What are the Some of the Main Challenges in Cracking the DI Section of the CAT?

Challenges in Cracking the DI Section of the CAT

Managers have to deal with large amount of data in order to make informed decisions. As a marketing manager, you may have to make critical decisions on the launch of your new product based on the data provided by your market research department. As a finance manager, you need to analyze the financial data of your company and make critical decisions pertaining to some important factors. As an HR manager, you need to go through records of your employees in order to take decisions regarding appraisals and evaluation. Hence managers need the aptitude to process large amount of data and draw quick conclusions out of it. Perhaps this is the reason why CAT has always given importance to Data Interpretation.

How has the DI section of the CAT changed over time?

Over the years, the data interpretation section of the CAT required you to interpret different types of data interpretations like tables, line graph, bar graph, pie-chart and caselets. You need to be good at calculations to solve these questions quickly. However, in the past few years this section of the CAT (like other sections) has become reasoning oriented. The graphs gave way to tables and caselets. The sets were difficult to interpret and consumed a lot of time. The emphasis was no longer on calculations, but on cracking the underlying logic behind the set. However, with the CAT 2009, things changed again. The sets were again calculation oriented.

It can also be said that the DI section of the CAT has moved from “Data Representation” to “Data Interpretation”. Confused? What we mean to say is that in the past, your decision of whether to attempt or not attempt a particular set depended on what kind of Data Representation it was. Thus a student comfortable in graphs would search for sets containing in the paper and solve them. Or for that matter, a student who was not so comfortable in caselets would end up skipping all the sets on in a paper. However this strategy would no longer be valid. The CAT has moved beyond a caselet or a graph or a table or so as to say, it is no longer important to establish how the data is represented.

What is more relevant today is, how can the data be interpreted.

The Online Angle

After The CAT went online the following changes happened in the DI section:

1. Reasoning based sets gave way to calculation based sets. The graphs were back in the CAT and the caselets and big tables, heavy on data went missing.
2. Interpreting data became tougher online especially since one did not have the luxury to use pencil or any other guidelines to help one figure out the exact values.
3. The DI section which in the earlier years was heavily skewed towards Data Interpretation, saw a healthy blend of DI sets, Data Sufficiency and Logic. In the CAT 2009, almost all the slots had 4 individual questions on Logic (Family Tree, Arrangement, Allotments etc), 4 individual questions on Data Sufficiency and about 12 questions on Data Interpretation spread across 4 sets.

Typical DI sets that are asked in the CAT

If you were to analyze, there is a clear trend emerging in DI section in terms of the kind of interpretation you need to do to solve a DI set. We have classified them under the following 8 groups:

1. Averages and Percentage Based
   These sets would require you apply concepts of Percentage change, Weighted Average and Ratios to concepts. Most of the line graphs and pie charts are based on percentages.
2. Calculation Based
   These sets are heavy on data and require you to perform a lot of calculations to get the answers. The good thing about these sets is that in most of the cases the answer options are wide apart. Hence there is a possibility to approximate the values and calculate. However, these sets are generally avoidable as they are time consuming and also prone to errors.
3. Counting Based
   These sets are extremely easy and take less time to solve as most of the questions only require you to count certain values to get the answers. In case you find such a set in your paper, it should be the first one that you should attack.
4. Creating Multiple Scenarios
   These are the sets in which one single scenario may not help you to get all answers. You need to create a new scenario for every question. Hence these questions take a lot of time to solve and must be avoided wherever possible.
5. Plugging Missing Data
   In these sets some of the values are deliberately not revealed by the examiner. You need to find these missing data first and then answer the questions. These sets are extremely risky to attempt as you are never sure whether you will be able to extract all the missing data from the given information.
6. Venn Diagram Based
   These sets pertain to two or more different types of sets and the relationship between the values of these sets. You need to draw Venn diagrams to represent these sets and establish relationship between different data values.
7. Networks and Paths
   These sets require you to establish relationship between different paths in a network and get the answers. These sets are usually easy and must be solved as a part of one of the first few sets.
8. Reasoning Based
   These sets are based on some underlying logic that binds different data values, and are beyond simple mathematical relationships. Your ability to crack these sets depends on whether you have been able to crack this logic between the data values. Again very risky sets to attempt as you may never know the amount of time it may take to crack these sets. For all you know, you may end up leaving these sets after having spent considerable amount of time.

