DES University MBA Admissions 2025
ApplyMBA @ DES Pune University | Top Ranked B-School | 100% Placement Assistance | Last date to apply: 9th May’25
CMAT exam is one of the most popular MBA entrance exams in India. The Common Management Admission Test (CMAT) is a three-hour aptitude exam to choose suitable students for admission to management programmes of different colleges.
In an exclusive CMAT topper interview of MBAxTalks with Careers360 in which we talked to Vaibhav Awati, who is a CMAT topper. He is currently studying MBA from Sydenham Institute of Management Studies. He got an AIR 14 and scored 99.97 percentile in CMAT. He talks about his CMAT preparation journey, CMAT mock test strategy, Life at Sydenham College. This article offers excerpts from the interview. Watch the complete conversation by clicking the YouTube link given below.
Careers360 - Tell us a little bit about yourself and your profile.
Vaibhav - I am a mechanical engineer from Pune University. I graduated in 2020 and post-graduation, I worked with a mechanical German multinational company. I was there for almost one year. Then, I left my job to prepare for MBA exams. In 2023, I cleared the CMAT and now I'm a student at Sydenham. I am also doing my summer internship at ICICI Bank.
Check out | CMAT College Predictor
Careers360 - Apart from CMAT, what other MBA entrance exams did you give?
Vaibhav - I prepared for TISS, then I wrote CET, CMAT and CAT and even SNAP.
Careers360 - What were your scores in these three exams?
Vaibhav - I wrote CMAT. In CMAT, last year, I was All India Rank 1367. CET, I wrote 99 percentile something. and later next to the exam was CMAT which was AIR 14.
Careers360 - what do you think you did differently the second time that you had such a great score?
Vaibhav - I think GK section is a game-changer because all the other sections like Quantitative aptitude, Logical reasoning and Verbal Ability are common in most of the entrance exams.
Check out | CMAT score vs percentile
Also Read | CMAT eligibility criteria
Careers360 -Many students find the Quants section challenging. Do you have any specific tips for those struggling in this area?
Vaibhav - Quants was actually my favourite subject, perhaps because of my engineering background. My advice is to start with the basics. Solve at least 100 questions initially. If you're still struggling, it usually means your basic concepts aren't clear. Clarify your concepts first, then practise more. The more you practise, the clearer your concepts will become, making it easier to tackle any question.
Check out preparation resources for CMAT 2024
Careers360 - When did you start taking mock exams in preparation for the CMAT?
Vaibhav - I took about seven to eight mocks, mostly in March and April, just a couple of months before the exam. As I mentioned, I prepared thoroughly during this period.
Careers360 - Did you have a particular strategy for attempting the CMAT?
Vaibhav - CMAT gives you 180 minutes without a strict order for answering sections, so you can choose based on your comfort. I preferred starting with GK, as it was my strength, followed by innovation entrepreneurship, then English, logic, and finally the rest. This was the order I found most effective for me.
Check out | CMAT Preparation Tips
Careers360 - When preparing for CMAT, especially since you took the exam twice, what specific advice would you give for each section to students preparing this year?
Vaibhav - CMAT requires comprehensive preparation. Unlike CAT or CET, where you might skip certain topics, CMAT tends to cover everything. For instance, in Quants, expect a question from each main topic like averages and percentages. The questions aren't deeply complex, so you should understand the basics well enough to answer easy to moderate questions. Focus on ensuring you can handle level 1 and level 2 questions across all topics.
Full version of CMAT Topper’s Interview: Check out this video to watch the complete conversation: Tips to crack CMAT 2024 in 1st attempt by AIR 14 ft. Vaibhav
Also, watch
if you belong to general category, the requisite is to get 85 percentiles. it would be quite difficult to get your desirable college. but if that's not the case then, you have chances as the cut offs drops to lower. the admission criteria vary annually based on factors like the number of applicants, seat availability, and category-specific reservations. so, keep checking the official ACPC Gujarat (https://acpc.gujarat.gov.in/) website or contact BKSBM directly for the most accurate and updated information regarding admission eligibility and cutoff
Yes, it is possible to get admission to GITAM University without having appeared for entrance exams like CMAT or CAT , especially if you're applying for courses where entrance exams are not mandatory or if the university offers other routes of admission.
For example, if you're interested in courses like B.Tech , BBA , MBA , etc., GITAM provides options based on the following:
GITAM offers B.Tech admission based on the GITAM Admission Test (GAT) , and some courses may also consider JEE Mains or State-Level Entrance Examinations for admission.
If you haven't appeared for GAT , you may still be eligible for admission through other criteria , such as JEE Mains scores (if applicable).
For MBA , GITAM accepts scores from CMAT , CAT , or its own GITAM Admission Test (GAT) .
If you haven't appeared for any of these exams, you can still apply if GITAM allows direct admissions based on your previous academic performance or interviews .
For courses like BBA , B.Com , etc., GITAM typically considers direct admission based on previous academic records , so entrance exams may not be necessary.
Check specific course requirements : Each course (B.Tech, MBA, etc.) may have different criteria, so it's important to verify whether the course you are applying for accepts other forms of admission if you haven't taken entrance exams.
Contact Admissions : Reach out to the admissions office of GITAM to clarify your specific situation and see if you can apply through an alternate route. Many universities are flexible with their admission processes and may offer alternatives like personal interviews or academic performance-based selection .
Hi aspirant,
Although it may be difficult to find a dedicated, entirely free comprehensive course for the CMAT, there are a number of ways to obtain free CMAT preparation materials:
1.
Rodha: Provides free study guides and practice tests for the NMAT, SNAP, CMAT, and MHCET exams.
2.
Unacademy: They provide free instruction from renowned teachers in addition to paying batches. To access these, you can register for a free account.
3.
MBA Hitbullseye: They provide free practice questions and mock exams.
4.
Oliveboard: They offer free study guides and CMAT practice exams.
All the best!
For CMAT ideally you require 1 year or 6 months time for excellent preparation to get into the top management colleges.
If you are beginner start with knowing the syllabus first then transcend into basics and advanced learning.
Check here for more details https://bschool.careers360.com/exams/cmat
In Ahmedabad, several colleges offer MCA programs without requiring the CMAT exam. Here are some options:
1. Gujarat University – Admissions are based on the Gujarat Common Entrance Test (GUJCET) and the ACPC process, not CMAT.
2. L D College of Engineering – This government college also accepts GUJCET scores and follows the ACPC admission process.
3. Indus University – Offers merit-based admissions, considering academic performance rather than entrance exams.
4. Silver Oak College of Computer Application – Provides admissions based on academic records without needing CMAT scores.
You can check the eligibility criteria and admission process on the official websites of these colleges or visit their admission offices for detailed information.
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