CMAT 2021 Topper Injimamul says, “One can outshine in CMAT with self-study”

CMAT 2021 Topper Injimamul says, “One can outshine in CMAT with self-study”

Edited By Prerna Goel | Updated on May 04, 2021 10:51 AM IST | #CMAT

CMAT 2021 Topper Interview - Every year more than one lakh candidates appear for the CMAT exam but only quite a few succeed in achieving a pinnacle. This year CMAT 2021 was on the top list of controversy, firstly because of multiple postponement and second, when a number of students took it to twitter regarding wrong questions in the paper. As it is rightly said, “ “When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less.” Validating this example, Careers360 brings to you an exclusive interview with CMAT 2021 Topper, Injimamul Islam who scored 99.18 percentile and did not even challenge the CMAT answer key. Infact postponement of the CMAT exam secured him enough time for preparation. Let us see what Injimamul has to say about his success.

CMAT 2021 Topper Injimamul says, “One can outshine in CMAT with self-study”
CMAT 2021 Topper Injimamul says, “One can outshine in CMAT with self-study”

Careers360: Tell us something about yourself.

Injimamul: I am from Mangaldai, a small but beautiful city in Assam. I have graduated with a degree in B. Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering from Tezpur Central University. After graduation, I was inclined towards pursuing an MBA and appeared for different MBA entrance exams.

Careers360: Was this your first attempt for CMAT? Were you expecting to score so well?

Injimamul: Yeah, it was my first CMAT attempt. After exiting the exam hall, I felt quite low as the General awareness section did not go well for me. Although after validating the responses and different analyses given by experts on various portals, I was anticipating above 97 percentiles.

Careers360: What are your sectional and overall scores and percentiles in CMAT 2021?

Injimamul: CMAT score/ Percentile: 99.18

Sectional score/percentiles:

  • Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation: 99.56

  • Logical Reasoning: 93.32

  • Language Comprehension: 96.87

  • General Awareness: 62.34

Careers360: Which books did you study for CMAT preparation?

Injimamul: For all the basic concepts of Quants and Logical reasoning, I would recommend MBA entrance guide books by Arun Sharma. For language Comprehension, I would suggest 'Word power made easy' by Norman Lewis.

Careers360: Which other MBA entrance exams did you appear for and what are your scores and percentiles in the respective exams?

Injimamul: I had taken CAT and XAT. I got 77 and 72 percentiles in these exams respectively.

Careers360: Which B-schools are you targeting through the exam?

Injimamul: I am targeting Goa Institute of Management (GIM) through CMAT.

Careers360: Did the sudden announcement for the conduct of CMAT affect you in terms of preparation/ travelling?

Injimamul: In terms of travelling, it didn’t have any effects as the exam center was within 70 km range from my house. In terms of preparation, at first, I got exasperated on the delayed notification, but later, it helped me prepare well for the general awareness section and I had enough time to give several mocks which in turn helped me to stimulate my performance.

Careers360: When did you start preparing for CMAT and what was your strategy?

Injimamul: I sat for CAT and XAT, but the scores were inadequate for clearing the cut-offs of top B-Schools. Then I started preparing for CMAT from February focusing more on the general awareness section as it has equal weightage as that of the other sections. Apart from it, I polished the other sections too by giving a lot of mocks, analyzed them and tried not to repeat the same mistakes.

Careers360: Did you opt for coaching? Do you think coaching is important to crack a competitive exam like CMAT?

Injimamul: No, I don't think so that joining a coaching institute is necessary for CMAT preparation. One can outshine in CMAT with self-study.

Careers360: What were your strongest and weakest sections in CMAT?

Injimamul: My strongest area was Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation. On the other hand, I was very weak in the GA section as I hadn’t prepared for the section in any other competitive exam. Moreover, the questions are mercurial in the General Awareness section, so one needs to have a better grasp of it to perform well.

Careers360: How many mock tests did you take for CMAT?

Injimamul: I had taken 15 mocks for CMAT.

Careers360: What was your exam day strategy and experience?

Injimamul: As the paper covers all the basic concepts of Quants and Logical Reasoning, I revised all the important concepts and formulae, memorized some important static and current GK for General Awareness section and went through the notes of Language Comprehension that I prepared beforehand. On the Exam day, I started with Logical Reasoning, then moved to Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation section, after which I attempted Language Comprehension and General Awareness sections respectively.

Careers360: Did you challenge the CMAT answer key?

Injimamul: No, as I didn’t find any objectionable question/answer on the paper.

Careers360: How are you preparing for the next rounds, such as GD, Essay Writing and PI?

