There are hardly 40 days left for CAT 2011. The CAT aspirants, who are working professionals, often find it difficult to balance their work and preparation. If you are serious about cracking CAT 2011, you must adapt yourself with the balancing act between your work and preparation.
To make your task easier, the CAT experts offer you suggestions on how you can prepare for CAT 2011 while working.
Hours of study
Apart from your working hours, you have to study for about three to four hours every day. Arun Sharma, renowned CAT expert and author of best selling CAT preparation book, says that in a week, a working professional should devote 20 to 25 hours. "Working professionals should focus on trying to spend 20 to 25 hours per week in their preparation," he says.
Aziz Manva, Product Head, Content Head, Testfunda.com suggests studying in the morning. "If you are working, CAT exam preparation should be a part of your morning routine. Try to study from six to nine every morning," he suggests.
Utilizing office hours
Much of your office time can be utilized in preparing for CAT 2011. If you are a serious CAT aspirant, you can utilize these moments for some preparation which does not toil your brain much. For example, you can browse through online dictionary learning new words and their meanings, synonyms etc. You can also glance at the online study materials, take sectional or full length mock tests if possible, and solve some puzzles on Sudoku, Crossword etc which will eventually help you in Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning section and Data Interpretation area." Working also has its advantages; it becomes easier to have a vocabulary site online all the time and to read non-fiction passages. Use that. Some students photocopy one or two exercise pages and keep it on their table while working," says Manva.
Taking mock tests
Taking regular mock tests is very important for CAT preparation. Even if you are a working professional, you must take regular mock tests and analyze them meticulously. You should get habituated to take full length mock tests in a simulated environment. So it is ideal to take mock tests on a holiday and spend time on its analysis the next day. R Shiva Kumar, Director (R & D), Career Launcher suggests taking two mock tests a week. "If you are working and have prepared for CAT before, spend the next 40 days doing a test every alternate day. One day for testing and one day for analysis. Spend time on it," he advises.
Attend workshops, test series
If you are a working professional, you would not find it feasible to join an MBA coaching institute. As Arun Sharma says, "Joining a regular coaching program might not help you too much- as you are likely to spend whatever free time you have in traveling to and fro ." But to keep yourself up to date and not to compromise on your preparation, you should enroll yourself in the test series offered by the MBA coaching institutes. "Enroll for a distance learning course of CAT, ideally one which also has good online support," advises Gejo Sreenivasan, Principal Consultant, Career Launcher.
The MBA coaching institutes also organize seminars and workshops on preparation strategies which are most commonly held on Sundays or other off days. You should also attend them to gain more expert advice and interaction with fellow CAT takers.
Stay connected with fellow CAT takers
Now is the time to be competitive with your fellow CAT takers. You should keep yourself at par with other CAT takers. You should interact with them and know their strategies as well. This will help you decide your tactics and strategies. Also, more you share, more you gain.
Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more on CAT 2011 preparation.
