Cracking CAT 2010: CAT'09 topper shares his success mantras - By: MBA

The CAT is now just around the corner of the street. There is an air of nervousness as well as excitement with only one week left for the CAT 2010 test window to open. For the aspirants who have scheduled their test in the latter half of the one month test delivery window there is still time for them to brush up the key concepts and give more mock tests to analyse their performance level, but for those aspirants who have scheduled to take the test in the first week of the test window, they have just enough time to only go through the key areas.
There are many questions that are now rocking the minds of CAT 2010 test takers. To provide the solutions to the various doubts and fears of MBA aspirants, MBAUniverse.com brings to you today the interview with Ranjan Panda, student of IIM Kozhikode. Ranjan scored 99.74 percentile in CAT 2009 entrance exam. His educational background is engineering. He is a B.Tech. (Electr.) from IIT Bombay. He had 7 months work experience in Consulting when he took CAT 2009.
In this interview Ranjan gives his mantras to CAT 2010 test takers. Read the excerpts from the interview:
Q. With just a week for CAT 2010 to start, what is your advice to the test takers?
A. In the last days before the final test, there should be emphasis on taking more and more mock tests so as to familiarize yourself with the test procedure. This is also the time to develop expertise in some section instead of reading up new sections. This ensures guaranteed correct answers in at least some parts of the paper.
Q. What should be the ideal study plan for a day for test takers?
A. I did not follow any study plan as such. I took up tests from time to time and this helped me brush up my concepts and improve.
In my opinion the study style should be as per student’s preferences, if you are a person who likes having planned out tasks and are efficient in actually sticking to the plan, I would say plan for the upcoming two months and give it a shot. If the preparation, is getting on to you, which many a times is the case, relax and take it very lightly and as per your convenience.
Q. How should test takers prepare for each of the sections, Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning?
A. Every student has a strong section and a weak section. Since there is a sectional cut-off the weak section should be practiced a lot, but on the other hand the strong section should not be neglected as it would be the most scoring. For QA practice tests is the key. In case of VA, reading up books to improve the word power may be beneficial. DI & LR again require rigorous practice if you are weak in the same.
Q. How many mock tests should test takers ideally take at this stage?
A. I would recommend taking at least two full-length mock tests a week and number of sectional tests depending on weak and strong sections. Again depends on the amount of time you can devote and you want to devote.
Q. What was your strategy which you had followed 20 days before the exam?
A. I gave mock tests as many possible. I didn’t let any kind of pressure to perform well in CAT affect me.
Q. How should test takers plan to attempt the paper with respect to the three sections and time management?
A. With respect to three sections take up the section you consider yourself to be the most difficult and attempt it with great confidence. Do not ponder upon any particular question but concentrate on browsing through all the questions. Typically DI and QA take more time than VA so set time targets accordingly. Once you are done with the whole paper, now is the time to give more effort to solve the moderately difficult questions. Make an informed choice based on the first read through to choose the questions.

Q. What strategy should test takers follow 15, 7 and a day before the exam?
A. My advice is:
A day before the exam – RELAX
7 days before the exam - CONSOLIDATE your strengths
15 days before the exam - Give MOCK TESTS.
Q. What should be the strategy while taking the exam to maintain full concentration level?
A. Ensure you are not panicked when you don’t get an answer because that is the case with every test taker. Be confident while answering questions, it will make sure that your concentration level does not deviate.
Q. What is your take on the computer based format of CAT?
A. Minus the technical glitches, it is a good form of taking the tests. With computer savvy people all around it is absolutely as simple as the normal paper and pencil test.

Q. Any other information/suggestion you would like to share with the CAT 2010 takers?
A. I wish you all the very best for CAT 2010. Be relaxed you will positively ace the paper.
Read previous CAT 2009 toppers’ interviews:
Give 30 mt to strongest, 50 mt to weakest, says CAT Topper
15 Days 15 Interviews: CAT 2009 topper A. Phukan on CAT 2010
Focus, resolve and some fun are keys to success: CAT toppers
Don't panic if there is glitch, advises CAT 2009 topper
Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more topper interviews!

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