Reason
: Due to switch from traditional paper-pencil test to a computer based
test!
1.
Familiarity with computers and computer-based testing
Students
are expected to have basic familiarity with the operations involved in using a
computer. While using the mouse and the keyboard is a very basic function, the
CAT would involve a level keeping the least computer-literate CAT aspirant in
mind. Students need to understand the nuances that differentiate a
computer-based test (from a normal test) -- precious seconds can be lost if the
student is not familiar with computers and more importantly a student can slip
in the advantage that he has, if she/he has not worked enough on CBT. For a
student who has not been familiar with computers, it is going to be a definite
disadvantage. Make sure that you solve atleast 30-40 full-length CBTs across
your CAT prep, starting NOW. Also try to do your preparation of fundamentals or
reading of newspaper on the computer.
2.
Adaptability
The
number of tests that have been promised by most CAT coaching institutes may not
be enough for a student to sufficiently practice and adapt themselves to the
new format. One should practice around 30-40 tests under varying conditions in
order to be sure of optimal performance during the CAT exam. It is quite clear
that the surrounding conditions play an important role at the time of the test.
Hence the student will do well to have practiced quite a bit and at different
times during the day.
You
also need to move your learning online as much as possible. This will ensure
that you are adapted to and are comfortable working on a computer. Skills such
as quick reading of comprehension on the computer require a sufficient amount
of practice to ensure peak performance at the time of the CAT exam.
3.
Faster SWOT
In
the new scheme of things, it is even more important to know your strengths and
weaknesses well before the actual CAT. By August-September, you should map out
your strengths and weaknesses topic-wise and chapter-wise across all sections.
This will help you draw out a clear development plan to address your weaknesses
and give sufficient time to fine-tune your test taking strategy on live CBTs.
Stress management and time management become the key strategic strengths to
have.
In
a paper-based format, you could easily search for easy questions, but to do the
same in a computer-based test takes that much more time. And if the test is
one-question-at-a-time, then you need to know which questions to quickly skip
and which question to spend some time on. In a single-question format CBT, very
often you may end up with one of these two cases:
a)
Spending too much time on a difficult question early on and missing out even
seeing an easy question, and
b)
Not spending sufficient time to answer a question and skipping it, and later
realising that you have time left but you have reached the end of the section.
A
SWOT and a plan assist you in addressing these issues.
4.
Focus on a personalised strategy for each section
Strategies
like speed-reading are not likely to be of great help, but quick calculations
or answering the questions mentally are good strategies to have. Also, you need
to build a personalised strategy to address specific areas. So to improve scores
in Quant, while one person might be able to work more on solving questions
mentally, another might rely more on the process of elimination or fitting in
numbers. These strategies need to be tested in an actual CBT. One strategy may
work on a paper-based test but may be tough to implement on a computer-based
test, so figure out what strategies work for you by September-end.
5.
Greater focus on accuracy
Unlike
in a paper-based test, where you have more time to think, the CBT will pass by
faster, and you will have less time to think. The test might just leave you
with lesser attempts. And to get a high score, you will need better accuracy.
6.
Shortcuts and strategies are the kingmakers
It
is obvious that you cannot solve all questions. So shortcuts play a very
important role. And they need to be practiced far better than just in mock CAT
situations. You need specially structured material to fine-tune this
preparation. The shortcuts and strategies that you applied in a paper-based
test are not different from the shortcuts that you now need. However, the focus
is more on how well you acquire them, and how you are able to apply them in a
test format.
For
instance, you need to fine-tune your Process of Elimination technique or
Fit-in-good-numbers technique since you will have far less time given the fact
that the question is on the screen and the scratch-work is done on a rough
paper, which would require you to re-write some parts of the question.
7.
And finally, making luck work your way
If
you are lucky, you may get a time slot in the last part of the 10-day period.
CBT CAT will have surprises for an early test-taker but not for those taking it
later as they would be aware of the general pattern, and they will prepare
accordingly. So, there are many advantages for the test-taker who takes the
test later:
a)
Will know paper pattern
b)
Will know general difficulty level
c)
Will have more time to prepare
d)
Can practice more papers and questions once the pattern is out at the end of
day 1 session 1
e)
Less anxiety
So
hope that you get the opportunity to take CAT in the last 2-3 days of the
10-day period.
All
the best for CBT CAT.
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