Getting into an IIM is almost certainly every MBA aspirant’s aspiration in India. The sole means to get into one is to take the Common Admission Test (CAT). Most candidates abandon their IIM preparations in the middle due to the assumption that it is difficult. However, in actuality, it is just another examination. Let’s get on with the 11 tips on how to crack IIM.
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1. Make a study schedule for your CAT exam:
Whether you are an employed professional or a recent graduate, dedicating at least 2 hours each day to your studies is critical. You may find it challenging to balance your career and exam preparations as a professional worker. It is not impossible, however, to devote at least two hours per day to study. Those who are either students or unemployed should regard themselves fortunate in terms of the amount of time they have available for exam preparation.
Based on one’s cognitive capacity, such persons can devote 3 to 4 hours per day to cracking the CAT. Because sectional cut-offs also pertain to receiving an IIM call, try to devote equal effort to each section. While you should concentrate on your weak spots, don’t forget about your strong points. Continue to practise topics from all sections and keep in mind to incorporate them in your schedule.
2. Brush up on the fundamentals for all CAT sections:
Spend the first few months of your education focusing solely on mastering the fundamentals. Start practising your grammar, algebra, or any other subject in which you lack confidence. On a daily basis, set a goal of learning 5 new words and solving 5 new problems.
You will do badly in the mock exams if you do not have your basics in place, regardless of how many times you have tried them. Students who do not have a foundation in engineering will need to improve their arithmetic skills. Quantitative skills come readily to those with an engineering background. To pass the CAT, they must improve their linguistic skills, particularly verbal aptitude and logical understanding.
3. Take CAT mock exams:
This is one of the most important tips for all standardized tests, but particularly for the CAT and getting into IIMs. Set aside two months prior to the tests for CAT mock exams. Everyday, take a fake or even a sectional test and conduct a post-mortem analysis. In this case, post-mortem analysis entails exhaustively answering a mock so that you can answer it the next time you encounter an identical problem with simplicity. Answering sample mock exams is the most effective strategy to study for and pass any entrance exam, including the CAT. It will give you a sense of the types of problems you can encounter on the exam. This will aid you in properly preparing for the event.
4. Examine your score in CAT practise tests and mock exams:
This is crucial in order to have a sense of where you rank in terms of the CAT competition. You will be able to determine your strengths and shortcomings after completing many mock exams and model questions. Concentrate on your weak spots and make an effort to improve them.
5. Develop a CAT strategy:
Set aside a month before the exam for intensive preparation, with a maximum of 8 hours a day on a routine basis. To prevent bad scores, start with the portion that you’re strong at and skip the ones that you’re not confident about on test day.
It is critical to have a strategy in place while delivering the paper. Answering sample papers is the best technique to create a plan. Experiment with different tactics to determine which one works best. You should create a strategy for the D-day that gives you more precise responses in a short amount of time in your mocks.
6. Take breaks from your CAT schedule:
Studying for long periods of time can be stressful and slow you down. Take intervals from your studying routine to let your brain regenerate. To keep your attention intact, ensure to stay hydrated. Ensure your breaks aren’t too extensive, as this will disrupt your studying pattern.
Perseverance is crucial to passing the CAT, and you must ensure that you return to it after a sufficient amount of rest.
7. Take coaching
AceIPM was founded by a group of IPM students with mentors from IIT, IIM, and other tier-1 universities to give a customized studying approach so that you can pass your UG entrance tests on the first try.
They’re your one-stop-shop for all of your inquiries and concerns, with credible content on exam patterns and syllabuses, up-to-date practice problems, and a forum to prepare for the big day. AceIPM coaching wants to make a significant difference in your career by securing and stabilizing your job. Take lessons from those who have gone through the process before you
During the IPMAT’s final stage, the AceIPM Team is really helpful. The students stated that the team’s invaluable input on their responses to the questionnaire rounds prior to VBA, as well as the expertise they provided for the VBA, greatly improved their chances of selection.
Personalized Education
They work with individuals to develop a study plan that is tailored to their individual skills and shortcomings.
Live Sessions on a Daily Basis
AceIPM professionals meet with you on a daily basis via live meetings to clarify your doubts and plan your admission strategy.
Content that can be trusted
IPM students vetted extensive and up-to-date study resources to assist you increase your expertise.
8. Read a lot:
Many students find the VARC section difficult, particularly the RC, because if you don’t read on a regular basis, you won’t be able to keep up with the necessary speed or remember the specifics of the passage. Starting to read is the ideal approach to enhance this. Begin reading newspapers, well-known books, or anything else that has been popular recently. This will also come in handy when it comes to group discussions (GDs) and personal interviews (PIs) for IIMs.
Keep up with recent events, whether they be local, national, or global. Reading will not just help you gain information or pass the CAT, but it will also assist you build a point of view on a variety of topics.
9. Create your profile:
In the rush to get good CAT marks, pupils often overlook the importance of creating an IIM profile. In this case, employed individuals will have a benefit. Those without employment experience could volunteer for a non-profit or intern at a reputable company to boost their resume. In IIMs, profile is quite significant. Various IIMs offer various weightage to distinct profiles, but once you pass the CAT and GD, your interviews and profiles will matter a lot.
If you have a good profile to back up your application, your odds of getting into an IIM increase by a factor of two.
10. Written Ability Test/Group discussions and Personal Interviews
Personal Interviews (PI) are typically conducted by IIM academics, though ex-faculty and possibly alumni may be used in some situations. This session assesses your varied interpersonal and soft skills. Questions can range from private to professional to intellectual in nature. In addition to PIs, the IIMs administer a Written Ability Test (WAT) to assess your writing skills and grasp of the material. Apart from IIM Shillong, which organizes GDs in the second phase of the admission procedure, group discussions (GDs) are becoming defunct among IIMs.
11. Final selection in an IIM
The ultimate decisions are made depending on a set of criteria that may vary every IIM. Your aggregate CAT score, past school performance, employment background, and efficiency in WAT/GD/ and PI are all used to allocate varying scores. Final decisions are made depending on these final scores.
It is now simple to determine which IIM is going to select your WAT/GD and PI rounds and what CAT percentile depends on numerous indicators other than CAT score. IIM Profilizer can help you create your unique IIM shortlist.
