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Rishabh Dusad, who made his way to IIM Lucknow says, “Reading Newspapers is sufficient to take the WAT”
Updated on Oct 28, 2020 09:47 PM IST | #CAT
CAT Topper Interview, Rishabh Dusar who made his way to IIM Lucknow - Rishabh Dusar, currently employed at Barclay as a Tech Analyst in the Chatbot Team made his way to IIM Lucknow on the basis of CAT. Rishabh elaborates on his overall experience through the selection process of IIMS and other top B-schools. Rishabh Dusar CAT 2019 topper converted to various IIMs and top B-schools and finally decided to take admission in IIM Lucknow. Due to COVID 19, there was change in the selection process. Rishabh shares his online selection process experience. Talking Rishabh emphasis to stay updated on current affairs to be able to tackle WAT and PI rounds. Rishabh was shortlisted for the selection process of various institutes like IIM Lucknow, IIM Indore, SPJain, MDI G, FMS, IITB, NITIE, IIFT, and all other new IIMs. He converted for all the above mentioned B-schools except for IIFT.
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Further, Rishab shares his experience by stating that, “there are a few questions that are difficult to answer but not succumbing to those questions and finding your way out is a big differentiator when it comes to making a mark in the minds of interviewers”. Read this complete interview to know how to tackle the difficult situations in front of the interviewer and tips to prepare for WAT rounds.
Careers360: Congratulations on converting to your desired institute! How do you feel?
Rishabh: Thank You so much Careers360 for the wishes and this opportunity. I have been in seventh heaven since the time (23rd May) I saw the admission confirmation on the IIM Lucknow Admission Dashboard. It feels really good to get that something that you've been aiming for a long time. I am filled with gratitude for the people who supported me in this journey and am excited to experience the Life at hel(L).
Careers360: What is the selection procedure at IIM Lucknow?
Rishabh: The selection process at IIM Lucknow like most of the IIMs is a two-phased process.
Phase I: Shortlisting the candidates for the Written Ability Test (WAT) and the Personal Interview (PI) Round. Candidates are shortlisted on the basis of their CAT Score, Past Academic Performances, and the Duration of their Work Experience. Using these metrics, a composite score for each candidate is calculated and the shortlists are released depending on the cutoffs for different categories. The detailed break down of each component is available on the Institute Website.
Phase II: Rolling out the Admission offers after conducting the WAT and PI round. Once the candidate receives the shortlist, he/she is required to fill out a Personal Data Form on the institute portal with due diligence. After this, the candidate needs to give a Written Ability Test and a Personal Interview on the scheduled date provided by the institute. Now, based on the previous details and the WAT and PI scores, a composite score is calculated and the final offers are rolled out. The detailed breakdown of each component is available on the Institute Website.
Note: Because of COVID-19, the WAT component was scrapped from calculating the final composite score for this year.
Careers360: Please elaborate on your overall experience of the selection procedure and your interview at IIM Lucknow?
Rishabh: Initially, my interview was scheduled on the 31st of March in Mumbai but due to the current situation, it was rescheduled to 15th May at 11:00 am in an online mode. As I already mentioned, the WAT was canceled, so the PI was the only controllable parameter in my hand to secure the IIM Lucknow Admit.
The interview began with two panelists having a casual conversation regarding my hometown and the situation of COVID-19 there Then they scanned through my undergraduate(BTech in CSE) mark sheets and asked me 2-3 questions each about Data Structures and Algorithms, Operating Systems and some Managerial Subjects with some cross-questioning.
Then, for the next 8-10 odd minutes, the interview revolved around my current job in Barclays as a Tech Analyst in the Chatbot Team. The panelists asked me questions about Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning(different types of ML and algorithms)
The interview ended with me asking them a question which I've mentioned in the following article.
Careers360: Which other B-Schools’ selection procedure did you appear for? How was your experience in other institutes vis a vis in the institute you have converted?
Rishabh: I am a General Engineering Candidate with decent academic scores (9/9/8) and near 2 years of Work Experience. I had scored a modest 99.52 percentile in CAT 2019 and had calls from IIM Lucknow, IIM Indore, SPJain, MDI G, FMS, IITB, NITIE, IIFT, and all other new IIMs. I attended all the interviews which were conducted (FMS being the nemesis) and converted almost all of them. My experience in all these interviews was almost the same with the interviews revolving around my under graduation specialization, my work experience at Barclays and a few questions around General Knowledge
Careers360: What was your WAT topic and how did you structure it? Did you find it easy or you had a difficult time writing/ thinking about the topic?
Rishabh: As I already mentioned, the WAT was canceled for the IIM Lucknow process but I wrote some WATs for other interview processes. Almost all the topics were focused around Current Affairs and some were Abstract ones. Reading Newspapers is sufficient to take the WAT. There are enough articles from experts present on the web about how to write a WAT. My piece of advice on this would be to form a structure about the write up in a couple of minutes in your mind and then put forward your thoughts backed up by supporting facts.
Careers360: Which interview turned out to be the best one? Enlighten us about the finest one according to you.
