Common Mistakes to Avoid During CAT Preparation: Tips and Strategies

Common Mistakes to Avoid During CAT Preparation: Candidates have to maintain a certain degree of caution to avoid committing the most common mistakes.CAT happens to be one of the toughest exams conducted every year for MBA admission in India. Every year more than 2 lakh students apply for this entrance examination and only some of them are able to get admission to top MBA colleges in India. Despite the shared challenge, only 5,000 out of 20,000 students secure the opportunity to attend IIMs. The pivotal factor contributing to their success is not only their dedication and hard work but also their ability to recognize and learn from mistakes made during their preparation.

The CAT 2024 will most likely be conducted by IIM Calcutta in November. All applicants are required to study and solve the identical syllabus within the allocated time, fostering a fair and competitive exam environment. They grow from their errors and enhance their performance, which offers them an edge over competitors in the CAT Exam. One of the major factors that create a difference between scoring 100 and 90 percentile in the exam is proper planning. 

According to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, "A goal without a plan is just a wish". Those who have prepared well for the exam have already won half of the battle before actually appearing for it. There are many other reasons such as lack of motivation and no mentor support that can result in an unfavorable outcome. This article will help you know some common mistakes that candidates should avoid during CAT preparation.

Also Read: CAT 2024 Notification

Common Mistakes to Avoid During CAT 2024 Preparation

Take a look at the common mistakes that must be avoided while preparing for CAT 2024.

Not Going Through the CAT Syllabus

You are advised to go through the CAT syllabus 2024 before starting the preparation so that you can note all the important topics that will be covered in the exam. Those who have not gone through the syllabus may face difficulties as they do not have any idea about what are the important topics for the exam. Besides this, going through the syllabus will also save the time of the candidates as they can skip the topics that are not included in the syllabus. 

Not Having a Time-Table

You should prepare a timetable so that you can get an idea about how much time can be allotted to one topic. Preparing a timetable will also help the candidates complete the syllabus 1 month before the exam so that they can utilize the remaining time to revise the topics and solve the CAT previous year question papers. You can prepare a timetable in any order depending on your strengths and weaknesses.

Also Read:CAT Predicted Question Paper 2024

Having Trouble Understanding Concepts

Many MBA aspirants mistakenly think they can ace the CAT 2024 by memorizing shortcuts and formulas. The only way to pass the CAT exam is by developing conceptual clarity. When answering questions in this respect, it would be beneficial to comprehend the underlying principles. If necessary, gather your doubts and speak with a faculty member about them frequently. No doubt is useless, therefore don't be afraid to voice your questions and doubts.

Evaluating Preparation Just in Terms of "Hours Invested"

You should evaluate your level of preparation in terms of the number of topics you covered, the number of concepts you learned, and other factors rather than the number of hours you spent studying. By doing this, you can be sure that you'll be considerably more at ease when it comes to the CAT curriculum.

Not Taking AIMCATs

Students usually avoid the AIMCATs because they believe they must first complete the entire CAT syllabus. They overlook the fact that the AIMCAT series is intended to assist them in developing concepts, preparing strategies, discovering weaknesses, and taking action to correct them. The AIMCATs imitate a number of variations that the CAT exam can be conducted in, which could be extremely helpful to the pupils as they improve their accuracy and speed. The AIMCATs are also a tool that aids the learner in assessing performance over time and making the required modifications to improve. 

Not Solving Mock Tests or Overattempting Them

The purpose of CAT mocks and CAT test series is to serve as guidance for CAT aspirants. You should try to solve at least 6-7 mocks in a week. Those who do not have a regular habit of solving mock test papers may face difficulties while answering the final CAT exam. The CAT mock test papers will help the candidates know all about the exam structure and what type of questions they can expect in CAT 2024. The kind of questions that are asked in the various CAT exam sections offers students an understanding of the amount of preparation they will be required to undertake. You can assess your strengths and shortcomings with regard to various topics after taking a mock exam. However, you should take caution not to overdo the mocks. Some students enter the real CAT exam with preconceived assumptions formed during the practice exams, which might negatively affect their results.

