India is marching confidently towards the cricket World Cup final, displaying the determination of a team on a mission to claim the trophy on 29th June. Much like us- the MBA aspirants who have imagined themselves posing in front of the B-school walls in one year. The journey to the top campuses is filled with dreams, doubts, mastering things, and tweaking approaches, all leading to D-day. Here are some CAT preparation lessons inspired by the happenings of the T-20 Cricket World Cup.
IPL 200s Vs New York’s 110s: Adapting to the Changes
From 250+ runs getting chased in IPL 2024 to scores around 120 being defended, the game this month was about adapting and approaching the changes in new ways. CAT 2023 was level up for Quants, where a few correct attempts only led to 90%tile + scores. When you start with your thorough mock practice you will come up with the question “How many questions should I attempt for targeting 95+%tile?” While the ideal discussed in the CAT community is the 80:80 Rule i.e., attempting 80 percent of the questions with an 80 percent accuracy, it would not fit for everyone or every time. Adapting your test-taking strategy according to the difficulty and your capability is an important part of the 5-month preparation left for CAT.
New Zealand and Pakistan- “The Major Upsets”: Practice and Work on Weak Points
If I could give one piece of advice on where I went wrong in my CAT 2023 attempt it would be ‘Revise, Revise, and Revise’.The Pakistan Cricket Team failed to address their weaknesses leading to a loss against the USA who qualified for the first time in the T20 Cricket World Cup. Similarly, New Zealand missed the practice matches and was unprepared to perform at the slow and spongy pitches.You might know your strong spots but accepting and working on your weak areas is as important. Revise whatever you learn. Take mocks and sectionals to build your strategies and speed. Sitting for a 3-hour mock test puts in perspective a lot of things.
India, Afghanistan against Australia: Redeeming what they lost
For every 2023 there is 2024. Head and Rohit’s catch reversal is every Indian Cricket fan's ‘Absolute Cinema’ moment. This is for everyone whose CAT and OMET attempts didn’t go as planned. You already know your weak areas and your CAT prep level. You have already taken a real exam and realize how the pressure sets in. List down everything you did wrong previously and work on it. Use this as leverage towards your 2024 attempt.
Wishing every aspirant a comeback like Rishabh Pant ;)
Afghanistan’s Magic: From Underdogs to Semi-Finals
While Gulbadin Naib’s Injury Break came under the scanner, the Afghanistan cricket team’s iconic entry into the semi-finals is no less than a motivating story. Despite the challenges back home, what they got right was one thing.Building a foundation- Before hopping into 10s of influencer advice, start yourself. Be genuine in your preparation and strengthen the basics for the three sections. Before seeking help or researching strategy plans, it's important to understand what will work best for you. Additionally, don’t be overconfident in your strong areas.
Staying Calm: What India Needs For the Next Two Matches
The two crucial aspects of D-day - Handling Pressure and Calming Anxious Nerves. It goes the same for the players and CAT and OMET exam takers. Anxiety can block your mind, productivity, and intuition. It isn't easy to settle and very subjective based on different personalities. Try to work on this during the last month of your preparation.Wishing the Indian Cricket Team good luck for the upcoming knockouts. I hope we do not get another heartbreak and an endless streak of ‘khada hoon aaj bhi wahin reels’Is baar ICT fan ka dil nahi tootna chahiye Rohit bhai :)