Monday, August 31, 2009

A very commonly asked question is about the relative importance given to different topics in the QA section of the CAT. The unpredictability of the CAT has been one of the reasons that make it difficult to bell.
The following chart shows us how much percent of the QA section of CAT 2004 to CAT 2008 was Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Modern Maths.


Apart from the reducing importance of Arithmetic, no clear pattern emerges from this. More importantly, no topics can be completely ignored for your preparation.
Going into greater detail, it is possible to identify the concepts that are most important in CAT - going by the number of times that they have appeared from 2004 onwards.
Number Theory accounted for almost 26% of the 127 quant questions. Circles and Functions followed with 18% and 12% respectively.
Here is the complete list of concepts that appeared in these five years, along with the number of questions from that topic.
Concept
Percentage of
Questions

Number Theory
26
Circles
18
Functions
12
Time and Distance
10
Permutations and Combinations
10
Sequences, Progressions and Series
10
Quadratic and Higher Order Equations
8
Linear Equations
5
Triangles
4
Inequalities
3
Logarithms
3
Mensuration
3
Sets
3
Algebraic Formulae and Operations
2
Co-ordinate Geometry
2
Quadrilaterals and Other Polygons
2
Surds and Indices
1
Averages
1
Mixtures and Alligation
1
Ratio and Proportion
1
Time and Work
1
Basics of Geometry
1


NOTE: A question that requires the application of more than one concept has been counted only once, under the central, primary concept area being tested. For instance, a question classified under the Number Theory concept could also require basic knowledge and application of percentages, averages and quadratic equations, but we count it only once, under the concept Number Theory. Or a functions question could test your knowledge of higher order algebraic equations or set theory.
Let's discuss the most important concepts:

Number Theory
Number Theory questions usually are based on classification of numbers (even-odd, prime-composite), HCF, LCM, divisibility, reversal of numbers, factorials, squares, cubes and base conversions.
Many of these questions can be solved by testing different sets of numbers to satisfy conditions or by plugging in values in options. Some others can be easily solved if you know divisibility rules for numbers like 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 16 etc.
Having knowledge of the Fundamental Principle of Counting, applications of the Binomial theorem to divisibility problems and notations of Set theory will definitely help.
Remember that on the difficulty scale these questions rank very low, but practice alone can make you comfortable with these questions. Use the Skill Builder and the huge resource (72 questions) of Past CAT Questions in Number Systems and Number Theory for gaining confidence that you can handle this concept.

Circles
Here you need to apply basic formulae like area of circles, triangles, Pythagoras theorem, mid-point theorem and know the definitions and properties of tangents, chords and arcs. As mentioned earlier, there may be sub-concepts in a Circles question. Basics of geometry, triangles, coordinate geometry, and arithmetic and geometric progressions very often feature in these questions. More often than not, a fair amount of visualisation is important.
There are only a few fundamentals to master in plane geometry, but an endless variety of questions. CBSE/NCERT textbooks of standards VIII, IX and X are a great place to learn the basics and past CAT questions a great place to apply them.

Functions
This is probably the most feared concept. You should know how functions are represented analytically (algebraically) and graphically. Number theory, algebraic equations, inequalities and co-ordinate geometry are concepts that are generally required to answer these questions.
Functions have an uncanny knack of appearing difficult when they are absolutely not. Do not decide whether to attempt a Functions question based on how it appears at the first glance.

Time and Distance
Time × Speed = Distance
We learn this in the third standard. The faster you run, the faster you reach. The slower you run, more is the time you take to reach. If two trains run towards each other, they collide with each other faster than they would, if one was stationary and the other running. This is common sense, right? Well this is what Time and Distance questions in CAT are all about.
You need to understand the concept of relative speed very well. You should know what average speed means and if you understand variation well, Time and Distance questions will be a cakewalk for you.

Permutations and Combinations
This is one topic where most students falter, partly because it is generally taught in classes XI and XII, after which it is not really used, and partly because students have a preconception that this is a very tough topic. Well, Permutations and Combinations can be rated as the most entertaining concept, if you get the hang of it.
You can start with simple applications of the Fundamental Principle of counting, which you will find in any good text book and slowly graduate to solving relatively complex questions on permutations and combinations. Past CAT questions will give you an idea of what kind of questions you can expect in the exam.
Do not take the risk of neglecting this concept. As mentioned earlier, this concept is very frequently useful in Number Theory.

Sequences, Progressions and Series
This concept covers mainly two types of questions. One involves identifying sequences of numbers that do not follow any predefined patterns using logic and the other involves use of arithmetic, geometric and harmonic progressions. The application of this concept also features in Functions, Geometry, Number Theory, and Time and Distance.
As you go through the Past CAT questions you will see that there is hardly any topic that is completely absent. A single question may need an understanding of 3-4 different concepts. Therefore, not knowing one concept may put you at the risk of losing out on the choice of attempting a number of questions.
Hence, it is important to get the basics right across the concepts, and then focus on the ones that you know are important.
If you keep practicing new examples, you will master all fundamentals easily. The best way to learn is by doing, rather than learning by rote.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

The other day a student remarked, “All these years I’ve taken so many different exams— subjective and multiple choice, with negative marking and without, in familiar or unfamiliar surroundings— but they were always paper based. We all were made to sit on separate benches in a school or college classroom and there were one or two supervisors to help us and monitor us. As long as I knew the subject, I was always sure I could crack the exam. But, this time it is different. The CAT is going online! I am not sure how I will fare.”

This seems to be a fear in the minds of many students this year. The CAT this year may be your first experience of a real online test; with CAT already being a tough test, it's natural that you are anxious. Let's see what you can expect in the CBT-CAT and try to alleviate this anxiety.

The Test Taking Interface
The test-taking interface will have the questions and their alternatives and you will have to choose an answer by clicking on the correct alternative. Make sure that you practice as many computer based mock CATs as you can.

Sectional time limits have not been seen in the CAT for some time now but the CAT is known for its ability to surprise students -- it's best to be prepared for all eventualities. In case there are sectional time limits, you may not get to jump between sections while attempting the paper.

A timer is a common feature on all computer based tests. Use the timer, but avoid looking at it every now and then, lest it unnerves you.

Attempt Free Mock CAT in CBT-CAT Player

The Questions
Conceptual clarity and application skill is required just as much for an online test. But there are a few functional things that can adversely affect your performance in the CBT, if you do not have sufficient practice.

Let us take a look at each of the three sections of the CAT, and the impact that a computer-based format can have.

Quantitative Ability

The questions in the QA section are typically short. So there will be no major difference in the way in which these questions should be attempted. However, instead of doing your rough work on the question paper itself, you need have to practice doing your rough work on separate sheets of paper.

For geometry-based questions you may be used to making notes and marking values on the diagram provided in the question paper itself. But now, you may have to sketch out these diagrams on your rough paper and then work on them. This may take a while if there are a lot of geometry questions – practice making quick sketches of figures in geometry questions.

Your ability to solve questions mentally, rather than by putting pen to paper, will help you a lot. Learn multiplication tables, squares and cubes to 30, all relevant formulae and reciprocal percentages well.

Free Lesson on Quantitative Ability

Data Interpretation
If the tables, charts and caselets are very long, you might spend a lot of time scrolling back and forth. You can work these questions out faster by following these steps:

1.      Read the data and understand it well. Summarise the heads in the data in the rough sheet so that you have a list of what is available for ready reference.

2.      Read all the questions related to the table, chart or caselet to get a clear idea of how the common data is to be processed.

3.      Then go back to the data and extract whatever information is needed. If the data table or chart is small enough, you might even consider copying it on paper.

Free Lesson on Data Interpretation

Verbal Ability
Reading comprehension forms a large part of the Verbal Ability (VA) section of CAT—in the last few years, nearly half the section! It is important to practice reading comprehension, as often as possible, on a computer; many people read slower on a computer monitor than on paper. Regularly read the news and articles online to improve your reading speed.

Scanning a long passage to find that “answer” or that “keyword” that you need for the correct answer option is more difficult on a computer. Practice and work out techniques that help you find information as soon as possible. For example, since you can’t underline text online, try noting down one or two key words for each paragraph on rough paper.

Though other VA questions are generally short, in a CBT it is not as easy to keep track of answer options you have eliminated. Practise questions that require elimination strategy on a computer, while keeping track of answer options on paper.
Free Lesson On Verbal Ability

Attempt Free Mock CAT in CBT-CAT Player 

Friday, August 28, 2009



Patrick D'souza, CAT 2007 100-Percentiler


This is the time when you have already prepared with your basics and have started with your test series. You would have written a few tests but soon realize after a few that it is difficult to improve on your percentiles beyond a certain limit. So you go back to your books and study harder. But still your scores don’t improve. You get frustrated, which results in further lowering of your scores. So what do you do? This is what I recommend:


There is no point in going and revising the concepts or rote learning formulae again and again. The best way to improve is by analyzing the papers you have already solved. Your focus of solving now should be on trying new methods as compared to what you have been traditionally doing. If you see the past data, most of the students who score +90%ile in the first attempt normally go down in the second attempt (i.e. their percentile in the second attempt is lower than the first). The reason for this is that you become complacent and feel that whatever method you have adopted for solving is good and with more practice tests you can only improve your percentiles but this is not true! As seen through many examples of students who despite a lot of practice do not improve on their scores. More practice does not improve your scores, but only ensures that you solve the sums with the same method. This will only ensure that your speed will be the same as before or slightly better (as you are not solving with a better method) but could slow you down as your mind is not trained to think in new or different ways.
Download Past CAT Papers with Detailed Answer Keys and Solutions 


