This 100 percentiler shares the essential mantras to crack CAT 2016

Prateek Bajpai shares the essential mantras to crack CAT 2016

CAT is one of the biggest management tests conducted for MBA aspirants. Every year, lakhs of MBA aspirants appear for the exam, but not everyone makes it to the top. The secret behind exceling in the exam certainly involves a lot of hard work, but the right preparation strategy also plays a major role in the same.

Shiksha spoke to Prateek Bajpai, CAT 2015 100 percentiler. In the following interview, know how to prepare for CAT 2016 in the right manner, and excel in the examination.

Does coaching play an important role in CAT 2016 preparation or is self-study sufficient?

It depends a lot on how comfortable you are with Maths, Reasoning or English right now (when you start preparing for the exam). Some of these sections might come naturally to an aspirant, and thus it becomes easier to improve in that section. Also, it depends on the type of person you are, as in do you prefer doing things on your own or you require guidance throughout? I didn’t join any coaching institute nor did I refer any study materials. I just attempted the mock tests of various coaching institutes and I felt that was sufficient for me.

When is the right time to start preparing for CAT 2016?

The right time is now. Once you’ve made up your mind for writing CAT, the sooner you start, the better. If there is more than enough time for the exam (read 8 months or more), one can start off with something less demanding, like solving some puzzles or practising reading comprehensions, but one must start. However, I feel that 6 months of time is more than enough to get a really good score in CAT.

What should be the routine study strategy of CAT 2016 aspirants?

It’ll vary a lot for person to person. However, now that it is September already, one should be already done with at least the basics of all the sections. It all comes down to practice in the last couple of months.

I’ll give a few key suggestions that’ll definitely help a lot –

1. Always solve questions by setting a time limit. This way, you can develop the art of leaving questions which is very important for doing well in a speed based exams such as CAT.
2. Maintain a thick notebook with all the QA formulas and keep updating it with every mock/sectional test you give. Revise it once every 15-20 days. By Oct, these formulae should become an extension of your mind. Recalling them instantaneously during mocks/CAT is very important. You can utilise travel time to office or other free time for revising this, I did.
3. Mental calculations are very important. Make these calculations a habit and a part of your life. Trust me, it will help you in more ways than you can imagine even long after CAT is over.
4. For VA/RC, instead of investing time in novels/newspapers, invest that same amount of time in solving RC passages on various themes and topics (With a time limit of course). This way, you'll practice a lot of reading as well as you'll also practice spotting answers for questions.
5. Mock tests are the single most important step in your CAT preparation. It prepares you for the final battle by simulating the same. Start giving mock test if you haven’t already and analyse it properly afterwards.
6. Once you start writing mocks, maintain an excel sheet to keep track of questions in VA and QA topic wise. After every mock, during analysis, just fill this excel sheet. After 10-15 mocks, you'll be very clear about which topic you are attempting less, where your accuracy is lacking etc. It will help you much more than you realise. When you'll be finalising a strategy for the final exam, this data will help you in deciding how to approach the paper. It definitely helped me a lot.
7. Do not try to do too many things. Keep it simple. Don't ask for too many suggestions. Talk to a few good people, make a good plan that you feel will work for you and just do it.
8. Do not get affected by a change in pattern or any other changes. Take it as a challenge and as an opportunity to develop yourself as per the need. Remember that this change is for everyone, not just you.
9. Develop a balanced performance across all 3 sections. This is very important. Devote more time to your weak areas and work on it until you are good at that too.
10. Keep calm. Develop this skill with every mock you write. This way, you'll not get all tensed up during CAT and will be able to perform to your full potential. You'll be able to take CAT just like another mock test.

Which books/study material should CAT 2016 aspirants use?

Not too sure about this as I didn’t use any. However, study material of all the coaching institute must be almost similar. Just pick up any and solve it seriously.

What should be the sectional preparation strategy?

My previous answers covers most the points for this question. However, for DI/LR, I have following additional suggestions.

For DI -

1. Quick mental calculation skills are absolutely necessary. Develop this skill with lots of practice and make it a habit. Try and avoid calculator as much as possible for anything that you do.
2. Practice all sorts patterns or types of question that can come in DI, a good book or study material will familiarize you with all these. Be comfortable with all common variations and types possible.
3. CAT is known for throwing surprises in DI/LR section (CAT 2015 DILR too was quite unorthodox). Be prepared for this. You can experiment all you want before CAT but I would suggest you to avoid these different types during the actual CAT. CAT is not meant for experimenting. Try and solve the familiar ones first and then if time permits, go for these different ones.
4. Lots of mocks and sectional tests.

For LR -

1. In every LR set, most likely in every set there will be a 'weak link'. Try and develop the skill to identify this weak link quickly, the entire set will revolve around that.
2. Practice all sorts patterns or types of question that can come in LR, a good book or study material will familiarize you with all these. Be comfortable with all common variations and types possible.
3. Think, and think fast. For both DILR, identifying the sets to be left is very crucial and it will come only with practice.
4. Lots of mocks and sectional tests.

Should candidates also appear for other management exams? If yes, which exams?

There is no harm in writing as many exams as possible provided you have the time. In addition to CAT, XAT, IIFT, NMAT, SNAP are other popular exams, but make the decision based on your target colleges.

CAT scores are used for admission to 19 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and various other top B-Schools. Are you eligible for the IIMs? To know more, click on the image beside.

Also read:

Achintya Bhattacharyya unveils the secret to crack CAT 2016

Know CAT 2015 topper Sanuj Mittal's preparation strategy

CAT 2016: Simple tips to optimize exam preparation

CAT 2016: Preparation Plan for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning