Shiksha got in touch with CAT 2021 topper, Mayank Kapur, who scored 99.69 percentile. Read the CAT topper interview here and know details on the preparation and exam day strategy.
Name: Mayank Kapur
CAT Score: 112.25
Overall CAT Percentile: 99.69
Sectional Percentiles:
- VARC: 93.21
- DILR: 99.64
- Quant: 99.67
Mayank Kapur who is in the last year of B.Tech (Mechanical Engineering) has topped CAT 2021 with 99.69 percentile. He has a knack for Finance and imparts the knowledge for better financial literacy among individuals. He has completed several finance-based internships while pursuing BTech from NIT Trichy. He found mock tests to help him during the CAT preparation phase. Shiksha connected with Mayank, CAT 2021 topper, to know his preparation strategy, future aspirations, and more. Read the exclusive interview below.
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Q: Congratulations! Are you satisfied with your CAT result? What was the expected score?
A: Although I wanted a better score, I am satisfied with this score. I was expecting my score between the range of 106-108. A score as good as 112.25 was surprising for me.
Commonly asked questions
Sectional cut-off in the CAT exam refers to the section-wise percentiles required by the candidate to make it to the Personal Interview round of the IIMs or other top MBA colleges. The sectional cut-offs are lower than the overall cut-offs of any institute. To understand better, check the table below for sectional CAT cut-offs for IIM Ahmedabad:
Category | VARC percentile | DILR percentile | QA percentile | Overall percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
General | 70 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
NC-OBC-Transgender | 65 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
SC | 60 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
ST | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
PwD (General, NC-OBC-cum-transgender, SC) | 60 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
PwD (ST) | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
For sectional cut-offs of all IIMs, check this article – IIM shortlist and selection criteria
The answer to this question of whether an average student can get into IIM can be both yes and no depending on the definition of an average student.
- Based on Academics (Class 10/ Class 12/ Graduation): While a student with average scores in Class 10, Class 12 and graduation with a good CAT score certainly has good chances of getting a call from IIM-A, chances are less for someone with an average CAT score.
- Based on student category (General or Reserved): While it is tough for a General category average student to grab a seat at IIM due to high score requirements, a reserved category student can get admission being at average scores as well.
- Based on past work experience, diversity and other factors: Gender and academic diversity is also a factor on which students are shortlisted at IIM. IIMs judge the past academic category based on the degree obtained by the students before MBA and then a weightage is allotted based on that. For Engineers, the percentage for scoring the highest marks is higher as compared with other streams
- Performance in selection rounds: Once you make it to the final selection rounds, i.e., AWT/PI process, it can be considered a fresh start. At this stage, students can forget their past average-ness but definitely require good grasp over the past subjects as academics-related questions are asked in the interview.
Based on the above factors, it can be considered that while getting into top Management institutes, such as IIM is extremely tough, the past performance, CAT performance, student category and a lot of factors can be the reasons for a student to receive that final call.
Q: Was this your first CAT attempt?
A: Yes, it was. Based on the CAT eligibility criteria, I will be eligible for MBA after completing my bachelor’s degree in 2022.
Q: When did you start preparing for the CAT exam? What was your overall prep strategy?
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A: I started disciplined preparation for CAT from January onwards. My overall strategy was to finish all the topics by October and keep on taking mocks and analysing my performance.
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Q: Please share with us your section-wise preparation strategy for CAT.
A: Here is the section-wise CAT preparation strategy followed by me:
- VARC: I used to start with the Reading Comprehension section; I would start reading the RC and if I was able to comprehend and read at my normal pace then I used to attempt that whole RC otherwise I'd go for the next one. I kept a target of three RCs. Then I used to attempt the Verbal Ability section in the following order: Summary questions, Odd one out, para jumbles.
- DILR: This section is 80 per cent strategy and 20 per cent aptitude. As per my analysis, there are always two doable sets in any exam, so I used to find those two sets and then think about solving the next one.
- Quant: At first, I used to attempt the questions which were familiar to me, then I used to go for the rest.
