Each year, almost more than three lakh aspirants register for the Common Admission Test (CAT), aiming to secure a seat in India’s top management colleges. However, only a small fraction manages to cross the coveted 99 percentile mark. This is quite essential to enter premier institutions like the IIMs, FMS, SPJIMR and others. Please understand that CAT is not merely a test of aptitude. It is a test of adaptability, logical clarity and stress management under high time pressure. It assesses not just what you know, but how smartly you can apply that knowledge under high-pressure situations. While students often prepare rigorously but still lack somewhere leading to miss. This is because many overlook the subtle yet significant challenges embedded in each of the three sections: VARC, DILR and QA. This article deep dives into discovering why CAT is tough? And the Hidden Challenges in VARC, DILR and Quants.
Challenges in the VARC Section
At first glance, VARC may appear to be the less intimidating of the three sections to a few. It can also be otherwise to a certain set of aspirants but also depends on their reading habit over the years. It is true that VARC is arguably the most misunderstood component of CAT. This is largely due to its coveted requirements and subjective interpretation which varies a lot.
Join this free whatsapp group to get the latest information about CAT exam along with the strategies by CAT experts
Key Challenges
1. Complex and Abstract Reading Passages: CAT reading comprehension passages are mostly taken from diverse domains. These are not limited to but include philosophy, sociology, law or abstract topics. Since these are not every day reading materials and student’s unfamiliarity with such themes often find them intimidating and difficult to channelise.
2. Inference-Based Questions with Ambiguous Options: Most questions in CAT VARC are very much inference-driven. Aspirants need to build the skill to distinguish between subtle differences in meaning and reasoning. The options provided are often closely worded which adds on to the confusion. This is where candidates tend to face a lot of negatives & makes students wonder why CAT is tough.
3. Passive Reading Habits: The majority of students are used to passive reading. However, CAT demands active reading and not just for the sake of it. This means understanding arguments, assumptions, tone and underlying structures in real-time.
4. Specific Challenges for Engineers and Non-Arts Backgrounds: Students from technical backgrounds often lack formal exposure to analytical reading or abstract textual interpretation. This is what makes the VARC further difficult for them.
Join the Largest CAT Preparation Community in India
Solutions for VARC Difficulties
1. Strengthen Reading Skills Across Genres
Engage in reading editorials, research journals and opinion pieces across different genres. Good and trustable sources like The Economist, Harvard Business Review and Aeon Essays tend to provide ideal material. Focus not just on reading but also on identifying the main idea, tone and argument flow.
2. Master Individual Question Types
Before attempting full-length RC passages, try to practice more individual question types such as para-jumbles, summaries and odd-one-out questions. Developing a good hold over Verbal Ability is essential for building confidence.
3. Review and Reflect on Errors
Post-practice analysis is very important. Do not just check answers. Rather, spend time understanding why a specific option was said correct and why others were not. This reflection helps you understand what the author was trying to convey and where you went wrong.
4. Use Tailored Learning Tools Based on Profile
For those looking out for a structured and progressive learning path, iQuanta does offer targeted modules for VARC:
- VARC Essentials: This course provides a foundation in reading comprehension and verbal ability. As the name suggests, it starts with very basic level English and gradually move further focusing on analytical skills and CAT-level questions and techniques.
- VARC for Engineers: Designed specifically for engineering students, this program bridges the gap that engineers tend to face. There are a total of 40 RCs covering key genres which include Business, History, Arts & Culture, Philosophy, etc. The VA part is focused on telling 10 videos of para jumbles, odd one out, para summary and others. There are also 7 strategy videos which will help you prepare well and ace the exam.
Needless to mention that each course is supplemented by live classes, adequate practice, mentor guidance, and instant doubt-solving. All of these adds up to a better overall performance.
