CAT 2024: Essential last-month preparation tips and section-wise topics to maximize your score

With one month to go, lakhs of candidates are rigorously preparing for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2024. The Indian Institute of Management Calcutta has scheduled CAT 2024 for November 24, 2024. Only 32 days are left until the exam. CAT 2024 will be held in around 170 cities, and candidates are allowed to choose five test cities in order of preference.
The last month of preparation is a rigorous process.

Candidates are constantly revising the syllabus, taking mock tests, and solving last year’s question papers. At this point, it is crucial for candidates to practice, improve, and master the important topics to maximize their scores in CAT 2024.
Today, we will focus on some last-minute preparation tips and topics from all three sections that will appear in CAT 2024. The exam will be divided into three major sections: Quantitative Ability (QA), Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR).

CAT 2024: Section wise topics

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
As per the information, the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section will have 20 questions, with 10 from Data Interpretation and 10 from Logical Reasoning. The Data Interpretation part typically includes questions on bar graphs, pie charts, Venn diagrams, line graphs, and similar topics, while the Logical Reasoning part features questions based on visualization, clocks and calendars, blood relations, and more.

Quantitative Aptitude
As per the information, the CAT 2024 QS syllabus can be broken down into five major categories: Arithmetic, Algebra, Number Systems, Geometry & Mensuration, and Modern Math.

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
As per the information, the VARC section comprises 24 questions. Of these, 18-20 questions are multiple-choice questions (MCQs), while 4-6 are of the Type-In-The-Answer (TITA) format.

Last month preparation tips for CAT 2024

Daily Practice Sets: Solve 2–3 practice sets daily for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) while also incorporating Quantitative Aptitude (QA) and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) exercises. This consistent practice will build your accuracy and speed across all sections.
Prioritize Key Topics: Identify high-weightage topics in each section—like pie charts and blood relations in DILR, percentages and algebra in QA, and reading comprehension and sentence correction in VARC. Focus your study efforts on these areas to maximize your score.
Appearing for Mock Tests: Regularly take timed mock tests to simulate exam conditions, helping you improve time management and develop strategies for answering questions efficiently across all sections.
Analyze and Revise Mistakes: After each practice session or mock test, spend time analyzing your mistakes. This will help you identify weak areas and focus your revision on concepts that need improvement.
Daily Reading and Vocabulary Enhancement: Incorporate daily reading from diverse sources to strengthen your comprehension skills for VARC. Additionally, revise key vocabulary, idioms, and phrases to boost your performance on verbal reasoning questions.
Focus on Mental Math and Shortcuts: Practice mental math techniques and shortcut methods for calculations in QA and DILR. Familiarize yourself with common formulas and quick calculation strategies to enhance your speed and accuracy in these sections.