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

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.

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!