Crack CAT 2011 - 10 Tips and Tricks

When you prepare for something like the CAT, you should gainfully utilize the time in between to build a stronger profile.

The MBA aspirants who are burning their midnight oil crack the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2011 to make it to one of the prestigious B-schools like IIMs, MDI etc. would number to over a lakh. But only few will be able to make it to the coveted seats. To be one of them, you need to have proper dedication, motivation and tenacity throughout your preparation duration.

Read on to know the 10 key tips.

Starting CAT prep: Preparation takes anywhere between four months to 18 months depending on your starting intelligence level and how much you would need to develop your intelligence. Focus on the development of your intelligences during your preparations. One of your options is to join a coaching. It would give you the platform to start the preparation.

Preparing for CAT in 5 months: Define your overall task in terms of number of questions you want to solve (and learn from) in each area. Then divide your time available into the number of weeks you have. That will give you the amount of work you would need to do in each section on a weekly basis. Then start giving it your all - focus on your error sources, balancing your work in each section and have a clear strategy of the level of excellence you target in each area of each section.

Time management: You first need to define at what level you are currently in each area - that would define the amount of work you would need to do in order to get to the requisite percentile levels. Thus, for instance, in Quantitative Ability if you are weak in all areas, you would need to solve and learn from around 5000 questions in order to match your skills with the best. Over a 150 day period this means 30 to 35 questions per day. Of course you can apply selective studying by focusing on some of the more important topics to take to the highest skill level - while others you can just solve the basic level of questions. The philosophy is that when you are in a battle, you do not try to hold back your resources - but you give it "Whatever it takes".

Quantitative Ability: Quant is a portion where you need to develop your intelligence in six broad parts. The areas are: Block 1 - Number systems, progressions; Block 2 – Averages, Alligations; Block 3 - Percentage, Ratios....to Time Speed Distance; Block 4 – Geometry, Mensuration; Block 5 - Functions inequalities, logs quadratics Block 6 - P&C, Probability. Focus on the development of your intelligences in each of these areas. Focus on the learning you can extract out of every question. If you are using my book - my advice would be to tear away the solutions and the answer keys and solve each question to the point where you can be sure of the answer (without needing to check). If you can do so, I don't think CAT or for that matter any aptitude exam would ever hurt you in Quant over the next 10 years! Remember, Question based learning is the key.

Verbal Ability: Focus on sentence, paragraph and passage comprehension. For memorizing words, do more of visualization of the meanings rather than mere cramming.

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning: You should get sufficient practice for the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section so that you get comfortable with the section. The section largely tests your reasoning skills (in case of both DI and LR). The same can be acquired/fine-tuned through practice and more practice. Take your time and read both the questions and data set carefully. Understand what you are being asked to do before you begin figuring out the information. Check the data and types of information required. Be sure that you are looking at the right part of graph or chart i.e., on proper columns or rows or lines.

Taking mock test: After getting the basic concepts clear, you should start taking mock tests. The preferable mode of taking tests is online. There are many portals which offer you mock tests for CAT along with proper scores and analysis. You can also enroll into test series to get regular practice. But before moving into full length mock tests, take sectional mock tests so that you have a clear analysis about where you are heading towards.

Test taking strategy: In the CAT paper, there are three sections. For the past two years, since the test has become computer based, there are 20 questions in each section. You should aim to attempt around 12 to 14 with 0 errors in CAT 2011 paper.

Role of work experience: The importance of work experience is two fold –

1. It gives you an opportunity to show the interview panel your true worth in a professional domain.

2. When you study the MBA course, your grasp of the theory and its applications is much better than a fresher

The key advice for you is – Two to three year work experience for taking CAT. In the meantime improve your profile and you can make it to IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta etc. This is not to say that they would not call you if you do not have work experience.

Don’t worry about poor background: When you prepare for something like the CAT, you should gainfully utilize the time in between to build a stronger profile. Then, it is about keeping two to three year framework in order to get over whatever ‘poor’ past records is there which might hinder you. Focus on improving your profile with work ex/ additional courses. I am sure you can make it happen.

Source: MBA Entrance Exams CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT | MBA Admissions