CAT 2010 Preparation: Tips on taking mock tests by experts - By: MBA

CAT 2010, so it is high time to keep yourself on toes. It can be expected that you have started your preparation you have completed at least the basic preparation in all the sections. Now it is time that you check your preparation level and then decide your further strategy for the upcoming months. In this story of MBAUniverse.com, you will know the details about taking mock tests.
Ideal time to start taking mock tests
According to the experts, it won’t be of much use if you take mock tests before you complete your basic preparation. “The first principal is that you should start taking mock test once you have finished your first level of preparation. This means that you have covered all the topics in all three sections,” says Vivek Gupta, CAT expert, author and IIM Bangalore alumnus.
It is ideal to start taking the mock tests at least three months prior to the actual test, i.e. CAT 2010. But for that, you should finish your basic conceptual preparation at least six months prior to the exam. As Gupta says, “It should be no later than three months prior to CAT 2010, if you have finished your preparation six months before CAT, you can start taking full lengths tests for practice.”
Frequency of taking mock tests
The experts opine that at this stage, you should take two mock tests in a week. The rest of the days should be utilized for the analysis, correcting the errors and preparing for the next mock test. “As far as frequency is concerned, two mock tests per week are ideal. So if you start three months before CAT 2010, you shall do about 30 Mock Tests in total. These are good enough numbers for sure. You may reduce it to three per fortnight but never exceed two mock tests per week,” Gupta mentions.
Analysis of mock tests
The mock tests are meant to be taken to understand your short comings and rectify your errors. While you take the mock tests, you come to know that which are the areas which you have committed the mistake and the reason behind that. “Take an expert’s help to analyze your mock tests. You have to judge if the problem is made just once or it is a consistent error that is occurring. If the error is consistent, then judge if it is a careless error or a conceptual ambiguity and then plan your further preparations accordingly,” says Gejo Sreenivasan, Principal Consultant, Career Launcher. “If it a conceptual problem, you need to go back to your basics and study more. But if it is a careless mistake, you need to practice more,” Sreenivasan adds.
Full length vs. sectional mock tests
Mock tests can be of two sorts, full length mock tests and sectional mock tests. In full length mock tests, you take the mock test for the full duration of two-and-a-half hours with all three sections, whereas in mock tests, you take test of only one section.
If you have completed your preparation for one section and want to test yourself, taking sectional mock tests is the best idea. “Sectional mock tests are ideal to take during the initial stages of preparation or when the preparation for one section is over,” explains Sreenivasan. Sectional mock tests are also taken for a weak area where you need to practice more.
Full length mock tests are taken when your overall preparation is done. “It is ideal to take full length mock tests when you are done with the overall preparation of all the sections and when the actual exam has approached,” he mentions.
Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more on mock tests for CAT 2010 preparation.

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