CAT 2024 Topper Interview: Know How Mani Secured 100 Percentile with Self Study
Common Admission Test 2025 ( CAT )
Admit Card - 5 Nov '25 - 30 Nov '25
Mani got his name included in the 14 candidates who secured 100 percentile in CAT 2024. In an exclusive chat with Shiksha, Mani shares how he got himself in the CAT toppers list using self study.
CAT 2024 Topper Interview: Know How Mani Secured 100 Percentile with Self Study
CAT 2024 Topper Interview: IIM Calcutta declared CAT 2024 results online on its official website. Mani Praneeth Chilukuri is a BTech CSE graduate from IIT Bombay. He secred 100 percentile and got his name included in the CAT 2024 toppers list. He aims for admission into the ABC IIMs or the Young Leaders Programme at ISB Hyderabad. In a CAT topper interview with shiksha.com, Mani shared his self-driven study plan that led to his success in the CAT exam. This article provides details on what Manu Praneeth, CAT 2024 topper, has to share about his CAT preparation journey.
- CAT 2024 Topper Interview: Highlights
- CAT 2024 Topper Interview with 100 Percentiler
- CAT Topper Interviews 2024
CAT 2024 Topper Interview: Highlights
| Name of CAT Topper |
Mani Praneeth Chilukuri |
|---|---|
| College |
IIT Bombay |
| Overall |
100 |
| VARC |
98.72 |
| DILR |
99.99 |
| QA |
99.98 |
CAT 2024 Topper Interview with 100 Percentiler
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Shiksha: Congratulations on 100 percentile in CAT! Are you satisfied with your score? What were your expectations?
Mani: Yes, I’m extremely satisfied with my CAT result. Honestly, I didn’t approach the exam with specific score expectations. I treated it as an opportunity to test my abilities under pressure. My primary focus was on maintaining a calm and composed mindset in the exam hall, which I believe played a significant role in achieving this result. While I aimed to do my best, the perfect score was a pleasant surprise.
Shiksha: Was this your first attempt at the CAT exam?
Yes, it is possible to score 99.99 percentile in CAT in first attempt. Many candidates have scored 99.99 percentile in their first attempt in previously. But for that one needs to have a preparation strategy which is comprehensive and covers all the aspects of CAT. Apart from covering CAT syllabus through books and sample papers, one need constant guidance and study sessions with mentors and subject matter experts to develop deep understanding and capability to crack any type of question.
Sectional cut-off in the CAT exam refers to the section-wise percentiles required by the candidate to make it to the Personal Interview round of the IIMs or other top MBA colleges. The sectional cut-offs are lower than the overall cut-offs of any institute. To understand better, check the table below for sectional CAT cut-offs for IIM Ahmedabad:
Category | VARC percentile | DILR percentile | QA percentile | Overall percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
General | 70 | 70 | 70 | 80 |
NC-OBC-Transgender | 65 | 65 | 65 | 75 |
SC | 60 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
ST | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
PwD (General, NC-OBC-cum-transgender, SC) | 60 | 60 | 60 | 70 |
PwD (ST) | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 |
For sectional cut-offs of all IIMs, check this article – IIM shortlist and selection criteria
Mani: Yes, this was my first attempt at the CAT exam.
Shiksha: When did you start preparing for the CAT exam? What was your overall prep strategy?
Mani: My main focus for the CAT exam was not on an extensive preparation strategy but rather on leveraging my exam temperament. I’ve always believed that staying calm, composed, and focused during the exam is far more critical than the amount of preparation. This approach has consistently helped me perform well in competitive exams.
In terms of preparation, I started just a few weeks before the exam due to my job and other commitments. I prioritised understanding the exam format, syllabus, and structure through YouTube videos. I then solved a few previous years’ question papers to familiarize myself with the patterns.
Ultimately, I relied on my ability to handle pressure, maintain a clear mind, and approach the exam systematically. This mindset helped me maximize my performance, even with limited preparation time.
Also Read:
Shiksha: What was your CAT section-wise preparation strategy?
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Mani: Here is how I prepared for all three sections of CAT exam:
VARC: Having taken exams like GRE and TOEFL earlier, I was already comfortable with reading and analyzing long passages. My strategy here was to stick to the basics:
- I focused on taking notes while reading passages, which helped me retain important points.
- I made sure to understand the paragraphs deeply and avoid making any assumptions. My focus was solely on interpreting what was presented in the text.
DILR: Coming from an engineering background, I found the logical and analytical aspects of this section relatively intuitive. My approach was to:
- Stay calm and composed to avoid overcomplicating the problems.
- Focus on identifying patterns quickly and ensuring that I approached each problem with clarity and no baggage from any previous sections or questions.
