As the CAT exam draws near, the pressure to perform can lead to a flurry of last-minute preparations. But often, in these crucial weeks, students end up making mistakes that can undo months of hard work. With about 30 days to go, it’s time to fine-tune your strategy rather than overhaul it. Avoiding these common pitfalls can make a big difference in how you perform on the exam day.
Here are the top 5 mistakes to avoid in the final weeks of your online CAT exam preparation
1. Overloading on New Material
In the last few weeks before the CAT, many students feel a sudden urge to cover everything they haven’t touched yet—be it obscure grammar rules, complex Quant concepts, or tough Logical Reasoning sets. While it’s tempting to believe that learning new material will boost your score, the reality is that cramming in new topics at this stage can lead to confusion and burnout.
Instead, focus on revising what you’ve already learned. This is the time to strengthen your command over the familiar, not to dive into the unknown. Consolidate your strengths, brush up on high-yield topics, and aim for depth over breadth. Spend time revisiting the concepts and strategies that are most likely to give you a return on your investment in terms of marks.
Instead
- Prioritize topics where you’re confident but could improve your speed or accuracy.
- Leave unfamiliar topics or rarely tested concepts aside for now.
2. Neglecting Mock Test Analysis
It’s common to see students ramp up their mock test attempts in the final weeks—sometimes taking one or two mocks every day. While this sounds productive, it’s only part of the equation. The real improvement comes from the analysis of those mocks. If you’re not thoroughly analyzing each test, you’re likely repeating the same mistakes without realizing it.
Simply taking a mock and moving on doesn’t allow you to reflect on why you made certain mistakes or missed out on certain questions. You might be able to complete 20 mocks in a week, but if you haven’t learned from them, it’s just wasted effort.
Instead
- After each mock, spend 2-3 hours analyzing it in detail.
- Identify patterns in your mistakes: Are they conceptual? Due to time pressure? Related to misinterpreting questions?
- Review your answer choices, especially for VARC, to understand how close options differ and why you got them wrong.
3. Ignoring Time Management Issues
By now, you should have a clear sense of how to allocate time to each section. But many students ignore time management issues, hoping they’ll figure it out on the exam day. This is one of the biggest mistakes that can derail your performance.
The CAT’s sectional time limits mean that you cannot afford to spend too much time on any one question or passage. This is especially critical for the VARC section, where getting stuck on a tricky RC passage can eat into your time for Verbal Ability questions.
Instead
- Practice strict time management during mocks. Set timers not just for the overall section but also for individual sets or passages.
- Develop the discipline to move on from a question if you’re spending too much time. It’s better to attempt more questions with reasonable accuracy than to get stuck on a tough one.
- For each mock, assess how you could have managed your time better, particularly in handling lengthy RC passages or challenging LRDI sets.
4. Overemphasizing Accuracy at the Expense of Attempts
Some students fall into the trap of focusing too much on accuracy while neglecting the number of attempts. While accuracy is important, it must be balanced with the number of questions you attempt, especially in sections like VARC, where questions are often inference-based and subjective.
Aiming for 100% accuracy is often counterproductive. Students who play it too safe by attempting fewer questions tend to score lower overall, even if their accuracy is high. On the other hand, taking calculated risks and aiming to attempt a few more questions can often lead to higher overall scores.
Instead
- Strive for a balance between attempts and accuracy. You don’t need to answer every question, but aiming for a slightly higher attempt count (with 70-80% accuracy) will usually yield better results.
- In the VARC section, consider increasing your attempts slightly while keeping an eye on accuracy. The goal is to maximize your score, not just accuracy percentage.
5. Succumbing to Peer Pressure and Comparison
In the final weeks leading up to CAT, it’s natural to hear about (and seek) others’ progress, mock scores, and preparation strategies. However, comparing your preparation to others can lead to unnecessary stress and self-doubt. Every student has their own learning curve, strengths, and weaknesses. What works for someone else might not necessarily work for you.
Falling into the trap of comparison often causes students to panic, rethink their entire approach, or even abandon strategies that were working well for them. Similarly, peer pressure to attempt more mocks, study longer hours, or tackle topics that others are covering can lead to burnout and inefficiency.
Instead
- Stick to your own preparation strategy. You’ve spent months understanding what works best for you, so trust that process.
- Use peer discussions for support and sharing tips, but avoid adopting their strategies just because it worked for them.
- Remember, the CAT is an individual exam, and it’s your personal performance that matters—not how your peers are preparing.
6. Letting Stress Overpower Performance
As the exam approaches, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The closer you get to D-day, the more stress you’re likely to experience. This stress can negatively impact your performance if not managed effectively.
Many students experience panic during mock tests or even on exam day when they encounter a difficult section. This often leads to poor decision-making, getting stuck on tough questions, or abandoning a well-thought-out strategy altogether.
Instead
- Cultivate a calm mindset by practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation, especially before mocks and the actual exam.
- Visualize success by imagining how you would handle a challenging situation during the exam, such as not knowing the answer to a few questions in a row. Train yourself to move forward without panic.
- Avoid overloading your schedule in the final days. Give yourself time to rest, reflect, and recalibrate. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Final Thoughts: Make the Last Days Count
With only weeks left for the CAT, this is the time to focus on optimization, not experimentation. Avoid these common mistakes, and instead, refine your approach to revision, mock analysis, and time management. This period is about sharpening your skills and ensuring you have a well-rounded strategy that allows you to perform at your best on exam day.
As you head into the final stretch, remind yourself that steady progress beats last-minute rushes. Stay disciplined, keep analyzing, and above all, manage your stress so that you can walk into the exam hall with confidence. The CAT is not just a test of knowledge but also of composure and smart strategy—both of which you can perfect in these last weeks.
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