For a brief moment, I looked up from my paper. Hardly a second, maybe even less. I knew I had already made a mistake when I looked around me. Hands moving feverishly, the rattle of the AC, and 35 people unanimously struggling to do better than the one seated next to them. This was just another CAT mock test in class but I couldn’t help imagining the magnitude of the competition in the actual CAT exam. The singular ‘I’ against the brightest hundred thousand of this country. The moment of clarity had hit me. I had to do more than just practice. It was time.
It is true that preparing for CAT exam exposes you to tumultuous pressure. The number one reason for concern according to most aspirants is the intimidating CAT syllabus. While there is very little to be done except to overcome it, there are certain hacks that will help you keep calm and focused in the final few months of your preparation.
Prescription for Your CAT Well-being
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Time Yourself:
Every bit of your CAT exam depends on how well you manage time. Time yourself in each category. You can begin by solving CAT question papers and mock tests with a set time limit on each section. This will give you a clear and concise idea as to which areas you need to work on.
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Create A List:
Based on your performance in the mock tests, make a note of the areas where you need to put in efforts. Use this list as a reference regularly to touch up on your weaknesses.
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Read Newspapers and tabloids:
It is extremely important to stay up to date with the current affairs of the world, not just for the CAT exam but in the best interests of our daily lives. Cultivate a habit of reading newspapers that will not only enhance your general knowledge but also help with your verbal and written communication skills. Reading Comprehension is one of the most scoring sections on a CAT paper. Daily reading will better your chances of scoring in this particular section by heaps.
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Revise Your Fundamental Concepts:
Every CAT topper emphasises on the importance of a clear understanding of concepts. A thorough revision of every topic will definitely add to your confidence level. In fact, some CAT toppers even go on to say that CAT can be a relatively easy paper to crack with clear concepts.
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Give Time to Yourself:
Even though it is known that CAT exam preparation will take up a lot of your time, it is still absolutely necessary to delegate some time for yourself. A happy and calm mind ensures mental and physical well-being before and during exams. Exercising, sports or simple meditation can bring about a positive change before CAT.
Practiqal Approach: In 2013, Gavin D’Souza from Goa scored an impressive 99.49 percentile in the CAT exam. In an interview with Rediff.com, D’Souza mentioned how it is extremely important to unwind while also preparing for CAT.
In the final few months before CAT, it is no longer important to know how to prepare for CAT. It is however of greater significance to know what exactly to prepare during this time. In reality, the preparation over the last 3-3.5 months is what makes the ultimate difference. That is to say that a significant change in your CAT performance can be made with the right attitude during these crucial few months.
Practice Fact File: In a batch of students of a CAT Coaching center who enrol themselves 12 to 18 months prior to CAT exam, only 5% students remain regular with their attendance. Most students lose focus and remain under the impression that they have a significant amount of time in hand to prepare, which ultimately leads to a loss of impetus required in the final moments before the exam. Thus debunking the myth that all those who start early win the race. Preparation strategies in the final months make a much larger impact than starting preparations early.
Are you targeting CAT 2016? What strategy are you following in the final phase of preparation? Can you share some wisdom? Please do so in the comments.