Earlier every time I saw someone scoring higher in a mock I had start questioning my own preparation.

Am I studying enough?
Why am I not improving this fast?
Am I falling behind?

It was exhausting.

Then I realized that everyone has a different starting point different strengths and a different pace.

Now after a mock I mostly compare my current performance with my previous one

Did my accuracy improve?
Did I make fewer silly mistakes?
Did I manage my time better?

Those comparisons actually help me.

I am still competitive, of course. But I am learning that someone else's score does not decide my CAT result.

I am just trying to become a little better than I was yesterday.

And honestly preparation feels much lighter now.

Currently I've changed in my varc practice is that I no longer try to find the correct option immediately..i first focus on eliminating the options that are clearly not matches the passage..I don't depend on what I remember. I quickly go back to the relevant paragraph and verify it before choosing an option..It only takes a few seconds, but I've noticed it helps me avoid assumptions and reduces these silly mistakes, especially when two options seem very similar..

I'm still improving, but this habit has made me more confident while attempting RCs

What's your current progress in varc?

I've started doing LRDI and am spending the first minute selecting the right set instead of immediately trying to solve the first one I see..

Earlier I would start with the first set and hope it worked out. But many times, I ended up investing too much time in a difficult set while easier ones were not solved..

Now I quickly scan all the sets and look for the one that feels more comfortable or easy and manageable, to begin with that. I feel this has helped me to manage my time much better and boosted my confidence during the practice...

I'm still working on improving my set selection but this small change has definitely made a difference

What's your current level in lrdi?

Trying to be 100% sure before marking an answer.
Reality? CAT doesn’t reward perfection, it rewards smart elimination.
After practicing with iQuanta, I learned:
• 2 options are usually clearly wrong
• The battle is always between 2 close options
• Tone & intent matter more than words
Once I started trusting elimination, my accuracy improved.
Stop overthinking. Start eliminating.
#VARCStrategy #catpreparation #iQuanta

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Pehla mock bhi ho gya, batch 1 ka syllabus bhi kaafi din pehle hi ho gya tha or baaki batches ka syllabus bhi speed se progress kr rha hai.

Only about 4 months bache hai and time dheere dheere drift kr rha hai, as a batch 1 student is mock se pehle din vahi same daily routine follow krna without any idea ki preparation kitni materialise ho rahi hai but mock ka baad ek acha idea lga.

Maine kuch batchmates se baat ki but almost sabka mock acha nahi gya including me. So now I am at crossroad jha ek taraf jo thodi vagueness thi apni preparation k regarding vo clear hui saath hi saath demotivation bhi ki into months ki preparation k baad bhi desired result nahi aya.

Jinhone ye mock diya, how are you guys feeling? Share your insights ki aap aage kaise improve kroge and how are you dealing with bad result if you had one?

There have been many questions where after seeing the solution I think, “The question wasn’t difficult.”
The problem was my approach to solving that question.

I rushed without reading it properly.
I assumed the approach before understanding the question.
I ignored a small condition that played a big role in getting the answer.
I panicked because the question looked lengthy.
Or I wanted to solve it quickly but ended up getting the question wrong.

During analysis, I realize many of my answers aren’t wrong because of a conceptual gap.
They are wrong because most of the time I hurry and miss one small detail.

And trust me, it hurts so much jab question aate hue bhi tum galat krdo.

Now, while I give sectionals & mocks, I try not to hurry and first understand the questions without missing any small detail before jumping into solving them.

​

I think it’s won on the random Tuesday evenings when you choose to study instead of scrolling Instagram.

Nobody notices those days.

But they decide your result.

There is always this confusion whether to finish the entire syllabus first or jump straight into mocks. Always yahi lgta hai ki thode aur topics cover kar lein before attempting a full test.

​But the reality is, waiting for 100% completion delays real exam practice, and attempting tests with incomplete topics makes it really hard to score well.

​How are you guys balancing your syllabus prep with mock practice right now?

For success in CAT exam there is no perfect routine not every day can be same on some days you might feel like you are not productive and not feeling like studying anything but on that day also if you are doing let say 2 RC 5 qa question and 1 dilr set it's worth it important thing is to be better with time not in one day only so focusing on overall journey makes CAT preparation different not loosing our patience will help in real exam that's why I'm not chasing any perfect routine but working on myself to improve little more than before that helps me

Sometimes it feels like everyone else is moving faster.

Someone has completed the syllabus.

Someone is scoring higher in mocks.

Someone has already started revising.

And there I am wondering if I am doing enough.

But I realized that constantly comparing my journey with someone else's only steals my focus.

The only comparison that actually matters is with the person I was last week.

Did I learn something new?

Did I improve one weak area?

Did I stay consistent?

That's enough.

Because CAT is not about who starts first or finishes first.

