CAT 2024 Topper Interview Sujay Srivastava; 99.94 percentile: Preparation Strategies, Challenges and Tips

CAT 2024 Topper Interview Sujay Srivastava; 99.94 percentile: Preparation Strategies, Challenges and Tips

Ongoing Event

CAT Application Date:01 Aug' 25 - 20 Sep' 25

Himanshu ShekharUpdated on 15 Jan 2025, 03:33 PM IST

Meet Sujay Srivastava, a remarkable individual who aced the CAT 2024 exam with an impressive 99.94 percentile. An entrepreneur at heart, Sujay is the founder of Ravvio, a cutting-edge startup specializing in AI applications for sales and customer engagement in the BFSI sector. A proud graduate of IIT Madras, Sujay holds a dual degree: a B.Tech in Engineering Design and a Master's in Quantum Computing, both completed in 2024. When not pushing the boundaries of AI or preparing for competitive exams, Sujay finds joy in playing the guitar, blending creativity with analytical brilliance. In this interview, Sujay Srivastava shares insights into their journey, preparation strategy, and aspirations for the future.

LiveCAT 2025 Registration LIVE: IIM Kozhikode extends registration till September 20; MBA admission criteriaSep 13, 2025 | 9:43 PM IST

Candidates applying for CAT 2025 should keep their documents, including Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, a valid photo ID, graduation certificate, work experience proof (if applicable), and any other relevant papers, ready as these will be required during the registration process.

Read More
CAT 2024 Topper Interview Sujay Srivastava; 99.94 percentile: Preparation Strategies, Challenges and Tips
CAT 2024 Topper Interview Sujay Srivastava 99.94 percentile Preparation Strategies Challenges and Tips

Careers360 - Congratulations on being one of the CAT 2024 toppers! What was your reaction? Did you expect this result?

Sujay - Thanks a lot! It is a great result, and I am happy about it. I got more than expected in Verbal and slightly less than expected in Quant, so overall I was quite pleased with my results.

Careers360 - Can you tell us a little about your background?

Sujay - I did my secondary schooling in Pune. After that, I secured admission in IIT Madras, where I pursued an integrated Bachelor of Technology in Engineering Design and master's in technology in Quantum Computing. I got a DAAD scholarship in my final year to pursue my master's thesis in Leibniz University Hannover, Germany. I intended to pursue a PhD but instead started my startup Ravvio with my college friend Nithin. At Ravvio, we make AI software to help improve sales and customer engagement in BFSI sector. Currently, working full-time leading the tech and the product for our startup.

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

Sujay - I appeared in the afternoon slot 2. One good thing was I didn’t have to wake up very early for the exam. The exam center was 20-25 km away, but the facilities and the processes there were smooth and streamlined. My overall exam experience was smooth.

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

Sujay - I just pulled a previous year's paper and solved questions from there. It prepares me to expect the level of difficulty the CAT exam asks for and ensures that my test-taking skills are sharp and I will not start the exam slowly.

Careers360 - In your opinion, which sections were the toughest and the easiest?

Sujay - In my opinion, quant was the toughest section and DILR was the easier than the previous few years with 3 easy passages out of 5.

Careers360 - How did you approach your strong and weak areas during preparation?

Sujay - I took CAT 2022 and scored 48 in quant (99.92 sectional percentile) but only 18 in Verbal (83 percentile), so it was clear I needed to work on my English. I put special emphasis on getting the accuracy right in the RC passages as that is the majority of verbal paper.

Initially, I made many mistakes, but refining my approach and consistent practice helped me develop a better understanding of how to get answers right. With more practice, I learned to identify the key parts of the passage quickly, which reduced the time spent analyzing it and allowed me to attempt most of the questions more effectively.

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

Sujay - I referred to Arun Sharma’s guide on RC to help in the right approach to RC and improve my accuracy.

It’s crucial to allocate limited time to each section. For RC passage, you can’t spend more than 7 mins on a passage, if you do, you can’t finish the paper on time.

For DILR, these sets are usually puzzles or scenarios that need solving, and once the puzzle is cracked, the questions become straightforward

My early preparation should focus on building the ability to solve puzzles accurately. While practicing, you’ll notice that every detail mentioned in the set is useful/important in solving the puzzle. One should start by following the solution manual and replicating the process until you’re confident in solving on your own.

