Cracking the CAT is not difficult if one is familiar with the topics learned in high school. It is certainly feasible to study for this exam by yourself using a self-structured study plan. The catch is that it demands a great lot of self-discipline, a well-crafted timetable adapted to your own demands, and strict adherence to the established schedule. It is critical to use a systematic online CAT preparation schedule while studying at home.
The amount of time it takes to obtain a good understanding of the topics being assessed differs from person to person. Two months should suffice to cover the basic principles of the key areas. CAT 2021 is just almost si months away, aspirants should use this opportunity to improve their preparation.
Check the CAT past year papers to get a sense of the kind and level of questions that will be asked on the test.
The 2-phased approach:
Phase 1:
Aspirants must avoid skipping over the fundamentals. During this phase, the emphasis must also be on establishing conceptual clarity. As a result, aspirants should avoid making hasty decisions such as taking shortcuts before gaining a thorough comprehension of the topics.
It is critical to develop the basics of the needed topics if the scores in some areas are poor (say, less than the 70-75 percentile). Make detailed notes to help you recall crucial formulae and techniques. Identify and practice your weak areas.
In the actual test, you cannot waste time attempting to interpret the template problems. As a result, strive to solve a large number of problems in order to reinforce the principles you've already learned. There will be some topics with which you will be uncomfortable; identify these topics and rehearse them frequently. Depending on how much time you have during the day, allocate it proportionately to the three sections based on your strong and weak areas (for example, if you're a working professional with only two hours a day to prepare on weekdays, allocate one hour to your weaker section and half an hour to each of the other two sections.)
Let's look at each component individually:
- For VARC, try to sum up the editorials in a single sentence; this will aid you in answering major concept questions later. Without choices, Para Jumbles can be challenging. These problems will become much more easier to solve if you understand the logic behind them.
- For Quant, start with NCERT and then go on to Arun Sharma (Quant ). Start working on advanced-level questions once you've mastered the fundamentals.
- Past papers are the finest source for LRDI. At least 3–4 times, practice the identical question from previous papers. Because you'll figure out the pattern and how to solve the problem in 8–10 minutes.
Phase 2:
It is critical to take more practice exams and improve your test-taking abilities. Appear for mocks on a regular basis, then analyze each effort thoroughly. Mocks that aren't taken seriously are pointless. You must thoroughly examine your performance, from the places where you spent too much time to the obvious areas that require better — every flaw must be found and addressed. If you need to revisit a topic, don't be afraid to go back to the beginning and re-do the exercise. It takes some time to establish a solid foundation in your weak areas.
Do not wait until the completion of the syllabus to give mocks. Start with test-taking strategies simultaneously while you are preparing.
Overall try to allocate around 3 hours for preparation during the weekdays and more time on weekends.
CAT necessitates perseverance and discipline. During your preparation, there will be many ups and downs. The important thing is to keep motivated at this time. Make sure you're not too stressed out. Keep reminding yourself how important it is to take pauses while preparing.
All the best!
