As most begin their CAT preparation, insights from top scorers on how to manage exam anxiety and stress are invaluable. It’s normal to feel a bit nervous during mock tests and while thinking of D-day, but it shouldn’t affect your exam performance. Especially in the case of CAT being a high-stakes exam for so many aspirants, it’s essential to hear how toppers dealt with the anxiety and still aced the exam.
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CAT has an extensive syllabus, covering a wide range of topics across all three sections, along with a sectional time limit. From fear of not being able to attempt questions from our less-confident sections, struggling with low scores in mocks, fear of underperforming, or getting a noisy exam centre, top scorers have also experienced the same set of worries. Top scorers aren’t superhuman; they learn to manage their anxiety and are well prepared to perform their best in the exam. Let’s look at some of the tips and techniques top scorers recommend to current aspirants:
Prepare a Plan-B
Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. If you decide to take a gap year after graduation or quit your job to prepare for CAT, you will be immensely under pressure to perform well at every stage of preparation and on the D-day. With no backup plan or a job to fall back on, you will be constantly stressed, and it can negatively impact your performance. It can cloud your judgement on the D-day, resulting in not performing as per your capabilities.
Komal Haswani, a 99.98 percentiler, shared that she prepared with a calm and relaxed mindset as she knew that even if things didn’t go her way, she could continue with her job and prepare again. This led her to bounce back from low mock scores and actively work on weaker areas instead of spiraling and feeling nervous about her marks.
Plan in advance
Planning and creating a structured study plan well in advance will keep anxiety at bay and assure you that you are well-prepared for the exam. You won’t feel rushed to cover all the topics and attempt enough mocks before the last month approaches. You will have enough time to revise topics, important questions, and you can avoid any last-minute pressure.
Jeyaram R, a 97.96 percentiler, shared that he started his CAT preparation back in June so he would have enough time for focused preparation while juggling his work responsibilities. This way, he could allocate time efficiently for studying and mock analysis without any pressure.
Stimulate exam conditions
Another important technique many toppers recommend is taking mocks with the mindset of giving the actual exam and stimulating similar exam conditions. You can also get a better estimate of your performance if you attempt all mocks with the mindset of giving the actual paper. Start taking mocks at the same time as your actual exam slot, sit at your desk for an hour before starting the mock, as you’ll have to on the D-day before the exam begins. Keep your phone away and avoid talking or getting up from your desk during mocks. All this will help you become familiar with the exam day process and avoid any shock factors or feeling of being faced with something unknown.
Komal shares that to reduce exam anxiety, she attempted multiple mocks at cafes or places with loud music playing in the background. This practice proved helpful on the exam day, as she was allocated a centre near the airport, and she had to take the test with constant noise in the background. She could have been easily distracted and made silly mistakes had she not attempted mocks in public places.
Build a support group
Having a support system to talk to and share anxieties with is essential for CAT preparation. It can be an isolating and nervous journey to pick yourself up after disappointing mocks and keep yourself motivated to study. In these pressing times, it’s best to take a day’s break, relax, indulge in your hobbies, go out, or talk to friends and family. All this uplifts your mental health and gives you an emotional boost to get back to your study schedule. Even having a study buddy to just hear you out and motivate you to be accountable goes a long way in maintaining a cool and calm mindset.
Anas Ahmad, a 93.85 percentiler, shared that he made sure to take regular breaks and talk to friends and family to de-stress. This habit encouraged him to prepare diligently without feeling pressured.
Meditation and breathing exercises
Lastly, most top scorers swear that regular meditation helped calm their nervous system and improved their concentration. Taking 10 mins out of the day to sit quietly, focusing on your breathing or imagining your D-day routine and how you’ll attempt the exam, helps break exam pressure. Building this habit will also calm your nerves on the actual exam day if you suddenly start feeling anxious. You can take a few seconds to focus on your breathing and remind yourself that you have done your best in preparation, and this is the moment to channel that preparation into performance.
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