How a ‘pathetic’ student made it to IIM-B

I had a great time in school because I never studied. If one word sums up my academic performance at school, it is “pathetic”. I never failed but was always at the bottom of the class. In my Class X pre-boards I scored 39 on 150 in Math. Class X boards was the first time I got a 1st division – exactly 61% with 51% in English and 49% in Hindi. In XI, I took up science but ended up with 65% in Class XII boards with 48% in Math. In sports, I played many games without excelling at any.

While in XI, I cleared NDA entrance exam twice but was rejected in the Personality Assessment Process. I was trying to be portray myself as someone I was not – the ideal candidate! Later I found out that one of the candidates who was selected had admitted that his hobby was to sleep! That is when I learnt that an interview is all about being honest – you’re not fooling anyone with rehearsed answers.

I realized that if I wanted to do well in life, I would need to change my approach towards studies. I joined Govt. College for Men in Chandigarh for Pre Engineering (equivalent to Class XII) and not only did I attend college regularly but also ensured that no work was kept pending.

This led to Chemical Engineering in Punjab University, where I did reasonably well – top 20% of the class. The foundation of my teaching career was laid in these 4 years of engineering. I discovered that you don’t have to know everything to clear the exam – you just have to think like the examiner, study smart instead of studying everything and read the paper carefully. Before every semester and other exams, I would conduct classes for my batchmates. The focus of these classes was not theory or building of the fundamentals but how to clear the exam, which chapter to study, which type of questions to focus on, how to maximize returns (marks) with one’s limited knowledge. I can claim credit for helping about half my batchmates complete their Engineering in 4 years. Ofcourse, this only helped them clear the exam; to get good marks it is imperative that you have your fundamentals right.

I applied all of these when I took the CAT. My learnings from the NDA interview came in handy during my GD-PI in IIM Bangalore. After graduating, I worked with Britannia and Vam Organics before joining Satya, my batch mate from IIMB, and co-founded Career Launcher in 1995.

2,555 Comments

  1. hai sir my name is laxmi Narayana
    I’m planning to give cat in 2018
    I got
    5.7points in 10th
    68% in 12th
    78% in b.com
    is there any chance that I can get seat in iim’s or any top b,school
    my friend saying that iims wiil consider our 10th,12th marks
    my score in 10th,and 12th is very less marks I scored is there any chance of getting into a iims

  2. hi sir

    my credentials are
    10th 93.10%
    12th 70%
    btech(ME) 71.10%
    i am currently working at a PSU as graduate engineer trainee.Which college to target for mba do i have a shot at the iims

  3. Sir,
    I am an IT department professional currently working at Accenture.It has been just one year after college and am preparing for CAT.
    10th – 94%
    12th – 96%
    Bsc (hons.) IT ,St. Xaviers college Mumbai. – 8.0 grade points.

    I have been an active student with good academic and co-curricular background.What are my chances of getting into top MBA Colleges and is my academic record good enough to receive a call from IIMs(A,B,C) after performing a good percentile?
    Will be eagerly waiting for reply.
    Thank you.

    • Abhinav, you have decent past academic records to apply to all top B-Schools given that you get a good CAT score. To know about which IIMs are likely to shortlist you try CL’s IIM Profilizer. It is a free tool that will evaluate your profile for IIMs and required CAT score to get a call from IIMs. http://www.careerlauncher.com/cat-mba/profilizer/

  4. Hello Sir,
    My 10th and 12th percentage is 88 and my B.E percentage is 66. Is it possible for me to get into one IIM’S. How many years work experience will i need?

    • Try IIM Profilizer and know which IIM is likely to shortlist you. You can register for free and access IIM Profilizer here: wwww.careerlauncher.com/sis

  6. Hello Sir,
    I’m a working professional with a work ex of about 2.5 years now. Below is my academic profile
    10th – 87.7
    12th – 77.7
    BE (Mech) – 68.8
    I will be taking CAT 2018 for pursuing an MBA. My query is that I’m almost 26 years old as of now and will be close to 27 after joining the college next year(2019). I aspire to get an MBA from an IIM. Will my age be a defining factor for me getting into an IIM? I am really worried about this. Please clear this doubt of mine.

    • Dear Pratik
      IIMs follow a policy of age no bar! Focus on getting a good percentile next year! ALL THE BEST..

    • It depends on the amount and quality of your work experience, Khuba. Below 2.5 years work experience is considered apt!

  10. Hi , I am Anmol Nayak
    10th – 87.2%
    12th- 88.5%
    Do top IIMs look after which college you passed. Such as i am currently persuing BBA from Amity Unversity ,Kolkata. Is that gonna affect my profile?Will i be qualified for top IIMs?

  14. Hi,

    I am Rohan, an average student but an excellent professional

    10th – 77.4%
    12th – 72.6%
    Btech – 70%

    Worked in the area of credit risk analytics where we use machine learning and stuff at top firms like Moody’s and GE Cap, have an experience of 3 years with a research paper on my name and lots and lots of awards.

    I get disheartened when some of the organization will not even consider me for a role as I am from tier 3 college, to be honest there is no need of MBA except for targeting better roles in organisations I like – I see discrimination, I do not learn best in a classroom set up and I would complete the same thing with ease in professional set up.

    Please guide on what colleges I can target

    Thanks

  17. HI
    I am an average student,
    10th 62.8
    12th 67.8

    Btech in IT 86.2%

    Do i have a good carreer ahead,I had checked on profilizer and I found all IIM As no match..Is it good to prepare for CAT.I have zeal to learn amd i want to grow as i have seen a lot of sorrow in my life.

  18. Hello Sir,
    I am Rahul Dutt, Btech 4th year student.
    I got 91.2 % in 10th
    86.4 % in 12th
    current CGPA is 7.36
    As of now I am not prepared for CAT 2017 but I would like to prepare my best and give CAT 2018. Currently My college placement progress is stagnant so I would like to take a break after B.Tech.
    Will it be fine if I get a good CAT percentile after college break or shall I devote all my efforts towards placements to get a job and give cat after a few years of experience ?

    • Rahul, do not worry about the gap. You should be able to justify it during the PI round. Focus on your CAT score. All the best.

  19. iam a b.com graduate from open school of learning du scoring 54%. Got 75% in 10 th and 70 % in 12 th
    right now preparing for cat donot know how much i will score in it . what colleges form i should be filled by me and is there any chances to get good colleges on the basis of 54% marks in graduation after cat

    • Pranay, there are many top B-Schools that do not consider past academic details. Focus on an excellent CAT score and you can aim for best B-Schools in India such as FMS, JBIMS, SIBM, SCHMRD, XLRI, MDI etc.

  20. Hello sir my name is Shikhar Sachan .sir i got 83% in 10th in 2012 ,80.8% in 12th in 2014 (both from up board) and 65% in b.sc (math).i belong to Nc-OBC category .sir can i get calls from top IIMs like A,B,C if i perform really very well in cat exam with 99+ percentile.

    • Bhuvan, it would be great if you could share your GMAT score and the colleges that you are targeting. Different colleges have different past academic weightages. A lot also depends on your SOP therefore it is difficult to pre-determined which colleges would accept or reject your application.

  23. sir i scored 84% in 10th and 55% in 12th. Then after 12th i took BSC Computer science but in first year i had a year drop so i decided to change my field so then i took BMS and currently i am in bms first year. SIR i wanted to ask u whether i still have a chance to get into top MBA college or IIM if i score well in all three years of graduation as well as the MBA entrance exam. Will my previous year drop can be a hurdle for me.

    • Shubham, if you are able to justify the gap year with your graduation marks and in the PI rounds to various B-Schools then it will not be a hurdle and you can apply to any B-School you desire. Focus on your studies and all the best.

  24. x-82.37
    xii-69.8
    b.tech-7.43
    but , there is a problem i am 2016 pass out. i worked for a startup for just only 5 month then i left my job.so,technically there is no work experience. my question if i take cat in 2017 am i eligible to get a good college if i am score well. Kindly suggest me thanks in advance.

    • Rayon, do not worry about the gap if you can turn it your advantage in the PI round with good, sound reasons. Concentrate on your CAT preparation. All the best.

  25. Hello Iam a third year Economics honours student of Calcutta University
    I scored 87.4 % in 10 th and 89.2% in 12 th
    In first year I scored 81% and awaiting second year results
    Iam thinking of giving Cat nxt year
    If I start preparing from now and do some internships will it be possible to get into IIM A B C?

    • Madhurima, it would do you well to start preparing right away. You don’t need any work experience to apply to the top B-Schools, however, if you wish to do internship then you should do it well and be prepared to answer questions related to the work performed during the interview process.

  26. Sir I want to do MBA from a good business school.Currently I’m now in the 4th year of engineering. I got 65% in class X , did 3 years Diploma in Engineering with 7.64 C.G.P.A but did not do class XII. I took lateral entry in the 2nd year of engineering after completing 3 years Diploma. Am I eligible for CAT/MBA from any good Management College? Please help.

    • Pratosh, you are eligible for all the MBA entrance exams. Focus on scoring well in the entrance exams. All the best.

        • Ankit, check the eligibility criteria of each institute that you are interested in. Most need a master’s degree or a 4 year bachelor’s degree as a minimum criteria.

  28. Sir I have scored 75% in x and XII from West Bengal board and 56% in B com (Hons) applying​ for CAT 2017. Should I expect call from SP Jain , NMIMS IIM Lucknow with percentile about 85 to 89?
    I have cleared CWA foundation currently appeared for Intermediate. Just now started Articleship.

    • Arjun, you should focus on getting better percentile if you wish to get a call from these B-Schools. Do not worry about your past academic records and focus on your CAT preparation as many B-Schools do not give heavy weightage to past academic records.

  29. Hi sir
    i score. 10th -91.40%
    12th- 57%
    Currently i am getting into bba course at amity uni. I hav 3yrs of bba to study for cat apparently. Will i be able to get selected to iims or other mbs top institutes thru cat? Or my 12th grades would affect my furtger selections.

    • Gauri, All IIMs and other top B-Schools such as FMS, SPJain, JBIMS, IITs accept CAT score. FMS, MDI, JBIMS, NMIMS, SIBM-P, XLRI, IIFT are few colleges that do not consider past academeic records. You should focus on your CAT/XAT/IIFT/NMAT scores for these colleges.

  30. Hello Sir,

    I wanted to aim for iim. Here are my academics:

    X – 92.5
    XII – 93.9
    B.Tech – 75.2

    The problem is I got detained during my 2nd year in engineering due to the shortage of attendance and thus I have an year back in my graduation. Will this affect my iim admission?
    How to minimize it’s effect and achieve my dream?

    • Hemanth, You have decent past academic records, focus on CAT preparation and if you are able to justify your gap in the PI round, then it shouldn’t be a problem.

  31. Dear Recipient,

    I have completed my Graduation and now I want prepare for CAT, but I don’t have any guidance to do same and also I’m not able to pay coaching fee, so can you please help me out?
    please suggest me how to prepare for CAT by self study, or please suggest me is there any coaching centre who will help me in less fee amount.
    looking forward for you answer kindly don’t ignore it.

    Best.

    Pragya.

    • Pragya, a lot of free content is available over the internet. Make a study plan and stick to it and you should invest in Mocks from a reputed coaching institute and solve and analyse them religiously.

  35. hello sir,
    I am the student of B.B.A- foriegn trade student.
    my grades
    10th- 7cgpa
    12th-60.2%
    i want to ask that can i make to good or best iims with much better graduation marks and higher cat percentile.

    • Aakash, prepare well for CAT and other MBA entrance exams and you can make it the bests of B-Schools in India.

  36. Hi this is Azeez a bcom graduate with 78%,12th 88,10th 73,planning to give cat 2017 is it possible for a commerce graduate to get into colleges like jbims sp jain mdi currently working with 3 months of exp as of now..some tips for preparation as well….thanx

    • Azeez, all the B-Schools are open for you. To score well in CAT practice with mocks and go through the analysis of each mock. Focus on topics that you are comfortable with and master that topic.

  38. Hello Sir,

    I have 5 year’s work experience in an IT company.

    My academics —
    10th – 80.8
    12th – 73.5
    BCA – 67

    I scored 98.34 in CAT 2016. I have a call for new iims. Should I go or wait a year for GMAT?

    • Aritra, it somewhere depends on which IIM convert and what do you really wish to do. If you convert say an IIM Ranchi you might want to join it. However, if you think that you can give it another shot and take GMAT you might want to do that. Preferably you should go for an executive MBA with ISB as your target. Do let us know which IIM you convert.

  39. Hi Sir ,
    I finished my 12th last year and dropped this year to prepare for engineering entrances . But , now I don’t think I would be able to make it to any of the reputed ones ( Manipal , most likely ) . I wanted to know how does this realistically affect my chances if I decide to go for MBA entrances once I’m done with my B.Tech . I got 93% in class 10 and 82% in class 12 . Will try to maintain a decent GPA while in engineering .

    • Ashwin, as long as you are able to provide a justifiable reason for the year drop and your selection into the engineering college, these issues won’t be a hurdle for getting into a good MBA college. Your past academic records are decent and if you prepare well for CAT exam and score well in your under-graduation you can hope to convert a good MBA institute. All the best!

  41. Dear Gautam Sir,

    Your experience with studies was very interesting and inspiring.
    I am a Deputy Manager in Deloitte India with 8.5 yrs of exp in SAP Technology. I am preparing for GMAT and can achieve a score of 700+. But my only worry is my 12th exam performance, as i had a low score in my 12th exam.
    Below is the details:
    10th: 70, 12th: 56, B-Tech: 77.6.
    Is there chances of me to get admission in premier ivy colleges like IMD, IE School Of Business and LSB. In Indian colleges I am targeting for 1yr full time MBA in IIM-A,B,C,L , ISB and XLRI(15mths) course.

    Kindly guide me on this please.

    Thanks and regards,
    Arshad Kalim

    • Arshad, there are few good institutes, which do not consider past academic records or give little weightage to past academic records, therefore if you are able to score well in the exam you can hope to get into one of these top management institutes.

  42. sir,
    my acads are,
    x-89
    xii-78
    btech mech-60(state uni)
    2 years drop after btech. can i get into iim-a,b or c with good cat %le?

    • Salil,focus on your CAT preparation and do not worry about the gap as it will not cause any hindrance in your application process. All the best.

    • Ashish, do not worry about the gap, however, if in the interview you are asked about the gap then you should be able to justify the gap. Focus on your CAT preparation. All the best.

  45. Sir my academic record is
    10th- 93;12th-84;btech-75; but after btech I have gap of 20 months due preparation of engineering services exam.but since I was unable to clear ese I now want to pursue MBA next year ( from 2018 onwards).currently I have started working in a start-up.how are my chances to reach iims considering my gap after btech.is it going to be a big problem in interview.

    • Vivek, the gap would not be a hindrance in your application to the IIMs or other top B-Schools, however, you should be able to turn the questions asked in the interviews in your favour. Also, be prepared to answer a lot of questions based on the work you would be performing and focus on your CAT preparation. All the best.

  47. Sir
    I am a 3rd year student of st. Xaviers college with 75% marks in b. Com(H) and had appeared for CAT 2016. However I have been unable to perform good in the exam and am expecting a percentile of around 90.
    Following is my profile
    X-91. 2%
    Xll-96. 5%
    Sir I would like to know if i have any chance of getting a call from ximb and sp jain or should I appear for CAT 2017 and aim for a better b-school than these. Also sir i have cleared IPCC.

  48. Hello Sir,

    My profile is –
    10th – 82%
    Diploma in ECE – 57%
    B.tech – 61%
    Post graduate diploma in Advance computing from CDAC.
    Work Exp – 27 Months

    Which collages should i target , Is there any chance to get a call from IIM’s ? I am also from OBC .

  49. Hello sir,
    I completed my bcom from Delhi university in 2015 and prepared for CAT 2016 but my CAT exam didn’t go well. I don’t have any work experience either. I am planning to start preparing for CAT 2017 rigorusly and to cope up by augumenting my talent acquisitions . But given the year drops will it be possible to convert a good bschool . If yes, then please tell me how?

  50. sir i was a two year dropout after 12th,and after that i m pursuing b.tech and i m a final year student.
    i want to know if i know take a coaching for cat exam and appear for in next session will i be able to occupy a seat in any of the IIM….and how does my this dropout count in my addmission

    • Siddhant, I know of students who are in the top IIMs despite a drop of 1-3 years. A good CAT/XAT/IIFT score is the first step so start your CAT preparation early.

  51. Hello Sir,

    Which one will be better bennett or bits pilani ? Can you tell me the last-year cutoffs for these two.

    Thanks

    • Souvik, we would suggest Bennett as it offers a assured placement of 7.5+ LPA in the Times Group. Bennett is a new college and there is no previous cutoffs.

    • Rohan, given your marks in X and XII you are unlikely to get calls from top IIMs, MDI and IIT Mumbai.Most of the other top MBA institutes do not consider your past academic performance for interview shortlisting and hence are possible for you.

  55. hi sir,
    i am a hotel management graduate with 2 years of exp.
    i want to pursue mba from a decent college but this entrance exam constraint is killing me i have not been able to score over 35%ile in AIMCATs, do i even stand a chance of getting into a decent college, 10th- 77%, 12th- 76%, BHM- 74%

  56. Hello sir,

    10th- 62%
    12th- 47%
    B.E.- 69%
    Am i elligible for cat exam?? i have less than 50% in 12th. will it effect to take admission in mba colleges???

    What are colleges in which i can take admission ????

    • Neha, you are eligible for CAT. Given your low scores, you should target those B-schools that consider low or no academic scores. You should aim for for IIFT, FMS, XLRI, JBIMS.

  57. as IIM A criteria announce now,When will IIM profilizer updated for getting latest scenario of admission chances?

      • I have low percenatge in Bcom just 40% so I decided to do Bcom hons again from the same
        distance learning college to improve the minimum percentage requirement of 50%
        that is required to appear for CAT Exams. Finally I got 52% marks in Bcom hons.
        But My Question is
        Will Top Business Schools accept my Bcom hons degree (which I did it second time) for fulfilling eligibility requirement of 50% or they can reject my application based on low percentage i.e 40% in Bcom which is done previously.
        Also Will they consider the time gap as major issue and reject on this matter?
        (as it took six years in doing Bcom for fulfilling the eligibility requirement)

  58. Akshay, you can check your chances for top IIMs by using this interesting tool IIM Profilizer . Considering your scores, there are fair chances of getting selected by new IIMs. You should also target non-IIMs like XLRI, FMS, JBIMS as academic scores are less considered here.

  59. Sir,
    10th – 67% , 12th – 62%, B.E (E&TC) – 60% (with one year gap in engg). Work exp : 14 months Cognizant. Left job on : 3rd june 2016. I am aiming for FMS and other top bschools of India. Category: SC. Can I get into these top bschools with such profile and only 3 months left to Cat exam. What should be my preparation strategy in such a less time.
    Thanks & Regards,
    Pooja

    • Pooja, you can check your chances for top IIMs by using our interesting tool IIM Profilizer. You have decent chances for FMS and other B-schools if you secure a good percentile in CAT.

  60. Hello sir, I am a CA final student. I have given three attempts of CA final, but could not clear, got exemption (63 marks) in one subject- Strategic Financial Management. So, now I am planning to do MBA. The following is my academic record:
    10th ICSE- 95.00%
    12th ISC- 96.00%
    CA IPCC Group- 64.43%
    B.Com. A&F, IGNOU- 70%
    I had completed 3 years’ CA articleship in September, 2015.
    How should I go about with my CAT 2016 preparation? Do I have any chances of getting into top 10 colleges in India?

    • Saubhagya, you can check your chances for top IIMs by using an interesting tool IIM Profilizer . Also, you have good chances for top B-schools if you score good percentile.

    • Sir, thank you for your reply. IIM Profilizer shows that I am eligible for 13 IIMs including IIM-A,B,C,L and also gives the percentile that I should aim at. Is it really possible to get into IIMs and other top B-schools by scoring a high percentile, without any work experience and extra-curricular achievements?

      • Saubhagya, IIM Profilizer is accurate in this prediction, ss every year many freshers join IIMs at high percentile.

  61. Hello CL team,
    I am a GEM. My profile is as follows :
    10th : 85.5
    12th : 88
    graduation from mait : 75%
    Gave cat last year with 89 %tile. I just wanted to know my strategy for the next 4 months to maximise my cat score. I want to know how do i solve RCs as it is where i suffer the most.
    I have taken the CL test series as well. How do i use the test portal ?
    Secondly, I am placed at accenture but as you might well have been aware that the call letters for the it companies take some time. But there is a company where i can work for around the same package as the IT company. Should i take up the offer ? Wouldn’t my preparation suffer ?

  62. I will be appearing for CAT and NMAT this year. How should I go about it to prepare for exams as I am currently doing a job as well.

    My 10th marks – 86%
    12th Marks – 77%
    Graduation – 81%
    JOB – Grofers.

    What should be my targets? ( NMIMS – Mumbai ? )

    • Prakhar, you can refer to our article How to ace CAT in 150 days? for preparation plan.
      Since you are interested in appearing for both NMAT and CAT, it is advised to schedule NMAT attempt somwhere in first half of october so that you have enough time to prepare for CAT. Try to brush up all the fundamentals by mid August. Take a mock every week to stay in touch with exam pattern. After month, you should increase mocks taking to 2-3 in a week. Take sectional tests as well. In september take atleast one NMAT mock and one CAT mock each week along with other practice tests. So by the october and november you will have enough practice for both NMAT and CAT respectively.

  63. Respected sir,
    My 10th std % is 74.1
    12th std % is 63.6
    I am an engineering student I have backlog so I would complete my degree in 2017 instead of 2016 (5 years instead of 4) my degree % would be 65 above but less than 68
    Sir I am looking forward for CAT 2017 & preparing for it and I want to get in to IIMB or Fms
    Sir is there any chance for me?

    • Bhoomit, you should be targeting FMS as academic scores are less considered at FMS as compared to other B-schools. Your admission will be based on your performance in CAT and GDPI round. If you are able to score 99%tile or above, then you can expect a call from FMS.

  64. Hello sir,
    My profile is-
    10-70%
    12-74%
    Btech-60.39

    I know the score is not good enough to get call from iim but still how much i have to score in cat to get a call from even few good iims/iift/fms or any good institutes?
    i want to do mba in international business.

    please reply..

  65. SIR i got 9.4 gpa in 10th,78.80 in 12th and 8.10 gpa in b.tech(IT).Can i get admission in iim ahemdabad and iim bangalore.

  66. Sir,
    I have the following academic profile
    X- 93.10%
    XII- 68%
    BE(Mech)- 73.8%
    I graduated this year and plan to give the CAT2016. Do I stand any chance of getting into IIM’s?
    Also would it affect my profilei as i would end up with a 1 year gap now?

    • Shreya, you should target atleast 98%tile or above for top B-schools. You can check your chances for top IIMs by using our tool IIM Profilizer . You should prepare for CAt along with a job to fill in the gap year. However,if you want to have 1 year gap then it will not pose any hindrance as long as you can give a logical reasoning for the same.

  67. hello sir,
    i have completed my btech with 65% marks and i am from hansraj college of delhi university,
    i m in a reserved category of pwd(physically handicapped). is there any possibility for me to get admission in iim a,b,c

    • Prateek, apologies for missing your message. As a reserved category non-engineering candidate you can make it to top IIMs. Hope you have stated preparaing for CAT 16.

  68. Sir, I am of class 9, if I wish to study at iim . At present in what all subjects should i concentrate more , I fell i am good at chemistry/ biology/ maths in what other subjects should i be through.

    • Sweety, you should concentrate on all the subjects. The overall percentage of class 10th and 12th plays a major role in getting selected for top IIMs. Since MBA is done by aspirants from all fields viz, commerce, arts or science, so no inclination is required towards any particular subject. The idea is to maintain good percentage in school and graduation.

  69. Dear Sir,
    I scored 80% in Xth and 84% in XIIth (ICSE and ISC respectively) but 45% in B.Com (Calcutta University). Can I still get calls from decent B-schools if I give XAT and MAT?
    I have been told I cannot give CAT because I do not meet the criteria. Your advice will be most helpful.
    Thanks.

    • Akil, with low academic scores you should be inclined towards scoring high in XAT and other MBA exams to convert decent B-schools.

  71. Greetings, Sir,
    I have scored 80% in my Xth and 84% in my XIIth (ICSE and ISC) and 45% in Graduation from Calcutta University. I belong to General class, my point of enquiry is can I still get into good B-schools? I was told I cannot give CAT, SNAP and NMAT. Please advise, I’ve already visited CL’s Park Street branch about this, I just want to confirm.
    I am also contemplating repeating third year just to get 50% but I wonder if this is necessary move.
    Thanks.

    • Akil, if you wish to see yourself in top B-schools then it is a necessary move. In order to become eligible for various B-school exams, you need to better your score.

  72. Hello sir,

    I am a SC category student i am preparing for CAT.
    I have 91% in 10th
    58% in 12th
    82% in Degree .
    What should be my score in CAT keeping in mind my category .

  73. Hello Sir ,10-91%,12th-71%,BSc(physical science)-52%.I shall complete my masters in physics this year.Also i took a gap after 12th and one after BSc.My calculated chances through iim profilizer are quite low for getting call from a top B school.I want to know do i have other options among good B schools?also if i obtain required percentile for top IIMs is there any hope that i may get admission there despite of my low academic scores.

    • Ria, you should aim to score maximum in CAT for targeting top B schools. Even if you are unable to convert top IIMs, you still will have good chances for FMS, XLRI. These institutes do not give much emphasis to academic scores of candidate.

  74. Hello sir!
    I am an architect keen on joining IIM for an mba to get into the marketing and sales field.
    I am set to appear for cat 2017

    Gender- Female
    Category- NC-OBC
    10 std- 96.5%
    12 std- 91.3%
    graduation (architecture) – 77% (8.1cgpa) 🙁
    With 8 month internship at an architectural firm.

    Do i hold any chance of getting a call from IIM-Bangalore or Ahmedabad with this academic background?

    • Sushma, you have decent profile. Yes you have chances of getting calls from top IIMs if you score well in CAT.

  75. Sir,
    I want to give CAT 2016.Even though i have given CAT two times before i was never serious about it .Last year i have given my MH-CET and without any sort of preparation i got 80 percentile and that was when i started feeling guilty and am very determined to crack CAT this year.
    i have 73% in 10th , 83% in XII AND 7.2 CGPA in my graduation. In the past two years i have been in and out of work but right now i want to quit my job and prepare for CAT .Will i be able to get into the Top IIMs?

    • Tripura, only few months are left for CAT. You should start with devising a study plan and make sure you follow it. Yes you have decent chances to get into top B schools. You just need to score well.

  76. HELLO SIR HOPE YOU DOING GOOD,
    i will be grateful to you if could just brush up my mind a little for cat 2016
    my educational qualification:
    x (cbse) – 87.5% in 2010
    xII (cbse) – 78% in 2012
    graduation from national institute of technology gos(NIT GOA) – 57% in 2016
    I completed my graduation in june 2016 and right now iam planning to take a break till november 2016 so that i can fully focus on cat 2016.i got placed through campus drive but dint go for it,have no job experience in my hands. can u tell what are my chances for top iim and b-schools through cat(2016) and xat (2017)
    PS: I USED IIM PROFILIZER BUT IT REALLY DINT CLEAR BUT DOUBT ON THIS.WILL BE GRATEFUL IF U COULD HELP ME OUT WITH THIS
    THANKU

    • Sonu, considering your low academic scores you have less chances for top IIMs as compared to other B-schools. But it forms only bleak part of admission. The larger part depends on your performance in CAT and the interviews. You have good chances for FMS, XLRI if you perform well in CAT and XAT respectively.

  77. Hi sir,
    I have scored 69% in 10th, 62 % in 12th, 75% in B.Sc(IT) ,B.Sc IT is from Distance.

    I have 5 years of experience in Software development(company:- HCL Technologies Evalueserve)

    Is there any chance to get selected in top 15 colleges.

  78. Dear sir,
    Hi,I am Ashu Mishra currently a working professional with 2 years of experience.
    Lately I have started giving mock tests,however the marks obtained are defamatory(40-50 percentile).
    Albeit I have gone through all the QA,VA/RC basics,still unable to score well.
    Kindly guide what Corrective and preventive actions must be taken as to score 99+ in CAT 2016.

    Regards,
    Ashu

  79. Hi sir,
    i have scored 70% in 10th
    70% in 12th
    and 78 % in b.tech
    and have 6 months experience in accenture
    n now m preparing for cat xat
    can i get into IIMS or XLRI???

  80. Sir
    I am a law graduate….My academics have been decent…..i scored 90.3% in Class X and 91.33% in Class XII…My graduation score is 61.62% from Mumbai University….Although it is a good score in a legal field,is it good enough for getting admission into the IIMs?
    I decided to pursue an MBA in my final year and took a year’s gap for the preparation.I couldn’t get a good score in CAT 2015 and am planning to appear for the exam again this year..What would be better for me? Taking up a job in legal field for two years and then do an MBA or prepare for CAT16 for 5 more months without any work ex ? Will I get shortlisted for an IIM-A,B or C’s interview if I choose the latter option?

    • Puja, take up the job prepare along with it and retake CAT’16. You can get into top IIMs if you score well in CAT and second round.

  81. sir,
    I had just started preparing of cat 2016.for cat i had also given up my job which i got through campus recruitment. Does I have an adequate time for preparation?

  82. Hello sir, lemme first start with how I wasted my year after my graduation doing nothing except games and travelling. Being honest I wasn’t very serious about my early life (after graduation). And with time and over I wasted my year and to end with the waste I ended up with giving cet ( without mocks and classes) .. I’ll be honest with my Marks I ended up with score of 43. I am actually scared to death about my future life and courier now . Sir I need an advice about should I prepare again for my mh-cet and cat this year ( with some courses to fill the gap for this year) or go with my low cet marks with average b-schools? But average b-schools isn’t a better deal for future and. I’m scared that me wasting 2years of life will ever be problem for me to fetch jobs(since I’m hearing this from some mba batch mates) .. Please advice me sir about should I go with the flow of low marks or is 2years break okay before I do mba? ( and the first year went doing nothing)

    • Siddharth, now you should get serious about these exams. Firstly, join a classroom programme that suits your needs. Make it a habit of taking mocks on regular intervals. Now take up a job to fill in the further gap year. Prepare along with job. If you are able to give any logical reasoning for the gap year, it will not pose any hindrance during interview.

  83. 10th:55.85%
    12th:46.00%
    BCA :74.44%
    MCA :72.28%
    But i have 5 years gap between 10th and 12th and one year gap in BCA to MCA can i able to CAT exam 2016?

    • Kumar, you are eligible to give CAT’16. Given your low academic scores the chances for IIMs is quite low. You should target B-schools like FMS, MDI that give less emphasis to academic scores.

  84. hi sir ,
    I have always been a below average student ,what are my chances to get into the top 40 b schools of India .My grades are as follows ..
    10th grade is 62%
    12th GRADE 52%
    D.PHARMA -60%
    B PHARMA – 55%
    TWO YEAR OF SALES EXPERIENCE

  85. hello sir,
    my 10th % is 87
    and 12th% is 83
    and B.E% is 61.
    i belong to 2016 passed out batch.now i am preparing for cat 2016.can i have a chance to get into iim A,if i get a decent score in cat 2016?

  86. Hi Sir,

    My profile
    Xth- 86 %
    x||th 86 %
    Btech 85%
    experience 4 years in IT company
    I am planning for pgpx next year. Could you please help to know about the fees structure. I belong to middle class family.

