Getting shortlisted by leading B schools for admission 2015 on the basis of CMAT 2015 second test scores is a good opportunity that can be converted into a reality, if we remember to follow a few key tips to attempt the exam leading to high scores. It is also good opportunity for the candidates who have not been able to get high scores in CAT 2014, XAT 2015 or in the CMAT 2015 first test held in September 2014 to improve their scores and get admission call from leading B schools.
CMAT is conducted twice a year and each candidate is eligible to appear in both the exams. Better of the two scores will be used for the admission for each academic year. This is the second CMAT going to be held all across India during a four day test window starting Feb 19, 2015 till Feb 22, 2015 for admissions to academic year 2015-16.
No time to begin anything new
The time to start preparing anything new is over although experts advise for full length revision of topics in next 10 days.
Take more mocks in next 10 days
Experts also advise that the CMAT 2015 second test aspirants should go for as many mocks as possible. The result of such mocks should be analysed and the weak points must be plugged and inadvertent errors should be avoided.
Be selective
Ask a CMAT topper and he will advise you to be selective on choosing the questions in CMAT while maximizing your attempts. Speed and accuracy are the bye products of this selection in your effort to achieve a high percentile in CMAT 2015 second test.
60-70 correct: Good attempt
There will be 100 questions in CMAT 2015 second test. It implies that CMAT 2015 will offer an opportunity of more choices among the questions. A candidate used to solve approximately 40-46 questions earlier to score a high score but if you can solve 60-70 questions with accuracy, you can expect a very good score. In fact CMAT provides you good opportunity to choose the question of your choice while maximizing the attempts in the exam.
The success mantra to achieve high score in CMAT 2015 second test lies in your strategy to choose the right question to avoid any negative marking and thereby saving your score from going down.
Be choosy in your attempts
Your choice of selection of right question to solve means that in your first attempt you should select the question which you can solve with confidence in less time. You may be able to attempt around 20-25 questions out of 100 in first attempt. This will boost your confidence level and morale. The next attempt may be a little longer and you may take more time but again the questions you choose should be from your strong areas and must be attempted diligently to avoid negative marking.
Prof S K Agarwal expert and mentor on CMAT preparation suggests that aspirants should go through all the questions and pick the easy questions first as they will be distributed on random basis. So make sure that you don't leave any easy question. After this go through the moderate ones and at last pick the difficult ones.
More options are available: Choose the most appropriate questions
It’s quite unlikely that out of 100 questions you will not get more options. According to Prof S K Agarwal Expert and CMAT trainer the advisable approach is to maximise your attempts by solving maximum number of questions from all the 4 sections.
No need to stick to difficult one; time is precious-move on
You need to solve more questions in less time. Improvement in devising the strategy to solve more questions within the allotted time should be the focus of attempting the questions in testing room to maximise your score.
Prof S K Agarwal reveals that temptation to attempt a question which you find difficult but still want to struggle to solve it, will only result in wastage of time, losing your marks on other doable questions and inviting tension and panic on account of time constraints. If you leave it outright and flag it for review, you may come back to it if time permits and that too, after attempting other questions of your choice in CMAT 2015 second test.
Please note that CMAT 2015 second test like earlier tests will have 100 questions divided in 4 sections with 20 questions each carrying equal weightage. There is no point getting stuck to one or other question. No answer could get you more marks. The strategy should be to solve easy ones first and move on without putting too much pressure on your mind.
If we calculate, the proportionate time to solve per question in CMAT 2015 second test comes to 1 minute 48 seconds. This is sufficient time to crack the test. It is therefore better to focus more on right kind of questions instead of more number of questions which may attract penalty of 1/4 negative marking.
Improve the speed: will help in choice of questions
‘Practice more to improve speed’ says CMAT preparation expert, Prof S K Agarwal. The challenge to choose the right question with a speedy reading habit solely depends upon the ability of the aspirants. Since no CMAT aspirant goes to solve all the questions in all the 4 sections, it is better to improve the speed within the allotted time by practicing more and more. This strategy will not only boost the confidence level of the candidates but also will improve the speed.
Accuracy: A bye product of right choice
If you select the right and doable question, your accuracy level will improve else it will go down, says Prof S K Agarwal. You can attain high accuracy level only when your reading speed is improved with clear understanding. When you opt for an answer option you should be clear on it else the negative marking may get you nowhere.
CMAT 2015 second test is expected to place more different type of questions on the same topics. Prof S K Agarwal shares that the need is to practice more on variety of questions. In your practice sessions include also such type of topics and questions that had appeared in earlier CMAT and the questions which never appeared in CMAT but have made their presence in other tests like MAT, MAH-CET, CAT & XAT.
Be open to all 4 sections: Avoid misuse of freedom
CMAT 2015 second test will allow the movement among all 4 sections. Candidates may switch from one section to another within the allotted time of 180 minutes. They can solve questions according to their preference in any section. Although it is freedom of choice, the freedom also poses a big challenge in getting more output in less time.
Aspirants will have full 180 minutes with them to focus on entire test and in case they do not follow an already devised attempting strategy, they may lose on one section or may tempt to lose more time on one question. This may result in poor choice of questions and poor sectional scores.
Balance the attempts
The caution, according to experts is not to focus only on one section. Aspirants have to score high sectional scores along with high overall scores. If you get stuck and spend more time on one section, you wouldn’t be left with much time for another section. The strategy should be to equally divide the time for all the 4 sections in your initial attempts and solve as many questions from all the sections as possible.
The best exam attempting strategy to keep it balanced in the 4 sections. In next 10 days you should go for a set of mocks with 100 questions. Keep a clock with you and start solving the mocks.
Experts suggest
Prof S K Agarwal and other experts on CMAT 2015 second test preparation advise the CMAT aspirants to have clarity on their basics, practice as many mock tests as possible, don’t panic and should maintain their calm during the test.
Be particular about the time spent on each question since you do not want to linger on with a particular question for too long at the cost of not getting a chance to see other questions. Be realistic in approach and avoid guess work. Over-attempting can lead to disastrous consequences. Try to attempt the questions you are sure of.
Related Article
CMAT 2015 Second test: Look before you leap; many B schools in AICTE list not accepting CMAT scores
CMAT 2015: Second Test, Utilize your next 70 days on planned preparation
CMAT 2015: Second Test; Key points in Registration process
AICTE's CMAT 2015-16 Second Test on Feb 19 to Feb 22, 2015: Registration opened on Nov 6, 2014
Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more tips on CMAT 2015 second test
