Great Lakes PGPM & PGDM 2025
ApplyAdmissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Extended Application Deadline: 10th Feb 2024
How to get into IIMs? - Hear it from Ankit Pandey, CAT 2021 topper
Edited By Himanshu Shekhar | Updated on Oct 07, 2022 09:53 AM IST | #CAT
To achieve aim, all you need is a focused mind, determination, hard work, and smart work. Ankit is among those who made the best use of his time and brain to secure the 99.24 percentile in CAT 2021 that got him admission at one of the prestigious IIMs, IIM Bangalore.
For future CAT exam aspirants, Ankit says “If you are a fresher, make sure you brush up on your favorite academic subjects, internships, and extracurricular experiences.” Also, the point that makes Ankit stand apart from the crowd is that he did not go to any coaching to prepare for the Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) process. It's his skills and dedication only that he became a CAT 2021 topper and bagged a seat at IIM Bangalore. In an interview with Careers360, Ankit shared how he made it to IIM Bangalore, how one gets into an IIM, how to crack the CAT exam, and much more. Read the full interview to know Ankit Pandey's success mantra of acing CAT and IIM admission process.
Careers360: Congratulations on converting to your desired institute. How do you feel?
Ankit: It feels great to have made it to IIM Bangalore. It’s one of the most coveted and highly sought-after B-schools and I feel grateful to have been accepted by this prestigious institute.
Careers360: What is the selection procedure at IIM Bangalore?
Ankit: The first step is to take the CAT. I took CAT 2021 and it was my first attempt at this MBA entrance exam. Once the CAT scores were out, IIM Bangalore sent interview calls to candidates based on their overall profile (including past academic performance and work experience, if applicable). Post that, I had to take the WAT (Written Assessment Test) and PI (Personal Interview) in March. Final admission calls were based on scores in WAT, PI, CAT, 10th boards, 12th boards, and UG as well as some weightage given to work experience, academic diversity, and gender diversity.
Browse Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Score: Location-Wise
Careers360: Please elaborate on your overall IIM admission experience at IIM Bangalore?
Ankit: Getting a call from IIM Bangalore was in itself a surprise for me because my CAT score was borderline. Once I received the call, I was quite confused about how to approach WAT and PI. I had also switched jobs and had to learn about my new role. However, I tried to structure my preparation around my strengths and past profile and that helped me for all the interviews. WAT topic was fairly straightforward but PI was a proper stress interview and perhaps, the most difficult one for me during the interview season. Nevertheless, things ended on a positive note for me despite an average experience.
Careers360: Which other B-Schools’ selection procedure did you appear for? How was your experience in other institutes vis a vis the institute you have converted to?
Ankit: I had appeared for CAP, IIM Lucknow, and IIM Shillong interviews apart from IIM Bangalore. The interviews for IIM Lucknow and CAP went well since I was mostly asked about the technical aspects of my work experience and I was decently prepared for it. IIM Shillong’s PI was a bit tricky and I was put on the spot on some questions related to my previous firm’s impact on environmental issues and sustainability. In the case of IIM Bangalore PI, I was questioned mostly about the decisions that I have taken in my career up to this point in time and it made me think consciously and deeply on the spot. Moreover, the IIM Bangalore interview lasted for more than 30 min and had three interviewers while the others got over in less than 15 min and had only two interviewers.
Careers360: What was your WAT topic and how did you structure it? Did you find it easy or did you have a difficult time writing/ thinking about the topic?
Ankit: My WAT topic was around whether competition should be promoted in the curriculum for school-going children or should it be more relaxed. Now, this topic was easy to deal with since it does not require any additional knowledge or context since all of us have been to school. I spent 10 min jotting down my ideas and the remaining time writing down a coherent essay and reviewing it to ensure there are no grammatical errors.
Also read- IIM fee structure
Careers360: Did you get external help or join a coaching school to prepare for PI? When did you start your preparations for it?
Ankit: I did not join any institute for my WAT-PI preparation and relied upon the resources available on the Internet. I was a bit late in starting my preparations and started around mid-February.
Top Colleges in India offering Management Courses
Careers360: Do you think that PI requires some separate preparation apart from what you mentioned?
