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Page 1: GD : AME DECODED - Find- B-Schools, MBA Colleges, … ·  · 2013-12-05An Engineering graduate from BITS Pilani, ... I received final admission offers from all IIM except IIM Ahmedabad.
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Copyright © 2013 Careers360 http://www.bschool.careers360.com/

INTRODUCTION

In our quest to bring all the information that helps you in your preparation of the various B-school

entrance exams, we conducted interviews of the toppers of the popular exams CAT and XAT. This E-

book is a collection of those interviews, which will not only help you in getting the success mantras

of these talented students, but also inspire you to perform exceptionally, because till last year even

these students were aspirants like you.

Today they are sharing their insight on preparation strategy and success tips on how to ace some of

the toughest entrance exams in the country. Who knows, next year you may be the one featuring in

this Book!!!

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Nilesh Gupta – IIM Bangalore

http://www.bschool.careers360.com/cat-2012-topper-nilesh-gupta-interview-cracking-cat-2013

Nilesh Gupta got 99.93 percentile in CAT 2012 and received admission offers from most of the established and new IIMs and other top B-schools like FMS Delhi. He, however, chose IIM Bangalore to pursue his MBA dream.

An Engineering graduate from BITS Pilani, Nilesh worked at Larsen and Tubro for nine months and simultaneously prepared for CAT without any regular coaching. In this interview, Nilesh shares his CAT prep strategy, time management approach and WAT-PI experience. He also speaks on ‘what prompted him to pursue an MBA’ and ‘why he chose IIM-B over the other options’. Interview: Careers360: What was your CAT percentile? Which B-schools offered you final admission? Nilesh Gupta: I got an overall 99.93 percentile in CAT 2012. Careers360: Which B-schools offered you final admission? Why did you choose IIM Bangalore? Nilesh Gupta: I received final admission offers from all IIM except IIM Ahmedabad. A plenty of reasons led me to choose IIM Bangalore over other colleges. Firstly, the brand IIM is irreplaceable, which is why I rejected the admission option from FMS Delhi. Secondly, Bangalore being a hub of marketing was a natural choice for me over a finance stressing IIM Calcutta. Finally, IIM Bangalore is quite popular for its extra-curricular life which I believe is really important for a holistic development. Careers360: Why and when did you decide to do MBA? Nilesh Gupta: The choice of doing an MBA cannot be attributed to a specific time/phase of my life. It was a gradual transition which occurred over the years and a lot of factors were involved. Firstly, I am a restless soul with a lot of varied interests and only MBA gives me the freedom to pursue them all. Secondly, once I started working in the core industry, it taught me how important it is to do an MBA to climb up the ladder fast in any organization. Careers360: What was your overall strategy for CAT preparation? Nilesh Gupta: Firstly, introspection is very important. I was always sure that I needed to work really hard on QA and LR. Having prepared for GRE earlier gave me a natural advantage in VA whereas DI

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was more of fast math. So don’t stick to rule books but work out your own strategy. Friends or teachers who know you really well can also help in this regard.

I have also noticed that a lot of us spend our entire time preparing for QA and neglect other subjects in the process. QA accounts for only 25% of the total marks, of which almost 10% fall in the ‘very easy’ category. Other sections need a lot of practice as well and though personalization is suggested, a bare minimum for all the sections is necessary. Careers360: Please share your WAT/PI experiences? Nilesh Gupta: I would rate my IIM Bangalore PI as the most interesting interview I have faced till date. The day started with a lot of anxiety as usual. WAT topic was purely opinion-based and I was satisfied with my attempt as I started with a quote, maintained a good flow and made an impactful conclusion. But the best part was yet to come. I was called inside and things proceeded normally revolving mainly around the SOP (Statement of Purpose) I had submitted. Though I was barraged with a few tough questions, it went on smoothly.

Moving straight to the last part, the panel noticed that I have been actively involved in theatre. So they asked me to shout on them as badly as possible. It had to be so realistic that the candidates outside get petrified. I was not even allowed to reveal that it was a prank and stormed out of the building after the act. Thus, it was a truly unique experience. Careers360: Do you think it is possible to crack CAT without taking formal coaching? What would you suggest the CAT 2013 aspirants who would like to prepare without any formal coaching? Nilesh Gupta: It is definitely possible to crack CAT without formal coaching as happened in my case. But I won’t understate the need of Test Series and study material. I started the preparation around 3 months before the exam. Though I was poor in QA as well as LR, but a rigorous study schedule filled with a lot of practice tests brought a drastic change in my performance. As far as study material is concerned, all books are almost at parity. But for tests, I would suggest you join any institute which gives you a national platform to test yourself. Careers360: You were a working professional while preparing for CAT. How did you manage the CAT preparation within your regular schedule? Nilesh Gupta: I started preparing for CAT as soon as I joined work. Since I was a trainee, the limited amount of work load helped a great deal. I would suggest everyone to start the preparations as soon as they enter a job. There are multiple reasons for this:

a) You get a lot of free time in the beginning and things only get tougher as time passes

b) Sooner or later, work becomes very monotonous in a lot of jobs. Also, MBA really helps you accelerate your career. So unless you are really passionate about your field, start today.

c) Setting a rhythm in the beginning is very important

I was also lucky to get tremendous support from my colleagues and superiors. Hence, it is very important to maintain cordial relationships with everyone in the office.

Careers360: What was your strategy for time management for the CAT? Nilesh Gupta: I was very clear about few things regarding time management. In the first section, I attempted all the QA questions which I could clearly solve in the first sight and marked a few which were doable but with a little more thought. Then I got back to the marked questions. I could solve

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some and left the rest, proceeding to the DI section. This section needs a lot of patience and I ensured that I left no question just because of lengthy calculations. Luckily, I was still left with time after all DI questions and spent the last few minutes reviewing the paper.

In the second section, I attempted all ‘Fill in the blanks’ i.e. ‘Vocabulary-testing’ questions first. Then I moved to Para-jumbling and so on before moving to LR. Once everything was done, I started reading the paragraphs and could solve some before the final bell. Careers360: What is your message for the MBA aspirants who will take CAT 2013 and other exams of the season? Nilesh Gupta: I have just one message to share: ‘Take it easy’. This is the only mantra which distinguished me from other candidates whom I met at my CAT test centre. I wouldn’t take the credit for being cool as the major reason behind this was that my expectations were pretty low. But when I look back, that helped me immensely. In a country with such a huge talent pool, making it to the top 0.1% definitely needs a stroke of luck. For every bad attempt, there is always a next one. I have batch mates with more than 10 years of experience which clearly signifies that patience is the key.

