(21) CAT-a-LOG: All about CAT, IIMs and Coaching.
Article(21) CAT-a-LOG: Daily Target.
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You have approximately these many number of days left to prepare for CAT 24/25/26/27; as on January 1, 2024.
CAT 24: 300 days.
CAT 25 : 650 days
CAT 26 : 1000 days
CAT 27 : 1350 days
Now coming to the number of questions to be solved per day for the average students. If you count all the questions of all the three sections of a typical Coaching Institute; the figure will be somewhere between 8000 to 16000.
Similarly, if you count total no. of questions from reference books/previous years CAT questions/Free mocks/Questions available freely on the net; the count will be much more than 12000 questions for the students not undergoing training from Coaching Institutes.
Let us take an average value as 12000 questions to be solved for CAT. Yes! These many questions should be solved , in addition to study the theory, to ensure better score in CAT.
Students appearing for CAT 2024 will also have to appear in their respective degree exams, undergo training programmes and may be doing an internship somewhere. Apart from these time-outs, there may be family programmes, festivals, medical urgencies etc.
Discounting all the above breaks which may go upto 25% of the total 400 days; clear 300 days are available to prepare for CAT 2024. You will have to solve 12000/300= 40 questions everyday.
This target is like required run rate in Twenty-20 or One Day Cricket. It will go on increasing day by day if you manage to solve less than 40 questions a day. And if you continue to play 'dot balls'; the target may become unattainable after a few months.
So what should be your daily targets!? Let us write down targets Section wise.
Section1: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension.
It is very unfortunate that you have to master a foreign language to get admission into an IIM or any other B School. But that is the reality! No cribbing. Luckily, it is the same for every one!
(a) Make sure to read an English News Paper of your choice everyday for 30 to 60 minutes. Read the national, international news and editorial also among other things you like to read. Paper to be read Offline or online? Entirely your choice!
You may also wish to solve Crossword puzzles published in the news paper. Solving Crossword puzzles is quite an entertaining hobby and is a very good way to improve Vocabulary and hence English Language.
(b) Make a habit of reading at least one English magazine of your choice. You may wish to read one or two articles evey day, again offline or online.
(c) Cultivate habit of reading Non-Fiction preferably on various subjects like: Management, Science/Technology, Psychology, Philosophy, Polity, Sociology, Maths, Finance, Religion, Literture etc.
You may start with a list of books to be read according to your interest. Will post suggested books shortly.
Apart from the above exercises solve 10 to 15 questions daily on VARC from the reference books or whatever study material you have.
Section 2 : Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning.
Start with a basic book on DI and LR you have with you. It could be written by any of the Authors. Or it could be from any of the Coaching Institutes. Read a topic thoroughly and then do one set of DI (4 to 5 questions) and one Set of LR everyday (4 to 5 questions). Continue doing that for first three to four months.
Section (3): Quantitative Aptitude.
First of all start with maths books ( by NCERT or any other author) of Class IX and Class X. The foundation has to be strong. It may take from zero days to several months depending upon your past academic records.
After understanding and implementing the above point, now solve minimum 15 to 20 questions from this section everyday after reading and understanding the concepts of a Chapter from any of the reference books or the the study material you have.
You may be wondering how to make daily schedule or how much time should be distributed for each section.
Simply remember a mathematical concept: If a+b+c =Constant, Maximum value of axbxc ( Product of a,b,c) will be obtained when a=b=c.
In general it will be a good idea to devote equal, or nearly equal, time to all three areas to maximise your percentile in CAT. While it may not be possible to devote same time to all three sections on daily basis; it should be so on a weekly or monthly basis.
So far we have divided the work of three sections of CAT. As has been pointed out repeatedly, CAT is not about only these three sections.
Studies for your respective Degree Courses should continue. Please consider degree marks as a part of your CAT preparation. Better marks in degree will definitely improve your academic ranking prepared by various IIMs.
Book, news paper and magazine reading will be extra. Some time has to be devoted everyday for reading. How much time is to be devoted is to be decided by you after analysing the progress of your preparation.
Pankaj Khanna
Indore (9424810575)
B.E. (Mech.) SGSITS Indore 1983 Batch
-Worked with HPCL from 1984 to 2007.
-Faculty Maths/DI-LR -T.I.M.E. Indore 2007-20
-Faculty Maths/DI-LR-IMS Indore-June22-July23.
-Blogger on diverse subjects.( Love thy Numbers, Epeolatry, CAT-a-LOG, Corruption in Oil Companies, Tawa Sangeet, Ikshak Indori and a few more.)
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List of Articles of the blog CAT-a-LOG:
Section A: The articles written in this section are about basics of Self-Mentoring, MBA, CAT and perils of Parallel Education System (Coaching Institutes). Everyone concerned about Coaching Classes including the Parents and Students are requested to kindly go through following Articles in this Section before joining any Coaching Institute for CAT.
Section B : This section is all about Mental Health of CAT aspirants. The darker side of CAT Preparation nobody discusses. These articles should also be read by Everyone including Parents and Students.
Section C: It is about detailed CAT Preparation Plans for Students. Parents may also Read:)