Once confident, shift focus to time management. With 4 sets in a 40-minute section, aiming to solve all sets in 10 minutes each is challenging and rare. Instead, set realistic goals—start with 30 minutes per set and gradually work towards faster solving. Reaching 20 minutes per set is excellent progress. I managed to reduce my time to about 12-13 minutes per set, allowing me to solve three sets fully and score roughly 75% of the marks.

Initially, prioritize accuracy over speed—mastering the puzzles first will naturally lead to faster solving.

Overall, most of my preparation was solving the previous year’s papers and analyzing the solutions for each question I couldn’t solve. Also, once closer to the exam, timed practice becomes very important.

Careers360 - Did you take coaching? How helpful was your coaching institute? Do you think it’s possible to succeed through self-study?

Sujay - No, I did not take coaching for CAT. I was working full-time on building my startup, Ravvio, and spent minimal time preparing for the exam.

Yes, I believe it is possible to succeed through self-study, but you should keep some points in mind:

  • If your fundamentals in a section, like quant, are weak, coaching can be helpful.
  • Coaching teachers have valuable experience and insights about the exam, which can provide effective guidance.
  • You may find it better to study and discuss with peers.

If you feel you have good fundamentals, can develop your own strategy, and are a self-motivated learner, it’s alright to prepare without one.

Careers360 - What factors do you believe contributed to your success?

Sujay - First, a solid background in mathematics gave me a strong foundation for CAT. Second, my habit of reading books significantly helped. Lastly, having a resilient test-taking mindset allowed me to stay calm during the exam and perform to the best of my abilities.

Careers360 - Have you started preparing for GD/PI/WAT? If yes, what’s your strategy?

Sujay - It’s still early in the process, and I’m currently connecting with people at IIMs to understand the interview process and how best to prepare. Reach out to students from your dream college, learn from their interview experiences, and reflect on why you aspire to join that institution.

Careers360 - Which is your dream B-school?

Sujay - My dream B-schools are IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta, but I may not join immediately due to my commitment to building my startup, Ravvio. A deferred admission, like the one offered by IIM Ahmedabad, would be an ideal option, allowing me to consider joining next year.

Careers360 - What are your hobbies?

Sujay - I've been learning to play the guitar for over a year now and feel proud of the progress I've made. I also enjoy playing football and staying active through exercise.

Careers360 - What is your message for next year’s CAT aspirants?

Sujay - To all CAT aspirants: The next exam is a year away, and a lot can be achieved in this time. Stay consistent, follow a solid plan, and regularly evaluate your progress. Prioritize a healthy diet, proper sleep, and unwavering focus—this might mean cutting down or quitting social media.

Aim higher than your target score to account for tricky sections or an off day. With focus and dedication, you'll be unstoppable. Wishing you all the best—may you secure a place in your dream college!

Articles
|
Certifications By Top Providers
Online MBA Business Analytics
Via Centre for Distance and Online Education, Anna University, Chennai
Corporate Law
Via National Law University, New Delhi
The Science and Business of Biotechnology
Via Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
Online MBA
Via Centre for Distance and Online Education, Anna University, Chennai
Management of Commercial Banking
Via Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
Strategic Management
Via Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
Udemy
 703 courses
Edx
 467 courses
Swayam
 236 courses
Emeritus
 231 courses
Explore Top Universities Across Globe
University of Essex, Colchester
Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQ
Oxford Brookes University, Oxford
Headington Campus Oxford OX3 0BP UK
Northumbria University, Newcastle City Campus
Sutherland Building, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST
Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff
Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YB
University of Reading, Reading
Whiteknights PO Box 217 Reading Berkshire RG6 6AH
Bristol Baptist College, Bristol
The Promenade, Clifton Down, Bristol BS8 3NJ

Questions related to CAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CAT ?

Hello Aspirant,

Since your payment status shows "S" , it means your payment is successful. The "payment unsuccessful" message on the form is likely a temporary system error or a delay in updating.

Do not make another payment.

Making a second payment could cause a double debit, which is difficult to get a refund for. You should:

  1. Wait 24-48 hours for the status to update automatically.

  2. Download and save a copy of your form and a screenshot of the "S" payment status as proof.

  3. Check your bank statement to confirm the money has been debited.

  4. If the issue is not fixed after 48 hours, contact the official CAT helpdesk immediately with your transaction details.

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