CAT: What you must know about D-day

21/2 hours of travel -- the time it takes to fly from Delhi to Mumbai!
2 1/2 hours of leisure -- the time spent in watching a foreign feature film!
2 1/2 hours of testing your resolve  -- the time spent on taking the Common Admission Test.

With the D-day knocking at your door, we help you answer two important questions: What to do during the last two to three days? What to do on D-Day?

• Chat: Crack Verbal Ability, Nov 9 , Ace Data Interpretation, Nov 10 

But first let's revisit some basic aspects of CAT:

It's not a single subject test and you must prove your overall ability to become a successful MBA. Hence, a net score of about 65 to 70 marks, with an equitable distribution across all sections of the paper is what will get you calls from the best B-Schools. So, identify and attempt 80 to 90 easier questions out of the 120 to 150 total questions, with an 85 per cent accuracy.

Tips for the final week

• Take one or two tests in the last week before CAT -- say, Wednesday and Friday or Tuesday and Thursday.
  
• Try not to take a test late at night. Take the tests at 11 am, if possible.
  
• How to select questions? Read this write up now!
  
• The list of  B-Schools you aspire to get into is a very good motivation for you to do well on the test.
  

• You may need to fine-tune your strategy and revise your targets while taking the test. This may either be due to variance in expected structure or level of difficulty of one or more sections. Analysis of all the tests taken so far should help you devise alternatives.

• You have taken a lot of tests till date. You have solved a lot of questions by now. Now select questions based not only on your strengths but also the perceived level of difficulty of those questions and the time required to solve them. Ensure that you do not repeat the mistakes made in simulated tests.

Tips for D-day

• Reach the venue before time. It's better to be early. Always.
• Stay composed. Do not stress yourself by worrying and speculating.
• Ensure that you carry your kit containing the CAT admit card, pencils, pen, sharpener and eraser and handkerchief (in case you sweat).
• When the paper begins, enter your details and read the test instructions carefully. Check your test booklet before you begin.
• Overall competency is the key to score more, so try and do well in all sections.
• First attempt the questions you are 100 per cent sure of. If you have time, only then spend it on the other questions.
• Clearly mark the oval of a question before you move onto the next one. 
• Do not get stuck for too long on one question. Select the easiest of the available questions and answer them accurately to maximise your score.

Last but not the least, believe in yourself. You can do it!

-- IMS Learning Resources is an educational services provider which prepares candidates for leading competitive examinations like CAT, GRE and GMAT.