Common Admission Test (CAT) 2020 exam is going to be held in 2 days, on November 29, 2020. It is one of the most important entrance exam for MBA aspirants, who prepare entire year to take the test. Only around 2 to 2.5 lakh candidates appear for the exam. Yet, the level of the exam and admission criteria is such that it puts CAT in the category of one of most toughest entrance exams of India. The prestigious IIMs only accept CAT 99 percentilers for admission and other top B-Schools are looking for nothing less.
So, feeling pressure and anxiety before the exam is very common. However, the final phase of CAT preparation also includes preparing mentally for the exam. To have the ‘A’ game on, candidates must prepare their minds to face all sorts of challenges. Here, is how to be mentally prepare for CAT 2020 exam.
CAT can be surprising: CAT is one of the most unpredictable entrance exam. The number of questions is not disclosed in advanced and there is no pre-defined syllabus. Also, this year, the duration of the exam has been reduced to 2 hours from 3 hours and for each section, candidates get 40 minutes. Therefore candidates must be mentally prepared to face 1 or 2 new types of questions or out of the blue element in the exam.
Be confident and have faith in yourself: Trust your preparation and stay confident. CAT is just an entrance exam, do not make it a matter of life and death. What you have prepared is enough and you just need to stay positive now.
If not well prepared, then what: The candidates who were unable to dedicate enough time to CAT preparation, must take note that CAT tests the basic aptitude of the candidates. Therefore do not worry, if the basic English and maths is up to the mark, then there is a good chance to score decent marks in the exam. Therefore, right now keep the tension at bay and focus on brushing up the basics of maths and English.
Practice reading: The RC section becomes a problem for many but it is very scoring. The problem comes in terms of time management. There is no denying to the fact that some of the RC passages can be very dense in the exam. Thus, the candidates have to keep practicing reading speed and comprehension. Try completing each passage withing 7 to 10 mins.
If candidates are totally unprepared: If candidates feel that they are going to the exam totally unprepared, then they must go through the important topics of the exam. Just analyse the topics that are easy and can be scored easily. Learn the basic grammar, check the basic maths formulas and practice some previous year papers.
Apart from that the candidates must do the following now that the exam is 2 days away.
- Stay hydrated.
- Sleep well and take care of your self.
- Do not over work your mind.
- Do some physical exercises as well.
The following things can lead to anxiety and build up confusions:
1. Start anything new now.
2. Stressing over left out topics.
3. Mugging up never helps. It will just waste time
4. Sleeping less. Sleep for 7 hours per day to keep the mind and body healthy.
All the best to all CAT 2002 aspirants. On the exam day, candidates are instructed to carry their own masks, gloves, sanitisers and water bottle. The admit card must be carried to the centre in printed format along with the filled in self declaration form for COVID-19.