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Mon Apr 21, 2025
Imagine scoring 99.66 percentile in the CAT exam! That's exactly what Ali achieved in 2024. But it wasn't a smooth ride. After a disappointing first attempt in 2023, Ali turned things around with a strategic approach and a lot of hard work.
Let's explore Ali's journey from a 90 percentile to an incredible 99.66, and how Rodha played a key role in his success. You can also watch the full story on Rodha's YouTube channel.
In 2023, Ali decided to take the CAT with only two months of preparation. He didn't have a structured study plan. Instead, he jumped from one YouTube video to another, trying to absorb information from every instructor he could find. The day before the exam, he was still cramming formulas!
The result? Ali scored around 41-43 marks, which landed him at the 90 percentile. His Quant section score was a mere 3 marks. "It felt shameful," Ali admitted, knowing he could do much better. He knew he had to give it another shot.
While navigating through countless YouTube videos, Ali stumbled upon Rodha's booster batch. Seeing how it helped him gain some clarity, he decided to enroll in Rodha's Batch One for CAT 2024. If you're looking to boost your own CAT preparation, check out Rodha's courses for CAT 2025.
The Transformation: A Structured Approach to CAT 2024
Rodha provided Ali with comprehensive study materials, including books and topic tests. Initially, Ali struggled with the topic tests, but he didn't give up. He kept redoing them until he could solve the problems within the given time. The sessions on geometry, algebra, and various tips and tricks further strengthened his foundation.
Rodha's teaching philosophy focuses on building a strong foundation of fundamental concepts. Instead of memorizing fancy formulas, the emphasis was on understanding the basics. Even the mock tests (RCMs) included difficult problems, followed by detailed explanations to help students navigate challenging questions in the exam hall.
"It's not like you have to learn a fancy formula," Ali said. "You have to know your fundamentals correctly, which is what all the teachers at Rodha have been stressing since day one." This approach helped Ali improve his question selection and answering strategies.
Ali was happier with his improvement than with the final score itself. Going from 41 overall marks to scoring 33 in just the Quant section was a huge achievement. Hard work truly paid off.
The biggest difference between Ali's two CAT attempts was his strategy. In 2023, he focused on memorizing formulas. In 2024, he concentrated on building a solid conceptual understanding. This shift gave him increased confidence. Even two weeks before the exam, he felt prepared to tackle any type of paper.
As a working professional, Ali had to balance his job with CAT preparation. He dedicated his weekends to studying. On weekdays, he studied for a few hours after work, sometimes until late at night. He made sure to attend the late-night sessions offered by Rodha.
Tip for Working Professionals
Create a realistic study schedule: Allocate specific time slots for studying and stick to them as much as possible.
Utilize weekends: Make the most of your weekends for focused and intensive study sessions.
Take advantage of short breaks: Use short breaks during the day to review notes or solve a few practice questions.
Stay consistent: Consistency is key. Even a little bit of studying each day can make a big difference over time.
Ali avoided thinking about the interview stage and focused solely on the CAT exam. He took the advice to concentrate on marks rather than percentile. By focusing on the present task, he kept his mind clear and focused on the exam itself.
Ali enrolled in the Rodha course in January but started his preparation in March. He believes that March or April is a good time to start preparing for CAT, depending on your academic background. The key is to utilize mocks and mock analysis effectively.
Early mocks help you get used to the timing and pressure of the exam. Ali emphasized the need to analyze mocks thoroughly, a process that often took him 3-4 hours per mock!
Here's Ali's detailed mock analysis process:
Re-attempt questions: He re-attempted every question, even the ones he got right, under timed conditions.
Compare methods: He compared his methods with the teacher's solutions to identify better approaches.
Analyze mistakes: He analyzed why he got questions wrong and categorized the errors (formula error, time pressure, etc.).
Maintain notes: He kept detailed notes and reviewed them regularly to reinforce concepts and strategies.
LRDI can be unpredictable. Ali shared his experience of wasting time on a difficult set in CAT 2023. He stressed the importance of staying calm and composed. To improve his thinking speed, he practiced Sudoku and other math puzzles. He also found Rodha's LRDI sets in the mock tests to be particularly challenging and helpful.
Strategies for Approaching LRDI Sets:
Set time limits: Allocate a specific time limit for each set.
Identify solvable sets: Quickly scan all the sets and identify the ones that seem easiest to solve.
Don't panic: If you're stuck on a set, don't panic. Move on to another set and come back to it later if you have time.
During the exam, Ali focused on picking the easy questions first and then revisiting the time-consuming ones. For example, he would immediately attack geometry questions with diagrams. The key was to be confident and maintain a positive attitude.
Ali learned from his experience in CAT 2023, where he panicked after getting stuck on a difficult LRDI set. In 2024, he made sure to have a fresh mindset after each section. He reminded himself that CAT is a marathon, not a sprint.
Ali's journey from a 90 percentile to 99.66 and converting IIM Ahmedabad is an inspiration to all CAT aspirants. His key takeaways include structured preparation, thorough mock analysis, and a calm mindset. Are you ready to start your own CAT journey? Subscribe to the Rodha YouTube channel for more valuable insights and explore their courses. Also, be sure to follow Rodha on social media:
Instagram: Rodha's Instagram
WhatsApp Group: Rodha's WhatsApp Group
YouTube Channel: Rodha's YouTube Channel
Smita