Why CAT Toppers with 99+ %ile Jatin, Shrey, Vishal, Nikhil Joined IIM Kashipur and Declined Other Top B-schools? Toppers Bare secrets to MBAUniverse.com

CAT 2023 exam is round the corner and not much time is left for the CAT exam day which is on Sunday, November 26, 2023. The best CAT preparation tips can come from the CAT toppers themselves. To help our readers aiming at CAT 2023, MBAUniverse.com interviewed CAT 2023 toppers who scored high percentiles and were offered admission by many top B-schools but preferred to join IIM Kashipur. These CAT toppers share their CAT preparation strategy and bare their weaknesses and how they won them over to crack CAT. They also share preparations for PI/WAT rounds and why they preferred joining IIM Kashipur instead of any other top B-school.

MBAUniverse.com takes you up close and personal with these four dynamic Business Leaders in the making. It may also be noteworthy that IIM Kashipur is a new generation IIM but its placements are consistently rising. In the final placements 2023, IIM Kashipur has scaled new heights and its average placement package has gone up by 18% at Rs. 18.11 LPA from Rs.15.21 LPA last year while the Highest Salary has gone up by 28% at Rs.37 LPA in 2023 from Rs.28.82 LPA last year despite increasing its batch size.

Before we start discussing about the CAT preparation strategy and the college decisions by these CAT toppers and now IIM Kashipur students, let’s first get to know them well – who they are, where did they study, do they have work-experience and more. So here is a snapshot

CAT Toppers at IIM Kashipur Profiles: A Snapshot

Name & Hometown	Education	CAT 2022 Percentile	Work Experience	Hobbies
Jatin Bhardwaj, Gurgaon	B Tech (CSE) Maharaja Agrasen Institute Of Technology , GGSIPU, Delhi	99.4	24 months as Software Developer	Playing Chess, Football, Reading Books
Shrey Gupta, Delhi	B.Tech., Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology, Delhi	99.2	Fresher	Watching foreign cinema and reading books
Vishal Yadav, (Greater Noida)	B.Com (Hons) from Zakir Husain Delhi College, Delhi University	99.43	6 Months with Ernst & Young GDS	Playing and Watching Cricket
Nikhil Gupta, (Chhatarpur, M.P.)	B. Sc (H) Microbiology, Ram Lal Anand College, Delhi University.	98.99	Fresher	Playing Badminton and Cricket, Singing, Reading fictional novels

So now that you know the CAT toppers at IIM Kashipur, let us take a look at their CAT journey…read on for their in depth interviews with MBAUniverse.com.

Jatin Bhardwaj: 99.4 Percentile in CAT 2022

How Jatin Bhardwaj, a B.Tech in Computer Science from GGSIPU Delhi, working as Software Developer, Cracked CAT 2022 with 99.4 %ile and why he preferred to join IIM Kashipur instead of Other Top MBA colleges
Jatin Bhardwaj, CAT 2022 topper from Gurgaon (Haryana) cracked the exam with 99.4 percentile and converted number of top B-schools including IIM Kashipur. A BTech (CSE), from Maharaja Agrasen Institute Of Technology, GGSIPU, Delhi, Jatin earned 24 months of work experience as Software Developer while preparing for CAT exam. Jatin comes from a modest family. His father works for G4S and Mother is a house wife. Jatin loves playing chess, football and reading books. Read all about Jatin’s CAT preparation strategy, his strengths and weaknesses, how he overcame them and why he preferred to join IIM Kashipur and declined the admission offers from other top B-schools

Q: Apart from IIM Kashipur, which were the other top B-schools that shortlisted you for final selection round?
A: I was shortlisted by IIM Rohtak, CAP IIMs, IIM Amritsar, NITIE, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras

Q: Which top B-schools your converted for final Admission?
A: I converted IIM Kashipur and other IIMs but opted for IIM Kashipur only.

