MAH CET 2020 Topper and IMS Faculty Shashank Prabhu Shares MAH CET Preparation Tips

Shashank Prabhu, MAH CET 2020 topper and IMS faculty, shares with Shiksha key tips to score 99.99 percentile in the exam. Read below.

Shashank Prabhu, faculty at IMS Learning Resources, Thane, appeared for MAH CET 2020 in the capacity of a mentor and not a student so he was pleasantly surprised to score 99.99 percentile (overall score:159/200) and bag all India rank 1. “I was expecting a score of around 160 marks so even that was in line with what I had predicted. The rank was a surprise though – I was expecting someone to cross the 160 barrier given the nature of this year’s test,” he said.

Shashank is an MBBS (Grant Medical College, Mumbai) and an MBA (FMS, Delhi) by qualification and is currently mentoring students at IMS, Thane for CAT and MAH CET. He has secured the top percentile in 14 national level tests including a 100 percentile once in CAT exam and thrice in IIFT exam. He has taken MAH CET eight times, has scored 99.99 percentile in six of those attempts, and has been ranked No. 1 thrice.

Shiksha spoke with Shashank after MAH CET 2020 result was declared. He shared key tips and strategy of MAH CET preparation that will be very useful for prospective candidates. Read on.

Q: Please share with us MAH CET preparation strategy.

A: From an overall perspective, all the sections would require a good hold on the basics and a thorough understanding of the various question types and styles that exist. So, I would suggest any serious aspirant to do this exercise upfront before s/he starts taking mock tests.

Also Read:

• MAH CET syllabus
• MAH CET exam pattern

Q:How does a coaching institute help in MAH CET preparation?

A: A coaching institute generally helps in two broad areas: content and strategy. When it comes to the content, a focus on eliminating steps and exploring shortcuts across topics helps solve the easier questions quickly. Also, strategy is very important when it comes to the CET. One has to understand one’s strengths and most importantly areas of improvement to excel at the test. Having a mentor who has gone through the drill gives confidence to the student when it comes to implementing the professed strategies. The most important contribution though I believe, is the motivation that accompanies the content and strategy inputs.

The preparation journey is arduous and it is very easy to give up and look for alternatives. That’s where I believe the mentor comes into the picture. So, it would be an advantage if one were to be in the company of seasoned veterans who have been there and done that and know a thing or two about mentoring and motivating the students.

Q: How important is a mock test series and how many would you recommend?

A: Attempting full length simulated tests before the actual test is almost mandatory. Attempting around 10-15 mocks would be a good exercise in understanding where your strengths and areas of improvement lie and so, a mock test series would be helpful in this regard. The key to improving your score would lie in analyzing the mock thoroughly though. I strongly suggest my students to do their rough work in an organized manner and keep the sheets with them when they are analyzing the mock. Understanding how your mind works, when do you get fatigued and to an extend, what is your philosophy towards life matters a lot.

Download: MAH CET sample papers

Q: What was your MAH CET exam day strategy?

A: I always tend to take the most challenging part of any assignment head on and keep the easier things for the end. Also, the Analytical Reasoning (referred to as LR by some) is a critical section when it comes to the test and contributes to roughly 40 per cent of the eventual score. So, to get an idea of the overall level of difficulty of the test, I started with the Analytical Reasoning section and gave around 60 minutes to the same. The section was moderate-tough and so, I ended up making around 60 genuine attempts in the section. Then I went to the next most difficult part of the test i.e. the Visual Reasoning section and had planned to spend around 20 minutes on the section. I felt that the section was a bit lengthier compared to the experiences shared by the test takers from the other slots and so, had to let go of the section after I had made some 17-18 genuine attempts. The Verbal Ability section was a breeze and there being no new question types or surprises, I was able to solve the entire section of 50 questions in just about 30 minutes. I had kept my favourite section (Quantitative Ability) for the end and was able to solve the entire section in around 40 minutes. This order and strategy have worked well for me in the past and so, I tend to stick to these.

Q: What advice would you give to future MAH CET aspirants?

A: Understand yourself well as a candidate. You are going to be a manager and so, have to show a propensity towards analyzing data, drawing insights and optimizing your resources. The first product you are in charge of is yourself and if you are able to improve with each passing mock, you should be in good shape come the actual test day. Also, be aware of the various question types and cross-linkages that exist between concepts so that you know the best method to crack each question. Do not shy away from talking to mentors who are experienced in test-taking and focus your energies on the one seat that you need. 

Read More:

• MAH CET 2020 result declared: Meet the toppers
• MAH CET Cut Offs: Check previous and expected cut offs
• MAH CET 2020 Counselling: Process and merit lists