One of the good ways to improve on your methods is to go back to the sums you have solved and see if you can solve them in a better method than what you have already done. Also the methods that you get should be even better than the methods given in the explanatory answer, else how will you score better than the rest of the students who are referring to the same explanatory answers and using the same methods. When you go through the papers, imagine that you are a faculty and giving feedback to a class regarding the paper. The students have already gone through the explanatory answer. So now how will you add value to the class? What new ways of solving can you explain to them? You need not get better methods for all the sums that you solve. Even if you get better methods for a few sums it will suffice to improve your performance by leaps and bounds over a period of time.


Another way to improve is to study in groups or study with someone who is better than what you are. Learn from other students methods. Also help the other student with your methods. The moment you start explaining different methods to others, you become stronger conceptually and can use the method in much better manner and also can use it for varied types of sums.
Discuss CAT Question of the Day


Solve different type of puzzles to improve on your Math and Logic section. Puzzles help you think differently as there is no single method to solve all the puzzles and you will have to think of innovative ways to solve them thus helping you with your thinking ability. You could start with Sudoku and then move on to other type of puzzles.
Discuss MBA Puzzles
Fun Learning Games for Mental Agility, English


DI is one area where improvement can be quite drastic. The difference between DI and Math is that in DI there are only few ways of solving the sums. If you can master them you would be very good unlike Math where you have so many topics to study from. For improving on your DI, the key is to calculate approximately. There are various ways of accurate calculations like Vedic Math, etc but I think it is useless unless you have been using it for the last 5 or more years and have mastered it. Vedic Math will only make you slow. Understand this, that CAT does not require accurate answers. You have to get one of the options as your answers. So even if you come close to one of the answers you can mark the right answer and save a lot of time which you would ideally waste in unnecessary calculations. One way of solving DI is to solve DI without a pen or pencil in your hand. Imagine you are traveling in a crowded train where you can hold the paper in one hand to read but cannot use the second hand to solve. Also you have to go through the DI sheet to conduct a CAT class. Now solve the DI sums without using any pen or paper. Even the calculations do it in your mind. When you start doing this you are forced to think of different ways of solving the questions in a shorter way. Also you are forced to calculate approximately to get the answer. This is the best way to develop shortcut methods and also to solve DI faster.


Logic section is usually a part of DI. The best way to improve in the logic section is to solve a lot of puzzles. This helps to build up logical ability. The key to solving a logic problem is to be systematic while solving a problem. When you are solving a logic sum, mark whatever conditions you have already used while solving the sum, so that you are aware as to what conditions you have not used. This ensures that you do not have to read the whole sum to search for some condition and also ensures that you do not miss on any condition (which is the cause of major mistakes in logic sums).


The verbal section requires a long time to improve. But regular reading helps you to improve it to a large extent. In CAT the major question in Verbal is Reading Comprehension. So if you can build up on reading ability it could help you to read faster which in turn ensures that you can solve more questions and therefore more marks. One key technique is fast reading which has to be developed and can be done so within a period of 1 month. ‘How to read better and faster’ is a good book that can help you read faster. Also if you are weak in the verbal section ensure that you read for at least one to two hours daily. Also try and avoid reading fiction or story books. As they have a story line underlying it you read it because of the story. It helps to read from diverse topics as CAT RC passages are from diverse topics. Also by reading from diverse topics helps you to get familiar with different subject areas which ensure that a passage in the exam on a similar subject area you will definitely be able to read faster and comprehend better.


What is most important is that you remain focused and don’t give up. Keep planning and follow the plan. Don’t stop practicing for long periods because then you will lose touch. Constantly keep yourself in touch with papers and try and get yourself into a group that is also preparing for CAT. There will be times when you will feel completely de-motivated and discouraged, it’s alright to feel disappointment but you must remember the phase will pass and you can do better if you don’t lose sight of your goal.


Your mantra should always be ‘CAT is not tough and I can crack it.’ Keep yourself motivated and take the exam. If you have put in effort the rest will take care of itself.
All the very best!!!


About Author:
Patrick Dsouza: Patrick D'souza, equipped with a B.E, MMS from JBIMS and a CFA, has been training students for CAT for the past 8 years. He has worked with NIIT and IMS as Centre Head before leaving it all to start his own institute, Quoin Academy. Patrick has taken the CAT and scored 100%ile in CAT 2007 and 99.98%ile overall (100%ile in Quant and DI sections) in CAT 2008. His constantly innovative methods and shortcuts have kept him at a top position in his attempt to CRACK the CAT.


More CAT Strategies by Past CAT Toppers