    • Avni, generally the fees for the PGPX is higher than the PGDM course. So it should be around 20 lacs or above.

  87. Hello Sir,

    Could you please tell me what are my chances of getting into Top 50 B schools ?

    10th- 75%
    12th- 84%
    Graduation: 52% (Calcutta University)

    Also I have work experience of 3 years as Equity Analyst.

    Please advise.

    Thank you

    • Utsab, as far as you meet the eligiblity criteria of the institutes, you always have decent chances of getting into any B-school. Given you profile, you are eligible for top institutes. However, you can refer to our tool IIM Profilizer to check your chances for top IIMs.

      • Hello,

        Thank you for your response.

        Could you please specify some B-schools which I should aim for ? To be practical I do not think with low marks there is much chance in IIMs,

          • Hello sir ,
            My profile _
            10th -84%
            12th_58%
            And I am currently pursuing business management studies (second year)
            I wanted to know whether I am eligible to apply for iim to pursue MBA? If not what are the other alternatives .

          • Thank you.

            Also I have another question, should I complete 4 years of work experience and do an executive mba ? What are the good colleges in that ?

          • Utsab, you should complete 4 years of work experience and do an executive MBA. You can target ISB Hyderabad, FMS, XLRI, SP jain. In executive MBA the admission largely dependa on your work experience. So academic scores will not play major role.

  88. HELLO
    I’m Malar
    I’m doing my BE degree 2nd year
    My 10th percent is 95%
    My 12th percent is 90%
    I wanna do my PG at IIM
    So what are the steps that I have to take to excel the requirements of IIM ?

  89. Hello
    I’m Malar
    My 10th percent is 95%
    My 12th percent is 90%
    I’m doing my BE degree 2nd year
    I really wanna do my PG at IIM
    How much CAT score do I need and what kind of preparations do I need to take now to excel the requirements of IIM?
    Kindly help me Sir!

  90. Hello Sir,

    I have done my B.etch in chemical engineering from HBTI kanpur in 2012 and thereafter i have been working for Akzo Nobel India Ltd as senior sales executive (10 months) and Business Analyst(2 years 10 months). I have secured 85 percentile in CAT and as of now i have two options in my career , one is NIRMA and second is Marketing Executive in Nippon Paints with CTC of 6 lpa. I already left job at AkzoNobel due to personal reasons.Pl guide , if two years MBA is advisable or should i take up my job at nippon for time being and then apply for one year MBA from great lake/MDI etc. Pl guide sir , i am in complete mess.

  91. Hello Sir ,
    Hope you are doing good . It would be wonderfull if I could get some guidance from you regarding mba and career .
    Currently i work at a mid-market investment bank (past 8months) and draw only 20,000/- and I am 24 yrs old . Also , I am doing my CFA , have my level 2 exams in june 2016 .
    Previous around 3yrs i have worked in my family business .
    My concern is that ,
    would doing an MBA be a good decision as I will be around 27-28 when I come out of college .
    Also , my 10th and 12th marks are in the 70’s range . So , IIMs are out and scoring 99%ile , might be “a bit” of a stretch for me , a realistic estimate would be around 80-85%ile .

    Would love to hear form you sir ,
    Jai

    • Jai, since you are your CFA level-2, your first priority should be to clear the CFA exams. Pursuing MBA does not have any age limit and hence going for a 1 year Executive MBA would be a good option. Your 10th, 12th marks are alright. Try hard and you can easily reach 95+%ile.

  92. Sir, here is my profile

    10th :86.6 %

    12th : 72.4%

    B.tech – CGPA 7.6 ( 73.4% )

    Currently , I have around 16 months of experience.At the time of the interview I will have around 24-25 months of experience.

    Can you please let me know , for which IIM’s i may get shortlisted and for which of them I may not, if my CAT score is good enough for this.

  93. Hello Sir,
    In 10th-58.9 ,12th-72.3, B.tech-5.5 i am having very less marks but sir if i clear cat and perform good there will I be able to get a good job there ?

    • Chandan, placements are a function of your performance in the MBA program and are usually not impacted by your past academic record hence focus on doing well in your MBA entrances and do not worry about post-MBA placements.

    • Hello Sir, I don’t know how to define my academics as average or below average
      Xth-58.9
      XIIth- 82
      Economics Honours-80+(still pursuing)
      General Category
      What are the possibilities for IIM.? Please advice about FMS and XLRI also.

      • Anmol, you can refer to our tool IIM Profilizer to check your chances in IIMs.
        As long as you meet the eligibility criteria of the B school, you can always hope for an MBA from there.

        • Sir, I’ve used the IIM profilizer, I have a doubt. It is showing that I Will get a call from IIM Bangalore at 98.5 percentile. But as I have mention in my previous comment that I’ve a score of below 60(58.9) in 10th and 81+ in 12th and Graduation. And as far as I know about IIMB, it’s having the most scrict admission criteria pertaining to past academics. How accurate is the profilizer?

          • Anmol, IIM B percentile should be taken with a pinch of salt. IIM B is quite unpredictable in these terms. IIM Profilizer is fairly accurate and we are in a constant pursuit to better it with the new eligibility criteria.

  94. HELLO sir,
    Well my 10th cgp was 7
    in 12th i scored 72%
    but i got atkt in my 1st sem
    plus i am from bio
    do you think i get admission in iimABC

    • Nitin, we are assuming that you are still in your graduation right now and you have a chance to clear your back of the 1st Sem. Once you clear the back it won’t be an issue at any IIM or B-school as long as you have a logical explanation for the same. In fact, chances are that most B-schools might not even raise this topic in the interview.
      Please let us know which year are you currently in.

  95. Hello sir,

    I completed my 10th with 90%,12 th with 96.8% and presently i’m doing CA. I completed CPT with 87% ,IPCC with 54% and currently pursuing CA Articles.But,after completing ca i want to do mba in top iim collage.but,for ca students to join in IIM Ahbd,i should have atleast 55% in ca,if get above 55% in ca final ,i will be eligible for top b-schools or not?

    • Dileep, you are eligible for all top B schools but in case of IIMA interview call may not be possible at 55%. While it is difficult you should target 60%.

  97. Hi,
    This is my profile:
    X=69%
    XII= 61%
    b.tech= 65%.

    so based on this profile,how bleak are my chances of getting in IIM or FMS??? (provided i get good score in CAT)

  98. Hello sir
    My academics are as follows:
    X 9.6 cgpa
    XII
    Graduation – 55% with 9.09 conversion factor, 60 with 10 conversion factor.
    What are my chances into the top b schools ??

  99. Sir I have scored 82% in 10th and 62% in 12 and graduation (BCA). And 2 year work experience and I’m from general category. How much percentile is required for me to get in to IIM?

  100. Hello Respected,
    I am a MBA aspirant but from last 1-2 year there is one question in my mind and I would to know the answer from you.
    If I would get 99+ percentile in CAT Exam and 60%,65% and 81% in 10th,12th and Graduation respectively, with no work experience. Do I have any chance of getting into any of the IIMs or other top 25 Business School in India ?

  101. Hi!

    I have already used the IIM Profilizer, and it shows that I have a good chance of getting into all the IIMs except IIM Indore. Now, the profilizer does say that my 10th and 12th marks have not been taken into account. I really want to make it to IIM Bangalore. But don’t they give a lot of weightage to class X and XIIth marks? Here is my profile:

    Gender: Female
    Category: General
    Xth: 89.9% (CBSE)
    XIIth: 70% (CBSE, Commerce)
    Graduation (Humanities): 65%
    Work Ex: Working at a startup as head of content and marketing. Would be working there for at least a year or two.

    I plan to write CAT in 2017. What are my chances?

  102. I got a chance with Evening classes 3 years MBA program AICTE approved and affiliated with an renowned university, i would like to get the advice whether pursuing the MBA for 3 years will be good option, if i want to go further into doctorate programs and Academic career. Also request you please advice me whether MNC companies consider this MBA Evening Class Program in their part of recruitment.

    • Tutai, the chances of getting a good job from 2 year morning MBA programme is more fruitful than this. MNC might not consider the evening MBA Class Programme.

  103. I am a BBA(H) 3rd year student i have a supplementary paper in 1st and 2nd year i have secured 56% in my CU exam, and i have already given my CAT exam in Nov , will i get into a B-school for sessions 2016-18 despite my due supplementary papers.

  104. I am not sure of making into IIM this year, but I am clear in one thing,that if I do MBA, I will do it in finance. The problem is, I am an engineer with no background in finance. Although I have deep interest in finance, I have no degree to certify that. I am planning to do CFA, if I don’t get in an IIM this year and then try again next year. I would want to know from GP, whether a CFA+MBA finance ,worth it?
    PS- I have heard that only CA guys opt for MBA finance

    • Vijit, The number of CAs who apply and make it to top MBA institutes is very low and most of the students who opt for finance are engineers. CFA+MBA is a good option and you should go ahead with it along with your MBA also.

  105. Sir, i am Tutai dutta and i am very much confused at this stage of my life at 30.
    10th- 65 %
    12-65%
    B.Tech- 68% passed out in 2008.

    I don’t have work experience from 2008 onwards, i was writing all government exams, for the last 7 years, few i got close and didn’t pass. i lost 7 years of time and exhausted, and depressed. Getting a relevant job role is getting difficult at this moment relevant to my engineering papers, But i am not disheartened i look forward to Management studies and start a fresh career in 3 years down the lane. I kindly request you sir please guide me, whether top 20 B Schools from india will give me the chance to study in their premier institutes if i score well in CAT/ XAT/ MAT/CMAT in the current 2016 period.

    • Tutai, getting into the top Indian B-schools will not be an issue as long as you genuinely explain the story of your pursuits in the interviews. Prepare well for CAT!

  106. I HAVE COMPLETED MY DEGREE IN 2013 WORKED FOR 5 MONTH IN COMPANY AND THEN MAY 2014 ONWARDS I M PREPARING FOR MBA EXAMS…WHETHER GAP MATTERS IN SELECTION PROCESS IN IIMS AND OTHER TOP BSCHOOLS IF I GOT HIGH SCORE IN ENTRANCES AND 10 TH AND 12 TH 81% AND GRADUATION 65%???? PLZ REPLY

  107. Sir,
    My academics record are :
    10th – 80.4%
    12th – 72.25%
    B.Com – 53% (2014)
    No work ex and almost a 2 year gap after graduation.
    I’ve taken CAT this is year and will give other entrances exams too like CMAT, MAT, etc.
    With my profile are there any chances of getting selected in a decent college?
    And plus what are my chances of getting selected in TISS?

    • Sharad, your profile is just alright to get you to a good Tier-1 B-school. Make the most of XAT. TISS is an easy exam, you should be able to do well in it.

  108. I am currently pursuing B.tech in Information technology in a top 100 engineering college in India.My scores are 10th-89.4% , 12th-93.5% , b.tech-80.4% . what are my chances in the top Mba colleges . any tips to build my profile ?.

  109. Hi,

    I want to know the chances of mine getting into top 10 B-School.

    10th-63%
    12th-50.5%
    Graduation(BCA)-85%
    Work Exp.-24months(currently)..

    Will appear for CAT-2016. With less marks in 10th and 12th what will be the chances to get into top 10 B School.

    • Sanjay, with your marks in X and XII, the top IIMs are unlikely. However most of the top MBA institutes have a low/no weight for past acads and hence are possible.

  110. i am a student of SMU distance education currently persuing BBA
    can i apply for CAT after my graduation ends?
    am i eligible for CAT?

  111. Hi, I plan to give CAT seriously in 2016. However, I have applied to it this year too. will this affect my profile? will they ask me the reason as to why I had not cracked in previous attempts? If yes, ill not giving the exam this year help?????

  112. Hi, I wanted to know if IIM A/B/C are possible for me with
    10th – 9 CGPA
    12th – 84%
    B.Tech – 80%
    Do I qualify for these IIMs ?

  113. right now i am in Bsc 2nd year.
    next year i have to give my CAT exam .
    i just want to ask one thing that if i get selected in good MBA college .
    what would be my salary as a fresher ?

    • Anushka, this is a function of the institute you go to. IF it is the top IIMs then you can expect a salary of 12-15 lakh pa. Most of the top 40 MBA institutes will ensure a salary of at least 8 lakh pa.

  114. Hi Sir,

    I am Jaya.Below is my profile
    10th – 93% 2004 pass out
    12th -92.1% 2006 pass out
    B.Tech – 8.6 CGPA 2010 Pass out.
    Worked with TCS and Oracle India having 4.8yrs IT experience.Currently I left my job and am a home maker.I would like to go for MBA and appear to CAT in 2016.
    With my experience and break will the colleges consider my profile?Please advise.

    Thanks

    • Jaya, yes you will be considered by the top MBA institutes. If you are serious about CAT 2016 then start preparing immediately and it will be prudent to GMAT also since you would be eligible for the 1 year MBA program of ISB Hyderabad and some of the IIMs.

  115. Sir , currently I am in my fourth year of engineering first semester. I have taken one year coaching with CL but could not focus on the preparation due to campus placements. so, i find find it practically not possible to get a good score this year i.e. nov 29/2015.
    Next semester is my internship semester. So if I give take full months of preparation after my internship that is after june 2016 onwards upto november 2016, will that be considered a drop year. I will try for campus placements during my internship semester also but the above is only in case I do not get one.

    • Ananya, put your best foot forward for CAT and more importantly for SNAP and XAT for which you have sufficient time.
      In case you have to go for CAT 2016, do not wait for the completion of your graduation but start immediately after your 7th semester exams. Starting after graduation will possibly get you in the same situation as this year. Spending 3-4 hours daily along with your internship should not be a problem.
      In case you do not pick up a job after graduation then it will be considered as a drop year but it can be handled.

  116. Hello Sir,
    I am currently preparing for CAT-15. I have been working hard for it since months but i couldn’t see any of my hard work reflecting in my Mocks. I have gone through every topic at least once. Apart from TSD, I don’t find any of the topics in quant as my weakness. Still i m stuck up between 50 and 60 marks in the mocks Performing poorly in the quant section as well as in LR-DI ( However, I m able to fetch up decent marks in VA )
    Now, as I have less than a month in my hand, I am afraid that i wouldn’t be able to score well in the CAT.
    Please help me deal with this sir. I have worked really hard for it, I don’t want my har work to go all in vain.

    • Hello sir.
      Sir i have cleared my Ipcc both groups in the first attempt and wanted to do MBA before my CA final. I started my preps from the result day itself. And i have worked hard. Completed most of the CL materials.
      However my performance has been weak in mocks ranging between 60-70.
      The only topics I am weak at include TSD and Time and Work.
      Sir please help me.
      I dont want my year to get wasted!

      • Sarthak, if the only topics that you are weak in at TSD and T&W then it is not a problem, these two will normally not account for more than 3 questions.
        Call me at 9811155160 after 8pm to discuss your performance in the Mocks.

    • Hello Sir,
      I found your article to be very inspiring.I wanted to know if I am eligible for IIM-A .Here are my details
      1. I am 25 years old
      2. I am a CA cleared foundation and Final in first attempt although it took me four attempts to clear intermediated
      3. I did Bcom from correspondence Mumbai University
      4. I got 80% on my 12th exams, American Board
      My query to you is whether I am eligible for any of the top IIM’s and if so what are my job prospects of being a CA and an IIM

      • Prakash, You should be eligible for all IIMs. For the IIMs from where you can get a call, please check the IIM Profilizer
        Since you are from Mumbai University, JBIMS should also be in your target list.
        CA + MBA Finance will give you very good opportunities in all areas of finance.

  118. Hello sir,
    Saw your blog for the first time and found it profoundly enriching and encouraging. Here is my query.

    I got graduated (july 2015) from Delhi University(B.com) with an aggregate of 84%(topper consecutively for 3 years)
    had one month a summer internship : IFCI
    12th (ISC) :87%
    10th (ICSE):83%

    Sir, I desperately want to join IIM A/B/C but i am not prepared enough for CAT2015 to bag these colleges. i want to gain some experience and give it another chance on the other hand my parents want me to join any of the college through 2015 cat?
    what shall i do?

    • Shiv, you must take CAT 2015 and be hopeful for scoring extremely well. You can download a 45 day study plan here and work according to that. If you do not succeed in getting your desired B-schools then you must analyse the situation as to how much you scored in CAT 2015 and how much can you increase the score.
      Taking two attempts at CAT is very common.

  119. sir, i am a little concerned about the current level of cl mock exams . i think they are a bit easy as compared to last year’s. i am afraid whether the cat exam is going to be of the same level of not.

  120. dear sir can you please tell me about the importance of extra curricular activities as far as the selection in iims are concerned(apart from good cat score)??

    • Kunal, extracurricular activities give you something to talk about in the interviews. Interesting hobbies might even attract the panelists towards you. But, even the lack of extra-curricular activities can be justified with the help of logical reasons.

  121. sir ,

    my percentage has a very unsteady graph in my boards as well as my B.tech . I obtained 84% in my class X and 55.2% in my class XII . I have secured around 60% in my engineering. Am i eligible for any IIMs ?

  122. Hello sir
    I got 10.00 cgpa in my 10th class and 91.4% in my 12th . Currently I m in my 3 rd year of BE . My cg till now is 8.8 which I hope to improve further. Am I eligible for cat 2016 and will I be able to make it to any of top iims without any work experience?

  123. Hi Sir,

    This is Vinay. I am preparing for CAT 2016 and very passionate for MBA.
    My academics records are:
    Class 10th: 68%
    Class 12th:74.3%
    B.E.:7.72 (CGPA)
    And currently I am working in Wipro Technologies (10 months so far).
    Can you please let me know, what are my chances of getting into IIM?
    Or if not IIM then which college I should focus on more?

    Thank you!

  124. sir,
    my academics record are as:-
    X- 90%
    XII- 83.2%
    B.E- 58.8% (mumbai university)
    which IIMs i am eligible for.. and what should b my aim for the cat’15 score

  125. Sir,

    I’m an average student with not so good scores in previous grades.
    And I have heard that, ‘one can’t make it for IIMs with poor academic background!!’
    I just wanted to know if I stand any chance in any of the IIMs with the following scores:
    Class X : 70.33%
    Class XII : 68.62%
    Degree(Bsc IT) : 65% (aggregate)

    What difference will it make if I performed well in CAT or GMAT exactly?
    (I mean, can I cover up my previous academic scores with a good CAT or GMAT score?)

    • Shreya, please check the IIM Profilizer to know about your chances at the IIMs and the required CAT percentile. A great CAT percentile will certainly open more avenues for you and if your are eligible for an institute, your past acads won’t really hamper your chances in that case.

  126. sir first of all i would like to thank all gkp fuda team for there so helpful suggestions ..my querry is that i was enrolled into a btech marine engineering course but i didnt completed it and left in final year because of some medical issues and got admitted in ba in phsycology my education track record is as follows 10th-88% 12-75% btech 3 year aggregate 93% hold a university record of all six semester problem is that my current graduation result will be declared by mid july and classes of iim will commence
    by 30 june will this be a problem in getting admitted into the iims on time

  127. Hello Sir!

    I am aiming for CAT 2015. I have secured C.G.P.A. 10 in Class X and 95.2% in Class XII. I am currently pursuing Economics(Hons) in Delhi University. I am now in 3rd year (5th semester). I have an aggregate of 85% till now. I am a CL student and am getting 85-88 percentile in my CL mocks. I want to know if i stand a good chance of getting into IIM A,B or C?

  128. Hello Sir,
    I am general engineering student.

    10th percentage : 85.47 (Odisha State board)
    12th percentage: 62.87 (Odisha State board)
    Graduation: 8.62 (NIT Rourkela)

    I have 2 years and 2 months of work experience.

    Sir, Is it possible to get a call from IIM ABC with such a low score in 12th? Is there any preference to state board student?

    I am a bit tensed about this with new selection criteria of IIMA and IIMC.

    • Pratyusa, IIM-A might not be possible as the average of your 10th and 12th percentage is below 80%. Please confirm it with the new IIM-A criteria. Also, please confirm your eligibility for the rest of the IIMs using the IIM Profilizer.

    • Hello, my age is 34 years. I am a Government Clerk from last 10 years. Now I feel frustrated with my job and wants to do something big in life. I am very much attracted towards corporate life.However, considering my age and poor academic record will it be possible for someone like me to get selected in top schools like IIM, FMS, XLRI, IIFT if I study hard for entrance? And what are my chances of getting a decent corpo job after this MBA from top schools through campus placements? My academics are as given below please:-

      X – 58%
      XII – 59 % (3 attempts)
      B.Sc. (could not pass 2nd and 3rd year)
      B.Com. – 62% (from open university)

      • Abhishek, age will not decrease your chances of getting into a top B-school. During the interview, you have to come up with a genuine and logical answer for why do you wish to pursue an MBA.
        To know how good are your chances at an IIM, please use the IIM Profilizer.

  130. Sir,

    my academic scores are as follows:

    10th : 88.0
    12th : 86.4
    graduation: 52.5

    without work experience will i be able to make it to the top b-schools of the country. i am ok with non-iim’s also please suggest the possible b-schools that i can get through CAT.

    thank you.

  131. Dear sir,

    I am a great fan of your suggestions and I regularly follow GP KA FUNDA. I would like you to suggest me if there is some basic book for LRDI & VERBAL ?? I am getting less marks in verbal ,in quant section I get always around 90 %ile (whether it be cl mocks or cat 2014) but in verbal it ends up to 40-50 %Ile only . Till last year there was a hope that I could do a bit well in verbal because of reasoning questions. But from this year as we all know we have to get separate good percentile in verbal as well.

    I have 93 % in 10th, 76% in 12th and 8.85 gpa in BE . I have 4 months of job experience as of now. I am a OBC candidate. please suggest me some book in verbal ??

    • Abhijit, the first and the foremost thing you should begin with is reading. Read newspapers, editorials, magazines. Apart from this, it is extremely important for you to go through the basics of Grammar. Going through the CL material would be a good way to go about this.
      Practicing frequently asked question types such as Parajumbles, Paracompletion, Summary, FIB, Critical Reasoning could be done through the Test Gym. It is more than important to go through each and every mock that you’ve given. Mark out the difficult words from the RC, learn their meaning and their usage in the context.
      You must go through the following articles as well:
      7 Rules to Excel in CAT VA
      The Art of Solving RC Passages
      4 Rules to Master Paracompletion
      This should considerably improve your scores.

  132. Sir
    My academic profile is as follows
    10th(ICSE)- 91%
    12th(CBSE)-81.04%
    FYBSC(Compsci)-56%
    I am in my second year now and I am working on my academics to get the best scores for the remaining two years. I wanted to know if the IIMs take the average score of all the three years of graduation or just the final year. Also, if they consider the overall score of the three years then if, after my final year, I score an aggregate of say 75%,then what are my chances to get into any of the top IIMs. I also wanted to know if they see the grades or the gpa or it’s just the percentage.

    Thanks and Regards.

    • Vanya, the average score of all the years is considered. With a 75% overall and considering your academics, almost all the IIMs are possible. Please confirm it using the IIM Profilizer.

  133. Hello,

    So, from what I’ve noticed, most of the queries appear to be from students who are Engineering graduates. How likely is it that I get into IIM-A, specifically, being a non-Engg. student?
    I’m a II Year undergrad student at NLSIU (which is obviously one of the best, if not the best, undergrad universities for Law – B.A, LL.B). My pergentage/ CGPA following my academic past is as follows:

    Class X – 9.6 CGPA
    Class XII – 91.2 %
    My current CGPA is a 5.3(approx.) out of 7. I’m hoping to improve my CGPA over the years to come, but it’s definitely a challenge.

    (i) I’m originally from a science background – I’d taken PCM in 11th and 12th. Considering the fact that what I’m doing at the moment is completely unrelated to what I’d done back in school, would it be an issue?

    (ii) I’d also taken a drop year, immediately after 12th (because of the whole is-this-really-what-I-want-to-do phase). Once again, would this be an issue? (I really hope not, because I’m still 18 – yeah, I got lucky with the whole age thing)

    (iii) Finally, how tough is it really for a student from a non-Engg. background to crack the exam. I’m aiming for IIM-A (only, tbh), and it would be a real downer if I decide to not sit for placements in my 5th year in order to give CAT, and somehow end up not making it to any of the top IIMs. Soooooo, is it worth it?

    Regards,
    K.

    • Dora, (i)& (ii) Being from a science background an pursing law will not be an issue if you have a logical answer to give to the interviewers. Career-oriented confusion is common at that age.

      (iii) It is not advisable to leave your placements for CAT (unless the placement drive is on the same day as CAT). You should keep looking for a job as a back-up.

  134. Sir,
    Thanks in advance for reading.
    I have 77.5% in class X and 85.5% in class XII and 75.5% in B.TECH (Mechanical).I can’t decide whether to appear for CAT or not.My 4 years of engineering education was very pathetic.I don’t want to blame my college but I was not sincere about my college education as I was during my school days.Now, I am in doubt that I may not get a good job.
    Please can you guide me.

    • Ranit, your profile is good enough to get you to a good IIM and other top B-schools. Please confirm using the IIM Profilizer. You need to prepare well and get a good CAT score.

      Once you get into a good B-school, finding a job will not be a problem.

  135. i am a hotel management graduate with 64% marks, i have also appeared in cat 2014 and got 85% but there was no call for any interview. Is this happens because of my under graduation degree?

  136. Dear sir,

    Please advise me too. I have 83.2 in my 10th, just 52 in my 12th, 57 in my BSc and a CGPA of 7.78/10 in my MCA. I have done an industrial internship and also have an year of work experience in Financial Services. What are my chances of getting into one of the top 10 B-Schools in India?

    Thank you
    Akhil

  137. Sir,
    it’s less than 3 months to CAT now, and i feel completely drained out. I am scared of failure. My academic performance has always remained decent, with 92% in X, 91% in XII, and currently i am in the final year of my graduation and the aggregate so far is 84%. People have a lot of faith and hopes from me but somewhere i don’t, in myself.
    My preparation ain’t good, as the mocks very well reflect, i solve my fundabooks and then try the test gym, i am just not able to perform.
    All this is really hampering my self-confidence. I tried talking to my parents about it, they say i am nervous because i’m not prepared well.
    CAT is not like any school examinations, and i find everything important, and then it totally messes me up, and i am not able to focus on any.

    Sir, could you please guide me on how to go about my studies? any changes i should make in my study pattern.. or any major topics coming in the examinations which i just shouldn’t miss. At this time of the year its important to study quality and not quantity, i know it but i am just not able to implement.

    in great need of your help.

    Regards,
    IIM-B aspirant

  138. My scores are:

    Class X — 68 %
    Class XII 59.6%
    B.Tech 72.74 %

    Could be good to prepare for IIM.. Would be possible for me too to get top IIM after scoring good marks in CAT.

  139. Hi Sir, My profile is as below
    X- 90.6% (yr 2008)
    XII-89% (Commerce) (yr 2010)
    Completed CA in 2014.
    Work Ex of 1.5 yrs in an IB Company.(till Nov 2016 as am targeting CAT 2016)
    I didnot do my graduation though as I was concentrating entirely on my CA.

    Would be glad if u can gv me an insight of any possible chances of me getting a call from the top IIM’s especially considering the fact that i dont have a graduation degree.

    Thanks in advance

  141. Sir/ Ma’am,
    I am a student from Pune University with academic scores as follows
    X – 81%, XII – 56%, B.E (Civil)- Distinction (67%).
    I was wondering if my poor academic scores (family problems) will affect my chances of being accepted into a top MBA school. I want to know if there is anything i could do make up for my poor past performances. Also, is there a chance for me at SBIM (pune) or SCHMRD by acing the snap test? Thank you.

    • Pranav, considering your profile most of the IIMs are possible. IIM Bangalore and Lucknow might be out of reach. Please confirm it using the IIM Profilizer.

      SIBM and SCMHRD are also possible. Please read here to know about the eligibility of SIBM and SCMHRD.

    • Sir ,I am a tybcom student.Iscored 87% in 10th;93.67% in 12th,in bcom till sy I scored 55%. Do I have a shot at iim-a,b,c?

  142. sir,i completd my btech this year,i got mat 99% in may mat exam,but i couldnt find good as the most of the good colleges had completed their admissions by march,so i m preparing for this year.
    i got 10th-86%,12th-86%,btech-75%,cai i get in to the good colleges with a good cat score having a gap of year as i am not doing any job right now

    • Sasha, considering your profile calls from all of the top IIMs are possible. Please confirm it using the IIM Profilizer.

      The one year gap won’t matter as every year many students with year gaps secure a seat at the top IIMs.

  143. Hello sir,
    I am very poor in academics i.e. i scored 80% in 10th, 55.4% in 12th and in btech i hv 6.33. Can i get any IIM with this score sir…??

  144. Sir
    My 10th percentage is 82
    my 12th percentage is 62
    while my Bachelors in engineering is 72.06
    I passed out in 2012 from college ,will a gap of 4 years with no work experience allow me to get into iims or good colleges
    can u please meantion which college would take me
    and how will it subsequently affect my campus placement?

    • Anurag, considering your profile, the top IIMs are possible. IIM Bangalore and IIM Indore might be out of reach. Please confirm it using the IIM Profilizer.
      The 4 year gap can be defended provided that you give a logical reason for it. Once you get into a good B-school, the year gap won’t have any bearing on your placement.

  146. Dear sir,

    My academic details are
    General Merit
    X = 95.2%
    XII = 82.5%
    BE = 73.2%
    Work exp- 2 years in a leading MNC (Manufacturing)

    what are my chances to get into top b schools (IIM A,B,C,I,K , XLRI, FMS) with a great CAT score ?

    • Kedarnath, with your profile most of the IIMs are certainly possible. Please confirm it by checking your personalized report on the IIM Profilizer. The minimum required percentiles are also given there.

      Through XAT, XLRI calls (both BM and HR) are possible

  147. Sir,

    X-80.44
    XII-67.4
    grad-73.51

    work ex-14 months

    What are the chances of getting into top 15 b schools and what is the percentile bracket i should aim for.

    • Yogesh, with your profile, the top IIMs are possible. IIM-B, I and K might be out of reach. Please confirm the same by entering your complete details in the IIM Profilizer.
      The percentile that can get you a seat at an IIM depends on your category. For the General category, the percentile should be above 99.7 to get into IIM-A or IIM-C.

  148. Sir i am very much interested to join any IIM in india. But I have only 49% marks in graduation and 2.6 years working experience. May I apply in CAT ?
    Do i get the chance any IIM if i will get good percentile in CAT?

    • Soumik, according to the eligibility criteria of most of the IIMs, a General category candidate is required to score at least 50% marks (45% in case of any other category student)or an equivalent CGPA in the Bachelors Degree. Please go through the eligibility criteria of the top B-schools given here

  149. sir,
    my b.tech % is 64.3, but as per academics i have to complete degree in 2015, as i have 2 backlogs i may complete it in 2016. Does this one year gap effects my mba admission ? (if i appear mba entrance exam in 2016) this doubt shaking me a lot. please clarify me.

    • Sasi, an year gap will not affect your chances at a B-school provided that you have a good reason supporting the year drop. Please note, at the time of taking the admission there should not be any pending back logs.

  150. Hello sir,

    My brother has 10% = 75
    12th % = 59
    B.E(CIVIL) = Year drop in 1st year as not able to clear maths paper

    He will still continue with his B.E to get a degree but long term goal for him is M.B.A. Kindly suggest a way out to prepare for the same and what colleges he should target with this academics.

