There is a lot of content available online on strategies to prepare for the CAT and to improve scores. While a few of them are really good, most are unrealistic or focused towards only a particular set of people or try to create a pseudo comfort zone for their readers. Let’s understand a one-size-fits-all isn’t applicable in CAT preparation.Through this article, I will try to give guidelines for the right things to do in the CAT preparation with enough scope for customization based on your potential.
Fist things first. Preparation for the CAT is similar to going to a gym. Like for the body, there is certainly a lot of mental exercise needed for the CAT (or any other aptitude test) to get in good shape. So while we understand that it won’t benefit you if your gym-trainer exercises well and explains each exercise equally well to you, it won’t be able to get you in a good shape unless you do these exercises yourself. Unfortunately, very few understand that the same holds true for the CAT preparation. Students spend most of their time trying to find the best classes / best online tutor / best notes / the most difficult questions within and beyond the syllabus and arguing over the same with other students. Let me break the myth by saying that all this won’t matter unless you practice and work hard towards developing the skills needed to crack the exam.
Honestly, I believe that joining classroom training or online training or preparing from books/notes/material for the CAT is just the first step. The real training starts when you put your brains to work in solving a lot of questions. You will relate to this feeling more when you realize that the same questions seem easy in class but are appear extremely difficult during a Mock Test. Imagine if I show you some videos on wrestling and provide you with all the knowledge on different moves. And now, you are directly sent to a wrestling match against a pro-wrestler. You won’t survive in the ring for a minute, will you? The question is, would you blame yourself for not being able to perform well in the ring? You won’t. Because you know that just knowledge of the various wrestling moves isn’t enough to win a fight; you need to practice it to be able to apply it. So while having a good coach/trainer is important it is not sufficient. Do understand that contrary to the popular belief, the CAT preparation isn’t a knowledge-based training, it is actually a skill-based training where it’s not just about the theoretical knowledge of the topics but also about the skill to be able to apply that knowledge within a restricted time frame and under pressure. Besides the knowledge, it also takes a good strategy, the right temperament and, most importantly, a diagnostic study of one’s capabilities.
This article is not much about how to start preparing for the CAT. The underlying assumption being you’ve already started the preparation with some classes / online courses / material, and hence have the basic knowledge of all topics. Also that you have taken a few mock tests and may be struggling with your scores.The primary agenda of this article is that you maximize your learning from Mock-tests and be able to frame the right strategy to maximize your score in the CAT.
I remember my first day when I went to learn swimming. Even before explaining the “theory” of breathing under water or paddling my trainer threw me into the pool. I almost drowned but struggled and somehow managed to come out. After this, my trainer explained me a few techniques and I practiced those the next day when he threw me into the pool again. This was my routine. I took some time but eventually learnt how to swim. Taking this analogy, try to push yourself in the pool of Mock-Tests and learn to come out better every time.
Here are a few pointers that may come handy in helping you identify your capabilities and frame your strategy in order to help yourself prepare for the CAT:
1. Use the Mock Tests platform is a learning-tool and NOT a testing-tool
Every question in Mock Tests serves as an opportunity to learn. Mock Tests are platforms that can be utilised for experimentation and risk-taking. Don’t worry about going wrong in a few questions or having a low score in the test (at least in the initial few Mock test). You wont get IIM calls based on your Mock Test scores. Make calculated guesses and mark answers for all the questions that you’ve spent at least 1 minute thinking with. It will result in a better learning during the analysis. You’ll understand the same better in the points that follow.
2. Commit mistakes in order to learn
After taking a Mock Test, you may be tempted check the incorrect answers first and that too with utmost sincerity. This is the silver lining I am referring to. The more questions you mark a wrong answer to, the more you learn during the analysis. I’d like to re-iterate – Don’t be afraid of attempting more questions during the Mock tests.
3. Remember- the CAT is not just about the IQ, it is also about the temperament
Most of the students, (especially the ones who work very hard preparing for difficult questions) find it hard to leave a question during the test even after realising that it is difficult / time consuming. Please understand that all questions carry equal marks. Hence, it is only wise to ensure that you attempt all the easy questions first with the right mindset. The first 20-30 mins of any section are the most critical ones as they set the mood for the section. Ensure that you don’t get stuck on any question especially during this time. Even if you realise that you’ve invested a lot of time on that question; keep your ego aside, work with the options, mark some answer and mark for review. You can always go back to the question if time permits. Most of the times the high scorers in these exams are the wise ones rather than the intelligent ones.