Rishabh: IIFT interview was my very first one and it was the best one according to me. After casual interaction, the panelists went through my personal data form and asked me the one thing any candidate can talk about for hours, the Fest I lead in my college. From that point on the interview was all about the Annual Boat Club Festival of College of Engineering Pune, Regatta, and questions around how I became the secretary for the event to the experience of leading a huge team to water sports Rowing and Kayaking. I loved the interview and was really happy after it. But to my surprise, I never converted IIFT.
Careers360: What about the questions which you found difficult to answer? How did you reply to those?
Rishabh: In my opinion, in every interview, there are a few questions that are difficult to answer but not succumbing to those questions and finding your way out is a big differentiator when it comes to making a mark in the minds of interviewers. In my case, I asked them for some time to think about it then came up with a strategic answer which was justifiable in case they come up with any follow-up questions.
Careers360: So in those situations, was the panel easy or harsh on you? What should one do when s/he has no answer?
Rishabh: Fortunately, none of the panelists were harsh on me in any of my interviews. In case you don't know the answer to any question, you admit it to the panelists. If they insist on you answering the question, ask them if you can take a guess and take one if they allow.
Careers360: What were the most fascinating questions you were asked? Please share your answers too.
Rishabh: It was a series of psychological questions that I was asked. I've summarized them below:
Q1) Are you in full control of your life?
Answer: Yes Sir, Absolutely.
Q2) Do you think fate has a major role to play in your life?
Answer: Sir, I'd like to believe so.
Q3) Do you think, these statements can go together?
Answer: I answered in literally two seconds: 'Yes, Sir. They can go together'. After answering the question, everyone in the room started laughing. I still don't know the correct answer to this question. I feel the answer to this question could be justified satisfactorily in both directions.
Also read:
Careers360: How different is an IIM interview from a non-IIM yet top B-School interview? Are there major differences?
Rishabh: Honestly, apart from the SP Jain interview process, I didn't find any difference between any other non-IIM and IIM B-School Interview. As for the SPJ interview process, I really loved how the institute has materialized the concept of group and ethics-based interviews.
Careers360: How did you go about the preparations for PI? Did you search or look up some questions or practice mock PIs?
Rishabh: I started preparing for my WAT and PI since the first week of January. The very first and basic thing I did was started reading newspapers thoroughly. There was a big difference between the way I read newspapers before CAT and after CAT. Before CAT, my sole focus was to increase my reading speed and try to understand as much as possible whereas, after CAT, the focus shifted to deriving opinions from the articles about the current affairs and noting down key facts and figures which will eventually help me in justifying my opinions in the WAT and PI.
Careers360: And finally what are the aspects or qualities that the interview board looks for in a candidate?
Rishabh: A fun fact about this question is that I asked this very question to my IIM Lucknow interview panel. They responded by saying that the key thing they're looking for in any candidate is Honesty. They're trying to look for a candidate who can give them honest answers and not sugar-coated or coaching institute answers. Another quality they're probably looking for is the ability to put forward your thoughts clearly and in a precise manner.
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Questions related to CAT
Have a question related to CAT ?
Although, it's very unlikely that you will secure a seat in top ABM with CAT 67 percentile. Here's is a breakdown to your question:
· CAT Percentile vs. Score: A CAT score of 67 typically translates to a percentile in the range of 90-95 percentile based on the provided data from previous years. While this is a decent score overall, it falls short of the cutoffs for most top-tier ABM programs.
· Cutoffs for Top ABM Institutes:
- IIM Lucknow: For their PGP-ABM program, the qualifying CAT cutoff for the general category is around 85 percentile . However, the actual cutoff for shortlisting for the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) stages is likely to be higher.
- IIM Ahmedabad: While they also offer an ABM program (PGP-FABM), their minimum qualifying CAT cutoff is around 80 percentile , but the final admission cutoffs are usually much higher, often in the 99+ percentile range for general candidates.
- MANAGE (National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management): Their cutoff in CAT percentile has been around 70 for the general category in recent years. With a 67 percentile, you might have a slim chance here, but it's still competitive.
- CCS NIAM (National Institute of Agricultural Marketing, Jaipur): They consider CAT scores with a significant weightage (30-51% in their selection criteria). While they don't explicitly state a cutoff, it's reasonable to assume it would be higher than 67 percentile for a good chance of admission.
· Overall Good CAT Score: Generally, a CAT percentile of 90 and above is considered a good score for securing admission to decent MBA programs in India. For top-tier institutes, a percentile of 95 and above is often preferred.
· MBA Colleges Accepting 60-70 Percentile: While there are MBA colleges that accept CAT scores in the 60-70 percentile range, these are generally not the top-ranked or most sought-after ABM programs. The focus of those lists is on general MBA programs, not specifically ABM.
While securing a seat in ABM can be tough, you can research about other colleges, consider other examinations, to improve your application profile.
You Got This !
