CAT 2016 aspirants have a good opportunity of getting guidance and success mantra from last year CAT toppers to boost their confidence level and derive benefit from their experience during preparation journey.
MBAUniverse.com has brought a round of CAT toppers’ success stories for the benefit of CAT 2016 aspirants. In the series we present the success story of confident Amritansh Ahuja who not only scored very high percentile in CAT but also converted his admission call to many of the top institutes including IIMs.
The fact that toppers in last year CAT who took admission in IIMs were not only from IITs but also belonged to other institutes also is further strengthened as Amritansh Ahuja, A B.E. from Thapar University, after scoring a high percentile of 99.26 was offered admission by many IIMs and other highly ranked B-schools.
Amritansh, a student of IIM Kozhikode PGP 2016-18 batch completed his B.E. in Electronics, Instrumentation and Control in the 2014 from Thapar University and had 17 months of work experience with TCS before joining IIM Kozhikode. His academics were also good enough to score bonus points awarded for academic profile by IIMs. Amritansh scored 86% marks in class 10; 92.4% in class 12 and 78.2% in bachelor’s degree. His CAT 2015 percentile was 99.26.
Amritansh was shortlisted by 14 IIMs and other top B-schools like FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, MDI Gurgaon, IMT Ghaziabad, NITIE among others. He was offered admission by number of these institutes. Out of them he chose to join IIM Kozhikode.
Amritansh made it a point to prepare well and crack CAT 2015 with a high score so that despite getting shortlisted by number of institutes, he could get the best one of his choice.
Sharing with MBAUniverse.com Amritansh highlights his experience in preparation journey to CAT and modestly attempts to give the ‘success mantra’ to the CAT 2016 aspirants
MBAUniverse.com: What was your preparation strategy for CAT?
Amritansh (CAT topper): This was my third attempt. Actually first one was a bit casual attempt. I had missed out on CAT last year because I lacked speed and experience of attempting an exam. You see there is a strategy in which you should attempt your CAT. I lacked that last year. Thus this year I gave a lot of mock tests. I had joined TIME and CL test series.
MBAUniverse.com: Please share some key preparation do’s for the benefit of CAT 2016 aspirants?
Amritansh (CAT topper): Do subscribe to at least two different test series. This prepares you on difficult levels that vary with test series and institute.
MBAUniverse.com: In view of the changed CAT 2015 pattern with 3 sections, please share your sectional preparation strategy
Amritansh (CAT topper): It is summarized below-
Verbal Ability: I prepared it through conventional methods. I read a lot and gathered my vocab. Moreover I had read "word power made easy" and the coaching material.
Reading Comprehension: I practiced this a lot. 3 Months before CAT, I was practicing 2-3 RCs a day and ensured that I was sticking to time limit of 40 mins for 3-4-5 RCs depending on RC length.
Data Interpretation: I had prepared a chart for numerical preparation. It had tables for first 25 numbers and squares and cubes of first 25 numbers. Our teachers emphasized on this. In fact most of the time during mocks I found calculator to be time consuming. Hence I depended on my own calculations.
Logical Reasoning: I had pretty good teacher at my institute and thus my notes helped me there. Moreover the workshops that were conducted towards the end really helped in this section. I would take notes of peculiar questions. I had always practiced with time limit. That helped.
Quantitative Aptitude: I was very confident on this. My last year’s preparation had helped in this. But yes taking notes of basic formulae and theory really helps in picking new topics easily. Practise as many questions as possible. I did a lot of mocks to increase on speed.
MBAUniverse.com: What was your strategy in testing room to attempt the questions from different sections?
Amritansh (CAT topper): I was in second slot at 2:30 PM. Thus I had a bit of advantage there as I had got to know through my friends that logical and DI section was tougher. Hence I was prepared mentally.
In the test I found RCs to be easier and I could relate my reasoning for the answers to the numerous RCs, I had done during my preparation. I attempted 33 questions out of 34.
Logical Reasoning was tough as was expected. I found the questions to be complex and time consuming. I could complete three and half paragraphs out of 6 paragraphs totalling some 16-17 questions. I was not pleased with the attempt of course. Later, the feedback that I got was that LR-DI were very tough. Thus that was reassuring. I had attempted decent hence.
Quantitative Aptitude was the easiest section for me. I found almost all questions to be direct formula based. I did not miss a single question and attempted straight 29 questions. I could have attempted all 33 the questions if had 5 minutes more.
MBAUniverse.com: How many GDPI did you take part in? What were your GD/WAT topics?
Amritansh (CAT topper): I had 99.26 percentile and thus I had decent calls from IIM L, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Shilliong, All new IIMs , SPJIMR, FMS Delhi, IMT, MDI, XIMB, NMIMS(Based on NMAT), NITIE, IITB, IITD, IIT Kharagpur. Some of my GD/WAT topics were-
IIML: WAT on Swach Bharat Abhiayn based.
MDI: A GD based on Cricket killing other sports in India
NITIE: Asked to discus on work life balance
IIM K: GD + WAT on ‘Originality is about hiding your source’
MBAUniverse.com: Few questions that were asked to you during PI round?
Amritansh (CAT topper): Barring MDI, for all rest of the Institutes questions were pretty much based on profile. They would ask us to introduce ourselves and then take from there. However, in the midst they check on spontaneity and stress level.
IIM L: Asked to calculate India's poverty line. Asked basic difference between sales and marketing and they try to confuse you there.
IIM K: 1. Give names of few helicopter engine manufacturers? (Believe me my profile has absolutely no relation to this question)
2. Who is KV Kamath?
3. Who is Mohandas PAI?
MDI : What is earth eclipse? Gave few puzzles. While I was in the midst of introducing myself one of the professor made passing remarks on one of the CM turned PM, trying to get reaction.
NITIE: Pretty much techincal, asked about my subjects.
SPJIMR: Was given a Kissan jam case, asking me to layout a plan to increase market share by 15%
MBAUniverse.com: The institutes that offered you admission?
Amritansh (CAT topper): I was offered admission by IMT, MDI , XIMB, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Rohtak , IIM Udaipur, IIM Kashipur, IIM Bodhgaya, IIM Amritsar, NITIE.
Out of converts I had funneled out to two - MDI and IIMK. I did not have interest in operations and thus left NITIE. Moreover, MDI and IIMK gave much more opportunities for overall personality development. Out of MDI and IIMK I went for IIM tag and joined IIMK.
MBAUniverse.com: How did you spend time after getting admission offer from IIM Kozhikode and joining the B-school?
Amritansh (CAT topper): I have found IIM A's business books to be very helpful. They help with basic economic basics. I have also partially read "10 day MBA".
MBAUniverse.com: Any inspiring story that motivated and helped you in getting success in the exam?
Amritansh (CAT topper): My job motivated me. I wasn't happy with the situation I was in. I was looking to work in much better profiles which MBA would provide me with.
MBAUniverse.com: Your message and tips you would like to share with the candidates preparing for CAT 2016
Amritansh (CAT topper): Prepare hard and there is no substitute to practicing. I practiced a lot. Do a lot of mocks. And yes, don't forget to analyse mocks and your preparations as to where you stand.
MBAUniverse.com: Thanks Amritansh for sharing such a valuable guidance for CAT 2016 aspirants
Amritansh (CAT topper): Thank you very much
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