4. Work with probability
With questions having 4 options, the probability of being correct is 1/4. So, for every 4 questions that you attempt with a random guesswork, the expectancy is that 1 will be correct and 3 will be incorrect resulting a net score of 1 × 3 + 3 × (-1) = 0. So mathematically, there is no flip side to attempting more questions. At the end of the day, all that matters is your final score. Accuracy has no role to play in getting an IIM call. I hope this gives you another strong reason to maximise the number of questions you attempt. Also, for every question where you are able to eliminate even a single option, you should attempt it as the probability of getting it correct will now be 1/3.
5. Set short term targets for Mock tests
For the Verbal section, I suggest that you spend the first 3-5 mins scanning the section. Get a feel of what to expect in the next 55-57 mins. If the passages / options are lengthy or questions are tricky/unfamiliar or if the language is difficult to comprehend, be rest assured that it will be same for everyone. Take a deep breath and try to maximise your attempts. For the initial few mock tests, I suggest that you attempt 30-34 questions. Start with your comfort area. Divide the time among your set targets. After every passage / set of independent questions, check if you are able to follow your set time targets. Allocate time targets for reading a passage and a time target for attempting questions. Initially, your time target will be the same for each passage (about 6 – 8 mins) but when you practice more, you’ll be able to determine specific time target for each passage (based on the length, complexity, familiarity, question types & number of questions). What is critical here is discipline in adhering to timelines. If you exceed the targeted time in any question / passage, make sure you compensate in the immediate next question / passage by setting a shorter time target there.
For LRDI section, the most important part is to skim through the section first. The idea is similar to what I mentioned for the Verbal section with just one change: you have an option to leave 1-2 sets if they seem difficult. So during the first 5 minute, check for familiarity, length of sets, number of questions in each set, type of questions, proximity of options and complexity of each set (especially LR) and prioritize your attempt pattern accordingly and more importantly, identify the set / sets that you will NOT attempt). During the initial Mock Tests, I suggest that you set the target of the number of questions to be attempted. Lets say, your target is solving 20 questions (5 sets). After the first 5 minute of skimming, you’ll be left with 55 mins to attempt 5 sets. That doesn’t mean you take 11 mins per set. Ideally, it should be 7 mins (+2 mins buffer) for the 1st set (as it will be the easiest and most comfortable set that you would’ve identified), 8 mins (+2 mins buffer) for 2nd set, 9 mins (+2 mins buffer) for the 3rd set, 10 mins (+ 2 mins buffer) for the 4th set and 11 mins (+2 mins buffer) for the 5th set. Buffer is the time you steal by pushing your limits in order to attempt and additional set. So, don’t be comfortable if you have solved the 1st set in 9 mins. Within 10 Mock Tests, reach to the level where you can attempt 28 questions (not to forget – accuracy is not the concern). After having attempted 15 Mock tests, you should be able to judge the time target to be allotted to a particular set by looking at it. So maybe, during the CAT, you’ll realise that the section has 2 sets that can be attempted within 6 minutes each, 1 set that takes 8 minutes, 3 sets of 9 minutes each, 1 set of 12 minutes and probably 1 unfamiliar set.
For the QA section, during the initial 15 Mock Tests, set short term time targets as follows:
In the first few Mock Tests, divide the section into 6 subsections of 6 questions each (4 questions in the 6th sub-section). Allocate 10 mins to each sub-section. During these 10 mins, push yourself to attempt at least 4 questions. Look at the timer only after every you have attempted one sub-section. Lets assume you have spent 12 minutes in the 1st sub-section. Now, allocate only 8 minutes for the next sub-section. Maintain this practice throughout the QA section. In the Mock Tests that follow, you may divide the section into 5 sub-sections of 7 questions each and allocate 12 mins to each sub-section. Further you can try 3 sub-sections of 12 questions each and 20 mins for each sub-section. Ensure that you set these targets before you take the mock test. Also, strictly adhere to the timelines that you’ve set else this exercise is useless. Remember – Don’t get stuck at any question for long and don’t be afraid of taking risks. Most importantly, always read all the options along with the question. The first approach that you must try while attempting QA questions is elimination of options.
