Are 2 Months Enough for CAT 2024 Preparation?
Most candidates realize late in the last 2-3 months that they want to appear for the CAT exam but wonder, "Can I prepare for the CAT exam in the last 2 months?"
The answer is indeed yes! But of course, there are a few steps that you need to take in a planned and disciplined manner to complete your CAT preparation in 2 months. Broadly speaking, these are the milestones you will need to achieve to get into the institute of your choice:
- Set a goal for the B-school
- Prepare a list of entrances that you need to target to get into your dream college
- Take mocks and understand where you are now
- Create a study plan customized to your areas of improvement
Following the given steps will help you analyze what the best outcome is for you and how you can create a path leading towards that outcome.
It's still 60 days left for the CAT exam; check your eligibility for CAT 2024 and know whether it is something you're ready to commit to before diving into intensive preparation."
How To Crack CAT In 2 Months: Weekly Strategy & Study Plan
Let us first start by dispelling a few myths about the exam, As I have already mentioned. CAT is an aptitude exam and not a knowledge exam. This means you don’t have to memorize a ton of things that are crucial for your success. In fact, I would say that the more knowledge you have doesn’t mean that you’ll get a higher score in CAT. Start your preparation by adopting an in-depth understanding of the CAT syllabus 2024 and familiarize yourself with the CAT exam pattern well in advance.
CAT is an aptitude exam. This simply means that you must be good at solving the questions based on the most rudimentary concepts. These are usually whatever you have learned in English and Maths till class 10th.
Now, let us share with you a study plan that will help you make the most of these two months that you have with you.
8 Weeks to CAT
Just starting out with your CAT 2024 preparation means you need to get all the basic concepts under the belly. This is required more in the case of quant and less in the case of VARC, DI and LR, which require more exam practice right from day 1.
The first thing you need to start off with is a CAT mock. Take a CAT mock right on the first day of your preparation. This will give you and idea of what is your current standing and how much of an effort will be required to propel you towards the ideal percentile.
Further, a target of 10 days should be set, and all the basics of Quantitative Aptitude should be covered. You can learn from a good Quantitative Aptitude book or take the Books and Materials package from a reputed coaching institute. Covering the basics includes solving the examples in that book.
6 Weeks to CAT
Having covered the Quantitative Aptitude basics, now is the time to put your foot on the pedal and get the ‘match-practice’. For the next four weeks, you will take three mocks per week. This mock-taking exercise should be followed up with an in-depth mock analysis.
Further, for Quantitative Aptitude, solve all the previous year's actual CAT questions. This means all the CAT questions from the year 1990 till the previous edition of CAT.
For VARC, in the mocks that you will be taking, ensure that you attempt all the questions of VARC. That is your eventual goal for the CAT exam. To be able to solve all the questions of VARC with around 80% accuracy.
For DILR, the fractions and the basic Vedic maths questions that you would have studied in the first week should help. Spot one simple thing, where you able to find out the easy questions across the sets. If not, keep an eye on them in the next mock.
4 Weeks to CAT
By this time, your CAT admit card should be out already. Therefore, it is important for you to take all your mocks in exactly the same time slot as the time slot of your actual CAT exam.
It goes without saying that your mock-taking should be followed up with a deep analysis of each mock and going back to the drawing board, if required, to revise the concepts you are weak at.
After 3-4 mocks, you will be able to solidify a strategy for yourself, and it is advisable for you to follow that strategy.
2 Weeks to CAT
This is the time when you need to take a break from your work if you are currently working somewhere. Sit back at home. Decrease your mocks to about 2 per week but do a full revision of the concepts of all the topics that you have studied.
The revision of the concepts should not take you more than one day once you are at home. On the other days, take up all the mocks that you had attempted earlier and go through them. Resolving 2-3 of your worst mocks is a good idea as it will refresh all the mistakes that you made.
The CAT Week
Take your last mock here, which should also be the only mock that you take this week. Do not take any mocks in the last 4 days. Light revision and glancing through some previous mocks could be helpful.
Let go of any kind of studies in the last 3 days. Go and enjoy a good comedy movie in these three days. Your mind needs rest before you take the CAT exam.
To have a detailed preparation strategy for each section, you can also check: Preparation Tips for CAT QA | Preparation Tips for CAT DILR | Preparation Tips for CAT VARC
CAT Preparation in 60 Days - Study Hours Per Day
Make a study plan as per your convenience and ensure that you follow or adhere to that schedule. There is no specific time limit on the number of hours for study in the last 2 months of CAT preparation, yet you must make sure to take out at least 7-8 hours if you are serious about cracking CAT 2024.
CAT isn't about who covers the whole syllabus; it is about who answers more questions correctly. Thus, focus on accuracy and speed rather than memorizing additional topics. Adopting an important test-taking strategy is essential, which comes with attempting more and more practice papers. Therefore, create a study pattern involving the revision of one particular topic a day, followed by a mock test or a sectional test, and ensure that you analyze your mistakes and work on them.
It’s worth noting that the last few months are meant to evaluate what you have learned so far and to enhance your learning with smart tricks that will help you save time during the exam.
You can consider joining a CAT crash course to catch up with your peers and prepare well. It'll also help you ace various MBA entrance exams whether you are a first-timer or a retaker.
How To Prepare For CAT 2024 In 2 Months: Solving Sample Papers and CAT Mock Tests
Mock simulations can be your holy grail when it comes to practicing for the competitive entrance. It will help you manage your time and develop a test-taking strategy. They will not only help you keep your preparation in check but also will help you efficiently manage your time and increase your self-motivation.
In the last 2 months of CAT 2024 preparation, make it a habit of giving rigorous mocks and analysing them once you finish the paper. It’ll help you strategize better and much more efficiently. You must solve CAT previous year question papers for at least the past 10 years and take Free CAT mock test that will help you evaluate your preparation level for CAT 2024, section-wise and as a whole, free of cost.