To pursue your MBA ambition, you must have a good score in your entrance test, and how you prepare is the most crucial determinant of your score. While the majority of people choose to take the entrance test by enrolling in a coaching program, some people push themselves by taking the test without enrolling in one. However, everyone's first thought before starting their preparation is, "Will I obtain a good grade on my entrance exam, and will it be enough to get me into my target B-schools?" It certainly weighs heavier on the minds of those who seek to prepare themselves without assistance from coaching centres.
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Get Started: You must determine your strengths and weaknesses. The easiest method to achieve this is to take a mock CAT at the earliest. A thorough analysis of that exam would help you to identify your weak, moderate, and strong areas which would enable you to draft your preparation strategy. If you are unable to recognize it on your own, you should seek assistance from an experienced mentor who can help you through each stage.
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Know what it takes: An important thing to note here is that the CAT curriculum is simple. For the VARC section, basic reading comprehension and sentence patterns are covered while for the Quantitative Ability section, the topics can be found in the mathematics textbooks from 6th through 10th grade. The test is complex due to the application-intensive nature of the questions and the fact that around 2 lakh applicants are competing for 8000-10000 seats in top B-Schools.
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Understand the exam's content: After you've decided on how to prepare for CAT without coaching, one of the first things you should do is study the test pattern and curriculum thoroughly. Then you should review past years' analyses to create a complete preparation plan and prioritize your preparation based on the importance of various topics across sections. One thing that must be assured at this time is that the CAT 2021 Preparation Plan covers all areas, as CAT has a reputation of surprising candidates who underestimate it by altering the topics examined as well as the exam schedule.
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Take Mocks: After you've gone over the fundamentals, you should begin taking online CAT practice exams regularly. Without a detailed study that identifies your strengths and limitations, no mock exam effort would be useful. For improving your preparation, you should do a thorough and detailed analysis. You should take the mock examinations once or twice a week at first, but as you gain experience, you should raise your frequency to three or four times a week. Look through each mock for typical mistakes. Recognize the reasons for these mistakes and make an effort to prevent them.
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Peer Group: Being in the company of like-minded people guarantees that your preparation is on track. Forming a peer study group allows you to connect with other students about your issues, tactics, and themes. If some of them also attend coaching programs, it may be even more beneficial to you because they may be able to provide some professional advice. You may also take the same mock tests as your peers and improve your performance using feedback from your peers. Keep in touch with other CAT candidates via (i) a WhatsApp group (ii) a Telegram group (iii) a Facebook group. But don't get sidetracked by other people's grades. Do not compare your results to those of others.
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Newspaper: Reading a newspaper of your choice regularly increases your vocabulary and improves your General Awareness. Furthermore, the bulk of GD subjects are tied to current events in some way.
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Utilize the internet to its full potential: You can find guidance and aid with everything and everything if you know how to utilize the internet wisely. A variety of educational websites provide information and news about your goal test regularly, as well as free sample papers and study materials. You may also join CAT-related social media groups on Facebook, PagalGuy, and other sites. You may also keep up with the latest developments by following the exam officials' and authorities' Twitter accounts.
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Be Dynamic: Experiment with the order in which you attempt each section, the number of questions you want to strive for, the amount of time you spend on each part, and so on. Only then will you be able to refine your ideal strategy for attempting CAT, one that will help you achieve the perfect combination of speed and precision, guaranteeing that you easily clear all cut-offs and are well on your way to securing that coveted IIM seat. Taking a lot of practice exams can help you stay awake throughout the exam. Mocks will also prepare you for a variety of degrees of difficulty, which will teach you how to adjust your test-taking technique based on the paper's difficulty level.
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Experience: Make your preparation journey enjoyable and avoid over-preparation: there is a limit to how much a person can accomplish, and each person has their own threshold. You can't expect to perform at your best in CAT unless you like it. There's no harm in doing nothing for three or four days until you're ready to tackle CAT questions again. Treat it as a challenge rather than a chore.
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Believe in yourself: Staying motivated and believing in your own ability is paramount. If you are studying on your own, you must keep going even if you encounter a minor setback. You can easily ace the CAT if you have a positive mindset and a clear head during your preparation journey.
All the best!