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Preparing for the CAT exam while juggling a demanding corporate job may look like a difficult challenge, but it's certainly not impossible. In this blog, we dive into the inspiring journey of an aspirant who scored an outstanding 99.93 percentile in the CAT 2024, all while working full-time. From failed attempts to a triumphant result, his journey is packed with practical tips, honest reflections, and actionable advice for anyone chasing a top MBA colleges dream.
IIT Bombay: Laying the Academic Foundation
Meet our CAT topper—an IIT Bombay mechanical engineering graduate. After graduation, he joined Citi Services India and immersed himself in automation and strategy projects for over 30 months. With a consistent academic record—90+ in 10th, 12th, and a 9+ CGPA in college—his profile already stood strong.
But academics weren’t enough. His growing interest in finance led him to complete CFA Level 1 and 2, laying the groundwork for an MBA and a transition into the financial world.
The First Two Attempts: Learning the Hard Way
Before the dream 99.93 came reality, there were two earlier CAT attempts. He admitted that those attempts lacked serious commitment and structured preparation. The second attempt, in particular, was a wake-up call.
Despite scoring well in DILR (99+) and VARC (95), he crashed in Quant with just 11 marks due to overconfidence and lack of practice. He believed knowing formulas would suffice—but the reality of CAT’s unpredictability proved otherwise.
The Turning Point: Treating CAT Like a Priority
By the time of his latest attempt in July-August, he had changed his approach. There was no more casual prep. This was the final and most serious attempt. He took full ownership of his preparation, balancing a hybrid work schedule while ensuring he made time every day.
Here’s how he made it work:
He used travel time to revise concepts. He also made sure to dedicate four hours daily to solving CAT-level questions. To remain consistent and in touch with all three sections of the CAT exam, he leveraged CAT Daily targets and solved them daily. He solved the CAT previous papers multiple times and followed a fixed schedule daily. VARC is the real game changer, and he practiced VARC with an emphasis on understanding the question setter’s mindset, not just reading comprehension.
Section-Wise Preparation Starategy
Quantitative Aptitude (QA):
In his second attempt at the CAT, Quant proved to be his greatest challenge. Despite his engineering background, he made the classic mistake of relying solely on his theoretical knowledge—believing that knowing formulas alone would be enough to crack the questions. But CAT had other plans. That year’s QA section was particularly tough, and he scored just 11 marks. Immediately after the exam, he realised that he had messed up the exam. This was his wake-up call.
So, what changed after that?
- Deliberate Practice: He made practice a non-negotiable part of his daily routine. Not just any practice, but targeted problem-solving. He revisited all PYQs (Previous Year Questions)—solving each set four to five times to drill in not just the “how,” but the “why” behind each solution. It helped him in concept building.
- Concept Revision while travelling: Due to his hybrid work setup, he had a high daily travelling time. He transformed unproductive hours into prep time, using that slot to revise formulas and shortcuts. This way, he stayed connected to the syllabus even during hectic workdays.
- Daily Targets: To stay on track, he followed a fixed schedule of daily question sets. This structure helped build speed, reinforced accuracy, and eliminated the guesswork.
- Mocks and Analysis: Rather than fearing low scores, he embraced them. Each mock was analysed properly, mistakes were worked upon, and weak areas got extra attention. He used to see the mock attempt video of Sayali ma'am and Maruti Sir.
His biggest realization?
“Even if you’re an engineer, even if you ‘know’ maths, it doesn’t count unless you’ve solved enough questions to be quick and confident under exam pressure.”
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR): Practicing Smart, Not Just Hard
DILR had always been a relatively strong area for him—he scored 99+ percentile in it even in earlier attempts. But he didn’t rest on past success. He knew the section's unpredictability could throw anyone off. His approach was all about consistency and adaptability.
- Puzzle Familiarity: He made sure to practice across diverse puzzle types. The goal wasn’t just solving them but getting used to the structure and spotting patterns. He mentioned that question selection in DILR is critical—a lot of aspirants waste time on complex sets instead of quickly identifying the more solvable ones. Identifying which question to attempt and which one to reject is most important in the CAT exam.
- Time-Bound Practice: He solved mocks in real exam pressure. Every DILR practice session was done with a timer. This taught him how to balance speed with logic crucial when you’re deciding whether to attempt or skip a set.
- Momentum Building: Three to four weeks before CAT, he took a two-week leave to go all-in on mocks and DILR practice. This intense practice phase helped keep his mental rhythm sharp. By the time the exam came, solving logical sets was second nature.
He summed it up well:
“There’s no place for guesswork in DILR. It’s about seeing a set and knowing instantly: is it worth my time or not?”
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC): From Misalignment to Mastery
VARC proved to be the most psychologically challenging section for him. Despite scoring a decent 95 percentile previously, he realized that his answers—although logically sound—often didn’t align with what the question setter was expecting.
This mismatch became a key focus area.
- Mindset Training: One of the turning points in his VARC prep was understanding that CAT VARC isn’t about “what you think is right,” but “what the exam wants you to infer.” To bridge this gap, he leaned heavily on video solutions from mentors, especially for reading comprehension. These helped him decode the logic behind each answer choice and understand how test-setters think.
- Leaving Questions: A powerful technique he developed was knowing when to let go of a question. Earlier, he’d try to solve everything. But through mock practice and timed tests, he learned how to quickly judge the time-to-value of each question. If a VA question didn’t click, he skipped it without guilt and moved to the next one.
- Building Intuition Through Practice: Since RC options can often be confusing or very close, he trained his brain with repeated practice sets to make faster and better decisions. Over time, his intuition started aligning better with the expected answers.
- Dealing with Surprises on D-Day: On exam day, VARC started with VA (Verbal Ability) questions instead of the usual RC. He stayed composed, recalibrated his approach, and kept going. That mental flexibility made a huge difference.
His key learning?
“VARC isn’t just about English skills. It’s a mental game. You need to sync your thinking with the paper setter’s logic. That takes time and reflection.”
Peak Prep Phase: Building Momentum Before CAT
Three weeks before the exam, he took a two-week leave from work to completely zone in on CAT prep. He emphasized the importance of building momentum, keeping the brain actively engaged with questions daily, taking the test in the test environment, and avoiding burnout by taming distractions like social media. Going crazy on practising questions is important, especially in your weaker section. It gives your score a boost and help in boosting your confidence.
Exam Day: Keeping Calm & Making Smart Decisions
Slot 1 brought surprises—VA questions at the start, shuffled sections, and tricky reasoning sets. But his calm mindset and question-selection strategies saved the day.
He recalls:
“I learned the art of leaving questions. I didn’t try to solve everything. I only attempted what I was confident in, which made all the difference.”
Advice to Future CAT Aspirants
What to Avoid:
“Don’t waste energy thinking about what could go wrong. CAT day luck is out of your control. Instead, prepare so well that even a bad day won’t stop you from getting calls.”
What to Focus On:
“Practice, and more practice. Knowing concepts is not enough. You need to train your brain to identify and solve questions instantly, especially under pressure.”
Final Words: The Interview Isn’t the End—It’s the Second Half
With an excellent CAT score, you might think the journey is over—but he wisely reminds everyone that interviews carry 50% weightage.
“I’ve seen people with 99.9+ percentiles not convert good calls because they took interviews lightly. It’s just as important as CAT itself.
This story isn’t just about a number. It’s about discipline, humility, and the power of focused preparation. Whether you're on your first CAT attempt or your last, his journey proves that consistency, clarity, and commitment are the real differentiators.
