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CAT 2022 Topper Interview: Dashika Bansal, 99.57%iler shares tips and strategy to crack CAT
Common Admission Test 2025 ( CAT )
Admit Card - 5 Nov '25 - 30 Nov '25
In an exclusive interview with Shiksha, Dashika Bansal shares her preparation strategy and tips for future CAT aspirants. Read further to know more about CAT 2022 topper Dashika Bansal.
CAT 2022 Topper Interview
CAT 2022 Topper Interview: Dashika Bansal, a BCom graduate from MCM DAV College, Chandigarh scored 99.57 percentile in CAT 2022. IIM Bangalore declared CAT 2022 result two weeks earlier than usual, i.e. on December 21. CAT 2022 exam was held on November 27. Dashika is aiming for the top IIMs FMS, IITs, other reputed management institutions. In an exclusive interview with Shiksha, Dashika Bansal shares her preparation strategy and tips for future CAT aspirants. Read further to know more about CAT 2022 topper Dashika Bansal.
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Table of content
- CAT 2022 score
- Shiksha: Congratulations! Are you satisfied with your CAT result? How much score were you expecting?
- Shiksha: Was this your first attempt at CAT?
- Shiksha: When did you start preparing for the CAT exam? What was your overall prep strategy?
- Shiksha: Please share with us your section-wise strategy.
- Shiksha: Which books did you refer to for CAT preparation?
- Shiksha: How many mock tests did you attempt and how important is a mock test series?
- Shiksha: Did you join any coaching institute? How does the coaching institute help in CAT preparation?
- Shiksha: What was your exam day strategy?
- Shiksha: Which IIMs /Institutes are you targeting?
- Shiksha: Tell us something about your educational background, family and hobbies.
- Shiksha: Any tips for future CAT aspirants?
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CAT 2022 score
Overall Percentile: 99.57
Sectional:
- VARC – 99.55
- DILR – 89.56
- QA –99.42
Shiksha: Congratulations! Are you satisfied with your CAT result? How much score were you expecting?
Dashika: Yes, I am very satisfied with my result. I was hoping for 99 percentile or above.
Shiksha: Was this your first attempt at CAT?
Dashika: No, it was my 2nd attempt.
Shiksha: When did you start preparing for the CAT exam? What was your overall prep strategy?
Dashika: I started preparing in January 2022. Just working even little by little consistently every day and not taking too much pressure helped.
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Shiksha: Please share with us your section-wise strategy.
Dashika: For VARC, reading some articles/newspaper and solve at least 2 Reading passages in everyday works. For DILR and Quantitative ability, I attempted sectional tests everyday for the last 2 months. It helped in revising different concepts every day.
Q: What's new in CAT exam?
Q: What is the sectional time limit in CAT?
A:
In CAT exam, each candidate gets 120 minutes to solve the paper. There are three sections in CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude. For each section 40 minutes are allotted as sectional time limit. For PwD candidates, the sectional time limit is 53.20 minutes per section. Candidates have to complete each section within the given time limit. Since the CAT is an online mode exam, the test screen will move from first section to the next section automatically as soon as the time limit gets over. Thus candidates have to be mindful of the on-screen timer and pre-decide the number of questions to solve in each section. The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section of CAT has 24 questions, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section has 22 questions and Quantitative Aptitude section has 22 questions. It is not mandatory to solve all the questions in CAT so candidates can devise a strategy to use 40 minutes per section as per their strength and weakness.
Q: What is the marking scheme of CAT?
A:
CAT has a total of 68 question. Each section carries 3 marks for correct attempt and -1 marks for incorrect attempt. There is no deduction of marks for unanswered questions. Therefore, the total marks of CAT is 204.
Shiksha: Which books did you refer to for CAT preparation?
Dashika: I just solved the books provided by my coaching institute. They were very thorough and enough for the preparation.
Shiksha: How many mock tests did you attempt and how important is a mock test series?
Dashika: I attempted approximately 55-60 mocks that’s 2 test series including past year papers.
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I think attempting mocks regularly is the most helpful part of the prep as you get to experience the exam and be aware of your flaws and you work on them consistently.
Shiksha: Did you join any coaching institute? How does the coaching institute help in CAT preparation?
Dashika: Yes, I joined EduCorp consultancy, Chandigarh for my preparation. I think it is very beneficial as one gets proper guidance as to what to prepare. At EduCorp , we got personal attention in planning out what to do and how to do it. So it made this journey a lot more planned and easier.
Shiksha: What was your exam day strategy?
Dashika: My exam day strategy was just as my teachers suggested, it was to be calm and patient and not getting worried even if some secton doesn’t go as planned.
Shiksha: Which IIMs /Institutes are you targeting?
Dashika: I am targeting all the IIMs, FMS, IITs and some other colleges. The journey of getting in one is still pending and i am hoping to get in one of these.
Q: What is the weightage of the DILR section in CAT?
A:
In CAT exam, there are 20 questions in the Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning section and the total sectional marks is 60 out of 198. In CAT 2020, there were 24 question on DILR and the sectional marks were 72. In CAT 2021 and CAT 2022, there were 20 questions and the sectional marks were 60. The 20 questions are equally divided into both Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. That means, Both Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning have 10 questions each. The questions are mostly in sets. There’s rarely any standalone question in DILR.
Some of the top MBA entrance exams carrying a high weightage of Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning questions are MAH CET, ATMA, CAT, CMAT, XAT IIFT, to name a few.
Q: Does CAT have negative marking?
A:
Yes, the CAT exam has negative marking for wrong answers. However, the marks are deducted only for the wrong MCQ-based answer and not for non-MCQ-based answers. The latest marking scheme for the CAT exam is as follows:
1. The total number of questions is 76, and the time allotted is 120 minutes.
2. Total Scores: 228
3. The number of questions per section: VARC-26, DILR-24 and QA-26
4. Three marks are given for every correct answer.
5. Around 1/3, I. e. , 1 mark is deducted for every wrong MCQ answer. No mark is deducted for wrong non-MCQ-based answers.
Shiksha: Tell us something about your educational background, family and hobbies.
Dashika: I graduated from MCM DAV College, Chandigarh with my Bachelor of Commerce in July 2022. Before that, I studied in boarding school (VDJS, Hisar) which was an amazing experience. Coming to my family, I am born and brought up in a joint family which includes my parents, 1 sibling, grandparents, uncle and extended family. Living in a joint family really has taught me to be patient and considerate towards everyone I think.
Apart from reading books, I really like to explore new places. I have tried to cover at least some of the serene places from India like Kashmir, Andaman, Goa and I hope I will get more exposure in the coming future. And of course, being from this generation I like to spend some of my free time on Netflix and series.
Shiksha: Any tips for future CAT aspirants?
Dashika: If you are determined and working consistently, nothing can stop you. Some say luck matters, no hard feelings but working hard and smart is the most important factor.
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"Writing is not about accurate grammar, it's about the honest thoughts you put in it". Having a versatile writing style, Anum loves to express her views and opinion on different topics such as education, entertainme Read Full Bio
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