Amity University Noida MBA Admissions 2025
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CAT 2024 Topper Aryan Ray Interview: In the fiercely competitive world of management entrance exams, Aryan Ray has emerged as a shining star. Securing an awe-inspiring 99.99 percentile in CAT 2024, Aryan has captured national attention, especially for his flawless performance in the Quantitative Aptitude section, where he achieved a perfect 100 percentile. A combination of relentless dedication, strategic preparation, and an innate knack for problem-solving has placed Aryan among the elite ranks of CAT toppers. In this exclusive interview, Aryan shares his journey, preparation strategies, and the mindset that led to his remarkable success.
CAT 2024 Result Controversy: Aspirants Claim Error in VARC Answer Key
Careers360 - Congratulations on your 99.99 percentile and perfect 100 in Quant! How does it feel, and did you expect this result?
Aryan - Thank you so much! Honestly, it still feels surreal. I had expected to perform decently in Quant since it's always been my strong area, but a perfect 100 percentile and an overall 99.99 percentile were beyond what I had envisioned. The result feels like the cherry on top of what started as an uncertain journey.
Careers360 - Tell us a bit about your academic and professional background.
Aryan - I am currently in my final year of B.Tech at IIT Delhi. Alongside academics, I’ve been teaching mathematics to JEE and competitive exam aspirants for over three years, including offline and online roles. Teaching has not only been a passion but also a major professional commitment for me. I’ve also dabbled in projects involving global math olympiads and edtech startups, which have helped me build a strong foundation in problem-solving and analytical thinking.
Careers360 - How was your exam day experience, and which slot did you appear in?
Aryan - My exam day was calm, thanks to minimal expectations. I appeared in the second slot. I went in with the mindset of just doing my best and treating it like another mock test. This relaxed approach probably played a big role in managing my nerves and optimizing my performance.
Careers360 - What was your strategy to achieve a perfect 100 in Quant? Any specific techniques or resources?
Aryan - The key was consistency and efficiency. I focused on sectional mocks, previous years' questions (PYQs), and a lot of timed practice to optimize speed. Instead of chasing too many resources, I stuck to a few but made sure I mastered them. Concepts were always clear since I’ve been teaching math for years, so the focus was more on exam temperament and time management. In my first mock I scored 40+, although the accuracy was high but I couldn't attempt all and the target was always to achieve a perfect score, with time I got consistent and scored 60+ in most of my final mocks.
Careers360 - Which section did you find toughest, and which was easiest? How did you handle the pressure?
Aryan - VARC was the toughest for me because I struggled with accuracy in RCs. I tackled it by focusing on key passages and not overanalyzing. Quant was the easiest, thanks to my math background. During the exam, I stayed calm and focused on maximizing accuracy rather than attempting everything.
Careers360 - How did you work on your weak areas while maintaining strength in Quant?
Aryan - VARC and LRDI were my weaker sections, so I dedicated more time to them. For VARC, I practiced timed reading comprehension passages daily to improve focus and accuracy. I started reading newspapers and articles to increase my attention span. For LRDI, it was all about exploring varied sets to improve adaptability. I balanced this by revisiting Quant regularly to ensure I didn’t lose my edge.
Careers360 - What was your time management strategy during preparation and on exam day?
Aryan - Preparation was about dividing time equally between weak and strong areas, with extra focus on mocks. On exam day, I prioritized easier questions first and left tricky ones for later, ensuring I didn’t lose time on anything uncertain.
Careers360 - Did you take coaching? How helpful was it? Can self-study work for CAT?
Aryan - No, I didn’t take formal coaching, but I sought guidance from peers and relied heavily on self-study and test series. Self-study can definitely work for CAT exam, provided you are disciplined and have the right resources. However, coaching can help with structure and guidance if you’re struggling to stay on track.
Careers360 - What key factors contributed to your success?
Aryan - Consistency, a strong Quant foundation, and exam temperament were the major factors. Beyond that, having supportive parents and mentors like Stuti Lohani who encouraged me when I doubted myself made all the difference.
Careers360 - Have you started GD/PI/WAT preparation? What’s your plan for these rounds?
Aryan - Yes, I’ve started with current affairs, introspecting on my journey, and going to start practicing mock interviews soon. My focus is on presenting a clear, authentic story while improving structure and confidence in responses.
Careers360 - Did you appear for other MBA entrance exams? How did you manage preparation?
Aryan - No, my entire focus was on CAT.
Careers360 - Which B-schools are you targeting, and where are you expecting calls from?