    Thanks in advance!

    • Anisha, a 12-15 month period is usually good enough time for CAT preparation. Irrespective of when he starts his CAT preparation he should start the following immediately:
      1. Develop a reading habit, read books by different authors and of different genre @ at least 1 per month. A daily newspaper (The Hindu or Indian Express) along with a current affairs weekly will help build his general awareness, reading comprehension, vocabulary and sentence correction all of which will be helpful in his MBA entrance process.
      2. Solve puzzles that come in newspapers and from other sources and also get in the habit of mental/oral calculations (outside the college studies).
      3. Go through class 9-10 NCERT maths books as it will cover almost the entire QA syllabus of CAT and other MBA entrances. This should be over in the next 2 months.
      4. He should not ignore his engineering classes, low marks in graduation could make him in-eligible for some of the IIMs, also in the interview your knowledge of engineering will be tested. His summer internship and B.Tech projects and/or terms papers etc will all be important in the interview.

  151. hello sir. I m in 3rd year B.E.
    X-65%
    XII-58%
    upto 2nd year- 51%
    is it possible to get call from any IIM’s if i manage to get good marks in last 2 years? As our CGPA will be generated of last 2 years.

    • Vishal, the top IIMs might not be possible with this profile. Please confirm it using the IIM Profilizer. Please note that you have to maintain the graduation percentage above 50% as it is the minimum required graduation percentage for any IIM and for most of the other top B-schools as well

  152. Hi Sir,

    Your success path is an inspiration for me.

    I am aiming for Cat 2016. I have scored 75% in Xth, 70.7% in XII th , a cgpa of 7.45 in my B.Tech, and i have a work experience of 2 years with an mnc. Is it possible for me to get a call from IIM-C , XLRI ? what are the scores in cat/xat required for that?

    Regards,
    Sucharita

    • Sucharita, yes a call is possible for you from these institutes, please refer to the IIM Profilizer for the IIMs from where you can get a call and the required CAT score. For XLRI you should have over 97%ile in XAT.

    • Hi Sir,
      my 10th and 12th score are above 70s.. currently i am in final year BE and my enineering agreegate is 49.28%.. according to new notice by cat15 i can apply for cat15 if i provide college letter..
      So would i be eligible for cat15 exam provissionaly, having aggregate 49% providing my college letter that i will clear my final year copleting 50% aggregate

      • Roshan, as per the CAT website you need to have 50% in graduation but since you are in the final year with two semesters left you can apply and if selected you will get a provisional admission subject to you getting a 50%.

  153. SIR,
    i have completed my third year engineering mechanical from ipu, having aggregate 78%, 10th- 79.2%, 12th- 90.8% what do you think the apt CAT percentile and i am having problems in va section, could you please help with that as these are the frequent hindrance in my mock %ile. please help

    • Nikhil, you can get calls from all IIMs, please check out the IIM Profilizer for the IIMs from where you can get a call and the required CAT score.
      Which area of VALR do you have problems in?

      • sir i am lagging in critical reasoning specifically in odd man out pj, grammar and inference based questions and my VA is not up to the mark, neither RCs and with the new pattern announced it has become blister in my feet, now we have to clear the individual cutoff for va-rc, i have tried study material but what i think is, there is some problem in my approach, please if you can help me with this, as my quant score has took a shoot after i have taken a mock analysis with you, it would be really kind of you to please help me with this also…
        thanks for the all valuables that you have shared already

        • Nikhil, persistence is the key. You must immediately begin with taking Sectional Tests. This way you would be dealing with your section of difficulty, VA, more closely. This way you will also be able to develop a proper approach of attempting questions in the VRC questions. Also, you must start reading. Read newspapers, editorials, magazines. This will not help you in the RCs but exposure to new styles of writing will also give you a better understanding of grammar. A student aspiring for the top IIMs should ideally be attempting 25 questions in VRC in 60 minutes.

          You should go through the following articles to gain more insight:
          7 Rules to Excel in CAT VA
          The Art of Solving RC Passages
          4 Rules to Master Paracompletion

  154. Sir
    Following is my profile
    10th= 85%
    12th= 85%
    btech mec =67% (2012)
    Experience: 2 years + experience [one year apprenticeship(KITCO Ltd) and rest as production engineer(KITEX Ltd)] . Between both firms a gap of 4 months.
    Planning to write this and next years’ CAT so that I can enroll for 2017 batch. Without much preparation last year’s percentile was 76.

    My first preference is PGDIM at NITIE(since fees is less) and then the rest of the top bschools. When should I relive from Job so that I can concentrate on CAT 2016(planning to write CAT 2015 while working). Based on profile, and assuming I get high percentile which institutes I could look forward to?

    • Varun, since your main aim is CAT 2016, you have sufficient time to prepare for it. You may quit the job 1 month prior to CAT 2016 but ideally it totally depends on your level of preparedness at that time.

  155. sir I have appeared for the last semister of engineering.awaiting for result.I got 77% in 10th and 56% in 12th..so can I crack cat after seeing this academic performance.Am I eligible to top colleges or iims?

    • Sagar, if you score well in your Engineering you will still have a chance at IIM Ahmedabad and the newer IIMs.
      However, you need to score high (99.6+) in CAT.

  156. sir I am in the final year of engineering.Awaiting for 8th semister result.I got 79% in10th and 58% in 12th.so is it possible to crack cat for me after seeing my academic performance.Am i eligible for top colleges or iims?

    • Shardul, if you score well in your Engineering then you still have a chance of getting a call from IIM Ahmedabad and the Newer IIMs.
      However, you need to ensure that you score high in CAT (99.6+)

  157. sir because of some problems i had to stay at my home,at that time i gave guest lectures for one year in an engineering college,but haven’t asked for experience certificate..it’s been 2 years from my graduation,is it possible to get into iims,?will they consider my teaching experience?i got 92% in 10 th,86.5%in 10+2….80% in b.tech(mechanical)?

    • Srimannarayana, your teaching experience will be considered and you should claim it while applying to the IIMs and other MBA institutes.
      A 3 year gap is difficult to explain but have seen similar students making it to IIMs and other MBA institutes in the past hence you should try for the IIMs. Your very good academic record and extra curricular will be helpful in getting and converting the interview calls. Start preparing for CAT’15 immediately and start looking for a job also. It will be useful to take Banking/SSC exams also to create a back up.

  158. I AM A FINAL YEAR STUDENT (B.TECH) AND WILL GIVE CAT THIS YEAR . BUT I HAVE 2 PENDING BACKLOGS . CAN I GET INTO IIM’s OR ANY OTHER GOOD COLLEGE IF I MANAGED TO GET A GOOD PERCENTILE WHICH IS REQUIRED AND CLEAR MY PENDING BACKLOG DURING THE COURSE DURATION.? WILL THEY CONSIDER ME DURING INTERVIEW WITH “BACKLOG” ?? ALTHOUGH I WILL SURELY CLEAR THEM IN 8th SEMESTER .
    THNX

    • Suraj, if you will clear the backlogs along with your 8th semester then it is not a problem. You will be considered for the interviews based on your CAT/XAT score and can clear the interview also. Focus on our CAT preparation and college academics and do not let this minor issue derail your preparation.

  159. Hello Sir,

    I will be taking my CAT exam this year,(from bangalore)
    My academics are just average
    X-76%
    XII-59%
    Graduation-59%

    with 2 years 6 months of experience in PSU, im aiming for for 90+ percentile and also i belong to scheduled caste.

    Do you think i stand a chance getting into any of the IIM’s?

  160. Hi Sir,
    I am preparing for CAT 2015. I want to get admission into IIMS especially IIMS Ahmedabad.
    Here is my profile.
    10th-86%
    12th-95%
    B.tech – 81.35%
    I was the vice president for electronics and communication engineering branch for extra curricular activities team and organiser of any activities in my college. I have 4 years of work experience in software industry.
    please let me know the possibilities of getting calls from IIMS.

    Thanks & Regards,

    Siva.

  161. sir,

    I want to get admission into IIMS. Especially IIMs Ahmedabad. I am preparing for CAT2015. Please let me know the possibility of getting calls from IIMS.
    Here is my profile:
    10th – 86%
    12th – 95%
    B.tech – 81.25%
    I was elected as vice-president for electronics and communication engineering branch for extracurricular activities team. I have 4yrs of work experience in software industry. Please let me know the possibilities of getting calls from IIMS.
    Thanks & Regards,
    Siva.

  162. Sir,
    i have 4.8cgpa in 10th and 48% in my 12th and in my B.Tech i have 62%,will any company will recruit me.

    • Suraj, it will be difficult but is possible. You will have to do well in the recruitment test of the companies (like elitmus, AMCAT etc). Alternately get into a good MBA institute and do well in the program.

  163. Hi sir,
    I’m kunal.
    10th – 87%
    12th-71%
    B.Com (Hons) from open learning – 47%
    I am of general category and i know that i am not eligible for many exams but i want to do mba from a prestigious college.
    Have been managing financial accounts, customer relations, taxes etc. of my grandfather as he’s an insurance agent. So please guide me as for what shall i do now to make my dreams come true?

    • Kunal, unfortunately 47% in graduation makes you ineligible for most of the top institutes including the IIMs. XLRI and a few others are possible for you since their qualifying criteria is graduation only. Suggest that you try for XAT and also for Bank/SSC exams. If you do not make it to XLRI or any other good institute then work for a few years (with your father or in Banking) and then go for 1 year MBA from ISB Hyderabad or the IIMs.

  164. Hello,
    I am puursuing my b.tech final year from computer science at deemed university. I have 8 cgpa in 10th, 69 % in 12th and 6.2 cgpa till 3rd year of b.tech. I am thinking to prepare for CAT. I heard that most of the colleges judge on the basis of academics record. So will it be possible for me to get any good colleges if i perform well in CAT ? Is work experience necessary ?

    Thank You

    • Amit, while most of the IIMs have some weight for marks in X, XII, Graduation most of the non-IIMs (XLRI, XIMB, FMS, most IITs, NITIE etc) have a low/no weight for this aspect and hence are possible for you. Suggest that you start your CAT’15 preparation immediately because an MBA from a good institute will take your career to the next level. Work experience is not necessary for an MBA in India.
      Please check out the IIM Profilizer to estimate your chance of getting calls from IIMs based on your profile

  165. Sir,with 83% marks in 10th, 65% marks in 12th and 59% in B.E from pune university is it possible for me to get into IIMS. I have 1.4 years experience too

    • Archana, apologies, I misread your data and hence the correction.
      Unfortunately most of the old IIMs will not be possible due to low marks in XII and Graduation. The new IIMs and almost all other top MBA institutes (FMS, JBIMS, NITIE, most IITs etc) are possible. Please refer to the IIM Profilizer for details.

  166. Hello Sir,
    So it’s 71.71 in 10th, 69.20 in 12th and 76.10 in B.tech (Electrical and Electronics)
    Working in MNC(IT) from past 1 year just after undergrad.
    What should be my target score in CAT to get into top MBA institutes of the country.
    Thanks.

  167. Hi, I am in a big dilemma of my life. I completed my engineering last year and found a job where I worked for 7 months. Unfortunately I had to quit it for very serious personal reasons. Now i tried a couple of other places but finding it hard to get a job. I am taking up CAT15 but the thing that’s been bothering me is that whether this year gap which I am going to take will hamper my addmission process?

    • Avyan, focus on your CT preparation and do not bother about this minor issue. A gap of 1 year is not a problem and can be explained easily. Every year many students get into top MBA institutes (including IIMs) despite a gap of 1-2 years.

  168. Sir I had passed Btech(Mech) in year 2014. I am from state university affiliated not-so-good college. My credentials are
    X – 84%
    XII – 70%
    Btech – 66%
    I am not doing any job right now.
    I had also appeared for cat
    Cat 2013 – 33%ile
    Cat 2014 – 92%ile

    Now I am doubtul that will it be beneficial to do MBA after two years ( I am thinking for job from now onwards) and can I get OLD IIMs according to my profile ( willing to do hard work to fetch it). Please help me and let me know the real situation of mine!!!
    Expect you guidance!!
    Thank You

    • Aditya, Your CAT’14 score is encouraging and you should not give up on MBA from a good institute but with a 2 year gap the first thing that you need to do is to get a job. Gap can be comfortably handled and is not an issue for admission also the learning and the career growth will make the 2 years invested by you beneficial. IIM A and most of the others are possible for you but IIM B, C and I are unlikely.
      In any case my suggestion is to pick up a job and also take Bank PO papers to create a back up option for yourself.

  169. Dear Sir,
    I scored 91% in 10 th class
    91% in 12th exam
    Jeemains 1st attempt 95
    jeemains 2nd attempt 120
    jeemains 3rd attempt 172
    Sir, as u see I am quite pathetic when it comes to competetion exams. Do I stand any Chance at IIM A.? Iwish to ask should I try or it is not possible for a poor student like me to even try for the top Institutes…..What should I do in 4 years of my btech to make it possible.

    • Pranjal, with a 91% in X and XII you cannot be bad. Performance in JEE Mains cannot be the only measure of how good/bad you are. Focus on your performance in college and like your X and XII ensure over 80% in graduation as it can make your task of getting into top B schools easier. In case of IIM A/C a 70% in graduation is good enough. A good reading habit is helpful for MBA entrances hence a newspaper (preferably Indian Express) along with a current affairs magazine and a novel every 2 weeks should be your target.

      • hello sir my profile
        10th-74%
        12-43%
        in engg i got detained so completed my engg duration 2010-2015
        bt sir i stii have 1 backlog in 7 sem…which i will clear before the interview..so m i eligible for cat 2015??? if i m then should i give as final year or graduate ??
        my cgpa 6.06 which will increase as i will clear dat exam& i m belonging to obc category

        • Bhavin, yes you are eligible for CAT’15.
          since you have not completed graduation you will be considered as a final year student.

  170. Sir,
    My academic profile is as follows:
    class 10 : 85.4%
    class 12:79.4%
    CGPA:8.5 (B.Tech)
    I will be taking cat this year and I am aiming for the top 3 IIMS.
    I have recently completed 3rd year and thus have no work ex.
    My mock cat scores are decent 98%tile +
    What range of percentile in CAT could help me realize my target?
    Thanking You
    CAT15 Aspirant

  172. Sir ,
    please guide on my profile .
    I’m an Engineering graduate ( IT branch) …2014 passed out.
    I didn’t prepared well this year and ended up with 70 % in CAT..
    I want o give my best shot this year .
    But till 2016 admission (i.e. next year ) i will be having 2 year GAP . 🙁
    Will this affect badly in admission rounds ??
    My profile is…
    10th : 91.23%
    12th : 66.83%
    Graduation (BE IT) : 7.87 CGPA

    Please help me out.

    • Nikhi, I am not comfortable with a two year gap and suggest that you pick up a job and prepare simultaneously. Call me at 9811155160 in case you want to discuss the issue.

  173. I’m a computer science student from B.I.T bangalore
    my profile is

    10th – 60.3%
    12th – 54.6%
    B.E.(currently in 2nd year) – 46.66
    (i plan on increasing my B.E. percentage upto 60% atleast before 8th sem)

    given my profile i find it very hard to even think that i’ll get any decent job. so i plan on getting admission in some gud mba college.

    Is it possible for me to get admission in any of IIM a, b or c.
    or maybe any other top mba colleges in india?

    • Maverick, Both jobs and good MBA institutes are possible if you start studying. Most B schools have a 50% in graduation as eligibility criteria and hence you first task is to improve grades in engineering and then look for anything else. Rather than look at 60% in graduation suggest that you ensure a 70% (or any other number) in the next semester.

  174. my profile is
    10th-75 (state board)
    12th-61(state board)
    b tech-68%
    i am from disabled category want to appear in cat 15
    my chances of making into iim a b c

    • Rupam, you have a chance of making it to all IIMs. You target scores should be over 80%ile in the sections and over 90%ile overall.

  175. Sir ,

    I wanted to ask , if a 3 year long gap in resume would cause problem for admission and placements ?
    I worked for 8months in accounting adn then left the job as I didnt like it . later on I met with an accident (within 6months after that) which cause me back and leg problem from jul-2013 onwards . on dec 2014 I gave my cfa level 1 and cleared it .
    and from august 2014 onwards cause i couldnt find any finance job in chennai , I’ve been working in my dads business . I plan to take CAT this year . so , bascially it will be 4years gap in my resume by the time gd and pi will start .

    I would like to know your advice regarding this matter .

    Regards,

    Rahul

    • Rahul, the gap can be explained and will not be an issue. The time spent in your dad’s business is work experience and you will be given credit for it, continue with it along with your CAT preparation.

  176. Sir I have been offered pgdm marketing/finance at IMT-GZB. Acc. To your previous advice I have already taken admission at FORE and I am not sure about whether cancelling my admission or not especially since I was more comfortable with HR. What would you suggest? Further, if I take PGDM (marketing), is it somehow different from PGDM Full-Time at IMT? Will it affect my career prospects?

    • Rashi, you should move over from FORE to IMTG Marketing/Finance, choose the specialisation that you are comfortable with. The opportunities that IMTG will provide you are much better than that from FORE. IMT DCP was not recommended because of its very high fee but IMT Marketing/Finance is as good as IMT G PGDM, the only difference is that while PGDM will allow you to choose your area of specialisation in PGDM Marketing/Fiannce your specialisation is pre-decided.

  177. Hello sir,
    I am vaibhav, I had queries regarding admission criteria of XLRI.
    My academics are very poor.
    xth 56%.
    xiith 50%.
    B.com 47%.
    Currently I am student of ICSI Executive Programme.
    I have self employed experience of 3 years after my graduation, I own a garment retail business, maintained all books of accounts, have income tax return file of past 3 years, and registration document of my business. Will Xlri consider my work experience on the presentation of above said documents.
    I have read Xlri do not consider past academics for admissions in PGDM they are just concerned about XAT score and performance in GD & PI, is it true?
    Can I get admission in Xlri if I score very well in Xat(99+ percentile) and do well in GD,PI. I am good with my soft skills, and have ok ok writing skills for essays(would be improving it). Even council me on joining coaching.
    All the criticism and suggestions are heartily welcome.
    Thankyou.

    • Vaibhav,
      1. you will get credit for work experience.
      2. in XLRI the weight for different component is – XAT score 65%, GD 10%, Interview 10%, Work Experience 5% Essay + GK + Past acads 10% so a XAT sore of 99%ile with a good GD + Interview can take care of your academics.
      Call me at 9811155160 in case you need to discuss this further.

  178. Hi,
    X: 80%
    XII: 82%
    BTech:7.88 CGPA
    Electronics and communication Engineer
    Experience: 2 years
    What are the chances of getting a call from top IIMs?
    Thanks,
    Shivali

  179. What percentile .will I need to get into IIM A
    10th- 85%
    12th-85.6%
    Btech- 80.3(so far)
    I am general engineer male.

  181. Hello Gautam Sir…First of all really want to thank you for this amazing effort that you have put in creating this great resource (Smart Cracker Comprehensive)for working professional like us.
    I need your help to understand as to how I should plan my preparation for CAT. I have purchased smart cracker , got the books and material. Also, there are test gym , mock tests.. I have 6 months to CAT and actually kind of overwhelmed currently. given that I am a working professional , how much time do I need to take out on a daily basis so that I am prepared for the D Day.
    Sir, my profile is :
    10th – 91 ,
    12th – 83,
    B.Tech – 91%,
    3 years of work Exp at Intel
    waiting for your guidance……

    • Ayush, apologise for the delay in responding to your query.
      You should target 3 hours on weekdays and about 7-8 hours on holidays and you should practice all areas daily. Pick up a fundabook, go through the solved examples of a topic, watch the video lessons, move to the MCQs at the end of the book and then pactice more questions of the topic from Test Gym. Start with the topics that you are comfortable with so that you can move on to practicing them fast. Target finishing this by mid-August after which it has to be daily practice of all areas (QA, DI, LR, VA, RC) from Test Gym and Mock CATs.
      After the first 2 weeks you should split your time between fresh topic and practice of old topics.
      All important questions should be highlighted or book marked and revised once a week.
      Mock CATs should be taken as per the schedule and you should not wait for syllabus completion. This will help you improve your test taking technique. Analysis of all tests and regular revision is essential, please refer to the post Things you must-do after every mock you take

  182. Sir,
    I have currently finished my 2nd year Btech in electronics engineering from VJTI.
    10th ICSE – 90%
    12Tth – 85.5%
    CGPA at the end of 2nd year is 6,2
    what are my chances of getting into the top IIMs if i improve my CGPA in the remaining semesters?
    thanks in advance

    • Akansha, with a 6.2 CGPA at the end of second year you will find it very difficult to increase your CGPA beyond 7.
      Fortunately IIM A and C will not be a problem for you since C takes into account graduation marks and in A your X/XII marks will compensate for your low graduation marks. However you may not be able to get calls from IIM B. Most of the other IIMs will not be a problem.
      Start preparing for CAT asap, to get started read a newspaper everyday (Indian Express or Hindu) and a novel every 2 weeks. Completing class IX- X NCERT maths books during your summer vacations will be helpful. You should start your structured preparation (classroom or online) for CAT’16 byt Sep-Oct of this year.

  183. Sir
    my academic scores are
    10th: 64%
    12th:56%
    I am in final year of graduation and going to score around 64%.
    I have 3 year gap during engineering.
    I was active student in extracurricular actives during my graduation.
    No Work experience yet in my field, but worked for a NGO.
    I want to appear for CAT 2015, SNAP 15, CMAT Feb 16,
    Do I have chance of getting call from IIMs, SP Jain, FMS, Symbiosis, JBIMS, KJ somaiya, SIMSREE, any other
    top B-School with good CAT score, what score should i aim for?

    Am I eligible for NMAT?
    Please guide me.

    • Lokesh, most of IIMs are unlikely because of your low scores in school/college unless you get almost a 100%ile in CAT. Fortunately most top B schools outside the IIMs have a low/no weight for past academics and are all possible. With a 3 year gap during engineering NMIMS may not be possible.
      Your target score should be over 99.5%ile for FMS, IIMs and IIT Mumbai and over 98%ile for most of the other top MBA institutes. A score of 95%ile will get you calls from institutes like IMT, IMI, KJ Somaiya etc.

  184. Respected sir,

    My query is regarding work experience. I graduated in June 2014 but because of some family problems, i was not able to go for a full time job, i was also preparing for the MBA entrances during the time.

    Because of some problems and family constraints, i could not prepare properly and obviously couldn’t clear the exams.
    Therefore now i have around 8 months of gap after graduation.

    My first question is that how much this gap may affect my selection in the GDPI round?

    Secondly, I am currently working in a lesser known start up with a very few employees, it’s in the beginning stages but i am learning a lot by being here.

    So, my second question is, would my experience in the start up be counted as a full time work ex by IIMs, XL, FMS etc. or not?

    • Sagar, 8 month gap is not an issue, is might be asked in the interview but can be handled comfortably. Also experience in start up is counted by IIMs and almost all other MBA institutes, in fact in the interview at times it is rated higher than a regular company experience because learning in start-ups is usually of a higher quality.

  185. SIR I AM SHIKHA SINGLA MY ACADEMIC RECORD IS AS FOLLOWS
    2006-10TH -94.2 PERCENT
    2008- 12TH -90.8 PERCENT
    2009-13 BTECH DELHI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING -78.90% DEPARTMENTAL RANKER 2 IN COLLEGE
    HAD CAMPUS PLACEMENT OF ACCENTURE AND DEUTSCHE BANK BUT CUD NOT JOIN DUE TO MEDICAL REASONS . NOW SECURED JOB IN IBM FOR SYSTEM ENGINEER ROLE. WILL JOIN THAT AND WORK THERE AND THEN WANTS TO GO FOR MBA ..SIR DOES MY GAP YEARS AFFECT MY MBA ADMISSIONS?
    I APPEARED IN CAT 2012 GOT 94.86 PERCENTILE IN CAT AND 99.44 IN XAT . HAD CALLS FROM SP JAIN IIM K XLRI . COULD NOT CONVERT ANY……PLEASE HELP…

    • Shikha, your gap years will be questioned in the interview but can be explained and will not cause any problems. Given your past performance in CAT/XAT you should start your CAT’15 preparation immediately to ensure that you do well in these exams. With your academic performance you should be targeting only the top institutes. Call me at 9811155160 in case you need to discuss this.

        • Shikha, for the IIMs shortlisting for the interviews is primarily based on your CAT score and past academic performance. Gap year does not figure in their calculation so you will get shortlisted for interviews. Most of the other top institutes shortlist on the basis of CAT/XAT/SNAP/NMAT score only.

          • Sir that means even the top iims A B C will have no problem in shortlisting me for interviews.??Moreover i wana ask having work exp in IBM will be an advantage??

          • Shikha, yes ther will not be any problem in this regard. Work experience of any kind is an advantage, the name of the company is not very important.

          • SIR I WANT TO ASK HOW TO EXPLAIN GAP YEAR OF 2 YEARS AFTER GRADUATION BE EXPLAINED. I DONT HAVE ANY WORK EXPERIENCE IN STARTUP OR NGO DUE TO MEDICAL REASONS. ALSO ONE THING I WANNA ASK DOES MDI DOES NOT SHORTLIST PEOPLE WITH GAP YEARS???

          • Shikha, do not look at explaining or justifying. The approach has to be of sharing the information and hence telling the interview panel the truth is the way forward. Suggest that you focus on CAT preparation and let us tackle this once you get the interview calls.
            To the best of my knowledge MDI does not have a problem with gap years.

  186. Hello sir, i am about to enter final year of my degree from june15. final examination shall be conducted in may16, and the results for which are to be announced in sept16, so now my question is as follows,
    i will be giving cat-15 and as we are aware of IIMA admission process, that it allows ample time for the selected candidates to submit the proof of eligibility(final pass and mark-sheet) by 31st dec of the respective academic year. but no such conditions are mentioned in the eligibility criteria of IIMB & IIMC. FMS has also mentioned that the original final degree certificate should be submitted at the time of admission confirmation. since almost all the above college’s final admissions happen max by end of july, i will not be able to provide my final certificate since the results will be declared in mid sept16 and it will approx take about oct-16 to get my original certificate of passing. so in that sense does it mean i don’t stand a chance for admission in IIMB,C & FMS in the academic year of 2016. please advice me on what to do sir…..
    eagerly awaiting your reply on this.

    • Chakradhar, while it has not been mentioned most of the institutes will give you time till September. Some of them may extend the date in case of delay by the university.

  187. sir,
    my class 10th score is 88.23 cbse
    12th 71.8 cbse
    and i did my engineering in i.t. from pune and my aggregate is 59.81
    if i go fr cat,is there any chance of getting call from iim??

    • Gulshan, unfortunately IIM A, B and C are not possible for you due to your marks in XII and graduation but most of the other IIMs and other top MBA institutes are not a problem.

  188. I have 2+ years of Experience in Telecom and 1+year Experience in IT Domain. I have been selected for SITM Pune (System & Finance) and have waiting of 172 in SCIT Pune (Waiting have moved from 232 to 172 at 24 March). Is there any chance to clear 172 waiting? Which Institute should I prefer if SCIT also clear and as I have experience in both the domain? Which one is better for me?

    • Rohit, SCIT will most probably get converted but my preference is for SITM due to its better placement record.

  189. hello sir
    Xth 82.2
    +2 69.2
    graduation 7.32 (VIT university 2014 passout)
    dropped this year , i got calls from new IIMs
    what are my chances to convert into IIM banglore if i give CAT 2015?
    I ll work this year in some company.
    how much should i aim for in CAT?

    • HArsh, given your marks in XII and graduation a call from IIMB will be difficult unless you have almost 100%ile in CAT’15.

  190. hello sir,
    I am btech (civil engg.) ,General Category, pass out from 2014 batch.I was preparing for government exams for past 1 year but no luck.Now i had 1 year gap after Btech. and no job in hand .My profile is
    X-80, XII-79, Btech-84.I appeared for feb CMAT and got only 93%ile.Should i go for lower category MBA college or should i take
    CAT exam.I have only one option of BPO job.Is it advisable to do that job while preparing for cat?Please give me some suggestion?

    • Aryan, pick up a job – try elitmus and other similar papers that will help you get a job and also continue your preparation for MBA entrance, IBPS/SBI PO and other government entrances.

  191. hello g p sir i am very much worried my carrier at first i thought to finish my life because i am not able to get success in my life i mean good salary due to my low scores in academics, I scored 57% in 10th, 53.2 in 12th and 56.6 in B. Sc biotechnology, but i am schedule caste category I am working professional in private company and have a 3.2 years of experiences getting 20 thousand salary but I can’t get a hype in my carrier. I was good in studies still i read lots of books and novels but due to bad circumstances( family problem) i was not able to score well, but i m scoring well now in test series around 95% my ques is, is there any chance to get admission in top 6 iims if I score 99%tile in CAT exam please sir it will be very great full and I appreciate if u enlighten me with your words

    • Pratik, while you might miss out on IIMB due to your past academics but a score of 95%ile will get you calls from almost all top IIMs and FMS. Continue with your CAT’15 preparation and you will be able to get the career growth you deserve.

      • thank you sir for your suggestion i will keep it in memory and continue my prep really sir it boost me a lot

  193. Hello sir,
    I have a wait list number of 99 in IMT gzb. Is there any chance that that I’ll be able to convert it (especially since they have declared a wait list of 458 students) ? Also, is XIM, Jabalpur a good choice (yet to apply for it..) ?
    My XAT % = 95.94
    And is this the correct place to ask for further help?
    Thanks for the help :).

      • Sir,
        I’ve got an offer letter from Fore and have to submit first installment by 15th april. Now the quandary is that IMT waitlist will be released only after 15th and I cannot afford to not take an admission this year. What should I do?
        Further, someone told my mother that rather than providing an official diploma, Fore people give you a simple certificate saying that you have pursued this course. Basically they have made my mother doubt the authenticity of fore. Could you please tell me what they might have been talking about so that I can reassure her as she is already reluctant about letting me take admission considering Fore’s hefty fees..?

        • Rashi, FORE will refund the entire amount if you withdraw about 7-10 days before the start of the program so I would suggest that you block a seat in FORE.
          Your mother has been incorrectly informed, FORE offers AICTE approved PGDM which is legally equivalent to a MBA degree. The AICTE website gives the list of approved programs and showing the list to your mother might convince her, the list is available at:
          1. http://www.aicte-india.org/misappmanagement.php
          2. http://www.aicte-india.org/downloads/MGMT/DELHI_MGMT.pdf#toolbar=0
          You ould also take your Mother to FORE and have her interact with the authorities/students.

          • Sir, loads of thanks for the great help. How does one rank FORE? I mean whenever I have to tell any of my relatives about its rank, I have to talk in comparative terms. Can there be an absolute rank for such purposes? And FORE’s better than IMT-DCP, right?

            Thanks for al the invaluable help again. 🙂

  194. Sir, i got 95%ile in cat but got nothing good this year because of my very pathetic academics(x-54%,xii-68%, btech-59%). I have not got placed till now as i was not eligible for most of companies came to my clg so i m trying something in elitmus recruitment exam and banking exams. Please tell me

    1)shud i appear in this year cat or not with my poor acad.

    2)I want to do mba from one of the top mba school.Can u tell me which schools i can get if i score 99+%ile in cat 2015.

    3)Can i get top jobs with grt package in a mba clg if i perform well in mba.