Q: What motivated you to choose IIM Kashipur over other B-schools? Please share top 3-4 reasons
A: I preferred to join IIM Kashipur after going through the recent Growth of the institute, placements report of the institute and the location

Q: How did you perform in CAT 2022?
A: I cracked CAT 2022 with 99.4 percentile overall. My sectional score was 95.8 percentile in VARC section; 99.39 in DILR Section and 97.91 percentile in Quantitative Ability section.

Q. Apart from CAT, did you appear in any other MBA entrance exam?
A: Apart from CAT, I did not appear in any other exam

Q: Do you have some work experience as well?
A: I belong to Gurgaon and did B Tech (CSE) from Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology, GGSIPU Delhi and have work experience as Software Developer from June 2021 to June 2023

Q: What was your overall preparation strategy for CAT?
A: I completed the CAT syllabus on my own and took more than 20 mock tests from various institutes to assess my knowledge and work on my mistakes

Q: Please share your sectional preparation strategy for CAT? How did you prepare for VARC?
A: I read a lot to get myself familiar with various subjects and worked on my reading speed to at least read all the passages and have time to attempt the VA section 

Q: How did you prepare for DILR?
A: DILR was my strongest area, so I only had to solve different types of questions to avoid any surprises in the exam

Q: How did you prepare for QA?
A: I targeted certain topics to maximize the attempts and to avoid time-taking questions

Q: Was there any particular section/area that you were weak at? How did you overcome this challenge?
A: VARC was the section on which I had to work the most. I read a lot to get myself familiar with various subjects. After every mock test, I thoroughly analyzed my answers to correct my mistakes 

Q: What role did Mocks play in your success? How many mocks did you attempt before the exam?
A: I took more than 20 mock tests from various institutes to assess my knowledge and work on my mistakes

Q: Did you self-prepare for CAT Exam or did you attend a Coaching Centre and why?
A: I prepared for the CAT by myself. I studied in the night and on the weekends as I was full time working.

Q: Which books did you refer during your preparation and how effective were they?
A: I did not refer to any specific books.

Q: Please share your strategy for the CAT Day.
A: I slept for the 8 hours and reached the exam center one hour before to avoid any last minute hassle. I read the instructions carefully i.e total no of questions, no of questions in each sections, marks allocated to each question and planned accordingly in my mind how many questions I had to attempt to get a good percentile

Q: How did you prepare for GD/PI/WAT Rounds?
A: I researched about the institute for which I was giving the PI, prepared for personal questions, and familiarized myself with current affairs

Q: According to you, overall, how can B-schools make their MBA admission process less cumbersome for MBA applicants. 
A: Design user-friendly application forms that have decent UI with clearer instructions for every field. Set clear timelines for each stage of the admission process, allowing applicants to plan their preparations accordingly as woking professionals have to take leave to sit for various processes.

Q: Finally, your message and tips for candidates preparing for CAT 2023
A: Try to read all the questions at least once and not get stuck on any particular one. Avoid guessing as negative marks can make a lot of difference in the top percentile

Shrey Gupta; 99.20 Percentile in CAT 2022

How Shrey Gupta, a B.Tech and Fresher from Delhi, cracked CAT 2022 with 99.2%ile and Why he Preferred to Join IIM Kashipur instead of other IIMs, IITB, MDI, NITIE

Shrey Gupta, CAT 2022 topper from Delhi cracked the exam with 99.2 percentile and converted number of top B-schools including IIM Kashipur. A B.Tech, from Maharaja Agrasen Institute Of Technology, GGSIPU, Delhi, Shrey was fresher while preparing for CAT exam. Shrey comes from a modest small family and has an elder sister apart from his parents. Shrey loves watching foreign cinema and reading books. Shrey self prepared for CAT exam and despite being from Engineering back ground his weakness existed in QA section. Read all about Shrey’s CAT preparation strategy, his strengths and weaknesses, how he overcame them and why he preferred to join IIM Kashipur and declined the admission offers from other top B-schools

Q: Apart from IIM Kashipur, which were the other top B-schools that shortlisted you for final selection round?
A: I was shortlisted by IIM Rohtak, CAP IIMs, IIM Amritsar, IIM Nagpur, NITIE, IIT Bombay, MDI Gurgaon

Q: Which top B-schools your converted for final Admission?
A: I converted IIM Kashipur and other IIMs but opted for IIM Kashipur only.

