10 tips to ace CAT

There's no fixed formula to ace CAT.

However, a combination of strategy, planning and implementation should help you score well in this test.

Here are my 10 tips for helping you harness your potential.

i. CAT is a pseudo standardised test

This means that, even though you cannot predict the exact pattern of questions like you can with GRE, you can still predict the answer pattern -- a net total of about 60 to 65 marks with an equitable distribution in all three sections of the paper will get you calls from most institutions.

Once you realise this, you will find your workload reduced by a huge amount. Your task, as emphasised by all CAT preparation centres, is to attempt the 60 to 70 easiest possible questions out of the 120 to 150 odd questions that are put to you. You must work to this pattern if you want to do well in CAT.

ii. The identification of easy questions is a difficult task and comes only after practice. Depending on a person's level of ease with the topics, the amount of preparation required may vary. However, you should try to leverage your strengths to the optimum. In the process, however, don't forget clearing cut-offs is essential to getting calls; doing well in one section and not clearing the cut-off in another will not help.

iii. CAT is not a test to prove your mettle in specific subjects; you need to prove your overall ability.

iv. Most of you must have already started giving mock tests; this is the only way to figure out how you will fare at the national level. There is no need to panic if you are not able to match your expectations in the mock CAT tests; look at every test as a learning experience.

Do your best in all the tests. After returning home, analyse your performance. Adequate practice will give you the knowledge to make informed decisions -- for example, you will realise attempting a reading comprehension question might not be a good idea if you only have a few minutes left before the test ends.

Answer questions depending on your level of confidence on the topics, rather than the feasibility of the answers.

For example, take a data interpretation question based on the average runs scored in a cricket series by major players. Sometimes, CAT aspirants try to save time by partially solving the problem and basing their answers on personal biases -- like Tendulkar would have the highest score or Dravid might have the best average score or something to this effect.

The actual answer, based on the information given in the test, might be completely different. Maybe a bowler would have the highest score. Though this might be not practically feasible, the questions in the CAT paper need not have logical solutions as far as data interpretation is concerned.

Making a guess of this kind would not come under the purview of intelligent guessing. Intelligent guessing should be done in topics in which you have a sufficient level of expertise obtained as a result of extensive practice; it should not be done for questions where your answers need to be based on the information given in the question paper.

v. You should be careful not to repeat the mistakes made you made in either the mock CATs or while practising at home. Make it a point to take a couple of tests every week from now on.

vi. Set a goal while revising or studying the CAT preparation material.

Here is an example of what I mean. If you have planned to study for two hours, you should also know what you hope to achieve at the end of those two hours. This will help you focus your effort. By setting a goal, you will achieve much more in those two hours.

vii. As I had mentioned earlier, CAT is all about strategy. There are many talented people who have given this exam but have not got admission into the IIMs. One of the major differences between these people and those who made it to the IIMs is that the latter had learnt to maximise their result in the two hours allotted to CAT.

They knew all sections were equally important and should, ideally, be given equal time unless you are exceptionally weak in a section.

viii. Coming to the paper, you should look at accuracy as a priority. Adequate practice will help you increase your speed at a later stage of preparation, but absence of accuracy will lead to widely varying results and not help you get admission in the institution of your choice.

ix. Try and understand why you want to do an MBA. Your reasons should be good enough to constantly motivate you during the preparation stage. You should also inculcate the habit of reading regularly.

x. Lastly, flexibility matters.

One can have a strategy is place, but it may not work for you during the actual exam. You should always have a fallback plan. One particular section in the paper might be particularly difficult or you may find two sections have been merged into one. Such possible combinations should be analysed; you should also have a strategy ready in case you are faced with such a scenario.

Focus on improving your strategy during the month of September. Use the months of October and November to work on the speed at which you answer questions accurately.

Before giving mock tests, ensure you have a good grasp on the various CAT sections; you should be able to attempt at least 80 to 90 questions. This will give you the confidence to sail through CAT!

How to Prepare for CAT-General

The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are India’s premier management institutes. IIM, not to mention is the deity to CAT aspirants. Last year one is added to the list i.e IIM Shillong which increases the probability of getting into IIM, af course if number of aspirants remain the same; but still this number is very bleak. So what matters the most in this world of competition is how you prepare for this tough and ’smart’ exam, yes, smart is the key word because the person who prepares smartly is the winner of this game as there is a famous adage: Don’t work hard work smart. So overall I will be discussing about some smart techniques for killing this meow (CAT).

What you need to firstly do is to see where you stand currently i.e what are your strengths and weaknesses, and you can do this by taking one or two mock tests. Never fear if you find that you are weak nearly in every area because converting your weakness to your strength doesn’t need more time, it needs smart time. After deciphering your strengths and weaknesses, it’s time either to collect the reading material or to join a coaching classes. Many students ask why do we need coaching classes; well then the answer to this question is: coaching institutes will organize your study habit; off course they aren’t alchemist who will turn you into gold. But if you are a working official and think that you are a good manager in organising your study time then nothing is better than that.Therefore, organized study is the first main key point to this smart journey of preparation; after all you are going to become a manager so everything should be organized and managed.

Second key point is ‘Stick to the Rules’; though the irony is CAT never does but by not sticking to the rules they are checking whether you does. So; make a time table of your study plan and keep it in your pocket or paste it on your notice board of office or home. Time table of every aspirant will be different so keep in mind your weaknesses while making the itinerary. Give more time to your weaknesses and practice as much as you can. Main problem with many students is that they organize their studies for few days, and after that they procrastinate the assigned targets or don’t give the required time to their studies. But perseverance and patience are the two traits which every aspirant should have as CAT will check your patience by giving you a whole together a different paper; so you should maintain your calmness and don’t get flummoxed.

Third point is to keep track of your performance and your mistakes. After all you are preparing to improve and if you are not tracking your performance then how will you get to know whether you are improving in your weak areas or not. Never repeat your mistakes. Keep your mind fit by eating healthy food and by reading some good novels and newspapers. Good is a subjective term but here what I imply is read those novels or articles in newspapers which you hate reading in normal circumstances; CAT is not good in giving your favorite RC passages. After all for ESLs (English as a Second Language) reading is the strongest tool to hone its English skills.

Lastly, never think that your aim is to clear written exam. You are not preparing for getting a call, you are preparing for getting into IIMs, so participate in GD sessions and keep yourself updated with current affairs. If you haven’t join any coaching institute then you can join any public forum online or offline for practicing GD and Interview sessions.

At the end I will summarize my rules:

a) Know your strengths and weaknesses.
b) Organize your studies.
c) Keep track of your performance and mistakes.
d) Read healthy.
e) Keep preparing for GD & Interview.

As it is not in my scope to give you each and every aspect of preparation but I have tried to write some of the key points which I have noticed in every IIM student. So, don’t just toil, have some smart oil.