How Should an Engineer Prepare for CAT 2024?
If you are an engineer aiming for an MBA, understanding how an engineer should prepare for CAT 2024 is crucial. Since engineers have a background in Mathematics, their approach to CAT preparation must be different than other students.
How Should an Engineer Prepare for CAT 2024: If you have an Engineering background, you must have thought about doing an MBA and attempting the CAT exam. Engineers make up a sizeable chunk of the total candidate pool for CAT every year. Many consider engineers to have an advantage over other candidates due to their deep knowledge of mathematics, data interpretation, and logical reasoning. However, engineers also have to prepare for the exam regardless of their existing knowledge and certainly follow a well-thought-out strategy. They must also focus on important topics for CAT such as averages, mean median mode, percentages, ratio and proportion, simple and compound Interest, profit and loss etc. Read on to find out more!
Also Read:
CAT 2024 Preparation Plan for Engineers
The CAT preparation for engineers is quite different from other candidates due to the technical knowledge that engineers possess. Students with a background in engineering must follow the preparation plan mentioned below to prepare for CAT 2024 effectively.
Begin Preparation with VARC
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension are one of the areas of the CAT syllabus in which most engineers lag behind during CAT preparation. Generally, engineers do not have a strong background in English and verbal communication skills, which is why beginning preparation with VARC is ideal for investing more time in this section. Aspirants must become thoroughly familiar with the VARC questions and syllabus to ensure they score a good percentile score in this section.
Brush up Basics First
It is common for engineers to begin preparation with complex mathematical concepts and topics like algebra, trigonometry, and geometry. However, in doing so, they often skip the basic topics like percentages, profit and loss, simple interest, compound interest, etc. which are also some of the most scoring topics in CAT. Therefore, engineers need to focus on these basic concepts beforehand so that they do not skip them during their CAT preparation.
Develop a Strong Reading Habit
Most engineers lack a strong reading habit which can be detrimental to their CAT preparation. Reading newspapers, journals, magazines, etc. is essential for staying updated with current affairs and general knowledge. Developing a strong reading habit will not only improve comprehension skills, which is essential for RC questions but also enhance overall verbal abilities required to solve Verbal Ability questions in CAT.
Maintain a Balance Preparation
Approaching CAT preparation in a balanced manner is crucial to covering the entire syllabus and understanding all the important topics and concepts before the CAT exam. Therefore, engineers must create a balanced study plan for their CAT preparation which does not focus solely on one area like VARC, Quantitative Aptitude, or Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning.
Practice Mock Tests Regularly
Mock tests are a staple for every CAT aspirant since they enable students to gauge their preparation and identify their strengths and weaknesses. Therefore, engineers should also attempt mock tests regularly to ensure they stay sharp and also to improve their overall accuracy and time management skills.
Also Read:Stress Management During CAT Preparation 2024
Section-wise Strategy for Engineer to Prepare for CAT 2024
Engineers preparing for the CAT exam must balance quantitative strengths with verbal skills. They must prioritise reading and mastering fundamentals to unlock their potential for good scores. Below given is a proven strategy to prepare for CAT 2024.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Topic | No. of Days |
Reading Comprehension | 4 |
Para Summary | 1-2 |
Para Jumbles and Odd sentences out | 1-2 |
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Topics | No. of days |
Arrangements (Linear, Circular, etc.) | 2 |
Puzzles (Einstein puzzles, constraint-based etc.) | 2 |
Networks, Games and tournaments, Scheduling, LR based on picking coins | 5 |
Blood relations, family tree, Truth-liar concept | 2 |
Others (Cubes, 2D Space LR, etc.) | 1-2 |
DI Topics | No. of days |
Bar Graphs, Line Charts, Pie Charts, Unconventional charts & Tables (radar chart, bubble chart etc.) | 4 |
Venn Diagrams | 2 |
Others (DI Based on growth over the years, Data Sufficiency, Caselets, etc.) | 2 |
Quantitative Aptitude
Topic | Number of days |
Number Systems | 2 |
Ratio and Proportion, Percentages, Averages, Alligation, Profit Loss and Discount, Simple Interest and Compound Interest | 7-8 |
Time, Speed and Distance, Time & Work | 2 |
Linear equations, Quadratic equations, Inequalities | 3-4 |
Logarithms, Functions | 1 |
Progressions and series, Surds and indices | 1 |
Geometry & Mensuration, Co-ordinate Geometry | 7-8 |
Permutation and Combinations, Probability, Set Theory | 2 |
Miscellaneous | 1 |
Things to Avoid During CAT 2024 for Engineers
It is commonly observed that engineers make certain mistakes during their CAT preparation and the exam which cause them to perform poorly during the exam. Aspirants must avoid the following during CAT:
- Do not try to solve every question during the CAT exam. Since engineers have good problem-solving skills, they tend to solve every complex question during the CAT exam which can cause serious problems and reduce their overall percentile score due to time constraints.
