PART I

WINNERS DONT DO DIFFERENT THINGS, THEY DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY To do justice to this topic, it was not possible to keep it too short . How to prepare is mainly divided in following subtopics Fundamentals of Preparation - This is common to all competitive exam preparations Exam Specific Preparation - Important Areas for CAT Books - A brief on text and reference books for CAT. You can also use TestBag study material In short - first believe in yourself - you can do it and build will power, learn to manage time, study specific to competition - then self assess each topic wise- identify gap - fill gap - move on - on completing syllabus move to mock tests and finally no match to practice Fundamentals for Preparation Construction of knowledge in your mind is the key because only you have to reproduce this knowledge in exam. Teaching (Instructions) from school / coaching class / digital media are methods of giving knowledge to you but far more important is how much have you gained (construction of knowledge in your mind) and for that only your efforts will matter. Memorising is short lived. Learning is lasting as you have put in efforts to understand each topic. In objective exams there is no shortcut to learning CAT mainly tests your concepts with speed and accuracy In most competitive exams, your knowledge is important but how much you know more than others is more important. As CAT has a limited curriculum, do not leave anything This year CAT is computer based. You may be required to practice on computers beforehand. However the nature of preparation is same You can divide your CAT study in two phases Phase 1 is setting your fundamentals right. Master each topic chapter wise. Self assessor would be of great help Divide you curriculum into short objectives. Each objective should be specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-bound. The overall period of all short term objectives should not extend beyond 10th October 1. Start QA, DI & DS and VA simultaneously 2. Master topics step by step Phase II - Start practicing to improve your speed and accuracy. Test

simulator will come handy Methodology Study yourself from any good book 90 minutes maths 30 minutes Reasoning and Logic 45 minutes Data Sufficiency and Data interpretation 30 minutes English Proficiency and Usage 45 minutes Reading Comprehension There after take ten to fifteen minutes self test on each topic of the subject studied by you to assess level of understanding achieved in the topic studied. These tests draw questions from a large and specific knowledge pool based on your selection criteria. Kindly ensure that there is sufficient challenge in your self test. Your number of questions be more than 10 for the topic, level of questions should be at least L2 (except in Elementary maths where it should be L1) and time should be bare enough to solve questions. Analyse results. For questions done incorrectly refer to books to understand where you have gone. try to complete this exercise alone. Alternatively take help of your mentor. The mentors can be your school teacher or teacher in coaching class. To economise time prefer coaching if necessary only in subjects where you are weak. Thereafter retake test with new set of questions. Once confident, move to next topic. This is active learning as you have yourself put in efforts to understand topics. You will start enjoying your studies and these concepts will be long lasting in you mind Remember - Move step by step to ensure that you cover all topics and avoid confusion Start arithmetic with number system - understand concepts from any good book. Initially take a 10 minute tests with 10 questions on number system in TestBag at question level L1 with question type Any. (Number system questions in CAT can be straight objective multiple choice or common data type where more than one questions are linked to a common data or comprehension) Analyse what is not known to you and what mistakes are you doing. Go back to books, peers in group study or take help of teacher. Take tests again and till you achieve requisite confidence Repeat this for other areas in arithmetic - ratio proportions, simplification, averages, logarithms, ages, boats and streams, time and work, time and distance, calendars clocks . Thereafter work on Mensuration , followed by

geometry. And now cover the most important - Algebra (mainly Theory of Equations,Inequalities, Logarithms and Permutations andCombination). At the end work on Probability Start English with Vocabulary, then move to English Proficiency ( working on sentence improvement, rearrangement of words in sentence, sentence in paragraphs, paragraph formation, paragraph completion etc) and then move to English Usage (common errors, spotting errors, in appropriate usage) Start Reading comprehension with history paragraphs, move to science and technology paragraphs, sociology and philosophy Start data interpretation with less complex tables, bar charts, pie diagrams, line graphs and then move to complex graphs, charts, mixed diagrams Start Reasoning with data arrangements, data comparison, move to analytical reasoning and case lets Remember - Move from simple topics to complex and excel step by step. Each test is build on previous patterns or by subject matter experts and clearly indicating topics included, number of questions, level of questions and type of questions. Each test simulates exam like environment with time and marking pattern of CAT Mock tests and old papers have fixed question. But test patterns every time generate new online tests where computer based on specific parameters randomly generates questions from CAT knowledge pool. This pool keeps getting enriched regularly Again the new set of questions replaces old questions in mock tests after regular time intervals Test Simulator will help you to build Speed and Accuracy and indicate

your shortcomings so that you can initiate steps for improvement your mistakes so that you can avoid them topics you have not covered or covered inadequately

Test Bag is very comprehensive for CAT preparation and is available at a reasonable cost. Books : Study from any good book. Preferably use only one/two books as your base/test books . Other books be only used for reference. This saves lot of time. Few books are mentioned below Topic Name of the Book Writer/Publisher

