CMAT 2018 Preparation begins few or several months before exam. Preparation for CMAT 2018 starts with knowing about exam and its syllabus. CMAT preparation know hows in one place will make things easier for MBA aspirants. Here is all about how to prepare for CMAT 2018.
Here you will read about following:
- What is CMAT?
- CMAT exam timeline
- Tips to prepare
- Important books for CMAT 2018 preparation
- Study time table
What is CMAT?
Common Management Aptitude Test is conducted by All India Council of Technical Education. It is meant for admission to various management colleges/institutions in India. The test is computer based and is conducted once in a year. It comprises of various components like Quantitative Aptitude, Language Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, and General Awareness.
Candidates can register for CMAT in the month of October and there are 2 months to complete the application process. Exam takes place in the month of January and the results are declared in February. The candidates are advised to read this article to prepare for this qualifying exam. So you have seen here that between the application start date and exam day, there are almost 4 months which if utilized well can get you a good score. But if the aspirants wants to perform even better than he/she should start preparing now. Here we have brought you a list of must do’s to succeed in the exam. Let us see what and how you can start preparing. If you have any ideas that you want us to feature in the next preparation tips articles, you may leave your suggestions in the comment box below.
Tip #1. Books to refer
- The complete reference manual for CMAT 2018 by S.K Sinha
- CMAT 15 Practice Sets 2018
- Verbal ability and comprehension for CMAT by harat Patodi
- CMAT Guide 2018 by GKP
For Quantitative Aptitude by Arun Sharma and RS Aggarwal. According to our discussions with toppers, they felt that RS Aggarwal is more than enough if you don’t have enough time. You may skip Arun Sharma and solve only RS Aggarwal. But solve both, if you have time (Arun Sharma upto LOD 2 only!)
- RS AGGARWAL-> Buy Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations
- ARUN SHARMA-> Buy How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT
For Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning– Verbal and Nonverbal Reasoning by RS Aggarwal is more than enough for this section
Buy How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT
English – For this section, you need work on the grammar as well as Vocabulary part. By preparing this section wisely would help you increase your percentile roughly by 5–10%. You may read
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension by Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay- Buy How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT
- Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis- Buy Word Power Made Easy
General Knowledge
This section is also known as the game changer. A lot of people get stuck in this portion. It is therefore really important for you to keep a wise idea of the surrounding around you. Notice the national/international events. Read topics like history, Science, civics, geography, etc.
- General Knowledge 2018 by Manohar Pandey –> Buy General Knowledge 2018
Also read about Dynamic GK including current affairs. Read last 10 months current affairs only. You may refer to any monthly magazine Jagran Josh website or pratiyogita darpan etc.
Tip #2. Practice papers
The more number of practice papers you practice, it will get the best of you. The practice papers provide a practical insight into the pattern of the paper that the institute follows as it lets you focus on the common themes rather than trying to study each and every thing including unnecessary topics. It prepares to equip yourself with essential techniques to be implemented in the paper.
Tip #3. Hard work pays well
This is the best time to focus on, in which direction you want to take your planning. The candidates often lose track of how they should carry their studies they miss out a good plan and rather try to cover all the topics in one go.
Study Plan for CMAT 2018 Preparation
Here is what you can consider to guide you for a year’s preparation on monthly basis
| Days/Subjects | Quantitative Aptitude | Language Comprehension | Logical Reasoning | General Awareness |
| Day 1 | Algebra 2-3 hours | Reading comprehension 2 hours | Analytical reasoning 3 hours | Current affairs by reading newspapers for 1- 2 hours including notes/ indian constitution |
| Day 2 | Algebra 2-3 hours | Sentence correction 1-2 hours | Blood relationship 2 hours/ statement assumption 1 hour | Personality in news 2 hours/ current news |
| Day 3 | Data interpretation/pie chart 5 hours | Para jumbled 1 hour/paragraph completion 1 hour | Visual reasoning 2 hours/ inferences 1 hour | sport news/ culture 3 hours |
| Day 4 | Pipes and cistern 3 hours | Reading comprehension 2 hours | Analytical reasoning 3 hours | History 2-3 hours |
| Day 5 | Pipes and cistern 3 hours | Idioms and phrases 1 hour & 30 minutes | Analog test 2 hours | Geography 2- 3 hours |
