For strategic preparation, solving the CAT Mock Test is crucial. It’s a tough exam, and one must be well prepared. Practice is the main key to cracking any competitive exam. Solving mocks and practice tests help a candidate get hold of the exam pattern and other requisites.
Mocks are an excellent resource for CAT exam preparation. Practice leads to perfection, and perfection leads to succession. Therefore solving mock tests and sample papers help the candidates crack the exam with a good rank and percentile.
CAT Exam Pattern: Latest Changes
The exam pattern goes through many changes. One must stay updated with these changes not to miss any important information. Below are details of the latest changes in the exam pattern. Go through the information to help prepare for your exam.
- CAT 2022 Exam is scheduled for November 2022.
- Non-MCQs carry no negative marking.
- The order to attempt the sections starts with VARC. While answering the questions, candidates cannot switch between sections.
- Previously, the total number of questions in CAT was 100, and the total marks were 300. But in 2020, the number of questions reduced to 76 and the total marks to 228. The questions were further reduced to 66 in 2021.
- The CAT 2021 exam was held in three slots. For CAT 2022, students will be notified about the changes in the exam window at the official website.
- IIM will also release a tutorial for the aspirants to understand CAT 2022 exam format and question pattern. The tutorial will be available on their official website in October 2022.
- There is an onscreen calculator provided during the exam.
- CAT 2022 exam will be held in 150+ cities across the country.
CAT Syllabus
Thorough knowledge of the CAT syllabus is very important while solving mock tests. Candidates can focus on their weaker sections and strengthen their strong topics. Below is a detailed description of the CAT syllabus.
VARC Section
VARC is the first section to be solved in the exam. It has two subparts: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. Take a look at some key points of this section:
| VARC Syllabus | ||
| Fill in the blanks | Para Completion and inference | Verbal Logic |
| Verbal Reasoning | Subject-verb agreement | Para jumbles |
| Sentence completion | Foreign language words used in English | Different usage of the same word |
| Grammar | Reading Comprehension | Idioms |
| Syllogisms | Analogies | Antonyms |
| Jumbled paragraphs | Sentence correction | One word substitution |
| Parts of speech | Preposition | Types of Clauses |
| Phrases Modifiers | Errors in tenses | Articles usage |
DILR Section
DILR is the second section of the CAT exam and is to be attempted after the VARC section. It is further subdivided into two sections: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning.
Below are some of the important topics of DILR:
| DILR Syllabus | ||
| Blood Relations | Clocks and Calendars | Syllogism |
| Series | Statements | Venn Diagram |
| Proposition | Data Arrangement | Data Structures |
| Direction Sense | Family Tree | Tables |
| Coding-Decoding | Binary Logic | Pie Charts |
| Assumptions | Seating Arrangement | Data Sufficiency |
| Puzzles | Sets & Caselets | Bars & Line Graphs |
QA Section
Quantitative Aptitude is the last section to be attempted in the CAT exam. The aptitude syllabus is the largest among the three sections. Therefore, most of the time is invested in preparing the QA section.
Check out these important topics of QA:
| QA Syllabus | ||
| Geometry | Ratios and Proportion | Inequalities |
| Trigonometry | In-equations Quadratic and linear equations | Work and Time |
| Algebra | Surds and Indices | Percentages |
| Mensuration | Time-Speed-Distance | Logarithms |
| Partnership (Accounts) | Number System | Square Root and Cube Root |
| Profit & Loss | Geometric Progression | Probability |
| Mean, mode, median | Binomial theorem | Simple interest and compound interest |
CAT Mock Test 2022
IIM devises the CAT Mock Test that helps candidates to get acquainted with the real exam-like environment as it is a replica of the CAT exam, including login, sectional MCQs, screen calculators, timers, etc. IIM also offers a separate CAT mock test 2022 for candidates with low vision.
If you are looking for the best practice material. In that case, you can attempt the free mocks online or offline as per your requirement of different difficulty levels to level up your preparation.
You can go through the exam details before attempting the exam and then start solving the practice test. Have a hold on the exam pattern, and then work on enhancing your skills.
Advantages of CAT Mock Test
There are numerous benefits of solving the CAT exam mock test. Candidates need to be familiar with the importance of mocks and practice tests and how they can affect their preparation strategy efficiently.
Some of the advantages are stated below:
- CAT mock tests help students to be skilled with different question types that are expected in the exam. Solving mocks gives an idea of what questions can be asked in the exam.
- Practice tests are a yardstick to measure candidates’ performance compared to their competitors. Candidates can evaluate their preparation at every stage and will get to know where they stand among other aspirants.
- Revision can be done through mocks. Aspirants can give mock tests a few days before the final exam to revise everything they have studied. The more tests you take, the more strong your preparation becomes.
- Analysis of CAT exam mock test papers presents a true picture of a candidate’s progress, enabling them to minimise mistakes. One can identify weak and strong areas and strategise your preparation accordingly.
- Candidates can make self-assessments with the help of mock tests and sample papers. They can analyse their weak sections and work on them by formulating an effective strategy.
- Effective time management can be learned through regular practice. Candidates get used to the question types and exam patterns and can quickly solve difficult problem-based questions.
- Through performance analysis, aspirants can compare their preparation level with the competitors and can know where they stand among other aspirants. This helps them to know whether they can crack the exam or if they need more time to prepare.
- Candidates become less anxious by solving the mock tests and can attempt the main exam without any stress.
Conclusion
CAT Mock Test is a great tool to prepare for the CAT exam. If a candidate is serious about the exam they want to appear for, they must practice as much as possible. Consistent practice helps candidates overcome weak sections and prepare for the final exam. Being familiar with the exam-like environment reduces the stress and calms the aspirant before giving the exam. Keep practicing and stay disciplined with the hard work, and you will surely attain your goal. All the best!