What 8 CAT Attempts Taught Me: Maruti Sir’s 100%ile Strategy

Why Maruti Sir's CAT Journey Matters More Than Typical CAT Preparation Advice

Most CAT preparation blogs talk about strategy in theory. Very few are written by someone who has sat in the exam hall eight times, analysed what actually changed between a 78%ile and a 100%ile, and built an entire platform around those observations. This is one of those rare accounts.

Starting from a disappointing ~80%ile in VARC to reaching five consecutive 100 percentiles, Maruti Sir's journey is not a typical success story. It is a practical, iteration-by-iteration roadmap of how CAT preparation evolves when you stop guessing and start analysing. For any CAT aspirant who feels stuck, this is the most honest guide available.

I failed my first CAT - not by a small margin. I scored ~80%ile in VARC and was completely shattered. If you are reading this after a result that did not go the way you hoped, this is the post I wish someone had written for me back then.

My name is Maruti Konduri. I co-founded Cracku, hold a degree from IIT Bombay and an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, and I have taken the CAT exam eight times. Five of those attempts ended with a perfect 100%ile. But the first one? It was a disaster - and it was the most important exam I ever took.

This post is not a highlight reel. It is an honest account of what those eight attempts taught me about preparation, failure, strategy, and the kind of resilience that actually moves the needle for students.

Maruti Sir CAT Journey: From ~80%ile in VARC to Consistent 100 Percentile

The transformation did not happen overnight. It was gradual, structured, and driven by learning from each attempt.

What this journey shows clearly is that CAT is not about talent alone, it is about iteration, awareness, and continuous refinement.

Also Read: CAT Previous Year Papers with Solutions

Lesson 01: Failure in CAT Is Not a Setback

Even I failed in my first attempt at CAT. But it worked out very well for me. So, try to look at this result as an opportunity to grow. When I failed CAT 2007, my immediate instinct was to question everything. Was I smart enough? Did I belong at IIM? These questions, as I later realised, were the wrong ones entirely.

What I should have been asking was: what specifically went wrong, and what can I fix?

After that first attempt, I spent the next year rebuilding from the ground up - strengthening fundamentals, reading more for VARC, and practising consistently. No coaching centre. No shortcuts. The result was a 99.97%ile in CAT 2008 and a seat at IIM Ahmedabad. The one-year gap between failure and success was not wasted time. It was the most productive study period of my life, because I finally knew exactly what I was fixing.

Student Takeaway: After every mock, tag every wrong answer by question type, topic, and reason - silly mistake, concept gap, or time mismanagement. That tag list becomes your CAT study plan for the next month. Failure is precise data if you choose to read it that way.

Lesson 02: CAT Basics Before Shortcuts 

One of the most common mistakes I see students make is chasing CAT-level shortcuts before they have a solid foundation. In 2008, my turnaround came entirely from strengthening core concepts rather than memorising formulas.

Students often tell me they have 'done the syllabus' but still cannot cross 85%ile. When I probe further, the issue is almost always the same: they understand concepts passively but cannot apply them under pressure. The sequence matters enormously: understand the 'why', not just the 'how'.

Student Takeaway: If you are getting questions wrong, resist the urge to look at the solution immediately. First, identify which concept is being tested. Then check the solution. This habit builds the diagnostic thinking CAT rewards.

Lesson 03: Prepare Online Your CAT VARC Reading Speed Depends on It

This is a point many students overlook until it is too late. CAT is a computer-based test. Reading speed on a screen can differ significantly from reading on paper, and in CAT, every minute detail matters. I always recommend online preparation so aspirants get accustomed to reading through a screen.

When I returned to CAT preparation in 2019 as a teacher-practitioner, this was one of the first things I noticed during live mocks: students who had trained exclusively on books were visibly slower in the VARC section on exam day. Training your eyes and mind to read, process, and respond on a screen builds a level of comfort that directly translates into better CAT performance.

Student Takeaway: Do all your RC and DILR practice on a screen from day one. Avoid printing question papers. If you read The Hindu or any English publication daily, read it online. Your screen-reading stamina is a skill that needs to be trained, not assumed.

