Anticipating the surprises on CAT day, many of the CAT 2016 aspirants who wish to get into one of the top rated IIMs in 2017 are worried how they should prepare and score high in next 15 days. In fact, in the changed exam pattern of CAT 2016 you may expect high score in 2 sections but a sudden dip in one section.
Thousands of candidates out of 2.32 lakh registered candidates for CAT 2016 have been preparing for the last one year and many of them are appearing for the second or third time in CAT with the hope that they will get IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore or Calcutta this time. Your CAT 2016 exam on December 4, 2016 may share many surprises and no one can deny this fact.
According to Prof S K Agarwal expert on Verbal Ability and mentor on CAT 2016 preparation, if you are shrewd enough to take the best out of the proposed changes in CAT 2016 test content, the next 15 days can turn the tables in your favour. The need is to know what changes you should bring about in your preparation strategy. The tips and tricks can, not only improve your reading and preparation but would also make you understand how to crack CAT 2016 with high scores.
What and how
Studying more and spending more hours to study but getting nothing out of it is not advisable. You may have understood the concepts, formulae, but how much they are going to help you in the exam is a big question. Although CAT 2016 does not prescribe any syllabus, the Mock Test on CAT 2016 site explains a lot.
For example, If you watch closely, VARC the first section in CAT 2016 is a combination on Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension questions. It is 70% RC and 30% Verbal and that too in a different form. Now check whether it contains questions on Error correction, Vocabulary, phrases, last sentence of paragraph or the like. Now notice the changes in the type of questions that have been brought about this year. If you are studying more but off the track, it may not help much.
Your performance in CAT 2016 will depend on what stuff you prepared and how much speed & accuracy you have gained in your reading to crack the best selected questions. It is not necessary how many you crack but how accurately you do is more important.
It applies to other 2 sections of DILR and Quant also. Another important point is that your memory should also come to help you during examination. If you studied and prepared but are not able to retain and are unable to retrieve in the testing room, it becomes use less.
Is your choice of reading time right?
For next 15 days, just do not force upon yourself the inappropriate study schedule. If you have to work till late night and get up late in the morning- you could have a great reading day. If the situation is just opposite, get up early in the morning and enjoy the reading. In the late evening also, you could have a reading time after dinner. The importance of reading is not when you read but how much do you enjoy the reading.
Opt for intermittent study
Studying single subject for CAT 2016 for long hours may create fatigue and confusion. It would be better to give space in your reading practices. If you study VARC for one hour with complete attention and after a short break go for some topic on Quant or DI or LR, it might help you more. You may be able to recall whatever you have learnt a day after.
If you burn mid night oil at the eleventh hour, it may also not do any good to you. It is advisable for next 15 days to learn, revise, analyse the recurring errors and minimise them.
Reading environment, check with a change
You may need a calm and quiet place where you would like to study. You may also like to change the reading place now and then as sitting continuously for long hours may give you a monotonous feeling and your receptivity may go down. It will help you improve your attention and will also help in recalling more information than you would have retrieved.
Short naps; energy booster
You can sure take short naps between learning and testing. You will find you are doing better with this strategy. If your eyelids droop when you are struggling through some formula on Quant, try this and feel the difference when you wake up.
Please remember CAT 2016 is not all about studying more and more but how smartly you have prepared and attempted it, is more important.
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