Where do I start? My CAT journey has been quite a ride. I joined the CAT Preparation iQuanta Group at the end of July. After a few weeks of solving questions, I decided to take the CAT in mid-August. It was a nervous decision, but I felt sure about it.
Math has always been a passion for me. When I couldn’t solve some questions, I felt desperate. Despite taking mocks, my scores were stuck at the 95 percentile range. After one mock where I scored 98 percentile, I realized I had seen a similar question in the group. I immediately contacted Indrajeet to ask about the iQuanta CAT crash course and joined at the end of August.
While working weird hours in an underground mine, I used to take screenshots of iQuanta CAT Classes on my phone. I’d solve them underground or at the office. It wasn’t much, but it kept me in touch, especially with Quant. Just an hour of quant and an hour of another section each day is enough.
Since the results came out, many people have asked me about study hours and the best course. My advice is to join a CAT preparation course and solve as many questions as you can. Don’t worry about comments and just focus on solving problems. Over time, try to complete exercises faster. Two hours of focused study each day is sufficient if you use the time well. You don’t need to quit your job—just find ways to study around it.
The first question most students ask is, “Where do I start?” My answer is simple: join CAT Preparation and take an unprepared mock test before you begin your preparation. This helps in two ways. CAT Preparation shows you your competition and an unprepared mock test shows your starting point and worst-case score. If you score around 65%ile without preparation, you can aim for at least 85%ile in the main exam. However, don’t expect to jump from 85 to 100 as it’s always a gradual improvement.
Another common question is about being weak in English or DI/LR and what to study. I believe strongly in self-study. Practice is the best way to improve your skills. I knew I was weak in DI because I lacked patience. So, I bought a DI-LR book and solved 5 questions a day with a time limit. Once I could stay focused on those charts and numbers, I moved on to mock tests. For DI-LR and VA, taking mocks is very important. The more you take, the better you get. In my first mock in the first week of August, I secured 25 in VA and 34 in DILR. That’s where many students go wrong.
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Logic is something you either understand or you don’t. It can’t be taught easily, which is why many struggle with DILR. However, with practice, you can improve your logical skills and train your mind.
For VA, it may seem tempting to try every question, but you need to focus on where your strengths lie. Only attempt a question if you’re 95% sure, ideally 100%. Building this confidence takes time and practice. The more mocks and comprehensions you do, the better you’ll get.
People may suggest reading more novels, but you only need a good grasp of basic English. VA is mainly about logical analysis and eliminating options based on your understanding. The key is to be professional in your approach. Don’t waste effort when you can achieve the same or better results with less work. Work smart, not hard.
I scored 99.68%, with 99.5+ in both Quant and DI/LR. I only started studying in September. If I can do it, so can you. Believe in yourself and face challenges. Try to practice hard, learn from failures, and keep going. The results will come.
Whether it’s me or iQuanta, the results are visible to everyone. Success doesn’t come easily and you need to work for it. Break conventions and follow your own path. Ordinary people don’t achieve greatness.
By the way, I got an IIM Calcutta offer (other offers don’t matter now).
In the end, don’t lose hope or fear failure. Instead, fear falling behind and not reaching your goals. Let the fear of failure drive you to succeed. My journey has just begun, and yours is about to start. Good luck and best wishes. Cheers!
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