Q: What motivated you to choose IIM Kashipur over other B-schools? Please share top 3-4 reasons
A: Giving CAT is just the first step towards the dream B-school. After my result I started shortlisting the colleges based on the calls I might get. My criteria for selecting the colleges were revolving around 5 major factors: the placements, location, alumni network, faculty and campus. In addition to these the extra-curricular activities and the batch profile were also considered by me. As IIM Kashipur has all of them, I preferred to join it.

Q: How did you perform in CAT 2022?
A: I cracked CAT 2022 with 99.20 percentile overall. My sectional score was 99.73 percentile in VARC section; 98.40 in DILR Section and 85.97 percentile in Quantitative Ability section.

Q. Apart from CAT, did you appear in any other MBA entrance exam?
A: Apart from CAT, I did not appear in any other exam

Q: What was your overall preparation strategy for CAT?
A: My overall CAT preparation strategy revolved around consistency and measurement. Constantly practicing and monitoring results to identify my strengths and weaknesses helped me to have a clear idea and perform accordingly on the D-Day. The primary objective was to have strong fundamentals and clear concepts upon which everything else built upon. Reading daily also played a crucial role in improving my reading and verbal ability

Q: How did you prepare for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) for CAT?
A: I clearly identified my strengths and weaknesses to prepare for each section accordingly. I have always had a habit of reading regularly. I explored newer topics like psychology, history etc to know about the technical jargons used in various fields. For the VA section, constant practice was the way to go for me and it tremendously helped me on D-Day.

Q: How did you prepare for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) for CAT?
A: DILR was my favourite section as it kept me engaged for hours at a stretch. The puzzles and cases kept me active. To prepare for LRDI, I started solving multiple puzzle-based games and Sudoku. Practicing was the key for me as I tried to expose myself to the widest possible set of questions to identify the crux behind the problem and crack the question set in shortest time possible. 

Q: How did you prepare for Quantitative Ability (QA) section in CAT?
A: Well, everyone has one or the other section that he/she is troubled with. For me that was QA. The first and most crucial step is to identify and accept the weak areas. Once I did that, I knew what I was required to do. I doubled down on learning concepts and gave practiced as much as I could. Finally mocks played a key role in allaying my fear regarding the subject and helped me score well.

Q: Was there any particular section/area that you were weak at? How did you overcome this challenge?
A:In contrast to the popular perception of engineers being good at maths, the weakest link of my preparation was QA. However, I identified this early in my preparation and worked on it. I extensively focused on getting my concepts cleared and practised as many questions as I could of varied difficulty level. Next step was to give multiple mocks and identify the areas that need more work. In this sense, mocks worked as a feedback mechanism for me and helped me score decent on the D-Day.

Q: What role did Mocks play in your success? How many mocks did you attempt before the exam?
A: According to me, mocks are the most important tool one has in their arsenal while preparing for CAT. It helped me simulate the actual examination scenarios multiple time thus increasing my ability to handle pressure and stress. It also helped me realise my strengths and weaknesses while and strategize on how to go about the paper. I attempted approximately 20-30 mocks.

Q: Did you self-prepare for CAT Exam or did you attend a Coaching Centre and why?
A: Yes, I self-prepared for my CAT exam. I did not attend a coaching centre as I had relatives and friends who had already prepared for the same. Their material, notes and guidance helped me navigate through the exam. Whenever I needed a conceptual clarity, I either opted to take advice from my peers or browse YouTube to understand the relevant concept.

Q: Which books did you refer during your preparation and how effective were they?
A: To prepare for English there was no additional books I purchased. The test series from IMS was enough to help me through it. To prepare for the other subjects I purchased the Arun Sharma book series to understand concepts and practice accordingly. The books helped me in identifying problems and clearing doubts regarding any topic.

Q: Please share your strategy for the CAT Day. What was your last-minute preparation? How did you plan your CAT test taking?
A: There was no specific new strategy for CAT Day as such. I was focused on moving ahead with the same plan I had opted for during mocks. I just revised the formulas and had a look at certain concepts I had a problem with. Apart from this there in nothing out of the box I did. A good rest before the exam is important and I had the morning slot so I took a good sleep and then went for the examination next morning.

Q: How did you prepare for GD/PI/WAT Rounds?
A: Being a fresher, interview round was the one I was most terrified of. I knew that this is that one area which required the most work from my end. I was fortunate that I was able to find an amazing mentor in Shahrukh Moin Khan, who guided, encouraged, and supported me at such a crucial step of the preparation for admission.

Q: According to you, overall, how can B-schools make their MBA admission process less cumbersome for MBA applicants. 
A:  One issue that every aspirant faces is the lack of common admission process. With multiple exams and separate application process for various institutes, it becomes a considerable financial burden on the applicant. This actually adds to the pressure which applicants faces during the entire process. One possible solution can be to have a common admission process.

Q: Finally, your message and tips for candidates preparing for CAT 2023
A: I won’t consider myself knowledgeable enough to give a message to the applicants. I would just like to tell them to stay focused and believe in themselves. There are going to be tough times but don’t give up. Keep working hard, have your basics clear and fundamentals strong and you will surely do well.

Vishal Yadav; 99.43 Percentile in CAT 2022

How Vishal Yadav, a B. Com and Working Professional with E&Y from Greater Noida, cracked CAT 2022 with 99.43%ile and Why he Preferred to Join IIM Kashipur instead of other IIMs, NMIMS Mumbai
Vishal Yadav, CAT 2022 topper from Greater Noida cracked the exam with 99.43 percentile and converted number of top B-schools including IIM Kashipur. A B.Com, from Zakir Husain Delhi College, Delhi University, Vishal earned 6 months of work experience with Ernst & Young GDS while preparing for CAT exam. Vishal comes from a modest family of 4 members. His father works for the government and his mother is a home maker. His older brother is a PhD student at IIT Madras. A cricket enthusiast, Vishal self prepared for CAT exam. His weak area was VARC section. Read all about Vishal’s CAT preparation strategy, his strengths and weaknesses, how he overcame them and why he preferred to join IIM Kashipur and declined the admission offers from other top B-schools

Q: Apart from IIM Kashipur, which were the other top B-schools that shortlisted you for final selection round?
A: I was shortlisted by IIM Kozhikode, IIM Shillong, all CAP IIMs, NMIMS Mumbai (Main Campus)

Q: Which top B-schools your converted for final Admission?
A: I converted IIM Kashipur and other IIMs but opted for IIM Kashipur only.

Q: What motivated you to choose IIM Kashipur over other B-schools? Please share top 3-4 reasons
A: My key criteria to join IIM Kashipur were measured on its expenses, prestige and specializations offered. As such, Specialization is an important criterion as it’s is critical to confirm that your area of interest aligns with the school's core competencies. Another most important criterion to take into account while selecting a business school is its Prestige. I therefore like to select universities that are among the best in the nation. Apart from this, college tuition and living expenses for two years should be affordable and less expensive than the return on investment. As IIM Kashipur fulfils all the requirements, I opted for it.

Q: How did you perform in CAT 2022?
A: I cracked CAT 2022 with 99.43 percentile overall. My sectional score was 90.36 percentile in VARC section; 99.24 in DILR Section and 99.42 percentile in Quantitative Ability section.

