Lalit Kumar Prusty
CAT is one of the most important exams for any MBA aspirant. With numerous test-takers appearing for the exam every year, there is cut-throat competition to be on the top. While some aspirants join renowned coaching institutes, some choose self-study.
Lalit Kumar Prusty appeared for CAT 2016 and scored 98.42 percentile. He believes that first time test-takers must start preparing early for the exam so that they get their basics right before attempting the mocks. Here is how Lalit prepared for the CAT:
Q. Does coaching play an important role in CAT preparation or is self-study sufficient?
Self-study may not be sufficient for everyone and it is difficult to stick to a schedule, which is where coaching really helps. Also, coaching helps immensely in clearing doubts and provides you with the right environment where you can learn as well as compete.
Q. When is the right time to start preparing for CAT 2017?
For first time takers, consistent preparation for a period of 8-10 months really helps. It gives you enough time to get your basics cleared before attempting the mocks.
Q. What should be the routine study strategy of CAT 2017 aspirants?
An ideal routine strategy should include 15 hours of self-study (5 for each section) along with 2-3 mocks a week.
Q. Which books/study material should CAT 2017 aspirants use?
All the previous years’ papers and at least one full set of study material from any of the reputed coaching institutions are good enough. Additional books are not required.
Q. What should be the sectional preparation strategy?
A balanced approach is necessary. Include all three sections in a regular week of preparation and pay attention to each and every mock to track your proficiency across sections. Reading good books and articles on web will give you an edge in VARC. Develop a habit of solving random puzzles from authentic sources to do well in DILR. For Quants, just practice questions from materials and mocks. Keep separate chapter-wise notebooks for each section.
Q. When appearing for CAT 2017, how should the aspirants decide which questions to attempt from different sections: Quantitative Ability & DI, Verbal Ability & LR?
Always start from the easiest questions and keep an eye on the timer. If you don’t get a rough idea of the answer by the time you complete reading a question, it is better to mark it and come back to it later if you have some time left. The only trick here is to never miss out on an easy question.
Q. Time management plays an important role. Any tips for CAT 2017 aspirants on time management?
Mocks help you master the process of time management. So take as many full mocks as possible to prepare yourself for the worst.
Q. How can an aspirant judge his/her weak areas, and how should one work towards improving the same?
After every mock result, analyse the paper with solutions. See where you lack and go back to the theory if needed. You may have missed some key concept or you may need more practice to get the application right. Be patient and improvement will definitely be visible.
Q. Should candidates also appear for other management exams? If yes, which exams?
Q. Share some do’s and don’ts that CAT 2017 aspirants might find useful.
I’ll share some do’s. Keep your notebooks clean and organised, and develop a reading habit. Read newspapers daily to stay updated. Have a social life to release stress.
 CAT scores are used for admission to 20 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and various other top B-Schools. Are you eligible for the IIMs? To know more, click on the image beside. |
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
Dear reader,
Lovely Professional University (LPU) is a great substitute for Delhi University, which offers a good and prestigious platform for management education. With an industry-aligned curriculum, broad global exposure, and an exceptional track record of high-package placements with top interna
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Dear reader,
Lovely Professional University (LPU) is a great substitute for Virohan: Vivekananda Global University, which offers a good platform for specialised study. With an industry-focused curriculum, extensive international exposure, and an exceptional track record of high-package placements wi
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes. IIMB does require the CAT exam, but the rest of the top B-schools in Bangalore also take in candidates through the state-level CET, ie, the Karnataka PGCET exam, or through MAT or CMAT.
Top B-schools in Bangalore without CAT | Cutoffs Required |
|---|---|
26690 | |
29592 |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
IIM Calcutta has only mentioned accepting GMAT score for admission into EMBA courses.
However, CAT is commonly accepted by other similar institutes for both MBA and MBAEx courses. Thus, candidates are advised to ask admission desk for confirmation on this question.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
It is not possible to determine a candidate's admission in IIM Calcutta MBA course through CAT score alone. In Stage 1, a score 85% in CAT will be enough for a general category candidate to be selected for PI+WAT admission stage.
Final admission cutoffs are based on many factors other than CAT score.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
No, IIM Calcutta cannot get into MBA courses without appearing CAT first. CAT is a mandatory entrance exam and it is conducted every year for admissions into all MBA courses offered by this institute.
However, candidates who are applying for MBAEx course will be required to appear in GMAT for admissi
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
To get a seat at IFMR Chennai, students have to first appear for any one of the entrance exams accepted by the institute for the MBA/PGDM course admission. CAT, XAT, NMAT, CMAT, Andhra Pradesh ICET, IPAMT and SAT India are the entrance exams accepted by this institute for admission to the management
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
No, you cannot use the CAT score for direct admission to the MBA/PGDM course at this university.
You would need to first appear for the CAT entrance exam, and then get shortlisted for the PI and or GD rounds to be considered for a seat. Since the CAT cutoff is not released publicly, the closest esti
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
The Vishwakarma University CAT cutoff 2025 was released for admission to the MBA/PGDM course for the All India quota.
For the General AI category, the estimated Vishwakarma University MBA cutoff 2025 was 50. Students who gained this percentile are then eligible to enter the second round of admission
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
The National Institute of Bank Management Cutoff 2026 for General AI category in CAT exam is 80.
R
Contributor-Level 10