CAT 2024 Topper Interview: Know How Vedant Chandewar Achieved 99.98 Percentile
Common Admission Test 2025 ( CAT )
Admit Card - 5 Nov '25 - 30 Nov '25
CAT 2024 Topper, Vedant Chandewar scored an impressive 99.98 percentile in CAT exam. In his exclusive interview with Shiksha, Vedant shares his CAT preparation journey and strategy to take the exam. Read on to know Vedant's CAT sectional and overall score and strategy to appear for the exam.
CAT 2024 Topper Vedant Chandewar
Cracking the Common Admission Test (CAT) is no small feat, especially on the first attempt. Vedant Chandewar, an IIT Bombay student, secured an outstanding 99.98 percentile in CAT 2024. In this exclusive interview, CAT 2024 Topper, Vedant shares his journey, strategies, and insights that helped him excel in one of the toughest MBA entrance exams. Read Vedant Chandewar’s exclusive interview with Shiksha.com to know his preparation strategy and CAT score here.
Also Read:
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
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CAT Topper 2024 Interview with Vedant Chandewar
Shiksha: Congratulations! Are you satisfied with your CAT result? How much score were you expecting?
Vedant: Initially, I was a bit disappointed because, in previous years, a score of 132 often meant a 100 percentile, and I was aiming for a 99.99 percentile. However, I am happy with my result, especially since it was my first attempt.
CAT 2024 Score
- Overall Score: 99.98 percentile
- Sectional Scores:
- DILR: 52.24 (99.94 percentile)
- VARC: 32.92 (96.66 percentile)
- QA: 53.15 (99.99 percentile)
Shiksha: Please tell us about yourself — your educational background, family, hobbies, and achievements.
Vedant: I am in my final year of Mechanical Engineering at IIT Bombay. My father is an engineer, and my mother is a homemaker. I’m from Nagpur and enjoy playing cricket and listening to music. Some of my academic achievements include being an NTSE scholar, qualifying for KVPY, and topping Maharashtra’s MHT CET 2021 with a 100 percentile. I was also selected for the Indian National Mathematical Olympiad (INMO).
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Shiksha: Was this your first CAT attempt?
Vedant: Yes, this was my first attempt.
Also Read: CAT College Predictor
Shiksha: When did you start preparing for the CAT exam? What was your overall preparation strategy?
Vedant: I began my preparation in August 2024. Being good at mathematics, I found Quantitative Aptitude (QA) and Logical Reasoning (DILR) relatively easy to prepare for. I joined a coaching institute that provided daily practice questions for these sections, which I diligently solved. My overall strategy was to focus on mock tests and consistent practice. I did not rely on classroom coaching or concept videos but focused entirely on self-study and mock tests.
Shiksha: Could you share your section-wise strategy?
Vedant:
- VARC: I improved my reading comprehension skills by regularly reading articles from reputed sources like The New York Times and The Guardian.
- DILR: I practiced solving puzzles and regularly played games like Sudoku to sharpen my analytical skills.
- QA: I focused on solving mock test questions and practice materials provided by my coaching institute.
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: Which books did you refer to for CAT preparation?
Vedant: I did not use any books. My preparation was entirely based on solving mock tests, and I completed around 40 of them.
Shiksha: Did you join any coaching institute? How did it help in your CAT preparation?
Vedant: I joined a coaching institute primarily for mock tests. Conceptually, I prepared on my own.
Shiksha: How many mock tests did you attempt, and how important are they in CAT preparation?
Vedant: I attempted around 40 CAT mock tests. Mock tests are crucial as they help you understand the exam pattern, identify weak areas, and develop effective time management skills.
Shiksha: What was your exam-day strategy?
Vedant: I ensured I got a good night’s sleep before the exam and had a light breakfast. I reached the CAT exam centre on time and stayed calm throughout. Before the exam started, I meditated for five minutes to focus my mind. I prioritized attempting questions I was confident about and avoided the ones I was unsure of. Despite the last-minute changes in the exam pattern, like having 22 questions in the DILR section, I found the exam relatively manageable.
Shiksha: Who is your role model, and which IIMs or institutes are you targeting?
Vedant: My role model is MS Dhoni. I am targeting the top IIMs, particularly IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta.
Also Read: CAT Counselling
Shiksha: Any tips for future CAT aspirants?
Vedant: Believe in yourself. Plenty of resources, including YouTube videos, help you prepare. Don’t get demotivated by low scores in CAT mock tests; they are just part of the learning process. Stay calm during the exam and focus on your strengths.
Read More: CAT Cut Off
Read More CAT 2024 Tooper Interviews:
CAT 2024 Topper Interview: Swaraj's Inspiring Journey to a 99.95 Percentile Without Coaching
CAT 2024 Topper Interview: Know How Shaivi Goyal Bagged 99.54 Percentile in CAT Exam
CAT 2024 Topper Interview: 100 Percentiler in CAT, Vagish Nangia, Shares his Preparation Journey
CAT 2024 Topper Interview: From 93 to 99.89 Percentile: Know Aniruddh K Singh's CAT Success Story
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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