CAT 2023 Topper Interview “Just be disciplined, regular, and true to yourself” says Pulkit Daga

Congratulations to Pulkit, the CAT 2023 topper, for achieving a remarkable 99+ percentile. Pulkit's dedication to mastering the CAT exam through rigorous practice, strategic time management, and a comprehensive understanding of each section's nuances has undoubtedly paid off. In CAT 2023 Pulkit has secured 99.14 percentile. Pulkit's remarkable achievement stands as a beacon of guidance for future CAT candidates seeking a path to triumph in this competitive examination. In an exclusive talk with Careers360 Pulkit shared his CAT preparation journey and CAT exam day experience.

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Careers360- Congratulations on being one of the CAT 2023 toppers! What was your reaction? Were you expecting this?

Pulkit- Absolutely ecstatic, had a decent exam but wasn't very hopeful considering the difficulty level of the exam this time around. When I saw the result it was a great feeling being in the top 1 percentile aspirants in the country.

Careers360- Tell us something about your background.

Pulkit- I studied commerce in class 12 and pursued Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) from Keshav Mahavidyalaya, Delhi University. I have worked in the Financial Services industry for 2.5 years and have been creating food content for the past 5 years.

Careers360- How was your exam day experience? Which slot did you appear in?

Pulkit- The day of the exam was full of nervousness and anxiety. I appeared for Slot 2 which was the afternoon slot. There was definitely a sense of accomplishment after the exam got over but there was uncertainty as well with regards to what the score would be

Careers360- What was your last-minute preparation strategy for CAT?

Pulkit- Just relax and go through all the formulas once. I spent a maximum of 2 hours studying in the last 24 hours before the exam. The preparation was already done and keeping myself calm at the time was priority.

Careers360- What according to you were the toughest and easiest sections?

Pulkit- The easiest section in CAT 2023 was VARC. It wasn't easy per se, just easier w.r.t the other sections. The Quant this year was pretty tough even as compared to the last few years.

Careers360- How did you tackle your strong and weak areas?

Pulkit- CAT is one exam I consider to be very much dependent on how you manage your time. I had fixed times kept for each part of each section and made sure I was timing it as close as I had estimated. For DILR in particular, I just wanted to complete the first set quickly and give myself enough chance to attempt at least 1 more set correctly.

Careers360- What was your time management strategy for preparation and exam day?

Pulkit- I used to give a lot of mocks during preparation as it gave an idea as to the areas where I was taking considerably more time and gave me an opportunity to rectify that. I took forward the strategies I created for myself while giving mocks to be used for the actual CAT exam

Careers360- Did you take coaching? How helpful was your coaching institute for you? Is it possible to succeed through self-study?

Pulkit- I personally did not take coaching as I personally feel CAT is an exam that requires loads of practice. If you're disciplined enough, you don't require a teacher's constant presence. There are abundant resources available online (that too for free) so I would recommend people to join a coaching institute if they don't feel like they can maintain that consistency themselves.

Careers360- What are the factors behind your success?

Pulkit- CAT is an exam where you need to put in a lot of hard work and have a set study routine. I began my prep by watching a few motivational videos initially to get myself into the groove. Then I collected all the resources I would need to properly start preparing (question banks, concept videos etc.). Eventually it all boils down to how bad you want it and you work towards it. I had quit my job to focus on content creation and CAT prep so that decision was a bit tough for me. My parents supported me throughout and their confidence in me played a huge role in me being in the right headspace

Careers360- Have you started preparing for GD/PI/WAT?

Pulkit- I haven't started preparing for GD/PI/WAT yet as I am currently preparing for the XAT exam in January. I will start the prep as soon as I'm done with this exam.

Careers360- Which other MBA entrance exam have you appeared/appearing for?

Pulkit- This year I gave the SNAP exam apart from CAT. I would also be appearing for XAT.

Careers360- Which is your dream B-School? From which colleges are you expecting a call?

Pulkit- My dream B-schools are IIM Ahmedabad and FMS Delhi. I hope to get a call from both these institutions considering the diversity of my profile as well.

Careers360- What are your hobbies?

Pulkit- I love to eat (do it professionally haha)! I also enjoy sports like TT, cricket. I hit the gym in my spare time and do enjoy the occasional swim. I am also an Avid reader of fiction and non-fiction genres.

Careers360- What were the relaxation and recreation methods you followed amidst CAT preparation?

Pulkit- I used to play a lot of Sudoku while preparing for CAT. It was not only relaxing but also challenging. I used to read half hour before sleeping to reduce my screen exposure just before going to sleep.

Careers360- What is your message for next year's CAT takers?

Pulkit- I would just like to wish the best of luck to all the aspirants for next year's CAT and just consider this a crucial yet one among many exams. CAT is an exam that takes a lot out of you but don't put so much pressure on yourself because there are plenty of OMETs to consider. Just ensure that you are disciplined, regular and true to yourself and the rest will fall into place.