Who are the CAT-holics?
The CAT-holic blog is the brain child of two IIM graduates, J and T, under the aegis of our employer IMS Learning Resources Pvt Ltd. We’d like to briefly introduce ourselves below:
J is a graduate of IIT-B and IIM-C and a nine-time 100-percentiler in the CAT (’02, ’08, ’10, ’12, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’18). He is also a nationally ranked Scrabble player and cruciverbalist and is fond of solving lateral thinking riddles and crossword puzzles. In his spare time he reads Fantasy and Science Fiction, photographs sunsets and consumes entirely too much caffeine. He teaches Quantitative Aptitude and is also an expert in Vocabulary.
T is an MBA from IIM-L and a standardised test junkie with scores of 750/800 and 1500/1600 on the GMAT and GRE respectively. For the better part of his career he worked at the Academics Dept. of IMS developing courseware for the CAT, GMAT and the GRE and and ended his stint as the head of the department. He currently operates out of the IMS Head Office and spends most of his spare time reading and travelling.
IMS is India’s leading institute for Test Preparation and Admission Consulting with over 35 years of unmatched experience in shaping success stories. The institute has been ranked 4th in the education sector and 44th amongst the Top 50 Most Trusted Service Brands across India (AC-Nielsen & Brand Equity, December 2003). Today, IMS has spread its wings across India with more than 90+ centers and over 50,000 students, successfully making it to some of the most prestigious institutes in India (IIMs, FMS, JBIMS, XLRI, ISB etc) and abroad (LBS, Stanford, Wharton, Harvard, HEC, INSEAD, NUS, etc).
IMS offers comprehensive training programs for not only the CAT and other prominent Indian management entrance tests like the XAT, CMAT, IIFT, NMAT and SNAP but also for international tests like the GMAT, GRE, SAT, IELTS and TOEFL. Our motto is to mentor, motivate and guide our students and all those who interact with us in order to enable them to make the right career decisions.
Nice to meet you J and T!!
hi J & T,
You’ll are doing a great job. Just one suggestion. Blogging on a domain would be more preferable. And as a matter of fact I am trying to make a student network and have a plan in mind. Would love to discuss it with you. Kindly email me if you would like to help.
Myself: another CAT aspirant
I’m sorry, but at the present moment we have no interest in changing the way we operate. Thanks anyway.
regards
J
Hi J and T,
Thanks for your blog. It’s really helping me a lot in my preparation. Here is one problem which I came across and I am getting two answers when applying two methods explained by you above.
If a+b+c+d=20, then find the number of solutions possible when
(i) a,b,c,d<=8
by method one: it should be 23C3 – 4*14C3 + 6*5C3 = 375
but by alternate method
maximum values taking a=b=c=d=8, will be 32
total obtained= 20 (given)
loss = 12
a'+b'+c'+d'=12
so 15C3= 455 ways..
could you please tell me where I am wrong ?
In the second case, the “shortage” or loss also crosses 8. So here too you would have to minus some cases! You would have to do 15C3 – 4*6C3 = 455 – 80 = 375.
regards
J
Cool got it… Thanks J 🙂
can someone please explain the 6*5C3 in first method??
https://crackthecat.wordpress.com/2013/05/20/distribution-with-upper-limits-on-group-size/
Ajay, see this link…
regards
J
really nice articles…great work ! 🙂
helps a lot !
could you help me with concept needed to solve ques like x^2+y^2=65
and when x^2+y^2=65^2
Coming up next week, Sanchi…
regards
J
^^ no of integral solns or number of ways to form ordered pair (x,y)
ok, could you please upload a little earlier. have cat scheduled on 5th.. 🙂
thanks anywez!
I’m afraid not 🙂 I’m still writing it 😀 Barely managing to keep up with the “post a day” as it is…’tis a busy time for me as well!
regards
J
Okay. No problem. Still, I will be back on 4th to check if it gets uploaded. *optimist* 😀
Otherwise it would be helpful for the remaining exams.
Thankyou
Hi J & T,
I am writing this reply, just to say thanks. I have been preparing for CAT 2012 and your work in this blog helped me in several ways. All i can say is thanks.
Thank you for your tremendous work and as always I will keep visiting this blog ( atleast for one more year 😛 ).
Regards
Pavan Kumar.
This is a wonderful site.
Can you post some very difficult questions on Combinatorics please.
They should be atleast 700+ type questions.
If you mean 700+ as the number of questions, I’d say good luck waiting for that 🙂 As they used to say in Kolkata “hobe na, dada!!” If you mean 700+ level on a GMAT, well, there are already quite a few (see the last several posts under the tag PnC; practically any problem of PnC which you are likely to encounter in a GMAT, or even a CAT, can be solved if you are acquainted with those concepts). If you plan to write a JEE or Maths Olympiad, well, then this won’t be enough.