Not Evaluating the Performance in the CAT Mock Tests

Students cannot identify their areas for improvement if they do not analyze mock exams. You can gain insight into topics such as the relationship between the number of attempts and correctness, the amount of time spent on each question, the proper selection of questions based on difficulty level, etc. through test analysis. To get a good score, it is essential to estimate and predict each of these parameters. Therefore, a crucial part of your CAT preparation process is examining the mock exams.

Inconsistency in Preparation

Inconsistency in CAT preparation may reduce your chances of getting a good percentile in the CAT exam. You should be regular with the exam preparation. Besides this, you are advised to stick to the timetable. There is a possibility that you might have to face some challenges such as not getting the correct answer or a bad score in the mock tests. You should try to concentrate on further preparation rather than thinking about those problems.

Also Read: Mock Test – The Right Strategy to Crack CAT 2024

Not Devoting Enough Time to Each Topic

One of the most common mistakes made by candidates is not devoting enough time to each topic. You should try to solve at least 10-15 questions of each type so that you can get an idea about all types of questions that can be asked in the exam. Besides this, there are some topics such as critical reasoning and data interpretation that need more practice. You should solve 30-40 questions from these topics.

Lack of Regular Revision

It is important to practice the topics you have learned at regular intervals. Regular practice will protect you from overburdening yourself during the last 3 months left before the exam. You are advised to prepare notes for all the important formulas, concepts, and shortcuts so that you can revise them before appearing for the exam. You can set out a half-day each week or every two weeks to revise everything you have learned thus far in this regard.

Getting Demotivated

You should avoid getting demotivated during the CAT preparation. If you are facing problems while solving problems or understanding the concept, you can focus on the next topics rather than getting demotivated. You can read motivational novels or listen to motivational speeches so that you can keep your concentration level high. Besides this, you can discuss your problems with your mentors. 

Also Read:Step by Step Guide to Crack CAT Without Coaching

Not Setting Targets

Setting a target will help you complete the topics and concepts within a limited time. This will also help you improve your problem-solving skills and the ability to cope with stressful situations.

Spending Excessive Time on a Person's Area of Interest

Anyone would naturally choose to spend more time on topics and subjects that seem intriguing and are likely to result in a high grade. But for the CAT, you must pass the particular cutoffs for each of the three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) (VARC). Therefore, the best approach is to learn and understand a wide range of important topics and to practice frequently asked questions.

Tips for CAT Preparation

Here are some important tips that can help you during CAT 2024 preparation.

• You should analyse the CAT mock tests to know what are your strong and weak areas. It will also help you to know how much preparation is required to convert your weakness into a strength.

• You should check the CAT 2024 exam pattern to know the structure and marking scheme of the CAT exam. 

• You can adopt a section-wise or topic wise preparation strategy as per your comfort level

• You should try to learn shortcut techniques and formulas so that you can complete a question within a very short span of time

• You should check the details mentioned in the CAT 2024 admit card so that you do not have to face any kind of difficulty during the exam day. Besides this, you are advised to keep your admit card safe.

• You should develop a habit of reading. You can read newspapers and magazines. It will help you to score well in the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section and to perform well in the GD/ PI round.

• You are advised to choose the best books for CAT 2024. You can consult the previous years' topers or experts to choose the best books for CAT preparation.

How to Prepare for the CAT Without Making These Mistakes?

Listed below are the tips to prepare for CAT effectively without making mistakes:

• Just gain knowledge about the exam beforehand, such as its syllabus, format, level of difficulty, etc.

• Make a self-evaluation to discover your strengths, weaknesses, and standing; marking these areas will help you gauge your progress.

• Avoid studying for long periods of time; instead, study for one hour, take a break for five to ten minutes, and then resume studying. You'll study for longer than usual, and the mental relaxation it provides can improve your memory.

• The mock test and previous year's papers are the only ways to evaluate your performance. So, try to solve them as much as you can.

• Organize your time according to how well you understand each topic to gradually cover larger portions of the course syllabus.

• Ask about useful resources from experts. Do your own investigation and refrain from applying all the strategies since not everyone will perform well following the same approach.

• It is advisable to avoid stress during the period of CAT preparation because it will have an adverse effect on your mental health and take up time.

Since a few days are left for the exam, you should pay heed to the pointers mentioned in order to avoid these kinds of mistakes. You should concentrate on improving your English and time management skills.

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All the Best for CAT 2024!