On an average, only around 1% of CAT takers manage to score 99 percentile and above in the test. It means of the 2 lakh plus students taking the test every time, there are around 2000 that will hit the bulls-eye, and get a score close to 99 percentile.
So there’s your good news – scoring 99 percentile in your CAT is distinctly possible. The bad news is that most of these 2000 students will tell you that there are no shortcuts to getting your dream score. If there were, it would be a very crowded route 99 percentile.
Tips to get to 99 percentile on CAT
What else you can do inside qs leap ?
While it’s true that you can’t take any shortcuts to the top score in the test, you can follow a few simple tips that will help you prepare smartly. They will also build your confidence and enable you to give your CAT the best shot.
- Join a class and study group – If you are shooting for the stars, you will need all possible help available. Joining a CAT preparation class will help frim up your concepts and give you lots of practice to aim for the 99th percentile. Study groups are also a great motivator and a quick fix to resolve your queries when your teachers/mentors are not available. So, whether you are an early riser or a night warrior, you will have some company on these study groups which make for great learning experiences. Discussions and questions on topics are also great ways to learn more about the subject or refresh your knowledge.
- Start early – There is simply no one-size-fits all time frame for CAT takers aiming for the 99th For someone who has been completely out of touch, it may take close to even an year before the candidate can start feeling confident about the exam. For recent graduates who have a strong understanding of the quantitative section, maybe even 12 weeks might suffice. It all boils down to your individual confidence level. But if quant or logical reasoning doesn’t come naturally to you, make sure that you give yourself enough time before the CAT.
- Be diligent about your prep – You will have friends, teachers, experts telling you that you should study a certain number of hours every day. But really it is about qualitative preparation rather than the quantity of time which gets you the coveted 99 percentile in the CAT exam. Study hard but more importantly, study smart!
- Focus equally on all sections – Quantitative Aptitude And Data Interpretation, Verbal Aptitude And Reading Comprehension, and Logical Reasoning are the three sections of the test. No one has managed to score a 99 percentile by ignoring any of these sections during prep. For quant and logical reasoning, only practice can help you tackle the questions in good time. Verbal requires you to be a good reader to tackle those reading comprehension questions quickly.
- Keep your spare time for reading – There are lots of good magazines in the market aimed specifically at test takers. Go for magazines such as Competition Success. For other general reading, stick to quality magazines like Time, The Economist, Hindu and the likes. This will help you with your verbal section as well as keep you in good stead for the interviews that lie ahead.
- Don’t try to memorize – CAT is not a test of your memory and if you try to remember theorems, properties, etc. then you might end up in trouble. Instead focus on understanding why some things happen. It will help you crack questions in the test.
- Be thorough with concepts – The questions in quantitative aptitude and data interpretation can be so varied that mere practice will not help you tackle them. You can optimise your prep time and focus on techniques that get to the root of concepts.
- Monitor your performance through mock exams – Once you are some way down your prep, it’s a good time to assess your strengths and weaknesses. If you are giving these tests at home, make sure that you time yourself and stick by the clock. Mock tests are a great way to fortify your time management skills. Also, don’t just use them to check your score. Go back to check the answer key when you are done with your test. Apart from identifying sections that you are still struggling with, also focus on whether you adopted the smartest and quickest way to solve questions which you got right. They are your best weapons to formulate a strategy for the test.
- Be smart on the test day – If it takes more than 3 minutes to solve a question, move on. Never lose sight of the fact that CAT has negative marking, which can cost you dearly. It doesn’t harm to quickly scan the questions in each section before starting with the answers. Try to tackle the easier questions first, before moving on to the more difficult ones. Focus on your strengths and try to work around your weaknesses. It will save you time and offer you a great way to boost your score.
Besides these tips, you need to stay positive, healthy and motivated every day leading up to the test to make sure you bag the golden 99 percentile you have been striving for.
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