|
|
|
|
|
|
2 Days TO CAT
Sujata Khanna
Chairperson, Career Forum Ltd.
All you CAT aspirants have been toiling hard preparing for this test, learning problem solving techniques, taking an endless array of Pre-CATs by various institutes and burning the midnight oil, honing your test-taking skills! It’s been practice, practice and more practice! Well, it’s now time to use all the tools you learned and all the skills you sharpened. Here are some last minute tips to help you carry out your mission-critical task to its just end.
 TWO DAYS BEFORE CAT
- Take a Full Length Test, structured according to the Prometric Guidelines for CAT.
- Do not jump sections. Jumping sections can play havoc with your time distribution.
- Do not panic. Stick to exactly 45 minutes per section and try to solve questions calmly.
- Attempt your test using the following thumb rule:
| B-Schools |
Sections |
Attempts |
Ideal Time per
Question (min) |
Grade A+ |
QA |
14 - 15 |
3.0 |
DI & RA |
14 - 15 |
3.0 |
VA |
16 - 17 |
2.5 |
Grade A |
QA |
12 - 13 |
3.5 |
DI & RA |
12 - 13 |
3.5 |
VA |
14 - 15 |
3.0 |
Grade B+ |
QA |
10 - 11 |
4.5 |
DI & RA |
10 - 11 |
4.5 |
VA |
12 - 13 |
3.5 |
Grade B |
QA |
8 - 9 |
5.0 |
DI & RA |
8 - 9 |
5.0 |
VA |
10 - 11 |
4.0 |
- After the test is over, review your attemptability and accuracy. An accuracy of approximately 60% in each section should give a minimum sectional cut off, though you will need an overall accuracy of 70%. Use the “Time versus Question” feature in the Test Analytics Utility to review your time allocation strategy.
- Freeze your optimal attemptability, so that you do not panic in the actual exam and try to bite more than you can chew
ONE DAY BEFORE CAT
- Don’t cram. Preparation for CAT is a long term process. Whatever efforts you have put in till now are sufficient, you cannot learn any new things anymore, so just relax.
- Re-view the Prometric Video, “What to expect on the Day of CAT”
- Get your gear together. Gather everything you’ll need to carry with yourself to the test centre:
Documents: Admit Card, PhotoID (as specified in the CAT Bulletin), Voucher, Caste Certificate (if applicable) etc.
Stationery: Ballpoint pen, pencils, an eraser, sharpener.
- Get Rest. The best thing to do the evening before the test is to get a good night’s sleep. Get into the test mode calm, confident, and ready.
ON THE DAY OF CAT
 Before the Test
- Do not forget to eat. Hunger can interfere with your concentration.
- Carry a bottle of drinking water. Since you will arrive at the test centre 2 hrs before the test starts you may need it.
- You may not be allowed to leave the lab during the testing process, visit the bathroom before the test starts.
- Arrive at the appointed time at the test venue. You will find time to relax, get comfortable with the testing environment to be able to reflect for a few minutes before the test begins.
During the Test
- Allocate time wisely. Allot time to the sections and stick to it. It is generally advisable to distribute time equally among sections as you are required to clear all sectional cut-offs to get an interview call.
- Read instructions carefully. A case in point: The CAT 2004 and the CAT 2005 both had a similar question type in grammar. However, the CAT 2004 question set required the student to spot the incorrect options and the CAT 2005 question set required the student to spot the correct options. A number of students reported making a mistake in marking answers in the CAT 2005 test paper as a result of not reading instructions properly.
- Pace yourself. Some of the worst problems occur when students enter a time warp and forget to check the watch, or when they spend too much time on one or two difficult questions. If a question seems difficult, skip it. Don't stay long on a question that you are stuck on. If, you think you can solve the question but are missing something, mark the question for review. You can come back to it after you have reached the end of the section, provided you still have time left.
- Do not resort to random guesses. You might be lucky and guess correctly, but incorrect responses bring down your score considerably. The scoring system for CAT eliminates any advantage of random guessing by deducting a percentage of marks allocated to the question, for each incorrect response you give. If you must guess, always try to eliminate obvious wrong-answer choices first, and then go with your hunch.
- Take a breather. In the test, stop for a moment, shutting your eyes, and taking some deep breaths. Even two or three 15-second breaks can be very helpful. Periodically clearing your head in this way can help you stay fresh during the exam session.
Above all, stay positive in the two days before the CAT! A certain amount of anxiety is normal, or even useful, when you are taking an important exam, but if you feel overwhelmed, you may be suffering from test anxiety. Certain muscular relaxation and breathing techniques are particularly useful for relieving stress. Stop negative thoughts immediately. If you start to doubt yourself, you may go blank during the exam, so keep concentrating on your strengths.
All the best!
|
|
|
