CAT Preparation 2024 - How to Prepare, Month-wise Study Plan & Materials

Key Approaches, Exam Pattern & Syllabus, Study Plan, Coaching, Self Study, Section-Wise Strategy, Month-Wise Strategy

Updated on 26th September 2024 | 3:48 pm | #CATPreparation2024

Aspiring CAT candidates aim to excel in the exam and secure admission to a top B-school. To achieve this, they must first establish a robust CAT 2024 preparation strategy. The fundamental areas to concentrate on in CAT preparation 2024 are as follows:

  • Understanding the exam pattern and syllabus
  • Establishing the fundamental concepts
  • Giving time to each section individually
  • Create and follow a study plan thoroughly
  • Attempting mock tests and analyzing them
  • Reviewing past years’ papers

To ace CAT 2024, focusing on these key areas in CAT preparation can establish a strong foundation and improve the chances of success in the exam. While this is not an exhaustive list of preparation tips to be followed, it allows you to begin preparing and molding your CAT preparation strategy accordingly.

Get A Detailed CAT 2024 Study Plan

CAT Preparation Strategy: Key Approaches for Success

For someone looking at a successful career, an MBA is the only option to enhance your growth scope; for that you should know about how crucial it can be in their professional journey, involving everything from packages worth 18LPA+ to getting a personal holistic development.

To achieve this, one must take entrance tests like CAT, XAT, NMAT, and many more, which are the gateway to top B-schools in India. 

And to get into your dream B-school, you must change your preparation strategy, and get your hands on the latest copies of preparation material including mock tests. However, the syllabus and question paper styles are likely to remain on similar grounds as of the previous year. For this, one should create a structured study plan by setting monthly goals for each section of the CAT exam. These milestones will help you stay motivated and on track during your CAT preparation.


CAT Preparation Tips: Exam Pattern and Syllabus

Owing to the pandemic, the CAT exam has seen various changes in the exam pattern. Thus, the initial step toward cracking CAT 2024 is to understand the exam pattern and syllabus. CAT 2024 is expected to be on the same lines as CAT 2023. The number of questions has remained consistent for the past two years, and so has the duration of the exam. So, it is imperative to analyze the pattern and syllabus to attempt to complete the paper accurately.

The exam pattern and syllabus are given below for guidance.

Section

No. of Questions

Time Allotted

Main Topics

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

24

40 minutes

RC passages, Inferences, Summary, Para jumbles, etc.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

20

40 minutes

Graphs, charts, syllogism, arrangements, etc.

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

22

40 minutes

Algebra, arithmetic, trigonometry, probability, etc.


CAT 2024 Preparation Plan And Study Tips

Gear up your CAT preparation at a fast pace keeping in mind the cruciality of time. Let's start with some CAT preparation tips from our top CAT mentors and IIM Alumni to get the right solution to "How to Prepare for CAT"


CAT Preparation Strategy: Create Your Own Study Plan

Aspiring candidates should carefully consider their needs and goals when deciding how to prepare for the CAT exam. Success in the CAT exam preparation requires dedication, perseverance, and self-discipline to secure a high percentile and gain admission to a prestigious IIM.

Candidates must solidify their foundational knowledge, maintain a consistent study routine, utilize reliable study materials, and participate in regular mock exams. Excelling in CAT preparation is a challenging endeavor that requires honing one's abilities through independent study or professional guidance.


CAT Preparation Strategy: Online Coaching Programs

There is no specific time period for CAT exam preparation, and it totally depends on the caliber of the candidate; however, it usually spans 9 to 10 months. There are candidates who have cracked CAT in just one month of preparation. In such cases, CAT online coaching can be beneficial, even for candidates with limited time, as it aids in accelerating the preparation process and reach the desired proficiency level.

All in all, a coaching institute can make it easy for candidates to study and prepare in the right direction. All the focus of the candidate can be on preparations without worrying about the best resources or updates regarding the exam.


CAT Preparation 2024: Self-Study Approach

Preparing for the CAT exam independently provides candidates with a significant amount of freedom. They can tailor their strategies and timelines to align with their individual needs. CAT self-paced preparation is centered on personal requirements when studying individually.

Thus, if a candidate chooses to self-study, they can practice by themself without any pressure of competing with others. However, studying without coaching classes will require the candidate to do all the analysis, review and implement plans by themselves. So to save time the aspirants can consider opting for a blend of self-study and coaching programs.

