CAT-The Gandhi Way
After enriching myself with teaching experiencein Ludhiana, I find it pertinent to write a post on CAT.To start with,There are 1500 ways to crack CAT. Everybody who cracked CAT did it in a different way. Still My way will help you with certain Dos and Don'ts.It will answer most of FAQs.Ok, Let us start with FAQs.
Q. What does it need to be in IIMs?
A.Nothing but passion ,desire and determination(A cliche).Eberything else is secondary.It doesn't matter whether you have the aptitude or not.Attitude is more important(Another cliche) but it is true. When I read profiles of people who were getting 67 %ile till their last Mock and still cracked CAT, what should I say about aptitude. Don't tell me that he was the only case.The point is if he can do it so can you.
Q.How to get passion,desire and determination?
A.Frankly,I don't think that I can give you the answer but I can tell you what was true in my case.My classmate got into IIM-A last year.He had a totally different personality than mine.He was shrewd, kattoo and everything you associate with that kind of a guy.I wanted to see that if I stick to my way of living,how high can I rise?Here I go to IIM-C(a shade lower) but Life is a war and that was just a battle.
Q.When should I start the preparation?
A.If you are a PGite and asking this, then I am sorry. For all others, you can start from today(only if you haven't started already).People have done it with the preparations ranging from one month to one year. Find where you stand and then attack your weaknesses.Towards the end you should shift again to your strengths with considerable improvements in your weaknesses. Trust me, You can't survive only with strengths. You have got to bring your weakness to a certain level too.
Q.Shall I join a coaching institute or not?
A.It depends(talking like a true manager).For work-ex people it does not make sense. Working for five days or sometimes even six and then attending classes on weekend is going to burn you out(You can try my company trick for leave before CAT). For others,if you think you are not disciplined enough, you may go for it. Moreover, my experience tells me that improvement can be seen only in Quant. English and DI are neglected to a certain extent in coaching institutes.For non-engineers, I can still understand the need for coaching because of their Quantphobia but for Engineers, it just doesn't make any sense.
Q. My score is pathetic in Mocks :-((?
A. Mocks are no doubt very important in your preparation but don't read too much in your Mock performance. Neither the success nor the failure is any reflection of your performance on D-day.Every year there are lots of people who do well in Mocks but fail in CAT(Yours . truly was part of same brigade in CAT'04) and who perform badly in Mocks and still get through IIMs( Yours truly was not a part of this brigade in CAT'05).If you are working hard enough, analyzing your Mocks properly, you will definitely get positive results.Anyways , working hard is the only thing you can do, why worry about anything else.
Q. What should I do on D-day?
A. Plan it well in advance. Dream about it. Think about it. You should have a clear idea at what you are going to do what. When are you going to reach test centre?What will I do there before start of the paper?What will I be thinking after OMR is given and Question Paper is yet to come?
Q. What should I do for GD/PI?
A. Don't worry about it. Just concentrate on your written exam. It is much more crucial than GD/PI. Selection /Rejection ratio in written is much lower than in GD/PI.Moreover, if you get a good written score it means you are good enough to clear GD/PI as well. With multiple calls, It will be very difficult not to get final selections (unless you slap inetrviewer in the face)
Some General Gyaan:
1. Take atleast 50 Mock CATs before taking CAT.
2. If possible, find study partners. It will help you keep sane and you will get good results as well.
3. Take CAT from position of strength.I mean if speed is your strength then, practice accuracy in Mocks and towards the very end, come back to speed for improved results.
Huhhhh.. That is enough for this time.. I will write about my stay at home next time. It has already taken its toll on me.
ps- I overheard somebody saying " If you write your blog more than twice a week, you arenot a blogger. You are Rashmi Bansal". No pun intended( Me pigmy can't take on a legend).This is just for gags.
Q. What does it need to be in IIMs?
A.Nothing but passion ,desire and determination(A cliche).Eberything else is secondary.It doesn't matter whether you have the aptitude or not.Attitude is more important(Another cliche) but it is true. When I read profiles of people who were getting 67 %ile till their last Mock and still cracked CAT, what should I say about aptitude. Don't tell me that he was the only case.The point is if he can do it so can you.
Q.How to get passion,desire and determination?
A.Frankly,I don't think that I can give you the answer but I can tell you what was true in my case.My classmate got into IIM-A last year.He had a totally different personality than mine.He was shrewd, kattoo and everything you associate with that kind of a guy.I wanted to see that if I stick to my way of living,how high can I rise?Here I go to IIM-C(a shade lower) but Life is a war and that was just a battle.
Q.When should I start the preparation?
A.If you are a PGite and asking this, then I am sorry. For all others, you can start from today(only if you haven't started already).People have done it with the preparations ranging from one month to one year. Find where you stand and then attack your weaknesses.Towards the end you should shift again to your strengths with considerable improvements in your weaknesses. Trust me, You can't survive only with strengths. You have got to bring your weakness to a certain level too.
Q.Shall I join a coaching institute or not?
A.It depends(talking like a true manager).For work-ex people it does not make sense. Working for five days or sometimes even six and then attending classes on weekend is going to burn you out(You can try my company trick for leave before CAT). For others,if you think you are not disciplined enough, you may go for it. Moreover, my experience tells me that improvement can be seen only in Quant. English and DI are neglected to a certain extent in coaching institutes.For non-engineers, I can still understand the need for coaching because of their Quantphobia but for Engineers, it just doesn't make any sense.
Q. My score is pathetic in Mocks :-((?
A. Mocks are no doubt very important in your preparation but don't read too much in your Mock performance. Neither the success nor the failure is any reflection of your performance on D-day.Every year there are lots of people who do well in Mocks but fail in CAT(Yours . truly was part of same brigade in CAT'04) and who perform badly in Mocks and still get through IIMs( Yours truly was not a part of this brigade in CAT'05).If you are working hard enough, analyzing your Mocks properly, you will definitely get positive results.Anyways , working hard is the only thing you can do, why worry about anything else.
Q. What should I do on D-day?
A. Plan it well in advance. Dream about it. Think about it. You should have a clear idea at what you are going to do what. When are you going to reach test centre?What will I do there before start of the paper?What will I be thinking after OMR is given and Question Paper is yet to come?
Q. What should I do for GD/PI?
A. Don't worry about it. Just concentrate on your written exam. It is much more crucial than GD/PI. Selection /Rejection ratio in written is much lower than in GD/PI.Moreover, if you get a good written score it means you are good enough to clear GD/PI as well. With multiple calls, It will be very difficult not to get final selections (unless you slap inetrviewer in the face)
Some General Gyaan:
1. Take atleast 50 Mock CATs before taking CAT.
2. If possible, find study partners. It will help you keep sane and you will get good results as well.
3. Take CAT from position of strength.I mean if speed is your strength then, practice accuracy in Mocks and towards the very end, come back to speed for improved results.
Huhhhh.. That is enough for this time.. I will write about my stay at home next time. It has already taken its toll on me.
ps- I overheard somebody saying " If you write your blog more than twice a week, you arenot a blogger. You are Rashmi Bansal". No pun intended( Me pigmy can't take on a legend).This is just for gags.
posted by Puneet Gandhi | 12:23 PM
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