SIBM Pune SNAP topper Madhur success mantra ‘Practice and solve more that you know better’

No work experience is no hurdle to get a top B-school – it has been proved by Madhur Mehtra, a SNAP topper in 2016 with 99.23 percentile and student of SIBM Pune. Madhur is a fresher but with his excellent academics and high SNAP scores, he could get one of the top 15 Symbiosis B-schools, SIBM Pune.

Apart from SNAP, Madhur also appeared in other MBA entrance exams and scored high percentile. In CAT 2016 he scored 96.65 percentile, in NMAT 2016 his score was – 214; in MICAT he scored 99 percentile. Despite receiving calls from other B-schools, he preferred Symbiosis Pune as it was his dream B-school.

SNAP 2017 aspirants stand benefitted with the success mantra shared by last year SNAP toppers who not only cracked the exam with high percentile but also converted their call to MBA 2017-19 at Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM) Pune. MBAUniverse.com has brought a round of SNAP toppers’ success stories alongwith their success mantra that led them to crack SNAP with high percentile.

In the series we present the success story and SNAP 2017 preparation tips shared by Madhur Mehta, SNAP 2016 topper with 99.23 percentile and a student of MBA 2017-19 batch at SIBM Pune.

The success mantra by SNAP toppers is more important for the SNAP 2017 aspirants as the SNAP syllabus, test sections, number of questions, time duration in SNAP 2017 will be similar to last year exam, although the SNAP 2017 exam mode has changed from paper based test to online computer based test to be held on December 17, 2017.

Madhur Mehta belongs to Bhuj (Kutch) in Gujarat. He attributes his success to his father.

Madhur has done his Bachelors in Pharmacy. He is a consistent performer. He scored 88.31% in 10^th Std; 76.85% in 12^th Std and 7.62 CPI in B.Pharma. Madhur loves playing Basketball, Writing and Acting.

In view of Madhur you should attempt more such questions that you know better and should manage the time instead of running after the difficult questions which will consume more of your time. He advises to take more Mocks for consistent improvement.

MBAUniverse.com:What was your overall preparation strategy for SNAP 2016?
Madhur Mehta (SNAP) topper:  I started off with basic preparation of vocabulary, fundamental Mathematics, and Logical Reasoning Questions.

I made sure that every day I’ll go through questions from each section. Since I am a fresher; it was difficult in the beginning to continue doing so while pursuing graduation, but gradually I got a hang of it. I started practicing more and more each day and then got addicted to such aptitude questions.

I started relating about many things by associating it to the aptitude based questions, be it my Bacherlors of Pharmacy subject’s technical terms which enhanced my vocabulary, or at a hangout place with friends, doing the final tally of money regarding who is supposed to pay how much. Such smaller things create difference and added value to my understanding of mock exams. Apart from regularly practicing, which I consider is must; I also took enough mock exams to know the areas of improvement and enhance my performance.

MBAUniverse.com: Please share your sectional preparation strategy for SNAP 2016? How did you prepare for each section English, Quant, DI, Reasoning, GK? What study materials and books did you use?
Madhur Mehta (SNAP) topper: For SNAP 2016, I went for quiz section first. As approaching it, would take up very less time, and many questions from the same section could be attempted.

After that, I went for Quant, Reasoning, DI and then Verbal. Since, Verbal was my strongest section, I made sure to attempt only those questions from Quant and Reasoning which I am very sure of so that I can give enough time to Verbal.

Preparation for Quant: I picked up one chapter a day and completed it that day itself including solving of the doubts. Practicing it more and more got me a better position of knowing that which questions should I take head on and which ones to leave.

For verbal: I solved at least 5 RCs a day and revised few vocabulary words. Since I have a reading habit, it was really helpful in other sections of Grammar which could be done many times by instinct.

For DI: Again, as clichéd as it would sound, I used to take up 3-4 sets of DI and set a timer to complete them daily. Later, I used to review my performance and maintained a graph of my scores.

For GK: As in our snap guidelines, it was mentioned that current affairs of the last two years were to be asked, I went through the magazines of past two years, major headlines and read about them.

Study material used:  I went to Endeavor Coaching Classes in Ahmedabad, so most of the reading material I used was theirs.

MBAUniverse.com: Was there any particular section that you were weak at? How did you overcome this challenge?
Madhur Mehta (SNAP) topper: As I had taken up Biology after 10^th standard, I was not at all in touch with Quant questions as I prolonged my education in Bachelors of Pharmacy. So, Quant being my weakest section, I started spending more of my attention and time on solving those questions.