Also Read: CAT VARC Practice Questions 

Lesson 04: CAT Mock Tests Are the Real Exam

Centre your CAT preparation around mock tests. Attempt a mock every weekend and base your weekday preparation on the results. When I resumed taking CAT in 2019 as a trainer, I made one commitment to myself: I would approach every mock the same way I approached the actual exam.

There is also an equally important second step that most students skip: analysis. The time you spend reviewing a mock should be at least equal to the time you spent taking it. What went wrong? Why? What would you do differently?

Students who consistently improve are not the ones who take the most mocks - they are the ones who analyse them deeply.

Student Takeaway: Think of CAT as three back-to-back 40-minute section tests: VARC, then DILR, then QA. Each section needs its own strategy. During mock analysis, review each section independently - what was your attempt strategy? Did you get stuck on a hard question and lose time? Spend enough time fixing it.

Also Read: Free CAT Mock Test 

Lesson 05: The Trainer's Secret You Must Face the CAT Challenge Yourself

This is perhaps the most unusual thing about my CAT journey. Most educators stop writing the exam after they score well. I did not - and the reason was simple. The best way to teach students how to strategise for CAT is to face the challenge yourself.

Every year I write CAT, I come back with new observations. The question types, difficulty pattern within sections, the interface - it all feels different. These are things you only truly notice when you are sitting in the exam hall under a timer, not when you are reviewing question papers from the outside.

Student Takeaway: You cannot strategise for CAT from the sidelines. You have to put yourself in real conditions - by giving real mocks and sectional tests - to build the reflexes that matter on exam day.

Lesson 06: CAT Is a Game of Selection, Not Completion

I cannot stress this enough to my students - toppers do not attempt every question. They attempt the right questions. When I sit down for DILR, I do not touch a single set in the first few minutes. I scan all four or five sets, back to back, before I commit to anything. I am looking for sets where cracking one central logic unlocks the entire set - not ones where every question demands a fresh start. That scan is not wasted time. It is the most valuable investment I make in that section.

I follow the same discipline in Quants. My first pass through the section is intentionally incomplete - I aim to solve around 15 questions and skip anything that is going to eat more than 90 seconds. Then I go back. And here is the thing: those questions I skipped are now easier, because I have already read them once. The brain has been working on them quietly while I moved ahead.

Student Takeaway: Build a 'scan first, solve second' habit in CAT DILR from your very first mock. Never commit to a set without scanning the section. In QA, practise attempting the section in multiple rounds - on the first pass, just read the question and decode the logic in your mind. If it feels time-consuming, save it for the next round.

Also Read: CAT DILR Practice Questions 

Lesson 07: Do Not Leave Any CAT Topic Untouched

CAT is not just about depth - its equally about coverage with awareness. You do not need to master every topic, but you should never be in a position where a question feels completely new. Almost every year, the paper throws in a few surprisingly simple questions from areas students tend to skip. Those are not just scoring opportunities - they are percentile boosters.

The real risk of ignoring a topic is not just losing marks - it is losing composure. The moment you see something unfamiliar, hesitation creeps in. That hesitation spreads, affecting decisions even in areas you are otherwise strong in.

Student Takeaway: Build minimum competence across the CAT syllabus. Go deep where it matters, but ensure no topic is reduced to zero. Even a light touch and concept clarity can give you a slight opportunity to attempt remaining questions in the last few minutes.

What Truly Separates 90%ile from 99%ile in CAT

The difference between a good CAT score and a great one is rarely about knowledge. Almost always, it comes down to decision-making under pressure. Here is what that looks like in practice:

This shift from a solving mindset to a selection mindset is what defines top CAT performers. It does not come from reading about it - it comes from building it deliberately through mocks.

Closing Thoughts: Maruti Sir's Real Message to CAT Aspirants

When students come to me after a disappointing CAT result, I do not tell them to work harder. I ask them to work smarter - to look honestly at what went wrong and build a specific plan to fix it.

I failed my first CAT. I was fired from my investment banking job. None of those things defined where I ended up. What mattered was what I chose to do with each setback. You have more time and ability than you think. The only question is whether you will use the next months to make the adjustments that actually matter.

Your current CAT score does not define your potential. What defines it is how you respond to it.

Also Read: CAT Success Stories