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I first dreamt of making it to an IIM back in 2018 when I was in 11th standard and started my IPMAT preparation. However, the efforts went in vain as even after clearing the overall cut-off by a good margin I could not make it through due to QA score being a little short but the dream never died!
In 2021, I started with my CAT preparation while in the final year of my graduation but to my surprise, this wasn't enough to keep me going, I Ieft the preparation midway and ended up scoring a mere 81%ile in CAT 2021.
I knew then that I'd need a bigger and better reason to give CAT my all and I found it in an unexpected place – Connaught Place, where I came across the famous "fire paan vala." His unique marketing technique of selling paan by displaying empty cigarette boxes blew my mind. At that moment, I realized that marketing was my path forward, and pursuing an MBA from one of the top 10 B-Schools would bring me closer to this dream.
VARC (99.46%ile)
There is a myth that needs to be busted before I come to the strategy that helped me go from 88%ile to 99.46%ile.
Myth - You need to have a great vocabulary to crack VARC!
Although a good vocab would help you but not having it won’t restrict you because CAT is not testing you on it. CAT tests you on your analytical skills and reading style & speed, all of which you can improve by following this 4-step strategy that I followed.
Step 3: I combined conscious reading with speed and began attempting sectionals to identify my strengths and weaknesses in different question types. I also experimented with different strategies to attempt the questions.
(I prioritized attempts over accuracy and attempted all my mocks with a target of attempting 22/24 questions.)
Step 4: I analyzed mock tests and sectionals to understand the differences in my thought process compared to that of the author. I worked on closing this gap and worked on improving my process of elimination.
(Para Jumble and Short Summary questions are important too and can make or break your score so start practicing early.)
LRDI (81.79%ile)
This is where you can learn from my mistakes. This section was my favorite, and I naturally had an affinity for it. However, I made a crucial mistake that affected my score – Starting Timed Practice Late!
While I could solve 70-75% of the sets on my own, I took an average of 25-35 minutes to solve each one. On the actual CAT exam day (slot 3), I managed to solve only 1.5 sets. To make matters worse, one question was nullified due to discrepancies, resulting in a further decline in my raw score and I ended up scoring even lower than my CAT 2021 score (89%ile).
QA (96.25%ile)
This section is often dreaded by non-engineers, but it offers the most room for improvement within a shorter time frame. I jumped from 36%ile in 2021 to 96%ile in 2022.
There are not many hidden strategies here but just one-word PRACTICE!
I completed the syllabus as soon as possible, continuously revising what I had learned. Additionally, I started attempting sectional tests early, recognizing that not every module or topic carries equal weightage. Focusing on key modules like Arithmetic and Algebra alone can fetch you above 90 percentile.
Tip: Make your own notes, it will help you while revising
Balancing Job and CAT Preparation
The question of whether to prepare alongside a job varies for each individual, but if you're a fresh graduate, I would highly recommend it.
Why?
Well, because it gives you the much-needed corporate exposure and a few additional work-experience points at some colleges plus your CV will thank you too.
Having experienced both scenarios – preparing with and without a job – I found that despite having less time with a job, I had a better routine. When you have just 3-4 hours a day in hand you tend not to waste them in contrast to having 12-14 hours at your disposal.
How?
They say that the mind tires before the body does, and I adopted a unique sleep pattern that allowed me to get 6-8 hours of sleep while keeping my mind fresh. I used to sleep in 2 slots of 3-4 hours, one from around 10 pm to 2 am, and then took another nap from around 7 am to 10 am.
I also mastered the art of taking 15-minute power naps and it's by far the best thing I learned during my entire journey. Both these habits helped me cope with screen fatigue too.
There were some stupid tricks I used to always keep reminding myself that CAT is more important than my job, for instance, I positioned my study laptop at the center of my desk, while my work laptop was placed in a corner, regardless of inconvenience. I tried not to worry about what my managers would think if I took leaves or skipped team parties or made excuses to avoid working after hours etc.
(Useful long leave ideas - Wisdom tooth removal, leg fracture/knee displacement, well-planned wedding, sick relative)