The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a very important exam for students who want to join top business schools in India. Many students dream of studying at these famous colleges to get a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
However, many students make a big mistake: they try to study everything at the last minute. This often means studying late into the night just before the exam. When experts talk to these students, many say they prepared hard only in the last few weeks or days.
Some working students take a break from their jobs to study very hard in the last two weeks. Others start studying much harder in the final week before the exam. This way of studying is very different from other big exams like IIT-JEE or NEET, where students start preparing years in advance.
Experts say that starting CAT preparation six to eight months before the exam gives much better results. Last-minute study might not work well because there is not enough time to practice. It also makes students very stressed, and they only get one chance to do well in this exam.
The CAT exam needs a special way of preparing. Think of it like a T20 cricket match. Batsmen start hitting the ball strongly from the very first ball. This is like "muscle memory" – skills become natural with practice. Students taking CAT should also do many practice tests well before the actual exam. This helps them be ready and calm when they enter the exam hall. Not enough practice can make students more stressed, and they might not be in the right mindset to perform their best.
How to Prepare Well and Reduce Stress
Here are some simple steps students can follow to study better and feel less stressed for the CAT exam:
1. Join a Good Study Program
- Many coaching classes are available that help students prepare for CAT in an organised way.
- These programs help students review all the topics and give them many practice tests.
- Some courses also give personal advice to students. They help find weak areas and teach how to fix them.
2. Learn from Your Mistakes
- Do not take practice tests lightly. Treat them as real exams.
- Spend more time checking your answers and understanding where you went wrong.
- For CAT, questions often come in sets. It is important to understand why you made mistakes in the whole group of questions, not just one.
3. Find Your Best Study Plan
- Every student is different. Find a study plan that works best for you.
- If you are strong in certain topics, start with those sections first in the exam. This can help you finish them quickly and leave more time for harder sections.
4. Get Ready for the Final Days
- Try to finish all your main study and practice tests at least two to three days ( 48-72 hours ) before the exam.
- In the last two days, only review the questions where you made mistakes earlier. Do not try to learn new topics.
- The night before the exam, relax and get good sleep. Do not go out or party.
- Visit your exam center location before the exam day if possible. This helps you know the route and avoid any last-minute rush or tension.
Preparing smartly and early can help you do well in the CAT exam. We wish all students good luck for the upcoming exam.
This advice comes from Prof. D. Sriram , who is a Professor of Marketing and Program Director (PGDM) at Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai.