    • Mridul, given your acads at calls are not possible from all IIMs unless you have a CAT score of almost 100%ile. However at 95%ile you should have got calls from IMT G, IMI Delhi and many other institutes.
      A CAT score in excess of 99%ile can get you calls from almost all non IIMs (including FMS DU) and hence suggest that you go for a retake. You should try for a job and consider Bank PO as a back up option.
      Placements after MBA are a function of your performance in MBA and hence a good marks in MBA will help you get good placements and no one will really bother about your past academic performance.

      • yes sir i got a call for imt but failed to convert. How much acads affect in final admission criteria of fms, they give points for acads or just ask in interview? and what about xlri,iift,jbims,mdi?

        • Mridul, while acads could have played a small role but primarily it would be the way you handled GD and the interview.
          IIFT, XLRI, FMS, JBIMS and most of the other MBA institutes do not have any weight for acads for interview calls. The weight for acads in most of these and others is zero/negligible and hence will not be a problem and a good CAT score along with a go GD/Interview/WAT can get you final calls.
          Apart from the IIMs, this year IIT Mumbai and MDI have also given weight to past acads for interview shortlisting and these too would not be possible for you.

          • Sir, my cousin got 99.23 %ile in cat this year; she has an average of 95% in her academics but still failed to convert any top bschool. By looking at my cousins situation every one is forcing me to leave mba as my career option. i am really depressed now; life is testing hard my decision making abilities. Everyone is saying there will not be any benefit for me doing mba and i will not get any job there as well. Sir can u suggest me what should i do?

          • Mridul, conversion of calls is mostly a function of your performance in the personality assessment process hence it is possible that your cousin had poor interviews. There are many students with lower CAT percentiles who have made it to IIMs. Call me at 9811155160 to discuss.

  195. Sir,does this mean that i have no chance in getting the admission in iim??? And also pls tell me that do i need to get work experience for getting the call from any other top non iim institutes??

    • Gurinder, Work experience is not necessary for admission to MBA program in India.
      What are your marks in X, XII, Graduation and what is your field of study?

  196. Hello sir, i hav 8.4 in 10th class and i hav 56%in 12th class and i hav 70%in bcom. Sir i hav no work experience. So i wanted to know if i get 99+ percentile in cat then will i able to get call from iim A,B,C respectively. Pls help me sir .and i also wanted to know that my no work experience is a barrier for getting admission in iim A,B,C

    • Gurinder, IIM A, B and C are unlikely with your academic record due to your marks in XII and graduation unless you get a 100%ile in CAT. However most of the institutes outside IIMs have low/no weight for past academics and a CAT score of over 97%ile can can get you calls from most of the top non-IIM MBA institutes.

  197. SIR,
    I have good score of 95.45% in 10th but average score score of 85% in 12th.Will this result into me missing out the opportunity of getting calls from IIMA in particular?Also the number of student selected each year approximately in finance field and the minimum score required to get calls for interview of IIMA
    The information provided by you will be of great help for me in coming years.Eagerly waiting for your reply
    yours truly

    • Rikco, 85% in XII is good not average. You will not miss out on calls from any IIMs due to this. A general category candidate typically needs about 99.6%ile for a call from IIM A but a commerce/arts graduate can get a call from IIMA at a score of 96-97%ile

  198. Sir,
    My academic profile is as follows :
    Class 10 : 89.14 %
    Class 12 : 87.285 %
    I am currently pursuing engineering(3rd year), with approximately 78.9 % in all semesters. Do I have any hope in the top IIMs ?
    Kindly reply.

  199. I have got 8CGPAin 10 standard and 76.6 percentage in 12. currently i am doing my bechlors degree and have got 7.2 CGPA in first year. My friends told me that you will not get iima, iimb, iimc with this much of percentage in 10 and 12 standard.I want to know that this is true or not.

    • Mukund, your friends are only partially correct. IIM B, I and S will be difficult but most of the other IIMs (including A) are possible

  200. Sir, i have a doubt, i need your advice,please help me out. so the problem is, i have been pursuing my medical degree since 2012,and then meanwhile i took admission in distance degree in 2013 so that i attain eligibility for cat faster than normal. i will be giving CAT-15 and by the time of gd/pi rounds,i will be in the end of final year of my distance degree, but will not be able to provide my original 10th and 12th certificates,since they have been taken by the university of my regular degree,at the time of admission in 2012 and will be returned either after discontinuation or completion which may be around 2018. so now im in a huge dilemma as to what to do. it seems the instructions for the candidates selected for gdpi round clearly states that all the ORIGINALS must be submitted for verification, and if i have to submit the originals,i need to discontinue my mbbs degree for an interview round,the chances of converting the calls for which being 50%. well im ready to discontinue the course once the calls are converted, but for once,i cannot risk it before the conversion. Recently i was checking the prerequisites for applying for a duplicate certificate, but it seems to be quite risky since i did not loose my certificate, and doing so in my case would be illegal. iam completely clueless of how to proceed further, im despperate to join any of the IIM A,B,C or FMS in 2016-18 batch. please guide me sir, i dont know what to do next,all my plans may get crushed simply because of this issue. please Sir, Eagerly awaiting your reply on this. Thank-you.

    • Chakradhar, unfortunately the only way forward will be to apply for duplicate certificates. Apply for them only after you get your CAT/XAT score.

  201. I wanted to know if I can expect a call from IIMB with my profile
    10th:91.6%, 12th:86.4%. B.E : 6.42 CGPA, GMAT:700, Work Exp: 2 years in Dubai. Average Extracurricular activities.

  202. sir my 10th and 12th marks are above 90 ………
    but i have 56% in Btech..
    i am general category ..can i get int any IIM’s ,NMAT ,FMS,IIFT OR XLRI ?

    • Apoorv, more than 90% in X and XII imply that calls are possible from IIM A and C but with a 56% in graduation you are unlikely to get a call from IIM B and a few otherr IIMs. You also would not be eligible for some institutes (like IITs) that have an eligibility criteria of 60%. Most of the institutes have a low/no weight for past academics hence NM, Symbiosis, FMS, IIFT, XLRI etc will not be a problem.

  203. Sir,

    this year without any preparation i wrote XAT and had 92 % in DM, 91 % in VA and 20 % in QA . overall 80 % . what sud i do from now ?

    • Vikas, prepare and go for a retake. If you can get your QA in order then calls from all top MBA institutes (including IIMs and XLRI) are on.

  204. Hi Gp sir,
    I am Shantanu Kaushik.
    I am planning to do an MBA and am just starting with my preparations.
    Before starting I wanted to know if I stand a chance, if I secure 98+ %ile, in any of the top 15 colleges in India.
    My past record is really very poor due to negligence and now I wish to do something exceptional in life.
    10th: 69.73%
    12th: 63%
    Engineering: 55%
    Work Ex: 3 years in a public limited company.
    Current desg: Senior software engineering

    Please do reply. This is my last hope of tasting some success in life

    Thanks!

    • Shantanu, your academic record rules you out of most of the IIMs unless you get a 100%ile in CAT. However fortunately most of the non IIMs have a low/no weight for past academics and hence calls are possible from most of them at a score of 98%ile. It would be prudent for you to take GMAT along with CAT/XAT and try for ISB Hyderabad alsong with other B schools.

  205. hello gp sir,
    I am a 2014 engineering graduate and was working for a financial advisory firm for the last 6 months.I recently left my job without serving the notice period(So i don’t have an experience letter and all i have is my salary slip) and now am aiming for an MBA from the top tier institutes.I wanted to ask if i stand a chance for the IIM-A,B,C ? My academics are X-77%, XII-82%, B.TECH-67%

  206. Hi GP,

    Please clear my doubt.
    My profile as follows,,

    10th = 83%
    12th = 58%
    Diploma = 83%
    Engineering = 7.2/10
    Work Exp = 15 months.
    Category = OBC – NC

    What CAT score should I get to get shortlisted for IIMs and FMS. Also my acads will have impact on placements during my MBA??

    Thanks in advance.
    Regards.

    • Parthiban, you should target a score of over 97%ile to get shortlisted for IIMs. For FMS a score of 95%ile should be sufficient. Placement after MBA is usually a function of your performance in MBA and not your performance in school/college.

  207. Hi GP,

    Please clear my doubt.
    My profile as follows,

    10th = 83%
    12th = 58%
    Diploma = 83%
    Engineering = 7.2/10
    Work Exp = 15 months.
    Category = OBC – NC

    What CAT score should I get to get shortlisted for IIMs and FMS. Also my acads will have impact on placements during my MBA??

    Thanks in advance.
    Regards.

    • Parthi, With a 58% in XII you will need over 98%ile for calls from top IIMs. A score of over 95%ile will almost guarantee a final call from FMS.

  208. x-88
    12-92
    graduation-70
    working as tech support full time ibm as a engneering graduate my tech support(bpo) is counted for weightage or not ?
    or i want to support in the interview.?
    some are it will not be counted becoz the stream is different ? so i want change the job is it required?

      • Hello sir,
        I got 54% in X
        XII- 68%
        Graduation -50%
        Having 5 yrs of experience in HR
        Will I be eligible for any IIMs if I crack cat with good percentile.
        Thanks

        • Garima, While you are eligible for MBA from IIMs but with your marks in X, XII Graduation you will not be shortlisted for interviews of their 2 year MBA programs (especially top IIMs). Given your work experience suggest that you take GMAT and try for 1 year MBA from ISB or the top IIMs.

  209. Sir i have completed my B.E in 2011 and worked in TCS for a period of 11 months and then resigned to prepare for government jobs as i have desire to work in my core area i.e mechanical engg but from there my hard days started i could not make into any govt job uptill now. Now i have decided to prepare for CAT 2015 will it be relevant for me to give the cat exam.

    If i get a good college also will i get a placement considering the gap i am having.

    my profile stands like this

    10th-80%
    Intermediate-88.6%
    B.E-82.2%
    work exp: only 11months in TCS
    At present doing part time job in CHEGG INDIA PVT ltd

    Sir please reply me wheather i am eligible to do MBA or not? If so can i get a placement after pursuing MBA

    • Hariprasad, while it can be explained, the 3 year gap will be an issue and hence if possible try picking up a full time job. If not then we will have to manage. Eligibility is not an issue. While some companies will not consider you because of the gap most will not have a problem.

  210. Sir,

    I have got 48% in 12 and did distance graduation from IGNOU with 55%. Am I eligible for CAT? I mean do B-school recognize IGNOU (distance)degree? It is UGC and AICTE approved.

    • Rahul, the eligibility criteria is 50% in graduation so you are eligible. IGNOU is an approved university and its graduates can take CAT/XAT and other MVBA entrances.

  211. Hello GP sir,
    I am curious about MBA and given are the details of my academics
    X- CGPA 8.4
    XII- 88.6 (in top 5 subs) and 82 % (aggregate).
    In college 1st Yr- 72.8 % and I just gave 3rd semester Exams, result I think is not good i.e. 58%.
    And I am contributing in 2 start ups currently.
    I am pursuing Bachelor of Management Studies From DU.
    And I aim to do MBA from FMS.
    Please give me the tips for getting through it with reference to my track record.
    Thanks

    • Aditya, apologise for missing you query.
      Unlike the IIMs and a few other institutes, FMS does not have any weight for past academics so your marks do not matter as long as you are above the eligibility requirement. In case of IIMs while your X and XII are good you will need to pull up on your graduation marks and if the graduation marks fall below 70% then you may not be able to make it to some of the IIMs.
      Extra & co curricular activities usually help only in the interview but there are no marks attached to these.
      For FMS as a general category candidate you should target a CAT score of over 99.3%ile to be sure of converting the call.

  212. SIR,m a btech graduate with 70%
    got 86%ile in cat2014 which was my 1st try after btech.now i want to drop another year for cat2015.will it be a fyn step to drop 2 years to get a nyc mba clg??

  213. Sir,
    Now I am pursuing MBA at SRM School of Management,Chennai.
    I have completed my degree in Engineering in Mechanical in 2014. And I got admission through its own entrance examination. Early I thought its a good B School, but somehow I can’t find up to my expectation level. So my question is What’s your suggestion to me about my MBA and future career opportunities ? How can I Prepare myself for current job market?

  214. Sir, i got Overall 98.53%ile in cat 2014 and filled mdi,imt,imi,fms forms. But my academic record is very poor(55% in 10th, 64% in 12th, 59% in btech). I heard from someone that even if i get a good bchool then i will not get placed due to my poor record. I am from gen. category and in my final yr of btech. What shud i do, do mba or not? How much my record hamper chance of getting a job in bchool? As i didnt prepare well this yr so i was also thinking of trying next yr to get a better cat score. Plz tell me if mba a good option for me or not…

    • Rahul, please do not get carried away by such rumours. Placement is mostly a function of how well you do in yor MBA and is not dependent upon your past academics.
      You have a good score and will get calls from IIMs so start your PDP classes immediately to ensure conversion. Think about a retake only if you do not get into a good MBA institute.

  215. Hello

    My daughter has recently got her cat score as below

    DI /Quant – 81.5
    Verbal – 97.5
    Overal – 93.58
    Category – General

    Her academic records are
    X – 91
    XII – 93
    GPA from NIT-Trichy – 8.2

    Please let us know if she has any chance to get shortlisted for any of the IIMs

    Thanks
    Raji Shankar

  216. RESPECTED SIR,

    i have passed my class 10th with 89% marks and class 12th with 75% marks(science side).
    sir,initially i was confused for which career to go for.
    firstly,i thought of doing btech,but was unable to crack any of the exams.
    my uncle got me admitted in a respectable engineering college of mumbai through management quota.
    but,after a little bit of self realisation, i came to the point that btech is not the thing for me.so, i did not went there.
    i always wanted to do MBA,but was confused for the undergraduate course.after declining BTECH,i dropped my year and is currently preparing for IIM INDORE’s IPM course.
    (finally got the thing of my interest).sir i want to know how to prepare for this test smartly(iam doing my share of hard work) and what is the scope of this course in the future ahead?
    sir i also wanted to know the difference between a BBA and a BMS?

    THANKYOU SIR

  217. sir i have completed by B.tech graduation with 58% in 2014 , 12th 69.4%, xth 79.6% , i have no job experience until now , i am interested in writing cat to do mba , am i eligible , if i get a goos score can i get in to any reputed b shool?? if not IIMs

    • Nihaar, while a few institutes are unlikely for you but most of the MBA is institutes have a low/no weight for past academics and a good CAT score can get you calls from most institutes.

  218. Sir, my profile is given below:

    10th: 95%
    12th: 85%
    B. Tech.: 62%
    Category: NC-OBC
    No work experience

    What are my chances for old IIMs if I manage to get a 99 percentile in CAT 2014?

  219. Hi sir. My college has a marks based system and we are given the 4 year aggregate CGPA on our request. My %age comes out to 64% and CGPA is 8.22 for 4 years. I am confused as to what I should write in the college applications because we don’t officially follow a percentage system as well. The percentage was calculated based on our marks by ourselves.

    • Aastha, I am confused. Does your college give a CGPA or marks in your Report Card?
      If your college follows a percentage system then you should report it.
      if your college follows a Grade System then ask the college for its formula to convert CGPA into Percentage. If no such formula exists then multiply your CGPA with 10 to get the percentage. The percentage you have calculated based on marks does not have any value.

      • No, we get marks in our marksheet like 400 out of 650 which can be translated to percentage by us. But for our transcript and other requirements we are given CGPA too out of 10 and 4 depending on the requirement of the student. That CGPA is not given individually year wise but is comprehensive for the 4 years.

  220. hello GP sir,

    I wish to appear for CAT-2015, right now i am working in a PSU, i have around 1.5 years of work experience, as my work environment is not very favourable ,i want to quit my job by May next year ,so that i have around 5 months to prepare properly
    will that have negative impact on my profile?
    M academic credentials :
    class 10 :94%
    class 12 :92%
    graduation from NIT with 8.2 cgpa
    I am a general category female

    • Mehak, quittin g will not have a negative impact on your profile but will raise questions that you will need to handle in the interview. You have a good academic record and with over 99%ile in CAT will be able to get calls from almost all IIMs and other top MBA institutes. My suggestion is to start preparing for CAT immediately and not wait for May and also if possible continue with your job. Call me at 9811155160 in case you want to discus this further.

  223. I wrote CAT this year and attempted 37 ques. with 90% of accuracy 16 I QADI and 21 in VALR.
    My exam was not so good as comparing to other candidates.
    So, I decided to prepare for the next year. (I didn’t fill any other form)

    Profile

    NC-OBC
    10-67
    12-78
    BBA-74
    WORK EX- 0
    CURRICULAR ACT.- AVERAGE

    Targeting only IIM A B.

    what are the chances to get calls from new IIMs this year.

    What will the % which lend me call from IIM A B C.

    please tell

    • AP, call from IIM A, B and C is not possible with only 37 attempts. A NC OBC candidate would need over 95%ile (preferably 97%ile) for a call from these three.

  224. Sir I wrote CAT this year Attempted 37 (16- QADI AND 21- VALR) questions with 90% accuracy. My exam was not so good as compared to others.
    So I decided to prepare for the next year.(I didn’t fill other forms)
    Profile
    NC -OBC Candidate
    10th – 67%
    12th – 78%
    BBA – 74%
    Work ex – 0
    Curricular Activities – Average
    Final year student
    Targeting only IIM A and B.

    Please Tell
    what are the chances of getting calls from new IIMs this year.

    And how much %ile will put me on the safer side to get calls from IIM AB NEXT YEAR.
    Thank You

    • AP, this year calls from new IIMs are unlikely.
      For IIM A and B you should target 97%ile in CAT’15 to be sure of getting an interview call.

  225. Hello Sir,
    Xth 90.61,
    XII th 76.7
    Graduation : 66.92 from NIT
    I belong to the poorest of all categories: a GENERAL MALE ENGINEER
    Experience: Currently in 6 months in job.
    What %ile do i need to realistically give a shot to IIM A, C, I, L and FMS?

  226. Sir,
    I belong to NC-OBC category.

    Non Engineer , MALE

    10th- 74%

    12th- 77%

    Graduation – 72%

    Work experience- NILL

    Extra curricular – NILL

    How much percentile should I target to be safely admitted into IIM A-B-C & FMS

  227. Hello Sir 🙂 How are you ?
    Sir, I want IIM A only. Here is my profile.
    I am from OBC category.
    10th- 85.60% Topper in school with technical subject,
    12th- 73.80%,
    BE Electronics- 8.02 CGPA/10 (75.20%),
    Work exp : 18 months as a Software data ware house tester in an MNC
    Extra curricular : Working for NGO more than 6 months as a leader Which helps poor children from studies to Basic needs.

    I got 70%ile last year and got a call from IIM Indore. But did not go. Because i want only IIM A.

    So, How much %ile do i need to get into IIM A ? I am desperate to get into IIM A. Please help me sir. Thank you in advance 🙂

    • Cat-Dog, with the removal of the weight for academic profile score by IIM A my estimate is that a CAT score of 95%ile will be required for an interview call. If you want to be safe then target 97%ile.

      • Thank you GP sir 🙂 Btw, CL mocks rocked 🙂 Same difficulty level and same as CAT design friendly manner 🙂 Hats off to you, Gejo sir and whole CL team 🙂 Proud of you sir. In Gandhinagar, CL class opened. Why do not you come there for visit ? Please I want to meet you sir.

  228. Respected Sir ,
    I have a question regarding my situation . It’s a really bad one as compared to the rest above I’ve read .
    my 10th marks are 72.5% (dragged by low 2nd language mark)
    my 12th marks are 75% (I was a private candidate , was kicked out of school in my 11th , but i didint miss a year)
    my graduation , I did a B.com(Accounting and Finance) from a college in Madras and got a 62.5% aggregate .
    -I will be giving my CFA level 1 in dec 2014 (10days from now )

    My work ex :
    -8months with a Share service center of a top mangement consulting firm
    – 1 year in family business (not sure on how this is viewed by the Adcoms)
    -6months was bed ridden due to back injury .

    I am preparing for my XAT currently and my CAT was good , but then hard to say as eveyone found it extremly easy .
    My questions are :
    1. Are there any top 15-20 colleges which would accept me dispite my shaky profile ?
    2. Would me justifying leaving my job to join family business was motivated because I wasnt happy with a BPO/Accouting job and to get a finance job we basically need an MBA .
    3. Sir any other tips from you which would help my case , as you can Mine is probably the worst profile out here .

    Panicking ,

    Rahul

    • Rahul, all colleges will accept you as there is nothing incorrect about your profile, while there will be questions on opting for open school in XII or change of jobs or moving to family business all of these can be handled comfortably. Stop worrying about your profile and focus on your exams – CFA, XAT etc and let us discuss these issues once you get the interview calls.

  229. Respected Sir,
    my 10 th score is 84
    12 th is 59
    graduation (engg) -61
    took me 5 years to complete as i was detained for one year with lot of backlogs

    i need your guidance on the following:-

    1)Firstly what are the realistic chances of me getting in to IIM A or C and other iims
    provided if i get almost 100 or a 100 in cat as i do have the ability.

    2)Considering to get the best out of mba even if i get selected it would be tough for me to get summer internship in good companies ..i aspire to be an investment banker so what would be great to get the best out of placementS ..joining the b school first or become a PO in SBI for 2 years while doing CFA ?

    Kindly help sir 🙂

    • Ram, IIM C has a weight for only X and XII marks and not graduation marks and with low marks in XII you will need a 99.9%ile to get an interview call.
      With the current criteria of IIM A & C are unlikely to shortlist for interviews unless you have a 100%ile in CAT. Your extra year is not an issue, while it will be questioned in the interview it will will not be a reason for rejection.
      Summer internship could be an issue but if you do well in your 1st term then your chances will improve significantly. Final placement is also usually a function of your performance in MBA and not your past academic record.
      Keep all options open, if you get into a top 30 B school go for it else go for SBI PO.
      CFA should be pursued with both – PO as well as MBA.

  230. Hi,
    X-82%, XIIth- 72%, Grad- 70%. Currently working for 7 months. Apart from the thirteen IIMs(realistically impossible from my point of view), can you suggest some good colleges which call with the above mentioned past academic profile and a CAT %ile of around 90, keeping in mind CAT 2015. Thanks a ton.

  231. Hello Sir,
    I have 68% in 10 & 12 but I scored very poverly in graduation. I got only 47% in B.sc maths. But after that i did B.com through distance education n got 85%. Also I have a post graduate diploma in Financial planning wit 84% (Full time 1 year) and currently I am a CFA level 3 candidate n also I have cleared CA inter.

    Can i apply for the cat exam with my distance education degree and if suppose I have scored a good percentaile, will there be a chance for me to getting into IIM if i disclose my B.sc maths scores.
    Also I do have a 3 yrs of work exp in reputed banks.
    Please guide me in this!!!

    • SriValli, with over 85% in graduation you are eligible for CAT and IIMs. Distance education degree is not a problem. Your work experience will be an added advantage. for eligibility B.Sc Maths is not important your B.Com will be considered.

  232. Sir just now i read the selection process of iims
    it states that you have to submit marksheets of all semesters
    i scored 67 and 68 percent in my first and second semesters respectively……my current cgpa is 7.34…can it affect my chances of getting into IIM? or only my final cgpa will count?
    please clarify i am extremely worried……as it may shatter my dream of getting into IIM

    • Sweta, your CGPA till 5th semester is important since results till this semester are declared at the time of interview. CGPA of 7.3 is not going to eliminate you from the race, it is you CAT score which will decide your fate so continue with your CAT preparation and do not get distracted by such issues.

      • Sir i want to know whether it can eliminate me from the race of IIMs since i am a fresher?????
        Can i get IIM A,B,C or L? even if my cgpa is 7.3

        • No…IIM A for example does not differentiate between Freshers & those with work ex.
          IIM C does not even consider graduation marks as a shortlist criteria and does not consider work ex
          So if you have a good CAT %ile you have a fair chance to get a call.
          All the Best!

  233. Hello sir,
    I am scoring consistently 85-90% in mocks. I have 86% in X and 89%in XII and 74% in Graduation (Top 20% of batch). I am a commerce graduate (Graduated in 2014), working in an Investment bank.

    In what all IIMs i have a chance this year ?

    • Also sir i have really strong extra curriculars. I have been finalist at various flagship events in IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta.

      • Rahul, unfortunately all extra curricular activities a4e considered only after you clear the hurdle of CAT score and here you are below the required score. You will have to pull yourself up in the next 2 weeks and get to a raw score of at least 130 to have a chance in the top IIMs. The target score for the top IIMs is 99.5%ile, for other old IIMs 99%ile and for new IIMs it is 97.5%ile.

  234. R/SIR,
    i do have a very weak profile :
    10th-69
    12th 64
    grad -63
    pg-65
    work ex 2yrs 6mths at a public sec bank after mba

    gap period 2008-09 after grads

    july 11 to mar 12 gap after pg

    Is there a any damn way to make to any iim’s????

    plz guide whether i should even think about it or not?

    • Abhinav, due to your not so good acads profile IIM A and C are unlikely but all other IIMs and other top B schools are possible since they have low/no weight for past acads. In case of IIMB your work experience could compensate for your low acads profile score.

  235. Hello Sir,

    I am little confused regarding my MBA preparation. I am a B.Tech graduate. My academics are X 97%, XII 82% B.Tech 76.5%. Currently I am working in an IT company for lat 1 year and preparing for CAT. But my preparation is not up to the mark. As I am working in a 24×7 environment, my work timing changes after every week. So, I don’t get any fixed timings for my study. So, I am thinking of quitting my job and dedicatedly prepare for CAT.
    But the problem is that I had an year gap after 12th and it took 4 months for me to get a job after completion of B.Tech. Now, the question is that if I take another year gap and prepare for cat, will it be a correct decision ? Even if I score good percentile in exam, wont it effect the later part of selection process ? I have understood very well that in my current working condition it is not possible to take proper preparation for any competitive exam. Please give me suggestion.

    • Arijit, I do not agree with your decision to quit your job for CAT preparation.
      If you are looking at CAT’14 then you do not have sufficient time and if it is CAT’15 that you are considering then you have a 12 months to prepare and do not need to quit your job. If you go for classroom coaching then do tell them that you need the flexibility of attending different batches. Do not worry about the gap year after 12th, it is not an issue.

  236. Dear Sir

    I am a below average person. I wasted most of the time while in my school/graduation days. I don’t have any specific achievements and only one or two extra curricular (that too not too strong). I got 65% in 10th, 63% in 12th and 73% in B.E (Automobile Engineering). I do have a work experience of around 3.5 years and currently employed with a PSU. So basically my profile is very weak.

    I attempted CAT-2013 and got 90 percentile (because of 78 percentile in QA) and 97 percentile in XAT-2014 (But low percentile in VA here) so i missed all good calls. The only call i got was from IMT ghaziabad. But i could not get through that also (may be beacuse of my profile).

    Sir i am aiming for IIM’s, XLRI, NITIE, SP Jain, MDI, IIT’s, FMS and NMIMS and some other top colleges, but i am feeling very depressed about my profiles. My preparations are going good but while filling up for institutes i feel like it is not worth trying as i will not be able to get into them.

    Please give me an honest opinion about my profile sir. Whether this is sufficient enough to get into one of top business schools?

    Regards
    Pradeep

    • Pradeep, you cannot change your past hence there is no point worrying about it, focus on what is in your control. You had a good XAT score last year and there is no reason why you will not do better this year. While your academic record is average you can definitely make it to almost all IIMs and top MBA institutes and your 3+ year work experience is a definite advantage specially for SP Jain and IIMB which have a high weightage for work experience, obviously you will need a good CAT score to get an interview call.

  237. Sir , i hv got 93 % in 10th, 74% in 12th but 55 % in B.E in SECOND attempt ( in 1st attempt my aggregate is just 49%).., so my question is, m i eligible for CAT and do they consider second attempt marks ??

  238. Hi my profile..
    10th : 86%
    12th : 73%
    B.Tech : 67%
    Extra curricular activities : zero
    Work experience : Past : 3 years of IT experience as Software engineer (Testing) in IT mnc
    Present : Probationary officer in a leading PSB
    Age : 26
    Query : I wish to do MBA in HR from one of the leading MBA colleges in the country. as per my knowledge, XLRI and TISS are the best in the country offering HR.
    Kindly tell me which entrance exam and which college I can apply to with my above academics and work profile.

    Thanks

    • Vineeth, profile is not an issue in your case, you have a good chance in all institutes subject to a good CARR/XAT score. Ideally you should restrict yourself to XLRI, TISS and IIMs but if you are willing to compromise on the institute then SIBM & SCMHRD Pune, NMIMS and XIMB can also be considered.

  239. hi sir,,

    10th-62.6%

    12th-57.8

    b.tech- 6.98

    work exp-23 months

    can u plz tell me is there any chnace for iim
    or can u please tell me what top b school i can get if my cat percentiles is gud

    • Rohit, IIM A and C are unlikely but the other are possible due to your work experience. however you should ensure a score of over 99%ile to have a chance of call from most of the others. Fortunately most of the B schools outside IIMs have a low/no weight for past academic record and will not be a problem.

  240. Sir I am a general category student…………
    77.4% in 12th
    9 cgpa in 10th that is 85.5%
    n currently 71% in BE
    in 5th semester
    I have a lot of doubts………
    What are my chances in IIM A, B and C IF I bring my graduation score to 80% i can still improve my graduation score…….
    then is it possible to get IIM A,B , C OR L?
    I don t want nethng below IIM lucknow……..so please guide me clearly becoz recently i read lot of people get rejected from IIMs bcoz of their academics?
    Will i also get rejected/……..i want to get into these four IIMS only

    • Vikramaditya, you have good marks and as a general category candidate, a CAT score of over 99.5%ile should get calls from all IIMs, this year IIMA has also relaxed its academic criteria and candidates with 65-70% in X, XII and graduation can make it to the interview shortlist. It will obviously be helpful if you can increase your graduation marks to over 80% but with 4 out of 8 semesters gone it may not be possible as marks of only 6 semesters available when you apply for CAT. While most of the institutes tend to club 70-80% in one group, IIMC has a 70-75% category and a 76-80% category hence my suggestion is to target a 76% which is achievable and will also ensure you have time to prepare for CAT and other MBA entrances.

  241. dear sir,
    Q1)
    I am a btech(ece) pass out out student in 2014 recently joined a company that makes robot for school as well as college using different kits as (NXT,LEGO,TATRICS,EV3) and trained students using robots for eg :explain science and maths with robot in schools and trained college student as well. but the company has recently started so its a very small scale company so will this work experience create any negative impact in cat interview and in final b school placement because this is not a well known company.
    Q2.seconly if i got 99%ile in cat and an average performance in gd/pi is there still any chance of not getting admission in any iim or top 30 bschools

    thanks.

    • Dear Risabh,

      The kind of work that you have done is going to be more important than the company that you worked in. So your work experience is not going to pull you down at all. Your work experience will add value to your candidature. Yes, with such a performance, you will have a good chance of making it to at least a few IIMs and other top b-schools.

  242. Hello GP Sir,
    I scored 79 percent in my class X and 87 % in class XII in 2012.I cleared CA entrance exam in 2012 june but was unable to clear the next level from then.I am doing my B.Com(gen) in krishna university(2013-16).Scored 88% in first year.I have a year wasted 2012-13 preparing for CA.
    Sir how are my chances to enter into IIMB,IIMC,IIMK?I started taking coaching from the Time institute for CAT 2015.
    Also Sir I need not attend my degree college I have to only prepare and write for my exams.So I am workless at home throughout the day.I have CAT classes only on monday,thursday and saturday in the evening for 2 hrs(6:30-8:30).At home I will revise the topics for sometime but I am getting damn bored to be laid off.
    I want to make my life busy Sir.Please suggest me what to do.I mainly want to thank you because this site is really very helpful to all of us.Thanks allot for spending your valuable time clearing our queries.Will be waiting to hear from you soon sir.

