We all tend to assume certain things about ourselves or fall into the trap of stereotypes like, engineers are better at maths or I have not touched maths for so long, I won’t be able to ace the exam, etc.
This is one of the most crucial things to do when you are dealing with pressure. Do not put yourself down. Instead, have that confidence and trust in yourself that whatever comes your way, you’ll deal with it and manage your preparation well. If you feel anxious, take a deep breath, and repeat this to yourself.
Do not run away from struggle. Struggle during your preparation, experiment and try out new strategies so that you sail smooth during the final CAT Exam. Stop questioning yourself. Try things out. Its okay to try and fail. The more you try, the more you’ll things you’ll learn and the more you’ll know.
Maintaining your routine even when you feel pressurised will help you get through it and feel accomplished. You will get a sense of moving forward which will de-intensify the pressure hovering over you. If you have made a schedule for yourself, make sure you stick to it, even on those that you feel you are lagging in your preparation.
When you feel the pressure getting to you, do not try and get things done super quickly. It is very likely that you’ll mess it all up in an attempt to speed up yourself. Slow down. Take a deep breath. Stare into oblivion and convince yourself that you are capable of handling this.
Whatever is in the past or in the future does not matter. Regretting your performance in the first few mocks or constantly worrying about how you’ll fare in the CAT exam will do you no good. All it’ll do is hog on to the time you could have utilised for your preparation.
Time and again, we have emphasised on the importance of taking mocks. Mocks give you a feel of taking the actual exam and help you get familiar with it. You can experiment during the mocks and figure out a strategy for yourself that will help you make the most out of the time on the D-Day.
With your rigorous CAT preparation and regular mock-taking, you’ll be good to go for the exam. Trust your instincts. The constant practice you’ve done over time, will lead you to a sort of automaticity. Do not second guess your answers and absolutely do not waste time rechecking your method and answers over and over again.