So gear up your shoes, prepare really hard but remember you have nothing to lose, as writer Chetan Bhagat quotes: “Be sincere, not serious”.

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Lovin Mahajan – IIM Rohtak

http://www.bschool.careers360.com/cat-topper-interview-iim-rohtak-student-lovin-mahajan-

shares-preparation-strategy

Lovin Mahajan, scored 99.89 percentile in CAT 2012 and proved that it is possible to crack CAT even with 4 months in hand. However, it needs complete focus, determination and zeal. Lovin shares his strategy and experience of his journey of CAT for destination IIM.

Lovin is a B.Tech in Electronics and Electrical Communication from Punjab Engineering College (PEC),

Chandigarh. He got placed by Schneider Electric but chose to take CAT which took him to IIM Rohtak.

Excerpts of the interview.

Careers360: What led your decision to join the MBA bandwagon? What are your career plans post MBA? Lovin Mahajan: I first thought about taking CAT during my third year at PEC. But at that time I was determined to gain 2 years of experience before appearing for CAT. When my Schneider Electric joining date was extended by 6 months, I decided to go for CAT. After my post graduation, I want to pursue a career in Finance. Careers360: What was your CAT 2012 score? Did you take any other MBA entrance exams? Lovin Mahajan: I scored an overall percentile of 99.89. Apart from CAT I had taken IIFT, SNAP and NMAT exams last year. Careers360: What was your initial and overall preparation strategy for CAT 2012? Lovin Mahajan: I had only 4 months to prepare for CAT 2012, so it was important to plan it. As I did not have any other commitments, I was able to utilize this time efficiently. I covered the syllabus in 3 months and then focused on mock CATs and revision. Careers360: How was your experience of the Common Admission Process conducted by the new IIMs? Lovin Mahajan: The Written Ability Test (WAT) had an abstract topic. I wrote an essay of 2 pages with examples. In the PI round, there were 3 male professors. Most of the questions were either technical (related to my graduation) or about current affairs. Some of the questions were:

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What is your favourite subject in Electronics? Truth Table for NOR and XOR gate and their applications? What is Digital Signal Processing and how it differs from Digital Design? Estimate the number of people driving red cars in Bangalore. Some questions on 2G Scam and recent auction of 3G Spectrum. Which newspapers do you read and today’s headline? (Followed by some cross questioning) Why MBA?

Careers360: Which B-School calls did you convert and what made you accept the IIM Rohtak offer? Lovin Mahajan: I was offered admission by MDI, DMS-IIT Delhi, IIM Rohtak and IIM Kashipur. I opted for IIM Rohtak over MDI and IIT Delhi because studying in an IIM had been a dream since I picked up the books for CAT. I had a tough time deciding which institute to join but after visiting IIM Rohtak campus and speaking to the seniors, all my doubts were cleared. I now know that I took the right decision. Careers360: Is it possible to crack CAT or other MBA entrance exams without taking formal coaching? What is your take and suggestions for the self study aspirants? Lovin Mahajan: I believe that it is difficult to crack CAT without taking formal coaching. Coaching institutes’ modules, test series, workshops are of immense help. Even if someone doesn’t want to take full time coaching for CAT, appearing for All-India mock test series is a must. It helps you assess your preparation and the areas you need to focus more. Time management is very important i.e. how to attempt maximum questions in 70 minutes. Mock tests play an important role in learning this. In my first mock CAT, I could solve only 13/30 questions in QA & DI Section but as I appeared for more and more mocks, the number of attempts increased and accuracy improved. Careers360: How did you manage your CAT preparation along with your regular schedule? Lovin Mahajan: I was not working when I started preparing for CAT, as my joining was postponed by 6 months. I had enough time to prepare for CAT. I devoted 4 months for CAT preparation. That helped me a lot since I did not have to juggle my schedule between studies or work. Careers360: What was your section wise preparation strategy for CAT? Lovin Mahajan: I have always been good at Mathematics, so I did not face much problem in the Quantitative section. Here the main focus was to understand the basics and practice as many questions as possible within a time limit.

In Data Interpretation questions, a lot of calculation is involved. So approximations and Vedic mathematics helped a lot.

For Verbal Ability, I used to learn 15 to 20 new words from the vocabulary builder every day. For Reading Comprehension, it is important to read articles from diverse topics like politics, sports, philosophy etc.

For Logical Reasoning section, I concentrated more on analytical reasoning part as it was my strength after Quantitative Ability. Careers360: CAT has sectional time limits. How did you manage that aspect? Lovin Mahajan: CAT is all about time management. It is important how you distribute those 70 minutes across 30 questions. For Section 1, I made sure that I don’t spend more than 3 minutes for any question. Sometimes, I got engrossed in solving a question and lost track of time. I made sure

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this does not happen. If I thought a question would take time but can be solved, I used to ‘mark’ that question and review it in the last 5 minutes. The Data Interpretation questions are time consuming, so I usually kept the last 25 minutes for DI.

For Section 2, I used to solve the analytical reasoning questions first. Since there are 3 AR sets, 8 to 10 minutes for a set is enough. Since the direct vocabulary, sentence correction and rearrangement questions can be done quickly, I attempted these questions after Analytical Reasoning followed by RCs. For RCs, I never solved all of them. I used to select 2 passages based on my strengths, length of the passage and the type of questions asked. The time should be managed so that one can have a look at all the 30 questions in each section. Careers360: Any message you would like to share with the CAT 2013 aspirants? Lovin Mahajan: First of all, start attempting mock CATs as soon as possible and analyze the results. Analyzing the number of questions not attempted and reasons for the same can help you improve your performance with every mock test. While practicing, set a time limit for the questions to improve your speed and to maximize the number of attempts.

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Sudha Datla – IIM Rohtak

http://www.bschool.careers360.com/cat-topper-interview-sudha-datla-iim-rohtak-shares-success-mantras

Sudha Datla, a 99.48 percentile scorer in CAT 2012 is currently a first year student of IIM Rohtak. She shares her experience of preparing for CAT 2012 and getting selected in IIM Rohtak.