- Prioritize accuracy while maintaining speed, which can be achieved through practice.
QA: Again, as someone with a strong foundation in mathematics, I felt quite comfortable with the QA section. My strategy was:
- To stay composed and avoid silly mistakes, especially under time pressure.
- To solve questions systematically and accurately, leveraging my familiarity with concepts to ensure speed without compromising precision.
Also Read:
CAT cut-offs are not announced along with the CAT result. The cut-offs are also not released publicly. They are known after a few days of the result announcement when the IIMs and other colleges start their shortlisting process. The IIMs will open the shortlist window based on the CAT cut-offs two to three days after the result announcement. The CAT percentile of candidates shortlisted for the Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI) can be considered the cut-off for that IIM. For example, if a candidate with a CAT percentile of 99 belonging to the General category is selected for the WAT/GD-PI of IIM Calcutta, then the CAT cut-off for IIM Calcutta is 99 percentile. Only those candidates who make it to the WAT/GD-PI round of IIMs will get to know the cut-offs.
Shiksha: Any specific books that helped in your CAT preparation?
Mani: I didn’t refer to any specific books for CAT preparation. My approach was more practical and focused on understanding the exam format and practicing previous years’ question papers.
Also Read: Best Books to Prepare for CAT
Shiksha: Did you join any coaching institute?
Mani: No, I did not join any coaching institute. My CAT exam prep was self-driven. However, I believe that coaching institutes can be quite helpful for candidates who need structured guidance, discipline, or a clear study plan. They provide curated study materials, CAT mock tests, and a competitive environment.
Shiksha: How many mock tests did you attempt and how important is a mock test series?
Mani: I didn’t follow a traditional mock test series, but I did attempt previous years’ CAT papers under timed conditions, treating them as full mock tests. This helped me familiarise with the exam’s time constraints and question patterns.
Mock tests are certainly valuable for many aspirants as they provide a real-time simulation of the exam experience.
Shiksha: What was your exam day strategy?
Mani: My exam day strategy was simple—to ensure I wasn’t hungry, because my mind doesn’t function well if I’m hungry. So, I had a balanced meal before the exam to keep my energy up.
Also Read: CAT Exam Day Tips
Shiksha: Any tips for future CAT aspirants?
Mani: My top tip for future CAT aspirants is to focus on your exam temperament. Yes, I know I’ve been repeating this over and over, haha, but it’s that important! Stay calm, stay composed, and don’t let the pressure overwhelm you. Preparing thoroughly is important, but keeping a clear and focused mind during the exam can make all the difference.
Also, trust the process, and don’t overcomplicate things. Regular practice is key, but make sure you stay relaxed – after all, it’s just another exam. And, of course, make sure you’re not hungry during the test.
Shiksha: Which IIMs /Institutes are you targeting?
Mani: I am targeting the top IIMs, including
Besides IIM, I am also looking forward to YLP at ISB, Hyderabad.
CAT Topper Interviews 2024
The table below mentions CAT 2024 topper interviews:
| Name |
CAT Percentile Score |
Read Interview |
|---|---|---|
| Vagish Nangia |
100 |
|
| Vedant Chandewar |
99.98 |
|
| Swaraj Pal Kesari |
99.95 |
|
| Aniruddh K Singh |
99.89 |
|
| Shaivi Goyal |
99.54 |
|
| Shouvik Chatterjee |
99.43 |
Read More:
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14 candidates have scored 100 percentile in CAT 2024, out of a total of 2.93 Lacs candidates. Out of 14 toppers, 1 is a woman candidate. Check below CAT 2024 result data:
Check the below table for data and statistics of CAT 2024 test takers and toppers.
Discipline
percentiles 14 - Nos
Male - 13
Engg – 13
Non-Engg – 1
Delhi 2
Haryana 1
Kerala 1
Maharashtra 5
Odisha 1
Rajasthan 1
Telangana 2
percentiles 29 -Nos.
Male - 27
Engg – 25
Non-Engg - 4
Delhi 4
Gujarat 2
Haryana 1
Karnataka 3
Kerala 1
Madhya Pradesh 1
Maharashtra 5
Odisha 1
Punjab 1
Rajasthan 3
Tamil Nadu 1
Telangana 1
Uttar Pradesh1
Uttarakhand 1
West Bengal 2
percentiles 30-Nos
Male - 29
Engg – 20
Non-Engg -10
Delhi 2
Gujarat 2
Haryana 4
Karnataka 4
Madhya Pradesh 3
Maharashtra 3
Tamil Nadu 2
Telangana 3
Uttar Pradesh 2
West Bengal 4