Priyanjit Biswas
Priyanjit Biswas, CAT 99.68 percentiler graduated in 2017 from Jadavpur University with a Bachelor’s in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering. According to him, cracking management entrance exams is no rocket science – all that one needs to do is gauge his/her strengths and weaknesses through all sections, and then figure out a personalised plan that can help in maximising the score.
His sectional scores in CAT 2017 are VARC: 99.10, DILR: 98.41, QA: 98.95. Good novels, good music and good movies are some of the things that keep him going. Shiksha got in touch with Priyanjit to know his preparation strategy. Here’s what he told us:
Q. How did you feel on seeing your result? Were you expecting this score?
I felt somewhat relieved. I was expecting a decent score but then again, was a bit apprehensive about the result given how unpredictable CAT can be.
Q. Was this your first CAT attempt?
No. This was my second attempt.
Q. What area of specialization do you plan to opt for?
At the moment, I would like to get into a top B-School and get a flavor of the various courses first before exploring further opportunities.
Q. Tell us about your preparation strategy.
I focused on taking up mock tests on a regular basis over the last few months and analysed my performance in order to better gauge my strengths and weaknesses. The idea was to maintain a consistent performance across all the three sections, namely VARC, DILR and QA. Additionally, a steady and regular approach helped me to get in the flow of the structure of the examination.
Q. What was your weak areas and what did you do to improve the same?
I had always tried to figure out my strengths and weaknesses across all the three sections. For instance, in the VARC section, I was extremely uncomfortable with Parajumbles while I was really confident in Reading Comprehensions. Having analysed similar strengths and weaknesses spanning all the three sections, I tried to tweak the way I attempted questions in the mock tests and attempted to figure out a personalised plan for myself so as to maximise my score while not wasting time on questions that are best left alone.
Q. Is it important to join a coaching institute?
Appearing for mocks has definitely helped a lot in my case. In fact, taking up timed mock tests diligently followed by thorough analysis of one’s performance in these mocks is instrumental to improving one’s performance in CAT. Joining a classroom program might be helpful too, especially if one is looking for a personalized guidance.
Q. Any tips for future CAT aspirants?
Appear for mock tests and analyse your strengths and weaknesses. Tweak your approach accordingly and create a structured and personalised plan. Do not give in to pressure in case you underperform in a few mocks and most importantly, do not ignore your overall profile because in the end all of it counts.
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| Number of Sections | Three | Five |
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| No. of Exams conducted yearly | Once a Year | Four times a year |
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