DO'S & dont's
HERE YOU'LL FINDÂ top DO's and DON'Ts for both multiple-choice sections (Quantitative and Verbal) of the CAT. These basic test-taking tips apply to all multiple-choice questions.DON'T resort to random guesses. Instead, always try to eliminate at least one answer choice before you confirm your response. If you must guess, always try to eliminate obvious wrong-answer choices first, then go with your hunch. Eliminating even one choice obviously improves your odds. If you're out of time on a section, there's no advantage to guessing randomly on the remaining questions. Why? You might luck out and guess correctly. But incorrect responses move you down the ladder of difficulty to easier questions, and your reward for responding correctly to an easy question is less than your reward for responding correctly to a more difficult one. So on balance, there's no net advantage or disadvantage to guessing randomly.
DO look out for sucker-bait answer choices. The test-makers love to bait you with tempting wrong answer choices. (You'll see for yourself as you tackle the Mini-Tests here at this Web site.) So unless you're running out of time, heed the following advice:
In Problem Solving questions wrong-answer choices typically reflect common computational errors. To avoid this trap:
- check your calculations
- know the general size of the numerical value that answers the question
On the Verbal section questions typically include a best response and a second-best response. So unless you're quickly running out of time on the Verbal section, never hasten to select and confirm an answer until you've read all the choices!
DO pace yourself so that you have enough time to consider every available question—but don't be a clock-watcher. To give your full attention to all 90 questions in 120 minutes, you'll probably have to work at a somewhat quicker pace than is comfortable for you Adjust your pace accordingly so that you have time to at least take a reasoned guess on every available question in the section. But try not to be a constant clock watcher (easier said than done, of course, when the time remaining is always right in front of you—in the upper-left corner of the computer screen).
TIP: The best way to avoid the time squeeze is to practice under timed conditions, so that you get a sense for how quickly you must proceed to get through a multiple-choice section within the allotted time.
DO take your time with the first few Quantitative and Verbal questions.
The first few questions you attempt may make all the difference. It doesn’t matter how many mocks one has attempted, D-day has its toll on many test takers. One need to be a little bit nervous but never be panic or loose concentration during the course of the examination. If first few questions goes wrong never loose your patience – Just think one thing tough questions are gone and easy are ahead, because if loose your concentration for more than 2/3 mins then your out of the race.DON'T succumb to perfectionist tendencies.
On an exam as important as the CAT, it's easy to be a stubborn perfectionist. The design of the CAT itself contributes to this mind set, because your reward for correct responses to difficult questions is greater than your reward for easier questions. But a stubborn attitude is self-defeating, for two reasons: (i)It reduces the number of questions that you attempt, which lowers your score .(ii) You run the risk of over-analyzing questions, and going against your initial hunch (which more often than not is correct)As you take the Quantitative Tests and Verbal Tests here at our Website, get comfortable with a quick pace by adhering strictly to the time limits imposed. Remember: You can miss quite a few questions and still score high. Develop a sense of your optimal pace—one that results in the greatest number of correct responses. DO maintain an active mind set. During the CAT it's remarkably easy to fall into a passive mode—in which you let your eyes simply pass over the words while you hope that the correct response jumps out at you as you scan the answer choices. Fight this tendency by interacting with the test as you read it. Keep in mind that each question on the CAT is designed to measure a specific ability or skill. So when you're presented with each new question, try to adopt an active, investigative approach to the question. Ask yourself:
- What skill is the question measuring?
- What is the most direct thought process for determining the correct response?
How might a careless test taker be tripped up on this type of question?
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Tips for Quants
Depending upon your mock test scores you should know how much time you should spend on Quant section. Ideally if you are looking for just clearing the cutoff you should give 28-32 minutes and if Quant is your scoring section then you should give 39-45 minutes depending upon your strategies.One-mark questions are usually easier ones so it’s a good idea to start with these questions. Before starting any 2 marks question read the question carefully and figure out if you know all the basics required for solving the problem. If you don’t feel confident after reading the question then just leave it. Never waste your time in trying a question just because you have read the question.
Geometry figures are drawn proportionately--unless a figure indicates explicitly that it is not drawn to scale. Nevertheless, don't rely on your eye to measure angle sizes, line segment lengths, or areas. Instead, use your knowledge of mathematics along with the numbers provided to solve the problem. Believe me: The test-makers are careful to ensure that no problem can be solved merely by visual measurement or estimation. NOTE: The one exception involves Data Interpretation questions that require you to interpret bar graphs and line charts; you can (and should) rely on visual estimation for these questions. If you're stuck, many questions allow you to work backwards by assuming hypothetically that each answer choice in turn is the correct one, then testing it by "plugging it in." Use pencil and scratch paper for all calculations, and always check your calculations before confirming your response. Remember: Wrong answer choices will anticipate commonly made computational errors, and careless errors are the #1 cause of incorrect answers in GMAT Problem Solving. In handling word problems (math problems cast in a real-world setting), make reasonable real-world assumptions. Don't split hairs by looking for subtle meanings or ambiguous language. The test-makers are not out to trick you in this way.
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Quick Tips for Data Sufficiency
 Memorize the four answer choices; they're the same for each and every Data Sufficiency question.Be careful not to carry over any information from one numbered statement to another. (Making this mistake is remarkably easy, especially under time pressure and in a momentary lapse of concentration.)If a question asks for a numerical value (as opposed to a quantitative expression that includes variables), the question is answerable only if a numbered statement (1 or 2) yields one and only one possible numerical answer--not a range of values.
In distinct contrast to Problem Solving geometry figures, Data Sufficiency figures are not necessarily drawn proportionately--unless a figure indicates explicitly that it is drawn to scale. Do NOT rely on your eye to measure angle sizes, line segment lengths, or areas. Instead, handle any Data Sufficiency question using your knowledge of mathematics along with the numbers providedData Sufficiency questions are designed to test you primarily on quantitative concepts, not on your ability to manipulate numbers (that's what Problem Solving questions are for). So if you find yourself doing a lot of pencil work, you're probably on the wrong track.
Just as in Problem Solving questions, in Data Sufficiency questions cast in a real-world setting you should make reasonable real-world assumptions. Don't split hairs by looking for subtle meanings or ambiguous language. The test-makers are not out to trick you in this way.
Quick Tips for Data Interpretation
 In gleaning data from a chart, graph or table, it's remarkably easy to inadvertently grab your data from the wrong graph, bar, line, etc. This is the #1 cause of incorrect responses in CAT Data Interpretation. To avoid this blunder, point your finger to the data you want; put your finger directly against the question paper and keep it there until you're sure you're looking at the right part of the right chart or graph.
Check to see if the question asks for an approximation. If so, you can safely estimate numbers by rounding off. CAUTION: When rounding off fractions, round the numerator and denominator in the same direction (either up or down); otherwise you'll distort the value of the fraction.Don't confuse percentages with raw numbers. Always ask yourself which type of number the chart or graph is providing, and which type the question is asking for.
It's okay to rely on visual approximations when it comes to reading bar graphs and line charts. The test-makers are not out to test your eyesight. So if two or more answer choices come very, very close to your solution, rest assured that you needn't estimate values more precisely. Instead, go back to square 1; you've made some other mistake along the way.
Take 15-30 seconds right up front to assimilate and make sense of the chart, graph, or table—and be sure to read all the information around it. (You might need to scroll vertically to view all the information.) Get a sense for what the variables are and how they relate to one another—before you tackle the questions.
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CAT Sentence Correction
CAT sentence correction questions are designed to test your ability to identify written English that is grammatically correct. Each question will begin with sentences, parts of which have been underlined. You will then be presented with 4 different answer choices presenting alternative ways of stating the underlined portion of the text. One answer choice will repeat the text without any changes (meaning that the sentence is clear in meaning and grammatically correct as written). The other choices will re-write the text, sometimes in subtle ways.The correct answer will have all of the following 4 characteristics:1.      No grammatical mistakes 2.      Correct sentence structure 3.      No diction errors 4.      No changes to the sentence's intended meaning Note that we did not state that the correct answer is always the most concise one. While this often is the case, it does not always hold true. You may find that you need to resist the temptation to always select the shortest answer choice.
CAT Sentence Correction Tips and Strategies
Do not waste time on a close reading of answer choice A. Choice A always simply repeats the wording of the underscored section. If you've read the underscored text, you already know what it says. Keep in mind, however, that we are not saying to ignore choice A entirely. It will be correct approximately one fifth of the time. That said, we do advise clients not to succumb to the temptation to overanalyze these questions or to assume that there is always a re-written answer choice that is better than the underlined segment presented in the question.Look out for multiple errors. A sentence might contain more than one error. A common fallacy that test-takers fall into is to find one error and then quickly choose the answer that corrects that mistake, without considering whether there are other errors in the sentence that an alternative answer choice might also address. The correct answer must correct all of the errors in the underlined text.Employ process of elimination wherever possible. The easiest way to use process of elimination in sentence correction questions is simply to eliminate any answer choices that are themselves grammatically incorrect. You can also eliminate any choices that alter the intended meaning of the sentence. If you are still unsure about how to answer a question even after narrowing your choices down to two, you will fare better by selecting the more concise of the remaining answer choices – provided that it does not use the passive voice.Do not worry about spelling or capitalization errors. The test writers do not test for these 2 errors.When in doubt, look for subtle differences among the different answer choices. Examining how answer choices differ from one another can also be a good way to determine what errors might be present in the underlined text. This technique can also help you fight the tendency to read so carefully for meaning that you overlook grammatical mistakes.Read the entire sentence a second time, inserting your selected answer choice. We have found this to be a very powerful tip for dealing with sentence correction questions. It can keep you from making careless mistakes that would harm your CAT score.Trust your ears. If you become stuck, 'say' the choices in your head and then select the passage that sounds best to your ears. Most test takers, particularly native English speakers, have internalized many more grammar rules than they can explicitly identify.
