CAT 2022 Topper Interview: Work hard & World is yours. That's key to crack CAT, says Arka Saha, 98.76%iler
In an exclusive interview with Shiksha, Arka Saha shares his preparation strategy and tips for future CAT aspirants. Read further to know more about CAT 2022 topper Arka Saha
CAT 2022 Topper Interview: Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore announced CAT results 2022 on December 21. Hailing from Kolkata, West Bengal, Arka Saha scored 98.76 percentile in India's biggest MBA entrance exam, CAT 2022. Saha has completed Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering (BTech) from KIIT with a CGPA of 8.01. With a strong work profile, Arka is targeting IIM Bangalore along with NITIE, FMS and IITs. In an exclusive interview with Shiksha, Arka Saha shares his preparation strategy and tips for future CAT aspirants. Read further to know more about CAT 2022 topper Arka Saha.
CAT 2022 result was declared two weeks earlier than usual. CAT 2022 exam was held on November 27.
Also Read:
CAT 2022 score
Overall Percentile: 98.76
Sectional:
- VARC – 98.69
- DILR – 95.29
- QA – 95.86
Shiksha: Congratulations! Are you satisfied with your CAT result? How much score were you expecting?
Arka: To be honest, a percentile more would have made me more elated but I’m satisfied with the score. Since I’m a data scientist by profession, work pressure has been my ally. Hence, I had to make out extraneous time to focus on CAT. Having said that, I was expecting a 95%ile and above score.
Explore colleges based on CAT
Want better recommendations?
There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.Shiksha: Was this your first attempt at CAT?
Arka: No. However, my first attempt was just after my graduation i.e. 2019 but again honestly, I gave that without proper preparation just to test my mettle and as expected, I scored bleakly. But I have realized that efforts do payback and here I’m.
Q: Which CAT exam slot is the toughest?
Q: How to prepare for CAT?
Preparing for the Common Admission Test CAT can be a challenging task, but with the right approach and study plan, it is possible to succeed.
Here are some tips on how to prepare for CAT:
- Understand the Exam Pattern and Syllabus: Start by understanding the exam pattern and syllabus of CAT thoroughly. The exam consists of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability.
- Make a Study Plan: Once you understand the exam pattern and syllabus, make a study plan that works best for you. Allocate time for each section, and include time for revision, practice tests, and solving previous year's question papers.
- Strengthen Your Basics: CAT is a test of your fundamental concepts in Mathematics, English and Logical Reasoning. Hence, focus on building a strong foundation by revising and practicing the basic concepts.
- Read and Analyze: To improve your Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, start reading newspapers, magazines, and books regularly. Analyze the content, style, and tone of the passages to gain a better understanding of the language.
- Practice Regularly: Practice is the key to success in CAT. Solve as many practice tests and previous year's question papers as possible to get familiar with the exam pattern and build your speed and accuracy.
- Time Management: CAT is a time-bound exam, and time management is crucial. Practice solving questions within the stipulated time frame to build your speed and accuracy.
- Join a Coaching Institute: If you find it challenging to prepare for CAT on your own, consider joining a coaching institute that offers specialised coaching for CAT. They will provide you with a structured study plan, guidance, and practice tests to help you prepare for the exam.
Remember, consistency, and dedication are key to success in CAT. Keep practicing and working hard, and you will achieve your goal.
Q: Is the CAT syllabus difficult?
Yes, the difficulty level of CAT syllabus is very high as compared to other MBA entrance exams. However, if you prepare well and follow the CAT exam pattern well, you will be able to score well. Besides having an understanding of the CAT syllabus 2025, candidates also need to be well aware of the CAT exam pattern before they start preparing for the exam. The CAT exam pattern was revised in 2021 and the number of questions were reduced from 76 to 66. The structure of CAT 2023 and CAT 2024 was the same. The syllabus is still tougher than other exams.
The most important things to keep in mind are:
- CAT exam mode is online
- Each question carries three marks
- There is negative marking of minus one mark for wrong attempts
The section-wise distribution of questions and difficulty levels as per the latest CAT exam pattern are listed below:
- Quantitative Ability (QA) - 24 questions, difficulty level - moderate to high
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) - 20 questions, difficulty level - moderate
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) - 22 questions, difficulty level - moderate. to high
Shiksha: When did you start preparing for the CAT exam? What was your overall prep strategy?
Arka: I started preparing for CAT exam back in September 2018. I had joined Edushastra which was suggested by my peers and also I used to follow the Youtube channel of Rodha by Ravi Prakash Sir. My strategy was to divide the 5 days of the week across all sections i.e. QA, VARC and LRDI to study the concepts after my day ended around 9-10 pm and give continuous (around 1-2) mocks on the weekends to know my stand.
Explore more MBA exams with upcoming dates
8 Jan '25
SNAP
XAT
26 Aug '24 - 10 Jan '25
5 Jan '25 - 10 Jan '25
25 Nov '24 - 11 Jan '25
17 Jan '25
18 Jan '25
11 Dec '24 - 21 Jan '25
14 Oct '24 - 21 Jan '25
Shiksha: Please share with us your section-wise strategy.
Arka: For QA, I loved Maths as always and thus, I used to practice the problems provided by Edushastra i.e. the practice-papers end-to-end as well as the previous year CAT papers under a timed environment. Whenever I faltered in a problem, I used to look at the solution and learn the concept and practice it again. The concept would stay etched in my mind.
Since LRDI used to take a lot of time, I did not keep time limitations initially given I wanted to make sure I could understand the problem and solve the same. But gradually, I started timing the same and solving LRDI problems used to boost my confidence because you earn more marks if you can solve a LRDI problem given they have set-based questions.
Q: Is CAT exam tough for an average student?
