CAT 2023 Topper Interview: "Relaxation Not an Option' for Aspirants" says Suvam Debnath, 99.52 percentile

CAT 2023 Topper Interview: "Relaxation Not an Option' for Aspirants" says Suvam Debnath, 99.52 percentile

Ongoing Event

CAT Application Date:01 Aug' 25 - 13 Sep' 25

Himanshu ShekharUpdated on 27 Dec 2023, 02:27 PM IST

Acing any competitive entrance exam is not an issue for those who are diligent and have a strong will towards their aim. It is a piece of pie for those who are clear about their basics from the very starting of their academic career. Suvam Debnath, CAT 2023 topper who secured 99.52 percentile in CAT 2023 is also of the them who believes “Consistency is the key”. In an exclusive talk with Careers360 Suvam shares valuable insights into the strategies, dedication, and experiences which lead him to exceptional CAT score. This story of CAT topper will inspire and guide other aspiring students to excel in this highly competitive exam.

LiveCAT 2025 Registration LIVE: IIM Kozhikode to close registration tomorrow; IIM admission criteriaSep 12, 2025 | 10:02 PM IST

The Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM Kozhikode) will close the registrations for CAT 2025 for admission to MBA and other management courses for the academic year 2025-26.

If you are looking forward to register for the CAT 2025 for admission to MBA and other management programmes, follow the 6 simple steps given below.

Official Website

  • Go to the official portal of IIM CAT 2025 at iimcat.ac.in.

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  • Graduates who have already registered but haven’t filled the application form yet, can directly register through the ‘registered candidate login’ using user ID and password.

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For new registrations, candidates are required to fill the following given points to complete the registration.

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  • Note: Candidate name should be entered exactly as it appears in 10th/SSC Certificate.
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  • Candidates will have to generate an OTP by clicking on the generate OTP button. They will be redirected to CAPTCHA to fill and submit. To verify the mobile number, enter the OTP received and click on “Validate the OTP” tab. After validation, you will be able to submit the registration form.
  • Registered applicants will receive the User ID and Password on the registered email address and or on the registered mobile number. Overseas candidates will receive both User ID and Password on registered email address.

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Applicants will have to retype the characters displayed in the CAPTCHA box provided. “The CAPTCHA box (as displayed above) is a special set of characters displayed on the screen,” the official notification reads.

Declaration

After filling all the requisite details, candidates must select the “I Agree” checkbox in the Declaration section to enable the submit button. The declaration is for candidates that they are committing to be honest and fair in all their actions and that the information provided in the CAT 2025 Registration Form is correct and true.

“Providing wrong information can lead to the cancellation of your right to appear in the examination or to be considered for the admission process as mandated by the appropriate authority. It is mandatory to agree to the contents in the Declaration to proceed to submit the form,” the notice on the website reads.

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CAT 2023 Topper Interview:
cat 2023 topper suvam debnath

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

Suvam- Thanks a lot! Honestly, while preparing I was aiming for 99.9+ but after horrible DILR on the day of CAT 2023 I was not sure I would even cross 99. Even though I couldn't get my desired results, I am grateful.

Careers360- Tell us something about your background.

Suvam- I am an engineer who was working with tc for about a year then cracked SBI PO and currently working in SBI.

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

Suvam- I was given slot 3. Before entering the exam hall I knew Quants was definitely going to be tough. Even knowing so i don't think i did that great in that section. LRDI was really horrible, 25 mins I was stuck on one set and still couldnt figure out the way. Finally 5 more mins and I cracked the set only to realise I had missed out on one clue. After finishing, I realised the set was actually easy and I thought I had messed up. 33 minutes had already gone by then. Somehow I managed to solve,with lots of guesswork, another set in the last 7 minutes. After coming out of the exam hall i thought i had screwed up my CAT

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

Suvam- Honestly competitive exams like this dont need any last minute prep. Nothing drastic is going to happen. 2 days before, i would advise, avoid taking mocks, read something light or watch a movie.

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

Suvam- I had always found VARC to be interesting and really relatable,(RC passages). LRDI is something thats very unpredictable. Quant looks annoying when there are unnecessary calculations involved.

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

Suvam- I didnt solve as many LRDI sets as I should have. So it remained volatile. For VARC and QUANT I never solved anything else other than sectionals and mocks. Analysis is key.

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

Suvam- I relied only on mocks and being a working professional I couldnt give more time to studies. In Varc My mantra was to attempt everything and leave questions only if i dont know the answers and not because i have less time. Dilr i knew i had to attempt only two sets and this is what i was following in my mocks as well. In quants my aim was to attempt all and leave only the tough or lengthy questions. In quants i never followed any strategy as such it was more like first cum first served.

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

Suvam- I had enrolled inIquanta ABC Practice batch. It doesnt have any lecture videos, only questions from all the topics. If someone is new to this, definitely enrolling in a coaching institute makes sense and saves time. Self study is sufficient when you know the syllabus and structure of the exam really well.

Careers360- What are the factors behind your success?

Suvam- I think consistency.

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

Suvam- I have started to go through basic interview questions and brush up current affairs.

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

Suvam- I have been preparing for other competitive exams as well such as, CGL, NIACL AO. I will be appearing for XAT and CUCET.

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

Suvam- Being a gem it gets quite difficult to accurately predict calls. IIM A,B,C ,FMS, IIT D,IITB, IIFT, MDI, XLRI, TISS are my dream colleges

Careers360- What are your hobbies?

Suvam- I have quite a few. I play basketball. IAm into music production. I love graphic design. I sometimes write poetry.

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

Suvam- Honestly as a working professional and preparing for CAT i didnt have the luxury to spare time for relaxation. But I meditate which helps a lot and take a break from studies or work when i think its getting out of control.

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

Suvam- I would like to say to focus on consistency. Doesn't matter how poor or well you score in mocks. Make sure you wake up the next day with the same enthusiasm and work ethics till the Dday. And dont stuck up on mock scores too much. There's a beautiful quote from bollywood on this. "Raat gayi, Baat gayi".

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Hello

The CAT 2025 exam is a national-level MBA entrance test for IIMs and top B-schools in India. It will be held on 30th November 2025 in computer-based mode across ~170 cities.
The registration is open from 1st August to 13th September 2025 on iimcat.ac.in .
Admit cards will be available from 5th November 2025 onward.
Graduates with at least 50 marks (45 for SC/ST/PwD) are eligible to apply.
The exam tests English, Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude in three timed sections.

Yes, you can pursue an MBA at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow, through the CAT exam.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Educational Qualification: A bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates) from a recognized university.

  • Entrance Exam: A valid CAT score is required for admission.

Admission Process:

  1. Application: Register online through the BBAU admission portal.

  2. Entrance Exam: Appear for the CAT exam and obtain a valid score.

  3. Counseling: Shortlisted candidates will be called for counseling based on their CAT scores.

  4. Document Verification: Submit necessary documents for verification.

  5. Fee Payment: Complete the fee payment to confirm admission.

Course Details:

  • Duration: 2 years (full-time).

  • Specializations: Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, among others.

Placement Opportunities:
BBAU has a strong placement record, with top companies recruiting MBA graduates.

For more details and to apply, visit the  official BBAU MBA admission page

Hello Amgothu

With 305 marks in ICAR PG and being from ST category, your chances of getting an AIEEA (CAT) seat is good, especially in plant sciences and less competitive subjects