirants — both engineering and non-engineering — as well as those who have succeeded in the past. Conversations with fellow CAT aspirants help a person stay on track and sometimes provide an opportunity to learn new tricks. Make special efforts to cultivate friendships with engineering or science background CAT aspirants; it may help both parties. Conversations with previous CAT toppers help CAT aspirants prepare for the CAT exam, subsequent interviews, and plan the whole MBA journey.
What after the CAT exam Once the exams are over, the clock has now started ticking for the second phase of B-school. After checking their marks, some students immediately begin working on their interview skills. To do so, they start reading newspapers, reviewing their curated study material, and staying updated on industry trends. Additionally, as a backup plan, some students also work on exploring top colleges other than IIMs.
Enjoy each moment of your CAT preparation and subsequent journey!
