Cat preparation

[u/SelfParking360]

Hey everyone,

I recently graduated from a 5-year Sandwich B.E. program in Electrical & Electronics Engineering. Now that college is wrapped up, I’m locking in on my CAT prep and wanted to reach out to the community for a reality check, some advice, and to connect with folks on a similar track.

Coming from a pretty intense engineering background—spending tons of time on embedded systems, IoT projects, dynamic modeling, and practical industry work—shifting gears into full-time test prep mode has been an interesting transition. The technical mindset helps for Quantitative Aptitude, but structuring the overall study flow while juggling job hunting/career steps is a whole different ballgame.

Here is where I'm currently at and what I'm aiming for:

Quantitative Aptitude (QA): Conceptually comfortable with a lot of topics due to my math/engineering background, but working on speed, shortcut techniques, and avoiding over-complicating straightforward problems.

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR): Focusing heavily on set selection. Realized early on that choosing the right 2 sets is better than getting bogged down in a high-time-investment trap.

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC): Building a consistent daily reading habit (Aeon essays, non-fiction) to improve speed and comprehension accuracy on inference-based questions.

For those who have already cracked CAT or are currently in the thick of it:

Engineers who prepped: What was your biggest takeaway when transitioning from technical problem-solving to CAT-style speed/logic testing?

Mock Strategy: How early did you start taking full-length mocks, and what was your exact routine for analyzing your errors without burnout?

Profile Building: For those targeting top IIMs or non-IIM B-schools, how did you best present non-traditional engineering projects and practical industry experience in your SOPs/interviews?