Q. Apart from CAT, did you appear in any other MBA entrance exam? How did you perform in it
A: Yes, I appeared in NMAT by GMAC and scored 234 marks in the exam. I was shortlisted by NMIMS Mumbai main campus for MBA admission

Q: What was your overall preparation strategy for CAT?
A: I began preparing for the CAT in mid-July 2022, spending 4-6 hours a day in the library. I used to begin each day by reading a couple of articles from Hindu newspaper because my VARC was weak, and then I moved on to reading novels as well. For DILR, I completed two sets of questions each day, one for DI and the other for LR. By the end, I had increased that to four questions each day. By the end of September, I had finished my foundational work in Quants and had begun delivering sectional mock exams and supplementary problems. In addition, I gave 1 mock per week before increasing it to 2 towards the end. I was confident enough by the beginning of November to ace the CAT exam.

Q: Please share your sectional preparation strategy for CAT? How did you prepare for VARC?
A: For VA/RC you should have good comprehension skills which cannot be done in one or two months. I started with reading novels of different genre as reading newspaper in the beginning can be overwhelming if it doesn’t interest you. Once I got the flow I solved previous year questions, first I started solving RCs, Para jumble and various topics on a regular basis. Sectional mocks are very important to make your preparation is going in the right direction.

Q: How did you prepare for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)?
A: DI/LR also require comprehension skills. Since you are supposed to read longs paragraphs you should have the focus for longer period. For calculations I learnt the tables 1-50, squares1-30, cubes etc. You are supposed to do every question in the exam but you should the art of selection of questions which comes from practice. Therefore, practice of questions on regular basis, previous year questions and sectional mocks are must.   

Q: How did you prepare for Quantitative Ability (QA)?
A: Quantitative aptitude has always been one of my strengths. For quant I first cleared the basic concepts of the topics. After that, I solved previous year questions to get the idea of the level of questions. The next step is giving mocks which helps you to identify your weaknesses and strength. Initially I used to give one mock per week and increased gradually in last days.

Q: Was there any particular section/area that you were weak at? How did you overcome this challenge?
A: My weak section out the three was VARC. So, I started with baby steps. Reading novels was the habit I inculcated during my college days which I continued. My target was to complete one book per week. After that Reading newspaper was an addition i made. Then, I started solving exam-oriented questions. In the last few months my focus shifted to VA/RC. I increased the numbers of questions and sectional mocks.

Q: What role did Mocks play in your success? How many mocks did you attempt before the exam?
A: IMS mock tests and a couple CrackU mock tests were really useful in my preparation plan because they contained questions at the exact difficulty level that was asked in the CAT exam. Additionally, the answers provided for the mock exam questions were sufficient to allay my fears. I began giving mock exams in the middle of August, giving one each week, and from the middle of October, giving two each week, up until the final week before my CAT exam.

Q: Did you self-prepare for CAT Exam or did you attend a Coaching Centre and why?
A: I studied on my own for the CAT exam; all I did was borrow some of my friends' study guides from various coaching facilities. Additionally, I signed up for Unacademy, which was quite beneficial for my preparation plan. Because I am quite comfortable studying online and the coaching centres were far from my house, I taught myself using online resources.

Q: Which books did you refer during your preparation and how effective were they?
A: I referred Online material of various coaching institutes which includes TIME and MBA Guru. They were very effective as all the solutions were given at the end and the solutions given were easily understandable. 

Q: Please share your strategy for the CAT Day. What was your last-minute preparation? How did you plan your CAT test taking?
A: I slept well the night before the exam and tried to be as calm as possible. Even though my exam slot was in the evening, I did not read the reports of the prior slots. In the morning, I only glanced at the Quantitative Aptitude formulas and read a newspaper to refresh myself before the exam.

Q: How did you prepare for GD/PI/WAT Rounds?
A: I was enrolled in a coaching institution for the preparation of GD/PI. Reading newspaper also helped me during my preparations since I was aware about what is happening around the world. Besides that, I made sure the thorough revision of my graduation subjects.

