Boost Your CAT Score with These Key Tips

Boost Your CAT Score with These Key Tips

Key Strategies to Improve Your CAT Score Through Focused Prep

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a crucial step for aspiring MBA students, testing their quantitative, verbal, analytical, and reasoning skills. A high CAT score can significantly enhance your chances of getting into top business schools.

If you're struggling to improve your score or just starting your CAT prep, this guide will provide key strategies to maximize your performance and achieve your target score.

1. Understand the CAT Exam Structure

Before diving into strategies, it’s essential to know the exam pattern and scoring system:

• Total Duration: 120 minutes (2 hours)

• Marking Scheme: +3 for correct answers, -1 for incorrect answers (for MCQs only).

• Computer-Based Test (CBT): Adaptive in nature with varying difficulty levels.

Understanding this pattern helps you allocate study time efficiently.

2. Build a Study Plan Based on Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Why It’s Important:
Not everyone needs to spend equal time on all sections. Your focus should be on areas where you struggle the most.

Action Plan:

• Take a Diagnostic Test – Identify your weak areas (VARC, DILR, or QA).

• Create a Weekly Study Plan – Allocate more time to weaker sections while maintaining practice in strong areas.

• Set Small Goals – Example: "Improve Quant accuracy by 10% in 2 weeks."

• Spend at least 10-14 weeks preparing for the CAT.

3. Master the CAT Quantitative Ability Section

The QA section tests your problem-solving skills. Strong fundamentals in algebra, arithmetic, and number properties are crucial.

Key Strategies:

• Memorize essential formulas:

  • Percentage: (New Value – Old Value) / Old Value × 100

  • Compound Interest: A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt)

  • Speed, Distance, Time: Speed = Distance / Time

  • Combinations: nCr = n! / (r!(n–r)!)

• Avoid common traps in problem-solving questions.

• Use approximation techniques to save time.

• Practice Mental Math to reduce dependency on calculations.

• Work on Time Management: Spend no more than 2 minutes per question.

• Skip difficult questions strategically to maximize overall score.

4. Improve CAT Verbal Score with Smart Reading Strategies

The VARC section tests grammar, reading comprehension, and logical reasoning.

Key Strategies:

• For Sentence Correction (SC):

  • Learn CAT-specific grammar rules (parallelism, subject-verb agreement, modifiers).

  • Eliminate grammatically incorrect answer choices quickly.

• For Critical Reasoning (CR):

  • Identify premise, conclusion, and assumption in every argument.

  • Practice weakening and strengthening arguments.

• For Reading Comprehension (RC):

  • Read business-related articles from The Economist, Harvard Business Review to improve comprehension speed.

  • Identify main ideas quickly.

• Avoid reading everything word-for-word. Instead, skim through passages and focus on question-specific details.

5. Develop a Strategy for the Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) Section

This section tests your ability to analyze data from multiple sources (graphs, tables, charts, etc.).

• Familiarize yourself with CAT DILR question types:

  • Tables & Charts

  • Logical Puzzles

  • Seating Arrangements

  • Venn Diagrams

• Learn to identify trends in graphs quickly.

• Practice interpreting data from real-world sources, such as financial reports.

6. Take Full-Length CAT Mock Tests Under Real Conditions

• Simulate Test Conditions:

  • Take full-length computer-based tests.

  • Avoid distractions during the test.

• Analyze Mistakes Thoroughly:

  • Identify patterns in your errors (e.g., careless mistakes in problem-solving).

  • Track accuracy and speed improvements over time.

• Adjust strategy based on mock scores.

• Take at least 5-7 CAT practice tests before the actual exam.

7. Manage Test Anxiety & Stay Confident on Exam Day

• Stick to a routine in the final 2 weeks – Avoid learning new topics last minute.

• Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep before test day.

• Use the optional breaks wisely during the exam.

• Stay positive – CAT is just one part of your B-school application.

• If you get a tough question, stay calm. The CAT is adaptive, so some questions will always be difficult.

Sample CAT Quantitative Questions

Question 1 (Problem Solving):
A store sells apples at Rs.5 each or 3 for Rs.12. If Lisa buys 15 apples, how much does she pay?
A) Rs.75
B) Rs.60
C) Rs.50
D) Rs.55

Solution:
Lisa can buy sets of 3 apples for Rs.12.
15 apples = (5 sets of 3 apples) × Rs.12 = Rs.60
Answer: B) Rs.60

Question 2 (Data Sufficiency):
Is x an even number?

• x² is even.

• x + 3 is odd.

Solution:

• If x² is even, then x must be even. (Sufficient)

• If x + 3 is odd, then x must be even. (Sufficient)
  Answer: D) Each statement alone is sufficient.

Final Thoughts

Improving your CAT score requires dedication, strategy, and smart practice. By mastering key concepts, optimizing test-taking strategies, and managing time effectively, you can maximize your CAT score and improve your chances of admission to top MBA programs.

Start preparing today and achieve your CAT target score!