How to identify whether a question in QA is Easy / Medium / Hard ?
On reading the question, ask yourself these 2 questions:
- Is it a familiar type?
Answer should be YES only if you are be able to identify the topic(s) and concept(s) related to the question clearly. It implies that you have a fair idea of how to solve it.
- Can it be solved within 2 mins?
Getting answer to this question will need practice. Go by your hunch during the initial Mock Tests. However, after a few Mock Tests, you should be able to answer this question with certainty.
Case 1:
Is it a familiar type? No
Question type: HARD
Course of action: SKIP the question by clicking “Next”
Case 2:
Is it a familiar type? Yes
Can it be solved within 2 mins ? No
Question type: MEDIUM
Course of Action: Click “Mark for Review and Next”
Case 3:
Is it a familiar type? Yes
Can it be solved within 2 mins? Yes
Question Type: EASY
Course of Action: Solve immediately
Other parameters may include the following:
- Topic of comfort
- Degree of complexity (multi-stage question)
- Degree of complexity (calculations)
- Possibility to work with options
- Process oriented / Logic oriented
- Do I exactly remember the formula?
- Requirement listing of different cases
These parameters are with reference to answering the question “Can it be solved within 2 minutes?”
6. Work towards improving the accuracy
Accuracy-improvement is a continuous process and comes with practice. Based on the learning from the questions you attempted and the mistakes you committed, you’ll develop a learning pattern. As long as you don’t repeat these mistakes, your accuracy will keep improving.
So the primary idea here is to ensure that you learn from every mistake. For this, the first step is to admit that you have committed a mistake. Note it down and keep the same in mind for the next Mock Test.
Classification of errors
My experience suggests that there is generally a pattern in the kind of errors that a student commits. Right diagnosis is essential in order to determine the right course of action.
So here’s a list of errors that a student makes and remedy for the same.
Misc. Errors
Other than these some more error types include:
- Error made in making assumptions
- Error made in marking the answer
- Error made in structuring the given data (in LR or DI)
- Error made in counting the number of solutions/arrangements/cases
- Error made in skipping a case/possibility
However, these errors can easily be overcome through practice and a detailed analysis. You won’t make such errors frequently. Once you learn through the analysis of mock tests, chances are, you won’t repeat such errors. So it’s in the best of your interest to commit all such errors already in the Mock Tests rather than committing the same in actual CAT.
7. Maximise your learning from Mock Tests
Maintain a notebook for learning from Mock Tests. In this book note down the following:
- Errors made in wrong answers.
- Solutions to questions where you took more time to solve.
- Solutions to Correct answers where you find a new method in explanation.
- Learnings from the Mock Test.
- Plan for the next mock test.
Ideally, I ask students to carry the same Note book (if possible) for rough work during mock tests.
Your rough work gives a lot of insights on your thought process, calculation techniques, structure for noting data (especially in LR), amount of effort / persistence put in any question. Basically it provides insights to the why you went wrong in a question, why you spent more time on a question, why you left any question after spending sometime on it.
Additionally, I ask the students to make a note of questions where they have done some guesswork during the test. For example, if for a question, you are able to eliminate option 2 and 4 and you aren’t sure between option 1 and 3, I suggest that you make a small note in your notebook like “Q. 72 1/3” and mark any answer out of 1 and 3. So now, even if you are correct, you would know that you need to work on that particular concept.
So ideally before the Mock Test, I make the following headings in the Notebook:
Mock Test Number:
Plan for Verbal section: (A small checklist of target attempts and timelines to follow during the test)
Table of guesswork: (3 Columns: Q No 1 to 34, Confused between options, Comments if any)
Plan for LR-DI section: (A small checklist of target attempts and timelines to follow during the test)
Priority amongst Sets to be solved during the test:
Table of guesswork: (3 Columns: Q No 35 to 66, Confused between options, Comments if any)
Plan for QA section: (A small checklist of target attempts and timelines to follow during the test)
Table of guesswork: (3 Columns: Q No 67 to 100, Confused between options, Comments if any)
During the Mock test, I’ll mark only in the cells where I am confused between some options and I’ll keep checking my adherence to set Time-lines. Immediately after the test, I can write in the Comment cell for any particular question if there’s anything particular that I need to keep in mind during analysis. This will give me insights on my plan for the next Mock test.
