CAT 2007: How to survive exam week, checklist

There is no doubt about the fact that CAT is one of the trickiest examinations held in India. With months and months of preparation at stake, the week preceding CAT 2007 can be very stressful. Here are some general tips and a final checklist for keeping your percentiles up and leading.

• Surprises to watch out for in CAT 2007!

The final checklist
As November 18 approaches, it becomes very important to have a checklist prepared for C-Day. Here are a few important instructions given by CAT experts at TCY:

• Remember you are a GENERAL not a SOLDIER. Do not just go to the examination centre and wait for situations like a brave soldier. Recall all the strategies that worked and situations that you managed well in your mocks and AIMCATs. High percentiles in CAT 2007 can be achieved only by a smart thinking, experienced and fast acting General.
• Let's begin with something tiny but vital. An out-station candidate must reach the city of the examination centre on November 17 itself. Do visit your center on November 17 and get familiar with the battleground.
• Sightseeing is a good way to get rid of stress in any exam but CAT. Keep all this for November 18 evening after the CAT. Instead, just sit back and relax on November 17 evening or involve yourself in reading or watching logical and factual discussions.
• Make sure you wear the clothes you feel the most comfortable in. There are no points in CAT for looking smart but there can be a lot of points for thinking smart.
• Saving your energy for the CAT is extremely important. Make sure you do not get into any argument with anyone.
• Keep the following ready for the C-day:
  ~ 3 sharpened pencils
  ~ 2 blunt pencils (to fill the ovals on OMR sheet)
  ~ 1 blue pen
  ~ 1 black pen
  ~ 1 eraser
  ~ 1 pencil sharpener
  ~ Ear plugs are very handy during exams (cotton balls) to eliminate the possibility of any distraction
  ~ And of course, your handkerchief (Mornings are getting colder in this month) 
• Lastly, you must keep a check on your Micro-Motions. Remember you are a sprinter who in addition to a strong preparation takes control of his micro-motions during the sprint that waste some micro seconds of time that can have a substantial effect on your percentile. Your micro-motions (time wasted in looking at your wrist watch, transferring of answers to the OMR sheet, sharpening the pencil, using your handkerchief on the cold CAT morning etc) if eliminated can fetch you extra time to attempt 3-4 more questions.

All these considerations help you push your ranking up by a few thousand students.

• Free Mock CAT

Surviving exam week
1. Be Normal: This is the first and the most neglected thing. For the week before and during exams, life should be as normal as possible and normal habits of sleeping, eating, exercising, etc should be maintained. Get rest. A clear head is important for the efficient taking of exams. Seven to eight hours of sleep are absolutely necessary to remain attentive and think clearly throughout the day. Sleep deprivation can have consequences similar to intoxication.

2. Start rehearsing early: You should start revising your notes at the very onset of the week. That's why trainers recommend you to have a separate listing of formulae, short cuts, important and high frequency words with you. This list comes handy in the last week because revising the complete syllabus is extremely stressful. Trying some speed reading is a very good idea. Do not worry if you have not prepared short notes earlier. You may even download the chapter-wise short notes from www.tcyonline.com. Make sure you review every section every day. This will help you exercise discipline even in the most stressful times.

3. Schedule breaks between studying: Even your trainers would have told you to take a 10-minute break after studying for 50 minutes, and take a longer break after studying for say 3 hours or more. Another way is to get something to eat (bananas are highly recommended during exams), call a friend, go work out or do something to get your mind off of what you have been studying.

4. Never hesitate to take help: The most common mistake that we commit during last week's preparation is by skipping the problems that we are unable to solve because of time-shortage. Make sure that your have instant access to a knowledge base. Your trainers are the best knowledge base that you have. Call them when ever you want to have the problem solved right away. TCY provides you with a wonderful opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise, your questions and answers on any topic. You may also post your query to CAT experts at TCY and past IIM students in order to get personalised solutions in these tough times.

5. Confidence survives if stomach is right: During the last week of the exam, students often resort to junk food, but if you really want to maintain your confidence it is extremely important to maintain the right kind of diet. Research shows that eating smaller meals more frequently is vital to maintaining high energy levels. Avoid foods with high sugar and fat - they will make you sluggish. Eat a nutritious breakfast (or meal) before the exam, but do not overeat.

• CAT 2007: Consistency and timing are critical

6. Take care of your body: Exercising is always an excellent way to take a break from studying -- it helps to reduce stress and research has shown that it can improve your brain's ability to retain and comprehend information.

7. Vary the subjects you study: What you study one hour directly affects your ability to understand what you are studying the next hour. Review for a difficult section of the CAT first and then look at some simpler topic. It makes studying less tiresome and you'll remember the information better.

The writers are competitive examination experts with Top careers & You. They 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 www.tcyonline.com to know more about the CAT and winning strategies.