Sudha is a B. Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Hyderabad. She worked in Cognizant Technology Solution (CTS) for 10 months as she wanted to get a hands-on experience in a corporate organization before gaining knowledge on management. She got calls from IIM Lucknow, IIM Rohtak and IIM Kashipur. Excerpts from the interview. Careers360: When did you decide to go for MBA and why? Sudha Datla: During my engineering course, I realized that I wanted to do something more challenging. I felt a management profile would suit me better. I decided to do an MBA as a change in career. Though I was sure about management, I was not sure about the field. From my experience at IIM Rohtak so far, I feel I made the correct career decision. Careers360: Have you decided about your career course after the completion of your MBA from IIM Rohtak? Sudha Datla: After my post graduation in management from IIM Rohtak, I would most probably go for Strategy Consulting as that is my area of interest. Careers360: What was your score for CAT 2012? Did you take any other MBA entrance exams? Sudha Datla: My CAT 2012 percentile was 99.48. I had my eyes fixed on IIMs, so I appeared for only CAT. Careers360: Which are the B-School calls which you converted and what were the factors behind choosing IIM Rohtak? Sudha Datla: I was offered admission to IIM Lucknow-ABM, IIM Rohtak and IIM Kashipur. I did not want to narrow down my career scope by choosing Agri Business Management, so it had to be either IIM Rohtak or IIM Kashipur. After a lot of research, I chose IIM Rohtak. Careers360: What was your preparation strategy for CAT and how did it change over the time?

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Sudha Datla: Though I wanted to go for a management profile, I wanted to work in a corporate for a couple of years before that. I wanted to know how it is to be an employee, so that as a manager I can have a better understanding. I first appeared for CAT in 2011 and prepared from a few CAT books. I scored 98.9. The next year when I appeared for CAT, I managed to score 99.48.

Scoring high in CAT is just half the journey; there is still the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Group Discussion Personal Interview (GDPI) left. Since interpersonal skills were my weak point, I focused on it the most. WAT/GDPI carries a lot of weight in the final selection. They can drastically change your position so far. Hence WAT GDPI needs a lot of focused and thorough preparation. Careers360: How did you prepare for the Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning sections? Sudha Datla: The only strategy I followed was to keep solving from CAT practice books on both the sections, correct and learn from it. Careers360: What was your strategy for time management for the CAT time bound section pattern? Sudha Datla: While writing the CAT exam, managing time is very important. There is a chance that one loses the track of time while trying to solve a problem. Whenever I felt a question was taking more time, I skipped it for the time being and later came back to it after finishing all other problems. Careers360: How were your WAT and GDPI rounds at the various B-schools that you received calls from? Sudha Datla: I attended the WAT/PI of IIM Calcutta and GD PI of IIM Lucknow. Let me share the experiences in detail.

IIM Lucknow: When we sat down for the GD round, they handed out sheets with the topic written on it. We were asked to jot down our ideas on the paper and hand it over in 5 minutes before the panel discussed on the same topic for 15 minutes. The topic was pretty abstract. I could see most of the panel members (including me) having blank faces wondering where to start with. I managed to write a decent essay after structuring my thoughts. The GD had 10 panel members and I managed to contribute valid un-repetitive points for about 2.5 minutes in 3 intervals. Also I tried to bring the group to focus on the topic when it was digressing.

For the PI round, there were two interviewers, both male. They did not ask many questions from my B. Tech course. They asked questions which I neither prepared for nor anticipated. It was a stress interview and I managed to keep my cool and give reasonable answers. They asked me to explain my work and also asked how a locomotive works. My interview ended in 15 minutes.

IIM Calcutta: The WAT topic was a relatively easy one and there were many points to cover.

In the interview, they asked standard questions like ‘Tell us about your-self’, ‘What are your hobbies’, ‘Tell me about this Indian fishermen and Italian Navy issue”. They also asked a lot of questions about my B. Tech course. Careers360: Is it possible to crack CAT without formal training? What is your suggestion for the CAT 2013 aspirants who are not taking coaching? Sudha Datla: Cracking CAT with or without formal coaching, I believe is solely based on the individual. If the aspirant is naturally good at aptitude, he or she can practice at home and it might suffice. But if someone appeared for CAT already and scored around 80 to 95 percentile, I would

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suggest them to take formal coaching as it would be of great help in increasing speed and learning shortcut techniques to solve standard format problems. For everyone, formal coaching would definitely give an edge to crack a hard nut like CAT. Careers360: What did the rest of your day’s schedule comprise apart from CAT preparation? How did you balance time? Sudha Datla: I was working as an IT professional while I prepared for CAT 2012. Since it was my first year at work, and I being from an Electrical background, I had to do a lot home work to keep up with the group performance. This hampered my CAT preparation a lot. But I believe my job itself which required a lot of analysis and quick learning, helped me hone my aptitude skills which indirectly helped me with the CAT. Also, there was quick math mobile game, which I played a lot. I believe this strongly helped me in increasing my speed and accuracy of calculations. I felt a major hurdle when I was preparing for WAT and GDPI as it needed a lot of dedicated time and effort, which I could not put in due to my work. Reading the newspaper daily helped me greatly for my IIM Calcutta interview, where I was asked about current affairs. Careers360: What is your message for the CAT 2013 takers? Sudha Datla: For CAT, I would suggest aspirants to focus on quick and accurate solving. There is nothing to be scared of. It is elementary Math and English. But keeping cool is the mantra. All the hard work done will go waste if you do not focus during the exam.

During the exam, it is important not to panic as it would lead to silly mistakes. Solve the problem at one go, you will not have time to come back and check again.

For the WAT and GDPI rounds, I would suggest working aspirants to take at least a week off to prepare the basic material about your-self, your aspirations and goals in life and to refresh your UG syllabus. Also, read newspaper every day, especially the editorial and try to form opinions of your own. All the best!

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Pooja Pai – FMS, Delhi

http://www.bschool.careers360.com/cat-topper-interview-pooja-pai-fms-delhi-tells-how-crack-cat-

2013

Pooja Pai scored 99.89 percentile in CAT 2012 and is currently pursuing MBA from Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), University of Delhi. Pooja shares her preparation strategy on how to crack CAT 2013, experience of GD PI and preparation tips for CAT 2013 aspirants.

Pooja is a Computer Engineer from Sardar Patel Institute of Technology Mumbai, her hometown. She was in her graduation pre final year when she started her CAT preparation. She converted the calls of new IIMs and FMS.

