CAT prep 2014: IIM Calcutta student Rishabh discusses tips and strategies for new exam pattern

CAT 2014 is just one and a half months away. Now is the time to develop new strategies and practice mock tests.

Helping aspirants prepare for the exam, we decided to catch up with Rishabh Bajaj, one of the CAT 2013 toppers. Rishabh scored a whopping 99.99 percentile, becoming one of eighteen toppers across India (eight toppers with 100 percentile and 10 candidates with 99.99 percentile). He was also one of the two toppers from Gujarat.

Rishabh has pursued civil engineering from NIRMA University. He is currently pursuing Post Graduate Programme (PGP) at Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta.

Here’s Rishabh discussing CAT strategies and tips with Shiksha.com:

1. According to you, what is the minimum time frame needed to prepare well for CAT? How long did you prepare for it?

CAT preparation can be done in six months or one year as well. It depends on the time, which they are able to dedicate towards preparation on a daily basis. For me, I had to hedge out time between a hectic college schedule and the CAT preparations. It took me around 14 months to prepare with an average of nine to ten hours a week.

2. What study plan did you follow for your CAT prep?

Basically, I had to brush up on my vocabulary and grammar. So I devoted most time to VA. For quant section, all I did was solve questions of various kinds and focus on speed with accuracy. Thus I gave around three to four hours a week for quant preparation and six hours for vocab. But the key here is consistency. Miss out on a week’s preparation, then it keeps piling on and on.

3. How important it is for students to join a coaching institute? Is self-study good enough?

I feel students who are inherently weak in mathematics or find great difficulty in verbal ability should join an institute. It will not only help them solve materials, but help in the overall concept building. Get the basics right and there you are ready to bell the CAT on any given day. Also some institutes help in external preparations as well – GD/PI preps and all other. Thus join only if you feel necessary. Studying yourself, discussing problems, etc. would also suffice. Or better, join the mock exam course to keep track of your progress.

4. How did you divide time for each section? Which sections did you spend more time on?

Already answered that, Verbal to Quant was 2:1 for me with a nine hour week study. Apart from that it’s important to read stuff like novels, magazines, newspapers etc. At least 20 pages daily will help build an aptitude for reading comprehensions. A good hold in Logical Reasoning comes from solving different types of questions. So I would balance between verbal and LR for the same reason.

5. CAT 2014 test pattern has changed quite a bit – 100 questions to be attempted in 170 minutes, with the option of switching between sections at any point during the exam. What’s your take on it?

Interesting patterns IIM Indore people come up with!!! It is quite obvious that one needs to build a clear cut strategy, a plan B in case of exigencies, and of course speed. Switching between sections did not happen during our time, which would frustrate me as I needed more time in quant than in verbal. So it's a good thing they brought up this time. Every second is precious, and not getting stuck on a single question is what is required for attempting maximum questions. Make sure you select the right questions and plan the sequence of paper according to your strengths. 

6. How should be a candidate’s preparation strategy for the new CAT 2014 pattern?

Solve as much as you can for quant. Speed and accuracy is the key. Questions will be easy and there will be shortcuts to solve them and that will be the key in such a paper. Prepare well for reading comprehension and understanding the core idea will be the key. Again the questions will be manageable, select only those questions which you are certainly sure of doing within minimum time.

7. How did you work on improving your weak areas for CAT prep?

I read newspapers and magazines to improve my reading skills while not negating my strength, which is quant. Ironically, I scored more in verbal.

8. How much time did you spend on revision?

One week before the exam would do. Revise type of questions and formulas.

9. Any useful study material/ reference books you can recommend for CAT prep?

No, just a course material from any good coaching institute would do.

10. What did you do right to crack it?

Not taking pressure on the D-day is what I would suggest to everyone. Sleep well on the day before. Be consistent in your preparations. Try not to pile things up for the end. That's it and you will see yourself get through.

11. Now that you are part of IIM Calcutta – the best B-School in Asia – any special tip for MBA aspirants?

Life here is great. You get to meet so many influential people. It's an experience which is worth living. Just make that your motivation and give it your best shot.