    Thank you in advance.

    • Kiran, Dropping a year is not a problem and many students with a drop year make it to IIMs and other top MBA institutes.
      In addition to you Mocks and online practice through Test Gym you should read e-papers also as it will help you in increasing your reading speed.

  243. Dear Sir,

    I didn’t attempt Geometry in my School Time. bcoz i afraid from Geometry & i didn’t catch Geomatry rule so i leave it. but now Geomatry is the most important part of all this MBA entrance Exams & this time i want to do Geomatry as good as i can do.
    so give me some way or suggestion how i do geomatry. and other important topic

    • Dear Gaurav,

      First of all, learn the basic formulae of two-dimensional and three-dimensional geometry – for example, equations for radius, area, volume, etc. of common shapes and bodies. At least a few questions from geometry will be quite easy and mere knowledge of such basic formulae will enable you to answer these questions. Further, learn the different identities of geometry and start practising problems based on these identities. For such problems, practice will be the key to mastery.

      • Thanks Sir for Giving me Helpful Advice
        But one think that is comming in my mind.
        can i do Geomatry in these remaining days and how much time on daily basis i give to Geomatry..

  244. Hello GP Sir,
    This is Santosh…
    My 10th perc- 86.16
    12th perc- 93.40
    B.Tech- 64.99.
    My Question is, as my B.tech percentage is very less and has a drastic decrease compared to my 12th, will this be a problem for me to get into best B-schools?
    How much should I score for getting into IIM’s.

    • Dear Santosh,

      You may be questioned about your acads in your interview. If you are able to justify your acads, then it should not be a problem for you. Overall, your acads are quite decent. Aim for 99.5 + percentile in order to maximise your chances of getting into an IIM.

  245. Hello GP sir,
    I am Santosh. My 10th percentage is 86.16,
    12th- 93.4
    and B.Tech – 64.99. My question is as my graduation percentage is very less compared to my 12th percentage will it be a problem for me to get into best B-schools? How much should I target for getting into IIM’s ?

    • Dear Santosh,

      You may be questioned about your acads in your interview. If you are able to justify your acads, then it should not be a problem for you. Overall, your acads are quite decent. Aim for 99.5 + percentile in order to maximise your chances of getting into an IIM.

  246. hello sir,
    my x is 72%, XII is 61%, grad in engineering is 59.96% & i had taken a drop for preparing to get an iim. this is my dream to get here, but at present my aimcat score touches around 50 percentile, & still only 2 months are there . are there any chances of mine to select for iim if i get 99% in cat, please guide me

    • Dear Vishal,

      If you are able to get 99 percentile + in CAT, you will definitely have good chances of getting selected to an IIM. But, you have very limited time available. You will need to work very hard in order to achieve your goal. You should, first of all, analyse your mocks/aimcats thoroughly and identify those areas/topics where you are regularly making mistakes. Revise the basics in these areas and then, practise as many problems from these areas as possible. If you have access to Test Gym Adaptive, use it thoroughly. This will help you build up speed as well as accuracy. These steps will help you improve your performance.

  247. Hi Sir
    How is Great lakes chennai. I have four years of experience.Acad grads are average.
    I want to pursue only one year MBA.What are best option for me in India.

    • Dear Uttam,

      Great Lakes, Chennai is definitely a good b-school. Among one-year MBA programs in India, ISB Hyderabad would be the best option. Great Lakes would rank second.

  248. Hello sir,
    I’ve got:
    89.3% in X
    89.4% in XII ( both cbse )
    and currently i am doing bba and preparing for cat 15. I’d probably complete my graduation with 7-8 CGPA. My query is -do i stand a chance in top IIMs given my academic record with a good CAT score? And does 89% falls in the 80 – 90 category and the person with 81% gets the same points as the person with 89% in the selection process of IIMs or the record of individual percentage is taken?
    How do i make up for no work experience? Kindly help me out

    • Dear Shefali,

      Your academic scores are quite good. You certainly are a good candidate and have the potential to get into the very best IIMs. Yes, 89% falls in the 81-90% band. Do not worry too much about your lack of work experience. Most of the IIMs give very small weight to work experience. Typically, between 30 to 40% of the seats in each of the IIMs are taken up by freshers.

  249. SIR,
    I have 9.2 percentile in 10 with 89% in 12 and my graduation score is around 87, will i get iim a or b .moreover i am getting 98 percentile in aim cats..

    • Dear Rohan,

      Your acads scores are good. 98%ile + in AIMCATs is also very good. Keep up this performance. You certainly have a very good chance of getting calls from all IIMs.

  250. Hi Sir,

    I was a pathetic student like yourself in my student days few years back. I have below average academic scores. I can easily connect to your story and am inspired by it.

    What do you think are my chances of a student like me, to now get into IIMs or IIMB given that the reservation system after 2008 takes up more than 50% of available seats ?.

    Do you think, it is even possible in this day and time for a pathetic student with no reservation to get into the IIMs ?

    Regards,
    Armaan

    • Armaan, at my time the total number of seats in IIMB was 150 and it was around 600 between the four IIMs (A, B, C & L). This number has increased to around 450 for IIMB and to around 3500 for all the IIMs together. In any case it is you performance in CAT and the interview that will determine your chances of making it to the final list.

  251. Sir I have secured
    88% in 10th
    70% in 12th
    6.2 cgpa (59%) in B Tech
    If i manage to get good percentile in CAT.. Will i be able to join iim b or c.
    And what percentile will be required?

    • Dear Ranjan,

      Your acads scores are quite decent. A good CAT percentile will certainly ensure that you get calls from most top b-schools. Aim for 99.5 percentile + in CAT in order to maximise your chances of getting a call from IIMs B and C.

  252. Hello Sir,
    I am a Clerk in government department from last 10 years and my age is 33 yrs. I got bored with my current job and wish to enter in corporate world and do something in life. I am ready to do hard work required for cracking CAT and planning to take leave of 2 yrs. However, I request you to clear my following few doubts please:-

    1) My academics are not good
    10th – 57%
    12th – 59% (with 3 attempts)
    B.Com – 61% (through open university after 10 yrs of gap)

    So, am I eligible for any of IIMs or any other top B school with this kind of academics????

    2) Will my experience of 10 yrs as a government clerk considered???

    3) If I get admission in any of top B schools at the age of 35 and pass out at 37, how would be my chances of getting decent corporate job???

    Eagerly waiting for your reply.

    • Dear Abhishek,

      1) As regards your educational qualifications, it would be best for you to contact the IIMs once and seek a clarification from them about your eligibility.
      2) Most of the b-schools mention that they consider work experience gained after graduation. Therefore, you should check with the b-schools regarding whether they will consider your work experience.
      3) In case you are selected to a decent b-school, you should not have undue problems in getting placed.

  253. hi sir
    my academic profile is as follows
    Xth-80.2%
    XIIth-72.2%
    Ebgineering: 80%
    what are my chances at the top MBA colleges with these scores ?

    • Atisha, you have good chances of call from all IIMs, A,B & C will need over 99.6%ile while the other top IIMs, FMS and IIT Mumbai will need over 99%ile. The new IIMs, MDI, other IITs and NITIE will require over 97.5%ile.

  254. hello sir,

    Need some advice..what are the prospects after a PO job??
    After 2-3 yrs of work can one consider doing MS or MBA…and will it be fruitfrul.
    I am a B.Tech grad and would be joining TCS in a month.

    I have cleared the written of SBI PO and am confident of clearing the interview as well.

    • Sam, A bank PO is equivalent to a Management Trainee in top companies and most of the top management in Public Sector Banks started as POs. Also the POs are in demand in all banks after they have worked for 4-5 years. A MBA from a top 25-30 institute will be give your career a boost but may not be worth from other institutes. If you clear SBI PO then you should seriously consider joining it.

  255. Dear Sir,
    i am having follwing scores in acads:
    10th :58.88%
    12th:66.66%
    Gradu: 74.36% (From a B grade institute)
    Work Exp: 4 yrs in Credit and finance in State Bank
    Chartered Financial Analyst CFA (USA): level-II Completed

    Now i am thinking about executive MBA from any of the old IIMs. Please tell me can i convert it or shall i perish the thought. I know it will be game changer for me but having doubt whether they will consider me or not due to poor academics.

    • Dear Nitesh,

      You should be able to convert this. Your acads will matter to the extent that you should clear the minimum eligibility criteria of the institute that you wish to opt for. Apart from that, your acads will not be critical. Further, in your case, you have shown excellent improvement in your acads scores over the years. That can be a good point to highlight in your interviews.

  256. dear gp sir..
    i have secured a job of the profile of IT recruiter in collabera which is a us based IT staffing firm….it is a semi- hr profile in which i vil b involved only in telephonic interviews with candidate and interaction with other personel in company hierachy..my profile is as follows…
    1)10th-82, 12th-70
    then took a year break for jee preps…
    2)engg-cse (2014 )-completed in 4.5 years and 23 backlogs with aggregate of 69%
    my questions are-
    1)will this work exp be considered legitimate?will it fetch any points in short -listing?
    2)i want do mba in marketing but my profile is of hr..will d interview panel allow me to do so?and will i get any job in marketing sector domain ,considering i get a good cat score?

    • Dear Utkarsh,

      Yes, your work experience will be considered legitimate. There is no reason for your work experience to not fetch points. You need not have any problem in opting for an MBA in marketing. In your interviews, you may be questioned on the reason you wish to take up marketing. Once you are able to justify your switch to marketing, there should not be any further problems.

  257. sir,
    I have79% in 10th and 87% in 12th
    after my 12th(march 2012) I planned to start my career as a chartered accountant and so I wrote n was qualified in CA-CPT(june 2012)exam.Then I tried to clear my CA-IPCC exam in may 2013 but was unable to.I started attending B.Com(Gen) degree college from june 2013.With home preparation I again tried CA-IPCC exams in nov 2013 and also may 2014 but no +ve results.I have no extra-currics or any work experience.I’m taking coaching for CAT n will surely come out with 99 above percentile.But I think I should have something extra in my profile.What could do better sir?hope you will help me out soon to enter into IIM.

    • Nishita, at present you should focus on your CAT preparation and not worry about the profile. Apart from your CAT preparation you should concentrate on you college academics.

  258. dear sir,
    i want to do mba in finance but the problem is that i am working as an it recruiter in a company. so they will definetly ask why in finance and not in hr.so how to answer this question please reply me at earliest.
    and please tell me that it will effect my image in front of panel members.

    thanks

  259. Hello Sir,
    I am a general category student with the following academic records :-
    Xth- 83%
    XIIth- 81% and
    Btech(IT)- 8.18 CGPA (till 3rd year) from West Bengal University of Technology.
    No work experience as presently I am a final year student.

    1) On basis of the above, sir culd you kindly tell me what are my chances of getting into IIM A,B,C and other mba colleges like FMS, NITIE and MDI. and also hw much shuld I aim for in CAT to get into the above colleges?

    2) Also sir I have a year gap after class 12 as I was preparing for the various joint entrance xams. Will this hamper my application rating for the top mba colleges?

    3) And finally sir, please , also tell me about hw much shuld I aim for in XAT and IIFT exterence xams) to get a call?

    • Arindham, with your academics you have a chance in all IIMs and other top MBA institutes. A gap after 12th is not an issue and many students with a gap year make it to top IIMs and other MBA institutes. Your target score should be:
      a) over 99.5%ile for IIM A, B & C
      b) over 99%ile for other old IIMs, FMS and IIT Mumbai
      c) over 97.5%ile for ne IIMs, MDI, NITIE and other IITs.
      d) over 95%ile in XAT for a call from XLRI but my suggestion is to target over 98%ile
      e) over 50 marks in IIFT.

  260. sir my academic is worst
    x-51.4
    xii-53.6
    btech-64
    category -sc
    as i am giving mock and got 90% and its improving my aptitude
    i just want to know that i am applicable for iim or not.

  261. Hello Sir,
    My academic results are as follows:
    Xth=83%
    XIIth = 81%
    Btech (till 3rd year) = 8.1 (from Heritage Institute of Technology, Kolkata)
    also I have a year gap after my class 12 .
    With my above academic score how much do I need to get in CAT to get into IIM A,B,C and other colleges like FMS,NITIE,MDI?
    Also sir, could you please tell me if the 1 year gap in my academics hamper my selection into the top IIM’s and other top MBA colleges?

    • Dear Kaustav,

      You should target 99.5 percentile + in CAT in order to maximise your chances of getting selected to a top IIM. You may be questioned about your 1 year gap in your interviews. If you are able to justify this gap, then it should not hamper your chances of selection.

  262. Hi sir,
    My academic profile (2012 pass out)
    10th – 93%
    Inter – 95.5%
    B tech – 78.36%

    Work exp – 2 years in reputed MNC and currently working in same as software engineer
    Can you please tell me with this profile what are. My chances of getting into IIM’s and I am A bit low confident about this I.e while working can I do it or not if I concentrate more on CAT it mat effect my current job. Please help me in this. And I just started preparation for next year CAT exam

    • Dear Swathi,

      Your academic profile is quite good and your work experience adds even more value to your candidature. Further, some of the top IIMs also have bonus marks for women. Thus, your chances are very good. The fact that you have already started preparing for next year’s CAT is also a point in your favour. This will ensure that even if you are able to study seriously for 2 to 3 hours every day, you should be well prepared for CAT. As you have started your preparation early, it should not be difficult for you to manage your studies and your job.

  263. hello sir……
    i got 48%in 10th standard and in 12th i got 69% is their any chance for me to get in iim A…if i score a good percentile in CAT……….

  264. Dear GP sir,
    i got 52% in 10th in 2007
    +(1 year gap)
    68.8%in 12th in 2010
    +(with 1 year gap)
    6 cgpa in b.com 2013
    +(1 year gap)
    now i preparing for cat 2014
    so if i score good percentile in cat ,then should i get calls from any of the top management institute….??

    • Adarsh, you will not be rejected due to breaks in your academic career but given your marks in X, XII and graduation you will need a very high score in CAT. Also you will need to explain the reason for these breaks in the interview. Almost all MBA institutes are possible for you and a good MBA institute will give a good boost to your career so work had and get a good CAT score. Do take the bank exams also alongwith the MBA exams as they will act as a back up for you.

  265. sir my scores are as follows
    10th- 84%
    12th- 77%
    BE ECE – 7.12 cgpa
    no work experince
    sir i’m preparing hard for cat 2014 aiming a score more than 99.5%. Is there any chance for me to get calls from IIM’s?

  266. Dear Reputed GP Sir,
    I am currently a first-year student in one of the top IIMs and due to rules, I won’t disclose which one. But, since the processes are same in all IIMs it doesn’t matter.
    Before the summer placement process, intensive CV preparation and verification is done in every IIM. I have 3.5 years of work-experience in a reputed IT company and I got mails sent from my supervisor and manager (through their official mail ids) as testimonial certifying I have worked under the projects I mentioned in my CV.
    But to my horror, on the verification day, they started to verify the credentials of my manager and supervisor through linkedin and google and since they don’t have any such profiles, my CV points were not approved for the time being and put on hold. I was told to submit a scanned copy of their visit cards or some such thing as proof failing which my work-ex CV statements would be deleted.
    I have talked to my bosses. While 2 managers have visit card, some others don’t and so there is a high chance all of my valuable CV points and work-ex achievements will be rejected. Kindly advice what I should do.
    Do these juvenile 2nd year students have discretionary power to reject CV points based on their whims? Should I approach the placecom chairman? If not, what really should I do because it is extremely painful to see genuine points being deleted this way?

    • Not just that. I have 3-4 CV points related to my school achievements. I could only go ad get those proofs once I visit my hometown in the 1 week break after the first term. But, they have given me only a week deadline for this and my school authorities are not responding unless I personally visit the school. I was not aware of such kinds of rigorous verifications before joining the programme else I would have got things ready from before. Now what should I do? Am I in a danger of losing the summer placement offers?

      • Also, how important is the summer placement for my qualification? Do bad summer placements also jeopardize chances of final placements? Could I independently again work on my CV for the final placements without interruption from my high-handed whimsical seniors? How did things happen in your times?

        • Akhilesh, I have not come across a more bizarre situation. That a placement committee can be so stupid is unfathomable. Please immediately have a word with the faculty incharge of placement and if he does not respond then talk to the Director of your IIM.
          A good summer placement is helpful for your final placement but not essential. Call me at 9811155160 to discuss.

      • Dear Akhilesh,

        Approach the Placecom Chairperson and seek some time for this as well. Also, check if this part can be handled by someone in your family visiting the school with relevant documents.

  267. Respected sir
    please let me know what are my chances for getting IIM I . . . My X and XII percentage are 76 and 73 respectively .Presently i am persuing B tech (EE) nd my cgpa is around 7.2 with two sem remaining . i m pretty serious about cat 2014 .
    My college campus placements for the electrical engg is not good otherwise i would have opted for job . Also comparing CAT nd GATE I preffered CAT because I feel good studying quant and verbal . i m also confused if i m right or not . whether i should have chosen gate or cat . i am preparing for cat 14 since march . . . if i am right then what should be my strategy for cat .?? and if i am wrong then should i leave cat and start with the preparation for gate .?? please guide me sir . . . waiting for your reply . . thank you

    • Nigam, you have decent academics and hence all IIMs (except IIMB) are possible for you. This year even IIMA has relaxed its academic criteria and most of the others are not very stringent on academics.
      GATE Vs CAT is an individual choice based on the kind of career you are looking at. If it is academics and/or research of a PSU engineering job that you are interested in then GAT is a better option else it should be CAT.

  268. My profile:

    10th: 69%
    english-88
    hindi- 90
    maths- 40
    science- 44
    sst- 76
    computer- 76

    12th: 59% as not interested in science, could not clear math and chemistry
    english- 94
    hindi- 94
    physics- 40
    chemistry- 27
    maths- 24
    environmental studies- 76

    Grad: English hons
    topper first year and second year
    overall percentage 57% (above average for English literature)

    Work ex: 1 year as a marketing executive at a start up
    (2013-present)

    Cat score 2013: 99.7 percentile

    Last year I didn’t take admission as i thought that getting 1 year work ex might get me a call from IIM A,B or C. Last year I got calls from IIM L,K,I and others, FMS, IMT Ghaziabad, Narsee Monjee, Sp Jain among others but I didn’t go for any GD or interview. Honestly, I am not very keen to do MBA and want to become a singer but my family’s financial condition is not good and I am the only child. This year I plan to reappear at CAT and get an even better score. I also have a 2 year gap between my 1st yr and 2nd yr due to my mother’s illness. I want to know if one year experience will help me in getting calls from IIM A, B or C even though the company is not very well-known. Do you think I should pursue my dream to be a singer and go to Bombay or join MBA college? I know becoming a singer is difficult and if it doesn’t work, I will be on the streets and so will be my family but will getting an MBA be better than living for my passion?

    • Dear Aanchal,

      Your CAT 2013 percentile was excellent. However, getting a call from IIMs A, B, C may be difficult (even after work experience) due to the issues with your academics. You have mentioned that your family’s financial condition is not very good. Do note that most b-schools’ fees are quite high and if you opt for loans for these fees, you will have to pay the EMIs for the loans later on. Thus, you will need to work (and continue working) just to pay off the loans. If you are really keen on singing as a career, it may be advantageous to take up a job right now and pursue your dream in your free time.

      • Thank u sir for ur reply. i want to ask u if i get a call from FMS and IIM L both, which one should i opt for? Also, can u tell me which colleges apart from IIM A B & C have best international placements?

        • Aanchal, both are equally good and it is a question of IIM brand name Vs the low fee of FMS. The top IIMs have the best international placements.

  269. Hi Sir,
    my acad are as follows..
    10th——90%
    12th——92%
    Btech(I.T)—-73%
    belong to OBC,graduated in 2012, & working for a leading IT company for 1.6 yrs now. I consider myself strictly average in studies. I started preparing for CAT in 2013 from Time but due to being working couldn’t continue praticing questions. I got 70% in 2013 CAT.Can you please guide me for cracking CAT & will i be able to get into IIM A,B or C.?
    Awaiting for commments
    Thank you

    • Ashish, as an OBC candidate with decent academic record and 1.6 year work experience you should target over 97%ile to be sure of calls from all IIMs. All top IIMs and other top institutes are possible for you but it will need a focused effort. A 70%ile indicates either poor preparation or lack of concepts. Your marks in X & XII indicate that you are not as bad as you think you are, suggest that you start by revising your old study material, important concepts only, and quickly move on to CAT’14 pattern papers. Regular online practice of all topics via Test Gym along with Test Series is a must for you.

  270. sir does it matter from which firm u have ur work experience if a guy worked in infosys and a guy worked in samsung is there is a chance that samsung guy would be given preference over infy one.

    • Dear Rahul,

      The firm in which you have worked should have very little influence (possibly zero impact) on your final selection. There is no reason the candidate from Samsung should be preferred over the candidate from Infosys, purely on the basis of which company they were working in.

  271. Sir ,

    I am planning on registering for CAT this yea (was planning on registering even last year) .but I wasnt able to last year and i am hesitant even this year . I would like to know your views regarding my problem .
    I was detained in 11th and hence gave my 12th as a private candidate (no repetition of 11th year was done ) . And my 10th ,12th and B.com marks are 73% , 74% and 62% respectively . I completed my college in 2012 and was working in Family business .
    I would like to know if i have any chance of getting inside any of the top Bschools or if i will be discouraged based on the 11th performance ?

    Awaiting reply ,

    Jackie

    • Jackie, most of the top B schools have a low/no weight for past academic record and hence a good CAT score can get you calls from most of the top B schools, IIMs too are possible for you. You will also get credit for work experience and also marks for being a non-engineer. As a general category candidate you will need
      1. over 99.5%ile for top IIMs
      2. over 99%ile for other old IIMs and FMS
      3. over 97%ile for new IIMs, XLRI, IIFT and MDI.
      A 94-95%ile can get you calls from almost all other B-schools.

  272. my acad are as follows..
    10th——89%
    12th——87%
    Btech(ME)—-78%
    graduated in 2014
    sir with this profile can i get call from top iim….
    sir last year i scored 85%ile without preperation..also currently i am not working and i am not interested in core subjects so what kind of job i should look for for enhancing my profile in terms of work experience……sir should i go for po job or ssc jobs…..

    • Manish, you have good acads and will be able to get calls from all IIMs. This year IIMA has also relaxed its requirement wrt past academics and should not be a problem. As a general category candidate you will need
      1. over 99.5%ile for top IIMs
      2. over 99%ile for other old IIMs and FMS
      3. over 97%ile for new IIMs, XLRI, IIFT and MDI.
      Pick up a job that you would be happy to continue with in case you do not make it to a good MBA institute.

  273. Good evening sir,
    my name is Pranay Misra and my scores in X,XII n btech are
    88.6,81.2,63.3
    sir i am preparing for cat14 n i think i can get a gud score bt sir wid my btech aggregate ,can i qualify for any iim’s

    • Pranay, you have a good chance of getting a call from almost all IIMs (Blr will be difficult), this year IIMA has also relaxed its requirement wrt past academics and should not be a problem. As a general category candidate you will need
      1. over 99.5%ile for top IIMs
      2. over 99%ile for other old IIMs and FMS
      3. over 97%ile for new IIMs, XLRI, IIFT and MDI.

  274. my acad are as follows…
    10th—-89%
    12th—-87%
    btech(ME)—–78%
    graduated in 2014
    with this profile what are my chances in iim………
    also sir in my last attempt i score 85%ile without preperation so now i should first look for a job or start preparing for cat…
    i don’t have much interest in core so what are the jobs that i should look for that will act as a good work experience for mba…

    • Dear Manish,

      Your acads scores are quite good. Aim for a high CAT percentile in order to target calls from all IIMs. A decent job with any good company will provide useful work experience.

  275. Hi GP Sir,

    I have 4 Years of Experience as a software developer.
    I have appeared in CAT 2013 and got 84%. I belong to OBC category and have studied in Govt. schools till 12th standard and B.Tech. in a not so known regional engineering college.
    I have scored 59% in 10th, 73% in 12th and 80% in B.Tech (CS).

    During the first 3 years of my job, I had to pay my engineering study loan, so never applied for CAT before 2013 (couldn’t afford another study loan). But know I want to crack the CAT and I am studying pretty consistently 3-4 hrs since March 2014.

    So, If I am able to clear CAT cutoffs then Do I stand a chance to get a call from any of the old IIMs or FMS keeping my acads in mind.

    • Dear Sarvjeet,

      Your academics’ scores are okay overall, though your 10th marks are on the lower side. You do have a decent chance of getting a call from older IIMs as well. Aim for a higher CAT percentile in order to increase your chances of getting a call from all IIMs. Your work experience is also an asset for your candidature.

  276. Sir, firstly i would like to thank you for solving our queries and guiding us.
    My Past academics:
    X-81.4%
    XII-72%
    B.tech- 8.11*
    *It will be 8.4 when i will give my cat.
    Sir, i would like to know that with these academics, do i have a chance of getting into IIM.
    And one more thing i want to know is that how much one should score to get 98-99 percentile in CAT.

    • Ajay, while your XII marks are a bit on the lower side but with good performance in X and XII you should be able to get calls from most of the IIMs including A and B. As a general category candidate you will need:
      1. over 99.5%ile for top IIMs
      2. over 99%ile for other old IIMs, FMS and IIT Mumbai
      3. over 97%ile for new IIMs, XLRI, IIFT, MDI, other IITs and NITIE.
      I will come out with a detailed score vs percentile table later but at present your target score should be 150+ with a minimum of 60 in each section.

        • Ajay, CAT’09-13 had 60 questions each with a scoring pattern of +3 for a correct answer and -1 for an incorrect answer which led to a maximum of 180 marks. In the new pattern, we have 100 questions and hence assuming the same marking scheme you will have a maximum of 300 marks.

  277. Hi Sir,

    I am currently working in IT industry and have just started the preparation. I hardly get time to study during weekdays. Can you suggest some possible ways to overcome this hurdle.

    • Rohit, you will have to create some time for preparation during the weekdays, even 1 hour/day will be a good start. Alternately you will have to maximise on the weekends. If you are starting now then you should consider enrolling for Smart CAT Cracker Comprehensive as it can help you prepare in 60-90 days.

  278. Hii Sir,

    I wish to pursue MBA from an institute which comes under the top 40 ranked colleges in India. I completed my B.E in 2013 and my academic performance is like 90% in 10th , 86% in 12th and 72% in graduation. I have been working with Capgemini since an year and wish to do MBA next year but I am very stressed out sir as I am not able to study with the hectic 9 hrs working schedule. I am planning to focus on exams like cmat, snap, xat, tiss and nmat so want to score very high in these. Kindly suggest me ways how to go about it. Should I leave the job and study for the remaining 6-8 months for the various exams? but would’nt dat hamper my professional background?

    Awaiting your reply sir. Please help me out.

    • Shilpa, given your academic record and current job I agree that you should restrict yourself to top institutes only. CMAT is not required because it will not lead you to any good institute.
      It appears that you are targeting CAT’15 for which you have sufficient time, you should start structured preparation for CAT’15 around Oct-Nov’14. Since you have time constraints and may not be able to prepare on your own, my suggestion is to join a weekend classroom program, continue with your job till at least Mar’15 and if you are not able to manage then consider the options of quitting your job. Till Oct-Nov’14 you can focus developing your reading skills with the help of newspapers, current affairs magazines & novels and can brush up your maths by going through IX-X standard maths books.

  279. Hi Sir,

    Sir I put lot of effort on ‘Numbers Systems,TSD,LR/DI’. But When i give mock test or take ‘test adaptive gym’ to check my performance. I didn’t score to many marks.

    so what i do now & i m not able to spent time on other fundabook

    soooo sir please help me to get me out of this situation

  280. Sir,
    I got 70 percent in 10 and 12 from CBSE board and graduated from a lucknow university commerce stream through first divisioner 60 percent marks, currently i am pursuing preparation for CAT 2014 .sir my dream is to select in IIM but doubtful inside my academic performance is not good .

    • Harsh, while you may not be able to get a call IIMB unless you have almost a 100%ile in CAT, as a general category candidate, all other IIMs are possible for you with a CAT score of over 99%ile. IIMC will however need over 99.5%ile.

  281. sir,
    my academics are
    10th-84%
    12-72%
    b.tech-60%
    work experience- 0 months
    and i belong to oc men category.How much percentile should i score to get calls from iims,xlri,nmims.

    • Srikiran, only the Govt colleges have reservation for OBC candidates, in XLRI, NMIMS etc you will be considered as a general category candidate. A CAT score of over 95%ile is usually sufficient for an OBC candidate for calls from almost all IIMs but with your acads it will be prudent to target over 97%ile.

  282. hii sir …i am in b tech 4th yr…and i want to know that is there any chance that i can get a seat in IIM A if i crack CAT with a 99%tile..because i have 66% in +2 and 84%in 10th?pls reply sir

    • Atul, til CAT’12 there was no chance but with the criteria adopted by IIMA for CAT’13 you have a chance of getting a call from IIMA at a score of over 99.3%ile

  283. hello sir,
    i got 84 in 10 th and 58 in 12 th btech 55 % till 6th sem
    and i am actually detained in clg from having backlogs in 3rd year
    so i will be finishing my graduation in 2016 which will obviously take 5 years to complete my btech.

    now sir i have a year off please tell what extra should i do so that it can compensate for the latter in a mba
    also what are the chances for me getting in to IIM ABC and other top bschools even if i top the exam do i have any chances ?
    please help sir

    • Shubham, it will be advisable to prepare for CAT and also add to your qualification or add a skill in the 1 year at your disposal. For example you could learn a foreign language or if interested in finance/stock market take up programs run by National or Bombay Stock Exchange (NSE or BSE). You could consider some other programs qualifications based on your interest areas – many online programs are available in all areas. All these will be useful in the interview but to get shortlisted for the interview you will need to get a CAT score of around 99.5%ile to get a call from IIM ABC, other top IIMs, FMS & IIT Mumbai will need over 99%ile while most of the other top B schools will need over 97%ile.

  284. sir ,i am an avid reader of your posts and i really admire your patience in replying to nearly all posts.
    sir my profile stands somewhat like this:
    10th – 85.6%
    12th – 84%
    btech -78%

    i completed my btech in 2014 and i am aiming for cat 2014 with just a few months at hand.
    should i stand a chance in just few months and what will my preparation methodology be like ? how should i start preparing in these few months?
    looking forward to your comments..

    • Rahul, in the 3.5 months available to you it is possible to prepare well for CAT’14. You will obviously have to put in an extra effort. If you are starting fresh then you should look at completing the basics of QA and English in the next 3-4 weeks, the focus after getting the fundas in place has to be on MCQs. You should start by taking the Free (Sample) Mock, new pattern, to check your readiness. In these 4 weeks you should take another two Mocks to gauge your improvement. Remember each Mock that you take has to be analysed as suggested in this blog and important questions identified for weekly revision. Questions for revision should also be identified from the MCQs that you attempt. You should also read e-newsapers regularly to help improve your reading speed on the computer. You should also practice questions of topics using the Test Gym Adaptive. After the 4 weeks of getting your basics in place you should move to testing via Mocks CATs (both Proctored and Unproctored), practice via Test Gym Adaptive and weekly revision of all important questions.
      If you are a CL student then you have the Test Gym and Test Series available to you, if not then my suggestion is to either enroll for a CAT’14 program at one of the CL centers or enroll for Smart CAT Cracker Comprehensive which includes video sessions, Test Series and Test Gym.