Ankit: It would be great to have someone do mock interviews with you. It helps in assessing your performance, allows you to fine-tune your preparation strategy, and become better at dealing with pressure situations in an interview. It would also help to get someone to review your answers to expected behavioral questions like - Why MBA? strengths & weaknesses, tell me about yourself, etc.
Careers360: Please share the IIM admission PI topics which you were asked during the admission rounds?
Ankit: I was asked questions related to my career decisions and work experience. I had good scores in my core engineering courses and yet I pivoted to a career in data science and analytics. This is something I was questioned on aggressively and I had to justify my decision. Apart from that, I was asked about my work, the motivation behind pursuing an MBA, the need for having a dedicated Analytics team in an organization, how have things changed after college in my life, and my views on data privacy, and employment situation in West Bengal.
Careers360: Are there ways to handle a situation when one has no answer to a question during PI?
Ankit: I would suggest a three-step approach to this:
Take a pause and reflect: A lot of us have a tendency to speak as much and as fast as we can when we are not sure of answers. It’s better to ask for 30 seconds to gather your thoughts and only then speak up. Interviewers won’t mind and would rather appreciate it in my opinion
Acknowledge that you do not know the answer: It’s alright to not know an answer to factual questions. However, not knowing answers to behavioral questions (like why MBA) is not acceptable
Take a guess after seeking permission: At times, you might know the answer but not be confident about it. Ask the interviewer if it’s alright to take a guess and then answer in a logical way.
Careers360: How must one approach a PI topic? Could you share some Dos and Don’ts for the same?
Ankit: Go through some of the interview transcripts and mock interview recordings available on the Internet. Convincing yourself why you actually want to do an MBA is crucial. Deceiving yourself is a recipe for disaster and the interviewers will not take even two seconds to figure out if you are being superficial. If you are a fresher, make sure you brush up on your favorite academic subjects, internships, and extracurricular experiences. Similarly, for people with work experience, it’s important to know about their organization and work in-depth apart from academics (if possible to revise). Above all, you will be tested on your clarity of purpose and clarity of thought.
Check- IIM Placements
Careers360: Is there a particular kind of time management strategy that should be added to the candidate’s skillset? Will it help in writing a complete structured Personal Interview?
Ankit: Time management might be required for structuring your preparations since candidates do not have a lot of time to prepare for PI. It’s important to know and prioritize things that can help you stand out and maximize conversion chances. During PI, pressure handling becomes more important.
Careers360: How did you feel when you faced the interviewers during the PI? Please share a few details like the size of your panel and your overall experience.
Ankit: I had my PI on March 21, 11 A.M. I logged in and waited for about 15 min before my interview started. There were three people on the panel, including two professors and one alumnus. The first ten minutes were not easy at all and I was repeatedly cross-questioned on my answers and had a difficult time convincing the professor about my switch to Analytics. After that, the remaining two interviewers were slightly more accepting but they also asked for multiple follow-ups. Overall, I was completely pushed out of my comfort zone and the interview was contrary to my expectations. However, I think what helped my case is the fact that I did not lose my composure at any point in time and that allowed me to be my logical self throughout the interview.
Careers360: Which interview turned out to be the best one? Enlighten us about the finest one according to you.
Ankit: The third interviewer, who was an alumnus, was the most accepting. He was constantly smiling at my answers and tried to make me feel comfortable. That boosted my confidence to talk a bit more freely about my views, which were otherwise a bit subdued during my interaction with the professors.
Careers360: What about the questions which you found difficult to answer? How did you reply to those?
Ankit: I was asked about the decision to change my career from core mechanical engineering to Analytics and Data Science. I had good grades during my undergraduate and was asked why I was selling clothes and working for an e-commerce firm instead of going for an MS or building spaceships. I explained my decision by stating the disconnect that I found between academia and industry practices as far as Mechanical engineering was concerned, my genuine interest in data science which I justified by means of pursuing multiple courses and internships and finally stating the impact that my work has on millions of fashion shoppers across the country.
Careers360: So in those situations, was the panel easy or harsh on you? What should one do when s/he has no answer?
Ankit: The panel was a bit aggressive and asked multiple follow-up questions. Since most of the questions were behavioral, there was no question that I could not have answered. However, in case there’s a factual question that one does not have an answer to then please refer to the three-step process that I mentioned in one of my previous answers.
Careers360: What were the most fascinating questions you were asked? Please share your answers too.
Ankit: I was asked if it’s right to collect data from users unknowingly and then use it for commercial purposes. I had a slightly unpopular opinion about it and stated that it’s alright to do so if the user has consented to share his/her personal data. However, consent is extremely important and it should be made clear to the user about what data would be logged, who would it be shared, and how it would be processed for the user's benefit along with ensuring privacy. I was asked a few follow-up questions on this but was able to defend my opinion.
Careers360: How different is an IIM interview from a non-IIM yet top B-School interview? Are there major differences? (If you have appeared for IIMs)
Also read- MBA salary in India
Ankit: I did not appear for any non-IIM institutions’ interviews.
Careers360: How did you go about the preparations for PI? Did you search or look up some questions or practice mock PIs?
Ankit: I went through a lot of interview transcripts, especially for profiles that were as similar to me as possible. This gave me a sense of what to expect. I spent a lot of time drafting my SoP, answers to behavioral questions, and revising the fundamentals of analytics and data science. I did not take any mock interviews since I had already appeared for a lot of job interviews during the last year. Hence, I was comfortable handling uneasy questions and pressure situations. Having said that, I was certainly under the pump during IIM Bangalore.
Careers360: And finally what are the aspects or qualities that the interview board looks for in a candidate?
Ankit: Confidence, clarity of purpose, and clarity of thought. There’s no way for the interviewer to know everything about you accurately in a short 30 min interview. Hence, it’s important that you beat the competition by being clear about what you want to do and why you want to do it because most people don’t know the answers to these questions. It’s funny but it’s true. It’s also important to be your original self during the PI and not pretend or lie about anything. Interviewers are highly experienced and it’s a no-brainer for them to recognize and eliminate candidates who try to fake anything in their responses.
Articles
Certifications By Top Providers
Post Graduation Programme in Digital Marketing
Via Indian Institute of Digital Education MBA Finance
Via Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani Digital Banking Business Model
Via State Bank of India Management of Commercial Banking
Via Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur MBA Business Analytics
Via Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani Accounting with Tally ERP9
Via NIIT Explore Top Universities Across Globe
University of Essex, Colchester
Wivenhoe Park Colchester CO4 3SQQueen Mary University of London, London
Mile End Road, London E1 4NSUniversity of Strathclyde, Glasgow
16 Richmond St, Glasgow G1 1XQOxford Brookes University, Oxford
Headington Campus Oxford OX3 0BP UKNorthumbria University, Newcastle City Campus
Sutherland Building, Northumberland Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8STCardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff
Llandaff Campus, Western Avenue, Cardiff, CF5 2YBLOR Full Form in Education - Letter of Recommendation
5 min ⋆ Oct 24, 2024 11:10 AM ISTTop 10 Easiest Countries To Go To Study Abroad In 2025
7 min ⋆ Dec 31, 2024 10:12 AM ISTMagister Jurisdiction
4 min ⋆ Mar 18, 2023 16:03 PM ISTCheapest and Affordable Universities in Ireland in 2025
15 min ⋆ Dec 31, 2024 03:12 AM ISTGMAT Exam Dates 2025: City Wise Test Schedule in India
13 min ⋆ Dec 31, 2024 03:12 AM ISTLetter of Recommendation: How to Write LOR, Samples and Format
9 min ⋆ Dec 31, 2024 03:12 AM ISTPopular Courses and Specializations
List of colleges accepting CAT
Browse Bschool Colleges by State
Questions related to CAT
Have a question related to CAT ?
Hello,
Here are important points regarding your query :-
- Opportunity for candidates: IIM Kashipur might be inviting candidates for further consideration, regardless of initial CAT scores.
- Broadening applicant pool: They may aim to review diverse profiles beyond just percentile.
- Different criteria: Other factors like academic performance, work experience, and diversity may contribute to the decision.
- Possibility of screening: The email could be a formality, and actual shortlisting will depend on various selection criteria.
- No guarantee of shortlist: The invitation doesn’t ensure selection; many institutes offer preliminary applications before filtering through comprehensive evaluations.
Hope it helps !
Prachi Kumari 13 January,2025
Hi,
Based on the previous year analysis, According to your CAT 2024 percentile some of the colleges in which you have chances to get a seat includes:
- ISBR Business School
- SOIL Institute of Management
- Birla Institute of Management Technology
- GD Goenka University
- The ICFAI University
- Great Lake Institute of Management
- Jaipur National University
You can predict more colleges using the CLAT 2024 college predictor tool .
