CAT 2012@ Five methods for self preparation module to crack CAT 2012

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Not every CAT aspirant is the same. Though the goal is same, but the path or the means may vary from each other. While every CAT 2012 taker would want to crack CAT and take admission in IIMs, but the method of preparation is not always the same.

While the most common preparation method is to join a coaching institute and get direct guidance from mentor/s, taking mock tests and analysis and methods to improve your preparation, there are some such CAT 2012 aspirants, who takes the effort to achieve their dreams all by themselvaes, with little or limited help from outside sources.

Aakriti from Kochi told MBAUniverse.com, “I am preparing for CAT 2012. Due to various reasons, I cannot join a coaching institute and would be preparing by myself. Please guide me how to go about it and give me the names of the relevant books which I should refer in order to crack CAT 2012.” Aakriti is not the only one who approached us with this problem. There are several other queries on similar lines which we receive every day. In order to address the issue, today’s article of MBAUniverse.com will talk about methods of self preparation for CAT 2012.

if you have determined to go through the self study method to crack CAT 2012, first you must  get yourself totally enthused for it as it is not a very easy task to accomplish, but at the same time, if you are truly motivated to achieve it, it would not be a difficult task to attain. Otherwise if you are not focused enough, it would be difficult for you to move in the right track and pace which you had planned for.

Here are some tips for you which will help you to go ahead smoothly with yourself preparation module for CAT 2012.

Plan your preparation schedule

Since discipline and focus is the keyword for self study for CAT 2012 or any other exam you would be opting for, you need to prepare a proper time table which you feel can be maintained by you. Otherwise it often happens that you create a time table but not able to follow it properly. First identify your daily activities. If you are a student, then most of the day must be spent by you in college or graduation studies and other activities. So you have to take out a time which you feel is comfortable for your CAT exam studies.  Then find out the right time to study when you can prepare with full concentration. Preferably, early morning is the best time to start studying as you will have a fresh mind and body which makes it easier to concentrate.

Get the right books and preparation material

Since you are studying on your own, you need to get the right books and materials which can help you to prepare for the tough MBA exam like CAT 2012. The CAT preparation books which are invariably mentioned by the experts are as follows:

‘High School English Grammar and Composition’ by Wren and Martin, ’Verbal Ability’ by Arun Sharma, ‘How To Prepare For Quantitative Aptitude For The CAT’ by Arun Sharma, ‘Quantitative Aptitude for MBA Entrance Examinations’ by Abhijit Guha, How to prepare for the Data Interpretation for CAT’ by TATA-McGraw Hill publications, ‘How to prepare for the Data Interpretation for CAT’ by Arihant Prakashan, Reasoning and DI for MBA Exam’ by Arun Sharma,  ‘Business English and Communication’ by Clark Grade C to name a few.

Opt for online CAT coaching

Over the past few years, the trend of online CAT coaching has gone up remarkably. The change in the pattern from paper pencil based test to the computer based test has in a way contributed in this development. If it is not possible for you to join a CAT coaching institute due to constraints of time, money or location, opting for online CAT coaching is one of the best options you can go for. You can access the classes or the resources according to your convenience and at a much lower cost than the usual brick and mortar CAT coaching institutes.

MBAUniverse.com has launched a special initiative on offering you online classes for CAT 2012 preparation where you can avail video classes, e-books by CAT gurus. For more information, click on the following link:
http://www.mbauniverse.com/mba-exam-preparation/CAT_Preparation/taketestmainfile.php

There are several other websites where you online CAT coaching is provided such as TestFunda.com, TCYonline.com, 100 Percentilers.com to name a few.

Enroll into a test series

Now that there are around four months left for CAT 2012, you will soon need to start taking mock tests in order to judge your preparation level and plan or alter your preparation strategy. While you are doing self preparation for CAT 2012, it is your responsibility to check your preparation status. For that, the best idea is to join a test series of a good MBA coaching institute.

MBAUniverse.com and other websites like TestFunda.com, TCYonline.com also provides practice tests for CAT Preparation through which you can not only judge your preparation, but can also learn the correct method to solve as they provide explanatory answers as well.

Group study with fellow CAT 2012 takers

Studying in a group always helps. There is information sharing and you can always know where you stand in comparison of your peers with regard to CAT 2012 preparation. If you stand a better position than them, you can help them and hence check how good you have understood the concepts. Or if you see your peers ahead of you, don’t hesitate to take their help as well.

To know about the section wise trends, preparation strategy and important books, click on the following links:

CAT 2012 Quantitative Ability preparation: Trend of the past 5 years & know how to get started

Verbal Ability for CAT 2012: Past years trends & preparation techniques

Data Interpretation for CAT 2012: Past 5 years' trend & preparation basics

CAT 2012 Logical Reasoning: Past years' pattern & basic preparation strategy

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more on CAT 2012. 

