Are you dreaming of an IIM but worried your average academic profile might hold you back? What if we told you that your past scores are not the ultimate determinant of your CAT success?

The Average Profile Myth: Aditya's Story

Aditya Gupta's academic journey started, by his own admission, with an average profile. His 10th grade score was 79.8%, followed by a diploma with 77.6% and 12th grade with 73.2%. A mechanical engineering graduate, he was also a fresher with no prior work experience.

After scoring a respectable 99.2 percentile in CAT 2022 he didn't receive calls from his desired colleges, prompting him to take a drop year. His XAT score also fell short on sectional cut-offs, indicating a need for higher overall and sectional performance.

Many aspirants with similar backgrounds often feel disheartened, believing their past scores create a barrier.

The Power of a High CAT Percentile: IIM Calls Despite an Average Past

In CAT 2023 Aditya secured an incredible 99.85 percentile overall with a stunning 99.9+ percentile in the Quant section, despite not having studied advanced math in 11th and 12th grade.

This exceptional performance led to calls from prestigious institutions including IIM Calcutta and other top A, B and C category IIMs. This demonstrates a crucial truth: an outstanding CAT percentile can significantly compensate for an average academic record, boosting your composite score and making you a strong contender for the best B-schools.

Strategies for Extraordinary Hard Work: How Aditya Achieved His Dream Score

Aditya's journey underscores that CAT preparation is not about shortcuts but about relentless, in-depth hard work and consistent practice.

1. Quant: Deep Understanding & Relentless Practice

• Vast Syllabus, Focused Revision: Quant's syllabus is extensive and Aditya found that revision isn't about re-reading notes but about solving as many questions as possible. Arithmetic, for instance, has very few core formulas; the key is understanding their application through practice.
• Hand-Opening Through Variety: To develop speed and accuracy, he covered over 100 questions for every topic within each module, ensuring his "hand opened" and he could intuitively solve problems.
• Open Mindset for Learning: Coming from a non-math background, Aditya approached Quant with an open mindset, focusing on understanding concepts in depth, sometimes solving problems in his head that others needed a full page for.
• Prepare for Anything: He learned from CAT 2022 that one must be ready for any difficulty level, especially in Quant. He advised against preconceptions that the exam would be easy, advocating for preparation for the toughest scenarios.
• Resource Utilization: He heavily used online materials and mocks from multiple coaching institutes rather than relying on specific books.

2. LRDI: Exposure to Diverse Sets & Strategic Selection

• Practice from Day One: LRDI has no set syllabus; success hinges on exposing your mind to a wide variety of sets from the very beginning.
• Extensive Set Solving: Aditya stressed the importance of solving hundreds of LRDI sets (his class covered 400 and he did many more through mocks) to train the mind to respond quickly during the exam.
• Investing Time in Tough Sets: Initially it might take 1.5 to 2 hours to solve a single LRDI set, but this grueling process builds critical problem-solving skills.
• The Art of Picking and Leaving: A crucial skill developed through extensive practice is knowing which sets to attempt and which to skip under pressure. Aditya noted that in CAT 2023 two sets were "very doable" and the ability to identify and solve them quickly was key to a high percentile.

3. VARC: Practice & Critical Reasoning as the Base

• Beyond Theory: After an initial month or two of theory, VARC becomes almost entirely practice-oriented.
• Critical Reasoning is Paramount: Aditya highlighted that improving Critical Reasoning is the foundation for overall VARC improvement, including Reading Comprehension. CR helps in analyzing passages and identifying correct or incorrect options.
• Background is No Bar: Regardless of one's English medium background, consistent practice in areas like process of elimination, strengthening or weakening arguments, and identifying positive or negative cues can lead to high accuracy (70-80%).
• Recommended Resources: For CR and RC practice, GMAT Club resources were suggested.

4. The Crucial Role of Mocks & Analysis

• Not Just Giving, but Analyzing: Aditya emphasized that simply taking mocks isn't enough; in-depth analysis of every mock is critical. Understanding why a question was wrong and revisiting concepts is key to improvement.
• Quantity and Consistency: He recommended a minimum of 40-50 full-length mocks, gradually increasing frequency from weekly to every 2-3 days as the exam approaches.
• Holistic Mock Strategy: When using mocks from a specific company, complete all their mocks to understand their pattern and syllabus coverage rather than picking and choosing.

The Evolving CAT Landscape: Why Hard Work is More Important Than Ever

The CAT exam, much like XAT and other top-tier aptitude tests, is evolving.

• Increasing Difficulty: The marks required for a 99 percentile have dropped significantly over the years (97-98 in CAT 2021 to 73-75 in CAT 2023), indicating increasing paper difficulty even as the number of applicants grows.
• Beyond Surface-Level Questions: The days of solving questions by merely looking at options are largely over. The exam demands deep problem-solving skills and critical thinking.
• Stress Management and Selection: CAT is a test of your ability to manage stress, pick the right questions and leave the wrong ones within a limited timeframe. This skill is honed through extensive practice and experience, not quick fixes.
• Exhaustive Study: No topic is too small to skip; even basic formulas like those for clocks can appear as direct applications, costing crucial marks if overlooked.

Smart Work: A Double-Edge Sword

Aditya strongly believes that smart work only comes after significant hard work has been put in to cover the entire syllabus and build a strong knowledge base. Without that foundational hard work, smart strategies for time allocation become ineffective.

He encouraged aspirants to stay focused on their core study material, avoid excessive distractions from multiple online groups and maintain a positive, balanced mindset throughout their preparation journey.

Final Takeaway: Percentile Over Past

Your CAT percentile is your ticket to a bright future, regardless of your past academic scores. Aditya's journey is a powerful testament that ordinary profiles combined with extraordinary hard work can lead to extraordinary CAT success.

So buckle up, stay motivated and commit to the grind, your dream B-school awaits!

Watch his Podcast: