Ankit Doshi

Hi Himanshu, You can ask your question now. Also, call me Ankit and not sir.

12:29 PM

Ankit Doshi

Sorry I didn't understand your question clearly.

12:31 PM

Ankit Doshi

Thats a tough question to answer - this is a %ile system where everyone is ranked as per their scores. Generally it is tough to score more than 95%ile in CAT. So anyone who scores more than that is generally working very hard and is also very smart.

12:35 PM

Ankit Doshi

How are you doing in the Mocks? Have you done your basics well? By now your basics need to be thorough. Also, you need to be scoring consistently above 90 percentile by now with balanced sectionals. You should spend most of your time brushing up your basics and taking section tests on most days and 1-2 mocks a week if your basics are in place.

12:40 PM

Ankit Doshi

How are you doing in the Mocks? Have you done your basics well? By now your basics need to be thorough. Also, you need to be scoring consistently above 90 percentile by now with balanced sectionals. You should spend most of your time brushing up your basics and taking section tests on most days and 1-2 mocks a week if your basics are in place.

12:40 PM

Ankit Doshi

People are able to crack CAT with focussed effort in 100 days

12:41 PM

Ankit Doshi

There points for diversity at IIM C and IIM L. Also, IIM A considers you a separate category as long as you fulfil acad criteria - check insideiim for selection criterias decoded

12:42 PM

Ankit Doshi

Look at CAT as a puzzle and a game. Don't become emotional about it. CAT is only a means to an end and that end is a MBA and a job/ your own company after that. From that perspective CAT shouldn't be taken too seriously. If you take it too seriously you'll make yourself more anxious. Bat like Sehwag.

12:43 PM

Ankit Doshi

There is no shortcut! You can analayze mocks but if your basics are weak no amount of strategy will help you. CAT always has easy questions and you need to be able to identify them and finish them quickly. However, there is no solution for weak basics. maybe take some leave and give basics some more time. taking more mocks will only make you feel bad about yourself if you're not fully prepared.

12:46 PM

Ankit Doshi

92-94 percentile is very good! Try working on easy questions that you're missing out on and strategize well - a 98 in AIMCATs will mean you can get 99.xx in the actual one with the same performance on the day.

12:47 PM

Ankit Doshi

No point worrying about others. Winners focus only on their own performance. You need to switch off from Facebook, whatsapp, snapchat and all the things that tells you anything about other people. Focus on yourself. there are people who crack CAT after 4-5 attempts too and end up doing better than those who cracked it in the first attempt. Your scores are promising plus you did so well last year. Don't give up now. Be focussed - you're almost there.

12:49 PM

Ankit Doshi

it's not bad - if you can reach the 90 percentile mark for 3 mocks in a row - you're set to score above 96

12:50 PM

Ankit Doshi

Hi Rahul, 3 hours of focussed preparation everyday - come what may you need to have a time for it. Have a routine - either really morning or late after work - ideally early morning because you are most fresh then. There is a timetable for working professionals on insideIIM - use that

12:52 PM

Ankit Doshi

Is it because you are scared? If your basics are in place you should be scoring at least 75-80 percentile in your Mocks. Have you tried breaking down your tests in sections and attempting? See your performance there. If even your section tests performance is bad then it means your basics are not in place. If section test result is good - it is a psychological issue or issue of concentration and stamina - in that case you need to take more mocks and analyse them thoroughly.

12:54 PM

Ankit Doshi

I don't know of such a formula. But consistency in AIMCATS means you will do well on d-day. have faith in yourself.

12:55 PM

Ankit Doshi

There are 30 day, 60 day, 90 day, 100 day, 120 days plans on InsideIIM - that will should help you. there is a separate plan for Verbal as well.

12:56 PM

Ankit Doshi

Use this - https://insideiim.com/cat-2015-verbal-a-detailed-preparation-plan/?src=konv For specific prep based questions i suggest you ask Vistamind under the ask section - I'm not a verbal expert. I was naturally good at it and I used to practice a lot. It was my stronger section naturally so I may not be able to help you in this case.

12:59 PM

Ankit Doshi

https://insideiim.com/action-guide-to-verbal-60-days-to-cat/?src=konv = see if this helps. Practice is the only answer to be honest. Also check our video on RC here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SzjnxeaViU

01:01 PM

Ankit Doshi

Thanks Arushi. Hope this chat helps!

01:02 PM

Ankit Doshi

99 is a safe percentile for MDI although many people have got it at much lower percentiles.

01:02 PM

Ankit Doshi

I have replied to all your questions. Please scroll and check.

01:03 PM

Ankit Doshi

Yes. I'm here Shivam

01:03 PM

Ankit Doshi

Like I mentioned before I'm no expert at English. But you can look at this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SzjnxeaViU and also check this section https://insideiim.com/action-guide-to-verbal-60-days-to-cat/?src=konv - My mantra was always more reading and more practice.

01:05 PM

Ankit Doshi

Take a break for 2 days. Watch movies - go out with friends and stop all studying. Stop taking mock tests and section tests for the next 10 days. Go through all the basics again for the 10 days. Then take section tests for the next 7 days. Take your first mock now after 17-18 days. Writing mocks in this mood and state of mind is pointless.

01:08 PM

Ankit Doshi

It is too early to think about interviews. It is not something you can change less than 2 months before CAT. The form has already been filled. Just focus on doing well in every entrance test you take. We will help you if and when you get calls. Be in touch through chats, ask under the Ask section here and be registered on InsideIIM for updates and test prep related content.

