Last Updated on March 19, 2014 by MBAUniverse.com News Desk
Solve at least 25 mock tests followed by proper analysis: CAT 99.38 percentiler & NITIE student
The last chat was held on Friday, August 19, 2011 with CAT topper and NITIE student Varun Saxena on preparation strategy for the new pattern of CAT 2011.
It is going to be two months to CAT 2011 soon. Many of you have just started your preparation and others have started preparation but are struggling with the preparation of the new pattern. To help you get the answers to the questions buzzing in your mind, AskMBAUniverse.com is regularly hosting the Live Expert Chat series. The last chat was held on Friday, August 19, 2011 with CAT topper and NITIE student Varun Saxena on preparation strategy for the new pattern of CAT 2011.
Varun took CAT in 2009 and obtained 99.38 percentile. He is now in the second year of his MBA. Read further to know the questions asked and the answer provided by Varun. Q: Prateek: Hello Sir, as you know that CAT pattern has changed and as we are in the middle of the preparation, we are in dilemma, what type of surprises will come this time? What should be the steps taken? A: CAT is highly unpredictable these days. You cannot ignore a section even with the new changed pattern. I would suggest you to analyze your strengths and weaknesses in every section and be confident that irrespective of new pattern, you will score well. Also, remember that pattern has changed for everyone and the exam has relative scoring. Q: Pravesh: Sir, I am currently doing my B-Tech in textile engineering from NIT Jalandhar. I am in 2nd year. Its my dream to get into IIM. I am good in Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation but am poor in the English section. A: With CAT going online, I will suggest first of all to do lot of reading. You can refer to websites like www.aldaily.com for diverse articles. Apart from this, refer to editorials in HINDU and in magazines, refer to ECONOMIST. This will help you in building the base so that when you come to 3rd year and final year, you can start solving the sectional tests on VA with good accuracy and gain more confidence in the section. Once you are done with this, you can move to previous years CAT papers and just solve them to get the feel of the paper. This shall surely help you before the actual MBA season comes. Q: Pravesh: I also have problem in English communication as I am from a village background. So please help me and give me the appropriate suggestion, so that I can excel. A: For improvement in English communication, try to talk in English with as many people as possible. You can also stand in front of the mirror and speak on any topic in English. This will help you in becoming more confident as well as remove your hesitation of English speaking. Q: Shivani: How many mocks are sufficient before exam? Any specific strategy to attempt the paper? A: Around 25 mocks are sufficient assuming that you analyze all the mocks properly after attempting them. Taking a mock is a job of 140 minutes but analyzing the mock properly takes around six to seven hours. Regular analysis helps us in improving on our weaknesses as well as performing even better in our areas of strengths. There is no specific strategy to attempt the paper. Every person formulates his own strategy. What I would suggest is that you attempt five to six mocks with different strategies and see which one suits you the best. Then take rest of the mocks with this finalized strategy and develop a good hold on the same. Q: Arvind: How does this test can be compared to previous CAT papers? Is there any help from previous years CAT Papers? Should I solve them? A: Yes, do solve the previous years papers. It would give you an idea about the blend of questions which can be asked in the paper.