CAT for Non-Native English Speakers Still Requires Strong English
There’s no getting around this:
if your English is weak, everything you do in English will also be weak. So there’s just no “easy” route to scoring well on the CAT without a strong fluency in English. Further, your end goal is presumably to study in graduate school in an English-speaking country. If your English isn’t strong enough for the CAT, how are you going to follow your graduate school studies?! It won’t be easy!
But with that said, there are definitely things you can do to improve your English in a measurable way, so don’t get too discouraged just yet!
Immerse in English every single day. As much as possible. List and talk in English. Do this as much as you possibly can. It’s the only way to truly improve your English. Seek out a friend with whom you can speak in English. Listen or watch English-speaking television or radio.
Read in English, too. Try to read complex articles from international magazines, like the TIMES OF INDIA. You can see a full list of some good recommendations for articles here.
Think in English! I know that might be asking a lot. But to succeed on the CAT for non-native English speakers, it is extremely important that you truly get into the “mindset” of someone who is 100% comfortable in the English language.
Consider an English learning and speaking Course
If immersing yourself in English on a daily basis isn’t a viable option, then you might want to take english learning courses. As I said above, it just isn’t possible to perform well on the CAT if your English isn’t up to the task.
If you’re having trouble improving your English, you might consider first focusing fully on improving your English before you even start studying for the CAT. Depending on your means, there are many english speaking course options, including:
The most expensive option, which is to go abroad and spend some time in a course in an English-speaking country. These courses are indeed expensive, but they provide a full immersion experience.
Another option is to enroll in a local course. There are many reasonably affordable english classes across the world. If you’re in the India there are many free options we suggest here, and some of them probably apply even if you’re outside india!
Online resources are another great option for english speaking courses and tutoring. A quick Google search will turn up hundreds of options! These vary in terms of price and quality, so be sure to do some research before deciding.
Work on Your Vocabulary
Always carry a dictionary! One of the key components of fluency that students often lack is a rich repertoire of English vocabulary. If you find yourself using only “simple” words, then it’s probably the case that you need to up your vocabulary level.
You can do this in a variety of ways. When you see a word you don’t understand, no matter where you see it, look it up in a dictionary right away. Make a flashcard with the definition. Memorize it. But also use it. Use the new words in speech and writing. Look for examples of how it’s used. Using these new words “in context” is a much better way of truly understanding the definition of a word. It’s better than just memorizing a definition on a flashcard. Sometimes, a definition just doesn’t capture the nuance of a word’s meanings, and the cases when it is and isn’t appropriate to use it.
English is Important for Quant, Too
If you’re applying to a quant-heavy program and are thinking about lightly studying or skipping the verbal section entirely, then think again. Even if you’re applying to quant-heavy programs , the verbal section of the CAT is almost always still important to admissions.
But good verbal skills are also important for the quant section. You have to read and decipher difficult instructions, and it’s easy to miss a small detail if your verbal skills aren’t up to par. This is especially so when reading charts and graphs. Oftentimes, information in the “fine print” will clarify what a graph means. But if you don’t fully understand that fine print, you’ll miss important info.
As a Non-Native Speaker, You Have Some Advantages!
In some ways, people for whom English is a second language actually have an advantage on the CAT. Many native English speakers have not thoroughly memorized grammar rules. This has to do with how they learned their language. As in any language, people learn their primary spoken language at home in their childhood. They don’t learn it by studying grammar rules and practicing using those rules.
But for non-native speakers, English is typically learned by rehearing a series of grammar rules. This means that non-native speakers are actually very well versed in grammar. So, taking the CAT for non-native English speakers actually allows them to use a skill that they know better than their native English peers. Unlike (surprisingly many!) native speakers, you know grammar rules and can identify and fix problem sentences. Use this to your advantage!
Conclusions
You’re not alone—plenty of students for whom English is a second language take the CAT. While taking the CAT for non-native speakers requires solid English skills, if you’re English is very strong, you shouldn’t have to study any differently than a native speaker. Further, keep your advantages over native speakers in mind. On grammar issues, for example, you might know more than a native speaker!
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