Q: According to you, overall, how can B-schools make their MBA admission process less cumbersome for MBA applicants. 
A: In my opinion, the New IIMs should conduct separate interviews for their respective colleges because it is difficult for a candidate to crack one interview because all of his hard work and dedication is dependent on that one interview, and if things go wrong, it would be a disaster for him/her as all of his/her hard work throughout the year would be in vain.

Q: Finally, your message and tips for candidates preparing for CAT 2023
A: The first and foremost tip is to stay consistent with your preparation. Practice is the key for this exam or any exam for that matter. Don’t get disheartened if you score low in the mocks, it is part of the process. Identify your weak areas and work on that. At the same time, do not overburden yourself. Take regular breaks and follow your interests and hobbies. 

Nikhil Gupta; 98.99 Percentile in CAT 2022

How Nikhil Gupta, a B Sc (H) in Microbiology and Fresher, from Chhatarpur (M.P.), cracked CAT 2022 with 99.43%ile and Why he Preferred to Join IIM Kashipur instead of other IIMs, IIT Delhi
Nikhil Gupta, CAT 2022 topper from Chhatarpur (Madhya Pradesh) cracked the exam with 98.99 percentile and converted number of top B-schools including IIM Kashipur. A B.Sc (Hons) in Microbiology from Ram Lal Anand College, Delhi University, Nikhil was a fresher while preparing for CAT exam. Nikhil comes from a business family. A Badminton and Cricket Player, Nikhil also loves singing and reading fictional novels. Nikhil joined online coaching to prepare for CAT exam. His weak area was QA section. Read all about Nikhil’s CAT preparation strategy, his strengths and weaknesses, how he overcame them and why he preferred to join IIM Kashipur and declined the admission offers from other top B-schools

Q: Apart from IIM Kashipur, which were the other top B-schools that shortlisted you for final selection round?
A: I was shortlisted by IIM Indore, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Shillong, IIM Rohtak, CAP IIMs including IIM Kashipur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Sirmaur and IIT Delhi

Q: Which top B-schools your converted for final Admission?
A: I converted IIM Kashipur and other IIMs but opted for IIM Kashipur only.

Q: What motivated you to choose IIM Kashipur over other B-schools? Please share top 3-4 reasons
A: I decided to join IIM Kashipur based on my top three assessment criteria of Placements, Academics and Ranking. Other key criteria points were location and culture in the B-school

Q: How did you perform in CAT 2022?
A: I cracked CAT 2022 with 98.99 percentile overall. My sectional score was 95.80 percentile in VARC section; 99.06 in DILR Section and 96.25 percentile in Quantitative Ability section.

Q. Apart from CAT, did you appear in any other MBA entrance exam? How did you perform in it
A: Yes, I appeared in SNAP and scored 96.48 percentile.

Q: What was your overall preparation strategy for CAT?
A: I started preparing for CAT in 2021 on an online platform, “Unacademy” along with my college. I prepared a timetable for all my routines which helped a lot. As I am from biology background, my math was weak, so I dedicated more time to solving QA questions. My daily target was to solve 3-4 RCs, 2-3 VA questions, 4-5 sets daily in DILR, and 25-30 questions of QA in addition to the questions solved in CAT class. I tried to complete my daily target and then only went to sleep. Along with it, I try to solve 2 mock tests per week and 4-5 sectional tests in a week, and also analyse them completely and solve the questions which I left during my mocks and I prepare a separate notebook for the mock questions. I believe completing my daily target is why I got this percentile in CAT.

Q: How did you prepare for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)?
A: For VARC, my Unacademy tutor was really good. She taught VARC in such a way that it become easy for me to comprehend passage in a smooth manner. I tried to solve 3-4 RCs daily in addition to the classes RC, and also read novels which improves my reading and comprehension ability. For VA, I try to solve 2-3 questions daily. I also make a target to give 2 sectional test for VARC in a week and analyze those test which help me in improving my VARC.

