Common Mistakes to Avoid during CAT Preparation

While chasing the IIM dream, many aspirants commit some mistakes during CAT preparation which narrow their chances of getting admission to their desired colleges. Being one of the most competitive exams in the country, CAT requires the aspirants to be well-prepared and confident. The key in CAT preparation is making the least possible mistakes. The CAT is a computer-based test. The small and even silly mistakes committed can result in a great loss.

In order to make your CAT preparation more effective and productive, we will discuss some common practices in this blog that you should avoid during CAT Preparation. Let’s have a look at them.

Mistakes Committed by CAT Aspirants during Preparation

#1 Not Making a Study Plan

CAT preparation requires formulating a proper study plan in advance. Having what, when, and how to prepare for CAT sorted, a study plan imparts a sense of direction in aspirants. However, it should be formulated keeping in mind your strong and weak areas. You should devote at least 8-10 hours of quality study time. Unfortunately, most of the students either do not have an organized study plan or, if even they have one, they don’t follow it sincerely. Always remember, ‘A goal without a plan is just a wish’.

Also read: CAT: Everything you need to know

#2 Not Checking the Syllabus Thoroughly

A CAT aspirant is bound to get confused if he/she does not study the syllabus minutely. It is imperative for candidates to know ‘What’ to study during the preparation. If you are unaware of the CAT syllabus, it is recommended to first have a basic idea of it so that you can plan your preparation accordingly. For instance, it is imperative for you to know that reading comprehension is a major component in the Verbal ability section of CAT. 

#3 Not Gaining Conceptual Clarity

CAT is all about numbers, logical reasoning, solving complex problems, and much more. Unless you have a conceptual clarity of all the underlying principles while solving questions, you can not prepare efficiently. When the concept knowledge is incomplete, you can not perform well in the exams. Hence, you should focus on understanding the concepts of each area. For instance, in critical reasoning questions, you should have a proper understanding of the terms like inference, assumptions etc. In other words, you need to learn about different question types for individual sections. 

#4 Not Revising Enough

Either CAT aspirants don’t revise what they study, or they don’t revise enough to crack CAT with ease. Often candidates complete a particular topic and move on to the other topics without checking if they have retained it completely. One needs to regularly revise all the concepts, formulae and shortcuts learnt, else it might become difficult to recall them on the day of the final CAT exam. 

Also read: How to Prepare for CAT 2021?

#5 Not Attempting Enough Mock Tests

Mock Tests are nothing but a true reflection of your preparation. If you are familiar with all the concepts and formulas, and if you are confident about your preparation, you will perform better in the Mock Tests. Don’t be a novice! Those who do not solve enough mock tests eventually face difficulties while answering the final CAT exam. Hence, try to solve at least 4-5 mocks in a week. This will help you to understand the exam pattern and structure, and what kind of questions you can expect in the final exam.

These are the most common mistakes that CAT aspirants make and end up their preparation in chaos. We recommend all the CAT aspirants to avoid the above-mentioned mistakes during the CAT preparation and develop the confidence to ace CAT.

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A name you can rely upon for the CAT preparation, PrepLadder has everything you need to ace CAT on one single platform. This includes concise, effective and well-planned video lectures by our Dream Team for CAT, a well-structured and high yield QBank, highly competitive PrepTests based on real exam patterns, and Previous Year Papers in the form of tests.  

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All the best for your exams. Stay tuned for more updates.  

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