Widely regarded as one of the most difficult entrance exams, the Common Admission Test already has candidates on edge with its highly competitive and challenging undertones.
The CAT invites over 2 lakh talented applicants every year and has a very modest success rate. Essentially, the CAT is an aptitude test for aspiring MBA candidates and is the gateway to the country’s top business schools.
The CAT is a two-hour test that is divided into three subsections.
1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
3. Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
|
CAT Section
|
Questions
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MCQs
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Non-MCQs
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Maximum Marks
|
|
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
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26
|
18
|
8
|
78
|
|
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
|
24
|
18
|
6
|
72
|
|
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
|
26
|
18
|
8
|
78
|
|
Total
|
76
|
54
|
22
|
228
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The test is only available in the English language and is a computer-based test that employs the idea of negative marking. In total, the exam consists of 228 possible marks based on 76 questions, 54 of which are MCQs.
The marks breakdown is summarized below:
Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the CAT exam is the lack of fixed syllabus. This leaves candidates with a huge dilemma of where to prepare from.
In this article, we will overview some of the most ideal preparatory books for the CAT 2022 exam in a section-wise manner.
1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
Recommendation 1: How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT’- by Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay
This book is widely considered to be the one-stop solution for all VARC related prep of the exam. It consists of practice tests and exercises that have detailed explanations and answers.
Another major plus point of the book is that it is updated regularly with all the CAT guidelines in mind, making it a timeless and reliable guide for prep. The book is divided into 4 sections, namely:
1. Reading Comprehension
2. Verbal Ability
3. Verbal Reasoning
4. CAT Papers
Recommendation 2: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT’ by Nishit K Sinha
Nishit K Sinha, a well-known topper of the CAT exam authored this book as a guide for CAT applicants. While his credentials are proof of the book’s validity in itself, the book has garnered much support for its usefulness in the CAT.
What makes this book stand out most is its emphasis on past paper and practice questions, with upto seven years’ worth of solved past papers and over 2000 solved questions.
The book also comes with a CD that consists of 5 simulated full tests, giving ample opportunity to practice. The book consists of 5 subsections, which are:
1. Verbal Ability
2. Verbal Reasoning
3. Reading Comprehension
4. CAT papers
5. Sectional Tests
Other recommendations:
1. Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
2. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension by Ajay Singh
2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
Recommendation 1: How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT’ - by Arun Sharma (Published by McGraw Hill)
This is the top-rated book for this subsection of the test. It provides detailed overview of the Data interpretation concepts and provides test-takers with genuine insight and shortcuts to tackle the test.
It consists of about 45 test papers, giving ample room for practice.
Recommendation 2: ‘How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT’ - by Arun Sharma (Published by McGraw Hill)
In addition to his book on data interpretation, Arun Sharma also authored a book to tackle the second element of this section, i.e., logical reasoning.
This book consists of many practice questions with varying difficulty levels, and is hence, an ideal book for CAT aspirants.
Other recommendations:
1. Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit K. Sinha
2. CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri
3. Quantitative Aptitude
Recommendation 1: How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma
Widely regarded as the most detailed yet precise book for this section, this publication covers all topics such as Numbers, Average and Mixtures, Arithmetic and Word-based Problems, Geometry, Algebra, Counting etc.
It is divided into 19 chapters and also consists of 5 test papers. Furthermore, each chapter is divided into theory, examples and exercises, giving CAT applicants ample opportunity to learn and practice.
Other recommendations:
1. Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT -by Nishit Sinha
2. Quantitative Aptitude -by R.S. Aggarwal
3. Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT -by Sarvesh K Verma
All in all, choosing the right books is fundamental to CAT exam prep. Guided by the right conceptual framework and ample practice questions, aspirants can ace the exam and chase their MBA dreams!
We hope that this guide helps in accomplishing that dream!
ALL THE BEST!
