So far, we have looked at various aspects related to MBA Entrance Tests - which exams to write, how to prepare for the last few weeks, how to improve on various areas etc. Now, as we enter the last lap of our preparation, we look at two aspects - crucial at this stage: A. What can one do over the remaining before CAT and B. Things to keep in mind on the D-day. Read on...
A. What should be my prep plan for the last 10 days?
While there can clearly be an endless list of things one would like to take up during these few days - we have limited time and therefore prioritization is a must. The following is a suggested list of things one could take up:
• Past year CAT papers
• A thorough anlysis of the mocktests - for shortcuts/methods/tricks.
• Preparing written notes on 'the silly mistakes' in the mocks written over the last 10 days (and counting): Identify the pattern and have an action plan to not repeat them. Writing down the mistakes is the key.
• Practice Critical Reasoning for improving Reading Comprehension : Get some practice in close examination of statements, the background-logic-conclusion trium - skills critical to performance in Rcs.
• Prepare a list of core topics that one is not comfortable with and of the infrequent topics and ensure that atleast the basics on each of these are covered.
• Decide on a test taking strategy: How you would like to go through the test, the order of topics, the difficulty level planning etc.
• Revise important concepts - begin with preparing written notes for each topic based on memory and then checking against the reference material if anything had been missed.
• Getting the documents etc to be carried on the test day ready. Even visiting the test centre a day or two before the test so you may not miss on the route.
Some of the common errors in the run up to CAT pertain to the preparation across various sections of CAT.
Error #1: Preparing only for 'Important" topics while ignoring some other topics
One of the biggest mistakes students make is to narrow down the syllabus and prepare only for select topics based on what has come in the past few years of CAT. The test tends to have a balance of questions of low, intermediate and high difficulty questions. Similarly, of the three sets in DI - one could be easy, one intermediate and one difficulty etc. Now, it is possible that the easier questions are asked from a topic that you had not prepared well. Therefore, it is in the best interest of students to prepare for all topics and hope for the best in the exam.
Error #2: Trying to guess the topic-wise distribution of questions
As an extension of the previous point, it is strongly advised that we not try to guess the composition of the test in terms of the number of questions per topic. CAT has been an extremely unpredictable exam and is known to spring a surprise every year and catch students off-guard. There is a high probability that topics or areas that have not had much of a weightage in recent years might make a comeback and catch the unprepared ones by surprise.
Also, it is advisable to NOT have any notions regarding the number of questions per area within the sections - QA / DI and VA / LR. The IIMs have only specified that the first section would have questions on QA and DI while the second on VA and LR. The exact composition of questions within the sections could be anything and even vary across slots and therefore students should prepare for all kinds of possibilities.
B. Things to keep in mind on the day of the test
The following are some of the things one should keep in mind on the day of the test:
• Take adequate rest before the test day.
• Reach the test centre in time and with all the requisite documents.
• Be prepared for technical problems while writing the test, noise around the test centre, the invigilators being insensitive to the importance of the occasion. If it can be fixed without your losing your focus on the test then raise your voice. If it can not be fixed, ignore it. Be assured, if there is any technical problem in the test, you would get redressal.
• Though it is not very common in CAT but a question can be wrong. Do not spend a lot of time on any one question - just to prove a point. No one is watching. The score is the only thing that matters.
• Do not worry yourself silly over some note you wanted to revise - remember that CAT is a test of your aptitude and beyond a point one needs to go easy on oneself in terms of preparation. Peace of mind is the key.
• The test may drop surprises - that is the nature of CAT. Carry your on-the-feet-thinking with you.
Some of the common errors on the test day:
Error#1: Targeting a specific number of questions to clear cut-offs
It is a very common questions among the students - how many questions should I answer in the test? Targeting a pre-set number of questions to clear the cut-offs is not a great strategy as
1. The cut-offs are a function of the difficulty level of the section and the paper.
2. Even if you were to go into a paper with a fixed number of attempts in mind, there is little that you can do to actually achieve it. Consider a scenario - Someone tells you that you need to attempt 24 question in the first section. Now if you can solve 27 questions, will you stop at 24? or if you can solve only 18 questions, would blindguessing another 6 questions help?
Hence the number of questions attempted should be a natural effect of the difficulty level of the exam and should not be pre-decided.
Error#2: Blind guessing
Blind guessing invariaby harms you. However, if you are able to eliminate two/three choices (out of the four or five) on a proper basis, then, one may venture to select one of the remaining options. However, remember that a fresh look at such questions again, after some time, will in many cases help you pick the right option, thereby saving a good attemptable question from being wasted in guessing.
Error#3: Getting carried away in the flow
As many of your seniors who wrote CAT earlier will share, the test comes with a lot of pressure. Often, one would start answering a section and before one would have any idea the time alotted for the section would be over. You must bear in mind that you remain aware of the time at hand, how many questions have been attempted, if you are getting stuck in a question etc so as to ensure that the easier questions are not skipped and you are able to at least visit all the questions in the section.
All the best
The article is authored by Mr. Prakash Rajput, Assistant Course Director, CAT, T.I.M.E. (Triumphant Institute of Management Education).
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