CAT 2021 Topper Interview: Know How Nishanth Pandey Scored 99.81 Percentile

A: I am very satisfied with my CAT score. To be honest, after leaving the CAT exam centre. I was expecting 99.5 percentile, but scoring 99.81 percentile was astounding.  

Q: Was this your first CAT attempt?

A: No, this was my second CAT attempt. I took the exam in 2020 as well where I scored 96.96 percentile.

Q: When did you start preparing for CAT? What was your overall preparation strategy?

A: I started my CAT preparations in July 2020 for the CAT 2020 exam. But since I did not have much time to prepare for the exam due to my internship, I began my preparation again in May 2021. I prepared rigorously for six months. I used to devote one to two hours daily on the weekdays and I used to attempt mock tests on the weekends. I used to attempt a lot of mock tests and analyse them carefully and it really helped me in my preparations.

Q: Please share with us your section-wise strategy?

A: For me, the biggest challenge was the Verbal section. The VARC section is all about comprehension. I had to comprehend what the author is trying to convey. The key to scoring well in this section is to build a reading habit. I used to read a lot of articles on various topics such as economics, finance, psychology, etc. It is about understanding the author’s point of view. Whenever I used to attempt a mock test, I used to look at different topics such as RCs, para jumbles, etc. and analyse why a particular answer was correct or incorrect.

For the DILR section, the strategy is simple. The more you practice the better you get. I began with solving previous years’ CAT question papers and I analysed them as well. In this section, choosing the right sets also becomes necessary as it is not feasible to attempt all the sets. I attempted approximately 15 mock tests for the DILR section and finally analysed them.

I do well in QA, so I attempted various mock tests for the preparation of this section. I joined CAT preparation groups on social media where I could take help in solving the QA questions and vice versa. CAT is not only about formulas, it tests your basic concepts. So to prepare for the QA, practicing well is the only success mantra.  

Q: Which books did you refer to for your CAT preparation?

A: I referred to Arun Sharma in the initial phase of my preparation. I used the book to practice sample papers and solved all the previous years’ question papers to get a good insight into the pattern and the type of questions. Some people also referred to Sarvesh Verma for QA preparations. For VARC, I read articles from sources such as New York Times.

Q: How many mock tests did you take and how important were they?

A: For CAT preparations, mock tests are of utmost importance. They give a good insight into the CAT question paper. Since CAT has sectional timings, they also help in improving speed and accuracy. Mock tests also act as confidence boosters, that is, if you score well in mock tests you may feel a little bit more confident for attempting the actual exam. They also give a chance to improve. One should understand that mock tests help you learn from your mistakes. Ideally, a CAT aspirant must attempt at least 40 mock tests.

Q: Did you join a coaching institute? How does the coaching institute help in CAT preparation?

A: No, I did not join any coaching institute rather I used the test series of TIME and IMS. It was majorly self-study. Coaching institutes teach according to a certain pace and every student has their own pace of studying and grasping a certain topic. So, I feel that if your basics are clear and strong joining a coaching institute is not absolutely necessary. Coaching institutes may guide you but the amount of hard work you are willing to put in is the only thing that can help you on the D-day.

Q: What was your exam day strategy?

A: The exam day strategy was to get a good eight-hour sleep. I made sure I am not sleep-deprived. I had a good breakfast. I made sure that I stay calm because no amount of preparation is enough if you panic on D-day. This will result in a low score. So be calm and composed. Do not carry the mock test pressure to the exam centre.

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Q: Any tips for future CAT aspirants?

A: CAT is not a very difficult exam, it only tests your aptitude. Build your basics right and attempt a good number of mock tests. Analyse the mock tests and learn from your mistakes. Attempt at least 30-40 mock tests and once you have prepared wait for the D-day and be calm. Give your best.

Q: Which IIMs /Institutes are you targeting?

A: My dream college is IIM Calcutta. Apart from that, I am also targeting the Faculty of Management Studies which has the best ROI in India.