Are you planning to take the Common Admission Test (CAT) this year? If yes, it’s time to start preparing for the Logical Reasoning section. It is one of the most important sections of the CAT exam and can help you score well if you crack it.
Here we have discussed how to prepare for logical reasoning for CAT this year. The Logical Reasoning section is all about analyzing data interpretation and making deductions from the given information. The questions are tricky and require you to think out of the box to solve them.
To help you ace the Logical Reasoning section, this blog post will provide you with tips and strategies that you can use to crack CAT exam logical reasoning questions. You may study logical reasoning practice sets as well.
We will discuss how to analyze CAT data interpretation & logical reasoning, how to tackle assumptions, arguments & data interpretations questions, and how to manage time for logical reasoning questions. We will also provide some practice questions for logical reasoning for CAT. So, let’s get started!
How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT
First, collect the knowledge of CAT Exam pattern and syllabus. Then, collect study materials and start studying early. Solving practice papers and old question papers will help you. Learn how to visualise each question and try to solve it. Also, see the below 50 tips by the experts.
#1 Know the CAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus
Before you start preparing for the Logical Reasoning test for CAT, it is important to understand the exam pattern.
The CAT exam consists of four sections—Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and General Knowledge & Current Affairs.
The Logical Reasoning section consists of 32 questions and is divided into two parts—Data Interpretation (DI) and Logical Reasoning (LR). The DI section consists of 8 questions and the LR section consists of 24 questions.
Related: How to Prepare for UPSC Without Coaching
#2 Learn the Fundamentals of DR and LI
To prepare for logical reasoning for CAT, the first step is to brush up on your fundamentals. You should be thoroughly familiar with the basics of data interpretation, logical reasoning, and critical thinking. You should also have a good understanding of concepts such as deductions, assumptions, arguments, inferences, etc.
Apart from brushing up on your fundamentals, you should also practice as much as possible. Writing CAT logical reasoning questions and answers requires you to think out of the box and come up with creative solutions.
This can only be done if you have enough practice. You should also be aware of the common mistakes that people make in this section and try to avoid them.
#3 Strategies for Analyzing CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
CAT data interpretation & logical reasoning questions require you to analyze data and draw logical conclusions from it. CAT reasoning questions can be tricky and require you to think out of the box.
- The best way to do this is to first read the question carefully. Make sure you understand what is being asked. Once you have read the question, you can start analyzing the data. Look for patterns and relationships in the data and try to draw logical conclusions from it.
- The next step is to form a hypothesis. This will help you narrow down the options and make it easier for you to make deductions. Once you have established a hypothesis, you can start testing it against the data. This will help you further refine your hypothesis and come up with the correct answer.
Also Read: How to Prepare for Exams in a Week
#4 Tips for Solving CAT Reasoning Questions
When solving CAT reasoning questions, it is important to remember the following tips:
- Read the question carefully and make sure you understand what is being asked.
- Analyze the data and look for patterns and relationships.
- Form a hypothesis and narrow down the options.
- Test the hypothesis against the data to refine it.
- Use the process of elimination to narrow down the options.
- Make sure you have answered all the questions within the given time limit.
#5 Common Mistakes Made in Logical Reasoning for CAT
There are a few common mistakes made in the area of logical reasoning for the CAT. Here are a few of the most common:
- Overlooking the obvious: This is probably the most common mistake made in logical reasoning. The answer is often staring you in the face, but you can be so focused on the other options that you overlook them.
- Not reading the question carefully: This is another common mistake. Make sure you read the question carefully and understand what is being asked before you start trying to answer it.
- Not using the process of elimination: Many students try to solve the questions without using any process of elimination. This can be very time consuming and often leads to errors. It is important to use the process of elimination to narrow down the options and make it easier to solve the question.
- Not understanding the concepts: Many students make the mistake of not understanding the concepts behind the questions.
#6 Practice Sample Questions for Logical Reasoning for CAT
Once you have brushed up on your fundamentals and are familiar with the tips and strategies for solving CAT reasoning questions, it is time to start practicing CAT papers. You should get help from the previous year CAT papers.
Here are some sample CAT reasoning questions that you can practice getting an idea of the type of questions asked in the exam:
- In a certain sequence, the first two terms are 7 and 11. If each term after the first two is the sum of the two preceding terms, what is the seventh term in the sequence?
- If the average salary of a company’s employees is Rs50,000 and the average salary of the managers is Rs60,000, what is the average salary of the employees who are not managers?
- A certain ratio of apples and oranges is given. If the ratio is changed to 3:2, how many more apples are needed?
For best practice, you may study 24 Years Solved Papers along with Mock Test, and 15 Sample Question Papers.
How to Manage Time for Logical Reasoning Questions
Time management is an important part of any exam, and CAT logical reasoning questions are no exception. It is important to manage your time effectively so that you can attempt all the questions within the given time limit. To do this, you need to practice as much as possible.
