CAT 2021 Topper Interview: Know How Vibhor Scored 99.06 Percentile

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

A: My preparation strategy for each section was as mentioned below:

VARC: I could summarise the VARC preparation strategy in two words, ‘keep reading’. Having a reading habit is really important for an exam like CAT, the kind of passages that appear can be from any genre, and the language is quite difficult to understand if you don't have good reading skills. For verbal ability, I used to practice questions from the study material I had.

DILR: I practised at least four sets every day throughout my preparation journey. This allowed me to cover nearly all kinds of sets and questions that could appear in CAT. This helped me to equip multiple approaches I could use for a particular set. It also helps you to identify the difficulty level of sets so that you choose accordingly, that is which set needs to be solved first.

QA: This section is purely about practice, first I identified my strong and weak areas. I planned to add extra effort and time into my weak areas, though I never neglected my strong areas and kept working on them as well.

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

A: I did not refer to any book. I was enrolled on a coaching institute. The entire study material was provided by the coaching institute.

Also Read: Best Books to Prepare for CAT

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

A: I attempted 60+ mocks throughout my CAT preparation journey. Mocks are just like practice matches played before the actual match. You'll get to know about the areas where you're lacking whether it be time management or the kind of mistakes you're making while attempting the exam and hence this will help you not to commit the same mistakes in your CAT exam. Sitting in front of a computer screen and focusing for two hours straight while also handling the exam pressure isn't an easy job, mocks help you in getting used to it and performing well.

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

A: Yes, I had enrolled with a coaching institute. Coaching makes your preparation much more streamlined. You get proper guidance throughout your preparation journey. You get to know about the different patterns of questions available, and you are, therefore able to practice with a more focused approach. In my experience, it turned out to be very useful.

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Q: What was your exam day strategy?

A: I'll start with the night before my exam, sleeping well is really important to stay alert during the CAT exam. I planned to sleep for at least eight hours the night before the exam for a calm and relaxed mind during the test. I also avoided last-minute revisions.

During the exam, I selected the questions that were difficult for me. I left the time-consuming questions and the questions where I doubtful for the last and attempted the easier questions first.

Q: Which IIMs /Institutes are you targeting?

A: I am planning to convert admission calls from the following institutes:

• FMS, Delhi
• IIT Delhi
• IIT Madras
• XLRI, Jamshedpur (through XAT)
• IIMs (based on the calls I'll receive)

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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