Strategies for cracking the DI of the CAT

• Get your priorities right: In the DI section, the Data Interpretation questions are perhaps the most time consuming ones. Hence rather than starting with these, it is best to quickly solve the Logic and Data Sufficiency questions. With 7-8 questions in your kitty in almost no time, you can now confidently move on to the calculation oriented DI sets. Ideally the 8 questions on Logic and DS must be solved in 10 minutes, and then 3 DI sets must be attempted by giving on an average 10 minutes per set. This strategy may have to be tweaked a bit if you were to take the DI section as the last section of the CAT papers. This is so because, with a few minutes remaining at the end it is not advisable to start a new DI set as one may not be able to complete it. In that case you may have to keep a few individual questions for the end as well.
• Don’t get stuck in a jam: At the end of the day all of us are fighting against time. This is true for DI as you may end miscalculating your time distribution across sets if you are not sensitive to the time that you are spending on every question. At times it may be advisable to solve some questions from all the sets rather than getting stuck over a one odd question of a set in an attempt to solve all questions from some sets.

How do I prepare for DI in the last few weeks?

• Work on Speed Calculations:
•  Knowing your reciprocals, squares, square roots, cubes, cube roots etc. can still do wonders. Work the calculations out mentally. Initially it may take more than you might want it to be taking, but this habit once formed will go a long way in helping you for DI.
• Solve section tests rather than individual sets:
•  What is important is to simulate the CAT. Hence rather than focusing of solving individual questions, you need to solve as many section tests as possible. Take these tests under timed settings, with emphasis on selecting and prioritizing the sets.
• Solve the DI sets online rather than on paper-pencil:
•  The idea is gain as much comfort in interpreting the data online and solving the question. This will go a long way in you cracking the DI section of the CAT.

Source:CPLC - Best Classes for MBA Entrances

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HOW TO CRACK READING COMPREHENSION IN CAT ??

Reading Comprehension Techniques for CAT

The following is an extract from “Reading Comprehension for the CAT” published by Pearson Education. Author, Sujit Kumar, is a faculty at CPLC, Mumbai.

The first thing to bear in mind while taking a Reading Comprehension test and while preparing for the test is that Reading Comprehension questions test your reading and comprehending skills. CAT especially, in these questions, tests your comprehension rigorously. Hence, whenever you are solving Reading Comprehension questions, make sure that you have:

• adequate comprehension of the passage
• adequate comprehension of the question
• adequate comprehension of each option

The errors in Reading comprehension answers arise because we tend to compromise on the comprehension of one or the other factors mentioned above.

Comprehension of the Passage

The comprehension of the passage may be compromised because of vocabulary constraints, unfamiliar subject matter, the complexity of the sentences in the passage, or the complexity of the ideas.

When you solve RC passages in the CAT make sure that vocabulary constraints do not come in the way of the comprehension of the passage. Though it is likely that some of the words in the passage are unfamiliar to you, at least intelligently guess the meaning of those unfamiliar words by paying careful attention to the context in which they occur, and try to get a firm grip on the ideas presented in the passage. Through active reading, make an attempt to understand the structure of the passage and in what hierarchy the ideas are presented. An efficient reader would focus on the parts of the passage that are clearly understood, and then make educated guesses about the parts that are too complex to immediately understand. Make sure that the passage is thus adequately understood.

If the passage presents dense and complex sentence structure try to break those sentences into smaller idea units, and understand how those parts (idea units) are related to one another. This would help make even extremely complex structures easier to understand.

Unfamiliar ideas or subject matter would not pose a big problem if one has the reading habit. Hence, while you are preparing for an exam like the CAT, make sure that your efforts include regular reading. Also, try to read diverse subjects, although it is not necessary to master every subject under the sun. By reading widely and patiently on several subjects learn not to be intimidated by different subjects like philosophy, economics, politics, psychology, sociology, or science etc.

Unless the passage is sufficiently understood, attempts to answer questions can give negative results. This is of utmost importance during your practice.

Comprehension of the Question Asked

Sometimes, we go wrong in our answers because we do not pay sufficient attention to the exact nature of the question that is asked. For example, a question may ask:which of the following options makes the author’s thesis less supportable? Comprehension of this question would mean that you first define the author’s thesis in the passage. In this case, many of us tend to spend more time evaluating the options without clearly defining the thesis. As a result, we are confused by the options. Whenever you are confused by the options, you need to check whether it is your inadequate comprehension of either the passage or the question that is creating the confusion. Another question may ask you to identify ‘the real reason’ behind some aspect of the passage. We are baffled if all the options appear correct. But the question asks you to identify the real reason, which means you have to identify the motive rather than the reasons that may be stated in the passage and the options. In short, bear in mind that you have to take sufficient care to ensure that you have understood what exactly the question asks you to do. The close options then will not pose such a formidable challenge as some of us experience.