Grammar Concepts and Rules You Should Know
We do not have the time or space to review the material tested by the CAT sentence correction section here. However, we have compiled the following "short list" of grammatical rules that the writers particularly like to test. You are strongly encouraged to memorize this list of grammar concepts and rules, and to refresh your knowledge of them, before you sit for the CAT.
- 'Among' versus 'between'Â
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- Elliptical verb phrasesÂ
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- Misplaced modifiersÂ
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- Parallel sentencesÂ
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- Pronoun-subject agreementÂ
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- Proper use of adverbs (they modify verbs)Â
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- Proper use of the semicolonÂ
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- 'Fewer' versus 'less'Â
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- Run-on sentencesÂ
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- Sentence fragmentsÂ
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- Subject-verb agreementÂ
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- Verb tensesÂ
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- 'Who' versus 'whom'Â
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- and many more..
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The Last TIP
Just 7 days to go for the most hyped competitive exam held in India. All the years of preparation will be determined in the given 2hr 30 minutes. Few will remain in compose during the exam and ‘ll leave the hall exam with a broad smile but most of the cat takers ‘ll have a different day on 19th Nov. 2006.
It does not matter how many times one read - “Don’t be panic and take the CAT as another mockâ€, most of the students writing the exam will have a disastrous start to it. And the very reason for that is – The name of the exam is CAT. All the coaching institutes try level best to equip their students with the worst situation but the IIMs always go beyond any imagination and that’s why it make CAT such a challenge.
To begin with IIMs have already declared that CAT2006 will be of 2hr30mins not the usual 2hr. why so? No can explain that and I don’t want to make any guess. There are two important aspects to CAT – number of questions and level of difficulty. The first one is decreasing with each year and the second is in rising slope. From the experience I can say that the level of difficulty is not going to lessen and we might see an increase in number of questions but in any means it not going to be more than 120.
All the cat takers should understand one thing clearly that the other name of CAT is uncertainty and that’s true for all. What all knows that its going to be a 150min test with 3 sections (most probably that can change also). The basic idea should be to give 40-45 mins to all the three sections and at the end give whatever time left to the section where you think you have performed badly.
Please be assured of following things 1 day in advance of CAT.
(I) You know how to reach your exam center and you know exactly how much time it ll take to reach the exam center from your place.
(ii)You have all the important kits with you for the exam – 3 pencils, one sharpener, one eraser and your admit card.
On the exam Day
(i) Get up as early as possible so that you don’t have to be in hurry.
(ii) Try to relax while preparing yourself – listen to music / have MTV on with full volume.
(iii) Have a sound breakfast. Don’t leave home with empty stomach or with a too heavy breakfast.
(iv) Before living home be assured you have your admit card and kit box with you.
(v) Try to reach the exam hall before 15-30 mins. Don’t be there too early, too much of waiting time takes it toll.
(vi) Be relaxed till you enter the exam hall.
During the exam
(I) Once you get the OMR sheet fill that up correctly.
(ii) Next is to concentrate properly for few minutes. I am not saying to start meditation but before getting the exam paper just try to bring up all your concentration and energy.
(iii) Once you get the exam paper, check out the booklet number on it and write that in OMR sheet.
(iv) Check out the number of sections and questions. Distribute the total time depending upon your level of confidence in all the three sections.My suggestion is to have 15 minutes in hand for the end and give equal amount of 45 minutes to all the sections.
(v) Once the bell rings give few minutes (at max 2 minutes) to have an overall look of the paper and try to judge the level of difficulty. If you find things are just going over your head then do remember the same thing is happening to the rest 1.9 laks CAT takers. So don’t get panic and try to bring back all your concentration to the exam paper. Your first job should be to find out the questions, which are familiar. Try to solve them but don’t get stuck with any question.
At the end remember one thing – If you can make it then its good but if you cant then its better because you are not going to waste 2 years of your valuable time in a b school.
Please read the following articles with it
CAT the shocker
1 week 2 CAT