CAT 2015: 'Starting early is the key' success mantra by Karan Shah, CAT topper

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MBAUniverse.com News Desk |
August 21, 2015
Inspiration to CAT 2015 Aspirants, Pursuing PGP 2015-17 at IIM Rohtak, Karan Shah a B.Tech & M. Tech in Computer Science and Engineering is also a young entrepreneur
There is no such preparation strategy that may suit everyone, starting early is the key though Karan Shah, CAT topper

An inspiration to CAT 2015 aspirants, Karan Shah is pursuing PGP 2015-17 at IIM Rohtak. Karan Shah is a B.Tech & M. Tech in Computer Science and Engineering and is also a young entrepreneur. He has been running a startup part time in Faridabad by the name Tattvabodh Education since 2010. Karan shares his success mantra to CAT 2015 aspirants by revealing his strategy of scoring a 98.85 percentile in CAT 2014 and 97.8 in IIFT 2014. He opted for IIM Rohtak although converted the call to all the 6 new IIMs.

Sharing his success mantra, Karan reveals his passions which include Moto-biking, reading and writing and makes humble attempt to inspire the CAT 2015 aspirants

MBAUniverse.com: What was your preparation strategy? Share some key do’s and don’ts
Karan Shah (CAT topper): I think positive attitude is the most important prerequisite to crack CAT. There is no such preparation strategy that may suit everyone, starting early is the key though. Preparation for CAT may bring many disappointing moments, but then consistent efforts would help you emerge a winner.

Do’s for CAT 2015 Aspirants

  1. Be very consistent. Even if you prepare for 15 minutes, make sure you do it every day.
  2. Be flexible and spontaneous. CAT 2015 is an exam which tests your mental presence more than anything else.
  3. Be calm and composed during failures and success alike. Overconfidence and under confidence both may prove fatal.

Dont’s for CAT 2015 Aspirants:

  1. Do not underestimate CAT 2015. It is one of the toughest exams of our country. But then do not fear it too. Understand it and cracking it will be a piece of cake then.
  2. Do not skip mock tests. Be it previous year exams or tests series of any of the coaching institutes present in the market. Appear for mock tests to equip yourself with the ability to decide- what to attempt and what not to.

MBAUniverse.com: What was your strategy in testing room to attempt the questions from different sections: Quantitative Ability & DI, Verbal Ability & LR?
Karan Shah (CAT topper): Knowing your strengths and weaknesses help a lot here. Attempt what you are comfortable with first. Do not waste time in attempting what you are not really sure of. I personally go with the round robin technique. I read all the questions from starting to the end and in first round I attempt the questions that look really easy. Also, I get to know a little of other questions too while going through them. In the second round I attempt questions that are a little harder. This way, I do not miss any question that was easy. Do practice this technique and adapt it only if it suits you. Everyone may have different strategies. And therefore, appearing for mock tests become an essence.

MBAUniverse.com: Which all exams did you write? How did you prepare for them? What score did you get?
Karan Shah (CAT topper): I appeared for IIFT and CAT in the year 2014. Preparation of all the MBA entrance exams remains similar. Developing abilities is what the preparation involves. IIFT exam has an additional section of General Knowledge, preparation for which requires constant awareness and reading. Read newspapers, blogs and other informational websites to keep yourself aware.

My CAT 2014 score is 98.85 percentile and IIFT score is 97.8 percentile.

MBAUniverse.com: How many GDPI did you take part in? What were your GD/WAT topics?
Karan Shah (CAT topper): I got the calls from all the six new IIMs as well as IIFT. IIFT process included WAT, GD and PI. GD topic was “The relevance of awarding Padma awards to the politicians of the country”. The process for the new IIMs involved just the WAT and PI.

MBAUniverse.com: Few questions that were asked to you during PI round?
Karan Shah (CAT topper): Some of the common questions asked were “Tell us something about yourself”; “Relevance of MBA in your life”; “List your strengths and weaknesses”.

Apart from these I was asked some domain specific questions from the graduation course subjects. Also some of the questions include “the instances where I have taken social stand rather than personal”; “importance of morality in the life of an MBA”; “best and the worst experiences of life”; “instances where I have displayed leadership qualities”; “instances where I had to be a quiet follower and let someone else lead” etc.

MBAUniverse.com: The institutes that offered you admission?
Karan Shah (CAT topper): I converted all the six new IIMs.

MBAUniverse.com: Why did you decide in favour of IIM Rohtak only?
Karan Shah (CAT topper): I am proud to be a part of Indian Institute of Management, Rohtak now. IIM Rohtak was my choice the day I converted it. The rationale behind choosing the B-school you want to go may vary from person to person and I think it was the best choice that I made.

MBAUniverse.com: Why did you want to do MBA?
Karan Shah (CAT topper): MBA is a process that makes you more ready to handle situations. More than academics, the kind of life that you live in a B-School develops you inside out. My purpose of pursuing MBA was to be with top brains of the country, to get education from the best faculty and grow as a professional. One can learn the domain knowledge during graduation. But handling work and managing it may be learned only by experience. MBA just accelerates the learning process a bit by acting as a catalyst.

MBAUniverse.com: What advice and tips you would like to share with the candidates preparing for CAT 2015?
Karan Shah (CAT topper): The new CAT 2015 pattern has opened a lot more opportunities for the candidates. Be focused from today itself and give everything you have to prepare for CAT 2015. Getting into a B-school of repute gives multifold joy- more than you can imagine. Just keep that joy and the moment of pride while you step in such an institute in your mind while appearing too. It will keep you motivated.

Also keep yourself aware. GDs and PIs and based on your spontaneity and awareness. A smart mind is what the panel looks for and such attributes can be developed over a period of time.

I would also like to add that while preparing, also prepare yourself for the failure. Even if the worst happens and you are not able to crack these exams, diagnose the areas that you lacked and appear again in coming years. One exam cannot decide your fate or destiny. You have all the power.

MBAUniverse.com: Thanks Karan for sharing such a valuable guidance for CAT 2015 aspirants
Karan Shah (CAT topper): Thank you very much

Registration for CAT 2015 will remain open till September 20, 2015. The exam will be held on November 29, 2015 and will be a single day 2 session exam. CAT 2015 exam pattern has changed and the test is divided in 3 sections instead of 2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning which were clubbed to Quant and verbal sections respectively will now be placed in a separate section, known as DILR with 32 questions. CAT 2015 will also have Non-MCQ type questions also apart from MCQs. The candidate will have to type the answer on the computer screen for the non-MCQ type questions.

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Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more success mantra stories and CAT 2015 preparation tips from toppers