In this exclusive article for MBAUniverse.com Aspirant Zone, Mr Gejo Srinivasan, MBA Product Head of IMS Learning Center offers advice to all CAT takers how to use the last few weeks. Excerpts from the article:
When the CAT is just around the corner
By Gejo Srinivasan
Last remaining days before the CAT knocks at your door! Can I really make a difference now? Life has taught us that the last mile to any race is crucial in any case; in the last few laps, in the last few milliseconds you lose or you win.
What matters the most is how you fare in the last mile. Life's races aren't always won by the biggest, the strongest or the fastest. It's inevitable that it will be won by the person who believes he can!
Every year, about 1500 students make it to the Indian Institute of Management (IIMs). Each of them does different things in the last few days before the CAT…There isn't any universal formula or strategy for the last mile. It is essential for you to pause a bit and take a look at your CAT readiness. Once that is figured, planning for the last 60 days would become simpler. While IIM- Calcutta alumnus Mr. Asan Dasari says that in the last mile you should fine-tune strategies based on your strengths & weakness,
Mr. Kaushik Mukherjee, IIM- Ahmedabad alumnus suggests something as simple yet crucial as keeping stress in check will make all the difference. There certainly are different methods and strategies, but you must realize that- All endeavor calls for the ability to tramp the last mile, shape the last plan, endure the last hour's toil.
Before you put any game plan into action, just remember that your attitude is the key factor in bringing you success. To trump the last mile… Have a fresh outlook
Rejuvenate
–Imagine you have just started your prep
–Imagine the last comprehensive test you took is your first test
Re-focus
–The Goal: The CAT
–The Attitude: Everything to gain and nothing to lose
Preparation Plan for the Last Mile-
Let us first change the way we look at the things! Consider a week comprises 5 days; you have 12 weeks in your hand. That also means you have 3 last mile months to go.
Last Mile month 1-
In this month your focus should be on fine-tuning your conceptual clarity. This can be achieved by taking one RC passage per day, one DI passage per day and supplementing it with few verbal and Math problems. At the end of this month your objective should be to build confidence.
Last Mile month 2 -
Self-analysis after every practice test, every SimCAT is crucial, as it will help you identify and improve on your weak areas. Practice across all the various types of questions will hone your skills and give you the required expertise and edge. This you can gain from the questions in tests which you will be taking. Keep revisiting your old books once in a while.
Last mile month 3 -
The last month should be devoted to taking comprehensive tests, which will help you develop strategies to take CAT while increasing your confidence levels. If these tests are taken in a simulated test environment, will give you a feel of the stress involved. Moreover there is nothing like knowing where you stand vis-à-vis other CAT aspirants.
CAT is all about how positive you are and how confident you are about your strengths. Believe in yourself and enjoy the last mile of the CAT journey without worrying about where the CAT will take you. Focus on the means… the end will follow.
About the author: Mr Gejo Srinivasan holds the degree of PGDM from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta and a B.Tech. from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. At IMS, he has been instrumental in launching ICAP (Interlinked Concepts and Application Based Pedagogy) -- a new approach to learning and taking CAT.
IMS Learning Center was established in 1977. It has more than 80 centers across the country. According to IMS, More than 50000 students passing through the portals of prestigious institutes all over India and abroad.
