In his exclusive interview with Shiksha, CAT 2023 topper Jayant Kochhar, 99.62 percentiler of CAT 2023 shares his CAT preparation journey with some important tips and tricks that helped him crack India’s largest management entrance exam, CAT. Read further to know how CAT topper 2023 Jayant Kochhar aced CAT 2023.
CAT Topper 2023 Interview: Jayant Kochhar 99.62%iler
CAT Topper 2023 Interview: Jayant Kochhar, a 99.62 percentile says, " Identify your weaker sections and work on them" to score phenomenally in CAT exam. Kochhar commenced his CAT 2023 preparation in May. As a tip to score well in CAT exam, he advises aspirants to maintain consistency in their preparation. Jayant is aiming for all the three top IIMs in India. After cracking CAT 2023, Jayant wants to pave his way in the management field by targeting IIM BLACKI, i.e. top b-schools in India.
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In his exclusive interview with Shiksha, CAT 2023 topper Jayant Kocchar, one of the 99.62 percentilers of CAT 2023 shares his CAT preparation journey with some important tips and tricks that helped him crack India’s largest management entrance exam, CAT. Read further to know how CAT topper 2023 Jayant Kochhar aced CAT 2023 with 99.62 percentile. CAT result was declared on December 21, 2023. CAT exam was held on November 26, 2023.
Q: What is CAT exam pattern 2024?
CAT is a computer based test which is conducted in three shifts. The CAT is conducted for two hours in which candidates have to solve 68 questions.
These 68 questions are divided into three sections Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension VARC Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning DILR and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). The VARC section has 24 questions, the DILR section has 28 questions and QA section has 22 question. Each question carries 3 marks for correct entry and -1 for incorrect entry. There is no negative marking for unanswered question. A unique aspect of CAT is the sectional time limit. Each section has a time limit of 40 minutes (53.20 minutes for PwD candidates).
Candidates have to complete the section within the time limit as the moment the onscreen timer shows 0 minutes left, the screen will automatically move to the next section. There is no option to go back to older questions. Also, candidates have to follow the question paper chronology. They have to first solve the VARC section, then the DILR section and then the QA section.
Q: What's new in CAT exam?
There has been no change in exam pattern and syllabus of the CAT exam from last year apart from the fee amount which has been increased from INR 2,400 to INR 2,500 for General category candidates and from INR 1,200 to INR 1250 for Reserved category candidates.
Another key change in the latest CAT application form is reduction in the number of test city selection from six to five. The CAT 2024 applicants can only select 5 cities for test centre allotment.
During COVID era,
- Candidates had to mention their COVID-19 vaccination status in the CAT application form.
- Eligibility criteria for CAT was extended for FCAI degree holders. Now, they are also eligible to appear for the CAT.
Q: What is the sectional time limit in CAT?
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CAT 2023 Topper Jayant Kochhar: Interview Highlights
Check out the table below to get an overview of the Jayant Kochhar CAT percentile 2023:
| CAT Sections |
CAT Percentile |
|---|---|
| Overall |
99.62 |
| 90.81 |
|
| 99.99 |
|
| 94.48 |
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Shiksha: Congratulations! Are you satisfied with your CAT result? How much score were you expecting?
Jayant: I am happy with the score, as I have improved on my previous attempt. But I am not satisfied with it, as I had targeted a 100 +score. For a fresher GEM candidate as, with this score the chances of getting a call from IIM A/B/C are extremely low. Nevertheless, I am hoping for some good calls.
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Shiksha: Was this your first attempt at CAT?
Jayant: This was my second attempt. I had given my first attempt last year
Shiksha: When did you start preparing for the CAT exam? What was your overall prep strategy?
Jayant: I started my prep in May 2023. Try and keep the prep strategy as simple as possible. Firstly, I made sure that I covered all the topics which form part of the syllabus. Secondly, identify weaker sections (for me it was Reading Comprehension from the VARC section) and devote more time on these topics. Attempting sectionals helped me gauge my preparation for that topic. Thirdly, make sure to solve any sectional that you solve. This will help you move ahead systematically.
Q: What is the marking scheme of CAT?
Q: Is the question type and pattern of CAT and GMAT similar?
The question type and pattern of CAT (Common Admission Test) and GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) are not similar. While both exams are used for admissions to management programs, they have different formats and question types. Here are the key differences between CAT and GMAT.
CAT:
- CAT is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
- It is a computer-based exam consisting of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI & LR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).
- CAT includes multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and non-MCQs (Type In The Answer) questions.
- The exam pattern may vary from year to year, but generally, CAT has a time limit for each section and a fixed number of questions in each section.
GMAT:
- GMAT is an internationally recognised exam used by business schools worldwide and in India for admission to MBA and MIM programs.
- It is a computer-adaptive test, meaning the difficulty level of questions adjusts based on the test-taker's performance on the GMAT exam.
- GMAT consists of four sections: Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), Integrated Reasoning (IR), Quantitative Reasoning (QR), and Verbal Reasoning (VR).
- The question types in GMAT include multiple-choice questions, data sufficiency, sentence correction, etc.
- The GMAT 2023 exam pattern remains consistent, with a fixed number of questions and time limits for each section.
In summary, while both CAT and GMAT are entrance exams for management programs, their question types, formats, and sections differ significantly. However, it is possible to prepare for both the exam simultaneously as both are based on a similar theme. In fact, both exams will complement each other’s preparation.
Q: What is the weightage of the DILR section in CAT?
