When the sun comes up next, it will be the much awaited, and much dreaded day of Common Admission Test (CAT). CAT 2019 will be held on November 24, 2019, in two shifts. The first one will last from 9 am to 12 noon, and second will start at 2:30 pm and end at 5:30 pm. If you are among the 2 lakh+ MBA aspirants who will queue up at exam centers this fateful Sunday for the statistically single largest MBA entrance exam of India, then best wishes are with you.
Thoughts and prayers aside, what will actually help you bell the CAT, the CAT 2019 to be precise, is your preparation, which we are sure you have done well. In the last day, we compiled a few well meaning success mantras of previous year CAT 100 toppers that can give you the extra push, the one extra step that may help you too be the next 100 percentiler. And do remember to take your admit card and other documents prescribed by IIMK to the center, and reach there on time.
According to Krupa Bathia, sleep well on the last day of CAT examination. It plays a very important role in keeping your mind fresh and alert. Your brain will be able to access stored information more easily if it has had proper sleep, and help you take quicker decisions during the paper.
Another one who belled the CAT, Vipul Kakkar advises to take CAT just like any other aptitude test. Remind yourself before you sit for CAT 2019 that it is like another aptitude test or mock test and I have to perform to the best of my potential without getting panicked.
Rahul Gupta from IIM Calcutta says to plan in advance on how you are going to attempt the paper. Plan in advance based on your strengths and weaknesses. Do that part first where you usually perform the best, this will help you build confidence during the paper; if you do a tough part first, you will panic later and spoil the rest of the paper. Planning on what to attempt first can only be done when one has given a good amount of mocks. Planning the strategy will help you stay calm and confident in the paper.
This one tip by another CAT topper is golden; “learn to say no to questions”. Don’t be rigid on solving every question because first of all, the sword of negative marking will be hanging over your head, and secondly time will be ticking away!
Now is the time to turn your pages back and revise as many important topics you can, without stressing yourself; this cap would be different for everyone. As soon as you feel that now you have started sweating, just shut your books and do something to get relaxed.
CAT paper has 3 sections: Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative section. For verbal ability go through the important words that you have compiled, refresh the logics and pattern to be used in understanding the passages. In the data interpretation and logical reasoning revision look at the fraction and percentage table once, refresh the syllogism concept, check the rules for the vein diagram and other important concepts.
Coming to the quantitative section, do revise all the formulas chapter wise and then section wise if feasible. It may also help to build confidence by writing chapter names, topics, and all the formulas related to them.
Meanwhile, last day is not recommended for taking a mock test. If you do, just be sure not to let the performance in it affect you. All the CAT toppers in past years consider mock tests to be the make or break factors, though taking one, just a day before the exam may affect one adversely.
Just stay calm, be relaxed and have good sleep before the exam. You will surely do great in the exam!
