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15 Days to CAT 11: MBAUniverse.com guide to taking Mock tests
15 Days to CAT 11: MBAUniverse.com guide to taking Mock tests
We have presented to the CAT 2011 aspirants several articles on how to accelerate score from 70 to 90 till now. Today we talk about another very important element of CAT preparation i.e. Mock Tests. Experts have stressed on taking several mock tests and doing thorough analysis.
In this article we share with you the expert tips on taking mock tests and ways of doing the right analysis.
Frequency of mock test
As the experts commonly advise, taking frequent mock tests is not advised. According to
Noida,
UP,
India
(prbd.net)
06/10/2011
We have presented to the CAT 2011 aspirants several articles on how to accelerate score from 70 to 90 till now. Today we talk about another very important element of CAT preparation i.e. Mock Tests. Experts have stressed on taking several mock tests and doing thorough analysis.
In this article we share with you the expert tips on taking mock tests and ways of doing the right analysis.
Frequency of mock test
As the experts commonly advise, taking frequent mock tests is not advised. According to them, mock tests are not about numbers, but one should take them for understanding one’s strengths and weaknesses.
“You should ideally take mock tests twice a week. And always remember to analyze the results. If you take it on the first day of the week, you will take one day to analyze it and another day to revise and rectify the errors. So you can invest a week by taking two mock tests,” says Gautam Puri, Vice Chairman, Career Launcher.
Sectional or full length
At this level, it is suggested that you take full length simulated mock tests. But if one of your sections or areas is really weak, then you can take sectional mock tests along with full length mock tests. “Ideally, you should take full-length mock tests now. Take sectional tests if you think one of the two sections has got a major problem and needs more attention than the other,” suggests Abhishek Gupta, Senior Manager, Academics, Career Launcher.
Before taking mock tests
Before taking mock tests, be sure and confident of your preparation. Don’t take a mock test just for the sake of taking it. “Take the next mock only when you have analyzed the previous one very thoroughly and learnt your lessons through it,” mentions Gupta. Check that you do not repeat the same mistakes in the next exam and you have the conceptual clarity on all the possible topics and areas.
Take mock test in a simulated environment. Take it continuously for two hours and 35 minutes, the actual duration of CAT 2011 and concentrate fully on the test. It is better for you to join a test series as taking the test amongst others will give you the actual CAT taking environment rather than taking it at your home where you may get distracted.
Strategy for taking mock test
The strategy for taking the test will depend mostly on what suits you best. “There is no specific strategy to attempt the paper. Every person formulates his own strategy. What I would suggest is that you attempt five to six mocks with different strategies and see which one suits you the best. Then take rest of the mocks with this finalized strategy and develop a good hold on the same,” advises Varun Saxena, 99.38 percentiler in CAT 2009 and is a student of NITIE Mumbai.
But you need to be careful about choosing your questions correctly. You will get 30 questions in a section but you need not attempt all of them as there is a concern of negative marking. “Attempting about 80 per cent of the questions with 85 per cent accuracy will take you to getting a percentile which can fetch you calls from top B-schools,” states Vinayak Kudva, Product Head, IMS Learning.
The first indication of whether the question is right for you or not is the reaction time you take. “If after spending five minutes in a question you cannot find out a way to solve the question, then don’t waste any more time on it and move ahead,” says Arun Sharma, CAT guru and author of bestselling books of CAT preparation and IIM Bangalore alumnus.
Post Mock test analysis
After the mock test, your real task starts, by analyzing your performance. You should do this part very carefully and spend at least four to five hours on it.
“Analysis doesn't mean just looking at the explanatory solutions. Try to find if you have done optimally in the mocks. Optimal performance means doing your level best. See if you are missing on some topic repeatedly, or regularly miss sitters etc.,” mentions Gupta while suggesting the significance of analysis. You can take help from your senior or mentor while analyzing your performance as they would be able to guide you better.
While analyzing, take corrective actions for all the mistakes you have done. “Take an expert’s help to analyze your mock tests. You have to judge if the problem is made just once or it is a consistent error that is occurring. If the error is consistent, then judge if it is a careless error or a conceptual ambiguity and then plan your further preparations accordingly,” says Gejo Sreenivasan, Principal Consultant, Career Launcher.
Saxena suggests, “Taking a mock is a job of 140 minutes but analyzing the mock properly takes around six to seven hours. Regular analysis helps us in improving on our weaknesses as well as performing even better in our areas of strengths.”
Analyze the correct answers as well
Many of you may have the conception that analysis is applicable for questions which you have attempted incorrectly. But the analysis is also applicable for the questions you have attempted correctly. “You can find out a better way to solve the question, which will take lesser time and a smarter way to answer it,” suggested Kudva.
You will need to give considerable time to hone the new strategies you will learn during this analysis. Hence make sure you get enough practice so that you can apply them at the next mock test and for the D-Day.
Ankur Jain, 99.93 percentiler in CAT 2010 and MDI Gurgaon student suggests, “Keep all the notes and rough sheets used during your analysis and mock tests. They are the best source of your improvement.”
Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more on CAT 2011 preparation.
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