Excerpts from the interview: Careers360: What was your main objective behind pursuing MBA? What is your aspiration? Pooja Pai: I decided to go for MBA in my pre final year of graduation, when I thought a blend of technology and business works well for me.

After MBA, I want to get into strategic consulting, and climb the corporate ladder steadily. I believe FMS sets the platform well for me. Careers360: How did you perform in CAT 2012? Apart from CAT 2012, which were the other MBA entrance exams you took? Pooja Pai: I scored 99.60 percentile in CAT 2012, with 99.89 in Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning section and 94.94 in Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation section. Apart from CAT 2012, I took XAT 2013 in which I scored a 98.99 percentile. I did not take any other exams as I was applying only to the IIMs, FMS, XLRI and SP Jain Institute of Management & Research. Careers360: What was your preparation strategy for CAT 2012? Pooja Pai: I prepared for CAT 2012 by joining coaching classes a year prior to the CAT exam, and put in a major part of the day for about 2 months. My overall strategy was to put in consistent effort as I had heard from seniors that it was all about practice and smart solving. Hence, I used to practice a few questions whenever I could, so as keep in touch with the multi-choice objective format. Careers360: Based on your CAT 2012 scores, which B-schools shortlisted you and how was your GD/WAT/PI experience?

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Pooja Pai: I got calls from IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, FMS, XLRI and 6 new IIMs. Most of my GDs revolved around different aspects and implications of economy in India. IIM Lucknow was an abstract GD on the airline industry. With Personal Interviews, it was a lot to do with the forms I filled or the CV I carried along. Apart from that, I was asked about concepts that I learnt in engineering and their practical relevance. Also, I was quizzed on current affairs. A few HR questions (Tell me about yourself, strengths, weaknesses, etc.) always entailed. In IIM Lucknow I had a stress interview, entirely based on abstract figures that I was expected to know (Suicide rate of India, length of a cricket pitch, etc.) Careers360: What were your final converts? Why did you choose to join FMS? Pooja Pai: I got a final admission offer from a couple of the newer IIMs and FMS. I chose FMS because it was my best convert. Careers360: What is your take on self study for CAT? Please share the strategy on how to crack CAT 2013 through self study. Pooja Pai: I think it is a very subjective question. It is not that these concepts in CAT are new. They are probably taught in school. However, the approach taken and time required to solve play a major role in cracking CAT. Expertise in these aspects comes only with consistent practice. So, if a CAT 2013 aspirant is willing to put in this extra mile of effort without someone monitoring or teaching him how to go about it; it is not impossible from him or her to crack CAT 2013. However, if you are a person who needs constant guidance, then formal coaching is the way to go. Careers360: How did you manage the CAT preparation with your regular schedule of graduation studies? Pooja Pai: I was a student, I prepared for CAT through my pre-final and final year. I used to travel for about 2.5 hours a day 8 hours of college, followed by assignments, projects and journals to work on. However, I managed to squeeze in time for CAT coaching and homework as well. I tried solving in my travel time. Even solving a few questions in between lectures would help. Vacations were a blessing in disguise; I worked on CAT for a major part of the day, all through the month of vacations. Careers360: Please share your preparation strategy for the Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning? Pooja Pai: With Quantitative Ability section, being an engineer always helps. The Math background leverage is significant. However, those shortcuts still needed to be learnt. Plus, CAT is known for its twists. So, I had to be adequately prepared for such questions. Again, practice was the key. With verbal, somehow I was better than one would expect an engineer to be, as stereotyped among candidates. But, I had to improve a lot on my reading (skimming) skills for the comprehension questions. Grammar questions also had to be dealt with as the colloquial grammar in India is a tad different from the expected grammar in CAT. Overall, a lot of reading (on the screen, not on paper) helped condition me for the verbal section especially for the computer based CAT. Careers360: CAT is now a sectional timed exam. What was your strategy for time management in this regard? Pooja Pai: I would suggest one needs to identify his strong and weak spots in both Quant and verbal. Since CAT involves negative marking, one simply cannot bluff his way out. So, one might as well work accordingly and try to solve all the questions that one is confident with, before moving on to tougher ones. Shortcuts are absolutely essential; tables, reciprocals, fractions, skimming, approximations, etc. But, it is equally essential to be very familiar with them (and their origin), not just know them. Careers360: What is your advice for the MBA aspirants who will take CAT 2013 and other MBA

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entrance exams on how to crack CAT 2013 and other exams? Pooja Pai: I would suggest them to either take formal coaching, or start structuring their preparation foremost. Next, they should learn the concepts and relevant shortcuts. Also, they should attend all India mock tests. These tests help them gauge themselves across potential candidates, thus helping them know the amount of improvement they need to show. Again as I say, practice is the key. There is nothing more to CAT than consistent effort and smart work. Most of the exams will have more or less the same sections. Knowing current affairs is a must, as some exams have a dedicated section for GK. Also, they help in building your content for GDs and PIs.

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Koundinya Nellutla – FMS, Delhi

http://www.bschool.careers360.com/cat-topper-interview-fms-student-koundinya-nellutla-shares-

success-mantra

Koundinya Nellutla, scored 99.79 percentile in CAT 2012 and is a first year student of Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), University of Delhi.

Koundinya hails from Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. He pursued B.E in Electronics and Communications Engineering from Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology, Hyderabad. He has 8 months work experience at Cognizant Technology Solutions, Hyderabad. He has selected FMS, Delhi from an array of top B-schools such as DMS, IIT Delhi, MDI Gurgaon and 4 new IIMs.

Excerpts from the interview:

Careers360: Why and when did you decide to do MBA? Koundinya Nellutla: I had decided to do MBA in 3rd year of engineering. I have an inclination toward selecting MBA because my elder brother is an MBA. That is human tendency to follow the footsteps of one’s elders. Personally and briefly speaking, I like the work managers do and the responsibilities they undertake. Additionally I feel that the growth that MBA offers is more when compared to the growth the other fields offer.

Careers360: How did you start the preparation and what was your overall strategy? Koundinya Nellutla: I had started preparing for CAT in my 2nd year even before deciding about taking the exam. I started with my favourite topics, Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Ability. After joining in an MBA coaching institute I realized what my weak areas were. I worked on them and took help from my brother and my lecturers without whom I wouldn’t have been in FMS. As lecturers have immense knowledge and experience in cracking CAT, I took their suggestions and followed them without fail. Careers360: What is your CAT 2012 percentile? Which other MBA entrance exams did you take? Koundinya Nellutla: My overall CAT 2012 percentile was 99.79. I scored 99.98 percentile in Section 1, Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation as that was my forte and 86.24 percentile in Section 2, Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning.