  285. Sir,
    I am currently doing BTech and want to pursue an MBA degree from an old IIM. So I wanted to ask you whether I should go for an MTech degree via GATE and then do MBA or should I directly go for CAT. If I do MBA after MTech, will it hamper or will it boost my chances to get through to IIM A,B or C?

    • Tarun, a MTech degree will not enhance your chances of selection, taking up a job and gaining work experience will be a better option. From a career growth point of view the earlier one does an MBA the faster is the growth so go for it immediately after your graduation.

      • Thanks a lot sir for your reply.
        But Sir, the problem is that I am doing my BTech from not such a reputed college. So, will it not come in my way of getting through to IIM A or B or C?

        • Tarun, the reputation of the college is not important, admissions are based on your performance in the written test and the interview.

  286. Sir , i have completed my graduation this year in may,2014. after that i have been preparing for CAT. So what should be my answer to the INTERVIEW question–“why did you not join any company??? you are a fresher

  287. Hi Sir,

    This year I am going write CAT exam.My aim is to get into IIM B.My academic profile is as follows.

    10th = 93.4 % (State board)
    12th=84.33 % (state board)
    B.E =76%
    M.E= 8.51 CGPA

    and now I am working in an MNC IT Company and have working experience of 24 months.
    I belong to SC.How much CAT percentile should i score to get into IIM A,B ?. I am worried about my B.E marks.And this is my first attempt to CAT.Am I eligible for IIM B?.could you please advice on this?

    • Kani, with your excellent academic record, marks for gender diversity (girl) and SC category call from top IIMs are possible at 85%ile but my suggestion is to target at least 90%ile with over 85%ile in each section as it will significantly improve your chancces of a call. You are eligible for all IIMs.

  288. hello sir..,
    sir i want to know what are my chances to go for good b school.
    sir in my
    x-87.6%
    XII-76.8%
    btech-7.25 cgpa scale
    cate- general
    sir any chances for top bschool iim abc ??
    and sir what would you suggest i totally focused on cat or would i chose -nmat xat iift or tiss what ranked do you give for nmat and its placement cell

    • Shubham, IIM A and B are difficult unless you have almost a 100%ile in CAT but IIMC is possible at a CAT score in excess of 99.75%ile. You should stay focussed on CAT as it will help you prepare for the other exams too. In addition to CAT do take IIFT, XAT, NMAT and SNAP. Please refer to the post Jayein toh jayein kahaan 2014: Which Institute?, you should target the institutes/programs mentioned in Cluster 1, 2 and 3.

  289. Hi sir,
    I took cat this year and scored 80%ile in it..I got a call from IMT nagpur and i converted it. I also got a call from KJ SOM through cmat in which i scored around 99%ile and conerted it. I sincerely want to take cat one more time,since i feel i can improve a lot from this years performance.The problem i face is that at present i dont have a job to add to my workex.
    My academic performance: 86.4 in 10th n 81.3 in 12th n graduation 60%
    do i stand a chance to get into the new IIM’s or the old ones.
    And sir will my 2yr gap be a hindrance during my placements or at the time of summer internships?

    • Abhishek, your 2 year gap will be an issue and you will be questioned on it. However if you do well in your MBA then the companies will not be too bothered about this gap. The MBA institutes (at the time of interview) will be a bit more worried and will need a solid explanation for this gap. My suggestion is to try for a job (part time work is also acceptable) as it will help you in the interviews and also only MBA preparation could be put you under pressure.

  290. Dear sir,
    my profile:
    10th-86%
    12th-79%
    b.tech-70%
    category-SC(below 2lpa)
    I want to know with the above mentioned profile , with zero work experience can i have a chance to study in IIM’s ?
    If yes how much percentile do i need to take ?
    Thanks in advance

    • Raghu, your X and XII scores are fine but your B.Tech score is a bit on the lower side but with a CAT score of over 85%ile you can get calls from most of the IIMs. My suggestion is to target a minimum 85%ile in each section and an overall score of over 90%ile to ensure a call from all IIMs.

  291. sir,
    my profile
    10th-72%
    12th-50%
    b.tech-65%
    category-sc
    I want to take cat exam, how much percentile do i need to get call from IIM’s?
    thanks in advance

    • Yadu, you are very low on past academic performance and hence will need a high CAT score to get a call from the top IIMs. While a SC candidate can get calls from IIMs at 85%ile but given your academic record my suggestion is that you should target a CAT score of 95%ile.

  292. Sir, my acads are as below:
    10th CBSE : 97%
    12th CBSE : 97%
    Btech ( so far ) : 8.5

    What are the chances of me getting into IIM-A,B,C ?
    I dont know how to go about preparing for CAT. Can you give me some advice on how I can get into one of IIM- A, B, or C?
    Also should I go for MBA right after my Btech, or should I first do a job for 1-2 years?
    And for CAT preparation, should I join some coaching institute or is it possible to prepare on my own? I am starting my third year BTech. When should I start preparing for CAT?

    • asdfgh12, with an excellent academic record you have a good chance of calls from all IIMs including A, B and C. From a career growth point of view the earlier one does an MBA the faster is the growth and my suggestion is to go for MBA immediately after graduation. A coaching institute is not a required if you are disciplined and do not need regular faculty guidance. However do take up a correspondence program to ensure that you are not working on irrelevent areas. Also do join a Test Series and Test Gym for adequate practice, testing and benchmarking.

  293. hello Sir
    My Academics
    10th = 81%
    12th %age = 62%
    BE = 7.75 cgpa
    Category nc obc
    Do I hold a chance of getting a call from top IIMs… A B or C

    • Tina, A, B & C are difficult but not ruled out. Target a score CAT score of 98%ile and hopefully you will make it to these institutes.

  294. hello sir.my name is utkarsh…

    due to some reasons my engineering degree is not good…i had 23 arrears in engineering and my degree was completed in 4.5 years..my final cgpa ws 6.7 vich as per our university norms calculates to 67…10 th n 12 th scores are 82 and 70…i had a year gap after 12th and 6 months gap after engineering…

    1)presently i m pursuing cdac pg diploma course which is globally recognised and will go for a job…my questions are as follows

    1) if at all i m able to get a good result in cat ’15 and along with 2+ years of experience in it sector,is der any chance for me to make to a good b-school?

    2)how will so large no of arrears in engineering and extended 6 months will affect my conversion chances?is der any chance of getting into a decent b-school?by decent i mean in ranking of 25-30..cn dis factor be used to eliminate me in all d processes?

    3)why shud the admission committee be giving such a pathetic student a chance over people who have got good profiles?

    4)by the tym i vil complete my mba,i vil b around 28 years of age ,so vil dat be a disadvantage?

    5)shud i religiously prepare for cat or just forget abt mba due to large arrears in engineering and extended 6 months?have you seen any case wer graduation was not good and yet the person made it to a decent b-school?
    plz sir..guide me so dat i can make an enlightened decision..
    my email is utkarshkothari23@gmail.com

    • Utkarsh, a good score in CAT plus the 2 year work experience can get you calls from IIMs and other top B schools. However due to low marks in XII and graduation the top IIMs are unlikely for you. Most of the non IIMs have a low/no weight for past academics and will consider your favourably if your CAT score is over 95%ile. A 97.5%ile can get you calls from new IIMs, MDI, most IITs and NITIE, with 99%ile some of the old IIMs, FMS and IIT Mumbai will be possible.
      Since you have taken 4.5 years for a 4 year program you will not be considered by NMIMS but this is not a problem in other colleges. The arrears will be questioned in the interview but it can be handled comfortably. The selection panel will select/reject you based on your performance in the GD/Interview and not on your past. While 28 years is a bit on the higher side but it is unlikely to be a problem. In an case for your career MBA at 28 will be an advantage as compared to a non-MBA at 28. So forget you past and focus on your CAT preparation to ensure that you get a good CAT score.

  295. Sir i would like to know if it is possible to join a top iim immediately after 4th year btech without job experience ? my 10th result is 9.6 and 12h is 83% …will it be possible to join a top iim after 4th year if i get a really good percentile in CAT ?

    • Victor, with very good marks in X and XII you can make it to the top IIMs immediately after your Engineering. Ideally you should have over 80% in engineering but over 70% also will work. As a general category candidate you will need a CAT score of over 99.5%ile for top IIMs, over 99%ile for other old IIMs, FMS and IIT Mumbai and around 97.5%ile for new IIMs, other IITs, MDI, NITIE etc. Start preparing for CAT by the end of your 5th semester.

  296. Dear Sir,
    Myself Janardhana, Now I am working as a software engineer in Techmahindra (having around 4+) years of working experience. I have been working in Techmahindra in Second Shift (2 to 10PM) since 2010. I joined with TechMahindra after completion of my B.Sc (Computer Science) 2009.
    Since from 2010 during my morning times I have completed M.Sc (computer Science-Regular), PGDIPR(Regular), PG diploma in Cyber Laws(Regular) and now pursuing my Second year LLB .
    My concern here – full time Working experience in Afternoon shift(for the period of 2010 to 2014), Full time courses M.Sc(Computer Science), LLB in morning college (9 to 1PM)(For the period of 2010 to 2014)(would be possibly acknowledged by College Principal in written Letter Pad). All IIMs would be considering my academics and working experience equally due to same period of concurrent actions?

    I have below academics.
    10th 78.8%(2004)
    12th 66%(2006- Maths back ground)
    B.SC(Maths-Electronics-Computer Science) 71.6% 2009
    PG diploma in Cyber Laws (60%) 2009-2010
    PG diploma in Intellectual property Laws(60%) 2010-2011.
    M.Sc Computer Science (66%) 2010-2012,
    LLB (3YDS) pursuing second year. till second year 62%.(2012-2015).
    Working experience – 4+ years in Techmahindra as Software Engineer
    Reservation –OBC
    As I would like to know the admission process as part of diversity in education, new initiative taken by IIM Ahamadabad, and Calcutta for benefit of the students other than Engineering back ground and mathematics.
    I would like to ask you personally, Is my profile meet the eligibility criteria for IIM A and IIM C as a part of diversity in education. let me know how much % I required in CAT to get calls.

    Regards,
    Janardhana Achari

    • D Janardhana Achari, apologise for the delay in responding to your query.
      Typically IIMs and most of the MBA institutes give weight to full time work experience after graduation and since from 2010 to 2014 you have been working full time you will get the credit for work experience. Your academics along with your job is also not a problem.
      However my concern is that each of your qualification is taking you in a different direction wrt your career. BSc Maths to MSc Computer Science to Law to MBA shows some kind of confusion that you should clear before embarking for MBA.
      Since you will have an experience of 5 years by this time next year you should consider a 1 yer MBA program from ISB or the top IIMs and not go for a 2 year MBA through CAT. In case you decide to go for CAT, as a non-engineer OBC candidate with average academic record and a 4+ year work experience all IIMs are possible for you. While calls are possible at a lower score also but your target CAT score should be 98%ile.
      Call me at 9811155160 in case you need to discuss this further.

  297. I am a b-tech 2009 pass out mechanical engineer. I prepared and wrote CAT in 2011 . but was not able to crack it. presently i am in dubai , working as sales engineer.Always MBA from a good collage was my dream and it started from 2011.

    After engineering i directly joined in our family business , but i never feel that i belong to our family business and after 2 years i decided to prepare for CAT , but still i did it being involved in business and was not able to perform well, then i shifted to dubai and started working.

    Now again i am thinking to prepare for CAT once more and i am ready to work hard too.

    But two factors which keep me in trouble is
    1. my graduation aggregate is 59%
    2. My age 27
    3. 10th mark 79.5%(CBSE)
    4.12th mark 72%(CBSE)
    should i start preparing

    please help me and i hope that you will help me , your reply will be a great motivation for me.

    Thank You
    Best Regards

    • kitt, with your profile (work experience) a 1 year program from ISB or the IIMs or top institutes outside India will be a better option over the 2 year programs. The 1 year program of Great Lakes Chennai could be your back up. My suggestion is to go for GMAT rather than CAT.

  298. Sir,
    I am a 1st year B.D.S(dental surgery) student. I passed my 10th board with 93.6% and my 12th with 79%. Any student after completing BDS would like to go for MDS degree. But I like to pursue a career in management(MBA) after my graduation. Is it fine for a student from ‘Medicine’ stream to go for it?
    It will be really grateful if you can give me some word of advice regarding my choice of career.

    • Sandeep, almost every year 1-2 doctors take CAT and make it to the IIMs and other top B-schools and there is nothing wrong in your wanting to go for MBA after BDS. In terms of placement opportunities will be considered favourably by the health care industry and consultancies.

  299. 10th- 89%
    12th-69%
    graduation(b.com)- 75%
    what are my chances in top mba colleges with this academic records?

    • Prayag, if you are from general category then IIM A/B/C are unlikely unless you have a 100%ile in CAT but the others are possible. The other old IIMs and FMS are possible at 99%ile while the new IIMs and MDI will need over 97%ile. Fortunately most MBA institutes (apart from IIMs) have a low/no weight for past academics and hence are not a problem. If you are from the reserved category then all IIMs are possible and the score requirement will also go down.

  300. Sir,I have a question.. 1st of all your story is soo motivating… I have always been a good student in school till class 10. I got around 90 percent in class 10 with around 95 in maths and 90 in English.. but after class 10 i got a bit complacent and didnt study that much in class 11 and 12.. I completely ignored my studies and ended up getting 66 percent in class 12 with around 58 in Maths 🙁 Then i Joined Aircraft Maintenance Engineering course in IIAS but due to the pathetic condition of our aviation industry i had no other option but to leave it after 1.5 years.. I was completely shattered and thought nothing could happen to me nemore.. But then my parents motivated me and i realized all my mistakes..I joined BCA .. and studied hard for the next 3 years.. My YGPA is around 8.5 after all my semesters..Sir , my question is will my low marks in class 12 and the 2 year education gap will be a problem while getting admission in a top B school if i get good percentile in CAT. will be giving CAT this year.. will be obliged if you reply me.

    • Arka, low marks in XII will impact you adversely but it can be taken care of with a good CAT score. Your CGPA of 8.5 is an advantage and you will also get marks for academic diversity (non-engineer) in some of the IIMs so calls are possible for you. The ones that will be difficult are A, B and C but a CAT score of over 99.75%ile can get you calls from some of these. Other old IIMs & FMS will need a score of 99%ile while the new IIMs, XLRI and MDI are possible at 97%ile. Also most institutes outside IIMs have a low/no weight for past academics. A 95%ile will get you calls from most other MBA institutes.
      The gap of 2 years will be asked in the interview but is not a problem and can be handled comfortably.
      Suggest you forget the gap and low marks and focus on your CAT preparation and BCA. You cannot change you past but can only work hard and improve your future.

  301. Dear Sir,
    I am a 2013 engineering graduate currently working in a 9 to 6 job 6 days a week. I intend on taking the CAT this year in order to start my MBA in 2015. I had scored
    Class X : 83 %, Class XII, CGPA :8.4
    CAT 2013 : 78 percentile
    I have also taken 3 mock cats so far and these are my details
    QA/DI VA/LR Overall Percentile
    Mock 1 62.69 39.11 53.51
    Mock 2 52.19 86.41 76.25
    Mock 3 23.47 94.63 42.48

    -Kindly guide me as to what should be my course of action for the next 2 months, considering I am working .
    -How many hours per day should I put in minimum?
    – What are the topics I should pay more attention to?
    Kindly guide !
    Thanks!

    • Shruti, with a 9-6 job 6 days a week, for CAT preparation you will have to look at spending a couple of hours each in the morning and evening and 8-10 hours on Sundays/holidays.
      Your scores in the mocks are not encouraging and you should look at revising your basics from last years study material and also the last years Mock CATs before taking any more Mock CATs. The three mocks that you have taken should also be analysed in detail. In all these mocks (last year and this year) you should identify the important questions and revise them once a week. Your revision of basics and of past mock CATs should be over by end of July and once you have revised about 7-8 past Mocks then you can restart taking the Mock CATs @ 1 mock/week till end Aug after which you could move to 2 Mocks/week.
      In QADI you should focus on Algebra and Geometry followed by Number System. In English usage Para Completion and Para Jumbles are important topics.

  302. sir due to some problem i got a back in the final semester of my bachelor’s program.(REALLY PATHETIC)
    i will have to reappear next year may 15.
    cat14?is it possible?m i eligible?
    and will it be tough for me to clear through?
    please help.
    10th-85
    12th-86

    • Ayush, you are eligible for CAT’14 and while the backlog is a negative and will be questioned in the interview but it can be handled. Focus on your CAT preparation and let us discuss on how to handle this after the written tests.

  303. Greetings Sir,
    Following are my scores-
    10th(ICSE)- 92.2%(Top-5), Average of all-86.4 %
    12th(ISC)- 87.4%(P-C-M-Eng-Evs)
    B.Tech(ECE) – 66.5% from Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology-Allahabad.
    I am an undergraduate fresher who currently has a job (joining date would be in Mid-aug). I have few questions on my mind==
    1. What are my chances at the premier IIMs if i were to crack CAT with a very good percentile.
    2. Should I leave this job of mine and prepare for CAT for these 3-4 months I have ,with sheer diligence and then go for work-experience?
    3. How much does work experience count?
    4. Would a gap of 5-6 months matter a lot ie if i were to join a Job after giving CAT because I believe this is the most valuable time I have for preparation prior to job life?

    • Ankit, with a 66.5% in graduation IIM A and B are unlikely but all other IIMs and other top B schools are possible with a good CAT score.
      I do not believe that one needs to quit one’s job for CAT preparation. A job on the other hance reduces the pressure and is also helpful in the interview. The next 45 days (before your joining) should be used to get your preparation on track. Once you join then you should devote about 3-4 hours to preparation during the weekdays and about 8-10 hours on holidays.
      Work experience of 2-4 year has a weight of only 4-5% but with work experience your interview becomes easier. From career perspective the earlier one does an MBA the better it is.
      5-6 moths would not matter much if you were to start working after CAT but leave the current job only if you are sure of getting one after CAT.

  304. Sir, Your story is very inspiring indeed
    I am aspiring to get an MBA from a top Bschool.
    Xth- 76.48 %
    XIIth-67.5%
    Engineering-70.04%
    work experience of 2 years in the manufacturing sector..
    What are the options I can explore?
    Looking forward to your answer..
    Thank you

    • Anant, with a 2 year work experience but an average academic record you can consider all top MBA programs except IIM A and C. You should also consider the 1 year MBA program of ISB Hyderabad. If you plan to go for CAT’14 then do start asap and also take GMAT for ISB Hyderabad.

  305. sir,
    92% in 10th
    86% in 12th
    8.4 cgpa for b.tech,which i completed this year
    and no work experience
    what are my chances in top mba colleges?

    • Ankur, with your academic record you have very good chances in all MBA institutes subject to a good CAT score.

  306. Sir please help me in the said text.
    I am a prospective cat candidate having 5 years of exp in manufacturing of steel sector.
    my profile are as follows:
    Category -SC
    10th 89%
    12th 76.2%
    btech (Metallurgy and materials engg)74%
    I am planning to give cat 14 and presently a CL student.
    Appox how much percentile i need to crack the top notch IIM’s
    If you can suggest any further suggestion.

    • Tanmay, as a SC candidate with good academic record you can get calls from almost all IIMs at 85%ile but my suggestion is to target 90%ile to ensure a call from top IIMs/FMS.

      • Sir thanks for the reply.
        But i am confused now as if 5 years of work ex will create a hindrance during application to IIM or should i need to consider GMAT also.
        One thing i am facing now is that in mocks if i am getting 11-13 questions correct i am doing same proportion wrong also.1:1.
        How to get rid of that?
        pls help

          • sir are there any instances of students with 5 years of work ex in top iims alike my candidature?
            And sir does executive management program in iim carries any reservation through GMAT?
            What you feel sir with a work ex of 5 years realy a difficult to get into iim through cat .Because at thsi point i am only concentrating on cat not GMAT?

          • Tanmay, there are very few examples of over 5 year work ex students in the IIMs which is why ISB should be your first preference and the top IIMs a back up. There is no weightage for over 5 year work experience in most of the IIMs which also gives out their bias for students with lesser experience.
            I do not think that there are any reservations in executive MBA program of the IIMs.

  307. Sir i have scored 83% n 81% in 10th n 12th…but i dropped to a62% in my bsc(h)…from du..niether do i have any work exp…so what all are realistic targets fr me…what is a descent score fr me…if not iims…is xlri possible?

    • Ayush, apart from IIM A and B all others including XLRI, FMS, MDI etc are possible for you. Your target CAT score for IIMC should be 99.7%ile, for other old IIMs target a 99%ile. XLRI, MDI and new IIMs will require a 97%ile.

    • Vishal, some of the IIMs may not consider you due to your not so good performance in school and college and the others will need a very high score (over 99%ile). However most of the other top MBA institutes like XLRI, FMS, IITs, NITIE, SP Jain, MDI etc have a low/no weightage for past academics and you can get a call from most of these at scores in the range of 97-98%ile.

  309. hello sir,
    my score in 10th(Icse) is 66%,12th is 81% and bachelor’s in engineering is 70%. i am from general category. i am thinking of taking up cat,xat and snap tests but my primary focus is on iim’s. i feel my academic scores are very low for iim’s. i have 1 year experience in IT industry(MNC).so could u please guide me through this??

    • Sagar, with not so good marks in X and graduation, calls from the top IIMs are unlikely and it will be prudent to focus on the other B schools.
      A 99%ile will get you calls from a few of the IIMs, FMS and IIT Mumbai. Call from new IIMs and most of the other good B schools are possible at a score of 97.5%ile.

  310. i have 71% in 10th & 74.8% in 12th
    but my btech degree have came up of 57%
    and i was thinking of get couching for cat exam so i want to know if there is any sense in my cat couching as if i am eligible for high ranking colleges or not please do tell quickly so i can move forward in my life

    • Naveen, 57% in Graduation makes IIM A and B unlikely but most of the other IIMs and also the non IIMs are still possible. In fact most of the non IIMs have a low/no weightage for past academics and a score of over 97%ile is good enough for a call. At 99%ile yu can get call from all non IIMs and a few IIMs also.
      If you are interested in MBA then start your CAT’14 preparation immediately.

  311. HELLO SIR,
    my score
    Xth =9.6 cgpa
    XIth=60%(due to lack of studies and i also got serious fever for about a month)
    i am currently in class 12 th. my aim is to get into IIM A or B.I have 3 questions for u sir
    Q.1 sir i wanted to know that how much i will have to score in my class 12th and my btech or grad. in order to get admission in top iim through cat.
    Q.2 what should be my preparations for cracking cat exam and interview.do i need to be multitalented(which i am not). or i can just focus on my studies. I mean how can i prepare . what should i do regularly besides my studies , because i want to prepare for it from now on.
    Q.3 sir i have not studied 11th class well ,but now i am studying regularly and seriously.will lack of knowledge of 11 th class affect my class 12th board exam results and does iims consider class 11th marks as well?.
    please reply,
    thanks in advance.

    • Shubham, you should have at least 80% in XII and graduation for the top IIMs, a score of 90% will make it easier to get a call from these institutes.
      The prime requirements are good academics and a good CAT score. All other things can be managed. However participation in extra curricular activities is helpful and in college you should take part in all activities. At present focus only on your XII syllabus and let us worry about MBA after you have taken your XII Boards. You can however start reading a newspaper daily.
      The IIMs do not consider XI marks but focus on X, XII and graduation marks. While the syllabus of XII and XI is different few topics will need knowledge of what you studied in XI also. Suggest you work out a study plan for class XII in discussion with your school teachers.

  312. sir i m a average student with my academic background of xth 65% XIIth 60% and b.tech 65%. i m giving cat from last 2 years this will be my 3rd attempt.
    but last 2 times i didnt gt reputed score to convert dat into a call from premiere b-schools.
    but this time i m stiff on my decision on cracking cat with a good score, being a category student(sc) i need to ask you that what should be my preparation strategy to crack cat and get into a premiere b-school?
    and what do u suggest me to do in achieving my goal?

    • Ravi, as a SC candidate 85%ile is usually sufficient to gt a call from the IIMs and other top B school, however if your academic record is average then you should target 90%ile.
      Suggest that you start by revising your last years material, focus on the MCQs and the moocks that you attempted. Identify the areas in which you are weak and go back to the concepts to iron out the flaws. This should be completed in the next 45 days. A Test Series + Test Gym is a must for your testing and practice requirements. A Mook test every 10 days is sufficient till mid August after which you should move to one test per week till mid Sept and then it should be 2 test per week. Each test has be be analysed in details and questions identified for revision. You could also consider enrolling for Smart CAT Cracker Comprehensive which include Test Series, Test Gym and online session that focus on improving your test taking skills.

  313. Dear Sir,

    following are my scores
    X – 67%
    XII – 58%
    B.Com – 52% (full time from VNSGU Gujarat)

    I have been working throughout my under graduation and graduation (Full time) including odd jobs due to financial problem in the family. I am 26 years old now and really in need of a masters for future growth. I have already started preparing for CAT and other entrance exams. I am very much focused for an MBA(Marketing) from top 20 colleges since i already have 5 years of experience in Sales my current CTC is >6.0 lakhs. Please suggest colleges or any other options that you think in your experience would best suit me (like studying abroad or a Executive program).

  314. GM sir… My academic scores are :- 10th — 78%
    12th– 71%
    Grad.– 66%
    ++ 8-9 Mnth jOb experience as a counseller
    But wid 3 backlogs(7th sem) in final yr. & total 8 backlogs till I will complete my graduation from RTU by June 2015. Right nw m preparing for CAT-14, Can I give CAT??mY aPtI is bEst & I wIll cRaCk bUt aLL my past academic score or backlog will effect??
    Is it possible 2 get into IIms or other top B-schools. Plz elaborate your answer..Need your Guidance.

    • Vaibhav, your not so good marks in X, XII and gradation make calls from IIM A, B and C unlikely but most of the others are possible. In fact most of the non-IIMs have a low/no weightage for past academics and focus on CAT and GD/Interview performance for selection.You can appear for CAT and other MBA entrances but do ensure that you clear all your backlogs by June’15. A CAT score in excess of 99%ile can get you calls from some IIMs, IIT Mumbai and FMS. A score of over 97%ile is sufficient for calls from MDI, NITIE and most of the good B schools.

  315. 10th – 90%
    12th – 70%
    graduation – 75% not from reputed college
    what are my chances in top mba colleges?
    under graduate degree not from reputed college does it matters?

    • Prayag, first of all get rid of the fear of being from “not so popular” college. You have a decent academic record and a good score in CAT plus good performance in the interview will get you into the IIMs not your college name. Focus on getting a good CAT score to ensure call from top MBA institutes. If you are a general category candidate then your target core should be 99.5%ile if you are an OBC candidate then your target CAT score should be 97%ile.

    • Abhishek, with your academic record and 99.5%ile in CAT you can expect calls from almost all IIMs except IIM B and C.

  317. I’m a 2nd year student at Kamla Nehru College(DU). I’m pursuing Economics hons and have maintained good scores. I wish to work as a management consultant and thus, i’m thinking of pursuing a MBA. Do you think i should start preparing for Cat from now on?( I only want to target the top 3 in the country as the best consulting firms recruit from these campuses only.) Or should i look for some job or even give some competitive exams and then after 2 years , go for MBA?
    PS. Sir I’ve always dreamed of studying in IIM-A. Does the admission committee care about where i have done my undergrad from? I mean Kamla Nehru does not rank with SRCC or Stephen’s?

    • Sunidhi, the earlier one does an MBA the better it is for your career hence my suggestion is to go for CAT’15 itself and not wait till you get a couple of years of work experience.
      You college of graduation is not important, the knowledge that you have gained is. You will get selected based on your performance in CAT and in the interview so stop worrying about not being from the so called top colleges and start preparing for CAT’15. Start reading a daily newspaper (my preference is Indian Express) along with a current affairs magazine and start solving puzzles/riddles that appear in newspapers. Going through the maths books if class IX-X will also be useful. You can start structured CAT’15 preparation around Sept/Oct’14.

  318. Hello Sir,
    My academic records are as follows:
    10th- 85%(CBSE)
    12th- 75%(CBSE)
    Bsc(H) mathematics- 72% (D.U.)
    my result was declared just a few days back. I’m having an e.r. in one of the subjects of my final semester and the subject I’m referring to is a concurrent course.
    Extra curricular: I’ve also been a part the dramatics society of my college for the whole period of my graduation and have performed and won at almost every coveted fest.
    Right now, I am preparing for cat and have a very strong desire to crack iima or b.
    These are my queries:
    1. What are my chances of cracking one of the mentioned institutes? and what should i do to improve them?
    2. Will my extra circulars be counted anywhere?
    3. Given the e.r. than I’m having in my final semester which i can only clear next year in the month of June. Am i able to even apply for the PGP?
    I seek your guidance.
    Thank you.

    • Saurav, with less than 80% in XII and graduation IIM A, B and C are difficult unless you get a CAT score in excess of 99.8%ile. Extra curriculars are helpful in clearing the interview but are usually not considered for the interview shortlisting.
      Your ER will not be an issue as long as you can clear it in the next attempt in June’14.

      • Thank you sir.
        one last question for now.
        what are the areas i should target more on to get the mentioned percentile?
        Or any other tips that could help me out in achieving my goal.
        I’m taking my cat classes at CL only. 🙂

        • Saurav, your initial target has to be over 95%ile in each section which will result in an overall score of around 97%ile. This should progressively move to a level such that your sectional score are over 98%ile or at least 1 section goes above 99%ile.

  319. sir recently i have passed class 12 with 84%
    and i am going for btech. by uptu.
    what should i must scorem to get addmission in IIMA.
    \

    eagerly waiting for your reply.

  320. HELLO SIR
    I am a student of Bsc final year and i have physics chemistry maths as my subjets
    Sir, i am in a great dellima that weather i should prepare for cat iim or for iit jam(Msc)
    my score are
    10 – 84.8%
    12 – 67.6%
    Bsc – 70%(till 2nd year)
    sir please guide me….
    aiso sir, doing Msc from IIT is beneficial , what are its scope?

    • Ravi, the answer to this question is a function of the kind of career you are looking at. If it is corporate world with a focus on business then it should be MBA if it is research and/or academics then it should be MSc.

  321. Hello Sir,

    I am a student of CL and my academic records are as follows,

    1Oth: 89% CBSE
    12th: 71.5%
    B.tech : 7.2 CGPA from NIT, Nagpur (General category)
    Good extra curricular record of quizzing at national level

    I am going to start working in an IT firm from july. My question to you is with the above profile how much percentile do I need to score in CAT for getting a call from IIM C, L, K and S.P.Jain? I am not even aiming for A and B…. Also in CL Mock Cats what should be my score so as to keep me in the hunt for getting the desired CAT score?

    • Pawan, a general category candidate requires over 99.5%ile for a call from IIMC. IIM L, K and SP Jain are all possible at a score of over 98%ile.
      In the Test Series the percentile predictor will convert your Mock CAT performance into your expected CAT score.