Hope this information will help you
Devraj 12 January,2025
Hello Greetings
With a CAT 2024 percentile of 68.28%, you may face a challenging time getting into IIT Delhi, as their cutoffs are typically higher. However, being an SC female student, you may be eligible for relaxation in the cutoff criteria .
To give you a better idea, here are some general CAT cutoff percentiles for IITs and other top B-schools:
- *IIT Delhi*: Typically above 90 percentile for general category students.
- *Newer IIMs*: Such as IIM Vishakapatnam, IIM Shillong, and IIM Udaipur, may have lower cutoffs, around 80-90 percentile.
- *Other top B-schools*: Like IMT Ghaziabad, XIM Bhubaneswar, and TAPMI, may also consider students with lower percentiles.
It's essential to note that CAT cutoffs can vary from year to year, and other factors like your academic background, work experience, and performance in the personal interview (PI) and written ability test (WAT) also play a significant role in the admission process.
To explore more options and predict your chances of getting into various colleges, you can use online CAT college predictor tools .
Have a great day
Sakshi Badoni 09 January,2025
Hello Greetings
Considering your 82.58 percentile in CAT and 22 months of industry experience in IT and Financial analysis, you have several options for General Management PGDM or PGPM programs.
*Decent Colleges Accepting Low CAT Percentile:*
- _SPJIMR_: Offers PGDM and PGPM programs, accepting CAT scores, with a minimum eligibility criterion of 50% aggregate in graduation ¹ ².
- _SOIL_: Provides PGPM and PGDM programs, considering CAT scores, with a focus on experiential learning ³.
- Other institutes like _IMT Ghaziabad_, _XIMB_, and _IRMA_ might also accept candidates with lower CAT percentiles, but this may vary depending on the program and intake.
*Key Factors to Consider:*
- _Work Experience_: With 22 months of experience, you might be eligible for PGPM programs, which typically require more work experience than PGDM programs ¹.
- _Career Gap_: Explain your career gap effectively in your application, highlighting any relevant activities or skills gained during that period.
- _Profile-Based Selection_: Some institutes consider profiles, including work experience, academic background, and extracurricular activities, in addition to CAT scores ¹.
*Next Steps:*
1. Research the institutes mentioned above and their programs.
2. Review the eligibility criteria, admission process, and fees for each program.
3. Prepare your application, ensuring you effectively communicate your strengths, work experience, and career goals.
4. Be prepared for interviews, focusing on your profile, experience, and motivation for pursuing a PGDM or PGPM program.
Remember, a lower CAT percentile doesn't necessarily limit your options. Focus on showcasing your strengths, experience, and fit with the program to increase your chances of admission.
Have a great day
Sakshi Badoni 09 January,2025
Hi Gaurav,
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national-level management entrance exam conducted annually in India for admission into MBA/PGDM programs at prestigious institutions like the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top B-schools.
For registering for CAT 2025, you can follow the given steps:
- Visit the Official Website: Go to https://iimcat.ac.in .
- Register: Provide your name, email, date of birth, and mobile number. Receive a User ID and Password via email/SMS.
- Log In: Use the credentials to log in to the application portal.
- Fill the Form: Enter personal, academic, and work details. Choose IIM programs and exam city preferences.
- Upload Documents: Upload a passport-sized photo, signature, and relevant certificates (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD if applicable).
- Pay Fee: Pay 2,400 (General/EWS/OBC) or 1,200 (SC/ST/PwD) online.
- Submit and Save: Complete the form and download a copy for future reference.
For more recent details, you can check out the given link.
Best wishes!
gitika yadav 05 January,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
Explore Career Options (By Industry)
Marketing Director
A career as Marketing Director is also known as a marketing expert who is responsible for the overall marketing aspect of the company. He or she oversees plans and develops the company's budget. The marketing Director collaborates with the business team to plan and develop the marketing and branding strategies for the company's products or services.
4 Jobs Available
Business Development Executive
A Business Development Executive (BDE) is a professional responsible for identifying growth opportunities and fostering strategic partnerships to enhance a company's market position. Typically, a BDE conducts market research, analyses industry trends, and identifies potential clients or business prospects. He or she plays a crucial role in developing and implementing sales strategies to achieve revenue targets.
