CAT 2021 Result is out and Prakhar Sinha has scored 99+ Percentile with an aim to get admission in the top B-School i.e IIM-A. It was his second attempt and this time he had focused on solving CAT Previous Year Question Papers to crack the exam. Prakhar believes that the best time to start CAT preparation is around June so that you can focus on completing the syllabus first and spend the rest of the time in revisions and solving mock tests.

Prakhar Sinha has also said that reading newspapers is very helpful in solving VARC questions. On the other hand, with the help of various youtube videos, you can learn the tricks to solve DILR questions, and for the QA section, he suggests solving as many questions as you can. Read the success story of CAT 2021 Topper Prakhar Sinha, section-wise preparation tips, and advice to CAT 2022 aspiring candidates.

Interview of Prakhar Sinha: Scored 99.91 Percentile in CAT 2021

Question: When did you begin preparing for CAT 2021? How much time do you think is required to finish CAT syllabus?

Answer: This was my 2nd attempt at CAT exam. I had previously attempted CAT in the 2020 session and scored 98.18 %ile.

• It took me around 1-2 months to complete CAT syllabus.
• After that, I spent the rest of the time practicing CAT previous year’s question papers and attempting mock tests.

CAT 2021 Scorecard of Prakhar Sinha

Question: What was your overall CAT Preparation strategy and How did you manage CAT preparation with the job?

Answer: Since this was my 2nd attempt so I already had an idea about the CAT syllabus that is why it took me only 2 months to complete the whole syllabus.

• Only practiced CAT Mock Tests this time.
• Used to go back after the office and spend 1-2 hours daily to prepare for CAT exam.
• Practiced mocks on weekends

Question: Was there a particular section or topic where you struggled? What strategies did you use to overcome this obstacle?

Answer: DILR was a tricky section and for that, I saw various YouTube videos about different methods to solve the questions quickly.

• Practiced QA by solving different types of questions.
• For VARC, I had focused on daily reading.

Question: Please share your QA, DILR, and VARC section-by-section preparation strategy.

Answer: VARC - I had a good grasp on VARC since I was a child. I have a habit of reading newspapers daily which helped me a lot in solving questions from VARC section.

• DILR - I had practiced different types of questions from all the topics.
• I would look at all the passages first and decide which ones I would attempt first depending on which ones I found easier to solve.
• QA - I had practiced as many questions as I could. If I ever came across a question that I didn’t know how to approach, or I knew would take a long time to answer, I would simply skip it and move on to the next.

Question: Were you ever a member of a coaching program? Do you believe that CAT coaching is required to succeed?

Answer: I was part of TIME coaching institute for the last 2 years, but last year only enrolled for the mock tests program.

• I believe it’s important if it’s your first attempt as you’d be introduced to CAT and syllabus and everything else, but the 2nd time around only mocks should be fine and you should focus on fine-tuning your strategy

Question: Is there a specific book or study material that you used to get an advantage over other candidates?

Answer: Nothing in particular. Just TIME mock tests and other study material that came with it.

Question: How important were CAT Mock Tests in your success? How many CAT practice exams did you take before the exam?

Answer: It took me 1-2 months to learn the syllabus, I spent the rest of the time practicing questions and attempting mock tests.

• CAT mock tests are very important. It gives you an idea of how the exam would be, makes you accustomed to the interface, and also provides you with a gauge of where you stand at an all-India level.
• Having said that, not performing well in the mocks isn’t the end of the world. I know people who scored 95 in their last mock end up with a 98+ and those who consistently scored 98-99 end up with 96 in the main exam.
• Analysis of your errors and mistakes after the exam is crucial so you don’t repeat the same mistakes.

Question: Please share your CAT Exam day plan with us. What kind of last-minute planning did you do? How did you prepare for the CAT exam day?

Answer: Last day before the exam, I revised Quant important formulas.

• Didn’t stress and went to sleep earlier than usual so I was fresh the next day.
• Made sure I had my CAT admit card, photo, ID, and everything else in order.

Question: Do you believe academic background plays a significant part in CAT preparation, and if so, why?

Answer: It might be important for admissions later on, but I doubt it plays a big part in preparation. With sufficient practice, all sections of the exam could be cracked easily which will also help you in scoring high marks.

Question: Which institutes did you apply to for the admission process and why did you choose them in particular?

Answer: My dream is to get into IIM Ahmedabad. I applied to all the top B Schools in India. All the top IIMs, FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, etc. Apart from CAT, I also attempted IIFT and XAT for IIFT and XLRI. I was confident about my preparation and I had this belief in me that all those colleges are attainable. I didn’t want to settle for lower.

Question: What is your preparation plan for the selection processes like GD-PI and WAT rounds?

Answer: My preparation plan for GD-PI and WAT rounds is:

• Brush up on current affairs
• Learn about all the current buzz words
• Prepare for the standard questions asked during interviews
• I gave interviews last year too but wasn’t able to convert them, so I think I am better prepared this time and also looking to ensure I don’t repeat the same mistakes from last year

Question: What advice do you have for CAT aspirants? One essential piece of advice you wish you had known and would like them to have.

Answer: As per my experience -

• CAT isn’t rocket science. However, it’s not a piece of cake either. With dedication and sufficient practice, anyone can crack CAT, irrespective of their academic background. At the end of the day, it’s just an aptitude test. Even if you fail, it’s not the end of the world.
• One thing I wish I had known about CAT earlier was how they didn’t test only your aptitude, but also your presence of mind and calmness. They are known to throw a googly in almost every edition of the exam. The pattern is never fixed. In those moments, all you need to do is take a deep breath and remember how everyone else is also as stumped as you. Just believe in yourself and give your best.

Question: After you finish your MBA, what do you want to do with your life?

Answer: I want to become a consultant, and get a good job in one of the big 3 of the consulting world i.e. BCG, McKinsey, Bain, etc.