[PaGaLGuY CAT 2007 Series] Avoiding panic when CAT is just around the corner

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(This article is under exclusive arrangement with IMS Learning Resources Pvt Ltd)

Last 41 days before the CAT knocks at your door! How should you be preparing for the D-Day? Lets start with understanding if it is truly possible for you to make any difference now. The last mile to any race is crucial in any case; in the last few laps, in the last few milliseconds you lose or you win. What matters the most is how you fare in the last mile. Life’s races aren’t always won by the biggest, the strongest or the fastest. It’s inevitable that it will be won by the person who believes he can!


Every year, about 1,500 students make it to the IIMs. Each of them does different things in the last few days before the CAT. There isn’t any universal formula or strategy for the last mile. It is essential for you to pause a bit and take a look at your CAT readiness. Once that is figured, planning for the last 60 days would become simpler. While IIM alumnus Mr Asan Dasari says that in the last mile you should fine-tune strategies based on your strengths and weakness, Mr Kaushik Mukherjee, IIM A alumnus suggests something as simple yet crucial as keeping stress in check will make all the difference. There certainly are different methods and strategies, but you must realize that- All endeavor calls for the ability to tramp the last mile, shape the last plan, endure the last hour’s toil.

Preparation Plan for the Last Mile

Consider that a week comprises 5 days. Now you have 5 weeks in your hand. That also means you have little more than one last mile month to go.

In this month your focus should be on strengthening your conceptual clarity. This can be achieved by taking one RC passage per day, one DI passage per day and supplementing it with few verbal and Math problems.
Self-analysis after every practice test, every SimCAT is crucial, as it will help you identify and improve on your weak areas. Practice across all the various types of questions will hone your skills and give you the required expertise and edge. This you can gain from the questions in tests which you will be taking.

The last month should be devoted to taking full-length comprehensive tests, which will help you develop strategies to take CAT while increasing your confidence levels. If these tests are taken in a simulated test environment, will give you a feel of the stress involved. Moreover there is nothing like knowing where you stand vis-à-vis other CAT aspirants.

Before you put this game plan into action, just remember that your attitude is the prima factor in bringing you success. To tramp the last mile, have a fresh outlook.

Rejuvenate
- Imagine you have just started your prep.
- Imagine the last comprehensive test you took is your first test

Re-focus
– The Goal: The CAT
– The Attitude: Everything to gain and nothing to lose.

A fresh start will free you of all the accumulated stress. Remember, you have to improve your performance as each day goes by and you have to be positive. CAT is all about how you positive you are and how confident you are about your strengths. Believe in yourself and enjoy the last mile of the CAT journey without worrying about where the CAT will take you. Focus on the means and the end will follow.

The author Gejo Sreenivasan is Product Head, IMS Learning Resources Pvt Ltd.