CAT Pattern - (1) 3 hours exam, 100 questions, divided into three-time sections (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension 34, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation 32, and Quantitative Ability 34), (2) MBA MH-CET Pattern MH-CET 200 There is a 2.5-hour test with questions, divided into 4 sections (Quantitative Ability 50, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension 50, Logical Reasoning 75, and Abstract Reasoning 25). There is no negative marking in the test and a correct answer is awarded 1 mark.
Quantitative Ability in CAT and MH-CET - Whatever you do for CAT Quant and Data Interpretation in this section will suffice. In MH CET, the Data Interpretation sets appear in the Quant section only. CAT QA and CAT DI are of higher difficulty level as compared to QA of CAT. However, as CET is a speed-based test, you should focus on improving your speed rather than solving tough DI problems.
Logical Reasoning in CAT and MH-CET - The LRDI section of CAT has proved to be the most difficult in the last few years. So, the more questions one gets exposed to, the better it is. CAT LR preparation will definitely help in CET LR as well. Having said that, there are a few reasoning question types that appear only in CET. For example, Series, coding-decoding, blood relations, odd man out, etc.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension in CAT and MH-CET - For both the tests, the preparation for RC remains the same. The difference comes in the verbal ability part. CAT focuses on areas like Para Jumbles, Paragraph Summary, etc whereas CET examines Grammar, Critical Reasoning, and Vocabulary apart from CAT Test. There is a big difference in the level of difficulty though.
Abstract Reasoning in MH-CET - This section is unique to CET and comprises 25 marks, which is 12.5% of the paper. As this section is relatively easy, you must have a strong command of abstract reasoning and try to maximize your score here. Visual/Abstract reasoning questions are based on series, odd man out in series, similar or dissimilar pairs, analogies, etc.
Preparation for CAT and MH-CET - There is enough time to prepare for both. CAT is conducted in the last week of November. CET is conducted on the second or third Sunday of March. Thus, you will get around 90 days to prepare for additional areas of MH-CET. Overall, CAT is a tougher exam as compared to MH-CET but that does not mean that CET is easy.
MH-CET Preparation Strategy & Books - Solving easy and moderate-level questions of CAT and skipping the difficult ones is the best approach. Popular books such as RS Aggarwal for quantitative ability and verbal-nonverbal reasoning are best for quant and reasoning for CET.
Always better to target CAT than CET - CAT, is the first exam of all the management exams; if you prepare well for CAT you have better chances of doing well for the other exams as well. There are tons of exams post CAT viz NMAT, SNAP, MICA, and CET being the last if you fail you will have to wait till next year.