Maths Maths Maths Maths Maths Maths Maths Maths and DI Data Interpretation Data Interpretation Data Interpretation Data Interpretation English English English English

English

NCERT Maths from 8th NCERT to 10th Quantitative Aptitude Nishit for CAT Sinha/Pearson Quantitative Aptitude for MBA Entrance Abhijit Guha Examinations Quantitative Aptitude for MBA Entrance R.S. Aggarwal Examinations How to prepare for Arun Sharma/TATA Quantitative Aptitude McGRAW HILL for CAT Puzzles and some Shakuntla Devi other number books Higher Algebra Hall and Knight Crack The Cat Vivek Gupta and Quantitative Aptitude & Sandeep Amar Data Interpretation Any good book in Statistics How To Prepare For The Data Arun Sharma/TATA Interpretation And McGRAW HILL Logical Reasoning For The CAT 3rd Edition Course in Mental Ability and Edgar Thorpe Quantitative Aptitude Fundamental of Reasoning A Logic Robert M. Johnson Book High School English Grammar and Wren and Martin Composition Word Power Made Easy Norman Lewis Business English and Clark Grade C Communication Rosenblum and All about Words Nurenberg How to Prepare for the Verbal Ability and Arun Sharma & Reading Meenakshi Comprehension for the CAT

PART II
This is a special notes for all CAT and MBA aspirants.. by IIM Topper. QUANT THEORY 1) nPr = n!/(n-r)! 2) nPn = n! 3) nCr = n!/(n-r)!r! 4) nCn = 1 5) nP0 = 1 6) nC0 = 1 7) AP An = a + (n-1)d Sn = n/2[2a + (n-1)d] 8) GP An = ar(n-1) Sn = a(rn 1 )/ (r-1) S = a/(1-r) 9) 1 mile = 1760 yards 10) 1 yard = 3 feet 11) 1 mile2 = 640 acres 12) I gallon = 4 quarts 13) 1 quart = 2 pints 14) 1 pint = 2 cups

15) 1 cup = 8 ounces 16) 1 pound = 16 ounces 17) 1 ounce = 16 drams 18) 1 kg = 2.2 pounds 19) 30-60-90 triangle 1:3:2 sides 20) 45-45-90 triangle 1:1:2 sides 21) a3>b3 a>b 22) If A than B => not B than not A 23) Zero divided by any nonzero integer is zero. 24) Division by 0 is undefined. 25)

26) The standard deviation is a statistic that tells you how tightly all the various examples are clustered around the mean in a set of data. When the examples are pretty tightly bunched together and the bell-shaped curve is steep, the standard deviation is small. When the examples are spread apart and the bell curve is relatively flat, that tells you have a relatively large standard deviation. 27) n(A U B U C) = n(A) + n (B)+ n(C) n(A n B) n(A n C) n(B n C) + n(A n B n C) 28) n(Aonly) = n(A) n(A n C) n(A n B) + n(A U B U C) 29) Dividend = Divisor * Quotient + Remainder 30) LCM * HCF = Product of 2 numbers.

31) 1 + 2 + 3 ..n = n * n+1 / 2 32) Sum of squares of 1st n natural numbers = n (n+1)(2n+1) / 6 33) Sum of cubes of 1st n natural numbers = [n (n+1)/2]2 34) Squares and Cubes Number ( x ) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 Square ( x 2 ) 1 4 9 16 25 36 49 64 81 100 121 144 169 196 225 256 289 324 361 441 484 529 576 625 Cube ( x 3 ) 1 8 27 64 125 216 -

35)Fractions and Percentage: Fraction 1/2 1/3 2/3 1/4 3/4 1/5 2/5 3/5 4/5 1/6 5/6 1/8 3/8 5/8 7/8 1/9 2/9 1 / 10 1 / 20 1 / 100 Decimal 0.5 0.33 0.66 0.25 0.75 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 0.166 0.833 0.125 0.375 0.625 0.875 0.111 0.222 0.1 0.05 0.01 Percentage 50 33 1/3 66 2/3 25 75 20 40 60 80 16 2/3 83 2 / 3 12 1 / 2 37 1 / 2 62 1 / 2 87 1 / 2 11 22 10 5 1

36) Average speed = Total distance / Total Time 1. When equal distances are covered in different speed then we take the harmonic mean Av Speed = 2ab / a + b 1. Different distances in same time we take AM Av Speed is = a + b / 2 37) Simple Interest: SI = PRT / 100, A = P + SI 38) 1 Nickel = 5 cents 1 dime = 10 cents 1 quarter = 25 cents 1 half = 50 cents 1 dollar = 100 cents 39) Equilateral triangle, Area = (3 * a2)/4 40) Area of trapezium = (Height * Sum of parallel sides) 41) Arc Length = (/ 360) 2 r