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Q: Which books did you refer to for CAT preparation?
A: I was enrolled in online programmes offered by different coaching centres. I relied on the books provided by these coaching centres only. Apart from this, I solved previous year CAT question papers to meet the preparation needs
Also Read: Best Books to Prepare for CAT
Q: Did you join any coaching institute? How does the coaching institute help in CAT preparation?
A: Yes. So, a coaching institute gives you a routine and this is a pretty big factor. Most of us have other things that we are busy with but if we have a schedule then it will nudge us to be regular with the prep.
Q: How many mock tests did you attempt and how important is a mock test series?
A: I gave a total of 51 mocks and used to analyse them thoroughly, this was by far the most important factor in me getting a good percentile. People generally have a notion to appear for mocks only after they have completed the syllabus but for CAT it's the other way around. So I'd recommend everyone to keep giving mocks no matter what. Moreover, don't give any thought to the mock percentiles, they are very inaccurate even if they give you an All India Rank.
Also Read:
| Articles for CAT Preparation |
|
|---|---|
| CAT preparation: Your love for reading can get you the desired result |
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| CAT Preparation plan for data interpretation & logical reasoning |
|
Q: What was your exam day strategy?
A: I had only one thing in mind, to keep my calm. I ensured that I didn't indulge in anything that'd stress me out on the exam day.
Q: Any tips for future CAT aspirants?
A: Mocks mocks and a lot of mocks. Don't look at the mock percentiles, it doesn't matter because for some reason they are very inaccurate. Be consistent with mock analysis.
Q: Which IIMs /Institutes are you targeting?
A: I am expecting CAT admission calls from the following IIMs:
| What After CAT Result? | |
Q: Tell us something about your educational background, hobbies, and profession.
A: I am currently in the fourth year of B.Tech (Mechanical Engineering) at NIT Trichy. My hobbies include playing football, reading and learning more about personal finance.
Read More:
- CAT 2021 Topper Interview: “Mock test is Single Largest Ingredient of One’s Success”- Sagar Sengar
- CAT 2021 Topper Interview: Sareen Shah- 99.35 Percentiler
- CAT 2021 topper- “Smart work rather than hard work”-Vinayak Prabhu, 99.82 Percentiler
- CAT 2021 Topper Interview: Know How Ved Vineet Scored 99.4 Percentile
- CAT 2021 Topper Bir Anmol Singh's Interview: Know How He Scored 99.94 Percentile
- CAT 2021 Topper Interview: Know How Vinay Kotwal Made it to the 99 Percentilers Club
- CAT 2021 Topper Interview: Shreshth Khare, 99.28 Percentiler
- CAT 2021 Cut Offs Out; Check IIM MBA Admission Cut Offs
- CAT 2021 result out; check toppers and 100 percentilers
- CAT 2021 result announced; here's the link to download scorecard
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 16 hours 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 19 hours 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 21 hours 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 Yesterday
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 Yesterday
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 Yesterday
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 Yesterday
The National Institute of Bank Management Cutoff 2026 for General AI category in CAT exam is 80.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
No, you cannot use the CAT exam result for direct admission to the MBA/PGDM course at AIMS Institutes, Bangalore.
The college accepts the CAT, XAT and MAT exam results for admission to the management programme. Students have to first attain the qualifying cutoff percentiles and then sit in the select
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Candidates applying for admission in MBA at IIM Raipur should have qualified the CAT exam. Check below the application fee of CAT:
- INR 2,300 for general category students
- INR 1,150 for SC/ST/PwD students
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
To get a seat in the FLAME University of the MBA/PGDM course, you have to appear for any one of the accepted exams, like CAT, XAT, CMAT, etc. After clearing the exam, you have to get shortlisted for further admission round, which involves PI or GD.
The FLAME University CAT cutoff 2025 was 75 for the
N
Contributor-Level 10
Abhishek is a content writer and editor with 7+ years of experience in education journalism. He completed his graduation from University of Delhi with a BA Degree. At Shiksha.com, he handles content for MBA, BBA, an
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