CAT 2020: A Preparation Guide for Self Studying Aspirants- Tips and Timetable

IIM Indore will hold CAT 2020 on November 29. All CAT aspirants have a very short time period left. Every year, over 2 lakh aspirants sit for the exam, and the seats in the best B-Schools are a handful. You do the math of the competition. Also, the exam does not test your rote learning, so how do you prepare for the exam? To simply put it- "You Work Smart, Not Hard."

Students from all streams-- Engineers, Commerce Graduates, Liberal Arts and Professional Studies-- give the CAT exam. So, if you are self preparing the exam, pay attention to the fact that this exam has nothing to do with one stream. It is a cumulative test of your aptitude, personality and decision making. Thus, this CAT 2020, focus on more quick problem solving than constant book-mugging.

CAT 2020 Preparation Through Self-Study

The pandemic poses many difficulties as it is. SO, if you can't attend online classes, you have opted to self-study. And don't worry, there are many CAT toppers who did self-study. So, make sure you have everything from the following check-list:

1. You are on social media. But instead of memes and funny videos, you indulge in CAT study groups. They post many questions that you can solve on-the-go, and improve your problem-solving skills.

2. Next, you must have books; physical books, not just the e-books. Pick whoever author you want. I personally loved solving Passages from Wren and Martin. Nishit K Sinha and TIME Books are also good. Use RS Aggarwal necessarily. As for online study material, you need to have mock tests. You can easily find them on TIME, TestFunda, Career Launcher, MBA Universe, etc.

3. You must know the multiplication table from 2 to 9, faster than a 4th grader and you have a watch.

The CAT 2020 exam will be held in online mode in two slots. Usually, the paper is moderately difficult, but your speed determines how you do. Thus, you need to pick your topics and be the best in them.

A 5-Pointer Must Do for CAT 2020 Aspirants

• Check CAT 2020 Exam Pattern and Syllabus. Mark the topics that you excel at.

•  The Index of the books are your worship place. Keep them up to date with weightage, your ability to do it and time needed for preparation.

• Take Mock Tests to check your current CAT Exam Preparation Level

• Read interviews from CAT Toppers. They will tell you the important topics, their study pattern and most importantly, their motivation every day.

• Don't schedule your preparation around your work. Schedule your work around the preparation time. You only have to give 6 hours every day to the prep.

Timetable for CAT 2020 Preparation

If you have gone through the above points, you will have a basic idea of what you have to study in these 4 months. Then, if you have taken a mock test, you know where you stand today. Divide every subject guide into 4 parts and take all three subjects together.

Then, make six hours of specific study time every day and two hours to each subject. Note that all subjects are equally important. Take a mock test every Sunday.

Lastly, I will also recommend practice, practice and practice like every expert. The more you practice questions from VARC, LRDI and QA, the better control you'll have on the CAT question paper.

(Disclaimer: This is an authored article and only suggests ways you can improve your position to secure a decent rank in CAT 2020. The views expressed are the author are personal and does not necessarily reflect the official policy of CIOL.)