The Masters of Business Administration degree is a professional program that focuses on the management front of the business and related subjects rather than the scientific aspect. The key subjects covered in this course are Business Management, Business Communication, Business Law, Economics, Statistics, Finance, Accounting, Marketing, Supply & Demand, etc. MBA programs are generally for two years or 18 months.
An MBA program is considered to be a world-class degree and is respected worldwide, but the preparation required for earning this degree is backbreaking work and requires thorough research. An MBA aspirant must keep himself on toes while preparing for the entrances of the colleges and universities providing MBA Degrees. While preparing for the entrances, understanding the question papers is not difficult; what matters the most is how quickly one gets his brains working. When it comes to MBA Admissions 2020, approximately 5 lakh people appear for the exam, out of which, only a few are able to make it in the best colleges. The reason behind the popularity of this degree is that it provides the aspirants in brand building, networking, management skills, better job prospects, etc.
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Understanding the basic elements
While preparing for the MBA exam, one dedicates his time entirely on solving answers to the questions. Giving time to understand the basic aspects of the exams is equally important, as the admission procedure, the courses offered, eligibility criteria, cut-offs, etc. for each college shortlisted by the aspirant.
Comprehending these fundamental elements can help the aspirants get a fair idea of the aspired colleges, which can, in turn, aid them in customizing their study pattern and understand where exactly they need to focus on.
Understanding the pattern
While preparing for an MBA, one must research and understand the exam pattern for each college exam. Most of the colleges and universities follow a similar structure to that of CAT. IIMs organize Common Admission Test. One can easily find the exam pattern on the website.
An applicant is judged on his awareness and command in various sections like General Knowledge, Quantitative Ability, Verbal and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation, and Logical Reasoning. Most of the colleges follow a similar pattern. Talking specifically for CAT exam, as per the 2019 academic session, IIMs conducted a 3 hours exam with MCQs and Non-MCQs with the following pattern:
- Quantitative Ability and Verbal- 34 Questions (60 Minutes)
- Reading Comprehension- 34 Questions (60 Minutes)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning- 32 Questions (60 Minutes)
Once the pattern for each exam is understood, the preparation gets simplified and precise.
Self-study or coaching?
Every aspirant has a different and unique way of preparing for the exam, as there is no rule book on developing techniques. One can opt for a coaching class or can indulge in self-study. Choosing for coaching classes might prove to be a good idea for the ones who are not very confident about their methods of study or those who want to start with the basics. They get an advantage of various study materials, mocks, live sessions, etc.
However, self-study is an equally reliable way to prepare for an MBA. The aspirant can study on his terms. An applicant can easily obtain the coaching material from friends and reputed platforms, as there are tons of books available for preparation that are full of mock tests and other tutorials. One can even access educational sessions through websites like YouTube.
Section-wise preparation
For each MBA exam, there is a well defined pattern. Usually, most of the MBA institutes conduct their exams in a similar format where Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VR) is the first section, followed by Quantitative Ability (QA) and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI LR).
For the MBA exams, it is advisable to start preparing section wise. The most challenging section should be dealt with first and should move on to the next section only when one masters it. The most comfortable part should always be dealt with at last as it is not time-consuming.
Time management
The most important thing to understand while preparing for MBA is the proper management of time. Apart from testing the skills and command over various sections of an aspirant, MBA exams also test their time managing skills. Solving a question in the exam is not tricky; solving it in less time certainly is.
Where lakhs of aspirants give the exam, the competition gets fierce. One must focus on saving time on the easy questions and utilize that time in the tricky ones. Alongside this, one must not waste their time in solving the problems that they are not sure of; this will eat their time up and will reduce their percentile too.
Regular mock tests
Most of the scholars in MBA exams have revealed their secret of scoring high percentile in the exams — mock tests. Mock exams are like a tool that tells the aspirants about their preparation for the exams precisely.
Giving regular mocks online in exam-like conditions help the aspirants understand where they stand. These mocks allow aspirants to know their weak areas and help to work on them. Candidates must focus on giving as many mock exams as they can during the last couple of months from the exam date. Previous years exam papers are very easy to find, once all solved, the chances of scoring good in the exam increase.
Expert advice
Before attempting the MBA exam, get done with at least 40-50 Mock tests; this will boost up your confidence and will help master up your problem solving and time management skills. In between the mocks, watching YouTube tutorials can be of great help in attaining a high score in the exam, taking you a step closer to your dream college.
One can never find great motivation from outside; however, finding it within oneself is the key. While preparing for the MBA exams, make sure always to keep your career goal in your mind, as it’ll guide you through your exam preparation.