With CAT 2021 being around the corner, several MBA aspirants across India are working hard to ace the entrance exam. CAT 2021 is to be held on 28th Nov 2021 on Sunday. Students planning to take admission in top MBA colleges are busy mastering various sections of the CAT exam like Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension. As logical reasoning is one of the most important sections of the CAT exam carrying significant weightage, we are going to share some useful tips for students to excel in the logical reasoning questions.
Students who are preparing for CAT 2021 and looking to enrol for an MBA program must choose their college wisely. Though achieving high scores in CAT is an initial step to building a successful career, opting for a renowned institute to pursue an MBA is equally important. Enrolling for an MBA program at a prestigious institute like St. Andrews Institute of Technology & Management builds a strong foundation for students and powers their dreams. SAITM’s MBA program provides countless opportunities for students to scale their career growth.
In this blog, we will guide students to ace the CAT 2021 exam and wisely attempt every question in the exam. Read this blog to know about some efficacious tips to excel in the logical reasoning part of the CAT 2021 exam.
What are the Key Topics for Logical Reasoning in CAT?
Before moving on to the tips, let’s have a look at the major topics that students must cover for the logical reasoning part of the CAT exam.
- Venn Diagrams
- Number and Letter Series
- Seating Arrangement
- Routes and Networks
- Blood Relations
- Calendars, Cubes, and Clocks
- Binary Logic
- Games and Tournaments
- Connectives
- Matching
Tip 1: Visualize the Problem
Visualizing the problem by drawing Venn diagrams, grids or tables can simplify it and help you reason it better. You can easily fit in the conditions of the problems in the visually aiding diagrams and then look for the solution. This trick would definitely come in handy while solving logical reasoning questions with complexities or lots of data.
Tip 2: Improve Thinking Ability
As the logical reasoning section holds 32% of the total weightage in the CAT exam, it is fair enough to put some additional efforts to build better reasoning capability. Students can improve their thinking ability by regularly solving crossword puzzles, sudoku, riddles, etc. Students can do this in their leisure time. The puzzles or sudoku can be easily found in the fun section of the daily newspaper. Developing a habit of solving these puzzles can take you a long way.
Tip 3: Remember 2-Minute Rule
Time plays a very important role in the CAT exam. The exam doesn’t only tests your knowledge, skills and reasoning ability but also how well you manage your time. Therefore, applying the 2-minute rule can help you distribute equal time to every question in the exam. The 2-minute rule suggests that you must not spend more than 2 minutes on one question. If you find yourself spending more than 2 minutes on a question without reaching a considerable solution, it is advisable to move on to the next question.
Tip 4: Use Elimination Method
If you are finding it hard to reach the solution, you can always try the elimination method. Using the available data, you can carefully eliminate the options. Several times 3 out of 4 options can be eliminated and the remaining option would be the right answer. The elimination method can save a lot of your time and you can utilize that time in some other section.
Tip 5: Decode the Word Puzzle
Sometimes the word problems may look tricky but all you need to do is decode the word puzzle in it. Reading the question out loud several times will help you understand it better and reach a final conclusion. Solving word problems require a lot of concentration. Thus, students must focus and read the questions containing word puzzles.
Tip 6: Complex Calculation in LR is a Red Symbol
The logical reasoning questions in the CAT exam barely contain complex calculations. The calculations in the LR section are always very elementary. So, if you ever find yourself doing lengthy calculations in a logical reasoning problem, there is a high probability that you are treading the wrong path and must change the course of your attempt.
Tip 7: Never Make Assumptions
You must never make assumptions on what has not been clearly stated in the logical reasoning question. Always consider the data or information given in the problem and use it to find the answer. There are high chances that assuming scenarios in the logical reasoning problems may lead you to the wrong conclusion.
Tip 8: Solve Mock Papers & Refer the Best Books
There is no specified syllabus for logical reasoning in the CAT exam. Therefore, students should try to practise from various sources. Solving mock tests, sample questions and questions from logical reasoning books can help students to gain expertise over the subject. It is advisable to refer to the recommended logical reasoning books for CAT preparation. ‘How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT’ by Arun Sharma (Published by McGraw Hill) is one of the most recommended books for the preparation of logical reasoning for CAT 2021.
Conclusion
To excel in the logical reasoning section of the CAT 2021 exam, you must practise different types of questions so that you can be familiar with the problems you will encounter in the CAT exam. There is no shortcut to excellence other than consistent practice. Students who wish to join a reputed MBA institute in Delhi must consider enrolling for an MBA program offered by St. Andrews Institute of Technology & Management as it is one of the top MBA colleges in Delhi.