how to start preparing for cat examination

Joining Coaching Institute is recommended namely TIME/Careerlauncher/IMS/CATking.
If you're done with preparation or
Once you're completed with studying you should appear for atleast 20mock exams including previous year's papers. Try to analyze your mock results, by judging how much time you devote to wrong questions, how many questions are unattempted, how much more you could have done, what questions consume lot of time. Accordingly you can identify weaknesses and focus and revise on them to convert it into strengths. For last one month, its advisable to revise mistakes and weak areas if any, and relax alot to stay calm for Final day. You should finalize your test taking strategy by this time. For mock exams go with websites like TestFunda, Oliveboard, HitbullsEye.

1. Take mock tests in online environment
You must take computer-based mock CAT 2017 so that you are familiar with the actual test environment. Taking the mock CAT in real environment will make you completely prepare to take the computer-based test on your CAT day and save any wastage of time on understanding the mode of test. You can also join CAT test series to take a few mock CAT online. Also, you must re-visit previous year CAT sample paper and solve it to have an actual feel of the test. Putting yourself in the actual testing environment will help you to take CAT on the test centre on your D-day. Sandeep Manudhane, PT Education Chairman states, Taking mocks is one of the most important factor behind your success. Attempt at least two to three mocks in a week and analyse them thoroughly. Regular mock tests will prepare you for the three hour test.
2. Analysis is must
After every CAT mock test, you must analyse your performance and evaluate your scoring areas based on CAT exam pattern. The analysis of your mock CAT paper will bring clarity on your strengths and weaknesses. I focused on taking mocks and especially on analysis and improving my weaknesses, says Mridul Rajput, an IIM Udaipur student and CAT 98.4 percentiler.
You also must go through the explanation of answers and see whether you already knew the core concept for solving each question. You should list down the questions which you could not solve despite having the conceptual clarity on the same. Once you know these areas according to CAT test pattern, you must go back to the textbook or your CAT preparation material and revise the concepts along with practising a few questions on the particular areas. This exercise will help you reap the hard work that you have been putting for CAT preparation for last few months.
Sharing his CAT preparation tips, Kamlesh Sajnani, Managing Director, IMS Learning Resources in an interview to Careers360, says that more important than taking the mock CAT test is its analysis. If you dont learn from each test before proceeding to the next, there is no point in taking a large number of them, he says, adding, Try out various strategies for each test such as dividing your time equally in each section or spending more time on the weaker sections by working quickly in the stronger sections. It is also important to attempt a variety of tests because you may score well in a test that is more suited to your strengths while the CAT may carry more questions of the kind you are uncomfortable with.
3. Focus on strength
Going by your own evaluation, you must focus on your strong areas and build on the same. As most of the questions in CAT syllabus are based on the application of basic concepts, learning both concepts and application at this stage is not advisable. Instead, you
Tips to crack CAT

You want to prepare for cat-17 or 18?

CAT will be conducted by IIM on 26th November this year and less than three months you have to practice and crack it. CAT  is more about smart work than hard work.Firstly if you can join any coaching institute, go for it. Coaching institutes can guide you how, what and when to study. When preparing  you will come to know about your weaknesses and strengths. As time is constraint you need to practise at least 3-4 hours a day. If you can't join a coaching institute then Get material from the coaching institutes like TIME, Career Launcher, PT education etc and refer following books for preparation.

For Quant you can refer Arun Sharma and Sarvesh Verma. Just buy one of the above. That will be more than enough if you complete the whole book.

For data interpretation  and logical reasoning you can refer coaching institute material from Handa ka Funda IMS / TIME / Career Launcher as your first resource. This material is very well designed and keeps the needs of students as the first priority. If you still need books then you can go for Arun Sharma's 1. How to prepare for Data Interpretation for the CAT

2. How to prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT or you can also refer books by pearson, Nishit K. Sinha for all topics.

For verbal you can refer 'word power and easy' by Norman Lewis and 'How to prepare for verbal ability and reading comprehension' by Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhaya.



You can go through this link for topics you need to prepare for CAT.



Read newspaper everyday for verbal ability as it will help in reading comprehension, vocabulary and your reading speed will be enhanced. Also read few more books during the preparation for vocabulary and general awareness (fiction, biographies etc) and stay positive and work on your strengths and weaknesses.



And keep taking mock tests and analyse result after every test you take.



You can also try various videos on YouTube about how to crack the exam.



All the best!