Opting to retake CAT (Common Admission Test) is a pivotal choice that depends on weighing multiple factors to be taken into consideration. It is an important decision that demands a thoughtful act on several factors. A strong percentile in CAT can open doors to secure admission in top-B schools across India and pave the way for a successful career.
Before taking this decision, keep few things in mind:
- Analyse and evaluate your past CAT experience
- Dedication, interest, and willingness, to spend more time for preparation
- Consider the likelihood to improve your score
- Think of investing much more time in preparation and the career growth it will ultimately bring you
Let’s explore some of the critical factors that will definitely help you to take a decision, if retaking CAT exam is a right move for you or not:
Is it a Good Idea to Retake CAT Exam?
The CAT exam is one of the most challenging national exams conducted by IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) for admission to MBA programmes. Being one of the toughest exams, an excellent percentile in CAT can open doors to the most reputed colleges nationwide. When a candidate is deciding to retake the CAT exam, he/she should keep in mind few factors to reflect upon:
- Reconsidering the benefits of achieving an excellent score
- Good growth and wider opportunities
- Long-term career goals
- Exam preparation and strategy
Here are the reasons, why re-attempting the CAT exam might be the best idea.
- Results from last try
- It is important to analyse your scores that you achieved in your last attempt
- If the score that you achieved was decent and high, the need to retake the exam is not necessary
- If your score is not good or low, then giving another attempt to the exam could be a good better move.
2. Progress in preparation
- Assess how much you have to/ can improve to expand your knowledge, strategy and test-taking skills.
- If you have the confidence and ability to improve and strategize your preparation more effectively, give it a go again
3. Management of time
- It is important to dedicate good amount of time to make your preparation more effective
- Prepare a framework and understand where you lagged last time and try not to repeat those mistakes again.
- Start your preparation early so that you can dedicate your time to build your foundation nicely and then move to advanced stages.
4. Motivation and ambition
- Keep your motivation high throughout your preparation journey
- If you are highly dedicated and motivated to give CAT another, try then definitely give it a good go.
- Be ambitious and set goals to achieve step by step.
5. Set goals and aims
- Be focused on your goal and need to give CAT another try and benefits of securing a good score.
- If an excellent or high score can help you achieve your goals, giving CAT a retake makes sense.
6. Response and comments
- Get valuable feedback from a mentor or a topper regarding your previous attempt
- There suggestion could help you to perform better next time for a successful re-attempt
7. Exam preparation strategies
- Consider giving a more efficient approach and technique than last time to the new attempt.
- Take the help of a mentor or a topper and take valuable insights from them in planning your study schedule.
8. Financial concerns, resources, and support
- Analyse and evaluate the cost that will be invested in giving another attempt for quality coaching and study materials.
- If you are clear about your goals and confident enough for a re-take, then the decision may be worthwhile.
- Get access to quality coaching, study materials, content.
- Have s strong support from the resources and family or closed ones that can enhance and improve your preparation journey.
9. Future ideas or plans
- Consider the benefits of scoring high in CAT that can award you to secure seats in reputed and esteemed universities of India.
- If scoring high aligns you with your career goals and open doors for you to secure a seat in your dream college, then re-taking the exam will be a good move.
Re-taking can be a good option if you really want to improve your scores to get into your dream college. It depends on factors like your goals, time for preparation, willingness to give a try.
Key Benefits of Taking the CAT Exam Again
There are several benefits of re-attempting the CAT exam if you have scored less than expected or not up to your expectations.
Here are some key benefits of Taking the CAT Exam Again.
- Chances to improve your score
- Giving the exam another attempt will increase and improve the chances of scoring high this time because of more good strategical approach.
2. Increased motivation
- A second attempt will give you more confidence and will power to crack the exam by knowing the tips and tricks to crack the exam.
- Familiarity with exam pattern and exam-environment will give you benefit to handle it nicely next time.
3. Better preparation and strategy
The early you start gives you the chances of building up your foundation and having enough time to address weaknesses or strengthen your weaker areas.
4. More opportunities and enhances the chances of admission
- A higher score from re-attempt can get you a good college which will boost up your career. An MBA from a top-reputed college will bring you a higher career growth
5. More familiarity
- Since you have given your first attempt, you are aware of the exam-like condition, paperer pattern, design and structure which will give you a plus point in your next attempt.
6. Learning from past mistakes
- Another attempt offers a chance to avoid the mistakes you have committed in your last attempt and helps you to attempt the exam with a good approach second time.
7. Much more clear and focused strategy
- After your first attempt, now you have an idea about your mistakes and weaknesses. Work on them and improve your weaker areas.
Mistakes to Avoid While giving a Re-Attempt CAT Exam
Here are some common mistakes candidates should avoid while giving the CAT re-attempt:
- Still sticking onto the old approach
- Don’t stick to old tricks or strategies
- Improve and try to get new better strategies to approach the exam.
2. Ignoring sectional imperfections and imbalances
- Do not ignore the areas that need improvement,
- Work on the areas you are weak in and spend time to improve them.
- Evaluate each section and analyse your present stand
3. Not learning from mistakes
- The blunder mistakes a candidate can do in re-take is not learning from past mistakes and not improving them.
- It is advised to review your mistakes and learn from them. Avoid repeating the same in re-take.
4. Lack of proper revision
- Skipping regular revision can be the greatest mistake.
- Regular revision is the key to polish your concepts and keep them fresh in mind.
5. Not considering time and speed
- Ignoring speed and fast calculation or time management can lead to decrease the number of attempts and hence may decrease the scores.
- Practice mocks or sectional test in time constraints and train yourself.
6. Not practicing mocks
- Avoiding doing mocks or reviewing the mocks will never make you understand the changed patterns or way of approach.
- Review the mocks and get valuable feedbacks from mentors.
7. Lack of clear set of goals
- Lack of clear set of goals for re-attempt
- It is important to set specific goals and target for your second attempt
Conclusion
Giving CAT another try can be a valuable and pivotal choice if you are highly confident about enhancing your score and have clear set of vision about your goals. By carefully having a strategical planning and approach by drawing insights from your last attempt one can score high in re-take examination.
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FAQs for Should I Take CAT Exam Again
Giving CAT another attempt can help you to learn from past mistakes and improve the areas of weakness and score well.
It is important to consider the factors like past attempts and mistakes, time management and dedication for giving another attempt, clear set of goals. Consider these things before jumping into the decision of giving a re-take.
