And the D-Day is getting nearer. Only a month to go before all the preparation is put to test. This is the time where many non serious aspirants withdraw from the CAT since they have a lot of backlog remaining in terms of concepts and tests. It is imperative to not lose hope and carry on with renewed hope and vigor. Consider it to be the last 50 meters of a 100 meter race and this is the time to buckle up. Aspirants, if prepare diligently, can increase their percentile by 10-20 points. So the most important thing here is to not lose heart and carry on with a dedicated plan.
Some of the points that one should follow in the last month of CAT are :
- Take Mock Tests : This point cannot be stressed much. Aspirants shy away from mocks as they fear how they might perform or they might score less marks and it might demotivate them. But mocks are essential on many levels : Helps in building stamina since you are sitting for 3 hours, knows where you stand on a national level and also helps in identifying your weak areas. For ones who are already taking enough mocks, don't overburden yourself with it and don't take more than 4-5 mocks every week. Also try to take one test a week on test timing schedule so that your body is familiar with the test schedule and on D-Day the body adjusts easily to it. It is important to analyse these mocks after you are done with them since you can identify your mistakes and learn from it.
- Formula Sheet for Quant: I think this is necessary for any aspirant regardless of how good he/she is. You must make it a point to have a formula sheet compiled so that you can refer to it anytime. The Formula sheet serves two purposes : It serves as a go to place to revise certain concepts and formulas in Quant and also on D-Day while you have to report 2 hours before the exam you can go through this and revise and it keep the mind alert and in exam mode.
- Keep reading for Verbal : You should keep reading random material preferably newspapers. This may not effectively look like enhancing or helping your verbal but trust me it does. It also helps in keeping you up to date with the recent happenings around the world which might come in handy for exams like IIFT which is just a week before CAT.
- Important to relax: It is important to relax and not fret over the exam too much. Spend time with your family daily or go for a walk or run for an hour everyday. This helps in increased energy and activates the body. Keep thinking positively. Don't lose heart if you perform badly in a mock rather realize why you performed badly in it and work towards it.
- Time Management : CAT is not only a test of aptitude but also a test of how well you manage time and pressure. Condition your mind not to get stuck up on one question and every question has a time frame attached to it. If you are having difficulty with some question move on and try to work on that area after the test.
- Try different Test taking strategies : This is the best time to do trial and error and check what suits you best. Try different strategies for each section and see what suits you best. If in Verbal are you comfortable working on RCs first or is it visa versa ? While you are attempting the RC do you read the RC and then the questions or some other way ? This is the best time to test all this and realize what suits you best. Don't go by what your friends or others are doing,do whatever what suits you best and gives the best results.
Make the journey for studying for the CAT as a memorable one rather than a harassing one. CAT is not a difficult exam at the end of the day but it does require effort constantly. One Needs to strategically approach the exam and also be level headed while going for it. At the end of the day think of the long term gains you might get if you succeed in the exam to motivate oneself to work towards it. In case of any difficulties,doubts or advise you are free to message me here.
Till then, Keep Calm and Bell the CAT !