My CAT Journey!!

Strategies, Insights, & Lessons Learned🚀

Embarking on the CAT preparation journey a year in advance was crucial for me, especially since I needed to strengthen my Quantitative Aptitude (Quant). Here's a detailed roadmap of my preparation process, which might help fellow aspirants:

Quantitative Aptitude (Quant)

Initial Focus: Prioritized Quant due to my initial weakness. Started with basics like the number system.

Daily Practice: Dedicated 2-3 hours daily, revising basic formulas, cubes, squares, and tables.

Progression: Began with fundamental questions and gradually tackled tougher ones.

Mocks: Regularly took topic-wise mock tests to gauge progress and improve.

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

Strength Area: VARC was my strong suit, yet I maintained daily practice.

Reading: Read high-quality articles to enhance comprehension skills.

Practice: Solved previous years' papers, self-assessed, and learned from mistakes.

Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation (LRDI)

Initial Struggles: Found LRDI tough initially but grew to enjoy it as I got comfortable with Quant.

Practice: Enjoyed solving puzzles and used free online resources like Cracku, Rodha, Unacademy to improve.

Study Materials and Resources

Books and Guides: Used the GMAT official guide for English and had study materials from IMS Learning Resources Pvt. Ltd. and TIME.

Mocks: Took around 35+ mocks, utilized TIME and IMS test series.

Notes: Maintained personal notes for challenging questions and revised them regularly.

Balance and Motivation

Breaks and Rewards: Balanced study with breaks, social outings, and mini-tours. Rewarded myself after full-length mocks.

Consistency: Consistent practice across all subjects was key. Avoided procrastination on weaker areas.

GDPI Preparation

Coaching: Joined a coaching institute for GDPI preparation to enhance communication skills and gain broader knowledge.

Mentorship: Found guidance from seniors and mentorship cell more valuable than any paid coaching materials.

Mocks: Benefited significantly from mock GDPI sessions.

Key Learnings

Balanced Focus: Focus on all subjects equally to ensure no weak areas.

Strategic Practice: Practice weaker subjects daily until they become strengths.

Continual Improvement: Keep advancing in strong subjects to ensure a high percentile.

Utilize Resources: Leverage free online content and mentorship for comprehensive preparation.

Preparing for CAT was a journey of consistent effort, strategic planning, and balancing study with relaxation. If you have any questions or need guidance, feel free to connect. I'd love to help!