By the end of August, most of the serious candidates for CAT have been preparing for about three months, and there are another three months to go for D-Day. Like a one-day cricket match, the middle overs are the most critical. The final outcome is often determined by one's strategy during the crucial middle overs.
What to do in this stage?
By this time serious candidates should be trying to complete their funda books. Funda books are very important because good understanding of fundamentals is critical towards a continuous increase in scores till CAT. If one has attempted shortcuts during the initial funda building stages, he/she is surely going to plateau out much before CAT. What this means is that while during the initial practice tests scores will improve, after a certain point in time the scores will plateau and not see significant increase. So, please take this time seriously, try to be thorough in your fundamentals, and also work hard to complete all your funda books before the end of August.
Weak areas? They can actually be your strengths.
Remember, that this is the only time you will have before CAT to strengthen your supposedly weak areas. Over the last 10 years of preparing students for CAT, I have seen innumerable examples of aspirants who worked on areas that they thought they were weak in, and converted them into very strong areas. This is especially true in the case of many who think that Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation are their weak points.
Once you identify the topics you are weak at, go back to the funda books and read those topics thoroughly. Attempt all possible questions in those areas, exploring 2-3 different ways of doing them. Don't leave even one question until you get it right. I know it's a very long and arduous way to get it right, but hey, success never came easy. Most of those who clear CAT have gone through this process diligently.
Attempt section tests in your weak areas. After attempting each test, analyse it properly until you have seen all the mistakes you have made. Also, make sure that you go through the questions you got right in order to find different ways to do the same questions in lesser time.
Mock CATs!
Now is the time you should start getting a feel of the real thing. Funda books are important but they rarely excite anyone. Section tests are better, but too short. It is the feel of the real thing that is the key now. So, Mock CATs and full two-hour tests get into the focus now.
But don't get too excited and do a test every day. Take one or two tests a week. But more important than taking a Mock Test is to analyse it completely. Mock Tests don't help you in any way. It is the analysis that helps. A standard rule of thumb is that the time spent in analysis should typically be twice the amount of time spent on the test. So, for a sectional test of 30 minutes, one must spend one hour analysing it. If you have taken a two-hour mock test, spend four hours analysing it.
Mock Tests have very specific purposes to play. One, getting you into the habit of concentrating for two hours at a stretch. It builds you mental stamina. Two, learning time management techniques -- how to manage sectional time and time you spend on each question. Three, experimenting with different techniques. It is during the Mock Tests that you can experiment with different approaches to sections and questions. Things like how to practice the elimination method while selecting the answers, how to attempt the paper in rounds etc. are all practiced and perfected during Mock Tests. Finally, understanding yourself. You understand your strengths, weaknesses, common mistakes and other facets of test-taking skills most when you analyse your two-hour Mock Tests. A thorough analysis reveals all that and much more. Spend your time studying the common mistakes you are making and how to avoid them. Also, spend time on the questions you answered correctly, and how it could have been done faster.
Make sure that you utilise the Mock CATs to the fullest by religiously following these principles:
Tracking your progress
Maintain a scorecard of your scores in Mock Tests. The score card should include details such as overall score, how many correct/incorrect responses, score in each section with accuracy ratios. For each test you should also have a column for comments where you can write you observations, strategies, common mistakes etc. Over a few weeks you will see a distinct pattern emerging giving you directions on what works for you, what doesn't, what areas to work on and what the right strategy for you should be.
Is it the end of the long and boring funda books?
No. Not at all. Funda books continue to remain important. Keep spending time on the theories and formulae given in the funda books. Especially for questions that you are repeatedly getting wrong in the tests.
Working Hard vs. Working Smart
Although I will never dissuade anyone from working hard, working smart is really the key here. The approach towards preparing for CAT is similar to an Army General's preparation towards war. You work out your entire strategy, identifying potential areas, strengthening potential weak links, and using the best resources most economically. It is both a science as well as an art.
So make sure that your approach is scientific as well. Maintaining a scorecard is really the first step. Looking for trends, identifying weaknesses and working on them are all scientific approaches towards preparing for CAT. So think smart and act smart.
Gautam Puri is the managing director of Career Launcher, an education company that offers career-oriented training and preparatory education to students.
