How to Manage Sectional Time in CAT 2024; Check Tips and Strategies

Sectional Time Management Tips for CAT 2024: Sectional time management is crucial for the CAT 2024 exam because, unlike other competitive exams, it has a sectional time limit — 40 minutes for each section. This 40-minute duration is fixed and cannot be adjusted across sections, so aspirants must complete all the questions within the given time. Effective sectional time management is key to success in the CAT 2024 exam.

Candidates can practice the MBA Exam Mock Test by Jagran Josh to ace the exam.

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Sectional Time Management Tips for CAT 2024

Preparing for the CAT exam is not only about mastering the concepts; it’s also about managing time effectively within each section. Sectional time management is the most critical and decisive aspect of the CAT exam. Unattempted questions due to poor time management in each section can drastically lower your final CAT score. Here, we are sharing section-wise time management tips that aspirants can follow during the CAT exam to come through with flying colours.

CAT 2024: Exam Pattern

Before going to sectional time management tips an aspirant must understand the CAT 2024 exam pattern. Below we have tabulated the CAT 2024 exam pattern

Time Management Tips for VARC

The CAT VARC section consists of two sub-sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. This section contains 24 questions, and candidates are given 40 minutes to solve them. In this section, candidates must read lengthy passages in a short amount of time, so effective time management becomes crucial. Here are some valuable time management tips for the CAT VARC section:

• Quickly scan all the questions first.
• Prioritize the questions based on their difficulty level. Identify the order in which you will attempt them. Always start with the easier questions, as this will boost your confidence.
• Allocate specific time for Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability. Strive for balance based on your strengths and weaknesses.
• There are around 8 Verbal Ability (VA) questions that are relatively less time-consuming. Quickly complete these VA questions before moving on to Reading Comprehension (RC).
• In the Verbal Ability section, look for questions where you can eliminate options that don’t fit grammatically or contextually. This will help you narrow down your choices and improve your chances of selecting the correct answer.
• Develop skimming techniques for Reading Comprehension to quickly grasp the main ideas.
• Analyze the passage and summarize it into key points.

Time Management Tips for DILR

The CAT DILR section comprises two sub-sections: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. In this section, candidates must solve 20 questions within 40 minutes. The following time management tips can help you tackle the CAT DILR section effectively:

• Answer non-MCQ questions first. These won’t result in negative marks.
• Leave questions you are unsure of.
• Don’t spend too much time on complex questions.
• It is commonly understood that Logical Reasoning (LR) questions are less time-consuming compared to Data Interpretation (DI). So, always aim to finish the LR questions first.

Time Management Tips for QA

The Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section is very important in the CAT exam as it holds the second-highest weightage. The CAT QA section consists of 22 questions, and candidates are given 40 minutes to solve them. In the QA section, you’ll need to perform lengthy calculations in a short amount of time, making time management crucial. Here are the time management tips for the CAT QA section:

• Solve simple questions first and then move on to those requiring more complex calculations.
• With 22 questions to answer in 40 minutes, you have less than 2 minutes per question. Manage your time accordingly.
• Wherever possible, use shortcut methods to solve questions more efficiently.
• If you get stuck on any question, don’t spend too much time on it.
• Allocate a specific amount of time to each question to ensure you stay on track.

General Time Management Tips for CAT 2024

Apart from sectional time management tips, an aspirant must also follow some general time management strategies on the exam day. Here are some general time management tips for CAT 2024:

• Solve the questions you find easy first. These can be solved quickly, requiring less time, and they boost your confidence for tackling other questions.
• If you get stuck on any question, don’t spend too much time on it. Flag it to revisit later if time permits.
• Break down the total time for each section into specific time goals for various question types based on your strengths and weaknesses. This helps you maintain a steady pace.
• Allocate a specific amount of time to each question.
• You should have a rough idea of how much time you can allocate per question. Stick to this to avoid spending too much time on challenging ones.
• Stay calm and composed throughout the exam, even if a section seems challenging. Panic can lead to poor time management

Why is Time Management Important During the CAT Exam?

The competition in the CAT exam is intense, and effective time management enhances your chances of achieving a good percentile in CAT 2024. Here are some advantages of effective time management during the CAT exam:

• It ensures that you can attempt and complete all sections and questions within the allocated time, maximizing your chances of scoring well.
• It ensures you don’t miss any questions, allowing you to go through all of them at least once.
• It allocates sufficient time for each question, reducing the likelihood of hurried or careless mistakes, which contributes to higher accuracy.
• It provides time for a quick review of your answers, helping you catch any errors before submitting the exam.
• It ensures you make the most of every minute, boosting your confidence. Confidence is key to success in the CAT exam.