In CAT exam, there are 20 questions in the Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning section and the total sectional marks is 60 out of 198. In CAT 2020, there were 24 question on DILR and the sectional marks were 72. In CAT 2021 and CAT 2022, there were 20 questions and the sectional marks were 60. The 20 questions are equally divided into both Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. That means, Both Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning have 10 questions each. The questions are mostly in sets. There’s rarely any standalone question in DILR.
Some of the top MBA entrance exams carrying a high weightage of Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning questions are MAH CET, ATMA, CAT, CMAT, XAT IIFT, to name a few.
Q: Does CAT have negative marking?
Shiksha: Please share with us your section-wise strategy.
Jayant: VARC: In this section, it is very easy to feel intimidated trying to understand the passage. It is really important that you also focus on answering the questions. Skimming through the questions before going through the entire passage, subconsciously helps you with the areas that you need to focus on while reading.
DILR: Practice as much variety as possible. Always go all-in at every set. If you can’t figure out anything within first 5-6 mins. Just drop that set and move on.
Quant: Again practice as much as you can. Keep revising the formulas. You can also prepare a formula book if that can be kept handy. Conceptual clarity for all the topics is extremely critical.
Also Read: CAT 2022 Topper Interview: Mock Tests are game changers, says Dixit Bhageria, 99.55%iler
Shiksha: Which books did you refer to for CAT preparation?
Jayant: I mostly followed the modules and test series provided by my coaching institute. It was sufficient for me.
Shiksha: How many mock tests did you attempt and how important is a mock test series?
Jayant: I had attempted about 30 mocks. Attempting a healthy number of CAT Mocks tests and previous years is extremely important. Attempting mocks gives you a very good idea of the kind of questions which come in the exam. Based on your weak areas, you can then focus on taking section-wise mocks.
Shiksha: Did you join any coaching institute? How does the coaching institute help in CAT preparation?
Jayant: Yes I was a regular student at a coaching institute throughout my preparation. Solving the study material and the mock series regularly helped me identify my weak areas and work on them.
Shiksha: What was your exam day strategy?
Jayant: Relax a day before the test. Don’t attempt any mocks on the last day. As I approached the exam day, I reduced the number of mock attempts and focused more on revising what I had covered already. I was confident with my preparation, hence on the exam day I tried to stay as calm as possible.
Shiksha: Which IIMs /Institutes are you targeting?
Jayant: According to the score I am hopeful to get calls from the BLACKI IIMs. These include ( IIM Bangalore, IIM Lucknow, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Calcutta, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Indore). Looking forward to converting the best call possible.
Shiksha: Tell us something about your educational background, family and hobbies.
Jayant: I have completed my BTech in Computer Science and Engineering from the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Surat (IIIT Surat). I have done most of my education staying in Rajkot, Gujarat. I always liked to participate in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities like recitations, singing, and painting. I take pride in being part of the Gujarat cadre in the Republic Day Camp, 2016 as a junior cadet. I love playing lawn-tennis and cricket. Long distance running is also something close to my heart.
Also Read: CAT 2022 Topper Interview: Know how Parul Garg cracked CAT with 99.93%
Shiksha: Any tips for future CAT aspirants?
Jayant: Always believe in yourself. Identify your weaker sections and work on them. Be consistent with the number of hours that you put into your preparation, that is what will keep you going. All the best for CAT 2024!!
CAT Topper 2023 Jayant Kochhar Scorecard
CAT Topper 2023 Jayant Kochhar 99.62%iler Scorecard
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Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 3 hours ago
To download the CDAC C-CAT admit card, the candidates will have to visit the official website at cdac.in. The login credentials required to access the CDAC C-CAT admit card are the candidate's application form number and password. During the registration process, the candidates should check their ap
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Beginner-Level 3
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No, SKILL-CAT exam is not compulsory to get into MBA at Symbiosis Skills and Professional University. Candidates can also apply with a valid score of national-level examinations. The accepted entrance exams are CAT/MAT/SNAP/GMAT, etc. After shortlisting candidates based on exam scores, the universit
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Beginner-Level 5
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LEAD college og management ofers admissions based on entrance and merit. The institute offers courses such as MBA AND MCA for duration 2 year full timemode.
Candidates must have minimum marks of 50% in graduation from a recognised university or college. Apart from this, candidates must obtained vali
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Beginner-Level 5
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Hi Sanjana,
MDI Gurgaon primarily accepts CAT scores for admission to its PGDM programs. For Indian students, a valid CAT score is required. However, for Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Foreign Nationals, and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), a GMAT score is accepted.
The last date to apply for the PGDM,
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Contributor-Level 9
Answered 3 days ago
Dear Sayandip,
Achieving a 60 percentile in the CAT exam may not meet the typical cutoff requirements for admission to the KIIT School of Management (KSOM). Based on available information, KSOM generally considers candidates with higher CAT percentiles for admission.
Typical Cutoff Percentiles for KS
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No, CAT score is not required to secure MBA admission at The Neotia University. The university provides merit-based admissions to eligible applicants. Candidates who fulfil the course-specific eligibility criteria can visit the university's official website to apply. They must upload all the require
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
Manipal University offers admission to several MBA courses via its affiliated college called TAPMI Manipal. The institute accepts several national-level entrance exams, such as CAT/ XAT/ CMAT, and NMAT, for admission to the MBA/PGDM courses. During the TAPMI Manipal MBA cutoff 2023, the CAT cutoff p
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Yes, freshers can apply for the MBA program at the National Institute of Financial Management (NIFM). For admission, NIFM considers scores from various entrance exams, including CAT, CMAT, XAT, MAT, and GMAT.
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Contributor-Level 8
Which login credentials are required to download CDAC C-CAT admit card?