10 Days for CAT 2016 Exam – What You Can Still Do to Make a Difference!

With aspirations of getting into the best of B-School, many students register for the CAT entrance test. This year, approximately 2,30,000 applicants have registered for the CAT entrance exam, which is one of the highest registrations in past seven years. With the growing competition, these exams are bound to mount a lot of pressure on the students.

Here are some tips that will help you in putting your best foot forward on the CAT exam day:

• Stay Determined- It is important to stay motivated and not buckle under pressure. Remember to stay calm, keep trying and look for solutions for the problems

• Practice to Increase Your Speed- To be able to give your best and attempt maximum questions in the limited time that you get to attempt the paper. Practice in advance. Note the time taken to solve problems and work on increasing your speed. Look for ways to increase your calculating speed and also practice mental calculations

• Identify Your Problem Areas- To be efficient enough and perform well, it is necessary to find out your problem areas well in advance and find out solutions for it. Remember to manage your time and energy appropriately to be able to give the time needed to all the subjects

• Be Alert- Make sure that you are aware of all the changes made in the CAT processes. Not only that, it is important to know what other people are talking about, you are most likely to get the solutions to your problems through various discussions that happen around CAT

• Do Not Hesitate to Ask for Help- Whether you prepare on your own or take help of a coaching institute, you are bound to face problems and have doubts while you study. Do not hesitate in reaching out to people who can help you solve your issues. Contact the subject experts and ask them for help to get the best possible solutions and advice

• Relax and Rejuvenate- To think right and focus your energy in the right direction, being healthy is very important. Remember to eat properly and keep yourself hydrated. Take short breaks from the studies and indulge in some leisure and recreational activities such as sports, Yoga, Watching movies, Dance, Paint or whatever makes you feel happy and relax

• Make Quick Notes- Prepare notes in a way that they help you do a very quick revision when you do not have much time left for the exam. Having a quick recap of the topics you have covered gives you more confidence on your preparation

• Don’t Panic- While attempting the paper, do not panic or get disheartened if you are not able to solve a problem. You need to move ahead and stay focused to be able to solve the rest of the questions that are to be pending. Get the answer right for as many questions as possible

• Understand When to Stop- Students tend to lose track of time when they try to solve a question and are not able to get the right answer. You need to judge the point where you need to stop trying and move towards the next question so that you do not lose time and are able to attempt the entire paper

• Work on Enhancing your Accuracy- Being fast is not the only important thing, the answers also need to be right. Since CAT has negative marking, do not indulge in guessing game, leave the answer if you think it’s wrong because negative marking can take you down and affect your rank badly.

-- Contributed by

Prof Dr Savitha G R, Associate Professor – HR, WeSchool, Bangalore