INTRODUCTION:
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer-based test for admission in a graduate management program in INDIA.The test scores a candidate on the basis of Quantitative Ability (QA), Verbal Ability (VA) and Reading Comprehension (RC), Data Interpretation (DI)and Logical Reasoning (LR). Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning together carry 32 questions of which 8 are MCQ’S and 24 are NON-MCQ’S. Now let us study about DATA INTERPRETATION in detail.
DATA INTERPRETATION SYLLABUS:
cat data interpretation deals with the observatory and interpretation skills of the student. This section is one of the most scoring sections of the exam and forces the student to observe the question in such a way that he/she gets relevant information out of it. Very often students confuse the syllabus of quantitative ability with data interpretation. Even though, both the sections require you to solve the problems, there is a minor difference between them. Quantitative questions are mainly mathematical questions and it is not difficult to interpret them whereas interpretative questions are mainly statistical and are very difficult to interpret. So, the syllabus of DATA INTERPRETATION revolves around bar graphs, pie diagrams, mean, median, mode or anything where you are required to observe the data and then answer the questions accordingly. There is no specific syllabus or source from where you can study for this section. You can go through the questions of previous papers or take guidelines from notes prepared by tutors.
DATA INTERPRETATION PREP:
cat data interpretation is something that you can never be prepared with, entirely. It requires constant practise and discipline. There is no guarantee as to what can be asked in the paper as the scope of data interpretation is vast and varied. Practising data interpretation questions can improve your observation, interpretation and can develop your brain in such a way that you can tackle any question. Remember, the questions are not the same but they are similar in pattern. The only way to ace this section of the exam is to develop excellent observatory brain skills.
MOCK TESTS:
MOCK TESTS are the best way to practise for data interpretation. It consists of questions that have been asked in the paper previously and it also includes the probable questions that can be asked in the upcoming paper. Besides, it gives you good practice to deal with the mental stress that you go through while giving an actual exam. It helps you with time management, choice difficulty whilst selecting the sums to be attempted and helps you to give your actual exam in a better manner. The mock test scores give you a good evaluation of your performance with the help of which you can work on your weak areas. Even if you haven’t joined any coaching class, you can still subscribe to the mock test service of most of the leading classes.
COACHING AND SELF STUDY:
Although it is not compulsory for one to join a coaching class, I highly recommend you to join one. You can go for online or offline coaching as per your convenience but any kind of guidance is essential. It is one of the most essential factors in the process of CAT preparation. With respect to DATA INTERPRETATION, it plays a very important role in moulding your skills. Coaching provides students with tips and tricks to solve a problem faster than the traditional method. It gives you an extra edge and helps you to be smarter than your competition. However, these classes do not ensure your admission in your desired college. Self-study is also extremely important along with coaching. A minimum of 3-4 hours of self-study is a pre-requirement. Self-study and coaching go hand in hand,coaching is the part where you grasp the knowledge and self-study is where you execute it. This process is extremely essential while preparing for the CAT exam. I hope this article proves to be useful for your preparation!
