CAT (Common Admission Test) is a computer-based test for admission in a graduate management program for B-schools in India consisting of 3 sections - Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Ability.
The 2nd section, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, is the one that tests the skills you will need most and the problems you will face in a managerial position. It focuses on decision-making and the speed at which you attempt problems with very little input given. There is 1 hour for attempting the entire section, with data interpretation and logical reasoning each having 16 MCQ and non-MCQ questions; the sectional weightage for each part is 16%. Students who can solve about 15 –18 questions with an accuracy of 80% can be considered in the clear.
The syllabus for any of the sections of CAT are not shared, but there is a rough outline provided. However, the section for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning is considered the most unpredictable and a low score in this can definitely hinder getting calls from IIM's. Therefore, this section requires a lot of practice!
The syllabus for Data Interpretation is:
. Data Tables
. Data charts
. Bar diagrams & Charts including Simple, Stacked, Composite Bar charts
. Pie charts
. Graphs – Line X-Y Graphs
. Data analysis and Data comparison among others
. Caselet based Data
The syllabus for Logical Reasoning is:
. Clocks
. Calendars
. Binary logic
. Seating Arrangement
. Blood Relations (Family Tree)
. Logical Sequence
. Assumption
. Premise
. Conclusion
. Linear and matrix arrangement
. Team Formation
. Direction sense and Decision Making
. Input-Output
. Series
. Syllogism
. Cubes
. Rows
. Set Theory, Venn Diagrams, Network Diagrams
. Quantitative Reasoning
. Puzzles
. Logical Reasoning based on Rankings
. Critical Reasoning
The problem with this section, and technically with all the sections, is that even if you are able to understand the material given and reach the correct answers, chances are is you are taking too much time to reach the right answers. It is to tackle this main problem that tips are focused on.
- PRACTICE!!!! MOCK TESTS!!!! Do questions from top recommended CAT books and find past papers and question simulating websites.
- Know how all tables and graphs look like and be comfortable with quickly identifying the data they are providing.
- Read business newspapers and magazines. It will get you comfortable with all the pictorial and graphical representations, help refine your data interpretation skills and help you get familiar with caselets.
- Improve your calculation skills. Refine the accuracy and speed of making mental calculations. Memorize the tables for reciprocal percentages and fractions and get into the habit of using them.
- Accuracy is essential in calculations as a slight variation can really lower your score.
- For LR problems, use a step-by-step and methodical way of answering questions to prevent confusing yourself or missing out on data.
- Use flowcharts and symbolic notations. Jot down all relevant information before attempting questions.
There are specific approaches in logical reasoning that can reduce the time you take to solve a questions and more than one approach can be applied to answer a question. Furthermore, questions in this section can have an entire set of questions solved by unravelling one puzzle.
Reverse Gear Approach - After reading the storyline and identifying data points, go through the questions and options before attempting anything else. Chances are that even without solving the actual puzzle and missing components, there are plenty of options for the questions that can be eliminated simply by input already given. This technique takes the least amount of time (5-10 minutes) and helps you make quick assumptions.
Grid Approach - Represent the given information in a grid with columns and rows to give all possible combinations. It is a negation approach. It will guarantee you the answer but will take a lot of time (15-20 minutes at least) and hence is not ideal for exams.
Match Table Approach - If grid approach is a negation approach then this is the exact opposite. The variables given should each have one single match pair which should ideally bring out a match table representation. You just need to make sure the that the pairs of information match. It takes 110-15 minutes to solve a question using this approach.