Achieving success in highly competitive exams like the Common Admission Test (CAT) is a dream for many aspirants, but only a few manage to make it to the top. Kushagra, a young and talented student from Kolkata, has achieved a remarkable feat by appearing for all the top B-schools in India, including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, and scoring a 99.7+ percentage in CAT 2022. His incredible success has not gone unnoticed, and many aspiring CAT candidates are eager to learn from his experience and insights on CAT preparation.

In a recent interview with Collegedunia, Kushagra shared his overall experience of CAT preparation and how he managed to ace the exam and interviews. He talked about his long and enduring journey, which required him to overcome various challenges, including mastering complex concepts, developing a study routine, and managing time effectively. Despite the challenges, Kushagra persevered and remained focused on his goal of cracking CAT and getting admission into a top B-school.

Kushagra also talked about how he felt each time he called his parents to share his progress and achievements. He said that hearing the pride in their voices made all the hard work and dedication worth it. Apart from cracking CAT and securing admission into top B-schools, Kushagra also gained full-time work experience in proprietary trading at Futures First. This experience not only helped him gain a deeper understanding of the financial markets but also equipped him with the necessary skills to excel in the corporate world.

In this article, we will delve into Kushagra's journey of CAT preparation and explore his secrets to acing the exam and interviews. From his study routine and time management techniques to his approach to solving complex problems, we will get a first-hand account of the strategies and methods that helped him succeed in one of the most competitive exams in India. Whether you are a CAT aspirant or just someone interested in learning from the best, Kushagra's experience is sure to inspire and motivate you to achieve your goals.

Interview Questions with Answers

Collegedunia: First of all, how are you and what’s the feeling like to achieve every parent’s dream of acing the CAT exam and then acing the interviews as well?

Kushagra: I would say I feel a little light and probably the next 2 years would be a lot of hustle but currently I just feel excited there would be a lot of opportunities and challenges which I'll be facing. So, I would say I’m excited.

Collegedunia: I would like to know more about your profile and the kind of background you have.

Kushagra: My academic record is pretty decent, with a 9.8 CGPA in 10th grade and a 96.9% in 12th grade. I graduated from Vellore Institute of Technology with a CGP of 8.85, and spent 17 months as an intern and full-time employee at Futures First, a proprietary trading firm. Currently, I am employed at Pyramid Fintech, where I have gained a total of 26 months of work experience. My interest lies in finance, and I plan to continue my career in this field. Additionally, I received a merit scholarship in college for my performance on entrance exams, and published a research paper on epileptic seizures, which I consider notable achievements. These accomplishments may be of interest to potential employers who inquire about them.

Collegedunia: Would you share your exact CAT percentile with us? If you remember about the sections as well, it would be helpful.

Kushagra: My CAT percentile was 99.72 and my CAT’s overall score scale was 99.73. I think VARC and Quantitative Aptitude were the strongest sections in my cat exam. I had a 98.9 percentile in VARC and a 99.7 percentile in QA. I did decent in DILR as well, I had a percentile of 96.7, but merit slot wise I had slot one. So, DILR came a bit hard on that basis. I think I will come to that story a bit later. But yeah, that was my entirety. I think the raw score was around 90 at that point. I don't remember the specific sections.

Collegedunia: Can you share your story of how you prepared for VARC?

Kushagra:

  • To prepare for my management exam, I focused heavily on the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section.
  • I began my preparation in January, as I recognized that my performance in this section could make or break my overall success on the exam.
  • As a working professional, I enrolled in Elites Grid coaching to help me manage my time and provide guidance.
  • This program provided a structured schedule, assignments, and resources to improve my skills in VARC.
  • I found that I struggled with comprehending complex passages on topics such as philosophy, psychology, art, and music, which were not typically covered in newspapers.
  • To overcome this challenge, I committed to reading articles on these topics every week, taking the time to fully understand them regardless of how long it took.
  • This helped me become more comfortable with these types of passages and question formats, ultimately boosting my confidence and performance on the exam.
  • In addition to regular practice, I analyzed my mistakes and strived for accuracy in my reasoning and answers.
  • Overall, my preparation strategy for VARC involved practicing regularly, analyzing my mistakes, and focusing on accuracy, with the help of structured coaching and dedicated reading on complex topics.

Collegedunia: What about your LRDI?

Kushagra:

  • DILR was my first slot and I was frustrated that there were no odd-one-outs this year
  • First 12 minutes were frustrating and I couldn't solve the second set
  • Looked around and saw that nobody's pen was moving, thought it must be tough for everyone
  • Used strategies from preparation phase to arrive at correct answers, even if the approach was different
  • Answered 2-3 questions from 4 sets, 6 attempts were correct out of 8
  • Raw score was 80, scaled up was 21.6 and percentile was 96.7
  • DILR was a little hard for me this time and I could not cope with it
  • Overwhelm can lead to downward spirals and affect the next section, so I did what I could to avoid that.

Collegedunia: I want to know about your experience with mocks.Do you think giving mocks is important and how important is the analysis according to you?

