CAT: Last Minute Preparation Tips To Crack MBA Entrance Exam

CAT Exam: Achieving a 90-99 percentile or above requires dynamic exam preparation.

CAT exam is scheduled for November 26, 2023.

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By Hemang Panchmatia

With the CAT 2023 exam just around the corner (scheduled for November 26, 2023), it is time for students to execute effective last-minute preparation strategies to crack the exam with a score of 90 percentile and above. The CAT is among the most rigorous entrance tests globally - focused preparation and special attention in the last few days is crucial to cracking it. With 3.3 Lakh registrations this year and close to 2.75 lakh students expected to take the test each year, achieving a 90-99 percentile or above requires dynamic exam preparation. As this year's exam draws closer, students must do away with the stress, anxiety, and tension and gear up for robust last-minute prep to secure admission to the most prestigious B-schools.

Key Last-Minute Preparation Tips To Crack CAT Right:

Avoid studying new topics: In the crucial last days of CAT preparation, attempting to study entirely new topics can lead to confusion. This, in turn, will not only impact your capacity to understand and grasp new topics but also affect your ability to retain previously learned concepts. Instead, focusing on reinforcing what you already know and mastering those subjects until exam day will not only boost your confidence and self-assurance but also increase your chances of attaining good results.

Put your prepared notes to use: Unlike the initial preparation phase, where books and external resources play a significant role, last-minute preparation demands putting into use your self-prepared notes and sticking with them for revision purposes till the end. Going through your own notes (e.g. Geometry formulae sheet ) will save you time and effort and assist you in reviewing and refining the sections you are confident about.

Go for the maximum number of mocks: Given the extensive syllabus of the CAT exam, students might find it hard to spare time for mock tests daily. However, as a crucial part of the last-minute preparation strategy, taking up maximum mocks, preferably proctored ones that let you compete with other students nationally, will not only allow you to self-assess but also set a benchmark for yourself. In addition, doing so will help you evaluate your strengths and weaknesses and refine your approach for the actual exam. Certain mock tests, like ours, also provide you with detailed video solutions that help you learn the best methods and techniques to solve questions. You should take 2-3 full-lengths a week for optimum preparation

Build a test-taking strategy: Building a test-taking strategy is just as crucial as last-minute revisions. Losing speed and dwindling accuracy is a common challenge that students face while attempting the exam. Knowing which questions to skip and where to invest more time can enhance your speed and accuracy, ultimately leading to better results. You should target solving 25-30 questions (out of 66 )with around 70% accuracy to clear the coveted 90 percentile mark

Conduct in-depth analyses of the mocks you take:  Just giving the mocks regularly isn’t enough. You also need to spend time analysing your performance on each mock test. This practice will help you isolate areas that need more work. You’ll also be able to identify questions that lower your accuracy or even take up a lot of your time. Based on the data you collect from here, you can work on your weaker topics, create a solid time management strategy for the exam, and identify questions that you should skip.

Last minute tips: It is strongly recommended that you start taking all further mocks in the same slot as the actual CAT slot allotted to you. Also, start following the same daily schedule in terms of waking up time and food intake as you would do on the day of the CAT. E.g. if you are allotted CAT slot 1, get used to getting up early ( 5:00 AM, breakfast at 7 AM) and take your mocks at 8:30 AM. This will help adjust your body clock and help you get into peak mental state on D-Day.

While CAT is undoubtedly one of the most prestigious competitive exams, students often tend to overlook other exams. To increase their possibilities of landing a seat in a coveted MBA program, candidates must stay on top of all the deadlines for MBA entrance tests other than CAT. Apart from preparing for CAT, aspirants should also consider the structures of different exams and prepare accordingly. Exams like the XAT, NMAT, and MICAT, for example, contain sections that are not necessarily a part of CAT and require conscious preparation to attain higher scores. Taking enough mocks for these tests is a good way to ensure a top score on these tests too.

(The author is the Chief Business Officer of Postgraduate & Undergraduate Management at IMS)