Also Read: Prepare for CAT 2024 Without Coaching


CAT Preparation Strategy: Section-Specific Approach To Ace CAT 2024

For CAT exam preparation, it's essential to adopt distinct approaches for each section, considering their respective weightage. Here are some tips for section-specific CAT preparation:

Section-wise CAT Preparation: VARC

CAT 2024 is expected to have 24 questions in the VARC section, with 16 focusing on Reading Comprehension and 8 on Verbal Ability. The Reading Comprehension part will likely include 4 passages with 4 questions each, while Verbal Ability may have questions on para jumbles, para completion, odd one out, or para summary. Strong English skills, including grammar and vocabulary, are crucial for excelling in this section. Here are some tips for VARC preparation:

Learn some smart techniques to crack the VARC section of CAT 2024, provided by top CAT mentors to address your query on how to prepare VARC section for CAT 2024, as follows:

Section-Wise CAT Preparation: DILR

CAT 2024 is expected to have a similar pattern to CAT 2023. This section consists of 20 questions divided into 4 sets of 5 questions each. Understanding the syllabus is essential for DILR preparation, as it typically includes questions on various topics such as linear and matrix arrangements, blood relations, family trees, directions, coding-decoding, sequence and series, syllogisms, and analogies. Here are some steps to help you prepare for DILR:

In order to make your work easier, we have curated some expert tips and strategies that have helped others pass the CAT with flying colors and that will address your question of “How to prepare for logical reasoning for CAT,” as given below:

Section-Wise CAT Preparation: QA

The Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section emphasizes Mathematics, demanding extensive practice of questions and memorization of fundamental equations. With reference to CAT 2023, this section encompasses topics like the number system, percentages, profit and loss, probability, and mensuration. Anticipating CAT 2024, this section is projected to feature 22 questions predominantly focused on algebra and arithmetic, complemented by questions from geometry, the number system, and other areas. Here's how you can excel in the CAT 2024 QA section:

Here are some tips collected from top CAT mentors on how you can increase your score and performance in CAT 2024 with effective preparation strategies for solving questions on "How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT," as follows:


CAT Preparation Strategy: Month-Wise CAT Study Plan

Breaking down the preparation strategy month-wise will allow you to focus on the syllabus at hand and help cover the CAT syllabus systematically. It will also function as a milestone to observe and mark your progress throughout the months leading to CAT.

CAT Preparation from February to May

The first leg of the journey is identifying the syllabus and marking the most important topics frequently asked in the exam. You can start with your weak areas and build the foundation for the basics. Devote time to each section throughout the week.

CAT Preparation in June and July

For candidates just beginning their CAT preparation or looking to strengthen it, the months of June and July will focus on going over the basic concepts of each section and identifying weak areas.

You will attempt and analyze one full-length mock which will help you work better on the areas that require improvement. Overall, you should divide the days into section-based revisions and preparation. Ensure that you dedicate individual time to each section every week.

CAT Preparation in August and September

The objective in these two months would be to gain complete familiarity with the areas, topics, concepts, and types of questions in CAT. This can be achieved through a simple method called C.A.T Funda i.e. Concepts, Application & Tests

CAT Preparation in October

There are 3 basic things that one needs to do in October:

CAT Preparation in November

The last few days before CAT should be used for the final assessment of the CAT exam preparation. Here one has to take up selective revision, take additional sectional tests, write original CAT papers, and finalize the exam strategy.

After every mock, a thorough analysis of each of the sections, zeroing in on the problem areas, working towards eliminating these problem areas, and most importantly, strengthening the mental ability to crack this exam would be the main requirements in November.

Brief Month-wise CAT Preparation Plan

How to prepare for CAT in one month CAT 2-month preparation plan How to prepare for CAT in 90 Days

Books for CAT 2024 Preparation

Books are the most reliable source for preparing for any exam. A plethora of books are available in the market for CAT preparation 2024. There are no specific books suggested by any supreme authority conducting CAT; however, many coaching centers and authors also publish various preparatory materials for the CAT exam, including:

In addition to these, we have suggested the best books for CAT preparation that will make your CAT preparation journey easier.

CAT Sections

Book

VARC

Past Years' CAT Questions (G.K. Publications), Word Power Made Easy (Norman Lewis), Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (Gautam Puri)

DILR

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (Gautam Puri), How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT (Arun Sharma), A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning (R.S. Aggarwal)

QA

NCERT Mathematics Books (Class 6-10), CAT Quantitative Aptitude (Gautam Puri), Quantitative Aptitude For Competitive Examinations (RS Aggarwal)


CAT Preparation Tips for Beginners

Preparing for any entrance exam isn’t a piece of cake and may vary from person to person. Someone aspiring for a successful career in Business Management should understand how crucial CAT preparation can be in their MBA journey, involving everything from packages worth 25LPA+ to achieving personal holistic development.

