One Year Study Plan for CAT 2024

One Year Study Plan for CAT 2024 - The Common Admission Test (CAT 2024) is the most popular MBA entrance exam in India as it is the gateway to top MBA colleges in the country. To crack the IIM entrance exam with a good score, aspirants are advised to start preparing for the CAT in advance. Toppers and experts suggest starting the preparation at least one year in advance so candidates can have enough time to cover all the important topics for CAT 2024 and revise them. CareersToday brings you expert advice on what should be your one-year study plan for CAT 2024 and how to prepare for the CAT exam in one year.

CAT 2024 Study Plan

Actually, there are more than 1200 leading B-schools that accept the CAT exam for admission. Around 2 lakh candidates appear for the CAT exam every year, which makes the IIM entrance exam more competitive. A one-year study plan for CAT 2024 is the best way to crack this MBA entrance exam with a significantly high score. To start the preparation, candidates first need to decide which study plan they want to proceed ahead with. Candidates have two choices before they start their preparation, which are given below:

1. CAT preparation without coaching

2. CAT 2024 with the assistance of coaching institutes

Let us look at each of the two plans in detail below and check is one year enough for CAT 2024 preparation.

CAT 2024 Preparation Without Coaching

Some of the experts of CAT and past year toppers agree that mentoring or joining coaching for CAT may really help to some extent. But merely joining coaching does not guarantee you acing the entrance exam and scoring high marks. Pulkit Daga, a CAT topper, said that joining a coaching class for CAT is not obligatory, through which a candidate can think of getting into top B-schools. Walking on the footprints of Suvam Debnath who self-prepared for CAT without being part of any coaching institute, he took the assistance of the internet.

Some experts admit the fact that roughly 500 hours of serious preparation for CAT 2024 will be sufficient to reach the peak potential to crack the exam and get admission to the best B-Schools in India. If candidates are planning to go for self-study and without any coaching for CAT 2024, then candidates can follow the below-mentioned CAT 1 year study plan.

Methodology for One-Year Study Plan for CAT 2024:

Check out the CAT study plan for 1 year:

1. Division of Syllabus:

As per the exam CAT 2024 exam pattern, the paper will be divided into three sections - verbal ability & reading comprehension, quantitative ability and logical reasoning and data interpretation. Upon deciding to take the CAT exam, candidates need to follow the CAT 2024 syllabus to draw up a preparation plan. Remember that the CAT 2024 preparation time is now. Follow the below-mentioned strategy to start preparation based on sections.

For Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation:

• Keeping in view the past records, this section of LR & DI is considered to be a difficult nut to crack and hence requires a tough grind to be done from the side of candidates

• For this, it is advisable to thoroughly go through the previous year's CAT question papers

For Quantitative Ability:

• Basic level mathematics preparation is a must to score in this section of QA

• Major topics of the QA section include questions from seating arrangements, number system, profit and loss, geometry, blood relations etc.,

• Practising mock tests for the section will be more beneficial

• At the time of solving QA questions, candidates avoid using calculators

For Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension:

• According to the CAT topper Alamuri Kumar, candidates can develop vocabulary skills through regular reading habits and explore different topics of CAT with major details.

• Go through journals, blog posts, articles, podcasts etc., to improve this section

• Practice topics like inferences, comprehensions and para jumbles

1. Monthly Planning

Candidates must divide their preparation strategy to answer when exactly they should start to prepare for CAT 2024. Most candidates get confused and end up wasting a lot of their precious time. To begin with, candidates can start their preparation with 9 months, 6 months and 3 months of planning. When and how to start CAT preparation can be divided by candidates as follows:

Division on Month-wise Basis:

1. Create a study group

Taking help from alike minds will accelerate one’s performance for sure. Hence, try to search for other candidates who are planning to appear for CAT 2024. A good company helps a lot and can ensure better consequences. Therefore, it is advisable for candidates to search out people who are planning for B-School for the upcoming academic year. Study group participants can help and motivate others to create a lively and competitive-free environment.

According to CAT topper Shreemant Singi, it is better to form a focused friend’s circle with the same objective can help in clearing doubts and formulating a better strategy. Apart from the helping hand, friends who know the importance of CAT can help one to start studying post a decent amount of recreational time.

1. Get the right study material

CAT is about attempting questions with accuracy rather than solving more questions. Do not forget that negative marking will be applicable in CAT 2024 just like the previous years. To score well in all sections will be possible only when candidates know where to prepare. Candidates must try to figure out and look for the best books for CAT preparation.

If you look out for CAT books, the market will provide you with big stacks of books. But what will you do if those books don’t serve the purpose? Before buying books, it is advisable to go through the syllabus carefully. Check whether the book you are planning to buy contains all topics or most of them or not. Buy those books that provide quality content.

• How to prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT - Arun Sharma

• How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT - Arun Sharma

• Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT - K. Sinha Nishit

• Mastering the Verbal Ability for CAT - Ajay Singh

CAT 2024 with the assistance of coaching institutes

Nishakar Kumar, topper in CAT 2023 who hit a straight 99.83 percentile told CareersToday that he took coaching and received feedback from the professional with regard to the preparation strategy. “A good coaching institute will prove beneficial along with regular CAT mock tests,” says Rahul. Whereas CAT 2023 topper Rounak Tikmani says, “Coaching institutes provide guidance and content and make the preparation path easy, however, it is not always necessary to join one.

Below are the benefits associated with CAT coaching, if you are planning to join a coaching institute for CAT 2024 -

1. Competitive environment to stay focused

2. Sufficient study material

3. Mock Test series

4. Shortcut methods of solving difficult questions

According to Soham Katkar, Topper of CAT, clearing CAT requires both i.e. self-study can make a difference, whereas coaching institutes provide the right base, quick concept clarity, as well as straightforward guidance.