D-Day experience CAT 2023
(Sorry guys, it will be in the form of an article as I didn't had time to change it.)
Hey Fellas,
I’ll take you through my D-day experience and the tips and tricks that helped me crack the CAT exam.
A Little About Me
I started my CAT preparation in May 2023 and secured an overall 99.05 percentile in CAT 2023, with sectionals as follows:
VARC: 85.05 percentile DILR: 99.69 percentile Quant: 98.79 percentile My academic background reads 8/8/7, with a Bcom degree from a tier-2/3 university.
Now, let’s dive straight into my D-day journey—a mix of chaos, nerves, and, ultimately, triumph!
My D-Day Experience
Arrival at the Center:
I had the Slot-2 exam, and as I approached the center, I was greeted by a rather unusual scene—a wedding celebration happening downstairs, complete with a full band playing loud music. It was hard to miss the worried faces of fellow aspirants. "Will the band keep playing during the exam?" whispered many, including me.
At 12:30 PM, the exam started, and so did the real challenge—the band was still playing!
VARC – A Noisy Start
For me, VARC has always been the least comfortable section. My strategy was clear: start with the Verbal Ability (VA) questions first, then tackle the Reading Comprehensions (RCs). Why? Because I had consistently observed better accuracy in VA during mocks.
That day, I wrapped up the VA questions within 12–13 minutes and moved on to the RCs. But the loud music played havoc with my focus. I found myself rereading passages and second-guessing my answers. By the end of the 40-minute window, I knew this section hadn’t gone as planned, and I had to make up for it in the upcoming sections.
DILR – Turning the Tables
Thankfully, the band quieted down by the time DILR began. I resolved not to let my shaky VARC performance affect this section.
My approach was methodical:
Set Selection: I spent the first 5–7 minutes ranking the sets based on comfort and familiarity. Execution: I completed my first set in 20 minutes. With 25 minutes down in the first set, I was able to tackle the second set in 10 minutes.
With only 5 minutes left and two difficult sets remaining, I faced a choice: prep mentally for Quant section or attempt a jugaad i.e. try to find a way to maximize score without a need to solve the whole set. I opted for the latter, attempting two TITA questions by estimating answers. The gamble paid off—both answers turned out correct when results were declared!
Quant – The Game Changer
Coming from a non-engineering background, Quant was initially a challenge. Over time, I identified Arithmetic as my strong suit and worked hard to master it.
On D-day, I started Quant with optimism, riding the high from my DILR performance. But as I attempted the first 10 questions, I only managed to solve one correctly—panic started to creep in. Then, Arithmetic questions began appearing, and I regained my footing. Out of the 10 questions I attempted, 8 were correct, with 7 from Arithmetic.
Tips and Tricks
General Advice:
No New Concepts: Focus on revising what you’ve already learned. Learn from Mocks: Identify common mistakes and avoid repeating them. TITA Questions: Never leave them unanswered since they carry no negative marking.
VARC Tips:
Identify your stronger area (VA or RC) and tackle it first. Avoid abstract RCs unless you’re comfortable with them. Skim the first line of each paragraph to decide. Don’t pick an RC solely based on its questions.
DILR Tips:
Dedicate some time to thoroughly review the sets at the outset. If you feel uncertain about this section, it's important to invest additional time in this process. By ranking the sets correctly, you will be able to solve at least one set, ensuring that you surpass the cut-off in this section. Select sets you understand and can strategize for—don’t go solely by perceived difficulty.
Quant Tips:
Analyze past mocks to pinpoint your strong areas. Revise formulas and key concepts thoroughly. If you haven’t created a formula book yet, jot one down now!
A Final Word of Motivation
Let me share a snapshot of my mock scores. While my initial attempts were dismal, consistent effort and learning from mistakes helped me turn the tide.
If you haven't scored well so far, your accumulated knowledge may still pay off on the D-Day. So, don’t lose hope.
Lastly, don’t forget to:
Seek blessings from your parents, mentors, and elders. Pray to whichever God you believe in for added confidence. Believe in yourself—you’ve got this!
All the best, and may you rock your CAT exam..
