The decision of Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) to introduce sectional time limit to promote non-engineers has visible repercussion on the recent results , where more non-engineers secured their places among perfect scorer. Since the last three years, the CAT format has been altered in terms of time spent by candidates on different sections. CAT paper is divided into three sections — verbal ability and reading comprehension, logical reasoning and data interpretation and quantitative ability (QA). Earlier, a candidate had the freedom of spending as much as time they wished on a particular section, this was biased against non-engineers and in favour of engineers, who were better equipped at handling QA than non-engineers. However, since 2014, IIMs have capped the time limit for the three sections at 60 minutes each. While many welcomed the move, others had reservation and felt, this would hamper their chances of their prospect of getting in to a premier B-school. As in current scenario, engineers are bound to spare 60 minutes on 30+ math questions although they are capable enough to do this in much lesser time, in another scenario they are forced to solve VARC or LR which might be their weak links in stipulated one hour only.
o First learn, then practice
Time required to solve a question correctly is directly proportional to your comprehension of that particular topic, the better you understand , the less time you will require to solve it and vice-versa. Someone has said “ You must know what is perfect , then practise; when you practise which is imperfect, you are bound to become perfect in imperfect.” Most of the aspirants will acknowledge that without detecting their weak links and learning the required skills, applications to improve it, they keep taking virtual test. It improves neither your time management nor
overall performance.
o Weak links must be given the priorities
Most of the aspirants are unlikely to disagree with the fact that though they were very much aware of their weak links and consequence of not improving it, they ended up spending quality time on something they were already strong at or something of least importance. One important point should be taken intoconsideration that one can fulfill the required time management only when one knows it inside out. This can be achieved only by giving weaker section priority and spending quality time to rigorously practise it.
o Time management is nothing but mind management
Time management is all about mind management. A chain reaction starts onceyou realize that you’re in control of your clock and can tell your time what to do, your work life and personal life will become less stressed. Plan your day in advance, at the end of each day, figure out which tasks need to get done the next day and how long each one will take. Then schedule those tasks onto your priority list.
o Use Urgency-Importance Matrix
You are bound to become more efficient , provided you learn to prioritize and religiously stick to it. The urgency- importance matrix forces you to think twice before adding a task to your to–do list. Prioritize your task on the scale of A-E, where A denotes task with high urgency- importance and E least urgency.
o Learn and enhance mental alertness for 3 quality hours
There is lot of prominent evidence to conclude that mental alertness, and overall efficiency to solve a problem decline with the passage of time; resulting in mismanagement of regulated time. It is suggested to maintain the same
sharp approach and involvement even during the fading ours of three hours test by making certain meditation, yoga and most importantly nutritious dry food integral part of your daily life.