CAT 2022: 5 secrets to crack this MBA entrance exam

NEW DELHI: Cracking CAT 2022 and getting into IIMs or top MBA colleges is a dream every MBA aspirant nurtures from their Bachelor days. But it is a hard nut crack. Many fail to crack CAT after several attempts, many not just ace it but emerge as toppers in their first attempt. Why? The secret to cracking CAT 2022 and scoring a high percentile depends on how one prepares for it.
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CAT 2022, being the most sought after MBA entrance exam, requires hard work and the right strategy of preparation. Every year, lakhs of students take this entrance test. Last year, around 2.31 lakh students registered for the Common Admission Test (CAT), out of which around 1.92 lakh appeared for the exam. 9 candidates scored 100 percentile, and 19 scored 99.99 percentile. Only about 3 % of total students who appeared for the test were offered admission into IIMs.

So wondering how to crack CAT 2022? Here are the 5 secrets candidates must know to crack CAT with a 99+ percentile in the first attempt.

1. Keep abreast with changes in the CAT exam pattern

In 2020, some changes were made to the CAT exam pattern, after which the timing and the total number of questions were reduced. Also, the total number of questions decreased in 2021. With that, it seems inevitable for aspiring candidates to keep up with the trends and prepare for the exam accordingly. Though CAT 2022 notification is yet to be announced, students should draw a CAT preparation plan based on the CAT 2021 wherein there were a total of 66 questions and 120 minutes were given to answer them.

2. Kickstart your CAT 2022 preparation as early as possible

As CAT is quite different from other entrance exams, and also the competition is high, aspiring students need to start preparing for CAT 2022 as early as possible. Starting early means students will have enough time to cover all the important topics thoroughly, so they don’t miss even a single question in the exam. According to the previous CAT toppers, preparing properly for 30 days can add 30 marks to the CAT score, which means jumping about 15 to 20 percentile in the final analysis. For example, if you are getting 80 percentile, you can hope for 90-95 percentile if you follow this approach. So the earlier you start preparing, the more likely you will get a higher score.

3. Use your smartphone wisely

Time has now changed; technology is enabling us to do things faster and more efficiently. Many such smartphone apps can tremendously aid in CAT 2022 preparation. For example, it is now possible to make notes from anywhere with note-making apps such as Evernote which helps cut clips from newspapers and magazines and make notes. They can be accessed from anywhere, anytime, such is the convenience of using technology to prepare for exams like CAT.

4. CAT 2022 mock tests is the secret key

There is a saying, practice makes a man perfect, and this is truer for CAT. To increase the chances of cracking CAT 2022 and scoring 99+ percentile, aspirants are advised to practice with CAT mock tests. Though quality mocks are hard to find, they will add great value to your CAT 2022 preparation.

To master the concepts, candidates need to do as many as 40-50 mocks during their CAT 2022 preparation. Moreover, they are advised to take full-length mocks and at least 100-150 sectional tests which will help them build clarity of concepts. A full-length CAT 2022 mock test is composed of previous year's questions and expected questions to be asked in the CAT exam. Mock tests help develop the ability to comfortably take the entire test. CAT mock tests 2022 also help with time management and learning how to distribute the total allotted time judicially across all sections.

5. Keep yourself fresh

According to CAT toppers, maintaining a balance between study and personal life is key to succeeding in CAT 2022. Cracking this MBA entrance exam is not about being a bookworm - spending most of the day studying - but about preparing for the exam smartly. Maintain a balance and spare time for other activities such as proper sleep, entertainment, exercise, hanging out with friends, etc.

Though they do not directly aid in your CAT 2022 preparation, they will hugely impact the outcome of your CAT preparation. It has been found that those who take proper sleep and do daily exercise perform better in exams than those who do not. This also boosts the ability to learn things faster and remember them for a long time.

Common Admission Test is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by IIMs on a rotational basis. Last year IIM Ahmedabad conducted the CAT exam. CAT 2022 is expected to be held by IIM Bangalore. CAT 2022 is likely to be held on November 27. However, this will be confirmed after the release of official CAT notification wherein all details will be mentioned with regards to CAT 2022 such as registration date, last date to apply, CAT exam date, paper pattern, etc.