CUET UG 2025 Topper Ishani Debnath, AIR 8, Shares Her Journey to LSR and Psychology Honours

In this exclusive interview, Ishani shares how she prepared for CUET UG alongside CBSE board exams, her subject-wise strategy, and advice for future aspirants.

Ishani Debnath secured All India Rank 8 in CUET UG 2025 conducted by National Testing Agency is among top achievers. She took admission in Lady Shri Ram College for Women which is under DU. Over 13.5 lakh students took the exam this year. Her success is based on focused planning, discipline, and smart execution.

Q. What was your overall strategy for CUET UG preparation, and how did you balance it with Class 12 board exams?
Ishani: I knew that to get into Delhi University, I had to take CUET UG. DU considers English and three domain subjects. I started preparing for English in Class 11. For domain subjects, the syllabus was similar to Class 12 CBSE boards, so that helped.
Q. Which subjects did you focus on the most, and how did you prioritise them?
Ishani: I focused most on English because DU requires it. I practiced vocabulary every day and watched topic-related videos.
Q. Did you follow NCERT textbooks alone, or did you use extra resources?
Ishani: For subjects like History, Political Science, Psychology, and Economics, I used NCERT books. I also solved computer-based tests and previous year questions from Adda247 daily.
Q. How did you plan your daily study routine before CUET UG?
Ishani: After my board exams, I made a monthly plan. Each day, I revised and practiced two subjects. I took mocks, checked my answers, and reviewed topics for those two subjects every day. I never missed my schedule.
Q. What role did sample tests and previous year papers play?
Ishani: They were very important. Since I already understood concepts during board prep, my CUET goal was to solve as many previous year papers and sample tests as possible. Hardest part was preparing microeconomics for Economics after boards because it was announced late. I read NCERT and solved many questions. For doubts, I watched online videos

Q. Was there a specific moment or turning point when you realised you could be among the top rankers?

Ishani Debnath: I felt I could be a top achiever in CUET when I achieved AIR 1 in Class 12 CBSE Board Exams. This made me realise my true potential and enabled me to work even harder.

Q. How has cracking CUET UG changed your life?
Ishani: It boosted my confidence because CUET was my first national-level exam, and I got AIR 8 among 10 lakh students. It helped me get into my dream college, which will give me great exposure and experience.
Q. What would you do differently if you started CUET UG prep again?
Ishani: I would start preparing for English much earlier because it’s a big subject.