How Can CAT Aspirants Make Best Use of Online Classes

While it is difficult to predict anything concrete for the post COVID-19 world, at least the CAT aspirants possess the luxury of time but they need to take care of a few briefs. By Aritro Dasgupta

For students fresh out of school, the entrance exams, under normal circumstances would have been just around the corner. This year, while they have been delayed, there is much anxiety among students and educators alike on the exact timeline for these tests to be held. There is also the not- so- small matter of a few pending Board examinations as well. Common Admission Test or CAT 2020 aspirants, fortunately would have none or very little of the same levels of anxiety. The CAT exam is typically held in late November, or even later. The related MBA entrance exams such as XAT, MAT, CMAT or IIFT exam, are also held during roughly the same timeline.

While it is difficult to predict anything concrete for the post COVID- 19 world, at least the CAT aspirants possess the luxury of time. Most students who were enrolled at some coaching institute or the other would already be having their classes scheduled online. There are others, who had in any case enrolled for the online classes, as this has been a popular trend over the recent years. For the latter, the challenge may be lesser, as they had in any case enrolled for the online classes. They had possibly anticipated being super busy at work. For those who had originally intended to take up offline classes, the present condition may have initially come as a rude shock.

These CAT aspirants who have suddenly been forced to take up online classes, need to take care of a few briefs. This will ensure that their preparations do not suffer to any extent that they had initially feared. Following are some steps these students must take care of:

Use of Laptops

Numerous studies have confirmed how the retention of knowledge improves many fold when a larger screen or book is used, as opposed to the small screen of a mobile phone. While the latter is ideal as a quizzing tool, the former is needed while first grasping the fundamentals. There are far fewer distractions on the laptop, in comparison to the plethora of chatting tools and micro-links on the smart phone. There may also be fewer advertisements. In addition, using the larger screen is also less harmful to one’s eyes.

Also Read:

• CAT Syllabus
• CAT Exam Pattern

Proper Time-Table

CAT is an exam, which is taken by people across different work experience brackets. Some of the takers are rank freshers, still in their final year of graduation. Others may have dropped out a year, to attempt at improving scores. There are those who have a few years’ work experience. This bracket typically falls between one and three years’ experience. And then there are those who are even more experienced. For those employed right now, days may well be spent in front of a computer screen working from home. Those still in college would have the greater luxury of time. Irrespective of present employment status, CAT aspirants need to curate a proper time-table for themselves. This will include ample time for rest, entertainment, study and of course, household chores, that are so important now.

Also Read:

• Best Books for CAT
• How to Prepare for CAT 2020?

Micro Study Groups

A good idea that several institutions allow for is the use of smaller study groups. Online classes, unlike the classroom ones, tend to have a much more skewed student- teacher ratio. A usual classroom can only accommodate up to a maximum of fifty odd students. Even larger halls, typical for medical colleges or bank exam coaching, would not be having capacity for more than a few hundred seats. In an online setting though, a trainer can beam one’s classes to thousands of students at a time. Students could insist or at least ask for smaller groups, curated for the purpose of doubts. Even if the institute does not officially grant this, students would be well advised to create their own groups on mobile messaging platforms. A few friends could well be part of one. This will help them to clear each other’s doubts and encourage healthy competition.

Regular Testing

One of the biggest advantages of the online mode of study is of course, the ability to constantly test oneself. Even if one were to enrol for the usual offline classes, testing would have to be online. This is simply because the real exam too is in that mode. A lot of test takers may debate that now is too early to take up full- length mocks. This may somewhat be correct, depending purely on individuals’ level of preparation. By May, in any case, the real mocks do begin everywhere. Students often pass on the excuse that their “syllabus” isn’t over. Nonetheless, irrespective of preparation stage, all students must at least attempt topic-wise tests. So whichever topics of reasoning, quants or verbal have been completed, or one is more comfortable in, must be first attempted. Sectional tests could be next, before one graduate’s to the full-length tests.

• Take CAT Mock Tests
• Download CAT Question Papers

One is often quoted saying, “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade out of it.” This is the exact mantra that CAT 2020 aspirants need to follow right now. Unlike those who recently completed school, CAT takers have the luxury of not having to worry immediately now. They just need to keep their focus, prepare, practice and test themselves.

Also Read:

Impact on GK & current affairs for entrance tests due to coronavirus lockdown

About the Author:

Aritro Dasgupta is a Teacher, Trainer and Content Writer. He has taught at several leading colleges and coaching institutes in both India and the UAE. Several of his students have finished in the top 10 of various national level exams such as CLAT, AILET and DUJAT. He is also a prolific content writer, having written for several leading publications in India, while currently, also working for one in the USA.