CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Strategy Guide

TIME TO HUSTLE AND HUSTLE SOME MORE FOR CAT!

You need to bring your hustle and bustle game to Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning.

We are well and truly into the preparation phase for CAT-2024 and your efforts over the next six months can be the differentiation between an average score and an awesome score. To make sure you achieve the desired results, the first step you need to take is to remove the clutter from your life. Take an objective call on things you commit to daily and remove the activities that you can live without over the next one month. To successfully hustle to your goal, you will need a mix of supreme dedication, undeterred will, and awesome discipline. This is what is required of you, and you should start your HUSTLE right away!

CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning: Strategy Guide
Now that motivating you is out of the way, let’s turn our attention to the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section. As CAT is now a test with sectional time limits, there is no hiding place for students who are not proficient in any one of the sections. The exam requires you to ace all the sections in the exam, and this means that you need to focus on every area of the exam.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning: Key Challenges and their Solutions
Let’s look at some of the key challenges you will face in this section and the solutions for each one of these.

Key Issue-1: Experience with different Data Types
It is vital that you practice problems from all major areas in Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. Make sure you solve problems from each of the following topics.

Different types of DI Sets:

• Tables & its variants
• Bar Chart
• Line Graphs
• Pie Charts
• Venn Diagram
• Miscellaneous data types – Spider, Triangle, Scatter Diagram,

Different types of LR Sets:

• Arrangements (Linear and Circular)
• Tournament & Games
• Sequencing & Ranking
• Selection
• Networks & Routes
• Cubes & Venn Diagrams
• Puzzles

Key Issue-2: Solving complex sets
The second key challenge faced by students is complex data and set types. Most of us can solve easy DI and LR questions but find it difficult to solve complex sets. Sadly, there is only one solution for this: advanced level practice.

There are two sources for finding advanced level DI and LR problems:

• Previous year CAT Papers (specifically, CAT-2002 to CAT-2008 exam papers).
• Mock CATs of leading institutes (solve TIME, CL, & IMS mock papers). You can easily find previous year papers for these institutes online.

Remember, the above two are reliable information sources for this area, and you should not waste your time on searching for more material or sources.

Key Issue-3: Calculation speed and diagramming
Yes, the online calculator has been made available by CAT authorities, but you still need to be quick with basic calculations. You cannot waste your time for calculations that can be done mentally and you need to maintain supreme focus in the examination.

The second aspect you need to work is your diagramming skill. Most Logical Reasoning sets will require you to build tables and depict/establish relationships of some sort. It is vital you come up with a scheme for diagramming different types of data, and you do not approach these questions mentally. Build a habit of using short-hand and notations so that you can visually establish relationships between different elements.

Summary of tips:
My final words for this area are simple ones:

• Make sure you solve one to two DI and LR sets on an everyday basis over the next two months.
• Make sure you solve three to four DI and LR sets on an everyday basis in the following months.
• Do not be afraid of solving complicated DI and LR sets. You need to continuously challenge yourself and solve as many advanced level problems as possible.
• Keep the HUSTLE alive and HUSTLE your way to glory!