CAT 2019 Topper Interview: 99.99%iler Rahul Manglik says Vedic Maths helped him perform well in Quant
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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.
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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 exam successfully and make it to the toppers list. Read below.
Also Read: Check the List of CAT 2019 Toppers Here!
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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 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 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 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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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 6 days ago
Yes, for some of them. Bahra lists scholarships based on JEE Main marks and CLAT rank, along with BUSET, CAT, MAT, and CUET percentile scores. I am not sure about NEET, so confirm that with the admissions office.
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In case of mistakes in the fields mentioned on the CAT admit card, candidates must contact the official CAT helpdesk via email or phone to get it rectified before the exam date.
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Candidates need to log in using their CAT User ID and Password to download CAT admit card. These login credentials are generated at the time of registration.
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No, the Common Admission Test (CAT) admit card cannot be obtained offline. Candidates have to download CAT 2026 admit card from the official website.
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Yes. Candidates must preserve their admit card safely. It is a mandatory document required for identity verification during the Writing Ability Test (WAT), Personal Interview (PI) rounds, and final admission stages at the institutes.
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No. The examination authorities do not accept any requests to change the allotted exam venue, test city, or timing slot. The details printed on your CAT admit card are final.
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Yes, you can download the PDF on your smartphone. However, it is better to use a laptop or desktop computer to prevent any layout errors and to ensure you can print a clean copy easily.
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Candidates can log back into the official CAT portal using your registered User ID and password to download the PDF again. The download link remains active until the exam day. Candidates are allowed to download a fresh copy whenever needed
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No. The CAT 2026 admit card release date remains the same irrespective of the slot. It is not split or delayed based on assigned slot or exam city.
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Yes, one can join an IIM without taking the CAT exam, but this alternative route depends entirely on the type of programme. CAT exam remains mandatory for the flagship two-year full-time MBA (PGP/PGDM) programs. However, some courses may not need a valid CAT score for IIM admission.
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