A Delhi-based CAT aspirant, Shiri Agarwal, recently shared her strategy to stay composed during the CAT 2025 exam, even after realizing she had underperformed in her strongest section. Her story went viral on LinkedIn, inspiring aspirants struggling with exam anxiety. Shiri revealed that forty minutes into her CAT Exam, she noticed mistakes in her Verbal Ability section, which she had considered her strongest. Despite this, she chose to remain calm and concentrate on the remaining sections, ensuring that the early setback did not derail her overall performanc
How Anxiety Affected the CAT Exam Attempt?
Agarwal explained that her mock test scores for Verbal Ability had been unstable, which heightened her anxiety on exam day. She also picked the two toughest reading comprehension passages by mistake, which further affected her confidence.
- Realized mistakes in the strongest section (Verbal Ability)
- Panic set in initially, creating stress for the first 40 minutes
- Accuracy and attempts were lower than expected
Despite this, Agarwal reframed her mindset and chose to focus on what she could control, rather than dwelling on errors already made.
Strategy to Stay Focused in Remaining Sections
After the initial panic, Agarwal shifted her focus to Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI) and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) sections. She emphasized:
- Concentrating on remaining sections without revisiting past mistakes
- Allocating time efficiently to attempt maximum questions accurately
- Maintaining mental composure under exam pressure.
“My first thought: the game is over. My next thought: let’s not get emotional this early. The paper will be tough for others as well, so let’s focus on giving my best in the remaining sections,” Shiri stated. Her approach demonstrates the importance of managing exam stress, maintaining focus, and prioritizing tasks during high-stakes assessments.
Key Lessons for CAT Aspirants
This viral account provides practical takeaways for aspirants facing exam anxiety:
- Stay calm: Initial errors do not define overall performance
- Reframe mindset: Shift focus to sections that can still be attempted
- Time management: Allocate time wisely across sections
- Positive self-talk: Avoid emotional reactions and stress
Shiri’s experience highlights that success in CAT exams relies not only on preparation but also on psychological resilience and focus under pressure. Follow KollegeApply for the latest updates on College Admissions, Courses, Exam Dates, Results, Scholarships, Career Guidance, Education News, and Policy Changes — everything needed to stay ahead in the education journey