(Sorry guys, it will be in the form of an article as I didn't had time to change it.)
Hey Fellas,
I’ll take you through my D-day experience and the tips and tricks that helped me crack the CAT exam.
A Little About Me
I started my CAT preparation in May 2023 and secured an overall 99.05 percentile in CAT 2023, with sectionals as follows:
VARC: 85.05 percentile DILR: 99.69 percentile Quant: 98.79 percentile My academic background reads 8/8/7, with a Bcom degree from a tier-2/3 university.
Now, let’s dive straight into my D-day journey—a mix of chaos, nerves, and, ultimately, triumph!
My D-Day Experience
Arrival at the Center:
I had the Slot-2 exam, and as I approached the center, I was greeted by a rather unusual scene—a wedding celebration happening downstairs, complete with a full band playing loud music. It was hard to miss the worried faces of fellow aspirants. "Will the band keep playing during the exam?" whispered many, including me.
At 12:30 PM, the exam started, and so did the real challenge—the band was still playing!
VARC – A Noisy Start
For me, VARC has always been the least comfortable section. My strategy was clear: start with the Verbal Ability (VA) questions first, then tackle the Reading Comprehensions (RCs). Why? Because I had consistently observed better accuracy in VA during mocks.
That day, I wrapped up the VA questions within 12–13 minutes and moved on to the RCs. But the loud music played havoc with my focus. I found myself rereading passages and second-guessing my answers. By the end of the 40-minute window, I knew this section hadn’t gone as planned, and I had to make up for it in the upcoming sections.
DILR – Turning the Tables
Thankfully, the band quieted down by the time DILR began. I resolved not to let my shaky VARC performance affect this section.
My approach was methodical:
Set Selection: I spent the first 5–7 minutes ranking the sets based on comfort and familiarity. Execution: I completed my first set in 20 minutes. With 25 minutes down in the first set, I was able to tackle the second set in 10 minutes.
With only 5 minutes left and two difficult sets remaining, I faced a choice: prep mentally for Quant section or attempt a jugaad i.e. try to find a way to maximize score without a need to solve the whole set. I opted for the latter, attempting two TITA questions by estimating answers. The gamble paid off—both answers turned out correct when results were declared!
Quant – The Game Changer
Coming from a non-engineering background, Quant was initially a challenge. Over time, I identified Arithmetic as my strong suit and worked hard to master it.
On D-day, I started Quant with optimism, riding the high from my DILR performance. But as I attempted the first 10 questions, I only managed to solve one correctly—panic started to creep in. Then, Arithmetic questions began appearing, and I regained my footing. Out of the 10 questions I attempted, 8 were correct, with 7 from Arithmetic.
Tips and Tricks
General Advice:
No New Concepts: Focus on revising what you’ve already learned. Learn from Mocks: Identify common mistakes and avoid repeating them. TITA Questions: Never leave them unanswered since they carry no negative marking.
VARC Tips:
Identify your stronger area (VA or RC) and tackle it first. Avoid abstract RCs unless you’re comfortable with them. Skim the first line of each paragraph to decide. Don’t pick an RC solely based on its questions.
DILR Tips:
Dedicate some time to thoroughly review the sets at the outset. If you feel uncertain about this section, it's important to invest additional time in this process. By ranking the sets correctly, you will be able to solve at least one set, ensuring that you surpass the cut-off in this section. Select sets you understand and can strategize for—don’t go solely by perceived difficulty.
Quant Tips:
Analyze past mocks to pinpoint your strong areas. Revise formulas and key concepts thoroughly. If you haven’t created a formula book yet, jot one down now!
A Final Word of Motivation
Let me share a snapshot of my mock scores. While my initial attempts were dismal, consistent effort and learning from mistakes helped me turn the tide.
If you haven't scored well so far, your accumulated knowledge may still pay off on the D-Day. So, don’t lose hope.
Lastly, don’t forget to:
Seek blessings from your parents, mentors, and elders. Pray to whichever God you believe in for added confidence. Believe in yourself—you’ve got this!
All the best, and may you rock your CAT exam..