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Tips for people with non-math background

Praqtise — Mon, 10 Oct 2016 13:48:36 +0000

“CAT Syllabus – Does it provide an edge to students with a Mathematics background?”

Ashish goes to a career counselling seminar. The following conversation takes place between Ashish and the counsellor which may be helpful for many MBA aspirants.

Ashish – “Sir, I am a commerce student, can I prepare for CAT exam?”

Counsellor – “Yes, of course, graduates from any stream can appear for CAT.”

Ashish – “But I am not an engineer and do not have a mathematics background.”

Counsellor – “Mathematics education does not guarantee success in your career. Non-math students have to plan their preparation differently according to the CAT Syllabus; that’s it!”

Numerical Aptitude is given utmost importance in the CAT syllabus. It is not baseless at all as two major sections of the CAT namely Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation test mathematical knowledge. So, it is considered that CAT exam is more difficult for students with non-mathematics background than it is for engineers. In this article, we have given a few tips for students with a non-math background to succeed in CAT.

PRAQTISE Fact File: Nishant Gupta, a student with a non-maths background who scored more than 99 %le in CAT

NAME YEAR Q.A %le VA %le LR & DI %le CAT %le

Nishant Gupta 2016 95.8 99.7 99.6 99.97

Quantitative Aptitude

Quantitative Aptitude is the most feared section of the CAT syllabus for students with a non-math background. Students should plan their preparation topic wise. Those students who are not so comfortable with mathematics should spend more time on the core chapters and practice as many questions as possible. The titles mentioned below are considered to be among the easier ones:

Percentage
Profit and loss
Ratio, Variation and Proportion
Time, Speed and Distance
Work and time.

Once students are comfortable with basic chapters, they can move on to tougher sections. Students should first try to identify the difficulty level of questions based on such topics. Attempt them only if you are comfortable with the question to avoid negative marking. The topics listed below are considered relatively difficult:

Permutation and Combination
Probability
Numbers
Higher Mathematics.

Logical Reasoning and DI

These are the sections where the non-math students can score to get a high percentile overall. This section has almost 1/3 the weight of the overall CAT syllabus every year. It has two sub-sections called Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation. Students with a non-math background can focus more on logical reasoning questions as it does not involve complex calculations. On becoming comfortable with analytical reasoning, one can try to increase his/her speed using short-cut tricks and Vedic Math methods. Students can start solving Data Interpretation sets once they are comfortable with calculations.

Verbal Ability

It is crucial to get a good grip on the Quantitative Aptitude questions and Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation for CAT. At the same time, one should not ignore the Verbal Ability section as IIMs, and other top B-schools, have sectional cut offs. Verbal Ability is a crucial part of the CAT Syllabus. So, Verbal Ability section should be given due importance in preparation. If Q.A. is the weakness, a student can focus on the Verbal Ability section to get the desired percentile. Verbal Ability has two subsections:

Grammar: Students can concentrate on the fundamental concepts of grammar such as tenses, articles, conjunctions, voices, degrees, verb, noun, adjectives to get closer to cut off. Also, para jumbles are an easy target as one can master them with little practise.

Reading Comprehension: RCs are considered as relatively tough questions. Students should make a habit of reading on different subjects from news-papers and magazines. Magazines such as Readers Digest and India Today are usually the source for RC questions. Attempt RC sets from familiar topics first and then abstract and unfamiliar subjects if time permits.

A PRAQTICAL Look

As per the new paper pattern, students can only spend 60 minutes per section in CAT. Each section should be individually completed within 60 minutes. Hence, it is crucial to have a plan in place for tackling the quants section.

A non-math background should not hinder an aspiring MBA student to get into his dream college. The right approach is to leverage your strengths and acquire a basic level of comfort in areas of weakness.

Was this article helpful? Please, tell us in comments.

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Image sources:

http://www.feminiya.com/8-tips-to-remove-maths-phobia/

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5 Reasons Why Praqtise is Your Genie for Overcoming the CAT Syllabus

Praqtise — Mon, 19 Sep 2016 08:07:36 +0000

Not Again! My exasperation had driven me to fling the console across the room. It landed with a soft thud on the carpet. Why was it so difficult to defeat this guy? After 15 matches with him, I still had absolutely nothing to brag about. If you haven’t guessed it already, I am extremely competitive. But my constant losses at the hands of this gaming ninja had devolved my spirit for the day.

I spent a lot of my free time in the virtual world. When I wasn’t studying, I was gaming. My zeal was held up high with two things, my MBA entrance exam preparations and Fifa; both of which were online. My desperation to beat him at something made me think of all things possible. And then I thought of my mock test scores. Maybe I could beat him at the CAT syllabus! I could take him down. There was hope! But Alas! Why would such a game interest him? Does he even Praqtise?

