CAT 2016 aspirants who are worried due to increase of sections from 2 to 3, or due to reintroduction of sectional time limit of 1 hour for each of the 3 sections in the changed pattern of CAT need not worry as the fixed sectional time is a blessing in disguise that can enable you to maximise your score in the exam.
This is exactly what the CAT topper of 2015 Divya Subramoniam who cracked CAT with 99.36 percentile and opted to study in SPJIMR, Mumbai feels and shares with the CAT 2016 aspirants.
Sharing the success mantra for the benefit of CAT 2016 aspirants, Divya is of the view that the exam taker should systematically work through the questions one by one, and carefully read each question to reduce mistakes during the exam.
Divya is a B.Tech and had to her credit a work experience of 3 years before she joined PGDM 2016-18 batch at SPJIMR. A working professional herself, Divya had to balance her professional duties and the study hours but made it sure to score high in CAT 2015 and get into SPJIMR Mumbai, one of the top rated B-schools in India.
MBAUniverse.com has brought a round of CAT toppers’ success stories for the benefit of CAT 2016 aspirants. Sharing her success mantra Divya Subramoniam highlights her experience in preparation journey to CAT and modestly attempts to give the guidance to CAT 2016 aspirants
MBAUniverse.com: What was your preparation strategy for CAT?
Divya (CAT topper): I started preparing for CAT around March, last year. My strategy was to study and become thorough with the basics, before the coaching institutes began their Mock tests. I also started concentrating more on solving questions faster. The Mock tests are the best way to get practice for the CAT exam. I used the mock tests to practice time management and the use of online calculator.
MBAUniverse.com: How did you prepare for each section QA, VARC & DILR? What study materials and books did you use?
Divya (CAT topper): I generally follow a ‘Practice makes you perfect’ method of preparation. Practice and thorough knowledge of concepts is the key factor in areas of Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation. In the case of Verbal Ability, the most important factor is the ability to read and identify the key parts of the passages, within a short time. Here again, practice is the one thing that makes a difference.
For my preparation, I made sure to spend at least 2-3 hours every day, with more time put in over weekends. I also made sure to give equal importance to all the 3 sections. Another important factor is the Mock tests. Just taking the tests are not enough. After each test, the test solutions have to be analysed. The solutions will give us more shortcuts and are really helpful in improving solving speed and knowledge base
MBAUniverse.com: Did you change your preparation strategy after the announcement of the pattern change in CAT 2015 or you followed the same routine?
Divya (CAT topper): The new changes are really beneficial as there is fixed time allotted to each section, and this avoids any chance of spending all our time on one section, and scoring low on the other. Also, even though the Quantitative section has been made simpler, the Data Interpretation and Logical reasoning questions were quite thought-provoking, and required one to be thorough with the quant concepts. The online calculator, however, is not beneficial, unless the aspirant has enough practice. Without practice, it takes up a lot of our precious time during the exam.
MBAUniverse.com: Was there any particular section that you were weak at? How did you overcome this challenge?
Divya (CAT topper): My strong area was Verbal Ability and Data Interpretation was my weak spot. For tackling my weak area, I made sure that I practiced at least 2 questions every day, and I also worked through the Mock test questions multiple times. Solving the Data Interpretation questions in a short time was my biggest challenge, and I use the material and test series from TIME to practice these. Identifying my weak area, from the first couple of mock tests gave me ample time to work on it and improve my speed.
After the CAT pattern was changed, I started focussing more on Data Interpretation and Logical reasoning, as this was my weakest area. The new pattern, with fixed time slots for each section, ensures that excess time is not wasted on one section. The online calculator is a helpful addition. However, without sufficient practice, using the calculator would just use up more of the exam time.
MBAUniverse.com: What was your Time Management formula for the CAT?
Divya (CAT topper): My strategy during the CAT exam was not to concentrate on the timer too much. Too much concentration on the timer can cause panic which results in carelessness. I kept track of the time, but did not let it bother me.
MBAUniverse.com: Please share your strategy for the CAT Day. What was your last-minute preparation? How did you plan your CAT test taking?
Divya (CAT topper): If I did not understand how to approach a question in 25-30 seconds, I made sure not to spend more time on it. Systematically working through the questions one by one, and carefully reading each question, helped me reduce mistakes.
MBAUniverse.com: Which B-school you decided upon and why?
Divya (CAT topper): While working with Oracle, I had the opportunity to interact with many managers, which sparked my interest in this area. I loved working in the IT field and would love to return to the same industry, just in a different role. SPJIMR, being one of the best B-schools in the country, was a natural choice. Moreover, as the field of Project Management was my core interest area, this is the only institute which offers Information Management specialization.
MBAUniverse.com: How did you prepare for the PI-WAT rounds?
Divya (CAT topper): For the PI and WAT rounds, I started preparations right after the CAT exam. I started by reading newspapers, and articles. I also started practicing essay writing. The editorial section of prominent newspapers like The Hindu and The Indian Express are very informative, and helped me improve my knowledge. I also attended the preparation classes which were really informative, and helped me evaluate my performance.
MBAUniverse.com: Please share your GD/WAT topics & PI questions at SPJIMR who offered you admission?
Divya (CAT topper): I was confident in answering, and was well prepared for HR questions like ‘Describe yourself, Why MBA, Why SPJIMR, Goals in life, etc…’. Also, when answering, I made sure that I did not give any vague answers, and made my responses as crisp as possible. Also, I believe that saying ‘I don’t know’ is better than giving your interviewer cooked-up answers.
My essay topic at SPJIMR was ‘What alternate world would you live in, if given a choice?’ I structured my write in a way that there was a flow from the beginning to the end. I began by describing the world I would choose, and then went on to explain what attracts me to that world. I then wrote about why this world is my primary choice, and ended by saying what I will do in that world to improve mine and others’ lives.
MBAUniverse.com: Any message you would like to share with the candidates preparing for CAT 2016.
Divya (CAT topper): Irrespective of background, believe in yourself and you will make it through for sure. I was able to do it and so can anyone else. All you need is the willingness to put in the effort. You should know your strengths and weaknesses well, be ready to burn the midnight oil and push your limits when necessary. Learning with and from peers will be very helpful, and it makes you more competitive. For verbal ability, read as much as you can. Practice religiously and take loads of mock tests. Starting newspaper reading as a habit will also be helpful
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