Aman Kar 16 April,2025
Hello,
achieving a 99.99 pecentile in the CAT exam significantly enhances your prospects for admission to JBIMS, which evaluates candidates using an application rating(AR) score, which includes
-entrance exam score (CAT/MH-CET/CMAT) : 60% weightage
-Past Academic Record (PAR) : 15% weightage (https://cracku.in/colleges/jbims/admission-process/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
-Extra-curricular Activities/Work Experience : 20% weightage (https://jbims.edu/uploads/announcement/Revised_M_Sc__Finance_Admission_Procedure_Batch_2024-26.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
-Diversity (Academic/Gender): 5% weightage
while ahigh CAT percentile is crucial, a lower academic record may impact your overall AR score. Nonetheless, exceptional performance in other areas, such as entrance exams and extracurricular activities, can help offset weaker academic credentials. it's advisable to review JBIMS's detailed admission criteria and consider strengthening other aspects of your application to enhance your chances
Riya Dhoot 10 April,2025
To find the 2024 MHT CET answer key, you'll need to check the official Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell website. This is the primary source for all official announcements and documents related to the MHT CET exam. After the exam concludes, the CET Cell typically releases a provisional answer key.
Once released, the provisional answer key will likely be available as a downloadable PDF file. You'll need to navigate to the official website, look for the MHT CET section, and find the link related to the answer key. This link might be labelled "MHT CET 2024 Answer Key" or something similar.
After downloading the answer key, you can compare your responses with the official answers. If you find any discrepancies or have objections, the CET Cell usually provides a window for raising objections. You'll likely need to pay a specified fee for each objection raised. The official website will provide instructions on how to submit your objections, which may involve logging into your candidate portal and following the provided steps.
Finally, after considering all objections, the CET Cell will publish a final answer key. This final version is considered definitive, and the MHT CET results will be based on it. Keep an eye on the official website for all updates and announcements regarding the 2024 answer key.
I hope this helps.
SUKRITI GUPTA 13 April,2025
Greetings! Here's a detailed response to your query
Okay, so you're a bit confused about what to put in those CAT, FMS, DSE, and IIFT forms regarding your 12th scores. Since you did CBSE, they usually only consider your final 12th standard marks.
Even though you did great in 11th, scoring 495 out of 500, for these entrance exam forms, they're specifically asking about your 12th board exam marks .You mentioned you got 400 out of 500 in 12th, which comes out to 80%.
Therefore, when filling out the forms for CAT, FMS, DSE, and IIFT, you should enter 80% as your 12th percentage. The aggregate of 11th and 12th isn't typically what they're looking for in these sections. They want to know how you performed in your final board exams. So, stick with the 80% from your 12th results. Good luck with your applications!
SUKRITI GUPTA 05 April,2025
Greetings! Here's a detailed response to your query:-
Determination of the best time to start the journey of CAT examination is based on individual factors like your current skill level, knowledge ,potential, learning pace and availability. To give yourself the best chance of success on the CAT exam , which usually takes place in November, it's advisable to begin studying between January and March of that same year. This 8 to 12-month preparation window is widely recommended by experts. But if you're managing your college along with the CAT preparations make sure you start from 2nd year onwards. It will hep you manage stress and you'll have ample amount of time to get along with the syllabus , pattern and various practice and mocks .
You'll be able to build a strong foundation in each sections and be able to know your strengths and weaknesses in different topics. The CAT syllabus is extensive, and early preparation allows for thorough coverage. Assess your learning speed and adjust your preparation timeline accordingly.
Essentially, while the ideal start time is subjective, beginning your CAT preparation well in advance is generally considered the most effective strategy for achieving optimal results.
SUKRITI GUPTA 01 April,2025
Popular CAT Questions
Directions for question :
M/s Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, one of the top four audit and accounting firms in the world with headquarters at London, UK, and with an operational presence in 153 countries, hires Management Trainees (MT) from all the premier management institutes of India thrice every year, in the months of January, May and September.
Each new group of Management Trainees (MT) have to go through a four month rigorous training schedule, after which they have to pass through a test consisting of a written assessment and a case-analysis. The top hundred ranked Management Trainees (MT) based on the performance in the test are confirmed as Management Executives (ME). The rest are given the opportunity of undergoing the training for four months one more time along with the next batch of Management Trainees (MT) and then passing through the subsequent test consisting of the written assessment and case-analysis. The Management Trainee (MT) who fails to get confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) the second time is fired.
The scatter-graph below depicts the number of Management Trainees (MT) at Deloitte taking the tests from January 2020 till May 2022, and the vis-à-vis hired Management Trainees (MT) at Deloitte who were fired :
It is also known that for the month of September 2019 at Deloitte, 96 hired Management Trainees (MT) failed to be confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) the first time, and that 36 hired Management Trainees (MT) were fired.
Question :
In which test did the minimum number of Management Trainees (MT) get confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) in the second attempt ?
Option: 1
September 2020
Option: 2
May 2021
Option: 3
January 2021
Option: 4
January 2022
Directions for question:
The bar-graph given below shows the foreign exchange reserves of Nepal (in million Rupees) from 2014 to 2021. Answer the following questions based on the graph :
Question:
What was the percentage increase (rounded to the nearest integer, if deemed necessary) in the foreign exchange reserves in 2020 over 2016 ?
Option: 1 None
Option: 2 None
Option: 3 None
Option: 4 None
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