CAT is a speed based test which is designed to assess a candidate's analytical aptitude, logical reasoning skills, data interpretation and English comprehension. Now, it may sound tough, but these are the skills which we are taught in school so there is nothing new to learn. What is required is to learn these subjects at advanced level. If you are an average student but have studied Science or commerce in Class-12 and graduation, you will find a lot of familiar topics in Data Interpretation, Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning. All you will need is brush up the basics and practice the concepts on advance level problems.
However, since the competition is so high in CAT and less than 95 percentile can break your dream of joining a top college like IIM, the preparation for CAT requires a lot of focus, dedication, discipline and diligence. If you can do that, despite being an average student, you can crack the CAT exam.
Q: Is it hard to get a seat in IIM Bangalore?
Yes, IIM Bangalore is one of the toughest business schools to get admission to, and every year, even CAT 99+ percentilers miss out on a call from the institute. IIM Bangalore uses multiple parameters, namely academic performance as well as candidates' scores in CAT/GMAT to select candidates for the PGP programme. IIMB adopts a two-phase selection process and accordingly, these selection criteria are applied in two phases. The first phase of the process is applied to all eligible candidates who appear for CAT to determine candidates to be called for a personal interview (PI). Candidates selected for the PI process will be additionally required to take a Writing Ability Test (WAT).
Q: Are six months enough to prepare for CAT?
Q: Can I join IIM without CAT?
No, one can't join IIM without CAT. Candidates seeking admission to the IIM Ahmedabad MBA course must appear for CAT and secure 90 percentile. The Institute considers Writing Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds for final admission to IIM Ahmedabad along with CAT results. Students must meet both, the overall CAT cutoff percentile and the sectional cutoffs.The Institute does not release CAT cutoffs in the public domain and are exclusively accessible only via account login to candidates who have appeared for the exam.
Q: Can I join FMS MBA programme without CAT?
No, FMS Delhi exclusively accepts CAT scores for MBA admissions. CAT is the sole entrance exam recognised for admission into the Master of Business Administration programme at the Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi. Other entrance tests are not considered for this program.
For VARC, English was my forte as well but I used to learn how to read passages given the width of the same. The problem here is to not involve yourself in the passage but think from the passage-point of view for which I used to solve RC, Paras and Jumbled Sentences atleast one-two everyday
Shiksha: Which books did you refer to for CAT preparation?
Arka: I did not use any books. I used online Edushastra online materials and Rodha concept videos for CAT preparation.
Shiksha: How many mock tests did you attempt and how important is a mock test series?
Arka: I had attempted around 50-60 mock tests (Sectional mocks + SIMCATs) from Edushastra itself and none-other.
I feel if you don’t simulate the scenario for yourself, it would be difficult to perform on the D-day. So you would need a taste of the same and also, we need to identify the weak areas in all the sections. Additionally, the mock scores can be demotivating but the truth from my perspective is, the questions are tougher, and you will do better when you face the inevitable.
Shiksha: Did you join any coaching institute? How does the coaching institute help in CAT preparation?
Arka: I had joined Edushastra and it was worth the investment which is extremely inexpensive and highly qualitative.
To be honest, it teaches in small cohorts (10-12 folks) in a batch which helps in personalized teaching strategy. The teachers are very kind and approachable 24*7. I want to especially mention Arun Sir who personally helped in a lot of Quant and LRDI specific concepts and areas of weakness.
They share concept pdfs, practice exam papers as well as weekend mocks (on request) for your continuous performance monitoring. They have merit-based batches as well that helps students to be competitive, inspired and grow up the ladder till the D-day which is decided on the basis of your mock-CAT performances.
Shiksha: What was your exam day strategy?
Arka: I considered CAT like a mock CAT exam which helped me think positively. Once the bell rang, I scouted all the questions w.r.t. all the questions. I did not spend more than 5 minutes if I couldn’t solve a question. I answered most of the TITAs given they don’t have a negative marking and was careful with my attempts for the option-based ones which were mostly accurate.
Shiksha: Which IIMs /Institutes are you targeting?
Arka: I’m targeting BLACKI IIMs out of which IIM-A and IIM-C seem far-fetched. IIM Bangalore stands a probability given I have work-experience. Amidst non-IIMs, I missed MDI Gurgaon and SPJIMR forms as well but I’m targeting NITIE, FMS and IITs.
Shiksha: Tell us something about your educational background, family and hobbies.
Arka: I did my schooling in Don-Bosco Liluah, Kolkata (X) and then The Future Foundation School, Kolkata (XII). I scored 92% (ICSE) in X and then 90% (ISC) in XII. I did my Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering (BTech) from KIIT with a CGPA of 8.01. I was a data-scientist-turned-Analytics Manager with Mu-Sigma, the world’s largest pure-play Data Analytics company having worked across FMCG/CPG, then Retail and then Pharmaceutical verticals for a period of 3.3 years and currently working with AB-InBev, the World’s largest Beer Company and a Fortune-500 as a Data Scientist
My family constitutes my father, being my inspiration as always is an IRS officer with Indian Railways (BTech in Mech from Jadavpur and then MBA in Finance from IISWBM). My mother is a PhD grad in Zoology and is currently a homemaker. My grandmother is the healthiest amongst us all at the age of 79 and my most beloved one.
My hobbies include reading books (both fiction especially rational mythology and non-fiction), researching on AI and ML models, hitting the gym and sketching my heart out (occasionally painting as well)
Shiksha: Any tips for future CAT aspirants?
Arka: Work hard and the world is yours. Don’t give up. That is the key. Everyone can crack CAT. All the best.
Read More:
"Writing is not about accurate grammar, it's about the honest thoughts you put in it". Having a versatile writing style, Anum loves to express her views and opinion on different topics such as education, entertainme... Read Full Bio