CAT Previous Year Question Papers PDF
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Cheat Sheet for identifying Weights in Weighted Average
The following table lists the common scenarios where weighted average/alligation is applicable. And what needs to be used as weights in the scenario. Disclaimer: This is just a cheat sheet and is not the ideal way to learn; the perfect logical way, so that you can figure out what is the weight yourself, is explained in the concept videos in the course. If $A_1$, $A_2$, .... are:Then $w_1$, $w_2$, .... are:1. Average of a group. Could be any average measure e.g. average age or height or weight of boys; average amount each has.Number of observations in the group2. Rate of a lot (purchase or sale) e.g. Rs/kg or Rs/lt or Rs/number.The Quantity of the lot i.e. kg or lts or numbers.3. Percentage obtained in a subject or groupMaximum marks of the subject or group4. Profit PercentageCost4.1 Profit Percentage on an articleCP of the article4.2 Profit Percentage on a lotTotal Cost [...]
Explaining a short-cut for number of factors given a tough condition
k is a natural number with factorised form being k = 2a × 3b. Find the number of factors of k2 that are less than k but do not divide k? A ready-made shortcut for this specific condition is 'the answer is (a × b)'. It will help build your problem-solving approach if you work out the short-cut yourself, rather than just learn it by rote. So work out the answers to the following leading questions, on your own. The start is "number of factors of k² ...". So start with finding this first. This should be easy. The next step is also easy ... "[how many of the above factors] are less than k ...". If this eludes you, check the hint. Hint k is the square root of k². When all factors of k² are listed in increasing order, the fator, k, will lie exactly in the middle [...]
Study Plan for Takshzila DILR Course
This is a study-plan with references to lessons and exercises as present in Takshzila's DILR course. You can also download an excel file of this plan here. The study plan has 2 rounds ... Round 1: Getting familiar with major topics and the standard variety of sets asked in the topic, one topic after the other. Let's call this completion of syllabus. This will take a minimum of 55 hours for LR and 30 hours for DI. And one will solve 200+ sets in this round. Target completion of this round by mid-July. Round 2: Extensive practice of sets. These include sets from above topics but more tougher, sets from topics like Routes & Networks or Scheduling which do not have any theory and no two sets are similar, sets that do not belong to any specific topic or are not easily categorisable, and sets from PYQs. This will take [...]
Cat Prep – Offline? Online-Live? Online-Self-Study?
Spoilt for choices for CAT prep? Having too many choices is both an advantage as well as a headache, especially if you do not know your needs well enough. And when it comes to choosing a CAT prep course, the cost of going wrong is very high .... no, not the fee paid for the course, it is much more than that; it is the cost of having wasted an attempt and all future plans being set back by a year. Hence it is very important that you choose the right format of the course. I hope the following can help you choose as per your needs. Offline The traditional format - classes held in physical brick-mortar centres, with one faculty taking a class for 20 to 60 students at a time. Pros All the advantages of a face-to-face real-time interaction i.e. an effective two-way communication with non-verbal clues included. [...]
Beginner’s Guide to CAT Prep
Here are the answers to the most common questions that a beginner has. It is a long post, but we wanted it to be as exhaustive as possible. For better readability, it is in the form of FAQs and Questions are categorised. If your question is not present here, please drop in a comment and we will answer it and let you know. About overall prep 1. What is the right time to start?+ The right time could be as early as November of the previous year or as late as June and will depend on ... 1. How good you are with the subject i.e. Math, English language and Reasoning. If you are already very good ... was great at maths in class X & XII, understood it very well and hence can recollect most concepts; is fluent with English, have a voracious reading habit; puzzles always interested you, [...]
Magic Square
Magic Square is a very common-place puzzle requiring some numerical reasoning. I was introduced to it when I was in high-school, one of the first puzzles I encountered. It has been asked on and off in exams. And even CAT has asked a question on it! What the puzzle? Consider a 3 × 3 grid having 9 cells. You need to fill in each of the numbers 1 to 9, each number being used exactly once, in this grid such that the sum of each of the three rows, the three columns and the two diagonals is the same. Try it on your own. If you don't get it, here is hint number 1 .... Try to find what will be the sum of each row or column or diagonal. If we add the sum of each of the three rows (or columns), we are effectively [...]
How to Prepare for Decision-Making for XAT
Preparing for the Decision-Making (DM) section in the Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) can seem daunting at first, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the type of questions it features. However, with a structured approach and regular practice, this section can become a scoring opportunity. In this blog, we’ll break down what Decision-Making is all about, why it’s important, and how you can prepare effectively to ace it. Explore More : cat mock test series What is the Decision-Making Section in XAT? The Decision-Making section is a unique component of XAT, setting it apart from other management entrance exams like CAT. This section consists of caselets—short scenarios or dilemmas—followed by multiple-choice questions. The scenarios are often business-related but may also involve ethical, managerial, or general situations. What Does It Test? The DM section assesses Analytical Thinking Your ability to evaluate data and draw logical conclusions. Ethical Judgment How well you navigate [...]
What is NMAT by GMAC? Everything You Need to Know
Overview of NMAT by GMAC The NMAT by GMAC, conducted by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), is a national-level entrance exam specifically designed for MBA admissions. What sets NMAT apart from other tests is its candidate-centric approach, offering a chance to retake the test up to three times within a given window and the freedom to choose the test date, time, and order of sections. Also Check: Best online classes for CAT NMAT 2024 Exam Date and Registration Timeline Here are the essential dates to keep in mind for the NMAT 2024 Registration Start Date: August 1, 2024 Testing Window: November 5 to December 20, 2024 Score Release: Unofficial scores are available immediately after the test, and the official scorecard is released within 48 hours. The flexibility in scheduling makes NMAT highly adaptable to individual timelines, and with multiple test attempts available, candidates have the chance to improve their scores. [...]
Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid in the Final Weeks of CAT Preparation
As the CAT exam draws near, the pressure to perform can lead to a flurry of last-minute preparations. But often, in these crucial weeks, students end up making mistakes that can undo months of hard work. With about 30 days to go, it’s time to fine-tune your strategy rather than overhaul it. Avoiding these common pitfalls can make a big difference in how you perform on the exam day. Here are the top 5 mistakes to avoid in the final weeks of your online CAT exam preparation 1. Overloading on New Material In the last few weeks before the CAT, many students feel a sudden urge to cover everything they haven’t touched yet—be it obscure grammar rules, complex Quant concepts, or tough Logical Reasoning sets. While it’s tempting to believe that learning new material will boost your score, the reality is that cramming in new topics at this stage [...]