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Apart from CAT 2012, I wrote XAT 2013. I secured 98.26 percentile in total in XAT 2013. Careers360: Please share your Group Discussion and Personal Interview experience in detail. Koundinya Nellutla: My GD topic was “Increase in social expenditure and Decrease in military expenditure”.

There were around 14 people in our group. The experience was good. I chipped in reasonably good number of times. I’ve put across sensible points. Duration of GD was around 15 minutes.

There were three panelists for the Personal Interview round. It went on for 5 minutes.

The Extempore topic was “Journey of life”. It was for one minute. After that, I was asked about my interests. Questions were asked on them.

Careers360: Apart from FMS, University of Delhi, Which B-schools offered you final admission? Why did you choose FMS? Koundinya Nellutla: I had converted calls from IIT Delhi, MDI Gurgaon and four of the new IIMs.

FMS has lot of experience in teaching MBA to students. The knowledge I can gain is immense from such an experienced institute. It has location advantage. Batch size is low. When speaking in terms of placements, they are exceptionally well even in the gloomy economic scenario. I think these are enough reasons to choose FMS Delhi.

Careers360: Do you think it is possible to crack CAT without taking formal coaching? What would you suggest the CAT 2013 aspirants who would like to prepare by themselves? Koundinya Nellutla: I won’t say that aspirants who will not take formal coaching will not make into a good B-School, but given the competition outside, it is not at all a wise decision not to take training and put one year at risk. Careers360: Were you a working professional or a student while preparing for CAT? How did you manage the CAT preparation in your regular schedule? Koundinya Nellutla: This is my second attempt of CAT. My first attempt was in my 4th year of engineering. I didn’t face any problem in managing my regular academics as my friends helped that time. Then for the second time, I joined CTS in September. By that time I started revising the concepts. Careers360: What was your preparation strategy for the Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning? Koundinya Nellutla: May be because I was interested in Quantitative Ability and to some extent, Data Interpretation, I didn’t find difficulty in solving the questions from these areas. I prepared from the material which my CAT preparation institute provided. Same is the case with Reasoning. I worked only on the problems given in the material. I never went for extra material which was available in the Internet. I faced lot of difficulty in verbal section. I used to read The Hindu newspaper. I asked my lecturers to give me extra material so that I can work on them. I completely solved all the questions in the material, both given by the institute and lecturers. Careers360: What was your strategy for time management for the CAT pattern? Koundinya Nellutla: I used to attempt QA questions first and then DI in section 1. In section 2, I

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used to attempt Logical Reasoning first and Verbal Ability part second. Practice tells you your weaknesses and strengths. Based on that, you can decide how much you want to spend on each section. Careers360: What is your message for the MBA aspirants who will take CAT 2013 and other exams of the season? Koundinya Nellutla: My first suggestion for the future managers is to be disciplined. Listen to what lecturers say and follow their suggestions as they have seen thousands of aspirants. They know, by observation, how the problems can be solved. Solve all the questions that are given in the material. Don’t leave any of the questions from your study material. It gives you an idea how a problem can be solved when you are still in middle of the problem reading it.

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Ravi Chandrakar – IIM Bangalore

http://www.bschool.careers360.com/how-i-cracked-cat-iim-bangalore-student-ravi-chandrakar-

shares-success-tips

IIM Bangalore student Ravi Chandrakar talks on his CAT preparation strategy and time management approach.

Luck does play a role in the exam but do not expect it to favour you unless you really deserve it, says Ravi who graduated from BITS Pilani (Goa Campus) and worked with HSBC Bank and Capital One before joining management programme at IIM Bangalore.

In this interview with Careers360, he also shares insight on how he made it to one of the top B-schools in India. Interview: Careers360: How did you start CAT preparation and what was your overall strategy? Ravi Chandrakar: I started preparing for CAT in 2009, when I was in college. I was always good in Quant and DI. Also my speed was very good in attempting the questions. After 2009, I did not put much effort except for joining test series before exam and regularly giving the exam. Careers360: What was your CAT percentile? Ravi Chandrakar: My overall percentile in CAT 2012 was 99.58. Careers360: Which B-Schools offered you final admission? Why did you choose IIM Bangalore? Ravi Chandrakar: I got admission offers from IIM B, C, L, K, and all new IIMs. I selected IIM Bangalore because of more experienced peer group in class. Also I was in Bangalore for last 2.5 years and have many friends in Bangalore. Careers360: How was your WAT/PI experience at IIM Bangalore? Ravi Chandrakar: My WAT/ PI rounds for Bangalore were good. It was mostly related to my work experience and my industry. Careers360: What would be your suggestion for CAT 2013 aspirants who are depending on self-study? Ravi Chandrakar: I think CAT can be cracked without a formal coaching. Self-motivation, regular

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practice and forming a study group can be keys to success. One should be able to access his/her performance which is more important as a feedback mechanism for regular improvement. Careers360: Were you a working professional or a student while preparing for CAT? How did you manage the CAT preparation within your regular work schedule? Ravi Chandrakar: When I was student, I had enough time other than my regular class work. During my professional life, I did not spend much time on preparation, I used to attend mock exams on the weekends, and study online preparation material for 2-4 hours a week. Careers360: What was your preparation strategy for the Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation and Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning? Ravi Chandrakar: I learned the structured approach for Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Ability in coaching which I took during my college days. After such basic preparation, keeping in touch with the subjects was not hard. For Verbal Ability, I tried reading material but reading English was never my cup of tea. So, my English skills improved during my professional life. Careers360: What was your strategy for time management for the CAT pattern? Ravi Chandrakar: Practice hard before the exam so that your speed is really good.

Before attempting any question, analyse whether it can be solved quickly or it will take time; then decide whether to attempt now or at the end. Careers360: What is your message for the MBA aspirants who will take CAT 2013 and other exams of this season? Ravi Chandrakar: Hard work will be the key to success. Practice as much as you can. Luck does play a role in the exam but do not expect it to favour you unless you really deserve it.

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Animeha Singh – XLRI Jamshedpur

http://www.bschool.careers360.com/xat-topper-interview-animeha-singh-xlri-student-gives-tips-

xat-2014

Animeha Singh scored a whooping 99.96 percentile in XAT 2013 and converted the call of XLRI Jamshedpur at ease. In this Careers360 interview of XAT Topper, Animeha shares her experience and preparation strategy to crack XAT 2014.

