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

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.

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".