CAT 2021 Topper Interview: Know How Parth Chowdhary Scored 99.99 Percentile

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

A: Starting with VARC, I think that this section is quite different from the other two. The difference is in the sense that there is a certain level of subjectivity involved. So even if you know all that you need to know about it, you can’t always guarantee what score you’ll get. Now, because of that, I think the idea of developing a habit here becomes extremely important. Because if you have a habit, what it does is that it intuitively shows you a path towards the right answer. So even if in certain questions, multiple answers seem close, you’ll always have a certain gut feeling that this is the right one. Most of the time, that’ll be right. You might not always be able to tell why exactly this particular option seems the most appropriate, but you’ll develop that kind of 'spidey sense'.

I think DILR by its nature is more like four distinct questions. There are almost no connections between the sets. So it’s important to understand that you need to expand the range of questions you’ve seen. So that when the test day comes and the actual questions, which actually counts towards your future, come in front of you, you have a certain surety that at least 2 or 3 out of the four questions will be those that either you’ve seen before, or at least you’re not scared by. If you get scared of a question, you just keep spiralling there, and you’ll probably not be able to do it right. So that level of familiarity I believe goes a long way.

For QA, I think it is the section that requires most of the strategizing that goes into the game of CAT. QA has different sections or topics and many people tend to have different levels of ability on these topics. For example, if geometry is something that you find hard, you can expect that there will be 4 or 5 questions from this. So the approach that I would recommend is that you ensure that you have a certain basic understanding such that if there is at least one question that is easy, you should at least get that one easy question. And then the other 3-4 questions, you attempt only if you have time left. I think it is ultimately iterative practice that you need in order to achieve what you think is the most appropriate way for you to target the exam. I think that is the goal which everyone should work towards.

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

A: I did not refer to many books. I had access to the study material of a coaching institute and its online study portal. Additionally, I solved Aristotle’s RC-99.

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Q: How many mock tests did you attempt and how important is a mock test series?

A: I attempted around 20-25 mocks, increasing in frequency as the test day approached. In my experience, preparing using mocks is quite crucial. Knowing how to solve a question is one side of the coin, doing it that way on exam day is another. To bridge the gap, a candidate needs to develop the skills of time and stress management along with the right test strategy that plays to the specific strengths they possess. Naturally, understanding where you fall on a national level and the improvement you need towards your target is equally important.

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

A: Yes, I was enrolled with a coaching institute, it helped me extensively. Most importantly for developing the right strategy and mindset about how to take the exam, stay in a positive and aggressive mind space and be high on optimism coaching institute helped me.

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Q: What was your exam day strategy?

A: In principle, I believe that every candidate should aim to prepare in such a way that they don't need an exam day or a 'last week' strategy. In my case, coincidentally, four days before CAT, I was entirely packed with weddings of people close to me. So, my last minute revision was quite minimal. Yet, I was able to give the exam with confidence because I had faith in the months of preparation that I did and knew that a few days don't define it.

Nonetheless, exam days are important. I believe the most important thing to ensure is one's mood and spirits. Solving the questions has already been prepared for, but ensuring that you can replicate your peak performance on actual CAT day is key. For this, staying extremely optimistic, not listening to any negative comments and doing whatever keeps your mood lifted is the best.

Q: Which IIMs /Institutes are you targeting?

A: My target is an admit to IIM Ahmedabad with an option to defer. I'm placed at McKinsey & Company and would prefer to join that first.

Q: Tell us something about your educational background, family and hobbies.

A: I belong to Vadodara (Gujarat) where I pursued my schooling in the Commerce stream from Delhi Public School Vadodara. In my 12th Boards, I achieved the highest score in the history of Gujarat, at 98.8%. I'm currently pursuing a BA (H) in Economics from Shri Ram College of Commerce.

I live with my mother, Rachna, a homemaker and social worker, and Meghna, my elder sister, who's currently working in the corporate world. I lost my father, Sudesh, around the end of my 11th standard. He remains my most steady source of motivation and inspiration. My CAT result is dedicated to him.

I really enjoy finding more about a wide variety of things. This led me to read over 56 books during 2021. Reading, for me, is a way to satisfy my curiosity and to learn more about the world. Post my Bachelor's, I plan on taking up my placement offer and joining McKinsey & Company as a Business Analyst.

Q: Any tips for future CAT aspirants?

A: I think CAT aspirants need to understand two crucial features of the exam.

First, it is a higher personalised experience. So, you must ensure you are getting advice and strategy planning specific to you from your mentors, as opposed to generic ideas. By catering to your strong suits, you simply make your target more achievable.

Secondly, the preparation is a marathon, not a sprint. Habits, in my opinion, are the most powerful tool one can have. To this end, I strongly recommend maintaining a prep tracker (excel/handwritten) and demarcating some items such as 3-4 RCs, 3-4 DILR sets, 1-2 long articles, etc as things to be done every single day, along with other practice. If you do this sincerely, your test day will show you compounded benefits and you might score even better than you have in any mock.

Lastly, not exactly a tip - I want to assure all non-STEM aspirants that you have nothing to worry about. If you plan well and execute your study routines with dedication, no one can stop you from coming out on top in this otherwise STEM-dominated exam.

CAT 2021 Topper Interview

The table below mentions interviews with CAT 2021 toppers:

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