Common Mistakes to Avoid in CUET, CLAT, and IPM Exams

By Career Launcher, South Ex Center

Every year, thousands of students prepare rigorously for prestigious entrance exams like CUET, CLAT, and IPMAT.
Yet, despite their hard work, many aspirants fall short — not because of lack of knowledge, but because of avoidable mistakes.

At Career Launcher South Ex, we have mentored countless students, and the patterns are clear:
The ones who succeed are not just those who study hard, but those who study smart and avoid common traps.

This blog is your ultimate guide to common mistakes that can cost you dearly — and, more importantly, how to avoid them.
We’ll cover:

• Preparation-stage mistakes

• Mock-test stage mistakes

• Exam-day mistakes

• Mindset and strategy errors

• Sample practice papers

• Smart corrective tips for aspirants

1. Mistakes During Preparation

a) Studying Without a Plan
Mistake: Opening books randomly and studying whatever you feel like.
Why It’s Dangerous:

• Leads to syllabus gaps

• Creates imbalance between subjects

• Causes last-minute panic
  Solution:

• Always prepare a monthly and weekly study plan.

• Prioritize high-weightage topics.

• Track your daily progress.

b) Ignoring the Exam Pattern
Mistake: Focusing only on content, ignoring pattern changes and trends.
Why It’s Dangerous:

• Misalignment with question types

• Poor time allocation during exam
  Solution:

• Stay updated with the latest CUET, CLAT, and IPM exam structures.

• Study with exam-specific material, not just generic textbooks.

c) Overloading with Too Many Books
Mistake: Collecting multiple books for the same subject.
Why It’s Dangerous:

• Creates confusion

• Wastes precious time
  Solution:

• Stick to one trusted source per subject.

• Revise multiple times instead of starting new material.

d) Ignoring Mock Tests Early On
Mistake: Thinking, "I’ll start mocks after completing the syllabus."
Why It’s Dangerous:

• No real-time practice

• Exam fear builds up

• Poor time management skills
  Solution:

• Start giving mock tests from the early phase of preparation — even if you score low initially.

• Remember: mocks are for learning, not judging.

2. Mistakes While Taking Mock Tests

a) Not Analyzing Mocks Properly
Mistake: Just checking your mock score and moving on.
Why It’s Dangerous:

• Repeating the same mistakes

• No real improvement
  Solution:

• Spend at least 2 hours analyzing each mock:

  • Identify wrong answers

  • Understand why you went wrong

  • Recognize silly mistakes

b) Focusing Only on Scores, Not Accuracy
Mistake: Prioritizing high attempts over correct attempts.
Why It’s Dangerous:

• Negative marking kills your score

• Overconfidence develops
  Solution:

• Balance speed and accuracy.

• Aim for accuracy above 85–90%.

c) Changing Strategy Too Often
Mistake: Switching your exam strategy after every bad mock.
Why It’s Dangerous:

• Confuses you mentally

• Prevents strategy mastery
  Solution:

• Stick to a basic plan for at least 4–5 mocks.

• Make small tweaks, not complete overhauls.

3. Mistakes on the Exam Day

a) Poor Time Management
Mistake: Spending too long on difficult questions.
Why It’s Dangerous:

• Misses easy questions

• Creates panic towards the end
  Solution:

• Move on if a question takes more than:

  • 90 seconds (CUET/IPM)

  • 2 minutes (CLAT)

• Mark and revisit if time permits.

b) Not Reading Instructions Properly
Mistake: Ignoring critical details like negative marking or question format changes.
Why It’s Dangerous:

• Unnecessary mistakes

• Wasted attempts
  Solution:

• Spend 2–3 minutes at the start carefully reading all instructions.

c) Attempting Paper Sequentially Without Strategy
Mistake: Starting from Question 1 and moving sequentially without thinking.
Why It’s Dangerous:

• Hard questions early can shake your confidence

• Poor overall time planning
  Solution:

• Quickly scan the paper. Attempt:

  • Strong sections first

  • Easier questions first

• This builds early momentum and confidence.

d) Panic During the Exam
Mistake: Letting one tough section ruin your mindset.
Why It’s Dangerous:

• Compounding of mistakes

• Lower accuracy across the paper
  Solution:

• Remember, everyone faces tough questions.

• Stay calm and focus on maximization, not perfection.

4. Mindset and Strategic Errors

a) Obsessing Over Percentiles Every Day
Mistake: Checking your percentile after every mock obsessively.
Why It’s Dangerous:

• Creates unnecessary pressure

• Hampers learning focus
  Solution:

• Focus on self-improvement:

  • Analyze strengths

  • Close weak areas

• Percentiles will naturally improve.

b) Underestimating Revision
Mistake: Spending too much time learning new topics till the end.
Why It’s Dangerous:

• No firm grip on basics

• Poor performance under pressure
  Solution:

• In the last 30 days:

  • 70% of time should go to revision

  • 30% to new topics (only if necessary)

c) Ignoring Mental and Physical Health
Mistake: Sacrificing sleep, meals, and exercise for preparation.
Why It’s Dangerous:

• Reduced focus and retention

• Higher chances of burnout
  Solution:

• Sleep 6–7 hours

• Eat healthy

• Take short walks to refresh yourself

• A healthy mind is a sharp mind.

Sample Question Paper Practice — CUET, CLAT, IPM

English Sample Question (CUET/CLAT/IPM)
Passage:
"The essence of democracy is not merely the right to vote, but the existence of informed citizens making conscious decisions."

Q1. According to the passage, democracy thrives when:
a) Elections are frequent
b) Citizens are informed
c) Citizens blindly follow leaders
d) Voting rights are absolute

Answer: (b) Citizens are informed

Logical Reasoning Sample (IPMAT/CLAT)
Statement:
"All artists are dreamers. No dreamers are realists."

Q1. Which of the following can be concluded?
a) Some artists are realists
b) No artists are realists
c) All realists are artists
d) Some dreamers are artists

Answer: (b) No artists are realists

Quantitative Aptitude Sample (IPM/IPMAT)

Q1. A shopkeeper sells an article at a profit of 20%. If the cost price of the article is ₹500, find the selling price.
a) ₹550
b) ₹600
c) ₹520
d) ₹580

Answer: (a) ₹600

Quick Correction Plan for Aspirants

Final Words

Success in CUET, CLAT, and IPM exams is not just about knowledge.
It’s about discipline, strategy, mindset, and awareness.

Most students work hard — but the ones who stand out are those who avoid common pitfalls, learn from their mistakes, and continuously improve.

At Career Launcher South Ex, we guide you not only to learn but also to strategize smartly.
By avoiding these mistakes, you can ensure that your hard work translates into a top-notch performance on D-Day.

Remember — you’re just one smart strategy away from your dream college.

Good luck — prepare smart, not just hard!