01:10 PM

Ankit Doshi

https://insideiim.com/75-days-preparation-plan-for-cat-2016/?src=konv

01:11 PM

Ankit Doshi

https://insideiim.com/75-days-preparation-plan-for-cat-2016/?src=konv

01:11 PM

Ankit Doshi

https://insideiim.com/75-days-preparation-plan-for-cat-2016/?src=konv

01:11 PM

Ankit Doshi

Follow this series here - it has 2-3 parts and it has everything you need to know about LRDI and various question types - https://insideiim.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-data-interpretation-section-in-cat-part-i/

01:14 PM

Ankit Doshi

There are a lot of people who have this issue. I see it as a blessing in disguise. This helps you manage your time well. Unlike other exams you can't memorise anything for CAT - if you prepare well now - 2 hours prep a day for CAT 10 days before the test is more than enough. Learn switching on/ switching off - remember time is not an issue for CAT - it never is after October - its about time management if your basics are in place

01:16 PM

Ankit Doshi

Step 1 - Master basics Step 2 - Practice at least 100 questions on each topic. Step 3 - Take at least 20 section tests. Step 4 - Let if flow in mocks Ensure you never miss out on easy questions in a test. If you miss even one it is a criminal waste.

01:17 PM

Ankit Doshi

If you can get leave you should definitely take it so close to the test and given that you're not yet fully prepared.

01:18 PM

Ankit Doshi

Time pressure is what makes the CAT interesting. Most people will be able to solve all the questions given unlimited amount of time. The trick is to look at it as a game. Look at it like being on Playstation - do you ever get nervous there? No reason to get nervous here.

01:19 PM

Ankit Doshi

1) Do thorough review of basics every alternate day - concept notes etc. 2) Solve all left out questions from previous mocks - I'm assuming you have already analyzed the mocks - https://insideiim.com/how-to-use-and-analyse-your-mock-cats-a-detailed-guide/?src=konv 3) No point taking too many tests - from now on i don't think you should take more than 10 Mock tests. You can take many section tests in areas you feel less confident

01:22 PM

Ankit Doshi

You should take the opportunity whenever it presents itself. If you have a weak academic background you will always need to work harder than others. But it is very tough to fail at IIMs if you work hard. Most people I know who have failed/not survived are people who are lazy. If you work hard in an IIM you will do very well.

01:23 PM

Ankit Doshi

It depends on your prep level - it was not a suggestion for everyone. She is already scoring 85 percentile - you don't want a person to burn out before the actual test. If you get obsessed with tests you almost definitely perform badly on the final day. We are all preparing to be the best on the day of the test not in the mocks

01:25 PM

Ankit Doshi

Use it the way you want - as part of section tests or as mocks - previous papers do help but IIMs generally always surprise - no coaching class in India can predict how the test will be even if they claim it

01:27 PM

Ankit Doshi

Why give up now? Its a matter of less than 60 days. Play it like a game. Take a break for a few days. Watch movies, play sport. Also, remember you need to score well only on 4th December 2016. Whatever you do now is meaningless beyond a point.

01:28 PM

Ankit Doshi

If you can score 88 and if you've prepared for so long you can definitely reach more than 95 on 4th December - you need to be smart about it. Take breaks. Don't give the exam too much importance

01:30 PM

Ankit Doshi

The issue is with speed and selection of questions. You need to practice that. For e.g. I used to always spend the first 2-3 mins marking questions i would attempt first. I would read all questions first and not be paranoid about time wasting there. There are always 4-5 sitters which I knew will not take more than 4-5 mins in total. I would attempt the toughest questions the last. Also, i practiced building discipline that i will not let my ego come in the way and not spend more than 3 mins on any quant question

01:34 PM

Ankit Doshi

Why waste time speculating all this. You need to do as well as you can. i can only say that if you are scoring above 85 percentile consistently in all sections in mocks you're in the game to get calls from IIMs on the CAT day assuming you can better or match that consistency.

01:56 PM

Ankit Doshi

I don't really recommend a book to be honest. I never used one. I just made sure I never missed an english class. And I practiced like crazy. I had solved at least 200 odd RCs. Even if you do past CAT paper RCs and para jumbles as section tests it should enough for the next 60 days. Disclaimer : I was good at VA/RC - if you have problems grasping basics you may need different kind of help.

02:22 PM

Ankit Doshi

Selection of sets is the key. Spend time and select the easy ones first. There will always be easy sets. Also, read questions first - some sets can be solved easily if you have read questions before the whole data. If you have practiced enough you should be confident. There is no substitute to practice. have you practiced every possible type? - i strongly recommend you follow this series here - it covers a lot about DI/LR - https://insideiim.com/all-you-need-to-know-about-data-interpretation-section-in-cat-part-i/

02:33 PM

Ankit Doshi

If you have scored as high 94 percentile in AIMCATs - with 60 days left you can easily score in excess of 99. Be focussed and be confident. Have faith in your ability. This doesn't mean you can relax. But a steady focussed prep plan will take you places.

02:34 PM

Ankit Doshi

Well.. you must take mocks to check your status first. If basics are in place then section tests and mocks are the way forward. Analyse both section tests and mocks. are you skipping easy questions and missing out on marks? Are you wasting time on wrong questions. Also, still revise basics every 2-3 days even if you're done with it especially quant basics since you are in weak in quant

02:36 PM

Ankit Doshi

That's a long question to answer. You are asking me Why MBA? - MBA is a business and management degree - if your aspiration is to be in business or be a manager in an enterprise - a MBA will definitely help. Read this - https://insideiim.com/why-mba/?src=konv - There are at least 2-3 other stories by authors on Why one should or shouldn't do a MBA

02:38 PM