Q: How did you prepare for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)?
A: For DILR, the tutor was the best, which makes my DILR path easy, and I secured 99.06 percentile in the DILR section. I try to solve the 4-5 sets daily by putting a timer of 10 minutes per set and then critically analyze those sets where I went wrong or whether I could do it with a different approach or not. I also gave two sectional tests per week, which helped a lot in getting the taste of real-time scenarios.

Q: How did you prepare for Quantitative Ability (QA)?
A: For QA, the tutor helped me a lot, as this is my weakest section. I try to get all my doubts clear. I set a target of solving 25-30 questions daily and 2 sectional tests per week. I revisit my notes in a span of 3 days and pick one chapter and revise all the concepts and formulas, which is the key to my success in the QA section.

Q: Was there any particular section/area that you were weak at? How did you overcome this challenge?
A: Yes, QA. I try to solve as many questions as possible. I attend the classes regularly, prepare the proper notes of all the chapters and revisit the notes daily. I gave 2 sectional per week which made me prepare for the final day and analyzing them helps in revising my concepts and getting the new approach to solve the question. 

Q: What role did Mocks play in your success? How many mocks did you attempt before the exam?
A: They play a huge role. I solved around 50 mocks during my CAT journey. It made me prepare for the final day and helped me to get the best strategy to be applied in the CAT day. Analysing the mock is the most crucial part which helps you revise your concepts and get a new approach for the question. I made a target of solving 5-6 mocks per month. I also gave sectional tests on a weekly basis which helps a lot.

Q: Did you self-prepare for CAT Exam or did you attend a Coaching Centre and why?
A: I attend the online coaching (Unacademy) for my CAT preparation because the syllabus of CAT is completely different for me as I am from a biology backgroung, and handling maths question was difficult task for me but the coaching provides me with all the material which helps me a lot.

Q: Which books did you refer during your preparation and how effective were they?
A: I did not refer to any books during my preparation. I solved the material provided by the coaching institute and the mocks questions.

Q: Please share your strategy for the CAT Day. What was your last-minute preparation? How did you plan your CAT test taking?
A: I did not think too much on that day. I wake up normally as per my routine and do all the day to day work and did not think about that in evening I have my CAT exam as it would leads to the stress. I did not touch my notes or anything on that day. I prepare a strategy for solving 1 RC in 10-12 minutes, and dedicate the first 30 minutes for RC, and last 10 minute for VA questions. In DILR, I target to solve 2-3 set so I gave per set a maximum time of 15 minutes, and choose the set accurately. Firstly, I read the set for first 2 minutes and then decide whether the set is solvable in given time or not. In QA I made a slot of 10-10 minute in which I try to solve 3-4 questions

Q: How did you prepare for GD/PI/WAT Rounds?
A: I prepare for GDPI online as there was no any coaching institute for same in my hometown. I made the notes of all the HR questions and reads the newspaper and current affairs daily. I also prepare sit in front of the mirror and try to answer all the questions which helps me know my drawbacks, my body language etc.

Q: What are your top three criteria for deciding which B-school to apply or take final admission?
A: My top three criteria would be Placement, Academics, and the ranking, location and culture in the B-school.

Q: According to you, overall, how can B-schools make their MBA admission process less cumbersome for MBA applicants. 
A: According to me, the process is smooth.

Q: Finally, your message and tips for candidates preparing for CAT 2023
A: I wish them All the best for CAT 2023. Do not think about anything, just focus on your preparation and try to solve as much mock as possible in this time. The hard work and dedication that you all give in these 3-4 months will change your future completely and opens a completely new door. It does not depend then on what was your past, how did you perform in your past, what will matter only that you cracked the CAT and this thing will cover up all the mistakes and leads you all to a brighter future. Give your 100%, do your best, and success will come to you.

Team MBAUniverse.com hopes that these interviews of CAT toppers were truly inspiring for you! Don't miss out on the opportunity to explore more motivational stories from students who have made their mark at IIMs, IIFT, MDI, XLRI, and beyond. Let their journeys ignite the fire within you…Success awaits you!