  322. Hello sir, am I eligible for the IIM’s ? If not, what kind of colleges can I get?

    X – 85%
    XII – 77%
    Degree (B.E.- IT) – 55% PASSED OUT IN JUNE-2014
    Work Experience – NIL (as of June 2014)
    Awaiting your reply.
    Thanking You,
    Jyot Singh

    • Jyot, IIM A and B are not possible unless you get almost a 100%ile in CAT. All other IIMs and other top B schools are possible. The CAT score required for IIMC is over 99.5%ile, for other top IIMs/FMS/IIT Mumbai over 99%ile and the new IIMs and for most of the other top MBA institutes the score required is over 97%ile.

  323. Hello sir.
    I am from Delhi
    I have scored :
    76 % in 10th CBSE
    90 % in 12th CBSE
    then as i wanted to do CA i dropped my regular college PGDAV and joined DU Correspondence B.Com(honours) along with CA.
    Now i have completed my 1st year of bcom with 55 percent and just gave exams of second year(hope to score more than 65 %).
    In CA i have done my CPT, my Both groups of IPCC, and currently doing articleship from BDO Internationals. I really wish to do MBA(finance) also so i want to ask you can i get good colleges in mba through CAT or IIM’s ? i am doing 24×7 hardwork.. so am i eligible? and is there any hope? i regret i dropped my regular college/

    5

    • Akhil, while IIMA and B are unlikely due to low marks in graduation you can get into almost all other MBA institutes. Dropping regular college is not a problem, I think you took the right decision in going ahead with CA and since you have already cleared IPCC suggest that you complete your articleship and then go for MBA.

  324. Respected Sir,

    I have completed my XI std in the year 2007. Then, I started working because my family conditions where not that good. In 2010 i joined a distance education degree in which i scored 63%. And while doing this I got into Business of software development and market research. Now, am I eligible for the IIM’s.

    X – 66.66%
    XII – 76%
    Degree (Bsc IT) – 63%
    Work Experience – 4 Years (as of July 2014)
    Awaiting your reply.
    Thanking You,
    Abhijeet

    • Abhijeet, you are eligible for IIMs and all other top B schools. However with low marks in X and Graduation you may not get calls from a few
      IIMs that have high weightage for past academics.
      Which category do you belong to and if from Maharashtra which is your Home University?

  325. Sir i’m a 25 year old female working as a Assistant Grade B officer in RBI. I did B.A. Economics from Delhi University.
    I had 92% in class 10 and 93.5% in 12th. I got 79% in graduation.
    If I get a good score in CAT, can i go for a MBA from IIM-A. I want to make a career change and enter into the private sector. Question is will the old IIM have a problem with my RBI stint? I have worked for 2 years in RBI.

    • Divya, there is no problem with you RBI stint, it will possibly an advantage in the interviews.
      With excellent academics and 2 year work experience you can get calls from all IIMs, while IIMC will need a CAT score of over 99.5%ile all other IIMs are possible at CAT scores of 98-99%ile. As a female non-engineer you will get marks for gender and academic diversity also. Start preparation immediately and go for CAT’14 itself. About 2-3 hours on weekdays and 8-9 hours on holidays for 3-4 months would be sufficient to be well prepared for CAT’14.

      • Hi Prachi,

        May i know why do you want to leave this Job as you must be earning 13LPA+ & B school’s average salary is also close to it.When you will be out from B school there would not be much difference in salary.I am asking question because I am preparing for this exam.

        Regards,
        Ca Amit Mehta

  326. Hello sir,
    My profile is as follows:
    10th ICSE 96.4%
    12th CBSE 93.8%
    As of now, I am pursuing Bachelors in engineering from a mediocre college and am expecting a gpa of around 7.2-7.5 when I pass out.What are my chances of getting into the top IIMs?

    • Prachi, IIM A and B are difficult due to 7.5 CGPA in graduation but all the other IIMs are not a problem. IIMC will need over 99.5%ile in CAT while all others are possible at scores of 98-99%ile.

  327. sir, i am a 4th year btech student, till sem 4 my percentage is 79%(cgpa ig 8.4)..i scored 93% and 91.8% in 10th and 12th resp….i wanna know if i can make it into iima and what percentile must i get in CAT?im a general category citizen..
    sir plz reply..

    • Ashna, try and pull your B.Tech marks to over 80% as it will significantly improve your chances of getting a call from IIM A and B. You should target a CAT score of 99.5%ile for a call from IIM A,B and C.

      • Thank you sir, I’l try. 1 more thing sir, i had gone to a CL center to join for CAT 2014 classes, but the councilor there said it was too late to try for CAT 2014 and that i must aim for CAT 2015..I’m really confused about what to do..I don’t want to drop a year for preparation..Plz tell me if there is still hope for me to get thru CAT 2014..if not then plz tell me if i should get a job first or drop a year for CAT 2015..

        • Ashna, which center did you go to?
          There is sufficient time for CAT’14, one can prepare in about 4 months start preparing immediately. CAT’15 is in any case available to you.
          You should in any case pick up a job.

          • Thank you sir for replying and your time. I’ll take your advice and start preparing immediately.

  328. Dear Sir,
    I have been quite an average student since school.Below are my grades:
    X – 74%(sored 100 in science exam)
    XII – 73%
    B.tech(IT) – 63%
    After B.tech, there is a gap of an year where I struggled to get a job. After this year long gap, I joined a 6 months course named DAC from CDAC Hyderabad. and scored some 80% into this. I got a campus placement from CDAC.
    Since then, till date I am working into IT Industry with CMM Level 5 companies. Also, I am working with my current employer since past 5 years now.
    Total Work ex – 8.3 + years.
    Age – 31.3 years.
    Now, I am looking forward towards an MBA degree.Also, I never prepared for any of CAT/GMAT/Aptitute exams in the past.
    Is it advisable for me to write CAT on this profile.
    Please suggest.
    Many thanks. 🙂

    Pankaj Sachdeva.

    • Pankaj, given your work experience the 1 year MBA programs of IIMs (PGPX) and ISB should be considered for which you will need to take GMAT and not CAT.

      • Dear Sir,
        Thank you so much for giving your valuable time and this valuable guidance.
        I would like to know more about GMAT preprations in detail, how and where to start with, B-School expectations from a candidate along with their selection criteria.
        Also, is there is any reference, where I can visit some carrier counsellor for further career guidance on this.
        Kindly suggest.
        Thanks alot. : – )

        • dear sir,
          I belong to Delhi, also, i may be demanding more, is it feasible to meet you in person.
          Thanks.

          • Pankaj, I am travelling and will be back by the end of this week, call me at 9811155160 to fix up time.

  329. Sir,
    I have
    82%- 10th
    50%-12th
    75%-in grad
    9.6cgpa in PG
    Do i stand a chance for recieving a call from iim

    • Vaseem, most of the top IIMs are difficult due to 50% in XII but a very high CAT score (almost a 100%ile for top IIMs and 99%ile for others) can get you calls. Fortunately most of the top institutes (non-IIMs) have a low/no weight for past academics and hence calls are possible from most of them at a CAT score of over 97%ile.

  330. Hello Sir,
    My percentages are as follows:
    10- 81.3%
    12- 84.7%
    B.E(IT)- 58%
    and a work experience of about 10 months in MNC
    I am planning to go for CAT but because of my graduation % i fear that i may not get selected in IIM A/ FMS.
    please provide me your valuable so as how can I make it to those institutes.

    • Mohd Abdul, IIM A and also B are unlikely but FMS will not be a problem since it does not have weight for marks in school/college for admission. The only way by which you can possibly get a interview call from IIM A/B is by getting almost a 100%ile in CAT. All other institutes are not a problem.

  331. Hello GP ,

    I am 1981 born , 2005 batch passout from IIT D.
    Have only 6 years of work ex in Java development
    I wish to go to IIM C for career switch to Finance.

    Would it be feasible …

    • Akash, career switch to finance is possible through the IIMs but given your work experience it will be prudent to go for the 1 year MBA program of IIMs and ISB.

  332. hello sir,
    i’ve recently completed my Btech in aeronautical engineering with an aggregate of 78.3%.and having academics as follows
    X-92.2%
    XII-89.2%

    But the prob is i’m not working now we had a very few placements and nothing related to core.so i’m currently jobless and wonder if i have chances to get into any of the iims for 2015-17 admissions.

    please help me out..

    • Sai, a drop of 1 year is usually not a issue so you should continue looking for a job and also prepare for CAT’14 simultaneously.

      • thanks Gp. i’ll find a job asap and i’m worried that companies ask for a bond.i hope i get a job which doesnot offer a bond.

  333. Sir, I am pursuing BA (H) in English from a top college of Delhi UNiversity. I had 94% marks in 10th, 92% in 12 th. I have presently completed my second year in graduation. I have been scoring in the 65-70% bracket which is considered very good for my course. I want to pursue an MBA. I have interned at some very good places and I can have a strong CV after college. Also, I am a girl. What are my chances of getting an IIM

    • zmr, for interview shortlisting general category candidate needs a CAT score of over 99.5%ile but IIMA is possible at 98.5-99%ile. IIMB could be difficult due to lack of work experience but a score of over 99.5%ile could get you a call. All other IIMs are possible at a CAT score of over 98%ile, being a girl and a non-engineer you will get marks for gender and academic diversity which will make shortlisting and conversion easier.

  334. Hello Sir,

    I hope that you would take some time out and respond to my query. I am planning to prepare to CAT in future and below is my overall profile.

    X-88% (2002)
    XII-74% (2004)
    BSc-39.4% (2007)
    MA Economics – 59.8% (2009)

    As is evident from above stats my percentage took a dip during graduation as I started working full time immediately after passing 12th to support my family as I come from financially weak family. I did some odd jobs for 2 years then joined a private company in June 2006 as Office Manager with monthly salary of 6k and have been working ever since.

    Now I am feeling ceiling effect as there are no further growth opportunities and I have reached the highest level in my profile and now working as Administrative Operations Manager on contract since last one year and drawing a salary of 40k a month. But I am not very satisfied with my job responsibilities as it relates to project site office administration (I want to do something more concrete) and apprehensive of future prospects.

    Even today I do not have any savings as such as I have helped fund my younger brothers in their studies and repaid the loan amount my father took for our studies in early years and also have built a small house for my family.

    Now I am planning for a distance learning graduation degree to make me eligible for CAT. So I would be graduating in 2017 at the age of 30 and then it will take another 2 years to complete the PGDM/MBA.

    My area of interest includes Finance/Economics/Banking. Would request you to kindly provide your valuable guidance as to what should be my action plan considering my age/past academic performance and also to ensure job satisfaction and professional growth.

    In anticipation of response from your end.

    Regards,
    Suhaib

    PS: I belong to non-creamy OBC and minority community

    • Suhaib, check out with your college/university if you can repeat a few papers and improve your graduation marks to over 50%, it will save you a couple of years. In any case with a 5 year work experience a 2 year MBA program is not recommended and your should consider either a 1 year or a distance learning MBA program since most of these do not have 50% in graduation as a eligibility criteria. You can consider distance learning MBA programs of Symbiosis or of Annamalai University through http://www.361dm.com

  335. Thank you sir.
    There are no good coaching centers for CAT at Warangal. So, how should I prepare it self?

  336. sir
    my profile: x: 88.8
    xii: 82
    cgpa: 7.92

    i will be done with 3 months of work ex till jan 2015.
    Will i be able to manage a call from iim a?

    • My profile sir is as follows:
      10th : 86.2%
      12th- 73%
      CGPA-7 in Computer Science and Engineering from NIT,Durgapur
      Which colleges can I possibly make to and what will be the minimum requirement for the same?Thanks in advance for the answer sir.

      • Apurva, IIM A,B and C will need a CAT score of over 99.7%ile due to your low score in XII and Graduation, however almost all other IIMs are possible at CAT scores of 99%ile.

  337. Sir,
    My profile:
    10th: 78% for West Bengal Board where it is quiet difficult to score
    12th: 90.4%
    Graduation: B.com H from Delhi University with 77% till 5th semester (result of 6th semester pending)
    Kindly tell me what are my chances of getting in the iims and top B schools.
    Also please tell me if I should do any other course as I have to drop a year to prepare for CAT.
    I have also done intermediate of CA and CS with college. Will that help? Should I even mention that in my profile?

    • Suchismita, while X and graduation are marginaly below 80%, you have a good academic record and and being a non engineer female you will get marks for gender and academic diversity also. Completed CA or CS would have given you extra marks in interview/final shortlisting. However these will be helpful in the interview.
      Calls from most of the IIMs including IIMA are possible for you at a score of over 98%ile. IIMC typically requires a CAT score of over 99.5%ile but IIMA should be possible at a score of 98.5-99%ile. IIMB is unlikely due to lack of work experience. Almost all other B schools are possible at a CAT score of 95-98%ile My suggestion is to continue your CA/CS and start you CAT preparation immediately.

  338. Dear Sir,
    10th-84.8%
    12th-66.67%
    B.E.-74%
    Right now I am pursuing M. Tech at NIT Warangal. I am the topper of my batch and a prospective gold medalist. NO work-ex.
    Lately, I have decided to take CAT.
    In what way my academic scores affect would affect the calls from any of the prime IIMs?

    • Dear Kunal,

      Your marks in 12th boards are on the lower side. Apart from that, your scores are alright. Further, your M. Tech will also add value to your candidature. Overall, your profile is quite alright. Focus on your CAT preparation and aim for a high percentile (99.5+). This will ensure that you get calls from most of the top IIMs.

  339. Hi Sir,
    Below is my profile:

    10th- 74.4%
    12th-65%
    B.E-8.10 CGPA
    Work Exp:2 years in IT MNC(at the time of CAT)

    Sir What are my chances of getting into top IIMs as well as new IIMs.??

    • Dear Aman,

      Overall, your profile is quite alright. Your marks in 12th boards are on the lower side. Apart from that, your scores are alright. Further, your work experience will also add value to your candidature. Focus on your CAT preparation and aim for a high percentile (99.5+). This will ensure that you get calls from most of the top IIMs as well as all of the new IIMs.

  340. Sir,
    Do past academics excluding cat scores matter in iim kozhikode admission or in FMS delhi admission??

    • Dear Rahul,
      It is believed that FMS gives a lot of weight to CAT score in its selection process (and little to other parameters). IIM K does give a high weight to academic performance.

  341. Hi Sir,

    I am a 2013 B.E Passout and am not from a reputed college.
    My academics are

    X – 80.2
    XII – 90
    CGPA – 8.3 (had a backlog)

    I am currently working in an IT MNC. But i don’t have the so called extracurricular activities in my bag. I don’t know what should be my profile. I am planning to do my MBA after completing 36 months in this IT firm. What are my chances to get into the top IIMs? Is it possible? How should i proceed.

    • Dear Guru,

      As far as your marks are concerned, you have a decent profile. Your backlog may not have a large impact on your chances of getting selected to a good b-school. Extracurricular activities can give more weight to your candidature but they are not essential. You also have very good work experience which again adds value to your candidature.

      Continue with your job and at the same time prepare for b-school entrance tests. You should aim for 99.5+ percentile in CAT to maximize your chances of getting into a top b-school. Given your work experience, you can also consider GMAT/GRE and target top b-schools abroad.

  342. hello sir i need your help
    i have 84 in 10 th and 58 in 12 th
    and it took me 5 years to complete my engg with 61 %
    as i was detained for one year for having lot of backlogs.

    1 ) now do i stand a chance in any of the iims if i score 100 or in top 50 ?

    2)Also what would be your advice on this, should i give sbi po and get a job through it and then mba or directly mba..what would be more beneficial to me as i aspire to have a career in finance?

    3)or should i clear all 3 levels of cfa and then mba ?

    please help sir

    • Shubham, my responses are given below:
      1. If you are among the top 50 then calls are possible from IIMA and most of the other IIMs.
      2. Target both SBI PO and CAT’14, go for the one that happens first.
      3. Start the CFA program and also go for SBI PO/MBA preparation simultaneously. CFA will be you back up in case you do not get into a good MBA institute or SBI PO.

  343. Sir,
    I have a problem I felt I can share only here. Due to peer and parental pressures, I have been compelled to look for MBA as the one and only option (other than getting married and being housewife of a rich man :D) for a good life. However, deep down I have felt I need to pursue a research oriented course as I feel a good academic environment suits me best. I am not sure why it is so but that is what makes me feel most happy and excited. I am an engineer girl from IIT but my parents never let me pursue MTECH from IISC or IIT or even go for MS abroad because according to them, these research oriented fields have less scope of success and also less glamor and fame compared to the MBA line. So I was told to only target MBA exams like CAT/GMAT etc.
    As a compromise, I feel I would enjoy the best of both worlds and if possible, pursue an FPM in a field of my interest such as economics or finance from a top bschool. I have not talked to anyone about this, but alongwith applying to regular MBA programmes, I also plan to apply to the FPM programmes of some of the top institutes including the IIMs.
    I want to know how the career prospects in FPM programmes are compared to regular MBA programmes. Do students out of FPM programmes also get good jobs and scope to sit for placements? If so, what kinds of profiles are they offered? If not, can FPM students get some good scopes abroad?
    Awaiting your reply.

    • Suchana, I have a disagreement with the “MBA is the best” thought process your parents but we can discuss it some other time.
      Given that you are comfortable in an academic environment and are keen on research also, FPM (or PhD in Management) is the right choice. FPM students typically get placement opportunities in Academics, Research) and Consultancy. Opportunities of normal MBA/PGDM are also available but to a lesser extent.
      Start preparing for CAT/XAT, a score of around 95%ile is a safe score for FPM calls from the top IIMs.

      PS: getting married and being housewife of a rich man is also not a bad option 😉

      • Sir,
        Thank you for replying to my queries. 🙂
        For FPM, do we need to apply separately to the IIMs or other Bschools? I last time did find a tick box next to FPM in the CAT application form. Is checking that box sufficient for an application or some other process is required?
        Also, when you talk of placements in research, do you mean those that are held in big companies that conduct R&D? In that case, which IIM(s) excels in FPM curriculum?

        • Dear Suchana,

          Yes, you need to apply separately to each IIM or to other b-schools for FPM. Simply selecting the FPM option in the CAT application is not sufficient. In the CAT application, you also have the option of choosing other institutes (apart from IIMs) for the MBA/PGDM program. But, you need to apply separately to each institute even for those programs.

          Placements for FPM graduates can be in research organizations, NGOs, investment banks, consultancies, etc. and also in regular organizations, where FPM candidates may do the same work as MBAs. The top IIMs are a good choice for FPM (in India).

  344. Hi Sir,

    I am working in a software firm and have recently started preparing for CAT14.

    My profile details are as below;

    10th- 86.5%
    12th-93.5%
    UG-7.54CGPA
    Work experience- 20 Months.

    Could you please let me know, how much should I score in CAT14 so that it would fetch a call from IIM A/B/C.

    Thanks and Regards,
    Sarath

    • Sarathkumar, your X/XII marks are excellent and hence IIMC should not be a problem, for general category its cutoff is over 99.5%ile. Due to your slightly lower UG marks IIMA could be an issue but it should also be possible at 99.5%ile. With a 20 month work experience you can get IIMB call at 98%ile also.

      • Hi Sir,

        Thanks for the information.

        What would be the percentile required for the above same profile for NCOBC candidate?

        Regards,
        Sarath

        • Sarathkumar, as a NC OBC candidate calls are possible at 95%ile but your target should be 97%ile to be sure of a call.

  345. Hello Sir ! I graduated as a doctor (MBBS) this March and am presently doing my internship. I am hoping to get into IIM-A/B. My academic profile is as follows:
    10th std- 90.4 %
    12th std- 78 %
    MBBS- 66.7 %
    1. What are the chances of getting PI call from IIM- A/B ?
    2. Does the 1year internship after final year ( part of the MBBS curriculum as per Medical Council of India) count as work experience ?
    3. How many people approxinately out of the total ~2 lakh candidates appearing for CAT get a 99 and above percentile?
    What would be advise for candidates like me ..? As in any special tips ?
    Thank you 🙂

    • Harsha, as a MBBS with good marks in X/XII you have a good chance of making it to IIM A at a CAT score of 99%ile. IIMB does not have any specific provision for non Engineers and may be difficult. IIMC is also possible at a CAT score of 99.5%ile.
      The internship is a part of your academic program and hence will not be considered as work experience.
      A score of 99%ile means that you are among the top 1% (100-99)of the candidates so 2000 (1% of 2 lakh) candidate will have a score of 99%ile or more.
      Start early for CAT since you would be out of touch with QA (maths) and will need to spend time in brushing up your IX-X class maths.

  346. Sir,
    10th-95%
    12th-73.5%
    Graduation-Integrated MA in development studies @ IIT Madras
    Work exp-Nil
    What are my chances @ IIM-ABC?

    • Yadhu, as a Arts student with good academic record you may be able to get a call from IIMA at a CAT score of 98%ile. IIMC is also possible at a score in excess of 99.5%ile. IIMB does not have any specific provision for non Engineers and may be difficult. Other IIMs and other top MBA instituts are not a problem.

  347. Sir my percentages are as follows:

    10th 78%
    12th 68%
    graduation 61%

    please highlight my chances of getting into an IIM

    • Kriti, your graduation and XII marks make IIM A, B and C unless you get almost a 100%ile in CAT. Most of the other IIMs are also possible at a score in excess of 99%ile. Almost all non-IIMs have low/no weightage for past academics and are all possible at a CAT score of 97%ile. FMS and IIT Mumbai require around 99%ile

  348. Dear GP Sir,
    Is the 1 year PGP programme in ISB Hyderabad a kind of executive programme lik the PGPX of IIMs? If not, then what is it really? They mention that it is a regular MBA programme but practically it works kind of like an executive programme with its fast-paced, loose and less academically rigorous 1 year programme. But then the jobs that students get post MBA in ISB are again not in the same level as those of PGPX people, they are at lower packages and at level with those of 2 year programmes of 1 and 2 tier colleges of India with packages going down to as low as even 8-9 lakhs!!
    So, sir, kindly explain this kind of a programme that ISB has developed?

    • Kunal, ISB PGP cannot be strictly compared with the PGPX of the IIMs because the average work experience in ISB is 3-4 years while in PGPX it is over 7 years. ISB PGP is positioned between a regular 2 year MBA and PGPX and is best suited for candidates with 3-5 years work experience.
      Given the difference in profile of the students the difference in salary is justified. The huge batch size of ISB also pulls down its average salary.

  349. Hello sir,
    My 10th %=81
    12th=73
    Graduation is 64
    Sir could I get calls from IIM A,B,C or FMS if yes then at what percentage or for calls in cluster 1 colleges.Sir please guide me.

    • Arpit, due to your XII and graduation marks the top IIMs are unlikely unless you have almost a 100%ile in CAT. However most of he other MBA institutes have a low/no weight for past academics and hence calls are possible from them. FMS will need around 99%ile, MDI/SP Jain around 97%ile. Most of the top institutes are possible at a CAT score of over 95%ile.

  350. sir my percentage in 10 is 90%
    in 12th it is 90.2
    in graduation it is 79.45
    how much percentile sould i get in get to get a call from top iim and fms
    also my category is sc

    • Arvind, as a SC candidate with excellent academic record you can get into the top IIMs/FMS with a CAT score of 85%ile. Suggest that you target 90%ile to be sure of a call.

  351. sir
    right now i am pursuing B.tech with mechanical engineering branch and i am in 4th sem right now .
    had 9.2 cgpa in 10th
    77% in 12th
    70% in b.tech (till now)
    i am really up for doing MBA but a bit confused about coaching . 1. should i start coaching for 3rd year . or
    2. should i wait for one more year and start coaching in 4th year . or
    3. should i go with placements and gain some work experience and then plan for MBA .

    what should i do ?

    • Gaurav, it is advisable to start coaching in the 3rd year (5th semester) and take CAT in your 4th year (7th semester) so that you can get into MBA immediately on completing your engineering. From a career perspective the earlier one does an MBA the better it is and the faster is your growth. MBA preparation also equips you to handle the campus placement process for which you will not need any extra preparation.
      For CAT’15 the best time to start is in the period Oct-Dec’14. This gives you sufficient time to build your fundamentals, allows you to focus on your semester exams and also allows sufficient time for extra curricular activities.

  352. Hello Sir,
    I am a working professional with around 9+ years of work Experience. My Academics are not very good as mentioned below
    ICSE 65%
    ISC 60%
    BCA 67%

    I have plans to pursue an MBA degree , what should be my options. Please do reply back Sir

    • Abhishek, you should go for PGPX from the top IIMs or to ISB Hyderabad or to top Executive programs outside India. GMAT is required for all of these.

  353. Hello sir,

    X- 76.8%
    XII – Failed
    3years gap
    Diploma-72%
    Grad – 78.6%

    Sir ,After failing in 12th I have worked for my family business in these three years apart from it i was deeply involved in stock market and gained some decent trading skills. i also have some sort of knowledge of technical analysis. Want to opt for Finance. Tried in cat 2013 got 61 % want to repeat it and m working hard this time n will definitely get some decent score if everything falls right. My concern is my academic gap and age(26).Is there any chances of geting calls from IIMs and convert it. or getting any other top b schools?

    • Aakash, the academic gap will be an issue and will be discussed in the interview but will not be a reason for rejection. You will however need a CAT score of over 95%ile to get into a good B school.

  354. Dear Sir,
    My scorecard is
    X = 66%, XII = 57% B.com = 73%
    And I got 35 Marks in (Maths) HSC
    Any chance to get into Top B-School ?
    Currently i am working With JP Morgan And Pursuing CFP
    Please Sir Guide me What i can do now ?.
    How can i overcome on my past performance.

    • Tushar, the IIMs have weightage for marks in X, XII and graduation and hence are unlikely for you unless you have a very high CAT score. Most of the top B schools outside IIMs have a low/no weightage for academics and hence are not a problem. A CAT score in excess of 97%ile can get you calls from most of the top non IIMs. The only way of overcoming your past is to prepare well and get over 99%ile in CAT.

  355. my marks are

    10th – 86.7%
    12 th -66.7%

    am doing engg now………sir but I will take 5 years for completion because of back papers and expect pass mark( second class) after completion…..can i make into any one of the IIMs?if so what score should i need to achieve in cat?..pls tell me other good colleges other than iims with my academics and a 92% cat score

    • Gautham, low marks in XII (and possibly graduation) make the top IIMs difficult for you. However most of the non IIMs have a lo/no weightage for past academics and hence are all possible for you.
      As a general category candidate you should target a score in excess of 99%ile to have a good chance of calls from the IIMs. Most of the top non IIMs are possible at a CAT score of 97%ile. FMS and IIT Mumbai require a 99%ile.

  356. Sir I am really inspired by your write up.And I too need your guidance and advice to please judge my profile.
    1.Xth : 89%
    XII : 82.8
    B.tech :Mechanical (National institute of technology Rourkela)
    69%.
    Work Ex:
    Worked in A major core company for 1.5 year and left it to start our own NGO .But I dont have any work experience certificate.(But I do have is salary slip and offer letter)
    Right now Working in that NGO( through empowering tribal people through agriculture and providing education to tribal children) for last 1.2 years and also I have been teaching in a University as Lecturer for last 9 months . Reason for joining university was to save some bucks for my ngo and I too needed money to survive..
    Please guide me sir…!!

    • Ashish, While your marks in graduation are not great, from a MBA perspective you have a good profile and SP Jain would be happy to have someone like you. Your interviews are likely to focus on your NGO effort and how MBA will be helpful in this. Most of the IIMs and other top B schools will not be a problem but IIM A is unlikely.

  357. Good evening sir
    i hav just competed my btech
    10 =79%
    12=74%
    grads=71%
    i gave cat 13 ..my score was 24%..didnt prepared well..nw again started preparing for cat n m serious for it..i m also placed in in kpo industry …but not going there as i heard ths its experience is not usefull in top b schools..
    aiming for 99 ..will i get iim a,b,c

    • Aditi, KPO experience is given weightage in the IIMs so joining it will be helpful. Given your academic record you will need over 99.5%ile to gt a call from A, B and C. The other IIMs are all possible at scores ranging from 98 to 99%ile.

  358. Hi,

    A few queries…
    I got:

    Xth: 91.2%
    XIIth: 81.6%
    Grad(bsc in economics, maths n stats) : till 5th sem, 66.63%

    Could you please tell me how much should i be looking at as a good CAT score.
    Also, with these credentials, which institutes can i look forward to?

    Thanks&Regards
    Anirban Mukherjee

    • Anirban, as a general category candidate you should have over 99.5%ile for IIMC, around 99%ile for IIMA (non engineer) and 0ver 98%ile for other IIMs. IIMB may not be possible for you.

  359. hi sir,
    I have
    10th-88
    12th-84
    btech-59

    Want to have a big career as an entrepreneur.
    Can I satisfy any big IIM from my past results ?

  361. Hi,
    Sir ,which is the career launcher in bangalore i should join ??. I want to search for a job while i study in that center and also want a place where single rooms are available as P.G’S

    • destiny’s child, I have forwarded your query to CL Bangalore and you can expect a reply from them on your email ID.

  362. sir,
    i studied in a good english medium school till class Xth with 92.8% marks(2007).
    I started preparing with a coaching for IIT and AIEEE after that but didn’t do well (AIEEE rank : 30000) . My class 12th %age was 89.4%. Then i dropped a year and gave my 2nd attempt in 2010. This time I got 4700 rank in AIEEE and took admission in MNNIT ALLAHABAD.
    I completed my BTECH(in electronics and communication) in 2014 with 86.8% but with no significant practical knowledge or interest.
    My leadership,managerial and communication skills are poor as in college as i never gathered enough time,energy or guts to take part in co-curricular activities.
    I somehow got campus placed in a software company(with no specific knowledge of software as well) in my final year
    and my joining is on July 7,2014
    Please guide me on whether i should do MBA or join the company.

      • sir, there’s a high possibility that questions like..”why did u drop a year after class 12th?”
        and
        “why did u work in a software company even after doing ur BTECH in ECE?”
        will be asked in my PI rounds for the MBA institutes.
        What will i answer in that case..?

        • Sidharth, these questions will be asked and can be handled easily. Focus on your work and on your preparation. Will discuss these questions after CAT.

  363. Hello sir.
    My tenth score was 84%, and my 12th wasn’t good at all. I managed only a 65%.
    And though am am doing B.Tech now, it’s not from a reputed college. Am scoring fair and am in my 7th sem now.
    I am not sure about what to do after words to cover up the loss in my education and career. Can I have MBA or M.Tech as an option?
    Do reply please.

    • Nikita, MBA, MTech, MS, Bank PO, SSC-CGLE, Civil Services and many other options are available to you. You cannot change the past but can work hard and improve the future. Identify your area of interest and start preparing for the relevant test. The best time to prepare is while in college because you are in touch with academics and do not have any work responsibilities.

      • Thanks a lot sir. But, can I just prepare for ’em without joining the classes?
        And is PO a good option if I work for it?

        • Nikita, joining classes is not a necesity andyou should evaluate your requirements before joining any classes. However it is usually useful to have at least a correspondence program to ensure that you are not studying only relevant material.

  364. HELLO SIR,
    I am pursuing BSc final year in physics,chemistry maths &by heart i wish to get into the iims
    my score are
    10 – 84.8%
    12 – 67.6%
    bsc – 75% (expected)
    sir,on the basis of my above academies is it possible for me to get into the iim,should i prepare for it or not
    sir i am in great dellima,please healp me out

    • Deepak, due to your XII and graduation marks IIM A, B and C are unlikely unless you get almost a 100%ile in CAT. Other IIMs and other top MBA institutes are all possible with a CAT score of around 98-99%ile.

  365. Sir,
    Does the name of the college matter in the selection process for IIMs, for instance, would an IITian be preferred over a non IITian if they have similar academic records ?
    And sir how much do the extra curricular achievements matter in one’s selection ?

