| As it has been confirmed now, there are just | | | | Analysis of mock tests |
| three months left for CAT 2010, so it is high time | | | | The mock tests are meant to be taken to |
| to keep yourself on toes. It can be expected that | | | | understand your short comings and rectify your |
| you have started your preparation you have | | | | errors. While you take the mock tests, you come |
| completed at least the basic preparation in all the | | | | to know that which are the areas which you have |
| sections. Now it is time that you check your | | | | committed the mistake and the reason behind |
| preparation level and then decide your further | | | | that. "Take an expert's help to analyze your |
| strategy for the upcoming months. In this story | | | | mock tests. You have to judge if the problem is |
| of MBAUniverse.com, you will know the details | | | | made just once or it is a consistent error that is |
| about taking mock tests. | | | | occurring. If the error is consistent, then judge if it |
| Ideal time to start taking mock tests | | | | is a careless error or a conceptual ambiguity and |
| According to the experts, it won't be of much | | | | then plan your further preparations accordingly," |
| use if you take mock tests before you complete | | | | says Gejo Sreenivasan, Principal Consultant, |
| your basic preparation. "The first principal is that | | | | Career Launcher. "If it a conceptual problem, you |
| you should start taking mock test once you have | | | | need to go back to your basics and study more. |
| finished your first level of preparation. This means | | | | But if it is a careless mistake, you need to |
| that you have covered all the topics in all three | | | | practice more," Sreenivasan adds. |
| sections," says Vivek Gupta, CAT expert, author | | | | Full length vs. sectional mock tests |
| and IIM Bangalore alumnus. | | | | Mock tests can be of two sorts, full length mock |
| It is ideal to start taking the mock tests at least | | | | tests and sectional mock tests. In full length mock |
| three months prior to the actual test, i.e. CAT | | | | tests, you take the mock test for the full |
| 2010. But for that, you should finish your basic | | | | duration of two-and-a-half hours with all three |
| conceptual preparation at least six months prior to | | | | sections, whereas in mock tests, you take test |
| the exam. As Gupta says, "It should be no later | | | | of only one section. |
| than three months prior to CAT 2010, if you | | | | If you have completed your preparation for one |
| have finished your preparation six months before | | | | section and want to test yourself, taking sectional |
| CAT, you can start taking full lengths tests for | | | | mock tests is the best idea. "Sectional mock tests |
| practice." | | | | are ideal to take during the initial stages of |
| Frequency of taking mock tests | | | | preparation or when the preparation for one |
| The experts opine that at this stage, you should | | | | section is over," explains Sreenivasan. Sectional |
| take two mock tests in a week. The rest of the | | | | mock tests are also taken for a weak area |
| days should be utilized for the analysis, correcting | | | | where you need to practice more. |
| the errors and preparing for the next mock test. | | | | Full length mock tests are taken when your |
| "As far as frequency is concerned, two mock | | | | overall preparation is done. "It is ideal to take full |
| tests per week are ideal. So if you start three | | | | length mock tests when you are done with the |
| months before CAT 2010, you shall do about 30 | | | | overall preparation of all the sections and when |
| Mock Tests in total. These are good enough | | | | the actual exam has approached," he mentions. |
| numbers for sure. You may reduce it to three | | | | Stay tuned to for more on mock tests for CAT |
| per fortnight but never exceed two mock tests | | | | 2010 preparation. |
| per week," Gupta mentions. | | | | |