With less than two weeks remaining, CAT looms on the horizon!
In 13 days, it's hard to learn new techniques and material. Therefore, it's best to spend this time consolidating what you've already learned. On top of that, you must manage stress and keep a level head.
Priya Varat Singh and KB Sharma, competitive examination experts from Top Careers and You, discussed these issues and more with Get Ahead readers during a rediff.com chat on Friday, November 2.
For those of you who missed the chat, here's the transcript:
mamu asked, Dear Priya, Now that CAT 2007 is just two weeks away how should I do last minute revision?
Priya Varat Singh answers, Revise only those topics which you have done in past and don't try to master new topics. Also analyse your previous MOCKS and rectify your errors.
sindhu asked, hi, can you share some tips on cracking teh DI sec
Priya Varat Singh answers, Well if we see the last 5 years trend of CAT we will find that DI section is moving towards logical rather than numerical based problems. Try as many logical questions as you can.
meera asked, plz suggest a strategy for verbal
K. B. Sharma answers, Granting that you are quite comfortable with vocabulary and grammar, attempt these questions first as these are time savers. Don't devote so much of time in reading unnecessary details of the RC passage. Get the main idea and proceed to answer. It is not necessary to answer all the questions based on the RC passage.
sundar asked, is there a possibilityof Vocabulary in good amount in this CAT
K. B. Sharma answers, Although of late there has been less emphasis on direct vocab based questions, you can never rule them out. All said, verbal section in CAT is now predominantly reasoning based
manu asked, Hi priya, I am almost always never able to clear the QA cut off, even though i have revised all the concepts and solved loads of questions, somehow i jus fail to give the same kind of performance in the mocks. what
could be the possible reason and a solution for the same. I am ok with VA and DI Thanks
Priya Varat Singh answers, Well, your performance always depends on the level of the the paper and the questions asked. Some time more questions can be from those topics in which you are not strong for that don't lose heart and try to overcome your weakness so that it will not happen in future. Prepare any of the two sections from Arithmetic or Algebrs or Geometry and mensuration as these together make more than 85% of the quant section
ketan asked, what will be the impact on the interview process if one clears CAT at the age of 35 +
Priya Varat Singh answers, Age is never a bar in the selection.
minu asked, how mny mocks shld i attempt a week -- i try 3-4
K. B. Sharma answers, Two Mock CATs per week should be enough. There should be more emphasis on analysis like where you went wrong and why.
harshit asked, can u predict the questions in the areas which may appear in cat 2007...like numbers, geometry, eqns, averages, p and c, time work, time speed.
Priya Varat Singh answers, These topics, plus algebra, together make 85% of tha total number of questions in the quant section.
paplu asked, hi.. sumtimes wen DI is quite tough n each set requires time n efforts , i lose my patience due to time constarints n starts switching between sets n eventually starts marking hapzardly n get very low score . wat should i do wen DI is quite tough?
Priya Varat Singh answers, Always keep in mind that if the section is tough for you, it is same for others. Don't panic and never lose your patience . Be calm and solve only as many questions which can make your cutoff clear for that section
minu asked, any predictions for this yrs CAt
Priya Varat Singh answers, Be prepared for the surprise factor and in my view there will be 80 to 100 question in the mixed section form.
anurag asked, This is a question on behalf of many aspirants...We are getting around 85+ in Aimcats and do get 90+ in some AIMCATs...Should we be expecting a 95+ %tile in CAT??
K. B. Sharma answers, Percentile is a relative figure. The level of questions remaining the same, the larger the number of test takers, the higher the probability of more people scoring higher than you. This is not to discourage you. This is only to say that the competition is much larger and much tougher.
harshit asked, What do you mean algebra???what all topics in that? quad eqns, eqns, and??????
Priya Varat Singh answers, Functions, Maxima minima, equations etc
puntu asked, Hi Priya !! If I solve all mock CAT's of last 3 years along with previous CAT papers in and out, will I be scoring 90 percentile?
Priya Varat Singh answers, It is your confidence and preparation which can give you 90+ percentile.
anurag asked, And I do think tht number of questions will vary from 60-90....I think it will be with differential marking.....And I do hope that Quant and DI are tough this Time...
