Take the Diagnostic Test. Identity your strengths and weaknesses. Be true to yourself and admit it if you face any difficulties in the different sections of the exam. Over time your strengths may have dulled into weaknesses. This CAT exam test will help you determine where you stand and how far you need to go.

The CAT Exam is known for changing their patterns every year and increasing the levels of difficulty. Make your fundamentals rock solid, so that any change in exam patterns can be tackled well. Do not find shortcuts. Take as much time as you need to get it right.

Are you good with mental calculations? You should be able to grasp, calculate and analyze data without the help of calculators, of course. It is important to practice mental calculations and improve mental ability. For example, three digit calculations without the help of a calculator need to be practiced daily.

Nothing beats practice, practice and practice each day. Very early in the preparation cycle, start taking time bound tests. This will help you to assess how soon and accurately you are able to crack the tests.

Dedicate yourself to studying for this exam. Take as many mock tests as you can to determine where you stand in the competition. If you are confident of getting into the institute that you want to, resign from your job and concentrate totally on your studies. Your mock test averages should not be less than 200 or 250. It is recommended to put in 16 hours of hard work each day. There is no short cut here, it is not impossible, this goal can be achieved.

If your rank in the mock tests is not up to expectations, check your past scores and see if there is an increase in the progress. It is important to analyze your test scores. A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis helps in answering questions like

• What went right?
• What went wrong?
• Which areas am I strong in?
• Which areas am I weak in?
• Why did I attempt questions that were time consuming?
• Did I skip or not attempt easy questions? Why?

Experiment during the mock tests till you find your own rhythm. Strike a balance between the number of questions you want to attempt, the time spent on each section etc. This will help you to develop an optimum CAT-solving strategy, taking care of speed and accuracy.

Time has to be managed efficiently and effectively. The initial phase of the study period has to be spent on building concepts, extensive practice and mock tests. Stay calm and de-stressed. Allot time each day for study and balance your work with advance preparation. Small and well-planned steps will help you in the process.

Comments Off on How can working professionals prepare for CAT Exam 2014?