How I Scored 99.9%ile In CAT VARC | Ayush Patil, XLRI Jamshedpur'27
Verbal Ability is often the elephant in the room.
Verbal Ability is often the elephant in the room.
"Success doesn't come from what you do occasionally. It comes from what you do consistently." CAT is an exam of Strategy more than about real knowledge. You might know a lot, but it will be tough to crack if you don't have a plan to execute. With almost 5 months in hand, there is still a lot of time left to make an impact in your attempt. It is a test of your patience, consistency, and conceptual knowledge.
When I started my CAT preparation journey, I didn’t have a strict routine or a master plan — just a strong will to try, fail, learn, and keep going. Here’s how it all unfolded — with all the ups, downs, and some unexpected fun along the way.
I graduated from IIT Tirupati in July 2024, but unlike most of my batchmates, I walked out without a job. It wasn’t due to a lack of effort — I had been applying, skilling up, and trying everything I could in a tough job market. Still, three months went by with no results. I had attempted CAT 2023 while preparing half-heartedly, scoring 96.45 percentile, but I couldn’t clear the DILR cutoff. Back then, CAT had been my Plan B. This time, though, with no placement and no backup plan, I knew I had to give it everything I had. Either I’d make it to a top B-school, or I’d have to start from scratch.
How it started I completed my B.Tech. in Electronics and Communication Engineering from NIT Raipur, stepping into the corporate world with a strong technical foundation and an eagerness to build something meaningful. After graduation, I joined Accenture and spent over 26 months working in the cybersecurity domain, a space that intrigued me initially but gradually left me feeling stagnant. Despite being in a technically sound job, I couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't my true calling. I wanted to upskill, explore new domains, and most importantly, challenge myself in ways that felt more aligned with my ambitions.
Hi all, my name is Sparsh Maharshi, and here I am trying to share my journey from a tiresome core job to IIM Calcutta.
You all must’ve heard a saying, “DILR is the maker or breaker” – sahi kehte hai log!
I’m thankful for where I am in life now. A year ago, I thought this feeling would be impossible.