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3 WEEKS TO CAT
Sujata Khanna
Chairperson, Career Forum Ltd.
Computer technology has progressed at an incredibly rapid pace since the last ten years. Today, we see pervasive computing in all walks of life, and the education sector is no exception. Hence, it comes as no surprise that the CAT is now an online test. CAT aspirants are still coming to terms with the challenges posed by the online CAT such as getting used to the online format, getting used to reading passages online and getting used to reading graphs online- and we find that the CAT is around the corner, just 3 weeks away!
Considering the time at hand, CAT aspirants would do well if they plan their studies strategically so as to maximise their scoring potential.
 Get under the skin of the CAT!
One thing is very clear from the official guidelines – the CAT 2010 will be on the same fundamental lines as the previous CAT, with the core testing areas being Verbal Ability (VA), quantitative ability (QA), reasoning & data interpretation (DI).
- Solve problems from past CAT papers. The objective of the above exercise is to get familiar with the questions actually asked in CAT papers
- Strictly solve the past CAT problems in the online format. This will hep you in getting used to reading CAT grade Reading Comprehension passages and Data Interpretation caselets on the computer screen.
- Pay great attention to the analytics. Difficulty analysis and Time versus Question Analysis are the two features you must track aggressively. For example, you may realize that you find questions on ‘Functions’ difficult to solve or questions on ‘Numbers’ easy to solve. Further, you may realise you are taking longer time in some types of questions other types. This exercise will improve your ability to select questions judiciously.
- Review each problem in detail after you finish the test. Solve each and every question.
For the QA section, maintain a reference manual. For every question that you solve in the section, record the basic concept or formula used. This manual will be extremely useful for revision just before the exam.
Reading Comprehension questions, as a single chunk, always corners between 40% and 50% of the marks in the verbal ability section. There is no scope of getting a decent score in VA if you are not comfortable with tackling these questions. Solving past CAT papers will help you attain a comfort level with the kind of reading material you are expected to tackle.
When solving the DI section, make a note of the varieties you encounter. Try to document the common reasoning used in certain caselets year after year. This will hone your ability to quickly decipher the approach to use in cracking DI caselets. You will develop a sharpness that will help identify what data to focus on and what data is superfluous.
Pace Yourself!
- Pace yourself correctly on Online Sectional Tests under strict time constraints. In a full length paper, there are no time restrictions. Consequently, you tend to spend more time on your favourite section, and fail to allocate adequate time to other sections. This results in your not clearing the required sectional cut-offs. Hence, it is important that you take at least one sectional test per day.
- Know your limits. Every individual has an optimum pace at which his/her score is maximum. Increasing attempts works only to a certain extent and stretching yourself to attain more than you can usually leads to an imbalance in speed and accuracy. Result – poor judgment and low scores! Sectional tests will give you crucial knowledge of the optimum attemptability you, as an individual, should attain to maximize your score.
Condition Yourself!
- Just like the Prelims for a board exam, you need to have Prelims for CAT. Join a reliable Test Series which gives In-lab testing under simulated exam conditions. Take one such test every week. With 20-30 candidates sitting in the lab you will get correct feel of the environment.
- Take this opportunity to apply the insight into your abilities that you have developed while solving past CAT papers. Maximize your strengths and minimize your weaknesses. As you get more comfortable taking full-length tests in exam conditions, your choice of questions to attempt and your ability to balance scores across sections will improve. A balanced attempt is crucial for calls!
In the 3 weeks preceding CAT, your objective should be to refine and polish your ability rather than compete with fellow candidates. If you focus on sharpening your abilities now, the result will take care of itself on the final day.
Given the fact that CAT is as much a test of nerves as it is of aptitude, of a student, it is extremely important to be on an even keel. There will be ups and downs in your performance. Keep track of the mistakes you made in the battles, but remember, you are preparing for the war called CAT 2010, and it is more important to keep battling in order to win this war! |
