On 21^ST May 2024, Ms. Meghna Asuti, Alumni batch 2019-23  delivered an insightful talk on “Belling the CAT: Journey to MBA.” The session covered various aspects of the CAT exam, the process of securing a seat in an IIM MBA program, preparation strategies, result accuracy, and overall insights from her personal journey, culminating in her admission to IIM Bangalore.

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a highly competitive entrance exam for admission into MBA programs at Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top business schools in India. The exam evaluates candidates on their quantitative ability, verbal ability, data interpretation, and logical reasoning skills. The CAT exam comprises three sections:

1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
3. Quantitative Ability (QA)

Each section has a specific time limit, and the overall duration of the exam is 180 minutes (3 hours).

The speaker shared her preparation strategies, emphasizing the importance of:

1. Understanding the Exam Pattern: Familiarize yourself with the types of questions, exam format, and marking scheme.
2. Time Management: Practice managing time efficiently across all sections.
3. Regular Practice: Consistent practice through mock tests and previous year papers.
4. Strengthening Fundamentals: Focus on building strong foundational knowledge in quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, and verbal ability.
5. Joining Coaching Classes: If necessary, join coaching classes for structured guidance and regular assessments.

The CAT exam results are highly accurate, with scores scaled to ensure fairness across different test slots. The percentile system is used to rank candidates, which shows the percentage of candidates scoring lower than a particular score. High percentiles are crucial for securing calls from top IIMs.

The speaker highlighted that achieving a high percentile (usually 95 and above) is necessary to get interview calls from IIMs. However, the specific cut-off percentiles vary each year and across different IIMs.

Ms. Meghna shared her personal journey, starting from day one of her preparation to receiving the admission offer from IIM Bangalore. Key highlights include:

1. Initial Preparation: Starting with self-study and identifying strengths and weaknesses.
2. Coaching Classes: Enrolling in a coaching institute for additional support.
3. Mock Tests: Taking numerous mock tests to simulate the exam environment and improve speed and accuracy.
4. Application Process: Applying to various IIMs and other top B-schools based on her CAT score.
5. Interview Preparation: Preparing for the personal interview and group discussion rounds, which included reading current affairs, improving communication skills, and participating in mock interviews.

Ms. Meghna  disclosed her CAT score, which was in the 99.12 percentile range, enabling her to secure a seat at IIM Bangalore.

The talk concluded with a Q&A session where the alumni addressed queries from aspiring MBA candidates. Her journey was inspiring and provided valuable insights into the CAT preparation process and securing admission to a prestigious IIM.

Glimpses of the event

  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Il8j-RO1HCcJWsqYwNlFupYJrwRposM1?usp=sharing