Common Mistakes Students Make in CAT Exam

Like most things, success begins with the right mindset and strategic planning. MBA aspirants who are preparing for the CAT exam and other management entrance exams tend to work without having a proper plan in place. One should keep in mind that success in an exam of this nature, such as the CAT, requires more than just hard work. The secret to success in this situation is hard work combined with smart work. In addition, one should try to steer clear of some errors that CAT test takers frequently make.

Students make the same mistakes over and over again while studying for the CAT. It will take a lot of effort and long hours to reach your goal of admission to IIMs or other prestigious MBA Colleges. Developing a clever strategy and honing it as your preparation progresses, on the other hand, is the best way to ace the CAT.

Understanding the exam

1. Not going through the CAT syllabus

• The applicant's first and foremost task should be to carefully go over the CAT syllabus. It has frequently come to our attention that the students only have a hazy understanding of the subjects that are being covered. For instance, you must be aware that a significant portion of the Verbal ability section of the CAT involves reading comprehension.
• Make a list of topics that pertain to each of the following categories: Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC).

2. Not creating a strategy or study plan

• Students may only spend one or two hours studying for the CAT, and they may only skim the material. It's like attempting to find your way through a maze without a strategy or a study plan. While creating the study plan, always take your strengths and weaknesses into consideration.
• One must also take into account the weighting given to each exam section. Candidates must get ready for the WAT, group discussion, and personal interview rounds after the exam. As a result, it is wise to make reading newspapers and magazines a regular habit if you want to keep up with current events

3. Not giving each topic enough time

• Another issue is when students move on to another topic without giving the concepts enough time to sink in. You should first concentrate on comprehending the fundamental ideas of each area rather than rushing to finish the course. You cannot do well on the exam if your concept knowledge is lacking.
• For instance, you should understand terms like inference, assumptions, and so forth when answering questions requiring critical reasoning. In other words, you must familiarise yourself with the various question types for each section.

4. Underperforming or overperforming on mocks

• The purpose of CAT mocks & test series is to serve as a guide for CAT aspirants. The types of questions asked in CAT exam sections give students an idea of the amount of preparation they will need to do. You can assess your strengths and weaknesses in various topics after taking a mock exam.
• However, you should exercise caution not to overdo the mocks. Some students enter the real CAT exam with preconceived notions formed during the practice exams, which can negatively affect their performance.
• Although mock exams closely resemble real exams in many ways, they can never be identical. Therefore, it is best to prepare for a few surprises in the CAT.

5. Ignoring examining the mocks

• Students cannot identify their areas for improvement if they do not analyze mock exams. You can gain insight into factors such as the relationship between the number of attempts and accuracy, the amount of time spent on each question, the proper choice 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 analyzing the mock exams.

6. Postponing tasks

• Delaying or postponing action is the definition of procrastination. Numerous CAT candidates deal with this significant problem. Due to their inability to concentrate on numerous entrance exam components, students put off their CAT preparation. Start right away because this is the perfect moment to do so.

7. Having a pessimistic outlook

• Being defeated is a direct result of losing motivation or feeling hopeless. Such a mindset will make things worse rather than better for your preparation. If you have issues with any subject or topic, you should get assistance as soon as possible.
• Do not forget that a negative outlook is more likely to sap your energy than to be of any assistance. Being optimistic and concentrated is the right approach.

8. Not establishing goals

• Students who don't set goals end up spending a lot of time on subjects that ordinarily only need a short amount of preparation time. As a result, it is always recommended that you set daily goals and plan your study time accordingly. This is critical because some subjects are more heavily weighted in exams than others.

9. Not adopting a balanced perspective

• The CAT paper's level of difficulty varies every year. The anticipated number of attempts and percentile for one year may change the following year. While placing a strong emphasis on increasing their number of attempts and achieving high accuracy, students should adopt a balanced approach. The CAT is less about speed and more about complex decision-making.

10. Devoting excessive time to a subject of interest

• Anyone would naturally prefer to spend more time on topics and subjects that seem interesting and are likely to result in a high grade. But for the CAT, you must pass the individual 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 master a wide range of crucial subjects and to practice frequently asked questions.

Conclusion

• To accomplish anything, the first and most basic requirement is a proper plan. A good study schedule includes study time, topics to cover, key checkpoints, evaluation criteria, and flexibility. After completing a mock, keep track of which topic questions you are still unable to answer, even after revising.
• Students who are preparing for the CAT prioritize one or two sections while completely ignoring the others. All three sections of the main exam are equally weighted, and ignoring one will lower your percentile. The student should devise a strategy for attempting the paper that is based on the amount of time that the student wishes to devote to various sections rather than the number of questions that the student wishes to attempt.
• Last but not least, you should unquestionably review CAT exam papers from prior years to gauge how challenging the test will be. You should also thoroughly understand the CAT registration procedure, CAT eligibility , cut-offs, syllabus, and exam Pattern.
• Go through the various Online MBA courses on our platform, PhysicsWallah, to get the best cat preparation strategy, where you will study with the top faculty with years of experience.( https://www.pw.live )

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. I'm pursuing my last year of graduation, please advise. Am I qualified to take the CAT 2022 exam?

Ans. Candidates must give the overall percentage of the most recent marks statements their university has received.

Q2. Is there a minimum age requirement for CAT 2022?

Ans. No, there is no upper age limit to take the CAT 2022 exam.

Q3. What is the cost of taking the CAT exam?

Ans. The answer is that candidates in the General and NC-OBC categories must pay Rs 2300. Reserved category members (SC, ST, and PWD) must pay Rs. 1150.

Q4. I do not intend to pursue a bachelor's degree or any other type of professional qualification. Am I qualified to take the CAT 2022 exam?

Ans. You are ineligible to take the CAT 2022 if you have not yet earned a professional degree or are not currently pursuing a bachelor's degree.

Q5. Where can I pay the CAT registration fee?

Ans. Candidates pay the registration fee at the time of CAT registration through a payment gateway. Candidates must use a legitimate credit card or debit card and a net banking account.