CAT Preparation: Know the pattern in detail & start planning your preparation

CAT 2012, the most awaited MBA entrance exam of the year is looking for the announcement of the exam by next month. If you are planning to pursue your MBA in 2013, then going for CAT 2012 is the most convenient way you can follow. If you are seriously planning to take CAT 2012, then you must have started your CAT preparation by now. If not, then no need to fret, as this is the right time to start CAT 2012 preparation.

Experts say you need six months to prepare properly for CAT. Considering the fact that CAT is held in October to November each year, you should not delay your preparation any further. CAT 2011 was held in a 20 day window between Saturday, October 22 and Friday, November 18, 2012. CAT 2012 is expected to follow the similar timeline.

This article of MBAUniverse.com will share with you the basics of the CAT 2012 pattern and the preparation strategy you must follow in order to crack CAT 2012.

CAT 2012 Pattern

With the change in pattern of the CAT since 2011, the expected pattern of CAT 2012 is going to be the following.

The duration of the exam will be 140 minutes. Instead of having three sections, the number of sections was reduced from three to two. However, the areas of testing remained the same. Instead of three sections of Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, CAT 2011 ushered the change in pattern with two sections, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning.

The difficulty level of the exam is generally on the higher side. Throwing surprises is the common trend of CAT.

Components of the sections   

Basically CAT tests your conceptual understanding. If you are pro at the basic concepts of the Class X level, and know the correct methods and strategies to solve the questions, then you can easily crack the exam. Let us have a look at the components of each of the areas of the exam.

Quantitative Ability: This part basically tests your numerical ability and mathematical skills. The section covers Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Mensuration and questions predominantly belong to what is taught to students up to the tenth standard.

Verbal Ability: This area tests your knowledge in English. The questions in this section are from the areas of Reading Comprehension and English Usage. While Reading Comprehension is self explanatory, English Usage includes questions on grammar, vocabulary, Verbal Reasoning, para jumbles, fill in the blanks etc.

Data Interpretation: Data Interpretation asks you to study and interpret the data given in the form of graphs, charts and figures.

Logical Reasoning: Logical Reasoning tests your ability to think in a rational and logical manner. The questions will be in the form of cases and you will be given several questions on the basis of these cases. The questions of the Logical Reasoning are similar to puzzles.

Preparing for CAT 2012

The best way to start CAT 2012 preparation is by taking a diagnostic test. This will help you decide about your strengths and weaknesses. After that, you should chalk out a study plan on the basis of that. For example, if your weakest area is Quantitative Ability, then you should allocate more hours for it than the areas of your strength.

To start with, study for two to three hours every day. “The keyword here is ‘regular’ and discipline and concentration are a must. In the initial stages, the student should concentrate on the weak areas rather than strong areas,” says Vinayak Kudva, Product Head, IMS Learning.

To direct your preparation in the right way, it is best to join an MBA coaching institute. The noted ones are T.I.M.E., IMS Learning, Career Launcher, Bulls Eye etc. The coaching institutes will guide you in the right way to crack CAT 2012 by providing you the right study material, preparation strategy and mock tests.

Prepare with MBAUniverse.com

MBAUniverse.com has launched a special initiative on offering you online classes for CAT 2012 preparation where you can avail video classes, e-books by CAT gurus. For more information, click on the following link:

http://www.mbauniverse.com/mba-exam-preparation/CAT_Preparation/taketestmainfile.php

Self study can be a way too

It is not an obligation to join MBA coaching institute as many students who prepare by themselves also succeed in the CAT race. But it demands much more dedication and systematic approach at your end. If you want to opt for the self study method for CAT 2012 preparation, make sure that you approach in the right order. You should have the right books and study materials to start with. It is also very important that you get all your doubts clarified which you are facing during the course of your preparation. You must ensure that you take regular mock tests and get them analyzed. Even if you are not enrolled in a coaching institute for your CAT 2012 preparation, you should enroll for the mock test series offered by them.

If you are opting for self study, then you can also form a study group which may consist of the fellow CAT 2012 aspirants. The group members can share the techniques, strategies and anything new which you come across which will smoothen your chance of clearing the exam.

You can also seek advice from our counselors by posing your query at MBAUniverse.com:

http://www.mbauniverse.com/mba-exam-preparation/ask-mba-queries.php

Or you can also write to us with your query at editor@mbauniverse.com.

For advanced aspirants

If you have already been preparing for CAT 2012 then you have some advantage at your end as you are familiar to the CAT syllabus and strategies. You just need to brush up the basic knowledge that you have acquired while preparing for CAT 2011 and take regular mock tests to check your current situation and gauge your next steps.

