Wouldn’t it be nice if you ace your CAT exam because you took all the necessary time to prepare for it? In a perfect world, that may be true for everyone. However, that’s usually not the case even if you know that you did all the vital preparatory steps. Why does this happen? Well, for one, you should consider the possibility that you didn’t do the correct steps. Perhaps, your CAT online coaching service you availed of didn’t measure up to the adequate standards?
We understand that there’s no better way to take an exam than to fully prepare for it. It’s just that there are too many sources of advice that they only end up complicating and confusing exam takers. We can say the same for the tips we have shared here. What we’re certain of and what makes them stand out is that they came from previous exam takers who have passed the CAT.
1. Choose the best CAT exam coaching classes to enter into.
Once you do this, you’re practically halfway ready to get to take the exam. Understandably, it can be hard to choose which CAT exam course to take with the plethora of CAT preparation centers out there.
As in most services you are looking to avail of, it’s best to look at feedback to help you decide. Even better if you can take the time to reach out to students who can vouch for various centers and online CAT courses. Also, take a look at the institute’s CAT syllabus and see whether they introduce revisions to it regularly so as to adhere to the present exam guidelines and questions. Don’t overlook the credentials of the instructors as well.
Don’t overlook online coaching for CAT 2021 because it offers plenty of advantages like being able to acquire unique, invaluable insights from experts who themselves have passed the test. And you can do this from the comfort of your home or commuting to a center. Without a doubt, it also gives an undeniable benefit for working students who are starved for time, juggling between work and studies.
2. You can never have enough mock tests.
A lot of CAT exam passers can attest to the sheer effectiveness of mock tests. They not only condition you to the actual exam environment, but they also aid extremely well in boosting your confidence and ability to stay calm when under pressure.
Don’t be shaken if you appear to get failing marks more than passing ones. Do your best to not be stressed if you fail. The key is to keep trying until you get the hang of the questions and pass more often to the point that you feel your confidence levels are high enough. Maintain a mindset that you will only get better as you progress.
3. Focus on your weaknesses.
If it’s your quantitative ability, then be sure to go through all the math basics first. Once you gain a solid grasp of the basics, you would be able to at least provide a sort of safety cushion that will keep your score high in that specific section. Focus on certain topics that have a tendency to be key questions like those in the number system, geometry, among others.
The same applies to logical reasoning and data interpretation and verbal ability and reading comprehension. At best, you should not completely cross out the possibility that questions from last year will appear again for the upcoming exam. Place special focus on them.
4. Cultivate better time management skills.
The time factor is a great determinant of success or failure in the CAT exam, so it’s only vital for you to keep honing your ability to make the most of the time that is given to you. Familiarize yourself and master the time given for each section.
Admittedly, this takes a certain enthusiasm to succeed and a passion for what you do and will have to do come exam day. This is why it would be apt to take extra steps to learn to love the act of taking on the challenges of the CAT exam. If you’re struggling, you can always think of the possibilities that will open up to you once you overcome this particular hurdle.
5. Learn to condition your mind to be calm and attentive.
Whether it’s meditation, guided imagery, or listening to music, it won’t hurt to start adopting these habits more during the entire duration before your exam. You can even throw in regular exercise there since it will prove to be beneficial in improving mood. The worst-case scenario is you end up with a less-than-optimal mental state once the exam day arrives, and that’s a scenario you wouldn’t want to get into for obvious reasons.
6. Enhance your analytical and scanning skills.
Many past test takers can attest to the efficacy of quickly going over every question in a particular section first to gauge the overall difficulty of the questions. It allows you to pinpoint the questions that you can answer within a short amount of time as well as those that you might struggle with, after all. This takes observation and analytic skills.
Of course, the analytical aspect also extends to when you’re preparing, specifically when you are still trying to discover your weak points. This is why it won’t hurt to nurture this skill as well.
7. Hone your strengths further.
Just because you’re confident that you can answer certain sections with relative ease doesn’t mean you should concentrate on those you fall short on. If you can go for the perfect score, then do it! Who knows? It might just make all the difference in the world. And there’s no better way to do this than through consistent practice.
Conclusion
On the whole, the most logical and wisest route to take is to stick to a single source of CAT preparation tips. Put your faith in it and stick to each one every day until the day of the exam rolls. If it happens to be the guidelines we shared here, then we’re more than grateful and gratified for your trust in us. If not, then we hope you find a better source. Either way, we wish you good luck on your exam!