Preparing for CAT along with a full-time job can be challenging. For a lot of folks, balancing the demands of a job, undoubtedly bring added pressure for aspirants. Being one of the most toughest management exams in India, it might seem like too difficult to do. But it is entirely possible to succeed- if one has proper planning, consistency and efficient use of time and resources. CAT is not just a test of knowledge, but also of strategy and time management. These are qualities that working professionals already possess and are expected to showcase. The key to win is to direct your strengths during your CAT preparation with job. Though it is an acceptable fact that working professionals do face challenges to keep themselves on track but using the right strategies, scoring high CAT percentile is surely possible. This article would help you formulate strategies to maximise CAT preparation in weekdays for working aspirant. This would enable them to maximize your scores with a focused approach.
1. Understand Your Strengths & Weaknesses for CAT Preparation With Job
Before jumping into your preparation, you should spend time looking at your strengths and weaknesses. This can help you in channelling your efforts effectively. Some of the ways to understand are:
• Take a CAT mock test: This will help you know your baseline performance. Furthermore, it will also help you understand your time management, and work towards taking better actions.
• Identify the sections in which you do well, and which are not your strongest suit yet. You can also drill down further, and identify the specific topics that you might find challenging.
• Allocate time to the different topics based on your assessment, and focus more on weaker areas. But in this, do not forget to maintain your strengths, thus, you shouldn’t leave out your strong topics altogether.
2. Crafting a realistic Weekday Schedule for CAT Preparation
Having a set schedule is one of the ways to maximise CAT preparation in weekdays for working aspirant during their prep. For working professionals, developing a realistic schedule is critical. Pro tip: The schedule should factor in your working hours and your energy levels too. Different schedules work for different people. If you are unsure, you can experiment and check which one suits you the best. Some things you can try out are:
• Utilize early mornings for CAT preparation. Waking up 1-2 hours earlier can give you uninterrupted study time, and you can be free later in the day. This strategy works best for individuals who are more active in the early hours.
• Break times can be used to revise CAT concepts. Be it break at your workplace or the commute to your office, you can often use it wisely. Try reading up an article or solving a small LRDI case to keep yourself going.
• Evenings after work can be used to practice, give mock tests, etc. If you are able to follow a strict routine, you should be able to find time to cover your syllabus and practise.
Remember, you need not follow the above. Do what suits you the best, and fits in your idea of ideal preparation. It will take some time to get accustomed to a schedule, so be a little patient with judging if a schedule is working for you or not.
3. Take CAT Mock Test
Mock tests are crucial to CAT preparation. They are perhaps the most important step in your journey towards the best management institutes in the country. For a mock, analyzing it is important. So it is crucial to devote a large chunk of time to a mock test. Also remember that analyzing it will also take up a lot of time. So, it is preferable to give mock tests on weekends. Keep your weekends freed up, so you can use them for test-taking and analyzing. This will go a long way in improving your readiness for the D-day. It is often said that you should attempt around 40 to 60 mocks before the actual CAT exam. Therefore, the earlier you start, the better it will be for you to manage your prep.
4. Master Time Management at Work for CAT Preparation
Effective time management is another step to ensure that you can prepare well without compromising your job performance.
• Set clear boundaries with colleagues about your availability post-work hours. Your bosses or colleagues do not take it very positively that you may be preparing to leave the organisation. Instead, you can give other reasons to ensure that they contact you only when it is urgent post work hours.
• Avoid unnecessary distractions like social media during breaks. Rather, focus your attention on taking a break, so you feel rested and recharged. Avoid things which do not make you feel relaxed as it can become a bad habit, eating up your precious time.
• Delegate or automate low-priority tasks whenever you can. This will save a lot of time later.
5. Stay Physically and Mentally Fit
A healthy body is home to a healthy mind. This is one of the key strategies to maximise CAT preparation in weekdays for working aspirant You can perform your best only when you are healthy. Juggling work along with your prep makes it even more important. Physical and emotional well-being will help you maximize your learning, as well as give your best on the D-day. You should do regular physical activity to keep your body healthy and ensure 6-7 hours of daily sleep. Practicing mental health improvement techniques like meditation, which can help you reduce stress and feel healthier. Working aspirants often tend to eat a lot of junk leading to health issues. Try to cut down on unnecessary junk and excessive sugary food as these will make you lethargic, hampering your preparation. You can add some form of caffeine to your routine if that works for you to have focused study sessions.
6. Build a Support System
A supportive environment can significantly ease your preparation. If possible, inform your manager about your preparation. If they accommodate, then it would free up a lot of time for you. Also, have a close person- can be your friend or family- with whom you can share your day-to-day things, issues, and get stuff off your chest. This is important to keeping stress at bay during your preparation. Finally, if you are able to find a few serious candidates for accountability during prep, you can build a solid routine. Try joining any online community where you can find aspirants just like you who are also preparing for CAT. For example, try looking at iQuanta, they have the largest online learning community which has constantly served as a learning and motivating platform for many aspirants.
7. Track Progress and Adapt Strategies for CAT Preparation
Regularly evaluating your performance can help you refining your prep strategy. You can start off with journalling to track your progress. In it, you can record how much you studied during the week, your mock scores, mistakes you made, etc. This can serve as a nice little strategy to get you into the groove. After this, you should periodically visit your preparation plan, and make some changes to it based on your scores- after all, management is all about being dynamic, and this will train you a bit in that! You have to adapt yourself well so that you perform the best on the D-day. CAT has always been known for putting off surprises and candidates tend to fumble there. Fine tuning your test taking strategies and being versatile will help you score better.
Conclusion
Balancing CAT prep with a full-time job is challenging, but you achieve it with the right mindset and strategy. Each year, a lot of people crack CAT with full-time jobs (most of the people in IIMs have work experience and prepared with a job). By focusing on smart preparation, staying consistent and taking a lot of mock tests can help you get to a great score. Remember, it is not about how many hours you put in, but how effectively you utilize the hours you put in. And do not forget to relax and chill, every now and then, and then again get back to preparing in full swing. Believe in yourself, stay motivated, and success will follow.
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