(15) CAT-a-LOG: All about CAT, IIMs and Coaching.
Article(15) CAT-a-LOG: When Should you start Preparing for CAT!?
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The simplest possible answer to this question is: Right now! Let us elaborate it a bit.
As explained repeatedly, it takes time to prepare for CAT. It is not a simple College/University exam which can be cleared by studying in the last night. Further, you are aware that IIM's Expectations from Students are very high.
As there is a huge weightage given by IIMs to X and XII exams; the CAT preparation starts from Class X itself! The aware parents and teachers start guiding their children/students about this since class 8th, 9th or 10th. Such focussed students with the help of their parents and school teachers take initial lead in Class X itself by scoring maximum marks/grade.
So ideally speaking, CAT preparation should start with Class X. Unfortunately, a large number of students realise the importance of Percentage of Class X and XII very late: just a few months before the actual CAT!
Let me add hurriedly, this is not to suggest at all that school going children should start preparing for CAT through coaching classes from Class 9/10/11/12. No! Big No! This concept of double-schooling is just not advisable!
They definitely should concentrate on their studies and try to learn extensively to maximise their percentage in Class X and Class XII Board exams. Their better score will help them secure a seat in IIMs.
The importance of Maths upto Class X from CAT point of view is known to many students. But the Importance of Social Studies upto Class XII is never explained to the students.
Whatever may be their stream; they should ALSO focus on Social Studies from Class 9 to Class12. Deeper study in Social Studies in School days will help them in securing better CGPA and also in performing well in Group Discussion and Personal Interview for IIMs and other B Schools. So to say that, they should try to study their entire syllabus from learning point of view, if they are going to be CAT aspirants in college.
Besides, they should whole heartedly participate in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities which will again help them at the time of Interviews for IIMs and other Top B- Schools.
As the competition is getting tougher day by day, the preparation for CAT should be started just after completion of 12th without waiting for the result or College Classes to start.
The CAT aspirants may start developing interest in reading fiction and non fiction of their choice immediately after completion of Class XII. The basic idea should be to enjoy reading. It will definitely help them to do better in Verbal Section of CAT.
Simultaneously it will be prudent to start honing your Resume by undergoing training programmes and doing internships. (More about this in Section C of this blog.)
Now coming back to students already studying in I or II or III year of University degree programmes who have not studied well in School days.
Such students will have to cover a lot of ground. First of all they will have to master Maths at least upto 10th Standard. Such students will definitely need much more than one year to prepare.
It will be extremely useful for such students to revise Maths of 9th and 10 th standard in first few months before starting to prepare for CAT.
For more details please read the next articles no 16:to 19 on CAT preparation.
The above facts will certainly help you in deciding to prepare for CAT 24, CAT 25, CAT26 or CAT XX.
Pankaj Khanna
Indore (9424810575)
B.E. (Mech.) SGSITS Indore 1983 Batch
-Worked with HPCL from 1984 to 2007.
-Faculty Maths/DI-LR -T.I.M.E. Indore 2007-20
-Faculty Maths/DI-LR-IMS Indore-June22-July23.
-Blogger on diverse subjects.( Love thy Numbers, Epeolatry, CAT-a-LOG, Corruption in Oil Companies, Tawa Sangeet, Ikshak Indori and a few more.)
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List of Articles of the blog CAT-a-LOG:
Section A: The articles written in this section are about basics of Self-Mentoring, MBA, CAT and perils of Parallel Education System (Coaching Institutes). Everyone concerned about Coaching Classes including the Parents and Students are requested to kindly go through following Articles in this Section before joining any Coaching Institute for CAT.
Section B : This section is all about Mental Health of CAT aspirants. The darker side of CAT Preparation nobody discusses. These articles should also be read by Everyone including Parents and Students.
Section C: It is about detailed CAT Preparation Plans for Students. Parents may also Read:)