Animeha is an Economics graduate from Miranda House, University of Delhi. Apart from academics, her passion lies in public speaking, social work managing and reading blogs and online magazines.

Excerpts from the interview: Careers360: What motivated you to pursue MBA and where do you want to see yourself after completing the course? Animeha Singh: I have always been ambitious. I learnt very early that I want to be my own boss and see myself heading my own venture and to do that I felt that the all-round knowledge that the MBA degree provides would aid me in my endeavour. After I complete my MBA, I plan to take up a job in the field of either Strategy or Consulting to obtain industry experience. Careers360: When did you start your XAT preparation and how did you strategize your study plan? Animeha Singh: I started my preparation in my 3rd year, roughly six months before I was due to take the

CAT. My overall strategy was very simple. I identified my weakness (Quantitative Ability) and focused on improving my performance in that section. Regular study was at the top of my priority list and I think that has made all the difference. Careers360: What is your XAT 2013 percentile? Apart from XAT which were the other exams taken by you? Animeha Singh: I scored 99.96 percentile in XAT 2013. Apart from XAT, I took the CAT and NMAT. Careers360: How was your GD & PI experience at XLRI? Animeha Singh: The topic of my GD for the Business Management course selection process was ‘Effects of Globalization on Indian Culture’. Overall the level of discussion was average with a few easily excitable people and at points multiple people were speaking simultaneously. I contributed

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with three substantial points which directed the flow of the GD. Overall I was happy with my performance.

My PI went really well. Being from a non-engineering background, I knew I had a definite edge and my XAT score was very good as well. I was asked a lot of questions related to the subjects I had taken in my Undergraduate level. The interview then steered towards why I wanted to pursue my MBA and went on to the life experiences that I’ve had that would help me during my pursuit of an MBA degree. Finally I was asked a few questions on my background and my hobbies. Overall it was a very good interview because I was in my comfort zone and I knew what I was saying. I was myself. Careers360: Which B-schools offered you final admission? Why did you select XLRI for pursuing MBA? Animeha Singh: I was offered admission to NMIMS Mumbai and XLRI. I chose XLRI for two very simple reasons:

a) XLRI has a brand image that only a few other colleges in India can compete with

b) The teaching faculty and curriculum are the best in India.

Many other factors, like placement records etc., did contribute to this choice as well. Careers360: What is your opinion about self study? What would be your message to those XAT aspirants who are not taking formal training? Animeha Singh: Of course it’s possible to crack any competitive exam without formal training but joining a coaching centre gives the average aspirant a sense of direction and a structure to the way one should study. Coaching centers also expose you, in part, to the kind of competition one will be facing and helps in keeping one motivated.

I have just one piece of advice for the XAT 2014 aspirants who would like to prepare by themselves: Do join some test series at least three months before you are about to take your CAT or XAT. You can only gauge your own performance through properly evaluated tests. Also, remain focused. Careers360: How did you balance your XAT preparation with your regular schedule? Animeha Singh: I was a student while preparing for XAT. I made it a point to put in two hours every day for preparation. I took out two hours whenever possible. It’s not easy but it had to be done. Careers360: What was your preparation strategy for the various sections of XAT? Animeha Singh: I knew I was weak at Quant so I focused more on that section and studied Quant rigorously. My VA was strong so I did not have to put in additional effort to prepare for that section. To write essays, one must read a lot. I used to read the newspaper daily and read magazines like Outlook and Time whenever I could get my hands on them. I also used to practice essay writing once every two days. That helped keep me in touch with penning down my thoughts effectively and succinctly. Careers360: What was your strategy for time management required for the XAT pattern? Animeha Singh: XAT has too many questions and too little time. Faced with such a situation, I used to read the question quickly and my preparation had equipped me with being able to gauge whether I would be able to solve the question or not. I only attempted those questions that I was absolutely sure about solving. That made me improve my accuracy and helped save on time as well.

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Careers360: What would you like to tell the MBA aspirants who will take XAT 2014 and other exams of the season? Animeha Singh: The key word for all aspirants should be ‘Focus’. It’s a highly competitive world and to do well, you must desire to do so. Regular study will see you through.

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Aditya Tiwari – XLRI Jamshedpur

http://www.bschool.careers360.com/xat-topper-interview-aditya-tiwari-cracking-xat-without-

coaching

Aditya Tiwari scored 99.81 percentile in XAT 2013 and is currently pursuing Business Management in XLRI Jamshedpur.

Aditya is a BE in Electronics and Communication Engineering from NIT Surathkal. He has around 2 years work experience in Tata Motors as Design Engineer.

Excerpts from the interview. Careers360: Why and when did you decide to go for MBA? What is your plan for the future? Aditya Tiwari: During the early years of my engineering course I realized that I would like to take on a challenging role in a technology driven organization. The knowledge I acquired during the course of my engineering provided a fantastic foundation through which I could grasp and imbibe the various technical aspects of my job. The work I did was very interesting and threw up new challenges every day. However my role was extremely specific and it was difficult for me to get an overview of the functioning of my organization. I decided to pursue an MBA because I believe that the knowledge and insights which I gain through the course would allow me to contribute to any organization far more effectively and take on more challenging roles. Also, I believe that an MBA would help me get a clearer career progression path and give me the opportunity to interact with a large number of fantastic people across several industries.

Post my MBA, I intend to take on a strategic or a commercial role in a technology driven organization. Careers360: What was your score for XAT 2013? What were the other MBA entrance exams which you had taken? Aditya Tiwari: I scored 99.81 percentile in XAT 2013. Apart from XAT 2013, I had taken CAT 2012. Careers360: Which institutes did you get a call from and why did you choose XLRI? Aditya Tiwari: I converted the call from IIM Kozhikode along with XLRI Jamshedpur. I chose XLRI because apart from being one of the best B Schools, it offers a unique MBA experience and also has a very well established network of alumni across the world.

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Careers360: How was your initial and overall preparation strategy? Aditya Tiwari: I started preparing in March. I did self study from various MBA entrance preparation books, preparation material by coaching institutes like T.I.M.E., Career Launcher and periodically referred to some websites to strengthen my core concepts.

