CAT 2016: 'Learn from your own mistakes'; Success Mantra from CAT topper Abhishek, IMI Delhi student

Add Review

MBAUniverse.com News Desk |
October 6, 2016
CAT 2016 preparation in next 60 days should be the combination of learning, practicing and analyzing the stuff
The best way to prepare is to learn from our own mistakes and I applied the same for my preparation strategy for CAT Abhishek Agarwal, CAT topper with 99.34 percentile and IMI Delhi student

CAT 2016 preparation can be the best when we are able to learn from our own mistakes, is the advice and success mantra shared by Abhishek Agarwal, CAT topper with 99.34 percentile and student of PGDM 2016-18 batch at IMI New Delhi, the # 1 ranked in NIRF Govt of India Ranking 2016 among the private B-schools and 7th overall.

Sharing another close tip to crack CAT 2016, Abhishek advises to practice and attempt those questions which you are most afraid of during your preparation as it will turn out to be your great strength in future. Your well practiced preparation strategy for next 60 days should be the combination of learning, practicing and analyzing as this will improve you and will take you to the doors of success.

Abhishek  belongs to Vadodara, Gujarat. He has interest in blogging, travelling and creative writing. He attributes his success to his failures in practice tests.

Abhishek has a consistent good academic record to his credit. He scored 89.60% in Class 10; 78.20% in class 12 and 89.24% in his B.Tech. Abhishek is a fresher and as such has busted the myth that freshers are not preferred. Apart from CAT 2015, Abhishek secured good score in XAT with 86.324 percentile and in NMAT with 211.

MBAUniverse.com has brought a round of CAT toppers’ success stories for the benefit of CAT 2016 aspirants. Sharing his success mantra Abhishek highlights his 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?
Abhishek (CAT topper): The best way to prepare is to learn from our own mistakes and I applied the same for my preparation strategy for CAT 2015. By giving umpteen numbers of mock tests and sectional tests, I made sure to complete each question, within a set time interval, for a better understanding of the concepts. Rigorous preparation in the last two months, followed by a relaxed last week, helped me in keeping my mind calm and prepared for any challenge.

MBAUniverse.com: How did you prepare for each section QA, VARC & DILR? What study materials and books did you use?
Abhishek (CAT topper): Each candidate has his/her own strengths and weaknesses. To identify them and work as per the requirement is the need for excelling in all the 3 sections. I gave as many online sectional tests that I could have, which helped me in solving the questions under the time constraints. Also, I used the study material provided by my coaching institute, which proved to be very helpful, because of the structured and challenging questions provided in them.

The key tip is: Specifically solve the questions you are afraid of. It would demotivate you initially, but will turn out to be one of your biggest strengths over time.

MBAUniverse.com: Was there any particular section that you were weak at? How did you overcome this challenge?
Abhishek (CAT topper): Yes. I found myself weak in the Verbal Ability Reading Comprehension section. The sectional percentile of this particular section, as I noticed, brought a drastic fall on my overall score. To overcome this hindrance, I solved a minimum of 5 Reading Comprehensions every day, along with some grammar questions, for a stretch of 2 months before CAT 2015. Doing so improved my understanding of the VARC section and helped me to get that fear out of my mind.

MBAUniverse.com: How can candidates use Mock tests better? What is your advice?
Abhishek (CAT topper):  I think it is very important to analyse each mock test you have given and see where you are going wrong. I feel that helped me a lot. This will help you understand your weaknesses and help you work on it. Also you would be able to understand your areas of strength and know where you are doing well.

In a mock test, always start with the questions you don’t know or with those you are scared of. This helps in building confidence for facing one’s fears.

MBAUniverse.com: Did you go to offline coaching centre? What role does a coaching centre play?
Abhishek (CAT topper):  Yes, I did go to an institute. It provides you the material to work on and the analysis of mock results helps you to know where you actually stand. But in the end it’s all about hardwork, practice and patience.

MBAUniverse.com: Other than CAT, which exam did you appear?
Abhishek (CAT topper):  I appeared for some other exams, like, XAT, NMAT & SNAP. The sole purpose of giving the exams was to challenge my skills to get acquainted to as many questions as possible, of different levels of difficulty.

MBAUniverse.com:  Which institutes did you apply for admission?
Abhishek (CAT topper): I applied for all the old IIM’s, MDI (Gurgaon), FMS (Delhi) and IMI (New Delhi).

MBAUniverse.com:  Please share your strategy for the CAT Day. What was your last-minute preparation? How did you plan your CAT test taking?
Abhishek (CAT topper): When it comes to the CAT Day, there is not much you can do. You just have to ensure that you have an uncluttered mind. After-all it’s all about keeping calm and giving your best without worrying about the result.

Most importantly, don’t stress yourself a day before the CAT exam. People do indulge in last minute formula revision and other similar activities. But the best way to enter the CAT exam hall is to be fresh in terms of your state of mind.

MBAUniverse.com: Please share your GD/WAT topics & PI questions at different institutes and the ones who offered you admission?
Abhishek (CAT topper): ‘Digital India – Boon or Bane?’, ‘Rohit, Kanhaiya Kumar – Students and Politics’ and ‘Do engineers make good managers?’ were some of the GD topics I got.

I think it is very important to read when it comes to GD/PI preparation because reading will keep you in good stead during the time of GDs and PIs. Try reading newspapers daily and keep up with the current affairs throughout the globe. Be well versed about yourself and about what’s happening around you.

MBAUniverse.com:  Which B-school you decided upon and why?
Abhishek (CAT topper): Every candidate appearing in CAT exam has an aim of getting into the branded IIMs. In the end it’s not about the college you get into, it’s only about what you make out of the opportunity in your hands.

Subsequently, owing to my academic records, I did get shortlisted for IMI, FMS, and IMT, and had an equal chance of getting into either of them. But I zeroed in on IMI, only because of the whole lot of opportunities available for me here.

The learning atmosphere, the cultivating environment, the faculties, the seniors, everything here proves to be truly amazing and you end up learning every day. You are challenged every day and you have to live up to the challenge by constantly upgrading your skills and improving your performances, to be in line with every other aspirant in this competitive world.

MBAUniverse.com:  Any message you would like to share with the candidates preparing for CAT 2016.
Abhishek (CAT topper):  As per the new weightage given for the VARC section, more efforts should be put for the same as it would be the differentiating factor between a 95 percentile and a 99 percentile, with equal attention to the other 2 sections as per your strengths.

Acquainting yourself with the computer screen for the allotted time slot helps a lot for the body to acclimatize with the stress on the offering on the D-Day. Solving questions in a CAT exam is all about selecting the right questions in the paper to save time and be able to garner the maximum correct answers. And to know more about your selection of the correct questions, you have to practice and analyse yourself constantly for a good score in CAT 2016.

If you are ever stuck at any point during the exam, just remember one thing that you have promised yourself to treat with after the completion of the long 3 hours.

Related Article

CAT 2016: Countdown begins 60 days to go; focus on Accuracy & speed to move from 80 to 90+

CAT 2016: Learn Vedic Mathematics to improve speed; success mantra from 99.7 percentiler Dev Iyer

CAT 2016: Error correction in application form activated; 3 types of changes allowed

CAT 2016: 'Tips & tricks of no help if not practiced'; Success mantra from CAT topper Omar, NITIE student

CAT 2016: The 1 day 2 session exam reduces score normalization problem

IIM Kozhikode PGP 2017 admission criteria announced; awards 75% weightage to CAT 2016 score

CAT 2016: 'Calculator in exam a slow process, practice more'; shares Akshay Kakani, SPJIMR student

CAT 2016: Non - Engineers prime target; IIMs announce changes in PGP 2017 admission policy

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more success mantra stories and CAT 2016 preparation tips from toppers