As the D-day approaches, it is that time when students run
helter-skelter trying as many bases as they can for CAT. It is at this time
that you need to fine tune your attention and make sure you focus on your goals
and improvement. A critical part of this improvement involves taking Mock-CATs
and then analysing them. An important question that most students face is: is
there way, a method, a full-proof system of deriving the maximum out of Mock CATs.
Well, there is in fact a method which consists of a simple to-do list that you
can use to maximise your Mock CAT efficiency. Let’s dig into it.  

Mock CAT Analysis: List of things you should be doing

To Do 1: Make sure you take the dreaded Mock Test

Most students are in the habit of procrastinating and out of fear, do not
appear for Mock CATs regularly. This is the first thing you kill out of your
study system. Appear regularly for Mock tests otherwise there is no analysis
possible.

To Do 2: Analyze all metrics and parameters

Analyze your section, area and time-wise performance and try
to figure out your performance in the major areas, while also checking the questions
which take the longest amount of time. Also, note down the amount of time you
took to solve RCs, DI and LR sets.

To Do 3: Re-solve the exam

Before you actually analyse individual questions, you should
re-solve the exam and try to spot the questions you missed in the first
attempt. When I say re-solve, it means that you should attempt the questions
you left or got wrong. Solve questions without time pressure and understand how
a relaxed environment helps. Also see whether your understanding of reading
comprehensions changes altogether. If you have done a thorough analysis of your
first attempt, you will understand how you solved the paper in the first go and
how it should have been solved.

To Do 4: Go through the solutions

After the second
attempt, you are allowed to go through the solutions and identify your
mistakes. Make sure you check solutions for the problems that you solved correctly.
You might find a new concept or short-cut discussed there.

To Do 5: What did you learn from the Mock?

Maintain of notebook or a word document or a collection of
sheets in which you note down everything you learn from a mock. This must
include:

• Mathematics
  shortcuts which include formulae and identities.
• Data
  interpretation tips and techniques.
• Grammar
  and usage rules (new ones added as and when you discover something new in
  the exam).
• Words
  you learnt from the test.

To Do 6: Analysis for Reading Comprehensions

For reading
comprehensions, you should carry out a couple of more analysis. One, identify
the sources of passages. These might throw up some interesting reading sources
for you. Secondly, make sure you identify the main ideas, tones and points of
the passage while reading again. Try to get into the habit of analysing while
you read.

To Do 7: Your strategy for the next mock

Based on your
analysis for this mock, draw up a plan for next mock. Try to identify what you
should solve and what you should not. Try to eliminate the errors you made in
this mock.

This brings us to the last thing you should be doing:
take the next mock and the cycle starts again.

Persistent application of this approach will yield tremendous
results.

Happy Learning..:)