With the Common Admission Test (CAT) beginning today, Ameya Joshi, a student of the postgraduate programme in management at IIM Indore, recalls how the day unfolded for him when he took the test last year.
I had the morning slot of 10am on November 4, 2012, to take the CAT. I was not nervous or worried. It started as a normal Sunday for me. I travelled for two hours from my home to the exam centre. I was not too keen on studying till the last moment unlike some students who keep poring over their notes even when they reach the exam hall. It will not fetch you anything in a test like CAT. Your performance depends entirely on the foundation you have built.
The process of registration and biometric identification started on time and we completed all the formalities necessary before the test, on time. As I had taken mock tests earlier, I attempted the final test without any pressure. It went well without any technical glitches.
Attempt the test like all other mock tests you have taken earlier. Even if you have always scored more than 99 percentile in all your earlier mocks, remember a good performance counts only on that day. Don’t panic in case of any technical glitches and don’t lose your focus. Don’t be in a hurry to attempt all the questions. Attempt them correctly. Count doesn’t matter, accuracy does! I also kept a watch on the watch. For the section on quantitative ability and data interpretation, brush up the basic concepts, formulae, and techniques for solving problems.
{{/usCountry}}Attempt the test like all other mock tests you have taken earlier. Even if you have always scored more than 99 percentile in all your earlier mocks, remember a good performance counts only on that day. Don’t panic in case of any technical glitches and don’t lose your focus. Don’t be in a hurry to attempt all the questions. Attempt them correctly. Count doesn’t matter, accuracy does! I also kept a watch on the watch. For the section on quantitative ability and data interpretation, brush up the basic concepts, formulae, and techniques for solving problems.
{{/usCountry}}Remember, each negative mark avoided greatly affects the final percentile. The problems for data interpretation can be confusing at times. You need to develop the vision and understanding for analysing such questions accurately.
For verbal ability and logical reasoning, most of the options would seem right in the verbal section. So, for deciding the right option, you need to develop that capability by reading and practising.