How to Score 99 Percentile in CAT 2023 Exam?

In this article, we take you through a journey: a journey that is going to help you crack CAT 2023. The objective here is simple: to help you understand how to score 99 percentile in CAT 2023. With the help of experts, we have compiled a comprehensive guide of Do's and Don'ts that you can use to score 99 percentile in CAT 2023.

You have to keep one thing in mind, though. It is easy to read such articles and pieces for motivation, but the one thing you must always adhere to is to focus on the process and be committed to your preparation. Short-term hacks do not work, and it is best to remain focused on daily execution of your targets. This is the same principle that has made our favourite cricketer, MS Dhoni, the cricketer and star he is.

Let's start with the essential things you need to keep in mind.

Do's and Don'ts for getting a Score of 99 Percentile in CAT 2023?

1. Start with the Basics: Make sure you understand the basics of each section in CAT 2023. This includes brushing up on basic quantitative aptitude (mathematics in simple words), data interpretation, logical reasoning and verbal ability. It is vital to put the building blocks for these areas in place to build upon them when you practice advanced problems and take mock tests.
   
   Make sure you prepare a list of topics and attack them individually. Be sure to complete all concepts in an organised manner and use the best resources possible for the same. Collect reviews of courses, books, and materials from your peers and seniors before committing to any preparation resource.
   
   Do not dig into shortcuts directly.
   As important as it is to focus on the basics, it is equally important not to commit the mistake of over-emphasising your shortcuts and tricks. Shortcuts and tricks take your focus away from core concepts. CAT is known for featuring questions based on conceptual knowledge rather than shortcuts (this is especially true of quantitative aptitude).
   
   
2. Develop a Comprehensive Strategy based on your unique needs: Develop a comprehensive strategy that includes studying all the topics covered in the exam. This should include a comprehensive plan of how you will prepare for each section. Remember, each of us is different and faces unique learning challenges. Ensure you establish your learning needs in particular.
   Let's take up an example for the scenario talked about above. As an illustration, let's say you are particularly weak in quantitative aptitude, which might mean that you need to put in extra effort for the same. A good starting point here could be identifying a good mentor who takes you through the paces and helps you learn the fundamentals of topics you find difficult. This is going to be tough as this might mean that you have to practice from resources such as NCERT books but it is going to help you in the long term.
   Optimise your preparation: Optimisation involves listing all topics, identifying your strong and weak points, and tailoring the exam strategy around these areas. In addition to focusing on your strong areas, you should improve one weakness at a time. Taking action is not as easy as making a list. Hence, start by quickly making a list of topics and then attacking one topic at a time. Do not put off this task, do not procrastinate and do not hesitate; once you begin to execute, most problems have straightforward solutions.
   
   Do not Ape others.
   We often make the mistake of copying others and in the process, lose track of our preparation. This issue is often exacerbated by FOMO (fear of missing out), where we think we might miss out on something if we do not do what the other person is doing. Avoid this mentality at all costs and focus on what you need to do daily.
   
   
3. Practice Regularly and ensure you are consistent:
   Practice regularly to hone your skills and improve your speed. This includes going through concepts diligently, taking mock tests regularly, and solving previous year's question papers.
   
   Remember, most of us start any new activity with a lot of passion and enthusiasm, but this energy weans off as we go deeper into the preparation cycle. Rather than having extreme highs and lows with your preparation, it makes sense to be consistent.
   
   Do not prepare in extremes: extreme in terms of execution.
   One more common mistake is that most students' preparation graph is in the shape of a wave, with extreme highs and lows. Do not make this mistake, as this will drain you and take out the fun from the preparation. Preparing for CAT is an exciting business where you learn many basic skills and expand your learning as well as personality. With this backdrop, you must maintain a routine with consistent effort.
   
4. Time Management
   There are two aspects of time management that you need to keep in mind.
   The first one deals with your daily preparation routine. Ensure you manage your time well daily. For the next twelve months, cut out any extraneous activity and focus only on the essential tasks at hand. As a rule of thumb, the things you need to focus on are:
   • Your preparation
   • Your college studies (in case of students) or your job (in case you are a working professional)
   • Internships or any other activity you are involved in
     Ensure you divide among the above in a manner that is sustainable and ensures your preparation is optimised under all situations.
     
     The second part of time management deals with time management in the exam itself. When you take the two-hour CAT exam, it is key to manage your time well to score well. The best way to perfect time management for the exam is to practice enough to solve the questions within the allotted time. Taking as many mocks and timed tests as possible is a good starting point for managing your time well in the exam.
     
     Do not set unrealistic targets for yourself
     The biggest threat to time management is setting unrealistic targets. When we set targets for ourselves, we try to include as many things as possible and cramp our schedule. Then, when we cannot complete these targets, we feel as if we have failed. And this makes us miserable and want to quit. Hence, it is important you set achievable targets. As a good starting point, ensure you start with one thing a day and gradually increase your workload.
     
     
5. Follow the Right Resources
   Make sure you follow the right resources for your preparation. This includes taking guidance from seasoned professionals and referring to the best books for CAT. Ensure you pick the suitable material according to your learning needs. As we said above, each of us has unique learning needs, and you need to establish your starting point for preparation.
   Do not hoard material
   Please stop searching for more material, whether that be tests, books, or PDFs. The abundance of material will not help you much. It is counterproductive to hoard content; instead, take the time to approach your preparation systematically and complete your work with diligence. Avoid adopting an attitude of 'more' - this will only lead to disaster. At any given time, it is best to focus on what you have and make the most of your current circumstances.
   
   
6. Take Mock Tests and Section Tests Regularly
   To do well in any competitive exam, you must take as many tests as possible. Testing is one thing that helps you fine-tune your preparation, and if you wish to score 99 percentile in CAT-2023, testing will be one critical aspect of your preparation. Make sure you take section tests as well as mock tests.
   Section tests help you refine your section strategy and help you identify gaps in your preparation for that particular section. Take mock tests to get a feel of the actual exam. This will help you get an idea of the type and level of questions in the exam.
   
   Do not skip Mock Tests
   It can be discouraging if you do not score well on Mock CATs, but this is not a good enough reason to miss them. Take tests regularly and analyse each one; understand how you could have done better. It would help if you also remembered that there are always questions in any test that you could have solved but could not solve in the given time limit. Find out such questions and add them to your learning. - find out how to solve them.
   
   
7. Analyse Your Performance
   Taking tests without proper analysis is a futile exercise. Ensure you analyse your performance after taking each mock test. This will help you understand your strengths and weaknesses. This will help establish the areas you need to work on and how you can improve as a learner.
   Do not just take tests for the sake of tests
   One common preparation mistake: keep taking tests without spending sufficient time analysing them. Do not get caught in this trap, and make sure you spend adequate time in analysing every test you take. Learn from your mistakes and try to identify your weaknesses from each test.