What difference can last minute preparations make in CAT Exam?

We did it in school, then why not the CAT exam?

We did not have many thrills during our college days, but one such thrill which we consistently and thoroughly enjoyed involved last minute preparation. The adrenaline rush while constantly looking at the clock, like a metronome, the sweaty palms, the thumping heartbeat, and the untidy t-shirt hanging off your pant waistline. This is not too different from a bungee jump off a mountain of books.

However, after college ended, our last minute preparations seemed to become more and more tabooed. What was once a staple method of gaining the last ounce of confidence before a test became more like a crime. But, is this truly warranted? Do we need to taboo such an obscure sport form?

This is a question which might have bothered many CAT exam takers. Last minute preparation was an important ritual during school exams. We used to study the whole night till the exams started and give a satisfying paper and crawl through the questions to gain the minimum required marks. So, it can be logically concluded that last minute preparations made a lot of difference to us then. But would that also be true in the case of CAT exam?

PRAQTISE Fact File:

An earthen pot maker never forgets to give the finishing touches to his pot. He knows that a rough and unfinished pot makes it to no one’s home. In the same way, last minute preparation is also important. It can definitely pay off during the CAT exam if done wisely.

Last minute preparation can be in the form of numerous practices, which can act as powerful ways to prepare yourself for what is to come:

1. Revise – If you revise in the last few days, you will have a chance to get a better look at what you have studied so far.  This will allow you to go through your notes and study materials to brush up on the basics from CAT syllabus. Revision will ensure that you have your basics clear, be it mathematical formulae or vocabulary revision.  This will give you more confidence with different types of questions.
2. Practice – Revision is not limited to looking at notes. You might also like to try a few questions based on CAT exam pattern. These can be section or topic-wise in nature. This practice will make you work more on maintaining accuracy and completing the questions in time. By solving questions from all different sections and diverse topics, you can be updated and acquainted with the different types of questions that you can expect.
3. One last mock test – During the last weeks avoid following your old CAT mock test schedule of taking 2-3 tests a week. Instead of straining yourself, you can take 1-2 tests and analyze them thoroughly.  This might be your last chance to understand the areas that you still need to work upon. In this case, the important aspect to understand is that this process needs to be taken in the form of a ritual that cannot be avoided.
4. Analysis– You can analyze all the previous tests that you have taken, especially the last mock test thoroughly. Such an approach will bring to notice the mistakes that you are committing more often or the areas that need more attention. This will give you a chance to cover up those spots and get ready for the exam.
5. Test taking strategy– By now you have taken a number of mock tests and know which strategy works best for you. On the basis of that, during last minute preparations, you can finalize your final test taking strategy. Since you would not have the choice to start with your strong section, you should focus more on choosing the right questions to attempt. You can put this strategy to test in the “one last mock test” ritual. You can decide the time you want to spend on each question. A strategy will help you go in with more confidence.

Praqtical look:

Last minute CAT preparation can make a huge difference to your results. It will give you the satisfaction of having done all you could. The most pristine and sacred time during preparation is the last hour before the exam. Use the last hour in the wisest manner possible. Firstly, you should avoid taking up new topics. Neither would you be able to grasp it, nor would you be able to revise your already prepared topics properly. This will mount tremendous stress on you and you might lose out your confidence. It is alright to leave out few topics. Revise, practice, analyze and strategize to make the best of this time. Spend this hour sharpening your battle axe rather than finding the right weapons to use. You shall make it to the top colleges with flying colors. Godspeed!

Let us know your opinion about last minute preparation in the comments below.

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