How A Chess Player, Liberal Arts Student and Working Professional, Navya Karnwal cracked XAT 2022 with 93.47%ile to get into XLRI Jamshedpur

Only a few days left for XAT 2023 exam, which is scheduled on Sunday, January 8, 2023. Nothing can be better at this juncture for XAT aspirants than to have a few last minute tips from XAT toppers. With a view to provide motivation and suitable guidance with last minute tips to XAT aspirants, MBAUniverse.com approached XAT toppers studying at XLRI Jamshedpur. In its series of articles on XAT toppers, we bring before you success stories of XAT toppers who cracked XAT with high score and have joined XLRI Jamshedpur with their own devised preparation strategy. While the first in the series of XAT toppers was Kanika Mehra, XAT topper with 98.32 percentile, the second is the success story of XAT topper Navya Karnwal, a chess player, debater who did one year Young India Fellowship (YIF) postgraduate diploma in Liberal Studies at  Ashoka University after completing her B.Tech in ECE 2015-2019 from NIT Kurukshetra.

Navya was serving at Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories while preparing for XAT 2022 and had earned 2 years of work experience before joining XLRI Jamshedpur. Navya cracked XAT 2022 exam with 93.476 percentile and has joined PGDM 2022-24 batch at XLRI Jamshedpur.

With a firm confidence and planned preparation strategy, Navya overcame her weak areas and cracked XAT in first attempt. MBAUniverse.com invited Navya to share her preparation and XAT day strategy, how she cracked XLRI Jamshedpur final selection process and more.

Q: What was your overall and sectional score & Percentile in XAT 2022?
A: My XAT overall percentile was 93.476 at an overall score of 37.4 marks. My sectional percentile and score for three core sections in XAT 2022 was:

Section	Percentile	Score
VARC-LR	92.4757	43.2974
Decision Making	30.0190	86.0712
QADI	37.4595	85.7229

Q: Please tell us a little bit about yourself, your academics and work experience?
A: I belong to Faridabad and my father is Superintendent in Government of India office, my mother is housewife and younger brother is 2^nd year student of Delhi University. I did B.Tech. in ECE from NIT Kurukshetra in 2019 and then did YIF PGD Liberal Arts from Ashoka University in 2020. I worked at Dr Reddy’s Laboratories from June 2020 to June 2022 before joining XLRI. My hobbies are playing chess, Debating, Reading, Writing and Public Speaking.

Q: Why did you decide to pursue an MBA program? What were the key motivators?
A: I decided to pursue MBA and specifically in HR when during my work ex I came across people who have done the program. Their career growth, their expertise, and their competencies were enviable.

Q: Is prior work experience important for MBA? How does it help in MBA program?
A: It is very important to have a holistic well-rounded personality when one pursues the program and work ex definitely adds to its learning experience. This can be through one’s education, work experience, or extra curriculars. In my case since I aspired to pursue an MBA in HR while working in the HR profession, it was an added facet in my preparation.

Q: What was your overall XAT preparation strategy?
A: My overall preparation included following strategy

This was my first attempt therefore my strategy comprised of taking mocks and analysing them since I was on a time crunch of a month. I also referred to a lot of online lectures to clear my doubts but mostly focussed on mocks.

Q: What role does GK play in XAT? What was your preparation strategy
A: Although GK is not counted, it helps in future in the interviews so better to prepare for it. I regularly read newspapers and watched news bulletin on youtube.

Q: How did you prepare for descriptive Essay Writing Test in XAT?
A: If we keep ourselves up with the latest happenings, have an informed holistic view on issues concerning society and are avid readers, we don’t need to prepare much for the essay.

Q: Which section in XAT did you find difficult? How did you overcome and prepare for it?
A: There was no difficult section per se.

Q: How did you remain Motivated through your preparation journey?
A: I prepared a plan with my friends who were pursuing MBA then and tuned out everything else to just stick to it and not let manic take over.

Q: Many MBA aspirants struggle with Social Media distractions. How did you manage it?
A: I kept my mobile away while studying and being aware of what it all was for.

Q: What mistakes the aspirants should avoid during entrance exam preparation?
A: Aspirants should avoid getting overwhelmed by listening to others and then getting confused.

Q: What were the key components in XLRI final selection round?
A: Personal Interview was the key component

Q: How did you prepare for the final selection round?
A: I attended Mock interviews and kept my updated with the latest news

Q: Please share some of the key questions asked in the Personal Interview
A: The questions were regarding my work ex and some questions were on theoretical concepts related to them.

Q: Was your PI Round conducted in person or Online? How was your experience?
A: My Personal Interview was conducted Online. It was a smooth experience

Q: Please share Tips for online interview
A: Note the following:

• Be authentic in interview
• Any attempt to pretend to be anyone/anything else are caught
• Be aware of your surroundings
• Have an informed view

Q: What were your key criteria while selecting a B-school?
A: I followed three points selection criteria - Pedagogy, alumni base and placements

Q: What motivated you to choose XLRI Jamshedpur over other B-schools?
A: Key motivators were Alum Base, Infrastructure and placements.

Q: Finally, what is your message and tips for candidates preparing for XAT and other exams?
A: Just stay focussed and calm. Anxiety doesn’t help anyone.

Read more inspirational stories & secret mantras of XAT Toppers, only on MBAUniverse.com