| Day 6 | Algebra 2-3 hours | Paragraph completion 2 hours | Causes and effects 2 hours/ blood relationship 2 hours | Geography 2-3 hours |
| Day 7 | Work and time / boats / streams 4 hours | Antonyms 1 hour / Synonyms 1 hour | Linear arrangements / visual reasoning 3 hours | History 2 hours/ current news 1 hour |
| Day 8 | Linear / quadratic equation 3 hours | Reading comprehension 2 hours | Ranking test/ causes and effects 4 hours | Politics 1 hour / sports news 1 hour |
| Day 9 | Percentage / Profit / loss 5 hours | Idioms and phrases 1 hour | Analog test 1 hour/ matrix arrangement 2 hours | Economics 2 hour |
| Day 10 | ratio/ percentage 2 hours Speed and time 2 hours | English usage errors 2 hours | Analytical reasoning 1 hour / blood relationship 2 hour | Politics 2 hours / Indian constitution 2 hours |
| Day 11 | Mensuration / permutation and combination 3 hours | Synonyms 1 hour / para jumbled 30 minutes | Symbol based problems 3 hours | History 4 hours |
| Day 12 | Mensuration / permutation and combination
4 hours |
Vocabulary enhancing 1 hour / reading newspaper 1 hour | Sequencing / coding / decoding 3 hours | geography / science 2 hours |
| Day 13 | Time and distance 4 hours | Spotting errors 2 hours | Number series 2 hours | Literature 3 hours |
| Day 14 | Data interpretation / pie chart 5 hours | Reading comprehension 2 hours | Ranking test 2 hours | Literature 3 hours |
| Day 15 | Simple interest and compound interests 2 hours | English grammar 3 hours | inferences / statement assumptions 4 | sport news 1 hour |
| Day 16 | Simple interest and compound interests 3 hours | Synonyms 1 hour / para jumbled 1 hour | Analytical reasoning 4 hours | History 2-3 hours |
| Day 17 | Number system fractions / decimals 1 hour | One word substitution 2 hours | Number series / coding / decoding 5 hours | Economics 2 hour |
| Day 18 | Number system fractions / decimals 2 hours | Sentence improvement 2 hours | Non verbal test / number series 3 hours | Personality in news 2 hours / current news |
| Day 19 | speed / boats / streams 4 hours | English usage errors 2 hours | Symbol based problems 3 hours | Literature 3 hours |
| Day 20 | speed / boats / streams 4 hours | Sentence improvement 2 hours | Analog test 2 hours | Literature 3 hours |
| Day 21 | Linear equation 3 hours | Synonym 30 minutes / Antonyms 30 minutes | Ranking test 2 hours | Personality in news 2 hours / current news |
| Day 22 | Percentage / Profit / loss 5 hours | Vocabulary 30 minutes / error spotting 1 hour | Visual reasoning 2 hours / inferences 1 | Indian constitution 3 hours |
| Day 23 | Calendar 3 hours | Idioms and phrases 1 hour | Analytical reasoning 2 hours | Indian Culture 2 hours |
| Day 24 | Averages 2 hours / percentage 2 hours | English usage errors 2 hours | Causes and effects 2 hours | Politics 2 hours |
| Day 25 | Probability 2 hours | Vocabulary enhancing 1 hour | Sequencing 3 hours | Current affairs 2 hours |
| Day 26 | Probability / time and work 3 hours | Idioms and phrases 1 hour | direction / distance test 2 hours | Science 3 hours |
| Day 27 | Pie chart / data interpretation | Reading comprehension 2 hours | direction / distance test 2 hours | Literature 1 hour |
| Day 28 | Calendar / boats / streams 4 hours | Sentence improvement 2 hours | Sequencing / coding / decoding 3 hours | Trade news 2 hours |
| Day 29 | Probability 2 hours | English grammar 3 hours | Ranking test 2 hours | Economy 2 hours |
| Day 30 | SELF-ASSIGNED TEST( 3 HOURS only) | |||
The above table is for just a reference purpose only. You can choose your subjects as you like. With the month’s time table in your hand, you will feel motivated to complete a day’s target. If you like you can switch the subjects, but do not skip the schedule at all. We will advise you to take a print of the page so that you can stick it up on your wall where you study and it will remind you what task to carry out for a day
Tip #4. Color Note
The candidates are often found to have misplaced what they had read over the weekend. Therefore, what you can do to avoid such errors is to make stick color notes on the top of the page as per your plan schedule. When you complete a day’s task you should write it down on the chart paper or A4 size sheet, however, you want to take the print of the above time table/ or you can a=evne mark what you have achieved and leave the incomplete task as highlighted. Next day when you begin the test first complete the leftover task. If you feel that the hours assigned for each subject and tpis are kinger you may take a break of half an hour not more than that. When you complete the task, use a color note to track how much you could complete.
Tip #5. Do not panic
Friends keep faith in yourself. Just give your hard work and forget everything else. If there are some topics you do not understand at all. You may take help of your teachers. The time table is meant as a reference in cases where the candidate wants to assign as much time as possible for self study. This is no compulsion for you and stress out for no reason. Trying is what matters. Believe in your hard work.
