CAT 2025 Topper Interview: Maahee Goda Scores 99.20 Percentile in First Attempt

Quick Facts: CAT 2025 Topper – Maahee Goda

• CAT 2025 Percentile: 99.20

• CAT 2025 Attempt: First

• Academic Background: BBA (Final Year)

• Strong Section: VARC (99.3 percentile)

• Mocks Taken: AIMCATs (along with other test series)

• Dream B-School: IIM Ahmedabad

• Other Exams Appeared / Appearing: SNAP, XAT, MAH MBA CET

Early Reaction on CAT 2025 Result

Careers360: Congratulations on being one of the CAT 2025 toppers! What was your reaction? Were you expecting this?

Maahee: Thank you! Given how tricky the exam was, I wasn't initially expecting this score. While my predicted percentile moved to 99+ after the final answer key, I was still anxious about the Quantitative section's cutoff. Seeing that I cleared it on December 24th was a moment of pure joy. I had always dreamed of this result, but seeing it become a reality was truly surreal.

Academic & Personal Background

Careers360: Can you tell us a little about your educational and personal background?

Maahee: I am currently a final-year BBA student at Pune University. Academically, I’ve been a consistent performer since school, though I’ve always found math to be a challenge. In fact, the Quants section was my biggest fear going into the CAT. However, by focusing on a solid strategy and consistent preparation, I was able to overcome that weakness and turn the tables in my favour.

Careers360: What got you interested in the management domain and this examination?

Maahee: I entered the BBA program after a career detour, but my interest in the field grew rapidly. I believe a business mindset is essential for success in any profession, so an MBA has always been part of my plan. After seeing the experiences of students from elite IIMs on LinkedIn, I was inspired to begin my CAT preparation.

Careers360: How long have you been preparing for the CAT 2025? Was it your first attempt?

Maahee: This was my first attempt. I joined T.I.M.E. in July 2024, and while a hectic college schedule made self-study difficult initially, I made sure to attend all my classes and take mocks regularly to stay on track. My dedicated preparation began in July 2025 with 1–2 hours of daily study, which I scaled up to 6–7 hours a day in November as the exam approached.

Exam Day Experience & Slot Strategy

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

Maahee: I appeared in the third slot. Being in the evening slot made the day quite anxious, so I used a 4-2-6 breathing technique and chanted the Shiv Mantra to stay focused. Even at the centre, I avoided communicating with other students and stayed focused on my breathing. This calm mindset was crucial—it allowed me to stay composed during the exam and ultimately helped me achieve this score.

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

Maahee: The night before the exam, I reviewed my cheat sheets and formulas to keep everything fresh. I also mentally rehearsed my attempt strategy to ensure I stayed disciplined and didn't deviate from my plan under pressure.

Section-wise Difficulty & Performance

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

Maahee: I found VARC the trickiest. Despite it being my strength, I struggled with accuracy during the exam. However, my prior practice took over, and I managed to score 99.3 percentile.

DILR was the easiest section for me, though set selection was a challenge. I initially lost 20 minutes on the wrong sets, but I was able to recover by solving two full sets correctly in the remaining time.

Handling Strengths & Weaknesses

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

Maahee: Strong Area- VARC: I maintained consistency in practising RCs daily for 6 months. Amit Rohra sir, from Unacademy, was my favourite mentor for VARC. His tricks and methods are ideal for accuracy in VARC. I aimed to improve my net score via VARC.

Weak Area-Quants: I am terrible at maths. It took me 20 mocks to identify my strong topics in quants. I practised every question of that topic that had featured in the PYQs (2017-24). My aim here was to pass the sectional cutoff. I prepared a cheat sheet of all the important formulas and questions, topic-wise, and revised them daily in the last week.

Time Management & Mock Strategy

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

Maahe: VARC: 2 min Scanning + RC 1( 10 min) + RC 2 (8 min) + VA (8 m) + RC 3 (5 m) + RC 4(5 min) + Rechecking (2 m)

DILR: Scanning- selection of 2 sets( 5 m)+ Set 1 (15 m) + Set 2 (20 m)

Quants: solve 8 questions - 40 min. If unable to crack the question in 1 min - leave it. Maximum 3 min / question

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

Maahee: I had joined T.I.M.E. The institute played a big role in my success. The study material, the faculty, especially the Mocks and its Analysis, they are amazing. T.I.M.E.’s mocks are the best. I have tried all other mocks, none of them match the quality of T.I.M.E. AIMCATS. I owe my Quants score to Sagar Sir (Quants faculty at T.I.M.E. Nashik).

It is possible to succeed through self study, but you should have immense dedication. You can view free youtube videos of Unacademy, PW MBA Wallah, EZPG, CrackU,etc for concept understanding, practice questions and tips & tricks.

Key Factors Behind CAT 99+ Success

Careers360: What are the factors behind your success?

Maahee: Key factors behind my success were discipline, consistency, and a focus on regular mocks followed by thorough analysis. I also relied on meticulous note-making, regular class attendance, and constant support from my family. Additionally, the attempt strategies from Shweta Arora and the techniques taught by Amit Rohra Sir were instrumental in my preparation.

GD/PI/WAT & MBA Entrance Exams Ahead

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

Maahee: Yes

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

Maahee: I have appeared for NMAT (Score 252), SNAP and will be appearing for XAT 2026 and MH-CET.

Dream B-School & Expected Calls

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

Maahee: IIM Ahmedabad is my dream B-School. I am expecting calls from all the IIMs, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR and MDI Gurgaon.

Life Beyond CAT: Hobbies & Stress Management

Careers360: What are your hobbies? Did they play any part in your CAT preparations?

Maahee: My hobbies include drawing and reading fiction. Being a regular reader of novels gave me an edge in the VARC section, as it helped me comfortably comprehend complex RC passages.

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

Maahee: To stay relaxed, I listened to music during walking breaks and enjoyed cooking, which helped me unwind. I also occasionally scrolled through Instagram and YouTube for recreation during my downtime.

Final Advice for CAT 2026 Aspirants

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

Maahee: You want to, You Can, and You Will Ace CAT !!! Work hard, practice well! CAT is cracked through efforts and not miracles. Don’t wait for the right moment; start with small efforts.