As the time for CAT draws near, adrenaline levels continue to rise.

You prepare feverishly, strategise endlessly and discuss furiously.

Mock CATs and AIMCATs are your fourth meal of the day, supplying essential nutrients for CAT 2007.

Consider your situation similar to that of a 100 meter sprinter. Just like a sprinter training for the big track meet, you are in a stage of consistent evaluation and preparation. This stage allows you to maintain brain strength and to learn about upcoming obstacles.

How can you get ahead in these final weeks of preparation? You must realign your _­­­­­energy towards your goal by demystifying the myths about CAT. 

Common misconceptions

1. CAT is all about IIMs

Though CAT is conducted by the IIMs, it actually opens the doors for 100 odd B-Schools.

2. CAT is all about hard work

On the other hand, CAT is all about smart work, about planning and execution.

3. CAT is a test of selection

On the other hand, CAT is a test of elimination. The selection criteria (once you have belled the CAT) include, inter-alia, Group Discussion, Personal Interview, Academic and Job Profile. 

4. CAT is a test of Aptitude

On the other hand, CAT is a test of altitude. In fact, the Ivy League openly admits that it looks for people who know what their goals are, people who can demonstrate qualities of leadership, communication and organisational skills.

5. Maximise the attempts

On the other hand, effort should be to maximise the accuracy with a fair degree of attempts.

6. Difficult questions are those I don't know

Difficult questions are those that take time.

7. Go to the section of your strength and "finish it off"

Never attempt one section in one go.

~ First attempt: "Time savers" in each section

~ Second attempt: "Moderate questions (along with some RC)" in each section

~ Third attempt: (time permitting). "The moderate among the difficult ones"

The first attempt will help you clear the sectional cut offs (25% of total) and minimum aggregate (33.33%)

8. CAT is an extremely difficult test

CAT is a test of relative strength. You don't have to excel in CAT; you only have to do better than the others. The more challenging the test, the better are the chances of those who love challenges.

9. MOCKCATS can be taken in a relaxed atmosphere

Mockcats are more useful when taken under simulated conditions, i.e. under the real test constraints.

10. MOCKCATS are important, but analysis is not

Mock CATs are important, but Mock CAT analyses are more important. Only these analyses will help you try different strategies and identify the ones that suit you the most. Only these analyses will help you identify your areas of weakness and plug the loopholes. Visit TCYonline.com for mockcats and analyses.

Tomorrow: Winning strategies for CAT Verbal

KB Sharma is a Verbal Reasoning expert with TCY and can be contacted at tcychd@tcyonline.com. TCY trains National and International students for high end examinations viz. CAT, GRE, GMAT, SAT, IELTS & TOEFL. Visit http://www.tcyonline.com/ to more about CAT and winning strategies.

To gain further from the quantitative and verbal reasoning strategies developed by TCY experts for CAT 2007, visit www.tcyonline.com to attend a Web-Seminar in an online classroom atmosphere.

Visit Rediff Books for Mock CAT Papers, interview guides and books to help you ace CAT 2007.