Aryan - I’m targeting the IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta. Based on my percentile, I’m hopeful of getting calls from these institutes.
Careers360 - What are your hobbies, and how did they help during preparation?
Aryan - I’m an active member of the IIT Delhi Music Club and love singing. Music has always been my stress-buster—it kept me relaxed during intense prep phases.
Careers360 - How did you relax and stay motivated during CAT prep?
Aryan - Music was my way of unwinding, but honestly, I didn’t have much time to relax or get demotivated. Teaching kept me busy and gave me a sense of purpose, which naturally kept me motivated throughout the journey.
Careers360 - What advice would you give to CAT 2025 aspirants, especially for excelling in Quant?
Aryan - Focus on building conceptual clarity and practicing timed questions. Stick to a few trusted resources and revise them thoroughly. More importantly, maintain consistency and believe in yourself. On exam day, treat the paper like another mock to keep nerves at bay.
Hey Paridhi ,
I hope you are absolutely fine. As per your mentioned query , you have to understand the exam pattern first. Its syllabus, the type of questions and so on. Here i am mentioning some tips i hope this will be helpful for you.
To know more you can refer this :
https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/cat-preparation-strategy
Revert for further query!
Good luck !
Hello Abhishek,
No, you cannot take admission into B. Tech Marine Engineering at CUSAT if you do not take the CAT 2025 exam. CUSAT CAT is a mandatory exam for admission into all undergraduate programs including B Tech Marine Engineering. Admission to the program will only be possible for candidates with valid CAT scores.
Hi aspirant,
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a highly competitive exam, and practicing sample questions is essential for efficient preparation.
Kindly refer to the link attached above for the sample papers.
All the best!
Hello,
States you can apply in (B-category/management quota):
Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry. All allow non-domicile students for private colleges.
Approx MBBS fees (per year):
Telangana: Rs. 12–15 lakh
Andhra Pradesh: Rs. 12–18 lakh
Karnataka: Rs. 15–20 lakh
Tamil Nadu: Rs. 15–22 lakh
Kerala: Rs. 7–8.5 lakh
Karnataka registration:
Closed in Feb 2025. Likely to reopen for mop-up/stray rounds in June–July 2025.
Kerala registration:
Closed in March 2025. Stray round expected in June–July 2025. Dates not announced yet.
Hope it helps !
Dear Aspirant
Your rank at eleven thousand eight hundred eighty seven under the OBC reservation has a strong chance for admission to the Computer Science Engineering (CSE) program at one of the three CUSAT campuses The exact seat depends on opening and closing ranks for CSE in each campus and the round of counselling
CUSAT campuses offering BTech CSE
• School of Engineering Thrikkakkara – flagship campus in Kochi
• CUCEK Kuttanad – second campus in Alappuzha district
• Lakeside campus does not offer CSE so only two campuses are relevant
Previous closing ranks under OBC quota for CSE
• Thrikkakkara campus closed near rank one thousand
• CUCEK Kuttanad closed around six thousand two hundred in 2024
Your likelihood with rank 11887
• Thrikkakkara campus is unlikely as CSE closes much lower than your rank
• CUCEK has potential since closing ranks in recent years have extended into the high six thousands
• Seats may remain open in later rounds so you may gain admission at CUCEK
Other CSE seat possibilities under OBC
• School of Engineering might open seats in spot or mop up rounds if higher ranked students do not confirm
• CUCEK will likely accept OBC candidates up to rank one two thousand to thirteen thousand
• Keep an eye on real time counselling as closing ranks may shift downward with seat cancellations
Alternative branches and campuses
If CSE is not available at CUCEK you may consider similar branches like Electronics and Communication Engineering Information Technology Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering closing beyond twelve thousand under OBC
You may also add interdisciplinary programs or lateral entry courses available in Lakeside or Thrikkakkara depending on available seats
Counselling strategy recommendations
• Register and fill choices on the CUSAT admissions portal in all counselling rounds
• Place CUCEK CSE as a high preference followed by ECE or IT at Thrikkakkara or CUCEK
• Monitor round wise closing ranks through the portal or official communications
• Participate in mop up and spot rounds where seats are more likely available near your rank
Key considerations
• Cutoffs decrease between rounds allowing more opportunities in later phases
• OBC candidates compete within their category reducing competition compared to open rankings
• CUCEK is your best target campus for CSE at your rank under OBC
• You must have all documents ready like previous marksheet category certificate and CUSAT admit card for verification
Let me know if you would like a suggested list of choices tailored to your academic interest or want help tracking counselling round data
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