CAT 2023 Topper Interview: Know How Suvam Debnath Scored 99.52 Percentile

Suvam Debanath is one of the CAT 2023 toppers with an overall score of 99.52 percentile. In the article below, he has shared his CAT preparation journey and success mantra. Read below to know more.

CAT 2023 Topper Suvam Debnath

CAT 2023 Topper Interview: IIM Lucknow released CAT result 2023 on December 21, 2023. Suvam Debnath hails from the financial capital of India, Mumbai. He is an Electronics and Instrumentation engineering student from SRM University, scored 99.52 percentile and got his name included in the CAT 2023 toppers list. He started his career as a software engineer at TCS and then became a banker.

In a conversation with Shiksha.com, Suvam, a CAT 2023 topper, told us about his hobbies and career. He said he wanted to follow his passion and how he wanted to pursue MBA. Let’s dive into Suvam Debanath's CAT preparation strategy to get 99+ percentile. Read the article below to know more.

CAT 2023 Topper Suvam Debnath: Interview Highlights

Check out the table below to get an overview of the Suvam's CAT percentile 2023:

CAT 2023 Topper Interview with Suvam Debanath

Shiksha: Congratulations! Are you satisfied with your CAT result? How much score were you expecting?

Suvam: When I was preparing I was expecting a score of 99.8 or 99.9 percentile. But my work became very hectic and my mock scores also started to dip. I was getting a score 70-80 in the mock tests so I had made up my mind that I will fail this but I went on to attempt the exam anyway. Even after the exam I was not sure of this score. But I am grateful for the score I got. 

Shiksha: Was this your first attempt at the CAT exam?

Suvam: No, this was my third attempt. In the first attempt, I did not prepare well for the exam but I appeared for it to just understand the exam pattern and get a feel of the exam. I scored around 85 percentile in the first attempt. In the second attempt, I did not get a good enough percentile to land into good B-schools but at the same time I cracked SBI PO exam and so I went on to join the banking sector. In the second attempt, I secured 97 percentile. But I wanted to pursue an MBA, so I worked hard and cracked the CAT 2023 exam. 

Shiksha: When did you start preparing for the CAT exam? What was your overall prep strategy?

Suvam: I started preparing for the CAT exam in mid-August this year. Since my basics were strong, I knew I would not have to put a lot of effort and I would be able to prepare for the CAT exam with the time at hand. I focused on taking regular CAT mock tests. In between my preparations, I also appeared for other competitive exams as well such as CDL. Before August I was preparing for the topics under Quant, VARC and DILR through other exams that I was appearing for, so in a way I was always connected to my studies and preparing for the CAT exam.

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Shiksha: What was your CAT section-wise preparation strategy?

Suvam: In VARC my strategy was to take it slow. In this section, I think you don't have to scratch your brain a lot. You just have to read and comprehend what is given to you and then give answers. So I just thought that I had to read what was given and attempt everything that I understood. I feel my reading speed is better than the average so I thought I can attempt all the questions. I would say just read the question and decide whether you want to answer this or not. I relied completely on eliminating the options. 

DILR was my weak area. So to overcome that, my preparation strategy was to practice as many sets as I could. My target in the exam was to attempt two sets. But my strategy went down the drain when I couldn't solve even one set in first 20 minutes. The sectional time limit is 40 minutes. I solved the first set in 32 minutes. I solved the second set in only 8 minutes with a bit of guesswork and ideas. 

I knew Quant would be tough because I had slot 3 of the CAT exam. In mock tests, I was scoring over 95 percentile. But in the exam, a few questions were very calculative and I knew I would make mistakes.

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Shiksha: How did you manage time with your full-time job and CAT preparations?

Suvam: It was really tiring as my job is very demanding. I did not have much time to give to my CAT preparation. Somehow I could manage two hours during the day which I gave to attempting mock tests and sectional tests. But I would say that it in a way helped me and prepared me to tackle the time limit in the CAT exam. I changed my sleep schedule, I woke up early and went to work and during breaks, I would analyze my mock tests, where I made mistakes and what could be done to rectify that. By dinner time, I would be very tired to study a new topic so I relied completely on mock tests and analysis. 

Shiksha: Which books did you refer to for CAT preparation? What are the important topics in CAT?

Suvam: I did not refer to any books but I gave ample mock tests. I referred to a few questions discussed on online coaching platforms. Last year, the test makers included a lot arithmetic in the QA section and aspirants kind of ignored other topics such as algebra and geometry, etc. But this time, there were a lot of questions on Algebra. So, I would say do not miss out on any topic if you want to ace the CAT exam. 

Also Read: Best Books to Prepare for CAT

Shiksha: Did you join any coaching institute? How does a coaching institute help in CAT preparation?

Suvam: I joined an online practice batch which was not a traditional coaching institute. We were given a dashboard to attempt a particular number of questions in each section but they provided study material which was helpful. Coaching institutes can help you figure out how to start and go about your CAT journey. Coaching institutes can guide you better. 

Shiksha: How many mock tests did you attempt; highlight how crucial was mock test series during CAT preparation?

Suvam: I attempted 70-80 mock tests. CAT mock tests should be treated as the bible. It is not about what you know but what matters is how you go through the exam. 

Shiksha: What was your exam day strategy?

Suvam: I did not have any particular CAT exam day strategy. I had only decided that I had to attempt two sets of DILR. For VARC I had to attempt all and for the Quant section I thought I'll attempt the ones I know and leave the ones I feel are tough or very time-consuming. 

Also Read: CAT Exam Day Tips

Shiksha: Any tips for future CAT aspirants?

Suvam: For those gearing up for next year's CAT, my advice is to stay consistent. Don't sulk if you have not scored well in mock tests. Be ready and take as many mock tests as possible and the next day prepare with the same enthusiasm. Also, even if you fail at CAT it is not the end of the world. Enjoy life as it comes. 

Shiksha: Which IIMs /Institutes are you targeting?

Suvam: I am targeting the top IIMs, with a preference for IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta (IIM A/B/C). But I have lesser chances of getting calls from these. So other options are IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, FMS and IIFT. 

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