Candidates appearing for the CAT as beginners should prepare strategically. To get into IIMs, first-time CAT 2024 applicants need to know how to start preparing and score 99%ile. The following tips have been shared by some of our CAT toppers, those who have started their preparation in the final year of graduation and were beginners:


CAT Exam Preparation Tips for Working Professionals

Balancing work and preparing for the CAT exam can be quite a challenge for working professionals. However, with the right approach, cracking CAT is achievable. To start, it's important to kick off your CAT preparation early and create a study plan that fits into your work schedule.

Below are some CAT exam preparation tips for working professionals, provided by top CAT experts, on how you can manage both work and studies effectively:

Maintaining a healthy work-study-life balance is key during CAT preparation to avoid feeling overwhelmed and burnt out. Remember to take breaks, stay motivated, and pace yourself to perform at your best.


How much time is required for CAT Preparation?

The ideal time required to prepare for CAT depends entirely on one’s capabilities. It depends on one’s ability to grasp the fundamental concepts, so there is no fixed amount of time to pass the CAT exam if one starts from scratch. 

The time frame of two to three months is enough to finish the fundamentals of three sections for aspirants starting from scratch. On average, dedicated CAT preparation takes 8-9 months. If possible, spend two hours on weekdays and six to eight hours on weekends.

To gain an in-depth understanding of what the ideal time required for CAT preparation is, read the full article by clicking here.


Common Mistakes To Avoid During CAT Preparation

Preparing for the CAT is not easy at all because earning a seat in an elite business institution basically ensures an excellent stepping stone for anyone wanting to pursue a career in management. However, this can only happen if you do not make any of the following common mistakes during your CAT preparation.


Customize Your CAT Preparation Strategy

Ultimately, the most effective approach to CAT preparation is to devise your own strategy. While others may offer their preparation strategies, staying true to your unique strengths and approaching the exam as an assessment of aptitude rather than a traditional academic test is essential. During the final phase of your preparations, prioritize taking frequent mock exams and enhancing your performance. Have confidence in your dedication and believe in your capabilities. Trust in yourself and commence your CAT exam preparation without delay.

Also Read: How to improve your percentile in CAT mocks?


Free Resources For CAT Preparation

Besides the CAT previous year question papers, free CAT mocks, and mini mocks, students can find additional resources for their CAT 2024 preparation. To further enhance your preparation and support your journey, we are excited to introduce Open CAT—a free resource hub where you can find ample materials to give you a head start as well as the final push you need in your CAT preparation.

These provide students with the much-needed practice for the actual CAT and ensure they don’t lose their nerves on exam day. Students can explore our CAT-free zone to access various free CAT preparation resources and boost their CAT 2024 preparation. 

FAQS

The first step to starting your preparation for CAT is to decide whether you wish to take CAT classes or prepare by yourself. Then you devise a study plan, work on the fundamentals and begin practising with mock tests.

Many coaching institutes and CAT experts offer advice and guidance on their Youtube channels. You can click here to get guidance through Career Launchers’ channel.

Preparing for CAT without coaching is possible. However, it requires a lot of self-discipline, time, and commitment to develop a study plan, identify the best study material, and constantly monitor your progress.

Irrespective of your weakest or strongest section in CAT, if you clear the sectional and overall CAT cut-off along with the following admission rounds, you can get admission to a college of your choice.

To improve your performance in the quants section, you can follow the given steps:

  • Review previous papers and understand the paper pattern and syllabus.
  • Mark the most frequently asked type of questions and topics.
  • Cover your syllabus in that order to maximize progress and minimize effort.
  • You can start with arithmetic, to begin with, then move on to algebra and geometry in this order.

People who score the 99th percentile or aim for it, have an exam strategy set out for them which they consistently modify and change based on their preparation. For candidates who wish to reach the 99th percentile, here is a strategy that can be implemented:

  • Understand the exam pattern and identify the syllabus
  • Give mocks regularly and analyze them diligently
  • For Quant, polish your basics for arithmetic and practise regularly
  • Reading newspapers, books and magazines will improve vocabulary
  • Get into the habit of solving puzzles similar to those in CAT
  • Study daily for at least 2-3 hours consistently

Suggested Readings

CAT Crash Course CAT Test Series CAT Registration 2024 CAT Admit Card IIM Admission Process Top MBA Colleges in India