CAT Preparation Schedules are one of the essential things in the “Things You Need” bucket of CAT Aspirants. Students chalk out plans considering the time and concepts so that they can prepare extensively. However, often times, the religious following of this schedule tends to last for only a week or so. As time passes, students tend to grow out of the schedule and prepare in a less structured manner. Sticking to the schedule everyday can get tricky, even though it might be that one thing that is required the most. Here are 5 tips that’ll not only help you stick to your schedule but also help you make the most of your CAT Preparation schedule.
1. Find your motivation
People give a thousand reasons for why they want to do an MBA. But it is not necessary that those reasons work for you. You need to think and find YOUR reason of doing an MBA. This reason will be strong enough to motivate you throughout your preparation, even when the going gets tough. Leverage this reason and make the most of your preparation.
2. Night Owl vs Early Bird
Some people are super energized when they wake up early in the morning, while some people get refueled with energy when the sun goes down. It is essential that you look for the time when your energy and productivity is at the peak and prepare your schedule accordingly. If you are an early bird, the major part of your preparation should be covered in the mornings. If you are a night owl, your preparation schedule should bend towards the night hours. Find your ideal time to study and prepare and incorporate the same in your preparation schedule.
3. The “Ideal” time
The ideal time in your day, when your energy and productivity is the highest, should be used to cover the concepts of Quants and practice a lot of questions. This is the time of the day when your concentration peaks. Solving Quants during this time will help you get more clarity about the concepts and there will be higher retention. Make sure you do a lot of learning during this time of your day.
4. The “Non-Ideal” time
When you are low on energy, productivity and concentration, try and relax yourselves. Cover up smaller and easier concepts during this time. Read a lot. Exercise you mind by solving small puzzles during this time, like, sudoku or 2048. Do not pick up something really heavy and important but do not free your mind completely either. Make sure that you are doing something to flex those brain cells.
5. Incorporate time for your hobby
As important as it is to be disciplined and follow your preparation schedule religiously, it is also important that you take a break, relax yourself and then jump back into your preparation again. This reduces the chances of your being super stressed and feeling overburdened. Take out time for your favorite activity atleast once in a week. Be it cooking, cleaning, playing a sport or merely taking a long nap in the middle of the day, giving time to your hobby is important. Hence, it is important that you incorporate it in your preparation schedule.
Following your schedule is as important as making one for your preparation. The above tips will help you steer clear off stress and overload while preparing rigorously for the exam. You can prepare your own schedule or follow 2IIM’s customized preparation schedule to ace the CAT exam.
Vibhuti Sharma works with 2IIM as a Product head.
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