Balance your CAT prep with Job.

CAT exam is taken by a huge number of working professionals consistently. CAT 2016 was taken by 2+ lakh applicants, out of which a significant number of candidates were working professionals. But compared to the fresher’s or the students, it is much tougher for them to prepare. While many ponder of leaving their jobs, however, the others adjust the preparation and job at the same go. In the event that you are a working professional and it's getting troublesome for you to prepare, relax and don’t fret. You can start your CAT exam preparation opting for self-study or you can join a CAT coaching institute to guide you. Every year there are so many candidates who are able to crack CAT in spite of retaining their jobs and are getting through IIMs and the other top B-schools, Then Even You can!

Balancing CAT preparation while working is not as difficult as we often perceive. You just need a solid attitude and clear frame of mind and work systematically. More than a fresher, a working professional should be much more focused and determined to crack CAT and pursue his/her dreams of converting a call from top B schools. Working professionals tend to forget what they had learned during their school/college days. This is also one of the reasons that they need a meticulous study plan to prepare for CAT. Usually, the preferred strategy is to go for self-study or join some good online MBA coaching classes and attend off-line classes at weekends or just do the online correspondence course. But it is not necessary if this does not suit you. With a tough routine, it might not possible for you to attend any coaching. But make sure that you don't leave your preparations for the CAT exam even for a single day.

Here are some tips which I feel will help you maintain a good balance between your job and CAT prep.

Check your preparation level:

If you are a working professional, it’s important to analyse your current preparation level and find out which area is your strength and which one is your weakness. This will also help you know how much extra effort you need to put in for your preparation for getting through one of the top B Schools and hence plan for the timing. You can take one of previous year's CAT papers which are available on the net. Based on the score that you get you will know precisely the hole that you have to fill section wise. Do not panic if your find yourself lagging behind in your prep. You can also consider about taking 1-2 months leave from work prior to CAT exam for your final preparations. Maintain the positive drive in you, keep working and I am sure you will find the right path.

Plan a Schedule:

This part is extremely vital if you are a working professional. If you are not planning to quit your job then you should prepare your plan as per your work timings. If you are working in a morning shift then you have to devote part of your evening and part night hours for your preparation. But if you are working late, in the evening then make a point to get up early in the morning and spend a few hours for your prep. If you are determined enough then, you should not compromise on your daily preparation.

Divide your time section wise:

As you most likely are aware, getting ready for CAT isn't just about studying the concepts hard, but also to take frequent mock tests and analyse your preparation. If you have 4-6 months in hand for CAT exam preparation then you can divide your time equally between the 3 sections Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. After which you should take mock tests and analyse them. Set up a timetable such that you spend through three months for building your basics and concepts of the sections tested in CAT viz., Quant, Verbal and DI. The last three months can be utilized to take mock tests and also to strengthen your weak points.

Take up MBA coaching classes:

For achieving your dreams, guidance always helps. To boost your exam preparation you can always enrol to CAT training institutes in Mumbai. For people who are working might find attending full time coaching classes inconvenient. Correspondence is the best way to start your prep. There are many good CAT exam coaching centres that also have good online learning platform and test series. You can go for the mock tests and test series that are held during weekends, without hampering your work schedule. Moreover, since CAT exam is now computer-based, many CAT coaching institutes offer computer-based mocks which can be taken from anywhere. If you are located in Mumbai or nearby you can join a reputed Institute for CAT Preparation in Mumbai. One suggestion would be MBAP Education; they have their centres in Mumbai and have even launched their online MBA coaching videos, tests series, etc.

Make your every minute count while you are not at work. That being said, it does not mean that you spend your whole time preparing while you are not at work. You should find out a moment or two for relaxing and chilling out or engage in some recreational activities as well. If you are a genuine CAT aspirant, you can use these minutes for some preparation which does not stress your brain much. For instance, you can read through online dictionary learning new words and their meanings, synonyms and so on. You can likewise look at the online study materials, solve a few questions there, read a newspaper or solve a few riddles on Sudoku, Crossword etc. This will help you with Verbal Ability and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning sections..Visit http://www.mbapathshala.com/