CAT 2024 Topper, Sarthak Jaiswal scored a wonderful score of 99.97 percentile in the CAT exam. In this interview, Sarthak shared his CAT preparation strategy and some useful tips for future CAT aspirants. Read the article below to know more.
CAT 2024 topper, Sarthak Jaiswal scored an exceptional 99.97 percentile in the CAT 2024 exam. A Computer Science Engineer from BITS Pilani, Sarthak achieved a remarkable score in his first CAT attempt. IIM Calcutta announced the CAT result 2024 on December 19, 2024. From excelling academically, Sarthak transitioned from running his own Ed-tech startup to meticulously preparing for the CAT 2024 exam.
Sarthak is not only a top achiever but also a fitness enthusiast and a passionate mentor. He actively participates in mentorship programmes, guiding aspirants to prepare for competitive exams like JEE Main. Additionally, he is a Formula 1 fan and a motorsports enthusiast, showcasing his dynamic personality.
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There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.In his exclusive interview, Sarthak revealed his CAT preparation strategy, the resources he used, and practical tips for future CAT aspirants. His journey from managing a startup to achieving one of the highest CAT scores is inspiring for MBA hopefuls.
Q: How much percentile is a good score in CAT exam?
The CAT (Common Admission Test) is a highly competitive entrance exam for admission to various management programs offered by top business schools in India. The percentile score in CAT exam is based on the relative performance of the test taker compared to all the other test takers.
The cutoff percentile for admission to top business schools varies from year to year and also depends on factors such as the number of candidates, difficulty level of the exam, and the number of available seats. In general, a percentile score of 90 or above is considered a good score and can help you secure admission to some of the top business schools in India. However, to increase your chances of admission to the top-tier business schools, a percentile score of 95 or above is preferred.
Q: What is the minimum percentile required for IIM Trichy?
IIM Trichy accepts minimum CAT percentile for shortlisting candidates for the Personal Interview round. For IIM Trichy MBA admission 2024, the estimated overall CAT cutoff for the General category students is 92 percentile. Candidates can refer to the table given below to check out the section-wise minimum CAT percentile required for various categories:
Category | PVRC | PDILR | PQA | Overall percentile rank (PT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
General | 70 | 70 | 70 | 92 |
NC-OBC | 45 | 45 | 45 | 74 |
EWS | 40 | 40 | 40 | 70 |
SC | 35 | 35 | 35 | 54 |
ST | 25 | 25 | 32.5 | 40 |
DAP | 25 | 25 | 32.5 | 40 |
Q: What is sectional cutoff in CAT exam?
Sectional cut off in CAT exam refers to the section wise percentiles required by the candidate for making it to the Personal Interview round of the IIMs or other top MBA colleges. The sectional cut offs are lower than 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
For insights into his preparation plan, time management techniques, and expert tips to crack the CAT 2024 exam, read the full article below.
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CAT overall percentile: 99.97
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VARC: 99.96
DILR: 98.92
QA: 99.87
CAT Topper Interview with Sarthak Jaiswal
Shiksha: Congratulations! Are you satisfied with your CAT score? How much score were you expecting?
Sarthak: I was lowballing my scores. I had set modest expectations for myself, aiming for an overall scaled score of 115-120 in CAT exam. However, the exam went better than I anticipated, and I’m thrilled with my final score. Ultimately, my goal was to secure a call from one of the top IIMs, and with this score, I am optimistic about achieving that.
Shiksha: Was this your first CAT attempt?
Sarthak: Yes, this was my first attempt
Shiksha: When did you start preparing for CAT?
Sarthak: I started my CAT preparations in September 2024 when the exam was two and a half months away. That was when I decided that I should start preparing for the CAT exam 2024.
Q: Are CAT cut offs announced along with the CAT result?
Q: What is the CAT cut off for IIM Ahmedabad?
Q: What is the CAT cut off for IIM Lucknow?
Q: What is the CAT exam cutoff required to get admission to IIM Bangalore?
The CAT cut offs for IIM Bangalore hovers between 97-100 percentile. The qualifying CAT cut off required for being eligible for IIM Bangalore's Written Ability test (What) and Personal Interview PI is 85 percentile for General category students, whereas for SC candidates, it is 70 percentile. For ST candidates, it is 65 percentile and for PwD candidates it is 60 percentile. Given below are the sectional and overall qualifying CAT cut offs for IIM Bangalore.
