CAT 2014: Preparation strategy for working executives
By Ankur Agarwal
Working and preparing for CAT? Well a little discipline on top of a well-planned schedule will make sure that you pass the test with flying colors.
Managing work and CAT preparation together is difficult, but not impossible altogether. In fact having work-experience will give you an upper hand when it comes to securing admissions. But how to begin preparing is the biggest question at hand.
First of all you need to decide that does your work schedule permit you to attend daily classes or an online study mode is what will fit in your busy day. Most of the time regularly attending classes on top of a tight work schedule may be impossible. Hence going for an online course will provide you the flexibility of studying whenever and wherever you want.
Once you have settled with a choice; next comes the schedule making process. In case of working executives, a little more is required than just a mere schedule. The will to adhere to the schedule is mandatory. On weekdays when you have regular 10-12 hours of office, working an hour for CAT preparation will be enough. Set a target on how much you plan to finish off rather than deciding how much time you will be giving. Measuring progress in terms of work done is better than amount of time given.
Start off by practicing small basic exercises and analyze all the questions even if it takes a little extra time. Reignite the study mode which you apparently put away when you enter into the corporate world. Then move on to the chapter-wise approach in each subject. And once you are done with learning part, attempt on the full course tests and analyze your performance closely. These full course tests will help you familiarize yourself with the test pattern.
During weekends try to stretch yourselves a bit if you haven’t achieved your set target yet. CAT is an exam which requires sincere dedication from your end. If you keep slacking behind and putting off work you will never achieve the target you set out to accomplish.
If you don’t want to sit at a stretch and study for hours together take a 20-30 minute study sessions in early morning before office and the rest of the work after office hours. Such small study sessions will not only remove the stress factor of the prep but also help you use time more efficiently. Just keep efficiently juggling between work and studies, and even before you notice you will be done with CAT.
About the author
Ankur Agarwal heads the IT and Publishing verticals of Endeavor Careers and Catgurus - a leading online Testing portal for CAT Aspirants.