Praqtise Fact File- On an average, an MBA aspirant spends at least INR. 25,000 a year on CAT Coaching.

5 Reasons why Praqtise Makes YOU Perfect

1) Competency Based Learning

While the road to your MBA dream requires you to overcome the entire CAT syllabus, individual pace is what we emphasize on. Our online study modules adapt to your pace of learning and level of competency. Contrary to most coaching centres; online or in real time, Praqtise banks on the principle of adaptive learning and not that of herding.

PRAQTISE Fact File:

Adaptive Learning is an innovative style of education where technology is clubbed with a customized learning program to suit individual requirements of students. This style of learning demarcates itself from conventional learning processes through the personalization that comes with it. This is of great use for tackling the CAT syllabus.

2) Mock Tests

No MBA entrance exam is close to completion without CAT Mock tests. Practice at absolutely zero costs or upgrade to a premium paid version with over 700 questions for you to solve. You can test yourself in either Praqtise or Mock mode. Created for the profoundly competitive minds of this era, Praqtise has a unique competitive learning system that rewards you with medals and scores.

3) In-depth Analysis

Every CAT mock test on Praqtise is analyzed, topic wise to give you an in-depth report of your understanding of concepts. Based on your accuracy and average time spent on each question, our analysis points out strengths and weaknesses so you know exactly how to prepare for CAT.

4) Gamification

We live in a world where Counter Strike, Fifa and numerous other online gaming portals take away our free time unlike learning, which is a strict no-play zone. At Praqtise we break that stereotype by incorporating a good challenge with the art of learning. You can prepare for your MBA entrance exams with your fellow aspirants with the same enthusiasm as that for a good game!

5) Illuminating Guides

Imagine a mall, or a supermarket. The first thing that comes to your mind is most probably the conglomerate of brands or goods. A supermarket stocks everything from groceries to furniture and all that a household needs. Praqtise is essentially the supermarket for your MBA dreams, except it is free. Seeking information on anything related to CAT, Praqtise is your best bet. Get tips for smoother practice tests, to reports to anything remotely related to CAT. Our Blog has answers to all your MBA questions, from CAT preparation to the career after MBA.

A Praqtical Look: Mock tests are as important as studying the CAT syllabus

Sanuj Mittal, who scored 100 percentile in CAT 2015, in an interview said that taking regular mock tests spearheaded his triumph. In fact, most CAT toppers harp on the importance of getting familiar with the pattern of the paper, and not just the CAT syllabus. Speed and accuracy can only be built with a steady practice schedule; that in turn will tell you of the appropriate time you need to spend on each section. Solving mock tests every day, as vouched for by every CAT topper, literally wins over 50% of this ardent battle.

At Praqtise, we believe in breaking out of the mould. While there is no dearth of training and coaching centres for the CAT syllabus, there are also very few preparation guides that can be adapted to your needs. Our approach to cracking CAT and other entrance level exams is by curating tests based on individual abilities and understanding of concepts. We believe that not everyone should be made to pass through the same hole in the wall.

What is the most challenging aspect of CAT preparation for you? Let us know in the comments.

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CAT Coaching Institutes – Can you crack the exam without them?

Praqtise — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 20:31:05 +0000

“ CAT Coaching for the Brave”

A cold wind blew through the trees, creating the illusion of a long and undulating painful song. It almost seemed like the trees themselves were wailing this dreary tune, as the snow fell and clung over their dead branches. As the cold and dreary forest remained unlit by anything except the moonlight, the song of the trees saw a peculiar audience. This audience left behind their footsteps in the snow, as their heaving breaths shown like smoke coming out of a hot furnace. With tongues drawn out and teeth bared, the pack of wolves continued moving forward through the wilderness, searching for something unknown.

“A peculiar thing about wolves is that their packs have a highly intricate hierarchy,” my dad stated in a calm manner as I weaned my attention off the television for a moment.

“The ones in the front are the weakest, and this hierarchy keeps building up till the end of the pack, where the alpha resides.”

As I looked at the television again with this new perspective, the screen showed a large black wolf that was howling up at the moon in majestic mystery. Even though it seemed quite similar to the other wolves, there was something in the way it carried its savagery and primal majesty that made it stand out.

Suddenly, the camera turned to the far end of the mountain, away from the pack, where the trees gave way to blizzards of hail and storm. Here, amidst snow-capped crevices, a white figure stood unmoving in the mist. As it became more and more visible, the figure turned out to be a wolf that looked as pale as the frozen wasteland that it stood in.

“Have you heard about the lone wolf, son?” The question that my Dad threw at me seemed like the start of a conversation filled with mysticism.

Well, even though that conversation was immensely intriguing, I understood the importance of being a lone wolf only while sitting in the last bench of the classroom of a CAT coaching institute.