42) Area of sector = (/ 360) r2 43) Equal chords are equidistant from the center. 44) (x+y) 8 = 8C8x8 + 8C7x7y + 8C6x6y2 + 8C5x5y3 + + 8C2x2y6 + 8C1xy7 + 8C0y8 45) Sometimes we get so involved with the nitty-gritties of mathematics that we start functioning like automatons and stop thinking. Dont fall prey to this trap. For example, what is the probability that a number amongst the first 1000 positive integers is divisible by 8? Dont start counting the multiples of 8! The figure of 1000 is a red herring. Use a little common sense. The numbers will be 8,16,24,32So, 1 in every 8 numbers is a multiple of 8, even if you consider the first million integers. So Probability is 1/8 46) The number of integers from A to B inclusive is = B -A +1 47) Average of consecutive numbers: Eg from 13 to 77 = (13+77)/2 48) Slope = (change in y)/(change in x) 49) 00 = undefined 50)

Graph 51) Sum of interior angles of a polygon with n sides = (n-2)*180 52) Degree measure of one angle in a regular polygon with n sides = {(n-2)*180 }/n 53) When multiplying or dividing both sides of an inequality by a negative number, the inequality sign reverses. x < y => -(-x) > y => x > -y 54) Fraction > (fraction)2 for all positive fractions

55) Fraction > (fraction ) for all positive fractions 56) If n is a positive integer, (n6)/2 = (n12 / 4) 57) If z1, z2, z3 zn are consecutive positive integers and their average is an odd integer => n is odd => sum of series is odd 58) In a triangle with sides of measure a, b and c<![if supportFields]> SHAPE \* MERGEFORMAT <![endif]><![if supportFields]><![endif]>, a-b<c<a+b 59) Before confirming try and back solve and make sure that u have answered what has been asked. 60) When the question mentions prime number, remember to think of 2 too. 61) In a triangle, if the sum of two angles = third angle, then it is a right angled triangle. 62) Do not transport information from another statement unless considering both collectively. 63) A-b = odd => a + b = odd 64)

Inequality

65)

66) If a DS question simply asks whether a, b, c and d are consecutive integers; use your brain. It has just asked u to answer if they are consecutive, not if they are consecutive in order. 67) Measure of an angle of a cyclic polygon = 180 360/n , where n is the number of sides of the polygon. 68) Sometimes, mistakes might also be committed by simply misreading the statement. Eg Both Tim and Harry received an acre of land more than Neel => t = n + 1, h = n + 1 Tim and Harry received an acre more than Neel => t + h = n+1

69)

ABC Traingle Let Triangle ABC be equilateral with each side of measure a and AC ^ BD AB = BD = AD = a a = b = c = 600 AC = (a2 + a/2 2) = 3*a/2 Area = 3 * a2/4 Perimeter = 3a Radius of circle O = a/3 = AC * 2/3 Radius of circle O = 3a/6 = AC * 1/3

Traingle

Traingle 70) Two circles will touch each or intersect each other if the distance between their centers d is such that R r d R + r, where R and r are the radii of the two circles 71) Remainder of less than two means not just one; it also means remainder of zero. 72) Do not make unwarranted assumptions. 12 midnight to 12 noon does not mention what days, and hence you cannot find out the time period. 73) Standard deviation of a set is always negative and equals zero only if all elements of the set are equal. 74) If the difference between the largest and the smallest divisor of a number is X, the number is X + 1 75) Always remember the special watch out cases in DS questions. If the question mentions mean of a set, the mean can be ZERO also. 76) If area of a rectangle is known, diagonal is known, perimeter can be found a2 + b2 = diagonal2 a2 + b2 + 2ab = diagonal2+ 2ab (a + b)2 = diagonal2+ 2*area 77) (y2) = |y| => y if y is positive, -y if y is negative 78) angle = mod [(60H - 11M) /2 ] H = value of hour hand M = value of minute hand eg, if time is 2:30, then H =2 and M =30 79) Every number raised to power 5 has the number itself as unit digit

80) If a + b + c = Z, than the largest of a, b, and c cannot be greater than the mean of the other two. 81) The rule that one side of a triangle cannot be > sum of other two, only applies to sides, not angles 82) FINALLY, MAKE SURE OF WHAT THE QUESTION SAYS INTEGER MEANS INTEGRAL LENGTH. And, DIVIDING A WIRE INTO PIECES, DOES NOT NECESSARILY IMPLY THAT THEY WILL BE INTEGRAL LENGTHS. Similarly, that a boat covers a distance upstream in 3 hours, states only the time, even if it has been mentioned that it covers a a distance 12 km downstream in 2 hours. 83) x2 = 9*y2 does not necessarily imply that x2 > y2. (Hint : consider x=y=0) 84) When we say multiples between 16 and 260, and inclusive/exclusive is not mentioned, take 16 and 260 to be exclusive. 85) The statement implies : The hourly wage for each employee ranges from $5 an hour to $20 an hour. minimum average = (20 + 5 + 5 + 5 + 5)/5 maximum average = (5 + 20 + 20 + 20 + 20)/5