Kushagra:

  • Working on feedback provided is crucial in my mock preparation strategy
  • My preparation plan is divided into 2-3 parts
  • First part involves becoming well-versed with my profile and application form
  • Second part involves seeking my mentor's help to familiarize myself with the interview environment, getting practice with grilling interviews, and receiving feedback on my performance, including body language
  • Maintaining a calm and confident demeanor is crucial during interviews
  • I have enrolled with Elites Grid and B drive for mock preparation, with Elites Grid offering one-on-one practice which I needed more than the slots provided by B drive
  • Researching about myself, current affairs, the institute, goals, and mission values is an important part of my mock preparation strategy. It will enable me to answer any questions that may come up during the interview and present myself in the best possible manner.

Collegedunia: How many CAT mocks did you give?

Kushagra: My preparation strategy for the CAT exam involved taking around 30 to 40 mock tests from various sources, including career launcher, IMS test series, and Elite Grid's own mocks. I aimed to simulate the actual test environment, sitting for two hours for each mock test. After completing each mock, I compared my scores with top scorers and noted areas that needed improvement. I analyzed each mock test, maintaining a separate notebook to summarize and revise weak areas before taking the next mock. As the exam approached, I stopped taking mock tests and focused on revising my weaker areas. The analysis of the mock tests was crucial for understanding my strengths and weaknesses and feeling confident for the actual exam.

Collegedunia: Can you share some tips for revision here?

Kushagra: When it comes to the quant section, there are various formulas, methods, and shortcuts that can be utilized to solve problems quickly. However, with the VARC and DILR sections, it's important to have a positive attitude before attempting DILR. Even if you've practiced numerous sets, you may encounter a set that's unfamiliar to you. Therefore, careful consideration should be given to selecting your preferred set and areas of interest. If you're confident in set theory, you should go for it. As for VARC, I found it helpful to review my notes and search for effective problem-solving strategies. I personally adopted a systematic approach to decoding VARC, which proved to be more advantageous.

Collegedunia: What did you do in the interview with the topics you had no Idea about?

Kushagra: When they asked me a question that I wasn't well-versed in, I admitted that I didn't know much about the topic and quickly moved on to the next question. In some cases, interviewers may ask you questions that aren't within your profile, and they may be confident that you don't know the answer. However, don't be discouraged. Some interviewers value the thought process of candidates who may not have the correct answer but are close to it. So even if you're not entirely correct, it's possible that your thought process may impress the interviewer.

Collegedunia: Can you list all the major interviews that you’ve taken?

Kushagra: I actually got calls from all top IIMs except Indore and Shillong. Interview wise, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow were some of them and they were actually the top IIMs I attended and from non-IIMs I attended FMS interview and I wrote other management exams as well. So, I converted to the XLRI and BMP program as well and I wrote SNAP.

Collegedunia: Can you share your first interview experience with us?

Kushagra: I had my first interview on January 29th in IIM Lucknow lasting for about 15 to 20 minutes on average. They give you an application form and they ask you to write an SOP. The interview revolves mostly around your SOP and you need to know the political side of your state. Different institutes have a different way of approaching the interviews and for Lucknow, you need to be well versed with your state politics. So, I started reading a bit more about Bhubaneswar, Orissa, as I am from there. I started studying about the policies of the current ruling government and complaints of the opposition parties along with natural disasters like floods, cyclones, etc in Orissa. They also ask opinion based questions like what could be the remedies of it or the strategies that could help you in mitigating the damage.

Collegedunia: How was your overall experience in the Ahmedabad interview?

Kushagra: IIM Ahmedabad Interview Summary:

Date: February 17, 2023
Location: Bangalore
Duration: 35-40 minutes
Panel: Two interviewers (P1 and P2)

P1: What does your name mean?

Answerd: I explained the meaning of my name.

P1: Explain impedance matching.

Answerd: I provided a layman's explanation and answered additional questions about noise signals.

P2: What is the safe limit for electric shocks?

Answerd: I described the range of current for feeling a tingle or a painful shock and answered further questions on resistance.

P2: Give an example of electronics and electrical engineering in agriculture.

Answerd: I discussed the application and benefits of EEE in the agriculture sector.

P1: How does your day look in a fintech role after switching from a market analyst position?

Answerd: I shared my experiences and answered questions about the industry and trading strategies.

P1: Draw the payoff diagram of option strategies.

Answerd: I drew the diagrams and provided explanations.

P2: What are your career goals and how will IIM Ahmedabad help you achieve them?

Answerd: I explained my career goals and how IIM Ahmedabad's curriculum, interactions with diverse students, and alumni network will contribute to my growth.

P1: Tell us about your hobbies and the research paper you mentioned.

Answerd: I discussed my hobbies and provided details about the research paper.

P2: Which other institutes have given you admission calls and do you have a preference?

Answerd: I mentioned admission calls from IIM Calcutta, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Lucknow, and other top non-IIMs. I expressed a preference for IIM Calcutta due to my interest in finance.

Collegedunia: How was your interview in Kolkata?

Kushagra: In Kolkata, the interviewers generally tend to ask math-related questions, but in my case, I was asked more finance-related questions. I found it helpful to ask for extra time to gather my thoughts and formulate better answers. Additionally, the interviewers also asked me about my hobbies, which I was happy to discuss.

Collegedunia: Which college are you going to join?

Kushagra: I received acceptance from both IIM Kolkata and IIM Ahmedabad, but regrettably, I didn't convert my call from IIM Bangalore. Fortunately, I did receive acceptance from IIM Lucknow. However, I must admit that I am particularly drawn towards IIM Ahmedabad.