CCAT Test Day: How to perform at your best

On test day:

• Preferably, use a laptop or a desktop computer instead of a phone or tablet
• Make sure you have a reliable and fast internet connection. If you are in an area prone to power cuts, try to have a power backup for your internet connection (i.e. modem).
• Make sure you will not be disturbed for the 15 minutes that the test takes. Put your phone on silent. Arrange with a family member or friend to attend to the door bell or any urgent phone calls.
• During the 15 minutes, your attention should be on the test and only the test. Clear your mind of other matters before you start.
• Keep your intensity and energy levels at the highest during the test. Don’t give in to the temptation of coasting during the middle or latter part of the test, particularly if you are doing well on time. Remember: one tough question or one bad decision, and you will give back all that time.
• Try to use the same setup for the practice tests that you plan to use for the actual test.
• Keep a notebook and pen handy for rough work. Note that a calculator is not allowed. (Selected candidates are required to retake the test with a proctor, hence passing the test unfairly by using a calculator will backfire when taking the proctored test).
• Do not get stuck on any one question. Have some max cutoff time in mind (for me, this is 45 seconds). If you exceed this time, just make a calculated guess and keep going (unless you are well ahead of the clock).
• Remember that every question, easy or difficult, carries equal value: one mark.
• This is the pace you will need to maintain: you may want to keep this written down conspicuously on your rough note.

So you have 4 checkpoints during the test (at 40, 30, 20, 10 questions) to evaluate your pace and course correct if needed.

Coming up: An analysis of the pattern of questions in the CCAT

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