There are around 50 days left for CAT 2011. By this time you must have had a detailed study on the basics and approached towards the mock test level. But along with taking mock tests, it is also necessary that you keep revising the sections. Now that the DI and LR has been merged with Quantitative Ability and Verbal Ability, MBAUniverse.com is offering you suggestion for the two sections of CAT 2011. Along with your daily preparation you should take enough practice so that you can find out strategies and manage the 70 minutes better.
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation
These two areas are similar in nature as well as in preparation techniques. Both these areas of Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation require a good and thorough knowledge of basic math and quick math. You should be quick and correct with ratios, tables, multiplications, percentages, and all those little tricks that make your life easy with numbers.
It is advisable to take speed math tests every day. The broad topics covered are arithmetic, algebra and geometry. For both the areas, number theory, ratios, speed and distance, time are important. But keeping pace with the speed, you must not compromise on the accuracy. It should be made sure that one does not lose track of accuracy while concentrating on speed.
Another easy but convenient method to prepare for this section is to be comfortable with numbers. Observe as much numbers as possible. A very simple but effective way to improve your speed with numbers is to observe the numbers that appear in a year and make all possible combinations with the four numbers – ratio of first two and the last two, total of the four digits, inverted ratio, etc.
Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning
The objective behind the Verbal Ability section is not only to test your English language skill and intricacies but also the usage of words.
To solve the reading comprehension passages properly, you can read a lot of passages which will also expose you to a lot of new words, the meanings of which you can know eventually. Knowing a lot of synonyms and roots would help one in RCs as well. As is applicable for other sections as well, there is no other alternative than practice. For the VA and LR section, being a voracious reader is the key.
You should have enough practice. Now that there is less than 60 days are left, you should take regular full length mock tests. For the Logical Reasoning area, solve around 10 sets every day.
An interesting way to prepare for Logical Reasoning is by regularly solving crossword puzzles, Sudoku, riddles etc. For this, pick out the leisure section of the daily newspaper. You can also solve caselets from various books and puzzle sites in the internet.
To have a better understanding of the questions, you can draw Venn diagrams on the basis of it or tables or charts, as per your convenience. If the question is talking about a linear or round table seating arrangement, always draw the seats first and then place people on various positions as per the restrictions. If the question is talking about a tournament of some sport, draw the points table and then proceed. Putting the data in a tabular form helps your think with an uncluttered mind.
Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more on CAT 2011 preparation.