I took ample mock tests and analyzed each mock thoroughly after the exam. The aim was to avoid repeating mistakes across the different tests. In my opinion taking a test series is very vital because it helps you formulate a strategy to tackle the time constraint in competitive exams. Before the XAT exam I took all the past year papers and analyzed my weaknesses across different sections, especially the decision making section. Careers360: How did you prepare for the XAT sections and essay writing? Aditya Tiwari: For the Verbal and Quantitative Ability sections, the test series helped me strengthen my concepts. For the Decision Making section I referred to the past papers of XAT. For essay writing, reading articles from magazines like The Economist and Forbes India helped me a lot. To improve their writing skills, aspirants could refer to “On Writing Well” by William Zinsser. Careers360: What was your time management strategy for the XAT paper? Aditya Tiwari: Since XAT doesn’t have a sectional time limit, I tried to allocate equal time for each section and during the exam I focused on attempting the easy questions first. I avoided guessing the answers and minimized the negative marking. Careers360: Please share your GD/PI experience of XLRI in detail. Aditya Tiwari: My GD topic was ‘Women rights are not respected in India.’

The GD went for 12 minutes and we were given 2 minutes to organize our thoughts. Everyone got adequate opportunity to air their views. It was important to make sure that you have clear perspective on the topic and are able contribute 2 to 3 good points to the group.

In my interview round, I was asked a lot of questions based on my work experience. It is important to make sure that you have a positive body language during the interview and you should always take some time before giving your answers. You should also be able to articulate your thoughts well. Careers360: Did you take any formal coaching for the exam? What is your advice for the candidates who are taking the exams without coaching? Aditya Tiwari: I didn’t take any formal coaching during the course of my preparation for XAT. It is not impossible to crack XAT or any MBA entrance exam without formal coaching provided you work hard enough to make it possible. It is very important to allot at least 1 to 2 hours every day to prepare for XAT and also ensure that you are extremely relaxed prior to the exam. Careers360: What was your strategy to manage and balance the schedule for XAT preparation and other activities of the day? Aditya Tiwari: I was working at Tata Motors prior to joining XLRI. It is important that an aspirant identifies his peak performance hours and schedule their study plans accordingly. Even for a working professional it is important that he finds a balance between his work and studies. Careers360: What is your advice for the XAT 2014 aspirants? Aditya Tiwari: My message to the aspirants is to work hard and not to worry too much about competition. I wish them good luck for XAT 2014.

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Mayank Sarkar – XLRI Jamshedpur

http://www.bschool.careers360.com/xat-topper-interview-mayank-sarkar-xlri-shares-how-crack-

xat-2014

Mayank Sarkar scored 99.88 percentile in XAT 2013. He shares his strategy to crack XAT with the XAT 2014 aspirants.

Mayank is a Civil Engineer from NIT Bhopal. He has always maintained a high academic score, be it his board exam results or XAT 2013. He has 9 months work experience in The Louis Berger Group Inc. as Infrastructure Consultant. Mayank is currently pursuing PGDBM from XLRI Jamshedpur. Excerpts from the interview: Careers360: What are the factors which enthused you to go for MBA? Mayank Sarkar: It was in my second year of engineering that I realised that I wanted to pursue MBA.This was primarily because I recognised the fact that I wanted to contribute to the field of infrastructure development and along with my technical knowledge, I need business outlook as well. Considering these factors, I decided to give MBA a shot. Careers360: What is your plan after you complete your MBA? Mayank Sarkar: I want to contribute to India’s growth story by working in the business development vertical of an organization in this field and an MBA would enable me in taking this up. Careers360: What is your XAT 2013 percentile? Which other MBA entrance exams did you take? Mayank Sarkar: I scored 99.88 percentile in XAT 2013. I also took CAT 2012. Careers360: Which B-schools offered you final admission? What made you select XLRI? Mayank Sarkar: Only XLRI offered me final admission. But I am extremely pleased with the results as XLRI has always been among my dream B-schools. Careers360: Please share your initial and overall preparation strategy for XAT 2013. Mayank Sarkar: Firstly I would like to tell that XAT 2013 was not my first attempt of this MBA entrance exam. My first XAT attempt was in 2012, after having taken up a one year course from a coaching institute but I was unable to get a call. I decided to take another attempt at XAT by focusing more on taking mock tests as my concepts were already clear. I took 2 to 3 tests a week but the

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most important part was analyzing the paper and identifying my strengths and weaknesses. Careers360: What was your section wise and essay writing preparation strategy? Mayank Sarkar: Quant was my strength so I attempted numerous sectional tests to improve on speed and accuracy so that I am able to capitalize on my strength. For Data Interpretation, I picked up two books from my local book store and solved them cover to cover. They exposed me to numerous types of sets.

Decision Making (DM) was a particularly weak area for me. But, after working for an organization I could easily crack the questions based on ethics. The best source of questions on DM would be previous year papers.

For GK, all I did was read the newspaper very religiously. Read all sections of the newspaper as this will help you in preparing for the essay as well. While practising previous year papers ensure that you attempt the essay after finishing the objective section. Careers360: How did you manage time during the XAT exam? Mayank Sarkar: Personally, I was the most comfortable with solving Quantitative Ability first so that I can maximize the time for the remaining sections. After Quant, I attempted DI and left my weakest section for the end.

I would like to suggest the XAT 2014 takers that do not keep any fixed time limit for any section as the sectional difficulty level varies every year. Think on your feet and customise your strategy to the difficulty level of the paper. Careers360: How did the GD and PI rounds go at XLRI? What is your advice for the aspirants who would face the panel next year? Mayank Sarkar: My GD had 13 students with only 20 minutes given for discussion. It was a good discussion with intelligent points being raised by everyone. Occasionally, it turned into a free for all. Each of us was given 30 seconds in the end to summarise our points. My advice would be to utilize this time really well.

My PI was extremely extensive. They covered topics from my graduation, work experience, Indian legislature, Hindi movies to Indian wage laws. They also asked me questions from my file of certificates. I was able to answer enough questions to convince the panel of my abilities. Based on my interview, I would advise you not to have any preconceived notions about the interview content. You must think on your feet besides having prepared well. Careers360: There are several aspirants who do not have the means to go for regular coaching. Do you think it would be possible for them to crack XAT 2014 by self study? What is your advice for them? Mayank Sarkar: XAT is renowned for its high difficulty level. It becomes even tougher to crack XAT or other standard MBA entrance exams without taking any formal coaching. Attending classes and giving mock tests helps in benchmarking yourself and instils a healthy competitive spirit within you, hence it’s always better to go in for this option.

