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What is the key to score 98+ plus percentile in the CAT? If I can get IIM Calcutta, how am I going to arrange the fees of 30 lakhs?
There is no specific way to score 98+ percentile. The only key is to find your weak areas and work on them. Yet I have compiled a list of tips that might help you in your journey of preparing for CAT.
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Prior to preparing for the exam, give one or two mock tests to identify your weak and strong areas. This will help you focus more on the areas you are weak.
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Don’t set unrealistic goals like 98 or 99. Set a goal that you are confident you can achieve else you will end up getting demotivated and disappointed.
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Don’t join coaching classes or turn to CAT experts unless you find it almost impossible to understand the concepts on your own. This is because classes will consume a lot of time and you might not get time to practice the concepts you have learned.
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Gather the best study material and self-study.
All these tips will not guarantee a 98+ CAT score but they will surely improve your score to a great extent.
How have CAT papers been when IIM Ahmedabad has set them? Can I expect a change in the pattern?
IIM Ahmedabad has set the CAT papers 2 times till now, 2009 and 2015. So I will show you the pattern of the paper both the years.
CAT 2009
Time: 150 mins
Number of Questions: 60
Sections:3(VARC,DILR and QA)
VARC Section(20 questions): Moderate-Difficult
The section included RCs and VA(all the basic topics that students practice while preparing).
DILR Section(20 questions): Moderate
DI(10 questions): DI sets were lengthy and involved tedious calculations. More speed was required and speed maths was a challenging part.
LR(10 questions): Pure logical, had little or no calculations.
QA Sections(20 questions): Easy-Moderate
This section tested all basic concepts and formulas. Solving previous years papers will help you in this section.
If the exam is of 2 hours this pattern might be repeated
CAT 2015
Time: 180 mins
Number of questions: 100
Sections: 3 (VARC,DILR and QA)
VARC (34 questions): 20 questions were easy
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR:32 questions): 17–18 correct was good attempt) This section was the most challenging part of CAT 2015
Quantitative Ability(34 QUESTIONS)
The relative easiness of the Quant section was overshadowed by the tougher section, which preceded QA (ie DILR) and contributed to the fatigue factor. There was huge emphasis on Arithmetics and Geometry and even a non engineer could easily solve it.
If the exam is of 3 hours then this pattern could be repeated.
Do all the CAT 100 percentilers get into IIM Ahmedabad?
No, it’s not necessary that all 100 percentiles get into IIM Ahmedabad. Either they don’t get selected or they have some other college at the top of their preference list.
The CAT 100 percentilers opt for either of the following options:
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Many 100 percentilers with work experience tend to apply for GMAT if they want to pursue their career abroad.
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Some with even 100 percentile don’t get into B-Schools at all. They either pursue teaching in that field. Nowadays MBA preparation websites and CAT coaching Institutes are common.
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Not all 100 percentilers are lucky enough to make it into IIMA. They get rejected in the interview round.
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It’s not necessary that every 100 percentiler has IIMA at the top of their preference list. Some might prefer IIMB because of location or FMS because of the fee structure.
We can say that the chances of 100 percentilers getting into IIMA are high but not assured.
CAT or GMAT which one is tougher?
CAT is tougher. It doesn’t have a well-defined syllabus, so you will need to invest more time while preparing for the examination. Often questions in CAT are out of the usual pattern which makes it difficult.
The syllabus and the examination pattern of GMAT are well-defined. To score well, you need to prepare according to the guideline of the examination diligently.
- CAT has a difficult LDRI section. While the IR section of GMAT is comparably much easier.
- The quants section of CAT is more difficult compared to GMAT as well.
- Compared to CAT, GMAT’s verbal section is more advanced. It can be difficult for non-native English speakers.
The unpredictability factor makes CAT more difficult.
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