CAT preparation is like no other exam preparation in the sense that while the course for CAT is something that’s relatively simple (i.e. all of us have had prior exposure to practically everything that the exam tests), our tendency to complicate things simply because they are important to us creates bigger challenges.
So, you have experts generalizing their own unique experiences assuming they would work for all.
You also have aspirants who are seeking complicated cures to simple issues simply because they would ‘feel’ better.
Simple is powerful
As a batter, you can see a game of cricket as an extremely complicated game. One that uses laws of physics and motion, and analyze humongous amounts of data! Or you could follow the simple Sehwag mantra of “see ball, hit ball”. Remember that this made him one of the most feared batsmen for over a decade.
Regardless of what you follow, you cannot deny the fact that a simple thing that you can actually do is much better than a complicated one that you won’t (be able to) do! Therefore, simple is simply powerful.
Why simple works in CAT Prep?
For most of you, your efforts at your CAT Coaching are hitting peak momentum as you write regular mocks (AIRCATs at MBAGuru) along with everything else that goes into your prep.
After each AIRCAT, you get access to a detailed analysis. Overall, section-wise, difficulty-level wise, question-wise, dissection, review and much more. Technology has made it so easy to churn out vast amounts of data. There is so much information available in terms of numbers and graphs related to your performance. So, the toughest thing then is to be able to zero in upon useful, actionable things.
Actionable info is useful info
Keeping it simple isn’t simple – but that’s what’s needed to change things. Simple things can be acted upon. And only then does anything become useful.
That was one of the first things Steve Jobs did when he returned to Apple in the 90’s. He made it simple and focused. That made Apple a truly remarkable turnaround story, and that is what can make your CAT preparation truly the best in terms of the output you get from it.
If you identify too many things about your performance on every mock CAT, you won’t be able to do much about changing it. But if you can just find patterns across tests, and then pick out the most important 1 or at most, 2 things, that if changed, could change everything, then you would have nailed it. That’s the one thing you should try to do as you analyze your performance in AIRCATs/mock CATs.
Over the next few write-ups, I will try and share the steps you can take to make it simple for you – so that you can act and change things. Alternatively, you could watch some of the videos I have already shared on our YouTube Channel.
About the author: Deekshant has sleep-walked through several 100 and 99.9 %iles in practically every section of the CAT. That he is a cricket fan and he writes okay is evident from most of his posts. 1000s of our students swear that he can motivate almost anyone to double his/her percentile through very simple yet powerful inputs. And that’s why every MBAGuru student has direct access to him via mail and Telegram. Oddly, he somehow also finds the time to write songs professionally. And yes … almost missed this … he is an alumnus of IIT Delhi & IIM Cal 