Those who want to prepare by themselves should purchase self-study modules of any coaching centre, join multiple test series and practice previous year papers while keeping in mind the cut-offs. Attempt at least 50 full length papers and analyze them well. Concentrate on your weak areas but do not forget to enhance your strengths in the process.

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Careers360: Were you studying or working while preparing for XAT 2013? How did you manage the XAT preparation within that schedule? Mayank Sarkar: I was working while preparing for XAT. As a civil engineer my job was extremely strenuous but I made sure that I studied for at least 2 hours on weekdays as it is very important not to lose touch. Nevertheless, I relaxed with a good book on Fridays to be able to recharge for the weekend. Over the weekend I attempted mock tests and analyzed them. I reworked my strategy keeping the latest developments in mind like introduction of the General Awareness section. Careers360: What is your message for the MBA aspirants who will take XAT 2014 and other exams of the season? Mayank Sarkar: Keep yourself motivated and have faith in your abilities as it is very easy to lose hope after a disappointing mock test. Attempt as many mocks and past year papers as possible. If you are giving multiple entrances then make sure you customise your preparation for every exam as all papers have a different pattern.

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Anjul Rajoriya – XLRI Jamshedpur

http://www.bschool.careers360.com/xat-topper-interview-xlri-student-anjul-rajoriya-shares-

success-strategy

Anjul Rajoriya scored 99.87 percentile in XAT 2013 and currently pursuing MBA in HRM from XLRI Jamshedpur. Anjul is a B. Tech from IIT Kanpur. He has 3 years of work experience in Analytics and Software.

Excerpts from the interview:

Careers360: When and how did you decide to pursue MBA? Anjul Rajoriya: I decided to go for MBA for two broad reasons. Firstly, I believe MBA offers a lot of opportunities and options in terms of career. I wanted to explore these opportunities and find what I would like to do. In this ever changing job market, I believe it is good to have such flexibility especially if you have long term perspective in mind.Secondly, while working I realized that I have an inclination towards business as I am able to understand business situation, identify problems and solve them through common sense. However, a formal degree in business would certainly enhance my capabilities. So after working for 2 years I decided to go for an MBA.

Careers360: What is your plan after you complete your MBA? Anjul Rajoriya: After MBA, I intend to work in corporate houses to get the feel of how business is done in India.

Careers360: When did you start your XAT preparation and what was your preparation strategy? Anjul Rajoriya: I started my preparation in January 2012 by joining T.I.M.E. classes. My strategy was to complete the courseby April-May, so that I could thereafter focus on mock tests and improve on my test taking ability.

Careers360: What is your XAT 2013 percentile? Did you take any other MBA entrance exams? Anjul Rajoriya: I scored 99.87 percentile in XAT 2013. Apart from XAT, I also took CAT 2012.

Careers360: How was your GD/PI experience at various B-schools which had shortlisted you? Anjul Rajoriya: I attended about 5 group discussions. Most of them had about 12-15 people in a group. The topics given were very generic and our opinion and participation was evaluated. Most of them were of 15-20 minutes. Usually only 1 or 2 out of each GD group makes it to the final list. I had realized that in a GD, 3 attempts were enough to make your presence felt and that it was important

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to remain calm and look for an opportunity to enter the discussion and that is exactly what I did in all my GDs. Multiple attempts but weak points will not be of much help.

Careers360: How many B-School calls did you convert? What made you choose XLRI Jamshedpur? Anjul Rajoriya: I got final coverts from SPJIMR Mumbai and XLRI Jamshedpur. XLRI is a very reputed B-School. It is the leader in HR domain in the country and when I got the offer for the same, I went ahead with XLRI.

Careers360: According to you, is it possible to be successful in XAT without taking coaching? What is your suggestion to such XAT 2014 aspirants? Anjul Rajoriya: I believe it is good to have training, though not essential. Nevertheless in a competitive world, it is best to leave no stone unturned and having a formal coaching. It also depends from one aspirant to another. For all aspirants, I would suggest if not classroom coaching then do join a test series at least as it is always important to see where you stand in the competition.

Careers360: How did you manage the XAT preparation within your regular work or study schedule? Anjul Rajoriya: I was working and that is why I started early in January. I used to go to morning 6 am to 8 am classes in weekdays and then used to revise and practice over weekends. Once my basic concepts were done, I started focusing on test series.

Careers360: What was your section wise and essay writing preparation strategy? Anjul Rajoriya: The initial strategy was to identify my strength and weakness. My strength was Quant section and weakness was Verbal. So the formula was simply to maximize my strength and work on my weakness. For Quant, there were certain chapters which were easy to crack like Time & Work, Series, Equations. Then there was Number system and geometry which needed a lot of practice to get a good grip of. I used to scan the questions in initial 2 minutes and then start attempting them so that I don't leave any easy one unattempted. In Verbal, I used to attempt grammar first as it took lesser time and then would try to add to my score by attempting only those RCs in which I was sure of the answers. For Reading Comprehension, I used to read the paragraphs with intent to understand the context, the idea behind themand then used to start attempting the questions.

For essay writing I wrote the keywords that came to my mind after seeing the topic.I took 5 minutes to organize my thoughts and then started writing. My motto was to convey my idea with reasoning and supporting examples in few lines within 20 minutes scheduled time.

Careers360: What was your strategy for time management for the XAT pattern? Anjul Rajoriya: I divided the time according to my strengths. I started with Verbal Ability questions and then moved to Decision making. So for 30 questions I gave around 40 minutes. Then I attempted DI for 20 minutes and Quant for the next 30 minutes. Next was the Analytical Reasoning section which took about 20 minutes. I utilized the remaining time in going back to the section I was confident in and where I had left a few questions unanswered. I tried not to leave RC or DI sets for last 30 minutes.

Careers360: What is your message for the MBA aspirants who will take XAT 2014 and other exams of the season? Anjul Rajoriya: Start early and practice as much as you can. Discuss in groups so that you can share your problem solving approaches. For example I used to do a particular type of question in

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methodical way in 2 minutes while my friend used to solve the same orally in 30 seconds. Sharing your strategies with each other can only add to improving each other’s overall performance.

Careers360 wishes you Good Luck for the upcoming B-school Exams!!!

We hope next year your interview features in this E-book!!!


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