Strategy for Data
Interpretation (DI) and Logical Reasoning (LR)
Data
interpretation and Logical reasoning forming an altogether new section in
CAT-2015 has gained a lot of attention this year and the students are quite
concerned about this. Although the aspirants hardly give heed to this section
pre-CAT, but this can be the deciding factor to your journey to IIM.
So we bring
to you a few strategies to attack and conquer this section.
1. First and foremost tip, Stop thinking of the result/marks/cutoffs etc. while solving the paper.
2. Use common sense wherever possible and don’t assume anything apart from what is given in the question.
3. Be familiar with caselets - The
questions will be in the form of caselets, where each case will be followed by
3 to 4 questions. For DI, the questions will be in the form of line and bar
graphs, pie charts etc. The LR questions will be mainly on arrangements, blood
relations, family tree, venn diagrams etc.
4. Time
Management - It is expected that there would be 16 questions each of DI and LR.
Also, these 16 questions could be given in four sets each. The recommend
strategy for DI and LR is simple. Give 7 minutes to each set of questions
(assuming there are 4 questions). If for any reason you are not able to finish
the set in 7 minutes, leave the set and come back to the same in the buffer
time of 4 minutes available. There will always be a set or two that you may not
be able to solve. In such cases, you will spend only about 2 to 3 minutes for
such a set and save 4 minutes. So you will get another 4 to 8 minutes to give
to the 6 odd sets that you decide to solve.
5.
Be ready for calculation intensive questions - The DI
questions for CAT are known for being calculation intensive. Utilize the on
screen calculator to the fullest in this section. So hold your nerves till the
time you get the solution and don’t get exhausted by too much of numbers and
calculations.
6.
Solve
crossword puzzles, Sudoku, riddles on blood relations, family tree daily to keep your mind fresh as well as active
as Logical Reasoning is all about understanding the trick hidden in the
question
7. Answer all non-MCQs as there are NO
Negative marks for non-MCQ questions.
8. Don’t waste your time in re-calculating an answer by using
the On-screen Calculator if you have already solved a question. The urge to
verify will slow you down.
9. Keep track of the time within the section
time limit and strictly stick to the plan you have made.
10. Read the
options carefully - One should
go through the choices and understand them clearly. Sometimes options given in
the data set can become a perennial source of problem.
11. Do not use
General awareness/assumption while answering questions - The element of general awareness can’t be
used to solve any of the questions in LR/DI and other sections also. However,
universal facts like mathematical principles are not the general awareness
stuff, and hence can be used.
12. Look for the
obvious, but don’t miss the hidden - Looking at any of the statements gives us an
idea of the facts given, and sometimes we get so enamored with these obvious
facts that we fail to see something hidden. We can reduce the incidences of the
silly mistakes or missing some hidden information
13. Don’t go by
the shape of a geometrical figure - Any geometrical figure should not be taken as
accurate unless it is given. For example, the below given triangle ABC can’t be
taken as a right-angles triangle even though it appears to be so. Hence, no
conclusion should be drawn by finding proportionate value of length or the
angle in any geometrical figure unless such are clearly stated.
There will be enough easy questions in the CAT exam. It is very important
to keep your calm and not panic if some of the questions appear very difficult.
You have to be smart enough to know which question is to be attempted and more
importantly which is not to be. Use your wits and be careful not to commit
minor errors.
All the best!
