What is the Preparation Strategy for CAT Exam for Commerce Students? Let's Find Out

Overview: With over 3.2 lakh candidates competing in the CAT exam 2023, it's common to associate the CAT exam with science students. However, it's equally important to commerce students, giving them equal competition. Let's look into the preparation strategy for the CAT exam for commerce students.

Achieving your dream of getting into an IIM is possible with dedication, consistency, and an intelligent preparation strategy, regardless of whether you belong to any stream or background.

In this blog, we'll discuss preparation tips and strategies for the CAT for commerce students.

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Understanding CAT Exam for Commerce Students

The CAT exam for commerce students assesses candidates precisely the same way it does for the rest of the other candidates. Moreover, the CAT exam paper pattern is standard for all candidates regardless of their background and stream.

The CAT entrance exam is based on three primary sections: 

1. Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
2. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
3. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR).

Read More | How is CAT Preparation Possible in One Year

Let's simplify and streamline the approach for preparation for CAT exam for commerce students:

• Begin your preparation for 2024 by taking a mock test. This initial step helps you identify your starting point and set your goals. A pre-preparation mock test also highlights the areas you need to improve.
• After understanding your current standing and target, clarify all fundamental concepts and their applications.
• Take mock tests regularly to familiarize yourself with the CAT's question types, key concepts, and strategies for the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Logical Reasoning (LR), and Quantitative Ability (QA) sections.
• Based on your strengths, develop a strategy for efficiently covering the entire syllabus and begin taking sectional tests to deepen your understanding of each subject.
• Finally, revision is critical. Once you've covered the CAT 2024 syllabus, dedicate time to revise thoroughly to reinforce your knowledge and improve your confidence before the exam.

Preparation for CAT Exam for Commerce Students  in 6 Months

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Learn More | Benefits of CAT Exam Preparation for MBA

Detailed Strategy for CAT Exam for Commerce Students

The CAT for commerce students preparation strategy is broken down into three sections.

Quantitative Aptitude- Topic Wise

The QA section for the CAT exam for commerce students can be challenging, especially for those who did not have Math in high school. However, the following are tips for a broad range of CAT QA syllabi that could help you with your CAT prep.

Geometry

• Basic Concepts: Focus on understanding fundamental geometric concepts such as lines, angles, triangles, circles, and polygons. Strengthening your conceptual understanding will make solving complex geometry problems easier.
• Visualize Geometric Figures: Develop the ability to visualize geometric figures and their properties. Practice sketching diagrams and visualizing transformations to gain insight into geometric relationships.
• Solve a Variety of Problems: Solve a diverse range of CAT Maths questions including geometry problems. Try to include both basic problems and those involving advanced concepts like similarity, congruence, and coordinate geometry. Practice applying different geometric theorems and formulas to solve problems efficiently.
• Review Solutions: After solving geometry problems, review the solutions carefully to understand the underlying concepts and problem-solving techniques. Analyze any mistakes and learn from them to improve your approach to similar problems in the future.

Also check: CAT Exam Maths Syllabus

Arithmetic

• Build the Fundamentals: Make sure to have a very good command over topics like Ratio and Proportion, Percentage, Profit and Loss, Time and Work, and Time & Distance. Have complete clarity on fundamental concepts. 
• Memorize Important Formulas: Memorize key arithmetic formulas for topics such as percentages, ratios, proportions, and averages. Familiarize yourself with common arithmetic shortcuts and tricks to solve problems efficiently.
• Practice Word Problems: Arithmetic problems in CAT exam preparation often involve real-life scenarios presented as word problems. Practice translating word problems into mathematical equations and solving them systematically.
• Work on Speed and Accuracy: Improve your Quantitative Ability by focusing on your speed and accuracy in solving arithmetic problems. Practice solving timed arithmetic drills and track your progress over time. Develop strategies to quickly identify relevant information and eliminate unnecessary steps.

Algebra

• Master Algebraic Concepts: Develop a strong understanding of algebraic concepts such as equations, inequalities, functions, and sequences. Practice simplifying algebraic expressions and solving equations using different methods.
• Practice Equation Solving: Solve a variety of algebraic equations, including linear equations, quadratic equations, and simultaneous equations. Practice QA questions by applying algebraic techniques such as factoring, completing the square, and using the quadratic formula.
• Solve Application Problems: Algebra problems in CAT exam preparation often involve real-world applications such as time-speed-distance, Time & Work, and mixtures. Practice solving application problems by setting up equations based on given information and solving them systematically.
• Review Algebraic Identities and Formulas: Familiarize yourself with common algebraic identities, formulas, and properties. Memorize important identities such as the quadratic formula, binomial theorem, and properties of exponents to simplify algebraic expressions and solve problems efficiently.