Priya Varat Singh answers, No one can predict CAT pattern before the actual exam. Try all the permutation and combination for the pattern of the paper.
BOND asked, what is the best way to attempt QA section?i have knowledge of maths that is suffice to clear cut offs.but i have the problem of selection...try to give me ans.
Priya Varat Singh answers, First of all divide all the topics of Quant according to your strong and weak areas then select only those questions first in which you are strong . Then in the second round attempt questions to maximise your score.
CAT asked, Well as far as prediction goes....I think it will be total shock.....I do expect a tough paper this time...about 60 questions...I expect tht there will be a lot of Vocab in VA and puzzles in DI....
K. B. Sharma answers, The most certain thing about CAT is its unpredictability.We do expect questions on grammar this time that we did not get last year. The general level of difficulty has been going up as the number of questions have kept coming down. But there is no reson to expect an unreasonably difficult test.
ffff asked, I have a problem when the paper is easy...I think then I don't score good...If paper is tough,,,I do score very good %tiles...reason????
Priya Varat Singh answers, In such papers inscrease your speed and attempts also.
as asked, sir how should i study qa considering very few days are left
Priya Varat Singh answers, do not try new topics only revise and practice your known topics. Also see your mistakes in previous MOCKS
ffff asked, I think in CAT one has to focus merely on easy questions..Every CAt paper has 6-7 doable Quant questions and 1-2 doable DI sets..There is always a passage which is easy to attempt....If one can do all this and then maximize his score by doing some more tough questions then IIM is not far away..
K. B. Sharma answers, Everybody has got his/her relative strengths and weaknesses. The strategy is to look for questions that appear easier for you. The maximisation of attempt cannot be at the cost of accuracy.
Jain asked, Hi Priya, Should we revise the mock cats papers now ? or shud we revise the materials ?
Priya Varat Singh answers, Try to overcome silly mistakes you have made in your last mocks Also revise basic fundamentals from you materials
as asked, ok sir but what should be my target %age in qa considering it is sligthly tougher than 2006
Priya Varat Singh answers, Should depend on the level of paper If it is slightly tougher than 2006, than that should be 50% +
ketan asked, Hello sir, r there different cut offs for Quant. for Engineering and non engeneering students, e.g., for a candidate who has not studied maths after 10 th
Priya Varat Singh answers, No.
puntu asked, Hi priya!! what shd be the plan for the coming 2 weeks??
Priya Varat Singh answers, Cool head, meditation and revision of your mistakes
vidya asked, im going 2 appear for cat 2008 can u tell me how 2 prepare
Priya Varat Singh answers, Start from basics of maths and at least two puzzles a day to improve your logic.
BOND asked, How to keep the momentum of the preparation?sometimes,i just dont feel like preparing for CAT at all.(evenhough,i am quite serious in getting into IIMs)
K. B. Sharma answers, I think you need to relax a little. Taking a day's break may not be a bad idea.Work out your daily schedule keeping a little time for relaxation also. But the tests should be under simulated conditions and more time should be devoted to analysis.
adigai asked, hi...i have my engineering exams coming up...i have been getting about 98-99ile in my mocks....what shud i do in the last few days...revise concepts,solve mocks(how many per week) or just stick to my engineering studies
Priya Varat Singh answers, Give your CAT with a very cool mindset. Revise your mocks and overcome your mistakes.
BOND asked, if i try keep the balance among the three sections then my percentile are 90-93%.if i attempt my strong areas(VA/DI) only then percentile jump to 98-99%?what do you suggest.?should i still try to clear cut off in my weak area(QA)?
K. B. Sharma answers, Not all B schools look for sectional balance. If you are aiming for such schools, it may not be a bad idea. But if you are aspiring for IIMs, a min cut off has to be cleared for each. One way out could be first attempting to clear the cut offs and then going for maximisation in the area of yr strength.
mehere asked, can u say how i should do DI in the last 14 days to clear the cut off
Priya Varat Singh answers, First of all divide all the topics of Quant according to your strong and weak areas then select only those topics first in which you are strong and do as much practice you can in those topics.