I have written this post with the perception that analysing a mock is to look for pointers to help a candidate to improve further by either tweaking one's strategy or improving one's understanding.
I suggest you take up the analysis immediately after the mock, as the thought processes that you had while taking it would be fresh in your head. Also you would be able to use the rough sheets if needed.
So right after the mock, the steps you should be following for each section are:
Verbal
For verbal, the most important thing is to get your strategy right. As most of the candidates attempt most questions, it's accuracy that matters.
- After the mock check your accuracy and see if your strategy is working out.
- Keep a log of every mistake you have made. Write down why you chose the wrong answer and also why it is wrong as per the mock. After many mocks this particular point will help you, as most good candidates attempt most questions and are able to eliminate two options, so you need to work and become an expert in getting the better option.
- Talking about better options, know that unlike the other two sections, in RC you are looking for the most correct option, what I mean is that there will be two options which aren't fully wrong, but one slight factor will make one option less optimal than the other. This is why in VARC you have to see all 4 options before choosing the right answer. Cultivate the skill to differentiate with great attention to detail. This methodology helped to get to 2 digit ranks in mocks.
- If you have to further get better in RCs, try learning about various biases and maybe if they are being an impediment for you to choose the correct answer.
- After each mock, have a note of your accuracy in all sorts of questions and questions types.
Have a list which would tell which kind of RCs( topics such as science, literature,arts, biology, politics, economics,nature and so on) you have better accuracy which could help you to choose the order to attempt them.
- After attending considerable mocks, you should get a fair idea on how good you are in Parajumbles, Odd one out, Parasummary and Paracompletion. This will help you to know in which order to attend the VA part.
DILR
- After the mock, solve all the questions you have got wrong and have skipped.
- For DILR, the most important skill one needs to pick up is question selection and being able to let go. So based on the overall section’s difficulty after solving all questions, assess if your question selection was on point or not. If it's subpar, note down the reason you made that mistake in an error log.
- Also in the metrics of the mock check if you were wasting too much on a question that
- You should have skipped
- You should not have attempted as it was time taking or there were easier questions.
- For any tips of DILR prep check: What is the best preparation strategy for DI/LR in CAT?
Quantitative Aptitude
- Check all the questions you have got wrong or did not attempt.
- Attempt all these questions in a timed manner.
- If you had missed it due to misjudging it's difficulty, then you should work on your strategy to become better at question selection
- If you have solved something wrong, then make sure you analyse why and make a note of it (as these are the errors that cost the most, due to time that's wasted and an opportunity cost of 4 marks).
- If it's a silly mistake. Gosh just don't do it again. Can't afford them.
- If you have misunderstood the topic or something, then you just found the area you need to work on. Make sure you from the very basics.
- Check all the questions that were right.
By presuming you have taken computerized mock, you should be having data. So look at the time per question and see if there are any questions that took time more than they were supposed to.
- If it's a trap question or a very tough question, then you need to work on your strategy to make sure you improve your question selection.
- If it's an easy question but you took much longer than the mock average, then you must be good at it but are a bit slow. So take a sectional(s) and get some practice under your belt to improve.
Make a detailed note, kind of an error log with all the learning from the analysis. Refer to it before your next mock and make sure you don't repeat them.
- Once you give 5–10 mock and see some common mistakes, then that's your weakness, fix it.
- If you have given 30–40 mocks and find that you are weak in a topic or a type of question, then that's something that you should be looking to leave or attempt at the end.
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