Later, I understood that it’s not about solving difficult questions, it’s all about scouting and solving the ones you know better in the limited span of time. After applying this strategy, I saw an increase in my Mock SNAP score and it helped me in my SNAP exam as well.

MBAUniverse.com: How can candidates use Mock tests better? What is your advice?
Madhur Mehta (SNAP topper): I would advise everyone to MUST give the mock tests. I can’t possibly stress it more. Mock tests help you understand where you have gone wrong and how much you can improve from it. You would understand your areas of improvement, and your better time allocation. When you realise later that you have missed on easier questions on solving the difficult ones, it’s always disappointing. Mock tests, help us realize which questions are best to enter and take it head on and which ones are worth leaving.

MBAUniverse.com: Did you go to offline coaching centre? What role does a coaching centre play?
Madhur Mehta (SNAP topper): Yes, I went to Endeavor Coaching classes, Ahmedabad. I believe they were the ones who equipped me with all the tools to fight this battle out. They not only provided the materials but also guided us the tricks and ticks about how to go about each section and their questions. They made us give so many mock tests that we got used to them. They helped us with GD and PI and helped us enter our desired B-school.

MBAUniverse.com: Other than SNAP, which exam did you appear?
Madhur Mehta (SNAP topper): I appeared for CAT, XAT, NMAT, MICAT other than SNAP.

MBAUniverse.com:  Please share your strategy for the SNAP Day. What was your last-minute preparation? How did you plan your SNAP test taking?
Madhur Mehta (SNAP topper): My strategy for the SNAP day was to keep it simple and be relaxed. I did not want to try anything new on that day. I applied the same strategy that I used to apply during mocks. On that day, to keep the insulin and glucose level high during an afternoon exams, I just made sure that I had an Ice-cream before I entered in.

MBAUniverse.com:  Which institutes did you apply for admission?  
Madhur Mehta (SNAP topper): I applied for NMIMS, SIBM Pune, SCMHRD and MICA for admission.

MBAUniverse.com: Please share your GD/WAT topics & PI questions at different institutes and the ones who offered you admission?
Madhur Mehta (SNAP topper): My GD topic was on How P V Sindhu was offered 50cr deal and how to go about other sports in SIBM Pune.

For SCMHRD, My GD topic was rather a case discussion and there we were given certain roles to perform being part of a BCCI. MICA, as always gave a GD topic which was abstract in its true sense and the topic was a full stop ‘.’

NMIMS also gave a case discussion. WAT topic at SCMHRD – was something which I did not expect. It made us keep our thinking hats on. A picture was given where a boat was about to fall off the cliff near a waterfall and we had to write – ‘Had we been on the boat and woke up to see the scene affront what would be our next steps.’

WAT at SIBM was even more interesting. A picture of a person with weird ears and different complexion was shown from nose to chest suited as a corporate and there was an elephant foot over his head. This picture was shown to us for a minute on the screen and we had to write about it.

I got offers from all the B-schools I appeared for GD-PI-WAT process.

MBAUniverse.com:  Which B-school you decided upon and why? 
Madhur Mehta (SNAP topper): I decided upon SIBM Pune for various reasons.

1. The placements of SIBM records were the best of the lot I had gotten offers from.
2. Its Alumni base is by far the Strongest and the most looked upon to connect amongst any other B-schools.
3. Its crowd is so diverse that one gets to have the best of the peer bonding experience.
4. To be a part of amazing Councils where you get to organize and be a part of Competitions which has Pan India reach.
5. And lastly, the amazing campus of SIBM Pune would melt anyone’s heart and would make you want to stay here for a minimum of two years.

MBAUniverse.com:  Any message you would like to share with the candidates preparing for SNAP 2017.
Madhur Mehta (SNAP topper): Prepare regularly for all the sections, do not stress much on the day of the SNAP examination, be thorough with all the basics and be relevant with the current affairs. A proper approach and strategy of your own which fits you the best would help you crack SNAP exam and a chance to be a part of this esteemed college and an awesome campus life.

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more success mantra stories and SNAP 2017 preparation tips from toppers

Read also:

• SNAP 2017: 5 Key changes in Registration process; 1st online SNAP in 102 cities on Dec 17
• SNAP 2017: Changed to online exam; no more paper based test - confirms Dr Raman, Director SIBM Pune
• How to choose amongst CAT 2017, XAT 2018, NMAT 2017, SNAP 2017, IIFT 2017