When Being Ordinary is Just Not an Option!

“ I am just a normal guy, nothing special about me. It just worked out fine for me this time, so that’s ok. There’s nothing special about me. I aimed for this and I got it, so I feel lucky. I do not think there is anything else to this.”- Anirudh Batra

Meet 22 year old Anirudh Batra, one of the 100 percentile getters of CAT 2013 & CMAT 2012 topper. A student of IIM – Ahmedabad currently, Anirudh is an extremely intelligent, focussed and determined person. He enjoys sports and regular college stuff.

What was your preparation strategy for CAT 2013?

Mock tests proved to be the key to my success. I had prepared for CAT 2012 during my final year of college (BITS Pilani) with help from their in-house  coaching centre, which obviously gave me edge over others. Since this was my second attempt, I didn’t focus on theory as much as the mock tests. I tried to appear for as many mock tests as possible and it worked out for me.

What do you think worked in your favour?

The mock tests helped me sail through the exam. The feedback of these tests enabled me to figure out my weaknesses and work hard to improve them.

When did you start preparing?

As I was fairly well versed with all the theoretical concepts, I started preparing for CAT 2013 during the month of July. 

While preparing for CAT, what was the most difficult phase for you?

The last one month before CAT was the most difficult phase. I had just started with my job and had to simultaneously balance the demands of a new job with the final preparation for CAT. I had to cut down on all other social engagements for this one month to make sure I am able to put in the required effort on both fronts.

What is the ideal time one should devote in the preparation?

It varies from person to person. If you feel you have the necessary theoretical background, then you can get through without putting in a lot of hours. However, if you are not comfortable with basic mathematics, then you should devote a lot of time to it  as majority of CAT questions can be solved through a combination of simple fundamental concepts.

As a working professional preparing for CAT, what strategy would you propose to other working professionals?

It is a difficult task for working professionals to balance the demands of a job with CAT preparation. However, it is not an impossible task, since CAT does not demand knowledge of any new concepts. CAT tests a candidate on basic skills and concepts. My advice to working professionals would be maximize their output on every off day they get during the 5-6 months before the exam and try to fit in whatever little amount of preparation they can during the weekdays. Personally, I used to spend 2 hours commuting every day and used this time judiciously. The trick is to make every available minute count.

What role do coaching classes play in preparing students for CAT?

Coaching classes provide you with a framework to study and make you aware of the competition. They hep in keeping a regular schedule for the preparation throughout the preparation phase of 4-5 months. I don’t feel they are necessary.

Can you tell us about your journey from a 98% in CAT 2012 to a 100% in CAT 2013? What changes did you incorporate in your study pattern?

There was no change in my preparation strategy for the two years. I believe I missed out in the first attempt as I did not develop the temperament required to attempt the paper in a high pressure scenario. However, I was sure that I could crack the exam with sufficient exam practice, which is solely what I focussed on in my second attempt.

What will be your advice to candidates appearing for CAT 2014?

Try to maximize your core in your strong areas. Attempt the exam with an open mind and do not pressurize yourself too much thinking about factors you have no control over.

Can you list down 5 skills that are essential for individuals to crack CAT?

1. Ability to judge which questions have to be attempted and which have to be given a miss- Negative marks badly hurt the final score. One does not need to attempt all questions to crack the exam
2. Ability to do quick calculations- helps a lot in both quant and DI questions.
3. Ability to remain calm under pressure – the exam tests a candidate’s ability to handle pressure as one is competing with 2,00,000 other candidates for a seat at the IIMs. It is important you focus solely on your preparation and not bother what others are doing.
4. Ability to sift through text to get the main idea of the passage- helps a lot to navigate through lengthy RC passages.
5. Good command over English language- sometimes one has to leave a question as one does not know the meaning of a few words either in the question or from the options hence it is very important to lay focus on brushing your English language skills.