Practice as much as you can

"Prepare, prepare and prepare. Simply because it is practice which makes one perfect, like car driving or swimming," Therefore, practice as much you can. It will only increase your chances of catching the CAT.

Practice online

With CAT becoming an online test this time onwards, “the best way to tackle the pressure of an online testing system is to take every test that is happening now, on the computer, so that you become comfortable with the online system,” Several coaching centers and others are conducting proctored mock tests. Get used to staring at the screen for up to 3 hours at a stretch.

Don't get affected by structural changes

There is a big hype that CAT is the most unpredictable examination. However, “it can be seen in the light of being one of the most predictable exams if we break it into two plots — structure and content,”
Structure comprises how many questions are there, how many sections are there, and what is the negative marking, among others. “There are changes in the structural component of the paper, but the content remains the same,” he says.

Attempt maximum in strength areas

Another area that might cause anxiety among students is what if the paper is designed such that your strength area/s gets underplayed. The way to tackle this is to attempt the maximum in your strength area. And if we talk of English or quant or DI as strength areas, we need to realise that between English and Quant there is a similarity.

Devote equal time to all sections

Students should set time limits for each section, and should devote equal time to all the sections. They can give an extra five minute to the last section as this would be attempted under pressure. Moreover, “in the beginning do not spend more than one minute on any one question. You can skip some questions and come back again. Postpone answering lengthy data interpretation questions to the end,”

Don't let feedbacks dilute your attention

So far as peer pressure is concerned, there would be anxiety among students. There is a possibility that those students who take the examinations at a later date will have information overboard. There will be so much information with the student that he might just get puzzled. But no one will be able to tell you what will come in your paper.

Read instructions/guidelines

Read the press releases from IIMs and the CAT administration, and familiarise yourself with the instructions and guidelines, if any. This will help you during the exam.

Look for useful tips: Students should always look for useful tips. They can get useful information also by visiting the sites of concerned institutes and education service providers.

Visit the test centre before

Visit the test centre allotted to you a day or a few days before the date of test. This saves anxiety on the day of the test about the exact location of the test centre and the time it takes.“Plan to reach the test centre at least half an hour to one hour before to provide for unanticipated hick-ups like traffic jams and tyre punctures,”

Handle last-minute jitters

Students also need to know how to handle the last-minute jitters. “One needs to relax before the exam and try to focus on the core areas with a calm mind,” . Moreover, if you are ready to take the test, all you need to do is go for it!