With your preparation for the sections of Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning, you must also be aware of the world outside. Keep yourself aware by regular reading of newspapers and various forms of media as this will not only help improve your outlook towards the world, but also eventually help you perform better in CAT 2012.

CAT 2012: Planning to take CAT 2012? Get news, analysis, preparation strategy & expert guidance @MBAUniverse.com

The time has arrived to brace yourself for the eventful journey of CAT 2012. With the MBA dream fuelling among the aspirants over various age groups, educational and professional backgrounds, the interest to take the major MBA entrance exams are abuzz in their minds. Common Admission Test or CAT, conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management is the most popular exam, taken by around two lakh candidates every year.

Tapomay Sanyal from Kolkata asks MBAUniverse.com, “I want to take CAT 2012. Please tell me the procedure to apply. How much time is necessary to prepare for the exam?” If you are planning to go for CAT 2012, this is just the right time to get started.

MBAUniverse.com starts the exclusive series of CAT 2012 preparation for you to guide you throughout the journey, right from providing you all the necessary information to preparation strategies. In this article of MBAUniverse.com, we will share the basic information that you must have, if you have decided to take CAT 2012, and how MBAUniverse.com will guide you in every step of this journey to cracking CAT 2012.

CAT Trivia

CAT was initiated by IIMs. Among all the management exams, CAT is considered to be one of the toughest nuts to crack. Good performance in CAT ensures chances to get admission offers in the 13 IIMs and over 100 other top B schools in India. CAT, which was held every year on the third Sunday of November in a paper pencil format has been changed to computer based test since the year 2009.

After facing heavy technical snags in the year 2009, which was conducted by IIM Ahmedabad, CAT was conducted in a much stable and successful manner in 2010 and 2011 under IIM Lucknow and IIM Calcutta respectively. Prometric is the partner organization which conducts the computer based CAT.

CAT tests you broadly on four areas - Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. Till 2009, CAT had three sections, Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning. But CAT 2011 saw a major change in the pattern where instead of three sections the test had two sections, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning. 

Unlike the past two years, the CAT takers were no more allowed to spend the entire duration of 2 hours and 15 minutes on all the three sections. The two sections were made time bound, with 70 minutes each, resulting the total duration to 140 minutes.

The computer based CAT is conducted in a 10 day window. Barring CAT 2009, CAT 2010 and CAT 2011 were conducted in 10 consecutive days, in two slots. CAT 2011 was conducted from Saturday, October 22, 2011 to Wednesday, November 18, 2011.

CAT 2011 was taken by 1.85 lakh candidates, though the total number of registration was around 2.05 lakh. The number saw a dip compared to the past three years. While CAT 2010 registration was 2.06 lakh, CAT 2009 had seen 2.42 lakh candidates register for the test. The total number of registration for CAT 2008 was 2.45 lakh.

The announcement of CAT 2012 is likely to be made by the IIMs by the third week of July. The official announcement of CAT 2012 is likely to be made on the third Sunday of August 2012.  The exam is likely to be conducted in a window of 10 days between last week of October and mid November, 2012.

MBAUniverse.com - Your companion in the CAT 2012 journey 

Now that there are just four months left for the CAT 2012, this is the high time you start preparing for the exam. But you are not alone in this journey; MBAUniverse.com will guide you in every step of your journey to make it easier.
MBAUniverse.com will provide you regular updates on the development of CAT 2012, analysis and trends of the past years CAT, preparation tips from top CAT experts and toppers of past years through articles, interviews and Live Expert Chats.

MBAUniverse.com has also launched a special initiative on offering you online classes for CAT 2012 preparation where you can avail video classes, e-books by CAT gurus. For more information, click on the following link:

http://www.mbauniverse.com/mba-exam-preparation/CAT_Preparation/taketestmainfile.php

You can also seek advice from our counselors by posing your query at MBAUniverse.com:

http://www.mbauniverse.com/mba-exam-preparation/ask-mba-queries.php

CAT 2012 preparation

Confused on how to start CAT preparation with only a few more months to go for the Big Day?

Which Books or Reading Materials to read for CAT Preparation?...Which coaching centre to join?...Which test series to take? Now CAT is the Common Admission Test which is the entrance exam for getting the admission in the IIMs and other good B Schools for doing the MBA. Now if you want to prepare for the CAT 2012 exam then depends purely on you depending on the skill you have. But according to me you should begin preparing from now on wards so that you don't have much load on you at the end.

Forget all your worries and logon to MBAUniverse.com – the friend & guide you have always trusted, as it brings to you a unique compilation of concept-building materials and video tutorials designed specifically to help you score high and Crack CAT 2012!

MBAUniverse.com, India's No. 1 MBA portal, in collaboration with immensely knowledgeable team of Ravi Handa & S.K. Agarwal, who are leading experts in the field of Quantitative Aptitude and Verbal Ability respectively, presents you with High Quality & Highly Affordable CAT 2012 Coaching classes via e-Learning Mode. Now don't just rush your preparation with mediocre coaching but look to build and clear concepts and gain a better chance of cracking the CAT at one go.