- Neglecting Verbal Ability and Reading skills is another common issue among engineers preparing for CAT. Since engineers typically do not have a strong background in English, they tend to avoid this section of the CAT syllabus. This leads to them performing poorly in the CAT VARC section reducing their overall percentile score.
- Focusing too much on complex mathematical topics like trigonometry, calculus, algebra, etc. is also an issue among engineers. Since they are intimately familiar with these topics, they focus too much on these areas rather than basic topics like percentages, profit and loss, simple interest, compound interest, etc.
- Trying to solve complex problems before easier questions. Since engineers have better problem-solving skills, they tend to solve challenging questions before easier questions on the CAT exam. This leads to wastage of time and mental energy leading to a poor overall performance and percentile score.
Should Engineers Choose CAT Coaching or Self Study?
CAT Coaching or self-study is another important question that every engineer should find the answer to before they begin preparing for CAT. Some engineers prefer CAT coaching because it helps them overcome their lack of verbal skills and reading abilities. On the other hand, some engineers prefer self-study because either they have a proper study plan devised or they have appeared for the CAT exam before and they have become familiar with the syllabus and exam pattern. That being said, an aspirant must weigh the pros and cons of both CAT coaching and self-study and choose whichever one suits them best. If an aspirant wishes to study for the CAT with the help of experts and teachers who will guide them through the entire process, then CAT coaching is the ideal option, on the other hand, if a student wants to study on their own and follow their schedule, then self-study is the best choice for them.
Hopefully, we were able to inform aspirants on how to prepare for CAT if you are an engineer! Check out the articles below to learn more about CAT 2024!
Related Articles:
Please write to us on the CollegeDekho QnA Zone for any queries you have on CAT 2024. For help with admission to MBA colleges accepting CAT, apply through the Common Application Form (CAF) or call our helpline number 1800-572-9877.
Get Help From Our Expert Counsellors
FAQs
How much time is required to improve reading and verbal ability skills for CAT?
The time required to improve reading and verbal ability skills for CAT is different for different students. Some students have a strong foundation in English making it easy for them to tackle the CAT VARC syllabus. Other students may not be strong in English, which makes their preparation for CAT VARC longer. Candidates need to spend atleaast 4-6 weeks for CAT VARC preparation.
Do I need to prepare for CAT Quantitative Aptitude if I am an engineer?
Yes, you need to prepare for CAT Quantitative Aptitude if you are an engineer. Although you may have knowledge of many topics and concepts included in CAT QA syllabus, you need to recapitulate these topics before the exam and also practice CAT mock tests to understand the types of questions asked in CAT.
Do engineers have an advantage over other CAT candidates?
Yes, engineers have a slight advantage over other CAT candidates who do not have a background in Mathematics. This helps engineers to tackle the CAT QA syllabus easily which can be difficult for other students. However, on the other hand, most engineers lack reading skills and verbal ability which other students may be proficient in, making it difficult for them to tackle the CAT VARC syllabus.
Do engineers need to prepare less for CAT?
No, engineers need to prepare the same amount of time for CAT as other aspirants if they wish to achieve a high percentile score. Although engineers may have more mathematical knowledge than other aspirants, they need to prepare and learn new concepts and topics covered in the CAT syllabus, especially in the CAT VARC syllabus.
How to improve stress management during CAT?
In order to improve stress management during CAT, create a study schedule that allows for breaks, prioritize topics based on their importance, and stick to the exam preparation plan. Stress Management is a crucial exercise that aspirants must take seriously during CAT preparation. It is important to avoid last-minute cramming to reduce time-related stress.