I know that I have done only 1 or 2 demonstrative examples of each variety, since I intended to cover as much portion as possible in a limited time and trusted that my readers would have the gumption to follow up with self-practice. I do intend to do more examples this season (and perhaps some probability as well) but later in the year – for now I will be focusing on puzzles for about 3 months (at least till interview season is about done, basically)…
regards
J
Well I mean questions of 700+ level, the more difficult ones on PnC.
I shall be grateful if you post some questions.
Wonderful post and informative content for CAT aspirants. I have put down my thoughts around same topic and written an article around them to help the junta as a whole. Actually experiences and suggestions from my seniors helped in my prep so this is just my bit of repayment. Find them at http://www.expressions-kt.in/2014/08/bracing-to-bell-cat-heres-some-help.html
thank u so much for all the wonderful posts ..:)please do post concepts on time and work..
Geometry has always been a weak area for me. Discovered this website on the eve of cat 2014 and went through your posts on geometry. Don’t know if it is a coincidence or not, I was able to solve all the geometry problems. I like to believe it is not a coincidence. Thanks a lot guys. Hopeful of getting 99.5+
Do you have any mail ID to contact you?
Afraid not…
regards
J
Hello Scrabblar can you please tell me how did you convert the blog crackthecat.wordpress.com to cat100percentile.com. Have you bought the domain name from godaddy and then forwarded it to your blog. Because I have a blog and i am trying to forward this but my tags don’t change when someone clicks on that link. Did you buy something extra from wordpress?
Yes, bought the domain name.
I mean to say did you buy the domainname from WordPress or from anyoutside hosting site as godaddy etc
Directly.
Sir I want to do mba but I from vernacular medium.my communication skill is weak so what to do for improving my com skills.I am graduate in 2014 from B.A. I am not touch in study since one year. Now I want to do cat in2015. Sir how I prepare
Plz guide
Read a lot. Speak English every chance you get. Study. There is no magic to it, just hard work. You have to be in the top 1% or so of the aspirants. Do whatever it takes.
regards
J
Very helpful article. Thanks to share it..
Sir, can you please cover concepts on functions, Time and Work , Percentages ,ratio and proportions too.
The thing is, those are relatively straightforward topics and hence there is very little “value add” I can offer in them. Hence have been focusing on those topics (PnC, Remainders, Plotting, etc) where I can add some significant value to the stuff you will find already floating around.
regards
J
Sir, can u please cover concepts on functions, percentages,ratio and proportions, time and work .
hello & hi J and T
i am mariya ! studying B.E 3rd yr , i have a basic knowledge in mathematics but i have doubt in how can i implement to do these Quants…….
Take a simulated test to get a feel of the level and style. Then practice! No rocket science involved at all…
regards
J
Hi J & T,
I am waiting for more posts on Algebra , Inequalities , Functions & Graphs. How should i prepare for it?
I’ve put several posts on modulus plotting in the past, and a few on algebra as well. In general, though, algebra and inequalities are not really my strongest areas and I see little I could add to what I already find in books and material readily available. So haven’t made an effort in that direction as yet. Am planning to put a few posts on quadratic plotting at some future date but have not yet managed to organise or structure those in my head so I doubt it will happen this year, at any rate!
regards
J
Hi J , Thanks for the reply.
I am planning to give CAT this year , can you please suggest what all , are the types of question can we see in Algebra , Inequalities , Modulus , Graphs , as you must b aware of the pattern. In general i want to boost my confidence in this section.
Old CAT papers are available, so you know as much as I do. CAT does not have a syllabus as such!
regards
J
Hi i am getting issue in my Logical reasoning abilities , can you please suggest me any such blog as yours to follow step by step.
Don’t know of any, but skill in LR is about solving, understanding the solution, and developing thought processes.
regards
J
sir where do i find cat 2015 question papers. will it be useful seeing the previous year question papers
Ever since the CAT has gone online, test-takers have had to sign a non-disclosure agreement stating that they will not disclose the questions. Accordingly, you will not find the papers legally available anywhere online (and certainly, not on this blog!). However, some unscrupulous elements do recreate the paper from memory and post it online; I am sure you will be able to find such (admittedly unreliable) papers with a Google search, if you wish.
regards
J
Sir ,When will you start posting for CAT 2106?
Hi , J & T
I have started my CAT preparation last week .I am confused in my Quant prep plan . I have ims study material .There are Level -1 & Level 2 exercises & area tests .How should i do till what time ?
Dear Sir,
I have recently started my CAT 2016 coaching.
I am ready to work hard. But a planned hard work bore fruits.
Can you please sugget me a plan on my preparation from the beginning? i am aiming for 100 percentile
Regards
Dear Sir,
I have recently started my CAT coaching and preparation.
I am aiming for 100percentile.
Can u help me out in preparing a plan to follow so that i will achieve my aim.
Regards.
There is no magic, just hard and smart work. If you want to get a 100 percentile in 3 months, ideally you should be at almost a 99 already. Just be sincere and do the best you can…
regards
J
Hi Boss,
You are yet to update CAT-2016 score on your profile 🙂
Thank you for writing this Wonderful blog. It is a gold mine for Quant prep. No Coaching institute/forum can match the content of this blog. Instead of just providing the solutions, you have focused on explaining the thought process behind the problem. This has helped me to understand the concept better and also improved my problem-solving ability. This blog is my only source for quant prep. Following each and every article on this blog has helped me to score 99.8 percentile in Quant. Apart from this blog, You have also guided me through the tough times.
Thanks Boss for helping me out 🙂
Regards
Raghu Vinay
Thanks for the kind words! I am glad the blog could be of some help to you 🙂 All the best for the future…
regards
J
Hello Sir,
I am a graduate planning to appear for the mba exams this year. Due to arrears i had to compromise for a general degree in addition to the loss of a year. Could you please tell me if there are any colleges i am not eligible to apply for?Which exams would you suggest me to appear for?
I am assuming you mean you dropped a year. As long as your final aggregate in graduation is over 50% you will still be eligible for most of the top colleges (the notable exception being NM). Obviously, you will need to score that much higher in the respective exams to compensate. Other than NMAT, you can appear for all the other major tests – CAT, XAT, CET, SNAP, IIFT etc. Even in the top 10 colleges, I personally know people who have graduated from one of IIMC, XLRI, FMS and JB after having dropped a year (or more) during graduation but aced the exam.
regards
J
Hello
Last year i got 75 percentile in cat…this year is my last attempt coz after which my work ex will exceed 5 years. How should i should?can i get any counselling from your team.
Waiting to hear from you.
Anjali
Well, we are not really consultants – we are exam experts. So we would not be in a position to give an authoritative answer to your query. However let me share whatever thoughts I have; do take them with a pinch of salt. If your experience is already 4 years, then it is already on the high side and you might find it difficult to convince the IIMs to take you for their PGP program even with an exceptional score. Still, it does depend on your profile. However, should you consider taking the GMAT and looking at options abroad, or ISB and the IIM executive programs; you would stand a better chance there, with a decent score.
As for how to study for CAT – well, no magic there! Hard work, smart work, lots of practice and lots of understanding. And a great deal of self-belief.
regards
J
Thank you for your advice…I am also taking GRE in october as ISB consider GRE scores(including other mba institutes outside) and i completed 3 years in july and by the time i sit for interviews it will almost 4. Should i consider GMAT as well?
Depends on which colleges you want to apply to! If they accept GRE then why take both? You will have to do the relevant research and then take a call.
regards
J
Hi !
How to remain confident while taking the test !
I get nervous whenever I am i front of the PC.
3rd attempt
Difficult question….the answer varies from person to person. First of all you have to have your preparation in place. Then, you need to develop your self-belief. You don’t have the luxury of doubting yourself during those 3 hours. If you can train yourself to be confident, and are also thoroughly prepared for the test, calmness follows. If it helps, before the test you can try yoga, or music, or whatever works for you (for me, it used to be a sunset the evening before the test, with a good book preferably. Very calming.)
regards
J
Hi Sir,
Do you have a page dedicated to LR questions.I am looking for one .Please put the link here.
Thank You!
I did put up some posts on DI-LR a long time back, but not too many I am afraid. https://cat100percentile.com/tag/di/
regards
J
Hi. I have started preparing for CAT 2019 recently. I want someone who can help me strategise my preparations on the hair root level from now itself. I am enrolled into the IMS program but I feel the need for mentoring to improvise my prep stategise while I work on cutting back time leaks. Please revert to me on my email kchamaria1993@gmail.com so we can take the conversation on call.
Look forward to it.
Thanks,
K
I’m really sorry but I cannot provide individual mentoring here 🙂 I already have my hands full with the (several hundred) students at my regular centre! You can contact the mentors at your centre and they would be glad to help you plan your attack on CAT. All the best!
regards
J
I understand. The thing is, I am looking for the absolute best to mentor me. Can we discuss this over call?
So, I am not a phone person. Secondly (and more importantly) I am not remotely the best at mentoring, that’s not really my forte. I’m a maths teacher, that’s all 🙂
regards
J
Well J, then you can guide me with respect to Math. Einstein said, if you cannot explain it to a 6 year old then you have not understood it yourself. You are a multi-fold 100 percentiler and I’m much older than 6 years. I am confident given the favourable odds we can overcome the not-phone-personal problem (read alternate technology). Just need you to be willing help me reach my full potential. Willingness is 90% of the fight won.
To reiterate, I cannot provide individual mentoring. I am but a single human being and I am already over-committed. I’m sorry if that isn’t the answer you want to hear, but it isn’t going to change.
regards
J