A BDE often collaborates with cross-functional teams, including marketing and product development, to align business objectives. Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills are essential for success in this role. BDE strives to expand the company's customer base, drive sales, and contribute to overall organisational growth in a dynamic and competitive business environment.
3 Jobs Available
Content Marketing Specialist
Content Marketing Specialists are also known as Content Specialists. They are responsible for crafting content, editing and developing it to meet the requirements of digital marketing campaigns. To ensure that the material created is consistent with the overall aims of a digital marketing campaign, content marketing specialists work closely with SEO and digital marketing professionals.
3 Jobs Available
Sales Manager
A sales manager is a revenue-generating source for a company. Any organisation or company which sells a commodity or service requires sales to generate revenue. A Sales manager is a professional responsible for supervising the sales team. An Individual as a sales manager works closely with salespeople, assigns sales territories, sets quotas, mentors the members of the sales, assigns sales training, and builds a sales plan.
The Sales Manager work also includes hiring and laying off sales personnel after evaluating his or her work performance. In bigger entities, sales quotas and plans are usually set at the executive level. He or she is responsible for overseeing the set target or quotas met by salespeople or upholding any policy. He or she guides his or her fellow salespeople and allows them to sell.
2 Jobs Available
Business Analyst
Individuals who opt for a career as a business analyst look at how a company operates. He or she conducts research and analyses data to improve his or her knowledge about the company. This is required so that an individual can suggest the company strategies for improving their operations and processes.
In a business analyst job role a lot of analysis is done, things are learned from past mistakes and the successful strategies are enhanced further. A business analyst goes through real-world data in order to provide the most feasible solutions to an organisation. Students can pursue Business Analytics to become Business Analysts.
2 Jobs Available
Marketing Manager
A marketing manager is a person who oversees a company or product marketing. He or she can be in charge of multiple programmes or goods or can be in charge of one product. He or she is enthusiastic, organised, and very diligent in meeting financial constraints. He or she works with other team members to produce advertising campaigns and decides if a new product or service is marketable.
A Marketing manager plans and executes marketing initiatives to create demand for goods and services and increase consumer awareness of them. A marketing manager prevents unauthorised statements and informs the public that the business is doing everything to investigate and fix the line of products. Students can pursue an MBA in Marketing Management courses to become marketing managers.
2 Jobs Available
SEO Analyst
An SEO Analyst is a web professional who is proficient in the implementation of SEO strategies to target more keywords to improve the reach of the content on search engines. He or she provides support to acquire the goals and success of the client’s campaigns.
2 Jobs Available
Digital Marketing Executive
Digital marketing is growing, diverse, and is covering a wide variety of career paths. Each job function aids in the development of effective digital marketing strategies and techniques. The aims and objectives of the individuals who opt for a career as a digital marketing executive are similar to those of a marketing professional: to build brand awareness, promote company services or products, and increase conversions. Individuals who opt for a career as Digital Marketing Executives, unlike traditional marketing companies, communicate effectively through suitable technology platforms.
2 Jobs Available
MBA/PGDM Admissions OPEN
IMS Ghaziabad PGDM Admissions 2025
ApplyHighest CTC 35 LPA | Median CTC 9.27 LPA | 172+ Recruiters
Atlas SkillTech University MBA Admissions 2025
ApplyIndia’s first Urban Multidisciplinary University | Case-based pedagogy
FLAME University | MBA 2025
ApplyNAAC A++ Grade | Only Indian University member in the Global Liberal Arts Alliance
Dr DY Patil University MBA Admissions 2025
ApplyNAAC A Accredited
ISBR Business School PGDM Admissions 2025
Apply250+ Companies | Highest CTC 16 LPA | Average CTC 8 LPA | Ranked as Platinum Institute by AICTE for 6 years in a row | Awarded Best Business School of the Year
News and Notifications
January 16, 2025 - 02:32 PM IST
January 13, 2025 - 10:45 AM IST
January 10, 2025 - 04:28 PM IST
IIM Calcutta: Names of shortlisted candidates for personal interview out; MBA selection process 2025
January 09, 2025 - 05:15 PM IST
January 07, 2025 - 07:23 PM IST
January 07, 2025 - 04:19 PM IST
January 06, 2025 - 04:12 PM IST
Stay up-to date with CAT News
Back to top