CAT 2015: Scoring more made easy; follow Prep & Testing room strategy from topper & add 15% to your percentile

Add Review

MBAUniverse.com News Desk |
November 19, 2015
CAT topper Tamarish Sinha who scored 99.47 percentile and is studying at IIM Indore motivated and shared tips how to crack CAT 2015 with a high score
Take each question on its merit, solve the one that you are certain of with cent percent accuracy and take a calculated risk where you can eliminate multiple choices Tamarish Sinha CAT topper

In the recently organized live interactive session on MBAUniverse.com platform, to help and guide the CAT 2015 aspirants in their testing room and next 10 days preparation strategy to maximize scores, CAT topper Tamarish Sinha who scored 99.47 percentile and is studying at IIM Indore motivated and shared tips how to crack CAT 2015 with a high score.

Tamarish was mostly focussed on mocks. He didn't take a separate coaching or study materials although he does not suggest this to everyone. Tamarish had scored a very high score of 780 in GMAT also.

MBAUniverse.com:  What should be the strategy in the testing room- Should the aspirant answer maximum questions or answer selective but correct ones?
Tamarish (CAT topper): Better to go for somewhere in between. It all depends on the exam.  My suggestion is to answer with 100% strike rate in question that you know and also attempt question where you eliminate two choices. You need to take a calculated risk and hope that it pays off.

MBAUniverse.com:   Should the exam room strategy be different from the strategy for taking Mocks? What do you suggest?
Tamarish (CAT topper):  No.
Don't change anything from the mock exam strategy to the real CAT. When the D-Day comes be calm and composed and DO NOT EXPERIMENT. Do not change your strategy now for any of the remaining mocks. Comfort comes from certainty and please don't be bothered about a creaky chair, a slow moving fan or any other non-consequential exam room ambience.

MBAUniverse.com:  What do you suggest for the CAT 2015 aspirants who are not able to go beyond 80-85 percentile in their Mocks now?
Tamarish (CAT topper):   If you are consistently scoring in 80-90 range, you need a revamp in your strategy/hard skills. Focus on your strongholds and make them even stronger. The key difference from 90 percentile to 99 percentile is time management. Don't shy away from leaving the tough question. They take up precious time which can be allocated elsewhere. Mocks are not a clear indicator as only serious candidates give them, be assured on D-Day percentile would be much better.

MBAUniverse.com:   How many attempts should CAT 2015 aspirants make to score beyond 90 percentile?
Tamarish (CAT topper):   Attempts depend on the difficulty of the exam so please don't focus on a particular number. Take each question on its merit, solve the one that you are certain of  with cent percent accuracy and take a calculated risk where you can eliminate multiple choices. The best way to remain cool during exam is to stick to you mock exam strategy. Please don't deviate from this and the exam will go as planned. A good night' sleep is most recommended.

MBAUniverse.com:  How to manage last 10 days remaining for CAT 2015? How to divide the preparation schedule in last 10 days?
Tamarish (CAT topper):  As the countdown to CAT 2015 has begun please follow the below mentioned suggestions

-- Don't make an attempt to learn something new
-- Don’t take mocks frantically. Instead take a mock every alternate day (so 4-5 mocks would be there).  Analyze each of them and avoid recurrence of same error.
-- Revise the key ideas that you have jotted down.
-- Fix your strategy. Don't deviate from this strategy on the D-Day.

MBAUniverse.com:  What are the sections in Quant which should be focused during the last 10 days to maximize the score in testing room?
Tamarish (CAT topper):  Focus only on your strongholds. Don't make an attempt to master a previously weak topic. CAT is a game of displaying your strengths and not spend time on questions from your weak areas. There is no specific section in Quant which is more weighted than the other as nobody knows which topic would have more prominence. It will be better to focus again on past mocks and revise them.

MBAUniverse.com:   Major share of VARC section is consumed by RC passages. Aspirants usually get stuck on RC passages. What is your suggestion to manage time and score high on RC questions?
Tamarish (CAT topper):  Time is the essence to maximize score in CAT 2015. So don't focus on multiple readings. Read the passage only once but read it thoroughly, do not skim through. Once you are done with a proper reading of the passage start with the question right away. If the answer seems direct go ahead, if it is not then try eliminating choices. Only revisit the passage if you want to confirm something. In tough situations elimination is the best practice.

MBAUniverse.com: Is it the hard work or smartness that fetches the final call? What do you suggest?
Tamarish (CAT topper):   It is a combination of both. Being smart above a threshold is a pre-requisite but if you don't work hard and haven't taken the mocks for CAT seriously, your smartness won't fetch you the desired result. There is a plenty of smart people who would be taking CAT, the key differentiator will be who has slogged more.


Expert suggests
In view of Prof S K Agarwal Expert on Verbal Ability and mentor on CAT 2015 preparation the above mentioned preparation tips and testing room strategy shared by Tamarish Sinha, if meticulously followed by CAT 2015 aspirants will help them add 15 to 20 percentile to their CAT scores.

Related Article

CAT 2015: "Learn which questions to skip" success Mantra from Aastha; CAT topper & IIM Lucknow student

CAT 2015: Mock Test on Nov 6, 7 & 8 across 36 locations by Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management

CAT 2015: Mock Test Analysis helps to fill your Gaps; understand the strategy for next 40 days

CAT 2015: Score booster; how to pick & solve the right question, know the strategy

CAT 2015: Sectional sequence in exam deliberate or coincidence; modify testing room strategy

CAT 2015: Aiming IIMs; use your time judiciously to develop shortcuts-40 Days to go

 Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on CAT 2015