Tips to enhance your CAT performance

By: Evlyn Fernandes

A few key aspects while preparing for the CAT exam will ensure clarity in thought process while setting up targets and enhanced performance.

If you are one amongst those who are keen on inching towards a management career, then you have landed yourself on the right platform. Having second thoughts and being in two minds is natural. However, if you are interested in starting up your firm, enhance your negotiation skills or are simply intrigued by the commercial world, then you have to consider an MBA as it is a pathway that leads you to your business destination.

 As we all know that the road to success is always filled with obstacles. Therefore, the major hurdle one has to cross to make it through to business school is the ‘CAT entrance exam’. While the abbreviation may seem quirky but it is not as easy as it sounds. For the uninitiated ones, the Common Admission Test is important if one wants to get enrolled in one of the best management colleges in India. The percentile scored in these exams determines the college one can apply to. Any graduate is eligible to answer CAT provided he has attained 50% in his last exam. I am pretty sure that it is portrayed that CAT is hard to crack and I’ll agree that it is tricky. Yet, we reckon that “where there is a will, there is a way”. Hence, I have jotted down a few points which might help u conquer your fear and get rolling…

6 ways to enhance your performance

Mock tests:

 It is advisable to take a mock test before answering the CAT exam, as it gives oneself a rough idea of how the question paper is going to look like, the number of questions to be expected, the difficult areas, and so on. Therefore, it is an obligation to take at least one mock test before giving the final shot. The number of mock tests to be taken depends upon each person. After all, the more the merrier.

Answering strategy:

One has to be very accurate while tick marking the answers. The minimum number of questions that have to be answered is 15, although it is not mentioned in black and white. All the answers ought to be correct or else one will be negatively marked for incorrect answers. Therefore, one has to make sure that they prepare themselves thoroughly for these 15 questions to avoid less percentile.

Common mistakes:

There is no specific error that one can point out to. As the cognition varies from person to person, what is easy to some may be difficult to the other. Nonetheless, the candidates often utilize the majority of their time in solving arithmetic components. Even before the component appears, the candidate tends to answer in a haste just to give a major portion of his time to solve math. As a result, he may miss out on a few questions in the other 2 components and may perform poorly due to the stress.

Maximize score:

There is only one definite method by which one can maximize score and that is, practice. Thereby sticking to the old cliché phrase “practice makes a man perfect’’ ,one can step up their score game. It is important to take mock tests and refer to the old question papers which will help in building confidence to face the exam. If required, approach your peers and the people who had taken up CAT to get insights.

Timetable:

 I know, maintaining a timetable sounds old fashioned, however, if one is determined, then they ought to schedule their learning activities in a timely disciplined manner. It will help oneself to know the amount of time dedicated to studies and if one has skipped their lessons, then how one can make up to it. Since everything has gone digital now, it is  recommended to maintain an e-journal which gives a reminder about your learning schedule on a timely basis.

Overcome fear:

One may do everything right, adhere to the strict timetable but if one does not know to control their nerves, then we can have a situation. It is because due to anxiety and nervousness one may mess up the answers and may give an outcome less than expected. That is why it is always said ‘confidence is the key’. Even if the outcome is not desired, then no worries. If one has the determination, he will realize that one scoring sheet does not decide his worth. And he will rise from below and give his 100% until he gets what he wished for.

The above 6 ways are just a few implications on how can we perform better. The preparation of CAT takes a good amount of time and it all brings down to one thing: Your determination. If you are determined to pursue management studies, then you will give it your all. Therefore, set your eyes on your goal and stay focussed and healthy.

About the Author:

Evlyn Fernandes is currently pursuing BBA from Don Bosco College. Her hobbies include reading and writing poems and write-ups. She likes experimenting with food.