- General category: 80 VARC 75 DILR 75 Quantitative Aptitude 85 (Overall)
- NC-OBC category: 75 VARC 65 DILR 65 Quantitative Aptitude 75 (Overall)
- EWS category: 70 VARC 65 DILR 65 Quantitative Aptitude 75 (Overall)
- SC category: 65 VARC 60 DILR 60 Quantitative Aptitude 70 (Overall)
- ST category: 55 VARC 55 DILR 55 Quantitative Aptitude 65 (Overall)
- PwD category: 50 VARC 50 DILR 50 Quantitative Aptitude 60 (Overall)
Q: What are the qualifying CAT cutoffs for all the IIMs?
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Shiksha: What was your overall preparation strategy?
Sarthak: Firstly, I tried some random test series. Since I started preparing late, I did not have the time or the patience to go through the complete coaching class material.
QA: I bought books from Amazon.com and started my CAT preparations from the book called ‘Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Arun Sharma’. Instead of focusing on one chapter, I focused on attempting level 1 questions of each chapter and then got on to the level 2. So by the end of the first month, I had completed all the chapters under the QA section twice. That helped me stay in touch with mathematics.
DILR: I did not have a specific preparation strategy for DILR. I took help from the YouTube videos to understand how to tackle and solve a particular kind of question. And then again I started solving questions from different CAT books.
VARC: I used to read for a couple of hours without any interruptions. I used to write down everything that I had read and understood from it. Once I got a hold of the habit of reading and inference, solving VARC questions became a lot easier. Then I used to solve past years’ CAT question papers to prepare for VARC.
I think the CAT question papers before 2005 are much lengthier which really helps in this section’s preparation. I focused on past years’ question papers and then I understood that not every question is difficult, one has to just find the right one. When I was preparing for my exam as well I focused on the topics which I am good at and which are my weaker areas. For instance, Geometry wasn’t my strength so I decided to look at Geometry questions at the end. I was just maximizing my time.
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Shiksha: Which were the books that you referred to for the CAT preparation?
Sarthak: CAT 2024 books by Arun Sharma are some of the best recommended books for CAT preparation. I would recommend a hard copy of the books as you can read for a longer time without straining your eyes.
Also Read: Best Books to Prepare for CAT
Shiksha: Did you join any coaching institute?
Sarthak: I only took some test series from TIME. They had some test series which were more difficult than CAT so that did not help my self-confidence. So eventually I stopped with the test series and started focusing on previous years’ question papers.
I self-prepared for my JEE exam as well in June. So I think coaching may work for some but not everyone.
Shiksha: How many mock tests did you take? How helpful are the mock tests?
Sarthak: I attempted 9 mock tests from the TIME test series at the beginning of my prep. Then I attempted 9 more CAT mock tests from the years 2021 to 2023. Then from I the Arun Sharma book I attempted about 20 more. So roughly I attempted about 40 odd mock tests.
I personally think that for the DILR section, the mock tests do not really help because every question is unique and there is no set pattern. Only practice can help for the DILR section preparation. Attempting mock tests for this section will not harm the preparation but also not give an edge.
For QA, mock tests are very important in the sense that you tend to come across many variations of the questions and also find tricks to solve a particular type of question. For VARC again, the mock tests are important.
Shiksha: Did you have any CAT exam day strategy?
Sarthak: The strategy was just to know your strengths and weaknesses. Also, do not chase a particular percentile. If you do that you may end up messing your confidence up. So I decided not to undermine myself and not use anyone else's strategy. I focused on maximizing on my strengths.
I decided to relax and not be stressed for D-day. The idea was just to pretend it was a normal day and not be anxious.
Shiksha: Any tips for future CAT aspirants?
Sarthak: Do not try to follow others blindly. Everyone knows what is best for them and follow that. Follow whatever works for you rather than doing what others have done. Do not be afraid to stick to your own strategy. Create a personalized plan for yourself.
Shiksha: Which IIMs/institutes are you targeting?
Sarthak: IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta. I have also filled out the admission form for FMS, Delhi.
Read More:
- CAT 2024 Topper Interview: 100 percentile, Vagish Nangia shares his preparation journey
- CAT 2024 Topper Interview: Know How Shouvik Chatterjee Secured 99.43 percentile
- CAT 2024 Topper Interview: Know How Vedant Chandewar Achieved 99.98 Percentile
- CAT 2024 Topper Interview: Know How Shaivi Goyal Bagged 99.54 Percentile in CAT Exam
- CAT 2024 Topper Interview: From 93 to 99.89 Percentile: Know Aniruddh K Singh's CAT Success Story
- CAT 2024 Topper Interview: Swaraj's Inspiring Journey to a 99.95 Percentile Without Coaching
With over 7 years of editorial experience, Saumya has been a writer at Shiksha for over four years. With a bachelor's degree in English literature from Delhi University, she loves to write. A true Delhiite and her l... Read Full Bio
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