When I set out to write the first one in the series of these posts, my agenda was pretty simple and straight. I looked back 2 years to when I was vying to get into a desired B-school and was overwhelmed about approaching the preparation stage. One particular dilemma I faced in the nascent stages of my preparation was related to the approach I should take to derive the maximum benefit from mocks. To capture the essence of the steps I followed, I will break down the approach in the following pointers hoping to answer some frequently asked questions -
- What is the ideal time to attempt the first mock?
Attempting the first mock test at the very beginning or kickstarting your preparation with a mock can be effective. Not only does it help you familiarize yourself with the test format but it can also be a very good starting point to understand the essence of the test. Many candidates dread seeing a low score so much that they try and postpone attempting their first mock till they feel reasonably comfortable with all three sections. I would personally recommend against this approach as taking mocks earlier can help you shape a better and more productive strategy for yourself.
Recommended For You: Free CAT Masterclass - Ace CAT With A Free Online CAT Program By ARKSS (Ex-National Head - Career Launcher)
- How to analyze your test performance?
I believe that the crux of any mock lies in its analysis, but more so in the first one. There can be several ways of looking at how you fared in the mock however, I would request you not to take the test score to your heart. On the contrary, the thought process should be aligned to judging how comfortable you were with the test format, the ability to solve seemingly straightforward questions with time constraints, and lastly a section-wise analysis. While it may still be too early to have a grasp of strengths or weaknesses, it is still possible to get a birds-eye view of whether a particular section comes naturally to a candidate and if there is a section that would need relatively more effort.
Must Check Out: 300+ Free CAT Sectional Mock Tests To Help You Ace CAT 2023
- Next steps!
With a fair sense of where you stand, now comes the time to lay down a roadmap for the next few months. The first step should be breaking down each section into sub-sections and covering the basics of each such sub-section. Taking QA as an example, breaking down the sections into algebra, geometry, modern maths, etc could lead to a systematic approach to covering the basics. Attempting sectional tests after covering each such section will help build a decent question bank to reflect the progress thus far.
The bottom line still with respect to cracking the CAT is having a structured approach and sticking to the plan with consistency. Not getting discouraged by low scores or getting overconfident by great performances are also essential in keeping the right mindset throughout the preparations. Hope the readers found this a helpful read.
Download For Free: InsideIIM's Comprehensive Quant Formula Cheat Sheet For MBA Entrance Exams
If you want any guidance for CAT and other MBA entrance examinations, feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn.