First TIME(d) test of CAT

May 28, 2006 Exactly a month after my four years at IIT, I took first timed test as a preparation of CAT (Common Admission Test). I had well prepared myself, and with two HB pencils, two pens, a rubber and a borrowed sharpner, I thought I could do any given problem.... We were given question paper some 10 minutes earlier for reading instructions (I presume We can get more marks if we put a 100 rupee note in question paper booklet as bribe).... Soon at sharp 11 am, the seal was broken, and eyes were running here and there on pages to find easy problems (not with the slightest idea that picking simpler ones is the toughest job).

Started with English section for around 10 minutes and then switched over to Mathematics... Did pretty well there (at least seemed so before seeing results!!), but forgot one basic fact while was engaged in Quant (We should allot some 10 minutes to see TIME), and I can identify now that was the blunder I made, I used around an hour there eating up time of other parts... then moved to DI (Data Interpretation) where first part was comparatively easy, but second one lengthy and a bit pricky (infact 32-bit pricky :)... I was engaged in a fierce battle with enemies all around when some stupid announced, "Last 10 minutes....." and Whoooop!!! My eyeballs confirmed this thrice, and then also, mind wasn't ready to accept it....

English was almost untouched at that moment and I had to fill answers in answer sheet as well.. There were various types of signals getting generated in my system (Doctors would have said me nervous)... After marking answers, I scanned English paper marking all easy-looking questions in last 5 minutes.... And then, same stupid again announced, "No more writing, TIME over..." (Why do some people always make stupid comments???)

There were lot of things to learn from the test... Time management, Selection of proper questions, Managing cut-off in each section, extra pressure of timed test (When you hate your watch moving... worst is seconds hand moving as it is fastest!!) and many more... Now that answers are in my hands and I have evaluated myself (I scored around 34/35)... The score is pretty bad, but there are 25 weeks left and more importantly, WILL ... Someone said, "Where there is a WILL, there is a way...." I am searching my way with this will-lamp.