How to improve your skills in DILR Section
As we all know, the DILR section has been the bane of many a CAT contender in recent years. This section is regarded as the most unpredictable and game-changing section of the CAT exam. While the majority of aspirants think that DILR is the most unpredictable and tough component of the trinity, it is entirely feasible to ace this section with the right strategy and set of skills. In this post, we’ll look at various skills that may be gained when studying for the CAT and can help you ace this portion.
DILR has mostly focused on two things in recent years: puzzle selection and accurate mathematical reasoning. Even if someone selects the correct sets and solves four sets, they will need to solve the two simplest sets quickly, which will come via consistent practice with DILR sets. But, aside from that, what essential strengths does a student need to build, and how can she/he do so through a certain type of concentrated practice?
Developing the mental strength for DILR
Those of you who are knowledgeable about strength training and have been doing it for a long time know that trying to complete a few kettlebell moves without having a certain level of strength in crucial areas like the core, legs, and mobility is pointless. So, if you spend months just focusing on strength and mobility before executing specific exercises, you’ll have the strength and flexibility to go into and hold the pose when you ultimately execute those moves. And this is precisely what you’ll need to strengthen your mental fortitude in preparation for DILR.
Is there any specific way to practice that can impart strength to the LR muscle in the brain?
Pick up a question bank that contains all of the basic templates when you’re just getting started. When comparing CAT DILR sets, keep in mind that they will be far too easy. You’d be able to finish them in a reasonable amount of time. However, these sets can be an excellent place to start if you want to improve your LR skills. But there’s a catch: to get the most out of it, you must solve it without using a pen or paper unless absolutely required (painful!).
What this implies is that you should jot down the question numbers in your notebook and leave the bare minimum of room for rough work and writing the answers. Only if you can answer all of the questions from a specific template within a set time restriction, with barely anything written on the notebook and no more than one or two mistakes, would you consider yourself good.
You’ll see that 4-5 sets of practicing sessions can serve as a fantastic LR core conditioning workout if you set this constraint. These basic templates are just complex enough to solve without having to use a pen and paper. To solve these mentally you have to strengthen four fundamental core skills –
1) Remember the constraints given in the set better, 2) Decode the logical implication of the clues given in the set and the question better, 3) Always try to find the most optimum route to answer instead of random trial and error, 4) Concentrate harder. Each of these 4 things is a core LR strength that is needed to solve any DILR set in CAT, and the first three apply to Quant as well and the last one for the entire test.
You’re merely forcing yourself to improve by imposing these basic limitations on yourself during your practice session. You’re forcing yourself to sharpen the pencil’s tip to a finer point, which, to be honest, can be the difference between a fantastic and a decent sketch.
Practice with a plan
Always practice these sets in a separate notebook. Your initial objective should be to complete these sets in the time allotted (with bare minimum writing). Only if you can easily solve 4 out of 5 sets in 30 minutes should you attempt to solve without putting pen to paper. Don’t strive to go all out intellectually; instead, start by reducing the writing and boosting the thinking.
After each set, analyze the lost effort or moves, as well as the causes for any mistakes (if any), such as if you forgot any knowledge or jumped to the possibilities without drawing valid deductions, and so on. Do not ever try to do two sets in a row without analyzing the first one and setting goals for the next.
Keep a track of how your notebook is looking as you are progressing, it should keep getting cleaner and cleaner with only the answers remaining. Ideally, you should dedicate 28 (4 basic sets a day) straight days of practice to see a substantial improvement
How to Prepare for DILR Section
The preparation for the DILR component, like the other sections of MBA entrance exams, would necessitate a structured strategy. In the table above, the essential areas of the DILR section have been highlighted. Because there are no types of questions in the DILR section, the questions can be classed as calculation-based, counting-based, logic-based, or structure-based. MBA candidates should use the tactics listed below to prepare for this section:
Know the Questions:
Before starting the extensive preparation, aspirants are advised to get well-versed in the types of questions to get a thorough idea of the topics to deal with in the section. For this, they can refer to the previous years’ question papers.
Get the Right Books:
Although the question types of the DILR section do not involve any theory, concepts, or formulae, there are several books and study materials by MBA experts which give a detailed and descriptive idea about the topics, strategy to solve the questions, and practice materials. Getting the right books would make the task of the students a lot easier.
Practice:
The best way to prepare for any section or exam is by practicing. According to experts, test takers should practice DILR questions for at least five hours per week, one hour for each session. Candidates can take sectional mock tests prior to taking full-length mock tests to gauge their preparation level as well as to gain expertise in the area.
Improving Speed:
The DILR section is considered to be calculation intensive by the experts. Hence, the speed or pace of solving a question plays an important role. Regular practice and application of smart tricks and tips will enable the students to improve their speed of solving questions.
Developing the mental structures for DILR
Another crucial skill to learn is the capacity to recognize when to employ which hint while solving a problem – in other words, the order in which the clues are used. As a result, for each set, you solve in DILR, concentrate on recognizing the nooks and corners, as well as the twists and turns, that the question contains. If you notice a particular twist while tackling a certain question set, make a mental note of it so that you don’t fall into the same trap again in the future.
I’ll close this blog article with a sports anecdote. Gymnastics is a sport in which the first goal is to get as near to a machine as possible, and then add intricacy and creativity to your routine once you’ve achieved that. As a result, all procedures are graded on their complexity and execution. When a landing isn’t ideal, one loses points. One of the best gymnasts of all time, Kohei Uchimura, has claimed that the secret to his success is the manner he approaches to practice.
During and after his practice, he gives it a lot of thought. If you watch the replay of his performances at the Olympics, you will be able to notice that, there is a certain kind of calmness and control on his face. One eventually needs to develop that sort of calmness and precision every single time one steps out to solve a DILR set. If you can dedicate your time to this, you will be better off for the rest of the season.
Best wishes for CAT 2021!
FAQs Regarding DILR Preparation
Is the DILR section part of all MBA entrance exams?
A: Yes, the DILR section is commonly asked across all MBA entrance exams, especially the national-level exams. There are a few state-level exams like TANCET, which does not have a section on the DILR area
What are the different names of the DILR section?
A: DILR section is also known as Decision Making, Data Analysis, Critical Reasoning, Logical Ability, Analytical Ability, etc.
What are the best ways to prepare for the DILR section?
A: The best way to prepare for the DILR section is through practice. Before starting the preparation, aspirants should be accustomed to the question types by going through previous years’ question papers and solving those. Since there is not much conceptual understanding required in this section, practice is the key to excelling in this area.
What are the best books to refer to for the DILR section?
A: Some of the most popular books on the DILR section are How to Prepare for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit Sinha, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning for CAT by Pearson, to name a few.
Is it necessary to have studied Science or Engineering to perform well in DILR?
A: While it is easy for the candidates belonging to Science and Engineering backgrounds to have an edge over this section, it is not impossible for students from non-Science backgrounds to crack it. With regular practice and understanding of the question types and topics, candidates, irrespective of their educational background, can crack this section. It is important to identify the weak areas and improve on them to get a stronghold on this section.
