One may be superstitious about the CAT, or tales may have taken root in one's head, causing you to get stymied and tense. Let go of the misconceptions, and be confident that you can ace the CAT test with the appropriate preparation and guidance.

The degree of preparation varies from person to person, and there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to CAT preparation. However, hopefuls must contend with several misconceptions. The most frequent fallacies about the CAT exam are gathered and refuted here.

Myth #1: The CAT is a challenging exam.

It is one of the most prevalent CAT test misconceptions. Although the exam is more demanding than other MBA admission examinations, it is never particularly difficult. CAT has maintained a 'moderate to high' difficulty level over the years. All it takes is six-months of well-planned preparation approach with a daily study regimen of four to eight hours.

Myth #2: CAT needs excellent mathematics abilities.

It's all about grasping the foundations in math. It doesn't matter if your Mathematics score was in the 90 lines or not while preparing for the CAT. Quantitative subjects are a higher level of math that is covered in grades 9 and 10. The foundations are familiar to most of us. The goal is to make your grasp of core principles stronger by learning how to apply them in various situations. Work hard and conscientiously. If your math skills aren't good when you start preparing for the CAT, they will be by the time the exam date approaches. Continue to practice.

Myth #3: For those with an engineering background, CAT is easier.

The CAT is an aptitude exam that necessitates excellent logical and analytical abilities. Regardless of their school experience, anyone with a good logical and analytical talent or who can acquire it over time can pass the CAT test. The VARC part of the CAT, on the other hand, is difficult for students with an engineering background to pass. Most engineering graduates who have previously passed the CAT would tell you that the VARC part was difficult for them since their English understanding and grammar were typically poor.

Myth #4: Because girls are unable to answer quantitative aptitude problems, there are fewer females in IIMs:

It's worth noting that math has nothing to do with a person's gender. There have been numerous female 100 percentile CAT applicants who have aced the test to follow their ambitions. Because of the equal number of girls and boys who take the test, IIM classrooms are less gender diverse. In recent years, several institutes have placed a greater emphasis on gender diversity, resulting in a considerable increase in females enrolling in MBA programs. IIM Calcutta, for example, had 16.5 per cent females in the 2016-18 class, which climbed to 31% in the 2017-19 batch. Similarly, in the 2016-18 class, IIM Ahmedabad had 21% female students, which rose to 32% in the 2017-19 cohort.

Myth #5: People who are good at public speaking or debate do well in the VARC section:

Though students with a strong command of spoken English have an edge in the verbal part, verbal questions still require practice. The time constraint and proximity of alternatives make it difficult to make a decision. Even the most experienced toastmasters might fall short due to a lack of practice and knowledge. Fill in the gaps, cloze passages, and jumbled words are examples of questions for the verbal ability test. The Reading Comprehension portion accounts for more than half of the questions. So, if you're a skilled orator, be ready to study for the examinations and concentrate on improving your basic grammatical abilities.

Myth #6: Without Coaching, you will not be able to pass the CAT.

'Coaching institutes are required to study. Your prospects of success are slim if you do not study at a coaching facility.' Not any longer. The world has changed. Coaching institutions play an essential part in preparation by leading students through disciplined study and offering study materials; nevertheless, you may also prepare for the CAT without them. In reality, in the previous two or three years, several CAT toppers studied on their own. Make use of free internet study materials and tutorials. Join Facebook, YouTube, Telegram, and WhatsApp study groups. They are beneficial.

Myth #7: During the selection process, experienced applicants are given a higher priority.

MBA or PGDM programs can be undertaken right after graduation or after some years off. It is entirely up to you to make your decision. Take a two-to-three-year sabbatical after college if you wish to travel. Candidates are awarded points based on their job experience. Every institution has a well-balanced class of freshmen and applicants with job experience.

Myth #8: Follow in the footsteps of a CAT alumnus.

The narrator adds, "Follow the topper." This is the most common misbelief. Never try to imitate someone else's style. Getting guidance and insights from CAT toppers is a great idea, but you also need to develop a study approach specific to your needs.  No two MBA candidates can work out with the same preparation strategy, just as no two people may have the same DNA. You can borrow ideas from their preparation techniques to improve your own.

Myth #9: The number of questions determines the grade.

No. What matters in CAT is not the number of questions asked but the precision they are answered with. For incorrect responses, CAT applies negative marking.

Myth #10: It is preferable to skip TITA Part in the exam.

Do not be fooled by this. Many people would advise you to avoid TITA questions since the lack of options makes it harder to guarantee that the answer is correct. Even if you get it wrong, you won't lose any points because TITA questions in the CAT don't have negative markings. Give it a go anyhow; you might get it right.

Myth #11: Only scoring a good percentile in CAT is enough

Many students believe that getting a solid CAT score is enough to get into a top management school. This is not the case, though. Getting a decent percentile on the CAT test is simply the first step in getting into a leading management school; you still have a lot of work to do. The applicant must pass the Written Ability Test and be intelligent enough to participate in the Group Discussion. The Personal Interview is the next stage in the process of impressing the panel. Each of the factors above, each with a distinct weighting, is used to make the final decision.

Conclusion

The CAT is one of the basic tests for MBA candidates to pass. Many applicants begin to have concerns or become confused about the test questions or exam pattern when there is very little time left before the exam.

Many similar remarks regarding the CAT test have been overheard, which is why some candidates have preconceived notions about the exam. However, one or more of the numerous things you may have heard of or already believe in maybe a myth.