Challenges in the DILR Section
DILR is surely regarded as the most unpredictable and mentally challenging section of the CAT. Due to unavailability of a fixed syllabus and total reliance on pure logic makes it even more difficult. It is a section that even academically strong candidates often struggle with and need to cope up before the exam. This is one of the reasons why aspirants find the CAT is tough.
Key Challenges
1. Unstructured and Novel Problem Types
CAT has always introduce unconventional problem formats in the DILR section frequently. Hence, students cannot rely on any form of rote learning techniques or formulae. Every set is a puzzle in itself and requires special attention.
2. High Penalty for Poor Set Selection
With very limited time (just 40 mins) and only a handful sets to choose from, selecting the wrong set can cost a fortune. Pick the easiest set first to secure the sectional cutoff and get away from the fear of thinking CAT is tough.
3. Inadequate Visualization Skills
The ability to visualize data quickly and understand constraints leading to draw correct inferences is very essential. This can be done through rigorous practice over time and there are no shortcuts.
Solutions for DILR Difficulties
1. Develop Problem-Solving Frameworks
Rather than attempting to memorize sets directly, try to focus on understanding how to identify constraints. Also, try to break down conditions and eliminate possibilities systematically. Using these with the elimination technique from options can lead to success. This will build confidence, and you can finally get out of CAT is tough zone.
2. Practice with Varied Formats
Work on different type of sets. They shall ideally include Venn diagrams, grid-based puzzles, games and tournaments, data tables, and arrangement problems to name a few. This is to build agility in switching thought processes quickly and create familiarity.
3. Train for Set Selection
Take ample sectional mock tests that are specifically there to teach set selection in DILR section. You need just 2 sets correct to reach a 98+ percentile mark. Hence, aim to choose the set rightly and then spend time effectively.
4. Structured Learning Through Expert-Led Modules
iQuanta’s LRDI Inception module is something you should check out for a more structured preparation. There are top 50 LRDI sets curated based on previous year CAT exams and trends. It emphasizes developing intuition for logic, analytical reasoning and quick decision-making under that sort of time restrictions.
Challenges in the QA Section
Quantitative Aptitude is often feared by non-engineering students, especially the ones coming from Humanities. Due to out of touch from Mathematics, people tend to build a psychological aversion against it, leading to poor performances. Remember that CAT QA section tests both conceptual clarity and smart problem-solving skills.
Key Challenges
1. Gaps in Foundational Concepts
Due to availability of thousands of resources, students end up picking the wrong ones. QA has a very defined syllabus and should be done properly. The first step to conquer QA is by building a solid foundation and finally applying them over time.
2. Misplaced Focus on Speed Over Strategy
A common misconception amongst the aspirants is that speed means success. However, CAT is different and will rewards smartness and logic-driven approaches over speed.
3. Rote Learning of Formulas
No doubt that formulas are required and you need to know shortcuts too but jumping the gun always may not be the right thing to consider. Knowing basics will teach you when and where to apply these formulas correctly.
4. Math Anxiety Among Non-Engineers
Candidates from non-math backgrounds often approach QA with an instilled fear. This mental block significantly eventually hampers performance on the D-day. Hence, practise can only help to reduce it.
Solutions for QA Difficulties
1. Focus on Understanding Concepts, Not Memorizing
Build a conceptual & foundational clarity to begin with. Start with topics like Arithmetic which has the highest weightage. Move gradually to Algebra and Geometry and have a good solid base in these topics. CAT questions are layered and to solve them correctly, understanding is important.
2. Emphasize Elimination and Estimation Techniques
Instead of solving every question thoroughly, learn methods like option elimination, reverse-solving or even approximation. These reduce time and improve accuracy with practise. CAT needs the final answer and not the intermediate steps, use that fact wisely.
3. Bridge Conceptual Gaps Through Structured Modules
iQuanta’s Quants Initiative for Non-Engineers is probably best for students with limited exposure to mathematics. The module comes with 80+ hours of content with more than 100 videos, dedicated just to Quants conceptual video. This helps you form the base as it provides NCERT level clarity.
