99.99 percentiler Rahul Manglik practiced Vedic Maths and attempted more than 50 mock tests to prepare for CAT 2019. Read the exam strategy he adopted to crack the test in his first attempt.
VARC Percentile: 98.97
DILR Percentile: 99.98
Quant Percentile: 99.97
Rahul Manglik from IIT Bombay scored 99.99 percentile in CAT 2019 with only four months of preparation. Hailing from Delhi, Rahul has a passion for sports and he has been playing basketball, table tennis and skating since his school days.
He is a member of an in-house racing club of IIT Bombay, where members work on creating electric racing cars that can compete internationally. He has also represented the racing club of IIT Bombay in the Formula Student in Silverstone, UK.
Shiksha spoke with Rahul to know how he managed to score 99.99 percentile in CAT in his first attempt with only four months of preparation. He shared his preparation strategy that helped him crack CAT 2019 successfully and make it to the toppers list. Read below.
Also Read: Check the List of CAT 2019 Toppers Here!
Q: Congratulations! Are you satisfied with your CAT result? How much score were you expecting?
A: Thank You. Yes, I am very happy with the result. After calculating the score, I was expecting a good percentile but 99.99 was a pleasant surprise.
Also Read: CAT 2019 Syllabus
Q: Was this your first CAT attempt?
A: Yes, this was the first time I took the CAT exam.
Q: When did you start preparing for CAT exam? What was your overall prep strategy?
A: I started preparing in August, after my internship. The syllabus can be completed in a month but what is important is to practice continuously.
Also Read: CAT 2019 Analysis
Q: Please share with us your section-wise strategy.
A: Initially, I used to take a lot of time in solving Reading Comprehension (RC) questions. Then I started reading the questions first before reading the paragraph in depth. This helped me increase speed and accuracy in RC. For Quant, I needed to increase my speed and hence did Vedic Maths and for DI, I just solved a lot of questions.
Also Read: CAT 2019 Cut Off
Q: Which books did you refer to for CAT preparation?
A: I went through the books provided by TIME. My major boost in marks was due to Vedic Maths and regular analysis of mocks.
Also Read: CAT Preparation Strategy
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Q: Did you join any coaching institute? How does coaching institute help in CAT preparation?
A: I had joined TIME coaching classes and Career Launcher mock tests. However, I did not attend many classes and rather focused on self-study. My sister guided me through the process. I do not think coaching classes are necessary if one has the discipline for self-study on a regular basis.
Also Read: CAT 2019 Mock Test
Q: How many mock tests did you attempt and how important is a mock test series?
A: CAT Mock tests were very important to help me gauge how much I knew and what I needed to focus on. I attempted one mock every day in the last month of preparation. In total, I have attempted 50+ mock tests.
Q: What was your exam day strategy?
A: I was relaxed on the final CAT day. I made sure to eat enough, revise the important formulae and go with an open mind.
Also Read: CAT 2019 Answer Key
Q: Any tips for future CAT aspirants?
A: Play your strengths and work on your weaknesses. Regular practice and a lot of mocks can help achieve your goals.
Also Read: CAT 2019 Counselling
Q: Which IIMs /Institutes are you targeting?
A: I have applied for top IIMs and XLRI, based on MBA college rankings and feedback from my sister's friends who are alums of these colleges.
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