Kolkata Boy SHILADITYA BHADRA has cracked CAT 2023 with 99.4% -- in his second attempt! While he is happy, he says he expected an even higher percentile!! Speaking to MBAUniverse.com soon after the CAT 2023 Results were released on December 21, SHILADITYA told MBAUniverse.com that he expected an even higher percentile, but a misjudgement costed him dearly.
MBAUniverse.com presents edited excepts from the Interview with CAT 2023 Topper Shiladitya Bhadra.
Q: Congratulations for doing well in CAT 2023! How does it feel…
A: To be honest, while I am happy with my CAT score, but I expected a bit more! An error of judgement is why I could not score 99.7 or higher.
Q: Can you please elaborate…
A: Sure. I had taken about 60 Mock Tests in preparation to CAT 2023, and I was completely ready for the test. I used to attempt about 50 questions with high accuracy in MOCKs, and went into CAT exam with similar intent.
Q: Can you please elaborate…
A: Sure. I had taken about 60 Mock Tests in preparation to CAT 2023, and I was completely ready for the test. I used to attempt about 50 questions with high accuracy in MOCKs, and was went into CAT exam with similar intent.
However, when I took the actual exam, I found the CAT 2023 paper to be much harder than most of the Mocks. It took me time to realize this…and this mistake costed me time. Only after more than 30 mins into the exam did I realize the CAT 2023 paper was much more difficult than previous papers, and I need to attempt lesser number of questions – more like 40 to get to 99.9%.
If I had made this judgement earlier, I would have done even better!
Q: So, what are your raw score, scaled score, and percentile for each section.
A: Sure, here are my scores:
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension - VARC
|
Raw Score
|
Scaled
|
Sectional Percentile
|
|
27
|
27.76
|
94.43
|
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning - DILR
|
Raw Score
|
Scaled
|
Sectional Percentile
|
|
29
|
32.78
|
99.71
|
Quantitative Ability - QA
|
Raw Score
|
Scaled
|
Sectional Percentile
|
|
22
|
21.41
|
97.87 |
Total
|
Raw Score
|
Overall Scaled Score
|
Overall Percentile
|
|
78
|
81.95
|
99.38 |
Q: You have performed well in the exam. Was CAT 2023 your 1st Attempt?
A: No, it was my second attempt. I appeared in CAT last year also
Q: How did you perform in CAT last year? What was your overall percentile?
A: I scored 95 percentile in CAT last year. But that was not on expected lines, so I prepared again and appeared in CAT this year also.
Q: How did you prepare for CAT 2023? What are your key strengths?
A: Mathematics is my strength and as such Quant was my strong area in CAT 2023. I had taken about 60 Mock Tests while preparing for CAT 2023 exam. I targeted to attempt about 50 questions with high accuracy in Mock Tests
Q: Please share about your Academics? What is your Education Background
A: I have done B-Sc Mathematics from University of Calcutta, Kolkata and love the subject
Q: Apart from Academics, what are the key achievements in other areas?
A: I am a founder of an NGO focused on Environment Issues and Disaster Management
Q: Which are your dream B-schools for MBA admission 2024?
A: Apart from FMS Delhi, my dream B-schools for MBA admission 2024 are IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta. I have also applied for admission in SPJIMR Mumbai and MDI Gurgaon and expect to get interview call from at least some of them.
Q: How you are preparing for GD-PI-WAT round?
A: I have joined a coaching to prepare for Personal Interview. I am also reading regular news papers, watching TV news for current updates, checking social media, and taking guidance from all available sources.
Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more interviews of CAT 2023 Toppers