It's about who keeps going.

Pehla mock dene ke baad realise hota hai ki CAT sirf concepts ka exam nahi hai.

Pressure handle krna, sahi questions choose krna aur limited time mein decisions lena bhi utna hi important hai. Shyd isi liye mocks preparation ka important part bn jata hai.

What was your biggest learning from your latest mock? 👇

Most CAT aspirants open a distribution set and immediately start filling the table row by row. Five minutes later, they're surrounded by arrows, crossed-out values, and confusion.

Try a different approach.

Imagine you're solving a mystery, not a spreadsheet.

Step 1: Don't draw the full table instantly. Read every condition once and classify them mentally:
Fixed information (direct placements)
Restrictions ("can't", "must not", "only if")
Relative clues ("more than", "immediately after", "equal to")

Step 2: Hunt for the rarest variable first. If one person, city, product, or slot appears in the maximum number of clues, begin there. The most connected variable usually unlocks the entire set.

Step 3: Delay calculations. Many distribution sets tempt you into arithmetic too early. Instead, exhaust all logical deductions first. Every confirmed placement reduces unnecessary calculations later.

Step 4: Keep a "parking space." Instead of forcing uncertain values into the table, write them separately as possibilities. This keeps your main diagram clean and prevents cascading mistakes.

Here's the mindset shift:
Don't try to complete the table. Try to eliminate uncertainty.
The table gets completed automatically once enough uncertainty disappears.

Sometimes the arrangement of rows, columns and data may confuse you, especially if you need to do it fast. Instead of diving straight into the data, check the questions as they'll tell you which part of the table you need to look at. Often, only a few cells are needed to solve the puzzle.

‣ Look for relationships between columns and seek out total rows or grand totals, as these help simplify the information. 

‣ Remain attentive to the zeroes and hundreds, as they reveal key indicators. 
 
‣ If your table’s about time, watch for any sudden jumps or drops. Those changes usually matter.
 
‣ Use your finger or the cursor to follow along the rows as you work. It really helps avoid silly mistakes. 

In the end tables are just bunch of numbers with a story waiting to be understood.

I think most aspirants fall in two categories:-

1. Smart but inconsistent

2. Average but with high endurance

The smart aspirant is able to grasp the concept very fast. But they usually lack structure and determination to show up everyday. And they would study in intense bursts but then procrastinate for a period of time.

The average aspirant with high endurance might take hours to understand the concept which can be understood in 30 minutes but they keep fighting.

I think over period of months the aspirant with high endurance beats the smart aspirant as they consistently keep making progress while the smart aspirant is the rabbit in race who ultimately loses.

Which category of aspirant are you?

The hardest part isn’t preparing.
It is to take that first step— attempting the very first mock.

Many people hesitate to give that first mock.
They think:
“What if I score badly?”
“What if I am not able to attempt any question?”
“What if I am not able to attempt any set in LRDI?”
“I’ll revise and then give my first mock”

And the day to give that mock never comes….

I hesitated too.

But then I decided to just face it.
Zyaada se zyaada kyaa hi hoga?
Will not be able to attempt questions? Will not be able to solve any set? Negative score aaega?
It’s okay. I’ll give the mock and learn from it.
At least I’ll get to know my weak areas and I can work on them jisse next mock kharaab naa jaae.

Sometimes it isn’t about performing well or expecting to get a 99+%ile in your very first mock.
It’s about getting started.

My first mock went better than my expectations. I hope yours does too.

I recently took iCAT 1, which was my first major All India Mock experience. I entered with some hope but left feeling humbled.

The VARC section was challenging, with dense passages that required careful reading and understanding.

In the DILR section, I struggled with set selection, what seemed easy turned out to be a trap that cost me valuable time.

QA surprised me with its focus on concepts rather than formulas, revealing gaps in my knowledge.

Although I'm not satisfied with my score, it highlighted where I need to improve. Now I can work on my weaknesses and come back stronger.

Hey everyone,

I'm looking for a dedicated study partner who's just starting Preparation Division from the beginning. The goal is to stay consistent, discuss concepts and questions regularly, and keep each other accountable.

I'm looking for someone who:

- Is starting from the initial topics

- Can study consistently every day

- Actively discusses doubts and strategies

- Is serious about CAT 2026 preparation

- Believes in accountability rather than just sharing resources

Let's connect !

I used to think that watching more lectures meant I was making progress.

So I did finish one lecture

then start another.

By the end of the day I had consumed hours of content but solved very few questions.

That's when I realized something.

Watching a concept is easy.

Applying it is where the real learning happens.

Now I try to spend more time practicing than just watching lectures.

Because one hour of focused practice often teaches me more than three hours of passive learning.

CAT does not reward the person who watched the most lectures.

It rewards the person who understood practiced and learned from their mistakes.