Common Mistakes Committed by Aspirants Before CAT Exam

CAT- Last-Minute Preparation: A Common Pitfall

We see many types of candidates aspiring to write the CAT exam to qualify and join premium management institutes in India.

An often used idiom “Don’t burn the midnight oil” is apt for aspirants doing last minute preparations before taking CAT exams. When I interview candidates, many of them narrate that they have been doing last minute preparation. Those who are  employed, take a break and prepare hard during the last fortnight. Others, too intensify their preparations during the last week. Compare this with other competitive exams like IIT-JEE and NEET where aspirants start preparations a few years before the actual exam. Such an approach, i.e., commencing preparations six to eight months before the exams will yield good results. I strongly believe that last minute preparations may not be very effective, given the lack of time available for practice, and  the mental stress associated with doing well in the single chance the aspirants get.

An exam like CAT, where aspirants get a single chance to do well, warrants a different type of preparation. A useful metaphor is the way that batsman play in a T20 cricket game. They start hitting the ball from the first ball they face. We call this muscle memory and a similar approach will be useful for CAT exam. Aspirants should undertake lot of practice tests well in advance, so that they are well prepared when they enter the examination hall. Lack of practice enhances stress levels and the aspirants may not be in the right mind space to do well.

Steps to Strengthen Preparation and Reduce Stress

What aspirants should do are the following:

• Join a prep course to prepare for CAT exams in a systematic manner. Many such courses are available and they help brush up concepts and provide lot of practice tests. Some of them provide individual advice to identify and rectify weakness.
• Do not take practice tests lightly. Spend more time in analyzing the mistakes and try to identify why you committed mistakes. Since CAT involves sets of questions, it is more important to analyze the set in its entirety.
• Identify a strategy that works well for you. If you are strong in a specific area, select that area first and complete the section, so that you could spend more time on other sections.
• Complete your preparations including adequate practice tests at least 48-72 hours before the exam. Revise only those questions where you made mistakes in the last 48 hours. Spend the night before the exam peacefully rather than going out or partying. Complete the recce of the test location before the day of the exam and start early for the exam to avoid any last minute tension.

Wishing all the aspirants good luck for the forthcoming CAT exam.

By- Prof. D. Sriram - Professor of Marketing and Program Director (PGDM), Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai.