Arvind B.

The first and foremost thing you need to do is stop telling you that you are scared of Math. Every time you mention it to someone, you silently reinforce that thought in yourself, which does not help matters, does it? I mean, come to think of it, did it help you get better at Math? It did not.
So, you are better off saying, "Well, okay, I did not have a good relationship with Math during my school days, but this is my opportunity to turn it around". It's the way you look at it; you are looking at it as a problem; I'm looking at it as an opportunity for you to learn to do Math differently.
And that's the way it should be done. You are not learning Math to write your school exam; your objective here is to crack one of the toughest exams in the country. So, trying to apply the same old techniques that you learned in school is like bringing a knife to a gunfight! Period! You have to learn methods and techniques to improve efficiency and effectiveness on tests like the CAT.
Of course, there is no taking away the fact that you have to know your concepts; they are the foundation. But the foundation is not the whole building itself, so you need to learn tricks, shortcuts and strategies to help utilise the foundation better.
You should also learn to take baby steps instead of trying to win the war in a day. Right now, in your brain, you are thinking too broadly - Math, LRDI - and, naturally, you are getting overwhelmed. Instead, why don't you look at improving your knowledge of Numbers, basic algebraic identities - consume the content in bite-sized chunks.
And remember, it's not about a complete 180-degree turnaround from being scared of Math to becoming its close friend. It's about finding that middle path and saying, "Hey, I know a lot about you, but I'd want to find out more".
I hope that helps! All the best with your prep.

Hello Ashish,
While I agree with you that your 12th standard grade is comparatively lower than your grades in 10th and your graduation GPA, you need to understand that the IIMs only give a certain weightage to these parameters in the overall admission process. It's not like your admission depends on these scores alone.
A great CAT score is one of the essential ingredients in improving your chances of securing an admit. It's very close to having a leg in the door; couple it with a good performance in the GDPI round; your 12th standard grade might not even be close to being a dampener.
Therefore, focus all your energies on preparing well for the CAT and giving it your best shot. No one ever achieved their goals by second-guessing themselves. So do not worry too much about what happened in the past. So, start by believing in yourself, plan your prep strategically and go for it.
All the very best!