What should be my strategy if I want to crack CAT in last 4 months?

We are already in August; CAT is just 4 months away. If you are starting your
preparation right now or thinking to start, it can be a bit intimidating. However, let me
sum up this whole article in one single line: With proper guidance and strategy you can
definitely ace the CAT exam in 4 months.

CAT is purely an aptitude based exam; there is no reason to think that you cannot crack
it. However, the main problem is your perception of the situation. If you start comparing
yourself with other aspirants who started their preparation 6 months or even a year
ago, then you will feel inferior. Here is a step by step breakdown of what you should be
doing for the next 4 months.

1. Know where you stand

First and foremost, you should give a mock test. You need to know where you stand.
This is just a “mock test”. Do not be disheartened by low score, at the same time, you
should not be overwhelmed by a high score. This is just to analyze how hard you have to
work.

2. Analyze your first mock

When you analyse your first mock, you will find that you will be super good in one
section, not so good in one and one section will definitely haunt you. This is the time to
strategize your preparation according to your strengths and weaknesses. Say you are
very good in VARC, somewhat okay in DILR and very bad in QA. Then your target is to
spend more time on QA and somewhat less time in VARC. This way you will be able to
improve on your weakness while not losing the touch with your best part.

3. Time for some gameplay buddy

Your target is to complete your syllabus within a month. Start with some basic books
like Arun Sharma. Clear your concepts first. Remember, CAT is an aptitude exam. It is
very different from other exams like NEET or JEE. Here your concepts are tested. If you
have a strong basic, you will easily sail through.

4. Mocks, Mocks, Mocks

I cannot stress this enough: Mocks are the building blocks towards a stellar CAT score.
Take at least 20 mocks to analyze your performance. There is no need to complete the
syllabus to start taking mocks. You should give at least one mock every weekend for
August and September. In October and November, you should increase your frequency
to 2 or even 3 mocks every week. Remember, analysing the mock is equally important.
Give a mock, analyze where you are making mistakes, improve on that area, and again
give mock. This will be a continuous cycle for the next 4 months.

5. 29th November 2020

So, you have completed your syllabus. Not only that, you have starting getting that
dream 99 percentile in your mocks. All you have to do now is to replicate your mock
strategy in the actual CAT. Remember that if you have been committed all these months
then there is nothing that can stop you from getting into your dream B-school.

Throughout this journey you need guidance of someone who can help you keep track of
your preparation. iQuanta is the best CAT preparation platform. You get everything
from preparation tips to mock analysis.

All the best!