Sectional Time Management Tips for the CAT Exam

The Common Admission Test, or CAT as it is more commonly known, is a challenging exam. It assesses not only your ability to respond intelligently to difficult questions, but also your perseverance in the face of time constraints and pressure. Time management is an essential component of the CAT exam. Unattempted questions during tests as a result of poor time management for each section can significantly reduce the final CAT score.

As a result, it is critical for MBA candidates to develop time management skills in order to properly manage time before and during the exam, allowing them to ace the CAT exam. According to previous years' trends, CAT questions are typically drawn from three sections. To succeed on the exam, one must follow the CAT Exam sectional time management advice. Here are some tips from toppers and experts on how to manage sectional time in the CAT with the help of best home tutors for CAT preparation.

Depending on your areas of strength and weakness, divide your CAT preparation time.

You should be able to identify your areas of strength and weakness now that you have thoroughly reviewed the syllabus and exam pattern. This will allow you to estimate how long it will take you to complete each section's syllabus. Depending on whether the individual has a background in science or engineering, he or she may have an advantage in logical reasoning, data interpretation, and quantitative skills.

They may need less time to complete the curriculum than the verbal ability and reading comprehension sections. For a student with a humanities background, the situation would be the inverse. Candidates must devote at least two months to each subject beginning in January in order to master the CAT syllabus by July. Each section requires candidates to devote two months. Based on their areas of strength and weakness, one can determine how much time they need for a specific piece. They might be able to complete one section in a month and devote three months to the other.

Set a Weekly and Daily routine

Candidates must divide their week into three parts, spending two days on each, followed by a one-day review of all three areas and everything they learned that week. On a daily basis, one should divide the hours in a day based on their level of understanding. Allow four hours for each section. Create a plan outlining everything you'll cover at the start of each week and month, similar to this. Then, make certain that you meet the deadlines; otherwise, your efforts will be futile.

Initially, start with the complex topics

Because understanding these concepts takes more time, one should begin their preparation by focusing on the specific issues of each area. As a result, one will initially have a lot of time and will be able to devote more time to understanding the issues that they may find difficult. Aspirants can benefit from the plan two to three months before the CAT Exam because they will need to focus on the simple and straightforward topics and only review the more complex ones at that time.

Take mock tests and analyze your performance

As soon as the candidate has completed their course work and feels confident about it, they should begin taking CAT mock tests. Candidates can begin taking mock exams for each section. Applicants should take the mock test three to four months before the exam to assess their level of preparation and identify any gaps in their knowledge.

Sectional Time Management Tips for the CAT Exam during Your Exam

The sectional time limit may appear to be a limitation, but it is actually a blessing in disguise for all MBA candidates. The time constraint that you will face when taking the CAT Exam is addressed below.

Know which questions to leave

You will pass the CAT exam if you understand which questions to skip and which to attempt. It is one of the most important strategies to have if you want to pass the CAT with the help of personal tutors for MBA exam. You must discard the rotten eggs before proceeding to the golden eggs, which are easier to crack. It should be noted that answering as many questions as possible will result in negative marking, which will lower your overall score. Recognize the level of difficulty of the questions that come your way and invest time in them as needed or simply skip them.

Don’t spend much time on one question

Each question should take two to three minutes. If you can't figure it out, move on to the next question. With each section of the CAT exam allotted 40 minutes according to last year's CAT exam pattern, wasting time pondering on one question can be fatal. As a result, limit your time per question to 2 to 3 minutes. If you still can't recall, proceed to the next question. Always remember to "KEEP AN EYE ON THE TIMER."

Attempt each CAT section in three rounds

While juggling between sections is not permitted in the CAT Exam, candidates who switch between questions within a section may lose points. You can speed up the process by dividing each section into three rounds.

• First Phase – Answer questions that you find extremely simple and are certain about.
• Second Phase – Choose questions you believe you can answer.
• Third Phase – Choose questions that will require more thought and time.

How to Manage Time on CAT Exam Day: General Tips

The countdown begins as soon as you enter the examination hall; CAT candidates have only two hours to complete all of the questions. In this manner, 120 minutes must be managed. The most important thing is to stay calm and not let anxiety take over. Here are some guidelines to follow on exam day.

The CAT has a sectional time limit, so each section must be completed in 40 minutes. Only a few candidates can switch sections due to sectional time constraints. The sequence is VARC, DILR, and QA, as per the previous year's pattern.

Before starting to solve questions from any section, the student should go through the section and mark which one they will try first. Candidates can select such questions based on their level of strength, interest, or the section's difficulty.

When taking questions for the RC or DILR section, always read passages or questions thoroughly. This gives candidates an idea of what set or passages are in it.

If a question takes longer than expected, it is best to skip it and solve it later if the sectional time limit allows.

Allow for 2-3 minutes of revision time. So that each attempted question in a specific section can be reviewed.

Conclusion

Experts believe that dividing the exam into sections saves candidates’ time switching between them. Because they are only allowed to attempt one section at a time, their chances of achieving higher sectional scores improve gradually. Taking a buffer time of about 10 minutes for each section also helps in saving time and finishing the exam ahead of schedule.