CAT 2020 Topper Interview: Swarnadeep Ghosh Who Scored 99.92 Percentile in CAT Shares His Success Mantra

Q. Did you join a coaching institute? Is it important to join a coaching institute for CAT preparation?

A. No, I did not. However, I did buy a couple of test series. I don’t think that coaching institutes are absolutely necessary but if somebody needs more guidance and the study material, there is enough content available online nowadays which can be accessed by them. I think there are enough resources available on the internet to study.

Q. Did you have any exam day strategy?

A. I had the third slot. So when my friends from the first and second slots came out of the exam centre, they had all sorts of feedbacks. Some said that VARC was difficult and some said DILR was difficult. So, before the exam, I wasn’t really overthinking and I said to myself that I will take the exam as it comes. I knew that VARC was my weak area and I struggle a bit with that, so I focused on attempting as many questions as possible. And I was able to cover the section well. For DILR, I had a strategy of choosing the questions to attempt. I had the strategy of selecting the correct batch to solve. I give 5-6 minutes to select the set. I don’t just go on with it, I look at all five sets at once, and then I have a specific order in mind as to what order should I follow to solve it. This really helped me. In the QA section, I start solving it directly as I am very comfortable with numbers. I try to attempt as many questions as possible.

Q. Did you get any calls from any IIMs? What are the IIMs/MBA institutes that you are targeting and why?

A. None yet, but I am targeting IIM Calcutta because I want to study finance. The finance department in IIM Calcutta is really good. Apart from that, I am also looking for FMS Delhi. I am looking forward to FMS because of two reasons, one of them being experimental learning which will give me practical experience. Secondly, I can pursue my ambitions with the ROI that the institute offers.

Q. Any specific strategy for WAT-PI?

A. As of now, there is no specific strategy. I am keeping a check on the current affairs and looking to improve my GK.

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Q. How did you deal with the stress of CAT prep and exam?

A. To deal with the stress it is important to have a backup plan. You cannot put all your hope in the CAT exam. You must know what you would do next if you do not score well in this exam. A backup plan will give you freedom on the D-day to express yourself.

Q. What are your plans after completing MBA?

A. Since I want to study MBA in Finance, I would definitely want to work with some financial institution as an investment banker or a financial analyst.

Q. Any tips for future CAT aspirants?

A. Well, I think the most important thing before appearing for the CAT exam is practicing mock tests. Attempt a lot of mock tests. Attempting mock tests is the only way which will make you comfortable. Attempt all kinds of mock tests, difficult and easy. Maximize your strengths and do not stress about the weaker areas. I believe in equity in preparation, not equality.

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