CUET Topper Tips: How Gunn Wadhwa's Strategy To Practice MCQs Helped Get Admission In SRCC

CUET 2023 Exam is just a few days away. Shiksha.com brings you CUET topper tips to help you ace the CUET Exam 2023. Gunn Wadhwa is currently pursuing BCom (Hons.) from SRCC and secured good marks in the entrance exam with self-study, determination and practicing MCQs. 

CUET Topper 2022 Gunn Wadhwa believes that a thorough revision along with practicing MCQs helped her to get admission to her dream college; i.e. Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC). In an interview with Shiksha.com, she talked about her routine, the books she referred to, and also some tips for aspirants to excel in the CUET 2023 Exam.

Q. Please tell us about your family and educational background. 

A. I was born and brought up in Delhi and my family has always been involved in business. I am an only child and I did my entire schooling at Lotus Valley International School, Noida, after which I joined Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), the University of Delhi where I am currently pursuing BCom (Hons.).

Q. When did you start preparing for the CUET Exam? What books did you refer to?

A. I started preparing for the CUET exams a week after the board exams. Although the syllabus for boards and CUET was quite overlapping, there were some topics that were not covered in boards. First, I quickly completed those new topics and then focused on a complete, thorough revision along with practicing MCQs.

I majorly used NCERT books for my preparation. I read them a lot of times and made sure that I remember all the important points. Apart from NCERT, I used U-Like and Oswal books to practice MCQs for theory subjects and I used “Target- Ultimate Accountancy” by Dr. Vinod Kumar to practice accountancy questions. Youtube videos along with random online quizzes and practice worksheets also assisted me in my preparation.

Q. How much time did you devote to self-study? What do you feel is better, coaching or self-study?

A. Most of my preparation time was devoted to self-study. I had signed up for accountancy coaching in 12th grade so in case I had any doubts while self-studying, I would get them clarified from my coaching teacher over call but I would mostly focus on staying home and studying by myself. I believe that self-studying is better as it allows you to prepare at your own pace and develops a certain level of focus that is difficult to achieve in a group setting. However, having an experienced teacher to guide you can also be very helpful in the long run. There is no single best way to approach this, you must understand what works right for you and go ahead with it!

Q. How did you prepare for CUET UG, just a month before the exam? 

A. Just one month before the CUET exam, my entire syllabus was completed twice. During that time, my main focus was to practice as many multiple-choice questions as possible. Practicing questions in the same format and time duration as the CUET exam helped me develop speed and confidence. It also helped me identify my weak areas, which I then improved by revision and recap. 

Q. How many domain tests did you appear in the CUET exam? 

A. I chose my CUET exam subjects as per the requirements of my desired courses. I appeared for English, Accountancy, Business Studies and Psychology.

Q. Which subject is your strong one and which is the weakest? Are NCERT books sufficient for preparations? 

A. My strongest subject was Accountancy and my weakest subject was English. Since there is no fixed syllabus for English, its preparation felt slightly ambiguous and confusing.  Yes, NCERT books, if studied rigorously, are more than enough for your CUET preparation. 

Q. When it came to exam day, what was your strategy? According to you, what was the toughest and easiest section? 

A. My exam day strategy began the night before the exam. I would have a light home-cooked meal, keep all my stationery, admit card and other required items ready and ensure that I get a restful night of sleep. On the exam day, I would wake up early, revise all important concepts and reach the exam center at least 30-40mins before the exam so that I can remain calm and prepared for any contingencies that may arise. I believe it is important to emphasize on these aspects as it is crucial for your mind to be focused, well-rested and alert while giving the exam to get the best results of your hard work. 

Q. Which all universities did you apply for? What was your CUET 2022 score?

A. I applied to University of Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University and Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya. My dream colleges were Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) and Lady Shri Ram college (LSR). I scored 795/800 in CUET 2022 Exam.

Q. To whom do you attribute your successful CUET topper journey? 

A. I majorly attribute the success of my journey to my mom who believed in me and supported me every step of the way and reminded me of my goal every time, I felt lost or discouraged. She never put any kind of pressure on me and would in fact encourage me to take breaks from studies to maintain a balance between work and leisure. She did not give too much heed to my marks and simply pushed me to do my best and not worry about the rest. She is an angel and my biggest cheerleader!

I would also like to thank all my teachers, my yoga instructor and my peers for their constant support.

Q. What would you suggest to future CUET aspirants in terms of preparation, attitude etc?

A. I would like to give the following points of advice to CUET aspirants:

1. Thoroughly read the NCERT multiple times.
2. Revise and practice questions from all topics after completing the syllabus.
3. Focus on improving speed since the exam requires you to answer each question within a minute or so.
4. Don’t take any subject for granted, especially English.
5. Stay healthy and focus on getting proper sleep, diet and exercise for optimum performance.
6. Meditate. It will keep your mind focused, calm and effective.
7. Trust yourself and your preparation without getting anxious over the final results.

Read More:

• List of Universities Accepting CUET UG Score 2023
• Has CUET UG 2023 Syllabus Changed? Check What NTA says