CAT PREPARATION 2020-21 PREPARATION: | LAST MINUTE STRATEGY | TIPS AND TRICKS TO ACE THE EXAM IN 30 DAYS | BEST EXAM PREPARATION

November 9, 2020 Career Mantra

CAT Preparation 2020-21 Strategy

A computer-based selection test administered by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) as a prerequisite for admission to their business administration programs is the CAT Exam (Common Admission Test). In addition to the IIMs, the CAT Preparation is also a prerequisite for admission to numerous other prestigious management colleges throughout India, including institutions such as the S.P Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), the Institute of Management Development (Gurgaon), the Institute of Management Technology (IMT), the Jamal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), International Management Institute (IMI), National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE) amid others.

Mode of exam: online

Mode of application: online

The medium of the exam: English

This year, a total of 2.27 lakh (2,27,835) candidates have registered for the CAT Preparation. The exam will take place in test centers spread out over about 156 test cities on November 29.

There will be a CAT admission card available on the website-iimcat.ac.in. The applicant must click on the ‘Download Admit Card’ link to download it. Enter the Id and password of the user after which the Hall Ticket appears on the screen. Upload, and for further reference, take a printout.

There was a shift in the review pattern this year, given the COVID-19 scenario. The CAT Preparation inspection period has been shortened from three hours to two hours. It has been reduced to 40 minutes as per the CAT sectional period.

Since there is less than a month left before the exam, it is high time that the students make proper strategies to ace the exam and start with their CAT Preparation 2020-21 Preparation. Here comes Career Mantra to help you with all the important tips and strategies that can help you crack this tough exam intelligently.

Also check: Get up to 100% MBA scholarship by applying for the iMBA Scholarship hosted by Career Mantra.

CAT Preparation 2020-21 Preparation strategy:

Analyze the pattern of the question paper
Focus on the Syllabus, Break the topics
Take mock tests, solve and practice
Learn time management
Have a healthy and positive approach

It is immensely important for the applicants to go through the important dates, events, exam/question paper pattern, eligibility, etc before moving forward with the CAT 2020-21 Preparation.

CAT Preparation 2020-21 Dates and events:

Date	Events
August 5, 2020,	CAT 2020 Registration starts
September 23, 2020,	CAT 2020 Registration ends
October 28, 2020,	CAT 2020 Admit Card released; candidates can download
November 29, 2020,	CAT 2020 Examination conducted
December 31, 2020,	Deadline for documents submission
To be announced	Answer key release
To be announced	Challenge answer key
2nd week of January 2021	CAT 2020-21 Results

Also read: Avail career counseling and get a chance to interact with India’s top B-School Educators

Analyze the pattern of the question paper

Subjects	Aptitude, Mathematics, English, General Knowledge
Total no.of questions	100
Type of questions	MCQ-based & Non-MCQ(Type in the answer)
Sections	3 sections; Quantitative Aptitude(QA), Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension(VARC), and Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation(DILR)
Maximum marks	300
Maximum time	120 Minutes
Marking scheme	+3 for each positive response -1 for each negative response No negative marking for non-MCQ response

Click here to get complete details of CAT 2020-21 eligibility criteria

CAT Preparation Syllabus 2020:

There is no predefined syllabus for the CAT test or CAT Preparation 2020-21. The syllabus comes mostly from the topics of Maths in Middle and High school, and with some generic logical reasoning questions in English.

CAT Quantitative Aptitude (34 questions):

The CAT Preparation quantitative aptitude syllabus covers primarily Class 8-10 topics such as geometry, algebra, number system, etc.

CAT Logical Reasoning & Analysis of Data (32 questions):

The section on logical reasoning is rather general and contains a broad range of questions based on the seating arrangement, direction sense test, etc. Often focused on data caselets and graphs, the data analysis section contains questions.

CAT Verbal Skill & Comprehension of Reading(34 questions):

A few questions are followed by comprehension passages in this segment. Also, a few grammar-based questions are asked, such as the completion of sentences, jumbled sentences, etc.

The CAT test is an incredibly competitive examination that is carried out on a rotational basis by one of the IIMs every year. Many recent graduates and seasoned professionals from different fields take it each year. Thus, to get into their chosen B-school, the aspiring candidates have to be well-qualified for the test. It is always important to have an appropriate and positive approach to have proper CAT Preparation 2020-21.

Those who take the first CAT exam should first become familiar with the syllabus and the pattern of the exam.

Based on your strengths and weaknesses, make a list of topics.
Join sites such as Facebook, YouTube, Telegram, etc. online study groups as these platforms let students interact with other students who carry a similar aim. This keeps the students motivated throughout to perform better and better each time.
Collect appropriate research materials and suggested CAT Preparation 2020-21 preparation books from the toppers.
Create a day-wise schedule and assign more than one VARC, DILR, and QA subject each.
Practice one-two question papers every day from the subject studied to analyze how much you have learned.
Growing the pace of covering the number of topics every day steadily.
Do not forget to take mock tests from time to time as it helps you determine how much more hard work to put in. It also gives a better idea of time management.

Guidelines for Exam day:

Candidates appearing for the examination must bring the following documents to the exam center to access the examination hall:

Admit card

Candidates who are on their CAT Preparation 2020-21 Preparation for the CAT 2020 exam must bring their admission cards to the examination center. Entry is not allowed without an admission card and a photo ID.

Name Change Document

If a candidate has changed their name, they will be required to carry a certificate/document to change their name.

Identity Proof

Applicants are required to bring a photo ID, such as a college ID (valid debit/credit card must be supported), employer ID, driving license, passport, PAN card, Voter ID, or Aadhaar card, in addition to the admission card.

Prohibited items inside the CAT exam hall:

Calculator, watch, mobile computer, iPad, or any electronic object
Purses and Luggage
Eatables and drinks
Jewelry and metal-containing accessories
Clothes and coats with pockets
Footwear Closed

Steps of registration :

Step 1: Registration of User ID and Password.

Name of candidate
Date of birth
Email Id
Mobile number

Step 2: Log in to CAT Website

Step 3: Filling up of application form

Personal Details
Academic Qualifications
Work Experience
Programs
Test City
Payment

Click here to get complete details of the CAT 2020-21 registration procedure

CAT Preparation 2020-21 Eligibility Verification

CAT Preparation 2020-21 eligibility verification is usually done in 3 steps, namely:

Verification of Mark sheets and Degree certificate.
Requirements in the reservation category.
Verification of candidates in the final year of Graduation.

If a candidate is shortlisted by any IIM for an interview, he/she must comply with the following provisions. Before starting with the CAT 2020-21 Preparation, go through the following eligibility requirements:

Verification for eligibility:

To demonstrate his / her eligibility at the time of the interview, an applicant must display all the mark sheets and submit attested copies. Also, if an applicant is accepted for a program, the original degree certificate and mark sheets of all semesters/years, along with the approved copies thereof, must be submitted for verification at the time of entry to the program.

SC, ST, NC-OBC, EWS, and PwD candidates, if shortlisted for an interview, must demonstrate the original certificate of caste/class and/or disability and provide a photocopy at the time of the interview along with the requirements for submission as specified in the lines above.

Applicants for the final bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification examination, if shortlisted for an interview, must present an original certificate from the Principal / Registrar / Director of the University / Institution certifying that the candidate has obtained 50 percent or equivalent marks (45 percent for applicants belonging to the SC, ST and PwD categories) based on the latter (45 percent for applicants belonging to the SC, ST, and PwD categories).

At the time of the interview, he or she must submit an attested copy of the original certificate.

For Post Graduate Programmes of IIMs:

Such candidates, if selected, will be allowed to participate in the Post Graduate Programmes of IIMs, and join the program PROVISIONALLY only if they have submitted a certificate from the principal/registrar of their university/institution (issued on or before the date specified in the respective IIM) stating that they have fulfilled all the requirements (results may, however, be expected) for obtaining a Bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification at the date of issue of the certificate.

Only when they submit the original mark sheet and qualifying degree certificate of having passed the Bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification referred to in the certificate issued by their University / Institution Principal / Registrar will their admission be confirmed. They must obtain at least 50 percent or equivalent marks (45 percent for candidates belonging to the categories SC, ST, and PwD).
They must also submit an attested copy of the mark sheets and the certificate of the qualification degree.

Result and Shortlisting for CAT Preparation 2020-21

Details relating to the CAT Preparation 2020 results will be available on this website on a provisional basis from the second week of January 2021. The list of candidates shortlisted for the next selection stage will be made available on the respective IIM websites. Each IIM will directly give the shortlisted candidates interview letters. The shortlisting requirements differ across IIMs.

Finally, do remember no matter how many months you have invested in preparation, your results depend on the amount of hard work and dedication you have put into the preparation. With an intelligently drafted timetable and cleverly decided topics to study, you can easily cover the lags and perform your best. Keep your mind focused and always have a positive approach to each question. Work Smarter than Harder.

Good luck!