Saturday, July 3, 2010

Study Plan for CAT Quantitative section

Study Plan for CAT Quant

If you’re seriously aspiring for CAT examination, you must have had a glance at scores of articles & blogs that must be highlighting you on several tried & tested formula for attaining success in this competitive examination. However if you carry gray matter on your shoulders, you’d be knowing that such claims made are most often fake. There is no such formula to crack the CAT or any specific section and along with your hardwork, sometimes luck also plays a very big part.



Study Plan for CAT Quant

Most of the test takers find CAT Quant as the most difficult section to handle since this test not only tests your graduate math competence, but also other skills such as logic, analytical ability and arithmetic expertise. In our school education, we learn basic concepts such as Algebra, Geometry, and Arithmetic etc. but know very little about how to implement these concepts in competitive examinations such as CAT.

What is a Study Plan?

A study plan is like a curriculum chart, which you prepare and list down the time and energy that you’d be investing while preparing for an important exam. This chart is segregated into different sections, each carrying a manageable task to be handled.

If you wish to create an effective study plan, take a tour of the steps enumerated below and rest assured to attain success in any competitive exam including CAT:

1. Never Prioritize topics

It’s a well known fact that CAT exam has an exhaustive area to be covered. As per previous years paper, you might find few topics carrying more questions that others. But this doesn’t mean that the pattern would continue next year. I would share a very interesting anecdote. During my engineering, I had a elective subject in electrical engineering. In the final exam, I just left one chapter, induction motors as it was expected to have maximum 1 out of 7 questions and we are supposed to attempt 5. In that year, the teacher thought that every mechanical engineer should know about induction motors so there were 4 questions out of 7 from that chapter. I failed in that subject and failed for first time in my life.

So, you should prepare all topics with equal focus and dedication.


2. What is prepared & what needs to be learned?

A study plan can help you sail through if you’re clear about the topics, which need your immediate attention. It’s hard to believe if a student claims that he’s absolutely ignorant of the Quant section. You must be knowing some portions, if not all, of the test material. It’s just that you need to run your eyes through the test material once again, and acquire the expertise in those topics. We advise you to take a Diagnostic test, which would help you analyze where you stand in the competitive race for CAT exam. It would also help you realize how much effort you need to put in to stand in the forefront of the queue for a coveted exam like CAT.

3. Time Management

Time Management plays a crucial role in the preparation of a competitive exam like CAT. It can either translate your dream of clearing CAT exam or break your dream of getting an admission in the top business school of the country. However, only a few of the aspiring candidates know how to leverage the power of time management effectively.

Since you’re the architect of your study plan, you must know which areas need your more attention, and thereafter devise an efficient strategy to attain the goals that you’ve set for achieving success in this exam. You can seek help of calendar to set your own targets and deadlines to accomplish these targets accordingly.


4. Set accomplishable goals

Your study plan should be such that it enables you set specific dates for all the topics that you feel are important & need to be covered on a propriety basis. Set small and accomplishable goals. While you chalk out your study schedule, you need to focus on your core strengths & weaknesses, and then work accordingly.

5. Stick to your plan

You might be a good time manager. However, we recommend you to write down your plan on a sheet of paper, and put on the wall of your room or bulletin board, where you can view it regularly get reminded of the goals you need to accomplish from time to time. This exercise would also keep you informed about the pace of progress that you’re making on a daily basis. However, there might be some junctures in your entire study schedule where you feel tumbled down but don’t get disheartened & restart with vigor more than ever. You can reschedule your entire time table as per your convenience & study needs.

By now, you must have got a fair idea about how to get started with CAT Quant preparation in the most effective way. We wish you all the Best!