The CAT entrance exam, conducted by IIMs, serves as a gateway for aspirants to gain admission into their dream university. If you are serious about the CAT exam, it’s crucial to begin your preparation, as the official notification is imminent. The CAT study material is the best way to begin your preparation. These materials will act as a great medium to help prepare for the upcoming exam.
Our expert mentors and faculty have extensively researched and created the best study material for aspirants. We equip our courses with practice and mock tests to enable candidates to evaluate their preparation level at any given stage. Candidates can also access the online classroom and live lectures at their convenience.
CAT Exam
CAT is the country’s most sought-after MBA entrance exam. One of the IIMs administers the exam. Top colleges in India, including the S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research and the Faculty of Management Studies, conduct the exam for candidates wishing to pursue an MBA.
The CAT Exam consists of three sections: verbal ability and reading comprehension (VARC), data interpretation and logical reasoning (DILR), and quantitative aptitude (QA).
Highlights
| Exam Name | CAT 2022 |
| Full Form | Common Admission Test |
| Official Website | iimcat.ac.in |
| Exam Conducting Body | One of the IIMs rotates through each year. |
| Exam Type | MBA Entrance Exam (National Level) |
| Frequency | Once a year |
| Mode | Online |
| Medium | English |
| Helpdesk No. | 1-800-209-0830 (Toll-Free) |
CAT Exam Pattern
Aspirants should familiarize themselves with the exam pattern to understand the format of the questions. This will aid them in their preparation, allowing them to focus on the sections that hold the highest weightage or those that require attention.
| Components | Details |
| Sections | 3 |
| The exam’s duration | 40 minutes per section. |
| Number of questions | 76 |
| Total marks | 228 |
| Answer choices | 4 |
| Marks of the 3 sections | VARC-72 QA-66 DILR: 60 |
CAT Syllabus
Below is a tabular representation of the CAT syllabus. Candidates must track the details of the syllabus and prepare accordingly. The CAT syllabus includes three sections of MCQ and non-MCQ questions.
Below is a list of the syllabus’s important topics. Also, keep in mind the weight of each section when planning your preparation to score well in the exam.
| Sectional Divisions | Important Topics |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | We study Arithmetic, Geometry, Number System, Algebra, Modern Math, and Mensuration. |
| Data Interpretations and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | Seating arrangements, team formation, We utilize Clocks and Calendars, Venn Diagrams, and Bar Graphs. |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | Para-jumbles, long and short passages, Para-Summary |
Marking Scheme
- Each correct answer carries +3 marks.
- For every incorrect answer, the exam receives a negative mark of -1.
- The non-MCQ question does not receive a negative mark.
- Unattempted questions do not result in a mark deduction.
The table below outlines the marking scheme for MCQ and non-MCQ-type questions.
| Sections | MCQ and Non-MCQ Questions |
| VARC | MCQ -19 Non-MCQ: 5 |
| QA | MCQ -15 Non-MCQ: 5 |
| DILR | MCQ -14 Non-MCQ: 8 |
| Total Questions | 66 |
CAT Study Material
There are numerous sources for CAT preparation material. Referring to these study materials is crucial for achieving success in the CAT exam. Our website provides numerous sources for CAT preparation, which candidates must follow up on and practice thoroughly.
Here’s a list of some CAT study materials:
CAT-Free Prep
This package offers 100+ chapters, sectional tests, and 25+ national mock tests. Candidates can learn about their weak and strong areas with a detailed analysis after each test. The course helps to compare candidates’ performances with those of aspirants across the country. This pack also includes CAT study material in the form of 75+ recorded video lectures to help you understand various topics better.
Online Prep: Study Pack
This comprehensive study material covers 250+ video lectures, ebooks, assignments, and other CAT preparation materials. Aspirants can take 170+ full-length, sectional, and topic-wise mock tests to evaluate their current preparation level. Apart from this, aspirants also get to practice over 10,000 questions in the CAT syllabus. We designed this study pack for individuals seeking a flexible schedule and preferring self-study for CAT preparation.
Pioneer Batch
For this study material, our expert faculty will provide three live interactive concept classes per week. This pack covers 85+ live lectures, 10,000+ practice questions, ebooks, 250+ recorded concept lectures, assignments, and other preparatory material. The course also includes more than 170 mock and chapter-wise tests to allow candidates to monitor their progress on a regular basis. In addition, students have the option to select the online batch that best suits their needs.
Test Series
This package includes 160+ national mock tests that replicate the exam pattern. 60+ sectional tests evaluate performance on various topics. These tests provide candidates with detailed analysis and a national-level percentile.
We provide doubt clarification and discussion features in every course package through our dedicated Telegram discussion group. We have designed each component of these packages to assist candidates in all phases of their preparation. It is important to plan and start early, and CAT preparation material helps to score well in the exam.
CAT Study Material: Section-wise
VARC
- Arun Sharma’s article, “How to Prepare for the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT”, provides valuable insights.
- Norman Lewis’ Word Power Made Easy.
- The CAT Toppers recommend the GMAT Official Guide and Manhattan Verbal.
DILR
- Arun Sharma’s book, “How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for the CAT,” is available from Tata McGraw Hill.
- Nishit Sinha’s book, The Pearson Guide to Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation, is available.
- The Great Book of Puzzles and Teasers, by George J. Summers
- Arun Sharma’s guide, “How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT,” is available at Tata McGraw Hill.
QA
- QuQuantitative Aptitude for CAT and Other MBA Entrance Exams by Trishna Knowledge Systems (Pearson) includes practice exercises with increasing difficulty levels.
- Nishit Sinha’s book, Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT, was published by Pearson.
- Arun Sharma’s The Complete CAT Digest, by Tata McGraw-Hill
To improve their exam-solving skills, candidates must practice thoroughly and refer to these study materials. More time spent practicing will help candidates adjust to exam-like conditions and challenges. The CAT study material will help the candidates get a good percentile.