8. Experiment with Mock Tests
Within the first 15 Mock-Tests, try to reach a consistent attempt of 80+ questions by taking risks. The idea is to maximise conceptual learning and optimize your speed. Initially, you may get bad scores, but you’ll learn more from every Mock Test analysis. Once you are comfortable 80+ attempts consistently (atleast 5 Mock tests) you’ll see your scores improving. Now, it’s time to do some experiments through tradeoffs. Drop your attempts to 70 and check the impact on your score. Do this for 3 Mock Tests as all Mock tests are of Varying difficulty levels for different sections. Also, experiment with the order of questions attempted (for example, in Verbal section, try attempting Independent questions first, then RC, or a couple of RCs, then a couple of Critical reasoning questions, then RC and so on. In DI-LR, you can try starting with all DI sets then LR sets or alternate sets of DI and LR and so on. In QA, check the areas that are High speed low accuracy for you, spend some more time on each question and see if you can push it to High accuracy and so on. After all these experiments, finalise a strategy for yourself and stick to it for atleast 5 Mock tests (ideally in November). Your final strategy should be independent of attempt targets and must be flexible with the difficulty level of Mock Tests. At this stage, you should be mature enough to gauge the difficulty level of the test and not get affected if your attempts are low for a particular section if it is difficult and you won’t be relaxed if you find a particular section is easy. This is the most difficult but most important skill to master.
Once you find comfort with your strategy, you’ll generally find consistency in your percentiles across the last 5 Mock tests.
9. Inculcate some good practices
Other than the points metioned above, here are some good practices that can help you improve your score:
- Discipline
Make a study schedule and abide by it. Especially now that it’s the 11th hour, you need to be strict with yourself for preparation. I often tell my students that there’s a difference between studying 2 hours daily and studying 14 hours a week. The former implies discipline. Aptitude preparation can be considered as a mental gym where the mental exercise must be done regularly.
- Read regularly
Spend some time on reading daily. Read newspapers, random articles online, practice RCs from your study material and most importantly, read and solve all Actual CAT RC passages (you can easily find these online).
- Practice calculations daily
Spend just 5 minutes on random calculations. Just key in some random numbers on calculator and perform some basic mathematical operation on it, answer it orally and then press” = ” key to check your answer. Revise basic tables, squares, cubes, divisibility rules, reciprocal values regularly. You have spent a lot of time learning these. Let your efforts not go in vain.
- Solve puzzles
Spend some time daily solving random puzzles online or in newspapers. Basic puzzles like Sudoko and Kakuro are easily available. Try more variety of puzzles and while reading their solution, focus more on understanding the thought process / structure. Try to associate that Puzzle to some LR set solving technique that you would have done earlier.
- Document your progress
As mentioned earlier, maintain a notebook for your diagnostics and learnings from Mock-Tests.
- Have a study group
Find sincere people who are preparing for CAT this year. Explain concepts to each other, challenge each other for better methods of solving the same question, monitor each other’s schedule, discuss your test taking strategy with them and let them audit it after your Mock test. Try to learn from each other’s mistakes. CAT preparation is an exhaustive process and needs constant extrinsic motivation. Group study does help a lot here.
- Practice right
Focus more on your width of preparation than the depth. Make sure you know the basic concepts of all topics and don’t spend too much time on difficult questions that you find online. During CAT, you invariably need to skip difficult/lengthy questions. All you need to learn is how to identify a difficult question and leave it.
- Revise
Spend an hour daily on revising concepts and practicing questions from a topic (or Mock Test) that you’ve done much earlier in your preparation. Check if there can be more ways of solving the same questions. Mark a few critical questions that you would like to revisit in November. In November, switch to horizontal revision instead of Vertical revision. This means that instead of solving 10 questions from 1 topic, solve 1 question each from 10 different topics.
- Learn some meditation techniques
Meditation helps in improving concentration and you’ll need lots of it on the D-day.
