Eight effective tips to crack the CAT exam for non-engineering students
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.