Injimamul: For the next rounds, I am preparing through YouTube videos and taking guidance from some of my seniors.

Careers360: Which B-schools have you been shortlisted by on the basis of other entrance examinations (if any) ?

Injimamul: I converted IMT Hyderabad through CAT.

Careers360: What is your dream career which you would like to pursue after completing an MBA?

Injimamul: After finishing my MBA in marketing, I want to enter into the FMCG sector with a remunerative job.

Careers360: What is your message for the next year's CMAT aspirants?

Injimamul: The first and the foremost thing to crack any competitive exam is to believe in yourself. Based on your strengths, boost up your confidence levels. The only success to achieve the exam is practicing a lot. Try to cover each and every topic from elementary level and give mocks to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. To score well in the general awareness section, you have to spend at least 2-3 hours reading current affairs regularly. And last but not the least, try to maximize your correct attempts and minimize the wrong attempts. Best of Luck

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Questions related to CMAT

Have a question related to CMAT ?

Hello,

Yes, you can also join IIMs two years after graduation, depending upon the justification in interviews and your performance in entrance exams. If you are not sure about CAT, try those other management exams less hard:

Common Management Admission Test: Easier than CAT; 4-5 months of continuous preparation will suffice.

MAT : Much easier and takes place thrice a year.

SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test): A bit easier than CAT, apt for Symbiosis Institutes.

Xavier Aptitude Test or XAT : Hence, easier than CAT but the unique decision-making section.

Use exams like CMAT and MAT as a challenge to be competitively prepared. This can be given about 4-5 months, along with a few rounds of mock tests and smart studying.

Hello there,

With a 71.5 percentile in CMAT and 77% in BBA, you do have a chance of getting into BK School of Business Management (Gandhinagar Institute of Technology) for MBA, especially if they have a lower cutoff in the 4th offline round. Admission can depend on factors like your performance in the entrance exam, overall profile, and availability of seats. It's also helpful to keep an eye on the specific requirements and trends from previous years to gauge your likelihood better. If possible, consider reaching out to the admissions office for more tailored guidance.

I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.


Hello aspirant,

One of the most important things to do when beginning a strategy exam preparation is to grasp the CMAT syllabus 2025. Candidates can make an efficient study plan that helps them cover every topic in detail by consulting the CMAT exam syllabus.

To know the detailed syllabus you can visit our website by clicking on the link given below.

https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/cmat-syllabus

Thank you

Hope this information helps you.

An 80 percentile CMAT score is a decent score, but whether you can secure admission to IMS depends on several factors:

  1. Specific IMS Campus: There are multiple IMS campuses with varying admission criteria and cut-offs.
  2. Program Offered: The program you're targeting (PGDM, MBA, etc.) will have different eligibility requirements.
  3. Category: Your category (General, OBC, SC, ST) will influence your chances.
  4. Competition: The overall competition for that particular year and program will determine the final cut-off.

While an 80 percentile score increases your chances, it's essential to check the specific cut-offs for your desired IMS campus and program. Additionally, consider other factors like work experience, academic background, and GD/PI performance, as they might play a role in the final selection.

To improve your chances, research different IMS campuses, understand their admission process, and prepare well for the subsequent selection rounds.

hope this helps you!!

Hello student,

With a CMAT score of 70 percentile in the EWS category and being a Madhya Pradesh (MP) domicile, you may have a chance of getting into some Institutes of Management Studies (IMS) in MP, though admission can be competitive. Here are a few points to consider:

1. Previous Year Cutoffs:

  • Generally, IMS have varying cutoffs based on the course and the number of applicants. Check the previous year's cutoffs for the specific IMS you're targeting, as this will give you a clearer picture of your chances.

    2. EWS Category:

  • Being in the EWS category may provide you with some advantage in terms of lower cutoff requirements in certain institutes, which could enhance your chances of admission.

    3. Counseling Process:

  • Keep an eye on the counseling process and any updates regarding seat allocations. Some IMS might have management quota seats that could also be an option.

    4. Other Admission Criteria:

  • Besides CMAT scores, some institutes may consider other factors like academic performance, work experience, and group discussions/interviews.

    Recommendations:

  • Apply to Multiple Colleges : Don’t limit yourself to just one or two IMS; consider applying to several to increase your chances.

  • Stay Updated : Regularly check the official websites of the IMS for any announcements regarding admissions and counseling schedules.

In summary, while admission with a 70 percentile CMAT score can be competitive, your chances can improve due to your EWS category and MP domicile status.

I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries then feel free to share your questions with us we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you and wishing you all the best for your bright future.


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