Comprehension of Each Option

Once the above stages of comprehension (of the passage and of the question) are adequately addressed, pay close attention to what each option means. More often than not, especially in the CAT, the incorrect options either subtly sidetrack the question, or generalise unnecessarily on the facts presented in the passage, or undervalue the facts presented in the passage, or intensify the facts in the passage, or make inferences that are not sustained by the passage. A few options may also be contrary to the passage.

Often, the options may also require you to reason with them. This makes the test a little more than a mere test of comprehension. The reasoning required is generally suggested by the question itself. For example: Which of the following is the prime purpose of the passage, and which of the following is the thematic highlight of the passage may appear similar but the former is asking you about why the passage is written and the latter merely asks you to identify the gist of what is written. In short, make sure that apart from trying to understand the option clearly, you also have to determine the line of reasoning to apply when you work with the options.

Questions First or Passage First?

Your task in the test is to score. For this purpose you may adopt one of the following techniques described below. If you are not sure which method you should use, experiment with the different methods and see which of the methods helps you score the maximum marks in the minimum time. You may want to experiment under test conditions (10 to 12 minutes per passage to answer 3 to 4 CAT level questions). Different people find different methods comfortable.

• Read the entire passage and answer the questions referring back to the passage to ensure accuracy
• Read part of the passage carefully (half the passage). Read all the questions and decide if a few can be answered. Answer those questions. Read the rest of the passage and answer the remaining questions
• Skim through the entire passage. Skim through the questions and options. Read the entire passage. Answer the questions
• Read all the questions. Identify what each question is asking. Read the entire passage, answering the questions as you go along

All the above are correct methods. Practice and decide on your method.

Use of a pacer and the habit of underlining

Some people trace their way through the passage using their finger or a pencil. Using a pacer helps avoid regression, enhances your focus on the text, and your concentration. It slows you down slightly, but it ensures that no word or idea is missed. To my mind, it is wise to use a pacer while doing Reading Comprehension. But, you be your own judge. Experiment and see if it is worth it. If you find it a waste of time, do without it.

Some people have the habit of underlining the key elements of the passage. Some students even make brief notes in the margin. I have also noticed that some students make underlining a substitute for comprehension – they are more interested in identifying and underlining the key elements than in learning those points. In such a case underlining is a waste of time.

Once the key elements are identified and assimilated, in order that recall of those key points becomes easier, they are highlighted by underlining. This is the true purpose of underlining. That the underlined key elements trigger back into your memory the important details surrounding that key element. Hence if properly done, underlining helps highlight the important points and enhance your comprehension and retention. Underlining is not a substitute for understanding.

Making notes, or summarising, in the margin goes a step beyond merely underlining, and can be very helpful in creating a mind map of the essay – the structure – as one reads along. Try it out and experience the benefits.

However, in a computer based tests, the use of a pacer is not possible. Get used to reading a lot on screen. You can switch to reading your daily newspaper on the computer (as a part of the practice for the CAT). Take several simulated tests on the screen.

How to Choose Passages to Attempt?

Your ability to choose the right passages to attempt can be the difference between success and failure in a competitive exam. If the paper allows you sufficient choice among passages, the passages to attempt should be chosen quite wisely. Skim through the entire passage as quickly as you can. Or read a couple of paragraphs somewhat carefully, but as fast as you can. Pay attention to the vocabulary used, the subject matter, the complexity of the argument, and the ideas presented. Judge whether you would like to continue studying this passage. If so, short list it as a likely passage to attempt. Do the same with the other passages. Remember to work fast in this process. At the end you may have short listed a couple of passages or more that you would be comfortable reading. After that apply the methodology most comfortable to you and work with those passages.

The selection of passages is completely based on the comfort that you experience with the passage. If you find a particular passage easy, you will be able to attempt the questions based on that passage comfortably. If you find a passage difficult, you are most likely to find even the questions difficult, though they are ‘easy’ questions. But if you find that a passage is easy to read and understand, you will be able to work with even the most difficult question set on it. Hence choose the passages that you are most comfortable reading.

If the paper, however, does not offer you the freedom to choose, you must try to do your best even in an uncomfortable passage without being intimidated by it.

