Stuck at ~20 in CDC Mocks but PYQs are better. Need brutal advice for QA & LRDI.
Asked by Anonymous on 2026-11-10 in CAT Prep
Hey everyone, I’m stuck at ~20 overall in CDC mocks (past 6–7 mocks) despite doing much better on CAT PYQs. Need practical strategies to bridge this gap. Current vs. Target Scores: • VARC: 30–42 ➔ Need CDC consistency • LRDI: 15–24 ➔ Target: 30 (2.5–3 sets) • QA: 6–14 ➔ Target: 30–33 (Focusing on Arithmetic, Algebra, Coord Geo, basic Geometry, Number System) QA Hurdles: Done Arun Sharma LOD 1 twice and some LOD 2. I still forget formulas, struggle with application, freeze up on unfamiliar phrasing, and panic under time pressure. • Need help with: Chapter-wise structure (Concepts ➔ Book ➔ PYQs), formula retention, and knowing exactly when to transition from LOD 1 to LOD 2/CAT level. LRDI Hurdles: Want exposure to unconventional/unfamiliar sets. • Need help with: Set selection strategy (avoiding time traps), building better representation skills (tables/cases), and daily practice/analysis volume. The Mindset Trap: I'm worried my PYQ performance is just "familiarity" from coaching worksheets, which is killing my self-esteem. • Questions: Should my baseline be PYQs or CDCs? How do I test my actual conceptual understanding on completely unseen questions? Looking for concrete routines and methods rather than generic "practice more" advice. Thanks!
1 Answer
PRIYANSHIII · 2026-11-11 · 2 helpful
I have stopped taking CDC mocks because they were demotivating me. Instead, I have started focusing on PYQs, daily challenges, and YouTube videos covering the most important questions