Here's CMAT 2013 Top cracker!
Ipsita Sarkar Gupta
Mikin Mayurbhai Shah, CMAT 2013 Topper
It is no easy feat to conquer the top management exams of India. What’s even harder is cracking these exams over and over again.
Meet Mikin Mayurbhai Shah – this year’s Feb CMAT topper with a score of 376. This is not the only exam he has topped. He also topped Gujarat Common Entrance Test (GCET) in 2004, 2009 and 2010 and had terrific CAT percentiles in 2002 and 2003.
Read Mikin Shah's tips on how to crack CMAT here.
“I am not your typical B-school aspirant,” said the 32-year-old Shah. After pursuing his MBA from Ahmedabad's B K School of Business Management in 2006, he worked with leading banks ICICI, HDFC and Kotak Mahindra. He also kept appearing as a visiting faculty, teaching finance in various B-schools and coaching institutes. During the global financial crisis in 2009, Shah quit his banking job and took up academics. He, along with a friend, started an MBA preparation institute called Foresight.
“Appearing for management entrance exams has become like second nature to me. I take it to fine-tune my skills,” said an amused Shah.
Last year, Shah’s All India CMAT ranking was 240. So what is his take on CMAT? “Accuracy and proper topic/area coverage is essential. Speed can be managed fairly.”
Further speaking on preparation strategy, he said, “Students should be serious towards preparation. Start preparing for CMAT three to five months in advance with focus on accuracy and coverage.”
Is coaching essential for cracking CMAT? “Coaching or no coaching – it completely depends on the individual. In a coaching institute, good faculty can pass on their skills and help with study material. But if a student is brilliant, he can opt for his own strategy. But for such students, self-induced routine and discipline is a must. One must stick to a study plan, give about 100 – 120 hours on basic topics, and take various mock exams available online.”
Comparing CAT and CMAT, Shah pointed the different level of difficulties in the exams. “While CAT requires both speed and accuracy, CMAT focuses on accuracy and is a little easier.”
Advising students and management test takers, Shah says, “The single most important thing is, believe in yourself. Know your areas of strength and weakness by the end of preparation. And again – focus on accuracy.”
Know more: Meet the CAT 2012 Toppers
How to crack CMAT 2014? Get tips from topper Mikin Shah
