The Common Admission Test, commonly known as CAT, is one of the most competitive MBA entrance exams in India. The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) conduct the exam to choose candidates for their post-graduate management programs. While many students opt for coaching classes to prepare for the test, self-study is also a productive alternative that doesn’t require joining a coaching institute. In this article, we will discuss how to prepare for CAT without coaching in 6 months.
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Contents
CAT Preparation Strategy For 6 Months(Without Coaching)
Understand the Exam Pattern and Syllabus
To initiate CAT preparation, it’s crucial to grasp the exam pattern and syllabus. CAT comprises three sections – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude – with a total of 66 questions conducted online. Comprehending the syllabus and pattern assists in developing a well-organized study plan. Refer to the table below for further insights on the CAT 2023 exam pattern.
| SECTION | DURATION | NUMBER OF QUESTIONS [Expected] |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 40 minutes | 24 |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 40 minutes | 20 |
| Quantitative Ability | 40 minutes | 22 |
| Total | 120 minutes | 66 |
For every right response, three marks are granted, while every incorrect answer results in a deduction of one mark. Each section has a time limit of 40 minutes, and it’s not permissible for candidates to switch between sections.
Make a Study Plan
It’s essential to make a comprehensive study plan to prepare for an exam, as it aids in recognizing your initial position and prioritizing the concepts that require further attention. This CAT study plan, spanning over six months (commencing in May), provides a strategic method for exam preparation.
For working professionals, it’s crucial to develop a preparation strategy that maximizes their study time. Consistently following the daily tasks specified in this six-month study plan and taking frequent mock tests can substantially enhance your preparation. One can utilize the free CAT 2023 Study plan made by CAT experts. This study plan is specially made for working professionals and students.
Take a look at the sample screenshot of the six-month CAT study plan with a day-by-day schedule provided below. Download the PDF to view the complete daily schedule till the CAT 2023 exam.
Click on the below link to download the complete 6-month study plan for CAT 2023 PDF.
Choose the Right Study Material
Selecting appropriate study materials is vital for effective exam preparation. Several online resources, such as past papers, mock tests, and online tutorials, are accessible. Cracku offers a one-stop solution for CAT preparation, providing an array of outstanding resources. Cracku’s YouTube channel has thousands of videos that significantly aid in CAT exam preparation.
Quantitative Aptitude is known to be the scoring section of CAT. Mastery of Quant basics plays a crucial role in excelling in this section. To simplify the preparation process for aspirants, Cracku has created an excellent PDF containing all the vital CAT quant formulas.
Practice Regularly
When it comes to CAT exam preparation, consistent practice is the key to success. It is highly recommended that students practice problems from each section daily. Practising regularly not only helps in improving speed and accuracy but also enhances time management skills, which are critical in a time-bound exam like CAT.
Practising a variety of problems from different levels of difficulty can expose students to various problem-solving approaches and help them develop a problem-solving mindset.
Solve Mock Tests
Solving mock tests is an integral part of CAT preparation and an excellent way to assess one’s level of readiness for the exam. Mock tests simulate the actual CAT exam environment and provide students with an opportunity to practice time management skills, assess their knowledge, and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses.
By solving mock tests regularly, students can gauge their performance and identify areas that require improvement. Analyzing the results of mock tests can provide insights into one’s progress and highlight areas that need more attention.
Cracku provides you with one free CAT online mock test that includes detailed analysis and video solutions for each and every question. As mentioned before, solving CAT’s previous papers is also an effective way to prepare for the CAT exam. Cracku provides you with all the CAT previous papers PDFs with detailed video solutions. One can also take them in a test format.
Section-wise Study Plan For CAT 2023
CAT VARC Topic-wise Study Plan:
To prepare for the Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) section, it is recommended that you allocate a minimum of one hour every day for reading. This practice will help you develop different perspectives on a wide range of issues. At the initial stages of your preparation, aim to solve at least one reading comprehension (RC) exercise each day. The schedule given below can serve as a reference, but you can modify it based on your individual strengths and weaknesses and the time you have available during the day.
| Topic | No. of days |
| RC’s | 12-13 |
| Para Summary | 6-7 |
| Para Completion | 6-7 |
| Para Jumbles | 6-7 |
| Odd sentence out | 6-7 |
| Grammar, Sentence Correction, Fill in the blanks, Verbal Reasoning, Facts / Inferences / Judgements. | 12 |
CAT LRDI Topic-wise Study Plan:
To prepare for the Logical Reasoning And Data Interpretation (LRDI) section, it is essential to practice non-traditional sets since CAT has moved away from conventional ones. The current sets are more focused on logic and are relatively less dependent on data. Therefore, dedicate at least one hour each day to DI/LR concepts. Additionally, aim to solve two sets daily, comprising one DI set and one LR set.
| LR Topics | No. of days |
| Arrangements (Linear, Circular, etc) | 3 |
| Puzzles (Einstein puzzles, constraint-based etc) | 3 |
| Networks, LR based on picking coins | 5 |
| Games and tournaments | 3 |
| Scheduling | 3 |
| Blood relations, family tree, Truth-liar concept | 7 |
| Cubes | 3 |
| Others (2D Space LR’s, etc) | 5-6 |
| DI Topics | No. of days |
| Bar Graphs, Line Charts, Pie Charts, Unconventional charts (radar chart, bubble chart etc) | 12-14 |
| Tables | 4 |
| Venn Diagrams | 4 |
| Others (DI Based on growth over years, Data Sufficiency, Caselets, etc) | 9 |
CAT Quant Topic-wise Study Plan:
In order to excel in the Quantitative Ability (QA) section, having a solid understanding of the basic concepts of Quant is crucial. Aspirants are recommended to devote at least 1-2 months to mastering these fundamental concepts. Unfortunately, many candidates tend to overlook this critical aspect of preparation. The following study schedule can serve as a guide for preparing for the Quantitative Ability section, but you can modify it according to your strengths and weaknesses in this area.
| Topic | Number of days |
| Number Systems | 3-4 |
| Ratio and Proportion, Percentages, Averages, Alligation, Profit Loss and Discount | 12-13 |
| Simple Interest and Compound Interest | 1-2 |
| Time, Speed and Distance | 2-3 |
| Time & Work | 2 |
| Linear equations, Quadratic equations | 6 |
| Inequalities | 2 |
| Logarithms, Functions | 6 |
| Progressions and series | 3 |
| Surds and indices | 1 |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 10-11 |
| Basic trigonometry | 1-2 |
| Co-ordinate Geometry | 2 |
| Permutation and Combinations | 4 |
| Probability | 3 |
| Set Theory | 2 |
| Miscellaneous | 4-5 |
Candidates are advised to check out the CAT 2023 Syllabus PDF to learn more details about the CAT 2023 syllabus with CAT previous papers slot analysis.
Using all these resources and sticking to the study plan can help you in acing the CAT exam without taking any coaching.
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