Injimamul Islam, CMAT 2021 topper, spoke to Shiksha on his CMAT preparation journey. Read the interview below to know his preparation strategies and success mantras.
Name - Injimamul Islam
CMAT 2021 Score/ Percentile: 99.18
Sectional Score/Percentiles:
- Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation: 99.56
- Logical Reasoning: 93.32
- Language Comprehension: 96.87
- General Awareness: 62.34
Injimamul belongs to a beautiful city located in Assam, Mangaldoi. With an extensive scope of Masters in Business Studies, he was inclined towards to course after obtaining B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Tezpur University. He desires for a remunerative job in FMCG sector after completing his MBA degree.
Explore colleges based on CMAT
Want better recommendations?
There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.
- Chat with our counselor
- Get your personalised list of colleges & exams matching your preferences
Shiksha got into a candid conversation with Injimamul Islam to share his experience with the CMAT exam, preparation strategy and advise for the future aspirants.
Also Read: CMAT toppers' list
Q: Was this your first CMAT attempt? Were you expecting to score so well?
A: Yes, it was my first CMAT attempt. After exiting the exam hall, I felt quite low as I found the General Awareness section to be tougher than what I expected. However, after analysing the responses, I was confident enough to score 97 percentile.
Explore more MBA exams with upcoming dates
14 Jun '26
28 Jun '26
1 Dec '25 - 30 Jun '26
5 Aug '26
13 Jun '26
Karnataka PGCET
8 Jun '26 - 14 Jun '26
15 Jun '26
8 May '26 - 11 Jul '26
Q: Tell us about your preparation strategy.
A: I took CAT as well as XAT, but I wasn’t able to score well to meet the cut-offs for the top B-Schools. I My primary focus for CMAT was to allot more preparation time for General Awareness section as it is equally important to other sections. Besides, I took mocks for holistic preparation strategy.
Q: What was the exam day strategy followed by you?
A: CMAT exam covers all the basic concepts of Quantitative Ability and Logical Reasoning. I decided to revise all the important concepts and formulae, memorized some important static and current GK for General Awareness section and gone through the short notes of Language Comprehension that I prepared beforehand.
Q: What was your weak area(s) and what did you do to improve the same?
A: General Awareness was my weakest section as I hadn’t prepared for the section earlier for any other competitive exam. Moreover, the syllabus for General Awareness is vast; therefore, one needs to have a better hold on the current affairs as well as static GK. I read newspapers and take notes on different GK topics and events.
Q: Is it important to join a coaching institute for CMAT preparation?
A: No. In my opinion, joining a coaching institute for CMAT preparation is a waste of money. One can outshine in CMAT via self-preparation by analysing the CMAT exam pattern, syllabus and practising mocks.
Q: Which books did you study for CMAT preparation?
A: For all the basic concepts of Quantitative Techniques and Logical Reasoning, I would recommend MBA entrance guide books by Arun Sharma. For language Comprehension, I would suggest 'Word power made easy' by Norman Lewis.
Q: The CMAT exam was delayed this year, so did that affect your preparation/performance?
A: At first, I got furious on the delayed notification. However, later I realised that it could help me provide extra time to prepare for the General Awareness section. Also, during the extended period, I was able to practise adequate CMAT mock tests which in turn helped me to stimulate my performance.
Q: What is your plan after completing MBA?
A: I want to pursue MBA in Marketing. After completing the same, I wish for a handsome pay package by a top company working in FMCG sector.
Q: Any tips for future CMAT aspirants?
A: The first and the foremost thing to crack any competitive exam is to believe in yourself. The only factor that can help you become a CMAT topper is practise. Try to cover each and every topic from elementary level and practise CMAT question papers from previous sessions as mocks. This helps evaluating your strengths as well as weaknesses. To score well in General Awareness section, spend at least 2-3 hours daily reading current affairs.
Read More
News & Updates
Explore Other Exams
Jul '26 | XAT 2027 registration dates |
Sep '26 | XAT 2027 mock test |
Aug '26 | SNAP 2026 Registration Process |
Nov '26 | SNAP 2026 admit card session 1... |
14 Jun '26 | MAT May 2026 CBT |
11 Jun '26 | MAT May 2026 CBT Admit Card |
Aug '26 | CAT 2026 application process |
Nov '26 | CAT 2026 admit card download |
Aug '26 | NMAT 2026 Registration Window |
Aug '26 | NMAT 2026 Scheduling Window |
Jul '26 | IBSAT 2026 Registration |
Dec '26 | IBSAT 2026 Exam Date |
12 Jun '26 | MAH MBA CET 2026 Result (Secon... |
30 May '26 | MAH MBA CET 2026 Result (First... |
7 May '26 - 30 Jun '26 | ATMA registration 2026 (July) |
28 Jun '26 | ATMA 2026: Last Date of Fee Pa... |
17 Oct '24 - 5 Dec '24 | IIFT 2025 registration and app... |
Mar '25 | IRMASAT 2025 Final Result Anno... |
Feb '25 | IRMASAT Personal Interviews |
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 3 days ago
To get a seat at IFMR Chennai, students have to first appear for any one of the entrance exams accepted by the institute for the MBA/PGDM course admission. CAT, XAT, NMAT, CMAT, Andhra Pradesh ICET, IPAMT and SAT India are the entrance exams accepted by this institute for admission to the management
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
To get a seat in the FLAME University of the MBA/PGDM course, you have to appear for any one of the accepted exams, like CAT, XAT, CMAT, etc. After clearing the exam, you have to get shortlisted for further admission round, which involves PI or GD.
The FLAME University CAT cutoff 2025 was 75 for the
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 weeks ago
Three months may not be enough for CMAT preparation, if you're doing it from scratch. However, if you are preparing for CAT, XAT, NMAT, you can prepare for CMAT in 3 months as you have clear understanding of the syllabus already and you will need exam specific practice only.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 4 weeks ago
No, candidates are not required to appear in CMAT to be eligible for BTech in CSE + MBA integated course at UIT, Karnavati University. For this course, candidates are required to appear in either JEE Mains or GUJCET to qualify for admissions.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
If you have appeared for CMAT before and have complete conceptual clarity of topics, you can prepare for CMAT with mock test practice only.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
For CMAT English preparation, candidates can refer to High School English Grammar by Wren and Martin and Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis. These two will help in building grammar and vocabulary.
M
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
Manorama Year Book, Lucent's General Knowledge will be a good source to prepare static GK for CMAT. Apart from that, you should refer Pratiyogita Darpan and GK Today for current affairs.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
For CMAT English preparation, candidates can refer to High School English Grammar by Wren and Martin and Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis. These two will help in building grammar and vocabulary.
P
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
Yes, you should carry a passport size photo along with the CMAT admit card on the exam day. The photo should preferably be the same as uploaded in the application form.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered a month ago
CMAT 2027 admit card will not be release offline. Candidates will have to download it from the CMAT-NTA website only after logging into their account.
P
Contributor-Level 7
Abhishek is a content writer and editor with 7+ years of experience in education journalism. He completed his graduation from University of Delhi with a BA Degree. At Shiksha.com, he handles content for MBA, BBA, an
Read Full Bio