Should I attempt all the questions in a passage or a limited number?

The immediate answer is: attempt a limited number of questions and ensure accuracy to them. However, if your overall attempts are far below the target you have set, it is necessary to attempt questions to meet that target. At all times, in a competitive exam with negative marking, your attempt should be to maximise your marks not merely by attempting the maximum number of questions possible, but also by minimising the negative.

Further, you will need to analyse your performance during practice to decide the number of attempts to maximize your score. Since different individuals have different accuracy percentages,the number of attempts and speed are specific to each individual in order to optimize the score.

Source:

CPLC-CAT ENTRANCE COACHING INSTITUTE

10 tips to Crack Quant in the CAT and the CMAT ENTRANCE

• Mindset is the key: It is not about mastering mathematical concepts, it is just about applying these concepts
• Know your basics right: Squares, Cubes, Reciprocals, Multiplication Tables
• Know the typical question types that are asked in different exams
• Attitude: Stop telling yourself you are weak in Maths
• Try to understand the logic behind concepts, rather than maths behind them
• Learn the art of judging the difficulty level of the questions by reading it
• Learn to segregate different topics based on your comfort level
• Classify the typical mistakes you keep repeating: Silly, Conceptual, Reading the question incorrectly, Marking wrong option & work towards overcoming them
• Don't go for speed, go for accuracy - speed. will naturally follow 
• Practice,Practice,Practice.

Source:

http://cplc.net.in/resources-test-prep/blogs/188-10-tips-to-crack-quant-in-the-cat-and-the-cmat

10 things to keep in mind while choosing an institute for CAT and CMAT Coaching

1. Check for the experience level of the faculty members 
2. Don't get lured by the results. Not only check the number of calls, but also check the number of students who were coached 
3. More ads does not mean that the institute is good, it simply means students do not come to them by word of mouth 
4. Check what does the institute do to get results out of students who are average at studies 
5. Check if the institute is using technology to enhance quality of teaching and better understanding 
6. Check if the institute has separate batches for engineers and non engineers 
7. Check if the institute is able to empower a student to ask doubts in the class without feeling insulted 
8. Check what systems do the institute have to instill discipline in studies - attendance, home work, regular tests, score tracking  
9. Speak to the students who have been coached by the institute - especially the ones who did not get calls 
10. Check if the institute has enough resources to help a student in all aspects of preparation - classroom coaching, test series, personality round  

 Source:

http://cplc.net.in/resources-test-prep/blogs/183-10-things-to-keep-in-mind-while-choosing-an-institute-for-cat-and-cmat-coaching

10 most common myths about MBA entrance exams

Myth 1: MBA is only about the CAT
Reality: Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Don't decide the fate of your career on your one day's performance. There are exams like XAT, IIFT, CMAT, NMAT, SNAP which you need to take.  

Myth 2: CAT is only about the IIM's
Reality: There are many good institutes like S.P. Jain, MDI, IIT and IMT that also accept the CAT scores  

Myth 3: One needs to attempt 90% of the questions in the exam to get an IIM call    
Reality: MBA entrance exams are about percentile and not about percentage. Absolute performance does not matter, relative performance is important.  

Myth 4: Only the Engineers make it
Reality: More and more institutes are working towards having a diversity (Good mix of Engineers and Non-Engineers in their batch) 

Myth 5: Only people with Work-experience make it  
Reality: Students with work-ex do have an advantage in the second stage of the selection process, but they find it difficult to prepare for the MBA entrance exams along with stringent work timings. 

Myth 6: I need to study 8 hours a day
Reality: With a disciplined and planned study you may be able prepare even by putting in 3-4 hours a day  

Myth 7: I need to have national bench-marking
Reality: It is the quality of students with whom you benchmark that is important, rather than quantity 

Myth 8: I need to take as many tests as possible
Reality: It is important to spend more time in analyzing every test rather than blindly taking test after test  

Myth 9: If I am not doing well in the mock tests, I have no chance in the actual exam  
Reality: Mocks are only net practice. Your performance at the nets is not related in any way to your performance in the actual match. 

Myth 10: My results are guaranteed if I join classes that boasts of good results  
Reality: Classes can only act as facilitators in getting results. It is the student who can overcome all odds to get the results. Join a class that can motivate you to do well and get the results.

Source:

http://cplc.net.in/resources-test-prep/blogs/182-10-most-common-myths-about-mba-entrance-exams