The more you practice, the better you will become at solving CAT reasoning questions within the given time limit.
Apart from practicing, you should also be aware of the common mistakes that people make in this section and try to avoid them. This will help you save time and maximize your chances of getting the correct answer.
Finally, make sure you have read the question carefully and understand what is being asked before you start attempting the questions.
Common CAT Reasoning Questions
Logical reasoning CAT questions can be broadly classified into three categories—assumption questions, argument questions, and data interpretation questions.
Are you ready to take your CAT Logical Reasoning skills to the next level? We’ve put together some sample questions and answers to help you ace the upcoming CAT Logical Reasoning section. Let’s dive in!
- The first type of questions you’ll face are sequencing questions, which involve determining the correct order of a series of items.
- For example, if the items are A, B, C, and D, and you have to figure out the correct order, you will have to use your critical thinking skills and logical reasoning to solve the problem.
- The next type of question is the statement-conclusion question. This type of question requires you to determine the validity of a statement based on the given information. You’ll need to use your critical thinking skills to determine which statement is the most valid.
- Finally, there are the in-out questions, which involve determining whether an item should be included in a list. Again, you’ll need to use your reasoning skills to determine the correct answer. So get ready to flex your logical reasoning muscles, and you’ll be ready to ace the CAT Logical Reasoning section.
Question 1: Two friends, John and Bill, divide a dessert into two equal parts. John finishes his part first and then takes half of Bill’s part. What fraction of the dessert did John eat in total?
Answer: John ate 3/4 of the dessert in total. He ate 1/2 of his own part and then 1/2 of Bill’s part.
Question 2: If the statement “All books are cats” is true, what can be inferred from the statement?
Answer: From this statement, we can infer that all cats are books, as the statement is true.
Question 3: A group of students is sitting in a circle. John is sitting to the right of Jane. Who is sitting to the left of Jane?
Ans: The person sitting to the left of Jane is the person who is sitting directly to the right of John.
Question 4: Which of the following words does NOT have the same meaning as the word “lazy”?
a. Idle
b. Slothful
c. Apathetic
d. Industrious
Question 5: Which of the following is NOT an example of a metaphor?
a. “He’s a real wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
b. “She’s a tiger when she’s angry.”
c. “He’s as sly as a fox.”
d. “The room was a zoo.”
Question 6: What is the best synonym for the word “provocative”?
a. Innocuous
b. Inciting
c. Mundane
d. Quotidian
Test Papers and Mock Tests
Practice tests are a great way to prepare for CAT logical reasoning. Practice tests and mock tests allow you to get an idea of the type of questions asked in the exam and how to solve them in the given time limit.
It is important to take as many practice tests as possible to get an idea of the exam pattern and the type of questions asked.
When you study previous years question papers, it is important to keep track of the time. This will help you identify areas where you need to improve and work on them. It will also help you manage your time effectively and maximize your chances of getting the correct answer.
Books for Logical Reasoning for CAT
There are many books available that you can use to prepare for CAT logical reasoning. Some of the most popular books are:
- How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma
- Logical Reasoning for CAT by Nishit K Sinha
- Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT by Nishit K Sinha
- Logical Reasoning for CAT by Gautam Puri
- Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit K Sinha
These books will help you brush up on your fundamentals and get familiar with the exam pattern. They also provide practice questions and strategies that you can use to crack CAT reasoning questions.
FAQs about How to prepare for logical reasoning for CAT
Q. How much time should I devote to preparing for CAT logical reasoning?
A. It is recommended to devote at least 2–3 months to preparing for CAT logical reasoning. During this time, you should work on your fundamentals and practice as much as possible. You should also take practice tests to get an idea of the exam pattern and the type of questions asked.
Q. What are the types of questions asked in CAT logical reasoning?
A. The questions asked in CAT logical reasoning can be broadly classified into three categories—assumption questions, argument questions, and data interpretation questions.
Q. What are the common mistakes made in CAT logical reasoning?
A. Some of the most common mistakes made in CAT logical reasoning are not reading the question carefully, not analyzing the data, not forming a hypothesis, not testing the hypothesis, and not using the process of elimination.
Conclusion
Logical reasoning is an important section of the CAT exam and can help you score well if you crack it. To help you ace the Logical Reasoning section, this blog post has described everything about how to prepare for logical reasoning for CAT.
We have discussed how to analyze CAT data interpretation & logical reasoning, how to tackle assumptions, arguments & data interpretations questions, and how to manage time for logical reasoning questions.
We have also provided some practice questions for logical reasoning for CAT. Finally, we have discussed the books that you can use to prepare for CAT logical reasoning. These tips are useful to prepare CAT online without coaching.
If you follow the tips and strategies mentioned in this blog post, you will be well on your way to acing the Logical Reasoning section of the CAT exam. All the best!