Learn more | Detailed Syllabus of Quantitative Ability

How to prepare for CAT Exam for DILR Section

The Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) section is crucial in the preparation of the CAT exam for commerce students. This section can be easily dealt with by them as it requires logical and analytical skills, which are a strong forte for commerce students.

To ace in this section and significantly boost your overall score, with getting just 10 questions correct having the potential to fetch a 99.5 percentile in the exam. Here are some tips from top scorers to excel in the DILR section:

• Right Selection of Sets: Begin by quickly skimming through all the sets to assess their difficulty levels and ascertain which ones you are most comfortable with. Prioritize sets that seem manageable and have clear data representations. Aim to select sets where you can solve a majority of questions accurately within the allotted time.
• Improving Concepts: Work on strengthening your concepts in various topics such as Linear and Circular Arrangements, Selections, Distributions, Quant-based Reasoning, Games and Tournaments, Cubes, Pie Charts, Combination Graphs, Bar Charts, Spider Graphs, Line Charts, and Blood Relations. Understanding the underlying principles and patterns in each topic will help you tackle diverse sets effectively.
• Practice Regularly: Practice daily that too by solving a variety of sets from different sources, including previous years' CAT papers. Pay attention to the different types of questions and approaches required for each topic. This will enhance your speed, accuracy, and problem-solving skills.
• Time Management: Efficient time management is crucial in the DILR section, as each set demands careful analysis and calculation. Allocate a specific amount of time to each set based on its complexity, ensuring that you do not spend too much time on any single set. Practice timed mock tests to improve your pacing and decision-making under pressure.
• Analyze Solutions: After solving sets, analyze the solutions to understand the reasoning behind each answer. 
• Develop Logical Reasoning Skills: Practice solving puzzles, seating arrangements, and logical deductions regularly to sharpen your logical reasoning abilities. Develop a systematic approach to dissect and solve complex problems.
• Mock Tests are Must: Take as many sectional tests as possible to simulate the exam pattern. Analyze your performance in mock tests to identify areas for improvement.

Read more | Detailed Syllabus of LRDI for CAT Preparation

How to prepare for CAT Exam for VARC Section

• Reading is Must: Cultivate a regular reading habit that too with a diverse range of materials, including newspapers, magazines, novels, and online articles. Choose best books like "Word Power Made Easy" and "Six Weeks to Words of Power" for vocabulary improvement.
  Additionally, read articles from reputable publications such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Economist Magazine will expose you to high-quality writing and complex ideas.
• Practice Active Reading: Active reading involves engaging with the text by asking questions, summarizing key points, and making connections. Actively interact with the passages provided in the VARC section. Annotating the text, highlighting important information, and jotting down key ideas to aid comprehension and retention.
• Focus on Understanding, Not Memorization: Rather than memorizing vocabulary lists or rote-learning grammar rules, stress the importance on understanding context. Learn words in context, identify their usage in sentences, and understand their nuances. Similarly, grasp grammar rules through application rather than memorization, focus on how sentences are constructed and understand their meaning.
• Solve Practice Questions Regularly: Regular practice is key to excel in the VARC section. Solve a variety of practice questions, including sentence correction, para jumbles, and reading comprehension passages. Gradually increase the difficulty level of questions to challenge yourself.
• Analyze Mistakes: Review incorrect answers carefully, identify the reasons for their mistakes, and understand the underlying concepts. By analyzing mistakes, you can pinpoint areas for improvement and refine strategies for tackling similar questions in the future.
• Time Management: Efficient time management is essential for success in the VARC section. Allocate a specific amount of time to each passage or question and stick to it. Practice timed mock tests to improve speed and accuracy and develop a sense of pacing during the actual exam. Prioritize easier questions and passages to maximize score potential within the given time limit.

Read more | How to Improve Reading Comprehension?

Also Read: Is CAT Exam Compulsory for MBA Aspirants?

Conclusion

The CAT exam for commerce students can be a gateway to the top b-schools of our country like IIMs. By leveraging their background in commerce, students can develop a targeted preparation strategy that plays to their strengths.

With consistent practice, a balanced study plan, and a focus on key areas, commerce students can excel in the CAT exam.

Also Check: Is CAT Exam Tough?