- Develop good eating and sleeping habits
Given the stakes, you would want to be in the best of your health on the day of CAT.
10. Don’t put all the eggs in one basket
One of the major reasons why bright students under-perform in CAT is desperation to score. As CAT is conducted just once a year, many consider that if they don’t crack it this year, it would obviously mean a year drop in their careers. Just the idea of it puts so much pressure on that one day that despite all the efforts throughout the preparation, some students panic during CAT. My advice is that you must spread your risks. Understand that “MBA is not just about CAT and CAT is not just about IIMs”. There are plenty of good institute’s other than IIMs that consider CAT score for their selection process. For example: FMS Delhi, S P Jain Mumbai, MDI Gurugram/Murshidabad, All IITs that offer MBA, All NITs offering MBA, IMT Ghaziabad/Nagpur/Hyderabad, NITIE Mumbai, XIMB Bhubaneswar, Great lakes Chennai/Gurugram, IRMA Anand, MICA Ahmedabad, IIFM Bhopal, K J Somaiya Mumbai, LBSIM Delhi, FORE Delhi, NIRMA Ahmedabad, GIM Goa, IMI Delhi/Kolkata/Bhubaneswar, LIBA Chennai, IFMR Chennai, T A Pai Manipal, UBS Chandigarh, BIM Trichy, Welingkar Mumbai, FMS BHU Varanasi, DFS Delhi, DSE Delhi, SIES Navi Mumbai, N L Dalmia, BIMTech Noida, SRCC Delhi, BITS Pilani, IISC Bangalore, …. (Please note that except for the IIMs, you need to apply to all the colleges separately. Many of these have last date of application before CAT result.)
Of these, only a few have sectional cutoffs (IIMs, IITs, S P Jain, MDI, FMS, NITIE, XIMB). The sectional cutoffs is maximum 80%ile in these colleges. Although, the overall percentile required is 90+ generally.
For all other colleges that accept CAT scores for their admission process, there is no sectional cutoffs. So, if you are not doing well in a particular section, you can still manage to score a good overall percentile and make it to a good college.
Also, there are a few other exams for admissions to some really good colleges. For example, XAT (XLRI Jamshedpur, S P Jain Mumbai, XIM Bhubaneswar, GIM Goa, …), IIFT (IIFT Delhi/Kolkata/Kakinada), NMAT (NMIMS Mumbai/Bangalore/Hyderabad), SNAP (SIBM Pune/Bangalore/Hyderabad/Nagpur, SCMHRD Pune, SIIB Pune, SIMS Pune, SIMC Pune, SSMC Bangalore, SIOM Nashik), TISSNET (TISS Mumbai/Hyderabad/Tulijapur/Guwahati), CMAT (K J Somaiya Mumbai, GIM Goa, Welingkar Mumbai, NIT Trichy/Warangal), Mah-CET (JBIMS Mumbai, Sydenham Mumbai, K J Somaiya Mumbai, Welingkar Mumbai, PUMBA Pune, SIES Navi Mumbai, N L Dalmia Mumbai)
All these exams are different and have different strategies to crack. Also, the difficulty level of most of these exams is lesser than CAT. So, do take all these exams as you might be much better than others in one of these exams as compared to your competence in CAT. We have seen many students in the past whose CAT score wasn’t very good but they managed to score well in XAT/IIFT/SNAP/Mah-CET and managed to get into a very good college.
Do take these exams as it’s always good to have a back-up plan. Even if you don’t aspire to take any college other than IIMs this year, I strongly suggest that you do take 3-4 other exams and apply to 8 -10 institutes that take take scores of these exams. If you get an interview call, go through the entire selection process. If you still don’t want to take admission, it’s ok; but it’s still much better than the regret you may have of not creating enough options and thereby putting yourself into a lot of desperation and pressure during CAT.
Another reason I suggest students to take NMAT is that you can take this exam 3 times during October to December. So, you can take an attempt before CAT to have an experience of an actual exam before taking actual CAT. Also, since NMAT is a speed based exam with no negative marking, its a good experience to push your risk taking ability. So, you can perhaps have a test of your temperament done during NMAT and if you think you need to work on your temperament for CAT, you’ll have time for that.
– Rushabhsen Sanghani
99.95%ile – CAT 2018
