Rajat Tomar has done B.Tech in Mechanical Engg. from HBTI Kanpur and is now pursuing PGDRM from IRMA. He has a Work Experience of around 2 years in United Breweries Ltd. Rajat belongs to Baraut, Uttar Pradesh. His father is a teacher in primary school and his mother is a house-wife.
Determined to crack CAT with high percentile, Rajat appeared in CAT exam and scored 92.5 percentile.
He has interest in Reading and Analyzing World Politics, Spirituality, Cricket, Badminton.
Exam:
My exam prep strategy, experience & Advice:
For the benefit of MBA aspirants, MBAUniverse.com asked Rajat about his preparation strategy and advice to do well in MBA entrance exams. Details follow:
MBAUniverse.com: What was your overall preparation strategy for CAT 2016/ XAT 2017?
Rajat (CAT topper): I started my preparation for XAT 2017 four months before the exam date. I joined the TIME test series. I used to give one or two tests every week and thoroughly analyzed my mock test answer sheets, based on which I came to know my strengths/weakness and worked on the topics where I wasn’t up to the mark.
MBAUniverse.com: How did you prepare for IRMASAT? Please share your strategy? How much did you score in it?
Rajat (CAT topper): I regularly read the newspaper(the Hindu) and books which helped me in IRMASAT.I scored 20 marks in it.
MBAUniverse.com: What would you suggest to IRMA aspirants to prepare for IRMASAT 2018?
Rajat (CAT topper): - Regularly read newspaper and stay informed about the current events.
-Be aware of the government schemes especially rural ones.
MBAUniverse.com: Please share your sectional preparation strategy for CAT 2016/XAT 2017? How did you prepare for each section VARC, DILR, Quant? What study materials and books did you use?
Rajat (CAT topper): VA/RC – I solved Time study material. Regularly reading newspaper/ books, mock test series helped me a lot in getting a good score.
DI/LR- I focused on Time study material and mock test for this.
Quant- I mainly focussed on my calculation speed as my basic concept of quant was good due to my background and solved different type of questions.
MBAUniverse.com: Was there any particular section that you were weak at? How did you overcome this challenge?
Rajat (CAT topper): I was weak in VA/RC. I devoted more time for that and tried to solve more and more RC’s/Para jumbles/Para completion exercises and also started reading books/newspaper to increase my comprehension and inferential ability and also my reading speed.
MBAUniverse.com: How can candidates use Mock tests better? What is your advice?
Rajat (CAT topper): Review all the tests you give to identify your weaknesses and spend at least 4-6 hours in assessing the test . That is important so that you can work on those weaknesses specifically.
MBAUniverse.com: Other than CAT/XAT, which exam did you appear?
Rajat (CAT topper): IIFT(97%) and SNAP(98.1).
MBAUniverse.com: Which institutes did you apply for admission and which institutes offered you admission?
Rajat (CAT topper): I got admission in IMI New Delhi,IRMA, SCMHRD, TAPMI, FORE, SIIB, XIMB(HR).
MBAUniverse.com: Please share your strategy for the CAT/XAT Day. What was your last-minute preparation? How did you plan your CAT/XAT test taking?
Rajat (CAT topper): By the time I was going for XAT, I had prepared all the sections and was intending to attempt as much question as possible. First I solved easy questions then average difficulty level question and in last tricky and difficult questions.
MBAUniverse.com: Which B-school you decided upon and why?
Rajat (CAT topper): I chose IRMA as this is a B-school which is unique in many respects. Being from a fairly rural background myself, I have seen and experienced the issues which farmers face in their day to day lives. This is a course which channels management study towards a social cause. Thus, I could relate more with IRMA’s mission as it aligned with my aspirations.
MBAUniverse.com: Any message you would like to share with the candidates preparing for CAT 2017/XAT 2018 and for IRMASAT 2018?
Rajat (CAT topper): Study Hard .Just focus on your study , don’t think about the result as result/fruits of your action is not in your hand as stated in Bhagwad Gita.
