Countdown for CAT begins

Experts have listed words of advise to the CAT aspirants to ensure a smooth sail through the entrance examinations. They have warned candidates to think twice before picking up new topics for study.

Being a highly unpredictable entrance exam, it is necessary that the students reinforce what they have studied so far, rather than learning new subjects. Revision holds more meaning in CAT than in any other exam, they opine. 

“Learning new topics just a few days before CAT can be counter-productive. Hence, it is important that students revise what they have already learnt,” R Shivakumar, R and D Director, Career Launcher, said.

As the test will be held during a 20-day testing window between October 27 and November 24, it is essential that aspirants do not lose their momentum of study.

Concentrated work

While many students will take up the test on the first day, those appearing for it later, should ensure that their momentum is not lost. And for this, they should do concentrated work for two-and-a-half hours everyday. “Putting off studies may be disastrous. So, it’s necessary that students don’t lose their focus,” Shivakumar adds.

Another crucial factor is that aspirants should not be tense. “Sleep well, eat on time, and take five minutes break every half an hour.” This is what aspirants should follow religiously. There is no logic in having a sleepless night just before the test. Aspirants who will take the test in the afternoon should be active and energetic.

Going through the previous years’ question papers is another must. Most of them are easily available and students should solve as many as possible.

Technical glitches

As for technical glitches, Shivakumar brushes off that these are negligible. “Conducting a 100 per cent smooth test is impossible. Glitches are bound to occur here and there. I’d be surprised if there were none. But, hopefully, these won’t affect many students,” he said.

Prometric India, the agency which conducts the online test on behalf of the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), has already uploaded an interface for test on www.catiim.com giving the aspirants a near-identical pattern of the entrance exam.

Computers may be erratic. But the mantra is that students should not be edgy. They should approach the Prometric assistants to sort out the glitch.