Finally, the day you had all been waiting for, is right here, knocking. The exam which would open the doors to new career opportunities and a prestigious b-school degree, is less than 48 hours away. All that you had been preparing yourself for, these past few months, boils down to this single day- the ultimate game of T20! We bring to you a few pointers to keep in mind, while you go there and give your best.
- Do keep in mind the instructions for the exam, available in the test help guide. Only admit card, identity proof, required medical certificate and scribe certificate will be permitted in the exam hall. No metal jewellery, jackets, even footwear will be allowed. Socks, plain sweaters/cardigans/pullovers without pockets will be allowed.
- Needless to say, mobile phones/gadgets/calculators and watches will not be allowed inside the exam centre premises.
- It is imperative to get a good night’s rest before the exam. Your mind and body need to stay fresh. It is really easy, even tempting to stay up worrying over multiple negative scenarios, but they won’t help you inch anywhere close to your target percentile! But at the same time, don’t fret if you haven’t been able to get 7-8 hours of sleep. It is natural for you to feel an adrenaline rush, which keeps you pumped up and doesn’t let you sleep. Even Sachin is known to undergo the same before important matches, yet scored centuries!
- Relax. It is easier said than done, but this is practically the only thing to do the day before the D-Day. Listening to music that you like is a good option. Visually engaging mediums like TV and the internet tend to fill up your head and numb your brain down. Newspapers and magazines are also a good, relaxing, quiet pastime.
- No mock tests the day before the exam! Period. Take this as a diktat and stay away from your previous performance records. No matter how good or bad you had been scoring in your mocks, they are not going to be added to your actual CAT score!
- Try stepping into the exam hall without any preconceived notions. How tough or easy the previous slot was, or how many questions did the CAT topper of the previous year attempt, is not going to have any bearing on the question paper in front of you.
- Eat light the night before the exam, and definitely avoid junk food. You do not want an upset tummy to distract you from even a single question.
- If you really want to revise, the best thing to go to is your own notebook. You can flip through the revision notes for a quick glance at formulae, steps, hand tips, etc.
- You may want to spend some quality time with your parents/siblings/friends/bae/pet. Anything or anyone to keep your mind off the stress!
- If you are a working professional, you may want to take a break from work a day prior to the exam, to keep your energy and mood intact and focused.
- Try to avoid regretting over topics that you could not prepare well, or the time you feel you could have utilised better. Think about the difficult topics which you have actually overcome over the months of preparation.
- Dump all thoughts about the possible cutoff and scores. You would only attempt those questions which you are able to solve. Any magical prediction about the cut-off will not make you solve more or less than your ability.
- Remember, you are not alone in feeling anxious and overwhelmed. Everyone is feeling this heat with you; it is only a natural reaction. It is how calm and gathered your mind is, which would make or break the game. The only thing under your control is your attitude and approach; everything else is either past or beyond your scope.
On the day of the exam:
- Make sure you acquaint yourself with the exam centre and the approach route at least a day prior to the exam. You do not want to stress over google maps and lost locations on the D-Day.
- Keep an eye out for the no-penalty questions, they are your best friends in the exam.
- Don’t look around the hall and imagine how others would be faring better than you. It is not of any use whatsoever.
- Don’t fear the timer. It is seen that towards the end, you tend to take more time per question, only because you are panicky about the time. It is counter-intuitive.
Above all, remember, it is just another exam. You have aced many examinations in your academic and professional life so far. This is in no way a measure of who you are as a person. The examination of life would begin after the life of examinations ends. So, gear up and get into the final lap mode for this stage of life’s examination!