The Human Pack

Humans are dependent on each other; that is just the way we have been created. We need each other more than we think we do. At the same time, the urge to compete with each other is also embedded in our psyche. One look at the education system of today, and we see glimpses of both these urges being nurtured. The education system is the tool that is used to fan the fires of some of our most primal urges.

Almost all coaching institutes work on the philosophy and the practice of encouraging a competitive spirit amongst the pupils. It is this need to compete and rise above opposition that also results in the formation of internal groups within classrooms. Yes, you might have observed how certain type of students club together with others, such as nerds, sports enthusiasts, gossip girls and so on. Most of the times, these groups may also be defined by perceived intellectual ability of the members, AKA “marks”. You might observe how the species of “nerds” tend to move away from groups like the “backbenchers” or the “artsy types”.

The Individual

If our need to compete is removed from an institutional setting, we might eventually find ourselves getting isolated from each other. As I watched the different groups moving about like wolf packs, the image of the lone wolf came into my mind. I pictured a caricature of myself standing atop the hill of CAT preparation books, as the stormy hail of CAT questions fell all around me. This is when I wondered about what it would be like if all that stood between the CAT exam and me was my own inhibitions to learn outside the box.

I remembered my Dad telling me that lone wolves are either driven out of the pack or are too weak to continue traveling with the pack. This point coincided with the first step that I took towards moving away from an institutional mode of training. Would self-study make me an outcast among other students, thus crippling my chances to excel in the examination? What would happen to me if I opted for a mode of study that was different from what most students opted for?

Most students find it extremely daunting to go against the herd mentality when it comes to CAT preparation. The fear of indulging in online study for CAT on their own can cause a lot of anxiety and stress. Another element that can be especially troubling for any lone wolf is the prospect of letting go of the structured patterns of teaching that coaching institutes follow. Plunging into the world of self-study can be extremely chaotic and might be considerably taxing on the student.

The Process of Liberation

A PRAQTICAL Opinion: There are several students who have made the most out of self-preparation for CAT. A quote by a student named Punnu Haniya summarizes the immense potential of self-study. He had this to say about self-study, “No class room coaching can teach aptitude, it is inherent in the system of the human body.”

Once you step into the world of self-study, the opportunities that arise for you are endless. With just the right amount of discipline and conviction, one can create complete structures of learning that are tailored to personal preferences and abilities. Even though this freedom can be scary for some, many students have plunged into the art of self-study and emerged victorious.

The absence of a classroom environment can open up windows of exploration, such as CAT preparation online courses and tutorials. The internet, if used wisely, can be an extremely useful resource pool for overcoming any obstacles while preparation. Self-study can also help you target the core of CAT preparation, which is embodied in the following message: CAT is not about how good your technical knowledge is; it is about how well you can apply your knowledge practically.

If you have failed in your previous attempts at CAT, or are overburdened by your work, it is probably time to become a lone wolf. The extent to which this liberation can teach you about time management and self-discipline is higher than the scope that any coaching institute provides. The prospect of self-study also opens up doors for innovative and creative ways to complete the CAT syllabus. This includes creating study circles or groups which have periodic group sessions to enable systematic preparation.

Let us have a PRAQTICAL look at the differences between online preparation and classroom coaching – that will help you decide for yourself.

Online Coaching for CAT	CAT Coaching through Institutes
Personal empowerment through one to one attention	Lack of personal attention due to increased focus on classroom teaching
Increased freedom for customization of study pattern	Limited freedom due to fixed syllabus and methods of teaching
Increased level of personalization as far as time periods and choice of study material is concerned	Decreased level of personalization due to fixed classroom structure
Lack of distractions due to the solitary mode of study	Increased distraction due to group study and discussions
Increased creative freedom for study arrangement, which could give rise to increased interest in the subject	Decreased creative freedom for structuring and study arrangement, which could result in a decreased level of interest in the subject

Preparing for CAT by leaving behind the systems of coaching institutes can be an intense learning experience. However, as you can see from the table above, the pros of online self-study for CAT are more numerous as compared to classroom learning.

So, would you like to be a lone wolf and resort to creating your own path towards success in CAT? Let us know your strategies in the comments section.

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Image Sources:

[1]: https://in.pinterest.com/pin/451556300112013807/

[2]: http://my.fakingnews.firstpost.com/india/coaching-institute-announces-iit-jee-preparation-course-for-unborn-students-8744

[3]: http://blog.simplylearnt.com/2015/07/how-to-manage-self-study-with-school-and-coaching.html

The post CAT Coaching Institutes – Can you crack the exam without them? appeared first on PRAQTISE - India's most fun, adaptive and personalized online preparation platform for MBA entrance tests like CAT, XAT, SNAP, NMAT, IIFT, etc..

NAME	YEAR	Q.A %le	VA %le	LR & DI %le	CAT %le
Nishant Gupta	2016	95.8	99.7	99.6	99.97