Ideal time to start CAT preparation

Ideal time to start CAT preparation

“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” ……….. Abraham Lincoln

There are two types of students

a) Who start the preparation long before the CAT, usually the first timers !!!

b) Who start the preparation six months before the CAT, usually the repeaters !!!

I have been training students for CAT for the last fifteen years and have enough examples of both types of students selected to the top b-schools over the years. I always find that one question appears time and again: Do I have sufficient time to crack CAT?

Can I do it in 6 - 7 months by studying 3 - 4 hours every day?
My answer to this question has always been “YES and NO both”.

It won’t be enough if you study as per your convenience. In short, random solving of few math’s questions, LRDI sets, RC passages and appearing for few free mocks here and there is not sufficient to crack CAT, even if you keep on doing it for couple of years.

6 – 7 months is enough, if you have a good plan to follow, and enough motivation to keep on following it for every single day for the next 6-7 months.

1) Chose the study time when you are at your best:-
most productive time in your study
is it late night?
Early morning?
Pre-lunch?
Post-lunch?
Identify those 2 - 3 hours that may matter the most for your career !!!

2) Get your basics right:- CAT has never been an exam to search for Math's genius. It doesn’t ask rocket science. The basics of CAT come from your high school syllabus of math’s and English. So, no excuses for getting the basics wrong !!!

3) Draft your daily targets:- 15 - 20 questions of QA , 2-3 sets of DI/LR and 2 passages of RC is the least you need to do every day. Anything more than this will be a bonus. On any single day, if this minimum target has not been achieved, you should not be able to sleep properly !!!

4) Resolve your doubts in no time:- one of the most important factors, which influence your overall preparations and motivation for the same !!!

5) Get in touch with your mentor:- extremely important at the time of your preparation, a good strategy can bring out the best from you !!!

6) Newspaper reading:- If you don’t find an hour to read and think about the newspaper editorials daily, you are doing severe damage to your intellectual discourse in the long run. MBA is a professional course and it needs you to be well aware of the issues of social, political and economic interest around the world. It is absolutely must when you prepare for CAT !!!

7) Set up a testing mechanism:- About 25 - 30 mock tests are enough, if you use them properly. Take one mock every week for at least 4 months without any break. Besides, it is equally important to analyse the mock within 3 - 4 days of taking it. Identify your mistakes, weak and strong areas, and formulate new strategies for the next mock. Every mock should be a stepping stone for the final CAT exam !!!

8) Avoid over-thinking:- Think less and act more, 3 - 4 hours a day is not a bad idea. It is the only thing that is in your control !!!

Remember, hours don't count. Your daily targets do !!!