I still remember filling my cat application around the second week of August, But I started my prep mid-September only. I have never done any prior preparation. My friends were writing the exam so I thought “why not give it a try?”. I had no confidence in clearing cutoffs as I wrote my first Mock and scored just 50 marks. Seeing that, I decided that I will maximize the score to my limit.
My Strategy
So I started studying like 2 hours a day at night 12 am(Actually the best time to study and 2 hours a day is more than enough.) My scores started to improve in Quants and DILR but VARC scores were stagnated.
VARC strategy
As my scores weren’t improving, I started searching for various websites where I could practice Reading Comprehensions and verbal ability. Within 2 months I completed about 200 RC’s and I did them regularly. I also started reading newspapers (if you haven’t started yet, what are you waiting for?) regularly. This improved my marks significantly. Try to learn new words and increase your vocabulary.
DILR strategy
DILR was a strength of mine. I always used to complete the problem given. The only issues was the time taken to complete a set. See, a good mark in DILR is to solve 4 DILR problem set and we are given an hour. The strategy was to find those 4 sets and complete them first and then go to other harder sets. I found this strategy the best as I was able to do 5 sets. One more observation is that Logical reasoning sets are more easy and less time consuming than the Data interpretation sets. So choose accordingly.
Quant Strategy
Quants are hard if you have not studied maths in UG. But it is not impossible to clear cutoffs. Quants have at least 10 questions which is easy and doable. I completed a few basics from NCERT books. Once I was confident enough with my basics, I started doing advance level questions. Now while doing sectional tests (yes you have to do it) my score in quants started improving.
Few recommended tips
- Understand your exam
First, know all about the syllabus and marking scheme of CAT. This will give you a picture of what you have to do.
- Study material
A good source of study material is really important. Books are needed but online sources are also available such as various Youtube channels. They do provide good content but a book would be better.
- Clear your basics first
Before diving into mocks, be thorough with your basic concepts. These will help you solve a complex problem.
- Mocks and sectional Tests
Mocks are really important. They provide insight into where you started and where you are. Spend some time reviewing the mocks as they give a better judgement on which areas to improve and where do you make mistakes. Find out your weaknesses and work on them. Sectional Mocks is must, it will help you a lot in tracking your progress based on section. You have to give at least 1 mock a week to keep your progress in check.
- Learn some Maths tricks for faster calculations
Maths tricks help you to solve various Quant problems very fast. It also saves some more time to do the harder problems.
- Find a friend
This is very helpful. Find a friend who is also preparing for CAT and with him/her start preparing. You will get to know more information, solving strategy by helping one another.
- Common Admission Test
CAT exam is a test of your ability to solve within a time limit. So always remember while solving that if it takes too long to solve a question you are doing something wrong. CAT also tests your accuracy. It’s not enough to solve and move ahead. You have to be very precise in answering questions as one wrong lead to minus one marks.
- Don’t Skip Topics
Never skip topics while learning the basics. You will fall in this trap by thinking, ok log has only 1-2 questions I can skip that and prepare more on some other topic thoroughly. This is a very big mistake as that log question could be the easiest of the paper and you missed on three golden marks.
- There is no Next year
While preparing for the exam it is my humble request just think that this CAT exam will be my Do or Die attempt. Never think that you are writing this exam just for the sake and your real attempt will be on next year. This will marginally bring down your efforts and that leads fewer marks in the exam. So while preparing keep in mind that you don’t have time for next year.
- Motivation
At last, motivation to clear exam should never go down. Keep all negative people out of your life. CAT gives you a chance to change everything respective to your carrer. Never lose motivation in these last 60 days.