What’s more, this Coaching module covers CAT 2012, XAT 2013, IIFT 2012 and other important management exams, and comes at a highly affordable price – starting at just Rs 999!

Preparation plan for Data Interpretation for CAT 2012

Today we will discuss about Data Interpretation which will be now converged with the Quantitative Ability part in the first of the two sections of CAT 2012. 

Topics of Data Interpretation

The Data Interpretation section consists of graphs, charts, tables etc. for calculating data. Though some questions need calculation, others can be solved without calculation. To have a closer view, this area consists of questions on Tables, Bar Charts, Pie Charts, Line chart/Scatter diagrams; Caselet/Logic based DI, Network Diagram etc. 

Improve your ability to work with numbers. You need to be as good as possible in mental calculations viz. additions, subtraction, multiplications, divisions, percentages and ratios. This can only be achieved through consistent practice.  Like other section, this section also needs thorough practice. Observing numbers in different forms and ways is a simple way to improve your speed with numbers..

Preparing for Data Interpretation

Like other sections, you can get a good idea about the questions by solving from the previous years’ CAT papers. This can form your basic preparation foundation. “For Data Interpretation, go through last five to six years CAT exam papers and try solving them without any preparation. Analyze and evaluate your approach with reference to every question including the one which you solved easily,” advises Kudva.

Reading can also boost your preparation meter for DI area. As Gejo Sreenivasan, Principal Consultant, Career Launcher says, “You must practice a lot in order to interpret the data. Solve at least one DI problem every day. You must read articles, especially on business which are heavy on data and analyze them. This will keep your 'DI cells' on toes.” Kudva says in a similar tone, “Refer to the graphs and data provided in various business papers and magazines. You need to identify techniques to solve questions which require big and time consuming calculations.”

Books & preparation material for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

Some of the books, which will help you in preparing for the Data Interpretation part of the Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation section are, ‘How to prepare for the Data Interpretation for CAT’ by TATA-McGraw Hill publications, ‘How to prepare for the Data Interpretation for CAT’ by Arihant Prakashan, Face 2 Face CAT Common Admission Test: 19 Years' (1993-2011) by Arihant Prakashan,  Quant E-Book, Author : Ravi Handa, The e-book is a unique 60 page reading material which consists of all the formulas & tips which students’ often requires while preparing for management exams like CAT, XAT and others. This book will be a comprehensive guide for the students who now need not hunt for their 10th and 12th standard books for formulas and in addition will help them learn the tricks and trades to solve lengthy problems in less than half-the-time spent earlier while practicing numerical at home.

CAT Eligibility

The candidate willing to take CAT exam must hold a Bachelor’s Degree, with at least 50 per cent marks or equivalent CGPA [45 per cent in case of the candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Differently Abled (DA)categories], awarded by any of the Universities incorporated by an act of the central or state legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956, or possess an equivalent qualification recognized by the Ministry of HRD, Government of India.

The percentage of marks obtained by the CAT exam candidate in the bachelor’s degree would be calculated based on the practice followed by the university/institution from where the candidate has obtained the degree.

In case the candidates of CAT exam are awarded grades/CGPA instead of marks, the conversion of grades/CGPA to percentage of marks would be based on the procedure certified by the university/ institution from where they have obtained the bachelor's degree. In case the university/ institution does not have any scheme for converting CGPA into equivalent marks, the equivalence would be established by dividing the candidate’s CGPA by the maximum possible CGPA and multiplying the result with 100.

Candidates appearing for the final year of bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification examination and those who have completed degree requirements and are awaiting results can also apply for the CAT exam. 

CAT 2011 Analysis

CAT 2011 saw a change in the pattern after CAT 2009. Instead of three sections, the number of sections was divided into two, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning. It was compulsory to take the first section first and the second one latter. The duration of each of the sections is 1 hour 10 minutes or 70 minutes. A stopwatch would be running on the screen. After the end of the duration, the section would automatically shift to the second section. The duration of the test increased by five minutes. While CAT 2010 was of 135 minute duration, CAT 2011’s duration was 140 minutes.

In terms of difficulty, the CAT Exam was moderate to difficult in nature.  “The difficulty level of the first day of CAT 2011 exam was Moderate to Difficult. Though the questions were on the expected lines but the nature of questions were difficult,” said Gautam Puri, Vice President, Career Launcher. The Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation section was tough. Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning section was on the easier lines. The paper did not bear any surprises for the test takers. he exam had questions from all difficulty levels. A couple of questions were very difficult, some questions were quite easy. Overall, the difficulty level was Moderate.