    • Samarth, your performance in the GD/WAT/Interview determines your chances of success and not the name of your college. Extra curricular activities are helpful but not essential for selection.

    • Dear sir…..
      I belong to NC-OBC… Persuing B-tech(final year) in CIVIL engg. my academic profile is as follows:

      10th : 92%
      12th : 85.6%
      Engg. : 81.2% (upto 7th sem)
      Extra co-corricular activities :
      1) In schools, i won third position twice in inter-school debate competitions.
      2) In college, i won 4 medals in athletics- 2 gold in 5000m and 1500m race and 2 silver in 10000m race and 800m race and thereafter I was adjudged ” over all champion of college”.
      Sir , i am placed in L&T and would be joining this on 28 th june,2014.
      I had joined careeer launcher classroom program in 2nd year and had prepared hard for CAT 2013 but managed to get just around 80%ile in CAT 2013. Thereafter, frustrated and depressed , i left preparations… now i want to start prepairing again for CAT 2014…

      Sir, my queries are :
      1) How much I need to score in CAT 2014 to ensure IIM A, B or C chances ?
      2) Upto jan 2015, i would be having work experience of just 6-7 months. will this be of any advantage to me since some IIMs give zero point to work experience less than 6 months.
      3) extra co-corricular matters how much? and can i get any advantage(s) on being the champion of my college..??

      • Sumant, given your excellent academics you have a good chance of getting a call from IIMs at CAT score in excess of 95%ile however your target should be 97%ie to be sure of a call from top IIMs.
        A work experience of 7 months is unlikely to give you any advantage in terms of weightage for work experience but it will be helpful in the interview along with your extra curricular activities.

  366. Thank you, Sir.
    I just read my question as you would have and it sound much like I want to do a job which makes my chances increase for a B-school irrespective of whether I like the job or not.

    Well, it isn’t completely true. Founding and Making a successful company is my ultimate goal, but right now I’m in the thinking mode. So, the startup job interests me.

    All the three options, however have come from 3 different people as suggestions and I just wanted to run them by you.

    Even if my CAT’14 score doesn’t come out to be as required, I can give it again in 2015. But, I won’t be able to edit the work experience log in 2015. I still regret what I didn’t do and did in college tenure and this time I want to get everything right and not regret in 2015 over something I didn’t do in 2014.

  367. 10TH : 8.4 c.b.se
    12th M.bi.p.c. : 69 % (cbse)
    grad : 70% B.A social sciences from Tata Institute of social sciences

    2 internships : 1. from a start up, as business development manger for 1 month.
    2: academic internship from manipal university

    founded a college club : club Entrerenuer and organise events.
    .. is there a chance that i will get into top iims or fms… if yes with how much cat percentile can i do that?

    please do respond sir

    thanks
    -jay

      • Jay, as a NC OBC candidate you have a chance of calls from IIMs at a score in excess of 95%ile but since you have an average academic record you should target 97%ile. For FMS you should target 95%ile to have a good chance of converting the call.

  368. Sir,
    i am a NC-OBC candidate,I appeared for cat-2013,scored 87 percentile,got new IIM and Indore calls but could not manage to convert any of them.
    Now i am aiming for CAT-2014 but i am afraid that how much is this gap of one year is going to affect my PI next year as i have no job right now.
    thanx

    • harmender, no job for 2 years will be an issue in the interview hence it will be worthwhile to pick up one. If nothing else works then take a part time job or work in a NGO.

  369. Hi Sir

    My scores :
    10th – 84 %
    12th – 95.4 %
    Graduation – 7.78 GPA ( Engineering – electrical)
    Working for IBM for about 10 months now

    Is it possible to get into IIM A,B,C?
    Given my experience from an IT company?

    • I have joined for CAT classes and have been preparing quite seriously.

      I am concerned about my experience from an IT company. Should I shift to another comapny for a better profile?

    • Sushma, IIM B and C are both possible due to good marks in X/XII and your work experience but IIM A could be difficult due to GPA of less than 8.0.

  370. Good Morning Sir,
    I used to be a good student in school, not excellent but good. I scored 83.4% in Xth standard(CBSE)(2007) and 86.7% in XIIth std.(CBSE)(2009). I studied very hard for IITs but apparently it wasn’t enough. I didn’t get into IITs but I got into Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur (MNIT Jaipur) and everybody said at the time that there’s no difference between IITs and NITs, which I realized later wasn’t true and so I didn’t drop and joined MNIT in mechanical engineering in 2009.

    On the very first day of college I decided that I will not study for exams but for knowledge. So, I didn’t score academically in my engineering but I did a lot of national level automobile projects and research projects during my engineering term.

    I flunked in a total of 6 subjects but cleared them in re-examinations. Much to everybody’s astonishment and mine too, even after having a very low CGPA(between 6 and 7) and a couple of backlogs I was placed in the second company to visit our college and bagged the highest package of MNIT in mechanical engineering, 12 l.p.a. in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited(a public company) and was given the offer letter the very same day, thanks to my summer internship in HPCL.
    But in the 7th semester due to inadequate attendance in a subject my engineering term got extended and I couldn’t join BPCL.
    I completed my attendance in that subject and cleared my engineering in 9th semester with the degree in my hands on 1st Jan 2014. So, my degree has written over it 2009-2014 instead of 2009-2013.
    I tried a lot of mechanical companies but all of them refused saying they are only admitting freshers into the training program.

    I currently work as a chemistry professor in a IIT JEE Coaching.

    During my extended term I started studying management MOOCs from coursera and have gained interest in management studies, particularly finance. I plan to an MBA in Finance.

    Now the queries that I have:

    Q1: How much will this engineering extension affect my chances of getting into the IIMs? (If not IIMA, then I dont want to settle for anything less than the second or the third spot)

    Q2: Where can I read about the type of work experience IIMs prefer/allow/count? Does a teaching job qualify that?

    Q3: What else can I do according to you to improve my profile/ shadow my engineering extension?

    I have been thinking of doing certification courses(Financial Modules) from National Stock Exchange of India web platform?
    Will it help? What else, if, can you suggest?

    Thank you for your time and effort.

    • Also, if I get into one of the top B-schools of India, after about a work experience of 3-4 years I plan to do another MBA from an Ivy league school, if possible.
      And I know what I need my profile to look like for that. A perfect GPA, extra-curricular activities, NGO work, national level recognition, awards, LORs from directors and deans and employers and many more. I plan to be the ideal student of the class, which I once used to be, again.

      I plan to my MBA from an internationally recognized Indian B-school.
      But that is a topic of discussion for another time, for now I need your help on the first MBA.

    • KS, my responses are given below:
      1. extension of your engineering program makes you ineligible for NMIMS but will not impact you adversely in any other institute. The issue will definitely be discussed in the interview but you will not be rejected because of this.
      2. all kind of fulltime work experience after graduation is given credit by the IIMs. Teaching also qualifies but it is advantageous to include business areas also in your work profile. Involvement in areas like counselling, business development, sales operations etc will help you get an understanding of the business which will be helpful in the interview.
      3. Since you are interested in finance hence NSE/BSE programs are good additions to your profile. However in the interview the focus will be not on your theoretical knowledge but on your ability to apply what you have studied.

      • Sir,
        What’s better?
        Working in a startup(not founding one), Management Consultant or Analyst job, Teach for India?
        Because I definitely intend to do one of the above leaving my current job.

        • And Sir, you told me about NMIMS that they don’t admit a case such as mine.
          But what if, I want to do MBA only if it’s from IIM A,B,C or ISB, Because these are the ones in the FT Global top 100 list and for me only these 3 count.
          IIM A has been already ruled out, so what’s left is IIM B,C and ISB.
          Do they allow such a case as mine?

          • HELLO SIR MY PROFILE IS

            10-86

            12-73

            BTECH FINAL (NOW)-66%

            I belong to sc category how much i need in cat to get call from iim a,b,c,l,k?

          • Saurabh, while 85%ile is sufficient for SC candidates for an interview calls from top IIMs, given your low graduation marks you should target 90%ile to be safe.

        • KS, pick up a job that you would like to continue with even if MBA does not happen. Teach For India can be an additional activity.

  371. hi,

    I have done my graduation and post graduation in lifesciences and biotech resp. Now working with a biotech company, basically looking after admin and operations area from 2.5 yrs. I want to have a MBA degree, as it will help me to progress further. I would like to know if health management will help me, if not pls suggest me best field in which I can pursue the same. Also suggest me best colleges in distance education or open universities ,which have a degree value as i want to complete studies while working. Thanks Dia

    • Dia, go for a normal MBA, Health Management MBAs, Part time MBAs and Distance learning MBAs have not picked up and have restricted placement opportunities. Target the top 30 MBA institutes through CAT/XAT/NMAT/SNAP, the ABM program of IIM A&L and SP Jain operations can be good options for you.

  372. Sir,
    Is sector change a problem in IIMs and other top Bschools? I have a work experience of 42 months in the IT sector. For the fist 2.5 years, I was interested in IT but for the past year, I have begin to feel I need to change my professional domain preferably to finance or software products.
    I began to dream of an MBA from top college and prepared for CAT for the last 1 year mostly with this primary purpose in my mind. However, now that I have converted IIMs-L,K,S and many other top Bschools, may people are telling me sector change is impossible for someone with over 3 years of IT experience. So should I give up the ambition of switching sectors? If not, what best can I do to give a shot in finance?

  373. Hi GP sir,

    I am a working CA & wanna attempt 2014 CAT.I can have 5 hours of study on weekday & 8 hours of study on weekend.

    I don’t know quant except average,profit & few other topic related to Accounts.My english is poor.I find DI & LR easy.

    What do you suggest?

    1. Have I sufficient time ?
    2 How can I allocate time to different parts of CAT?
    3 IN Verbal ability,how many passage should I read daily? How many times should I give to learn VOCAB.
    4 How should I prepare for DI & reasoning.Can I do DI in October itself?
    5 Should I go to crash course coaching as it will consume my time and I don’t want to do that.
    ​
    Please suggest.

    Thank A ton…

    • Amit, 5 hours on weekdays and 8 hours on weekends over the next 5 months is sufficient to prepare for CAT’14. However you have a significant distance to cover in most of the areas and joining a classroom program might be the right strategy for you. You have to start all areas in the next 2-4 weeks and leaving DI for October may not be a good idea. Email me you contact details at gp@careerlauncher.com and I’ll connect you to someone who can guide you and help you work out a preparation plan.

  374. plzzz tell me sir
    till 6th sem my engg aggregate is 49 %
    Category general
    am i eligible for cat 2014?

    • Gitika, with 49% till 6th semester you are not eligible for CAT’14. Suggest you work hard in the remaining two semesters and ensure an aggregate of over 50% in graduation. You can however appear for XAT.

  375. Respected sir,
    My academic life is as follows:
    10th – 88%
    12th – 65%
    2 year Gap
    Currently doing BCA from SMU-DE sem 3 with cgp 7.5
    I want to give CAT ’16. Please tell how good are my chances to get selected in top IIMs.
    #This can change my life sir.#

    • Plus i am working in a mnc as Marketing research executive which equals to 28 months of work experience. so taking all this into consideration.
      Please guide me with your descriptive answer.
      Thanks you

    • Arpit, unfortunately a call from IIM A & C is unlikely unless you have a 100%ile in CAT. However due to your 28 month work experience IIM B is possible. All other IIMs are also not an issue. Your target CAT score should be over 98%ile.

  376. Dear Sir,
    I am a probationary officer with a leading Indian Multinational Bank.My Academic backgrounds have not been so strong & usually are in the range of 60-70% that too degarding one i.e; 73/66/59(10/12/Engg.)
    I pursued PGDB(Banking& Finance)also with 74% marks.
    Presently have job exp.of 1 Year.
    What could be my strategy to Break into the IIMs in year 2014.Eagerly waiting for your response.

    • Kumar Rohit, with your acads record the top IIMs are difficult unless you get a 100%ile in CAT but the other IIMs are possible. Work experience of 2 years or more will be useful in getting you a call. Focus on getting a CAT score of over 99%ile and do not neglect your job as it will be helpful in the interviews.

  377. Respected GP Sir,
    How good is doing MBA twice, say, one in India and one abroad?I have done an MBA from IIM-Indore and already have a job but I feel better career prospects can be done if I do another MBA from abroad. Is it advisable to do so? Kindly advice. I have heard of personalities like Indra Nooyi doing so.

    • Chakradhar, this can be considered after you have worked for 5-6 years to give a mid-career boost to your career.

  378. Hi Sir
    I am a 2012 engineering passout
    I gave CAT 2012 and 2013 and got 96.2 and 93.8(i did not study that year).
    My academics are as follows
    10th-94.8%
    12th-89.4%
    B.E. GPA 8.49

    I am working in a well known and Reputed MNC since october 2012 (20 months work ex on 5th June 2014)
    I am completely fed up with my job, and do not want anything to do with engineering. I am actually thinking of quitting my job and preparing for CAT with full concentration. i also plan to take up a job or a course in baking/cooking because that is my passion and i want to open a bakery later in life. I also love numbers and math and would like to do my MBA in finance or marketing. Please advise if this step of quitting my job and studying as well as doing a part time job or a course would fare well with my interview panel if i make it to the top IIMs. And what would be a realistic target in terms of colleges for me.
    Thank you

    • Megha, With excellent performance in X and XII, good performance in Graduation, experience of over 2 years (by end Dec’14) and marks for gender diversity you have a good chance in all IIMs. As a general category candidate your target score for IIMC should be 99.5%ile but all other IIMs are possible at 99%ile. The new IIMs are possible at 97%ile. Most of the top b schools outside IIMs are possible at 97%ile.
      If possible, continue with your and prepare simultaneously since I believe that a retake preparation is possible along with work. If you are fed up with your job and want to quit then get into an area that you would like to continue with even without an MBA. Course in banking/finance may not be a bad idea. Working part time is also acceptable. If possible continue with your job till you fill up the CAT’14 application form.

  379. Reputed GP Sir,
    I am joining IIM-Kozhikode. What would be some good books or subjects I should study before joining a bschool? I am from engineering background and I fear that I won’t be able to grasp the subjects such as financial accounting, Marketing etc. very quickly in the classes unless I do some pre-reading and come prepared before the start of the program.
    Also, how much weightage do companies give to grades obtained in the MBA course semesters? Do companies pay more attention to the profile or the semester marks? What should I concentrate more on- the CV or the marksheet?

    • Melody, whatever you need to know will be taught in IIMK. Do not under estimate yourself, you will be able to cope with the new subjects and al the hectic schedule. The subjects in MBA are new for all students. My suggestion is to go on a vacation and have fun in the next 45 days because this is the last holiday that you will have till you pass out of IIMK.
      While CGPA is important for all companies, the Finance and Consultancy organisations give a significant weightage but the marketing organisation typically look more at your projects and internships.

  380. happy hiiii to you….sir.

    sir i got 90% IN CLASS 10
    AND 86 in class 12
    sir i am doing btech in computers and giving the exams of 4th sem right now. my percntge[ 72% ] avg of 3 semsts.

    1.I want to get in a top mba college…
    2.I am an average stdnt in extra activities .
    3 I have only participated in the gds and debate competetion
    and got 3 rd prize in one of them.
    sir i am confused about one thing that what kind of extra activites or certificates are advantageful for the mba interviews explain a little bit.

    also as i am about to enter the 5th sem ,please suggest me when should i start my preparations for the cat exam ??
    do give me few tips about activites and coaching that i must focus on..
    and should i get started.now>

    waiting for your reply
    thanks

    • Yajur, you have good performance in X and XII but a 72% in graduation is likely to be a problem for IIM A and B unless you get a 100%ile in CAT. All other IIMs are not a problem, as a general category candidate your target score for IIMC should be over 99.5%ile but all other IIMs are possible at 99%ile. The new IIMs are possible at 97%ile. Most of the top b schools outside IIMs are possible at 97%ile.
      Since you have to take CAT’15 you should start your structured CAT preparation post Diwali (Oct/Nov’14) this year. Till then do read a newspaper daily along with a current affairs magazine and novels and also get in the habit of solving puzzles.

  381. Hello sir, I am final yr student pursuing B.tech and secured 99.72 in CAT 13.
    My calls IIMK, IIMS, IITb, IITd, New IIMs
    Converts IIMS, IITd
    Rejects IIMK, IITb
    10th 90
    12th 79
    Btech 78
    sir should I go for the drop or join which of the two mentioned institutes? Which will be a better choice for fresher like me?

  382. Hi GP,

    This is SS again . Based on my profile info and GMAT score of 710 I will be applying for Business schools in India . But according to you IIM-A , C are tough and I might just get an interview from IIM-B.

    DO you recommend taking the GMAT again and improve the scores as I still have time before I apply end of this year ? Would that help me improving my chances for IIM-A or IIM-c ?

    Appreciate your advice .

    • SS, suggest that you go for a retake of GMAT with a target score of over 760. A higher GMAT score will be helpful for IIMA and C also. The GMAT score conversion of IIMA for CAT’13 is given for your reference.
      GMAT 700 – 90%ile
      GMAT 710 – 92%ile
      GMAT 720 – 94%ile
      GMAT 730 – 96%ile
      GMAT 740 – 97%ile
      GMAT 750 – 98%ile
      GMAT 760 – 99%ile
      GMAT 770 – 99.25%ile
      GMAT 780 – 99.5%ile
      GMAT 790 – 99.75%ile
      GMAT 800 – 100%ile

  383. Dear Sir,

    I am really amazed by the support which you are providing for so many individuals. I request you to advise me.
    Xth= 76 % (CBSE)
    XIIth = 48% Science (Gujarat State Board) (results affected due to Gujarat Riots-2002)
    B.E Mechanical (Anna University, Chennai) = 76%
    M.S in Mechanical Engineering, CT, USA = 3.4 GPA
    Currently working with 6+ yrs experience in Multinational Engineering services company as a Specialist-Product Development in Chennai, India.

    Can I make into IIMs. If yes what should be my minimum score.
    Please advise.

    • Somnath, given your over 6 year work experience it will be advisable for you to go for 1 year MBA programs of IIMs or ISB Hyderabad for which you will need to take GMAT.

      • Sir, Thank you so much for replying. Just 2 more questions:
        – Are your sure that with my 12th marks I will be still eligible for IIMs, because I still have a fear they are too low to be considered
        – What should be my minimum GMAT score (Equivalent CAT score) to get into Top IIMs or ISB, Hyderabad.

        • Somnath, the eligibility criteria is 50% in graduation. Due to your low marks in 12th you will need a higher GMAT score.

  384. Dear Sir,

    My self Janardhan,
    First of all I would deeply gratitude for your instant reply.
    As I would like to know the admission process as part of diversity in education, new initiative taken by IIM Ahamadabad, and Calcutta for benefit of the students other than Engineering back ground and mathematics.

    I have below academics.
    10th 78.8%(2004)
    12th 66%(2006- Maths back ground)
    B.SC(Maths-Electronics-Computer Science) 71.6% 2009
    PG diploma in Cyber Laws (60%) 2009-2010
    PG diploma in Intellectual property Laws(60%) Evening college 2010-2011.
    M.Sc Computer Science (66%) 2010-2012,
    LLB (3YDS) pursuing second year. till second year 62%.(2012-2015).
    Preparing for Patent Attorney and trade mark attorney exams.

    I would like to ask you personally, Is my profile meet the eligibility criteria for IIM A and IIM C as a part of diversity in education. let me know how much % I required in CAT to get calls.

    Currently I am pursuing LLB and basically I am into Maths back ground(O-BC). when I see the grounds of IIM (Ahmadabad) eligibility criteria 14-16, clearly specified that Law back ground required the cut off CAT 94%le to get call..

    Please let me know Can I get in IIMs as a fresher without experience.

    Request you to please suggest me.

    Regards,
    Janardhana Achari
    8886745611

    • Janardhana, I am not sure if you should go for MBA. Since your graduation in 2009 you have been continuously studying and adding qualifications and it will be prudent to work for a few years and then go for an MBA, if required. My suggestion is to focus on completing Law and preparing for Patent Attorney and trade mark attorney exams.

  385. I am preparing for CAT’14. I got 92% in X and 88% in XII, but my CGPA is just 6.3 and also I don’t have any job experience. How much do I have to score in CAT to get into IIM-A, B, C etc.? P.S., I am an OBC student.

    • Hritesh, IIMC is not a problem since it does not consider graduation marks for shortlisting but IIM A and B could be a problem. Target a CAT score of over 97%ile for a call from these all these IIMs.

  386. I m a Student of CL WATPI prep , Enrollment ID- 976971
    Converted : IIM Udaipur, ,IIT Madras , Waiting for other new IIMs result.

    Waitlist : IIT Trichy, IIT Roorkee.

    I am SC candidate.

    CALLs : new IIMs, IIM Ahm- abm program, IIT M , IIT roorkee.

    Also I m 30 yr old and with my 10th and 12 th marks and my age ..I m worried

    OA – 81.35, QA – 77.73, VA – 80.53.

    Xth – 55.6,

    XIIth – 54.6 ,

    Bsc IT- 75.27,

    MCA – 6.94 CGPA NIT(RECs)

    WorkEx – 48 months ,
    Where to join … New IIMs Vs IIT Madras ?

    I have seen in NIT itself that PG students are not that much important to them. So If this is the case for IIT M then it will be a problem. Also My academic profile is not good or you can say worst. I know I will work hard for my future. I have faced issue of placement in NIT also. I had only 2 chances and I got placed. But the joining date was very late. So jumped for off campus, I manage to get placed in a nice company and working here. So I am not considering placement here at all. I know it will be tough for me. I do have some back up plans or asked my friends for references or will join my previous company.

    I am thinking for the long term value. Not for just short term add on. Because still I will have 27-28 years of working life. Yes the batch size and fee at IIT M are low…size-80 and fee- 5-6 lakhs. Whereas in new IIM seats very from min-90 to max-150 and also they are new, dont have large alumni base and infrastructure . Just confused here. That why I am asking for your valuable opinion. I am in a fixed.

    I am looking for the good learning exp and opportunity the main aim here. Also a long term value and satisfaction. I am already 30 yr old and may be the last time I got this opportunity . So I want to make very informed decision.

    • Sandy, IIT Madras is good but in the long term IIM Udaipur will be a better option and you should not hesitate joining it. Do get in touch with me if you convert the other new IIMs.

  387. Sir,
    My Xth – 74.6
    XII th – 92.7
    B.tech form K L University vijayawada andhra bradesh – 8.8GPA
    i am NC-OBC had to few extra curricular and organized events etc i want to be in IIM – A,B,C,K,L,I or FMS how are the possibilities it i get 96% in CAT with 2 years work exp plzzz i hope a good reply…..

    • srinivasa, with a good academic record you have a good chance of call from all IIMs and FMS. Your target CAT score should be 97%ile.

  388. Hi ,
    DO you think with the profile below if I have any chance to get into IIM-A, B or C for MBA ? Looking for an opinion.

    10th -> 82%
    12th -> 70%
    B.tech -> 70% (Punjab Technical University, India)
    M.S in Electical Engg -> GPA 3.4 (University of Southern California, Los Angeles)
    Working for past 3 years with Cisco Systems as Software Engineer in US
    GMAT – 710
    // adding GMAT scores

    Thanks

    • SS, with a 3 year work experience you have a good chance of interview call in IIMB at a score of 98%ile. Interview calls from IIM A and C are difficult at a score below 99.7%ile. You should apply to ISB Hyderabad and XLRI also.

      • Thanks fpr a quick response .

        When you say 98%ile is this being compared to my GMAT scores OR the overall profile ? Trying to understand how this conversion is made ?

  389. Sir,
    When i enroll for a classroom program is it full time program or can i work somewhere at the same time??

    • destinyschild, the classes are typically 2 hours a day for 3-5 days a week and if you are working then you can opt for the evening or weekend batch.

  390. Hello Sir

    I am planning to give CAT.
    I have got 77.4% in secondary, 76.4% in higher secondary (CBSE)
    Got 51% in b.com from calcutta university
    Have completed my chartered accountancy (all level in single attempt.
    I have a work ex of around 2 years from companies like Pricewaterhouse coopers and Indorama ventures limited (China)
    Currently I am wouking with prudential.
    I just want to know as in whether I have a chance at all to get an admission in top 20 b school in India?
    I am aspiring for FMS, SP Jain etc.
    Also let me know as in how much Percentile do I need to score to get into the top 20 B school in india.

    Thanks in advance

    • Ashwin, While IIM A and C will be difficult for you the other IIMs are all possible but given your low graduation marks you will need to score over 99%ile in CAT. The non-IIMs typically do not consider graduation marks and hence FMS, SP Jain, XLRI etc are all possible. FMS will need over 99%ile but most of the other non IIMs are possible at a score of over 97%ile. XLRI will need over 95%ile in XAT.

  391. Dear Sir,
    I have 89% In 10th (CBSE) , 75% in 12th (CBSE) and 88% in Graduation (B.com).
    I am a CA Student. Completed my inter and I am doing my articleship (internship) from Ernst & Young (Big4). I am going to give my CA-Final in Nov’14. I am aiming for a rank in CA Final. What are my chances of getting through, please opine.
    Thank You.

    • Akshay, you have a good chance of making it to top IIMs and other top MBA institutes. Do not worry about CAT’14, focus on completing your CA and target CAT’15 after your CA finals.

      • Thank You very much for the quick and encouraging response. It has given me an optimistic confidence rush. Thanks a lot! 🙂

  392. Dear Sir,
    I have scored 80% in my 10th, 80% in my 12th and 64% for my B.Sc in Maths. Sir, can you kindly tell me if i will be able to get into IIM if i score well in the upcoming CAT exam.

    • Niveditha, with only 64% in graduation the top IIMs are unlikely unless you get over 99.5%ile in CAT, marks for gender and academic diversity however could pull you through. The other IIMs are all possible at a score of ovr 98%ile.

  393. Hi Sir,

    This is my scorecard:

    X – 88%
    XII – 74%
    B.COM – 80%
    Completed CA, preparing for CFA Level 2.
    Work experience 16 months with Morgan Stanley.

    I’d like to know the chances of gettting into IIM A,B,C,L and the alternatives available if IIM’s are not possible so that I could direct my efforts accordingly.

    Thanks,
    Maanas.

    • Manas, All IIMs are possible but 74% in XII could create problems in IIM C. Your work experience and professional qualification (CA) will be helpful in getting calls. Apart from the IIMs you should consider ISB Hyderabad, XLRI, FMS, MDI, IIFT, NMIMS, XIMB, SIBM SCMHRD Pune.

  394. Sir,
    I have got 73% in my 10th ICSE and 80% in my 12th PUC .. currently doing my 3rd year of engineering at bangalore’s top autonomous engineering college. My current CGPA is 7.45 .. I aspire to get into IIMB .. do I stand a chance given my past academic progress? Is it a bad idea to take a year off after engineering to prepare for the same ??

    • Nita, with your X and Graduation marks IIM B is difficult unless you are close to 100%ile in CAT or have over 2 years of work experience. IIMA too is difficult but all other IIMs are possible. IIMC typically needs over 99.5%ile for a interview call.
      The best time to prepare is when in your college since you do not have nay professional commitments. Once you start working it is not possible to neglect work for preparation. If you are in the 6th semester then start your CAT’14 preparation immediately and if you have just entered 5th semester and will be taking CAT’15 then start your preparation post Diwali this year. CAT preparation is not a full time activity hence I do not recommend dropping a year after college to prepare for CAT.

  395. just wanted to add that I scored 81% in 1st sem. And i am very confident of scoring much higher that this in the exams ahead.

  396. Sir,
    I am currently Studying B.Sc(H) Mathematics in Delhi University. I have just given exams for my 2nd Semester.

    I scored 9.6 CGPA in 10th.
    And 90.25% in 12th.

    I am very from the beginning inclined towards management. So Please Suggest me the How Should I approach CAT 2016. I am currently learning French also as to boost up my CV. In co-Curricular activites, I am a Short Film Director, a Trained Classical Singer and Instrumentalist. And I have Certificates too.
    Now, When is the ideal time for me to start my Coaching For Cat’16?
    Also, As a part of FYUP, I will be having “Marketing” as my minor Subject. So please tell me About Doing A summer Internship. Any Sort of Suggestion Will be Welcoming.

    Regards
    Shivam Kumar

    • Shivam, hopefully you will have over 80% in graduation also and hence all IIMs are possible for you. Your diversified extra curricular activities will be helpful in converting the interview call.
      A FYUP allows you to take a opt out with a graduation degree after the 3rd year itself and if you continue till the 4th year you get a graduation with Honours. From a MBA perspective a graduation is required and Honours does not give you any advantage hence it will be worthwhile for you to take CAT’15 itself and save a year. In case you are unsuccessful in CAT’15 you can always go for CAT’16 as per your original plan. From the perspective of career growth it is advisable to do an MBA early and not delay it.
      If you decide to target CAT’15 then you can start post Diwali this year and if it is CAT’16 then post Diwali next year.
      An internship is helpful because it helps you understand some aspect of business, given your interest in Marketing you should go for an internship in sales/marketing or market research or advertising. While the name of the company from where you do your internship is important, in the interview the focus will be on the quality of work and your learning.

  397. Dear GP Sir,
    I have converts from XLRI-BM and also IIMs A,B. I am in a dilemma whether I should withdraw the amount I had deposited in XLRI because of the pending court cases against the IIMs. I am not feeling safe till any final court decision is made but at the same time, I wont get my full refund back, if I delay.
    I wanted to ask about what is the latest update regarding the court case against CAT-2013 and the IIMs? Could there be some problems for the IIM convert students this year if the court rules against admission following some allegations of CAT-2013 process of evaluation? In that case, what really would so many IIM converts do? Kindly give some advice.

    • Arijit, Congratulations on converting IIM A and B.
      My suggestion is to go for IIM A without worrying about the court decision. It is unlikely to “unseat” the already admitted students. In case the IIMs are unsuccessful, most probably the court will ask the IIMs to increase the seats and evaluate the now eligible candidates also.

      • Abhishek, also the court will ensure that its order does not adversely impact the future of over 3000 students.

  398. sir i have a 68% in 10th ICSE & 57 % in 12th ISC
    B.tech i managed to get around 58.6 and i still have my final sem result pending
    I gave cat this year and i was able to manage 92%
    I am planning on giving cat 2015 and this time i would be giving it with a proper preparation.
    What is my stand, when it comes to the IIm’s and the other top B-schools?
    Thank you sir,

    • Siddharth, given your marks in X, XII and graduation interview calls from the top IIMs are ruled out unless you have a 100%ile in CAT, even for the other IIMs you should have a 99%ile for a call. Fortunately almost all the top MBA institutes outside the IIMs do not consider past academics for interview calls and hence a CAT score of 98%ile can get you calls from most of then. IIT Mumbai and FMS DU will need over 99%ile.

  399. Sir,
    I have read and heard a lot of good things about you. Your Story is really inspiring and I really idolize you. I have a genuine query that haunts me most of the time and I will be really grateful to you if you answer that. Let, me 1st tell u about my academic background:

    #10th- 86 % (CBSE) in 2007
    #12th- 88.2% (CBSE) in 2010

    ***YEAR GAP- 1 year. (should have given 12th exam in 2009 but due to health hazard (was an epilepsy patient), had to give it in 2010 as a privete candidate)

    #B.tech (ECE) CGPA- 7.9/10 (from Vellore Institute of Technology, VIT University, Vellore)- graduating in MAY end, 2014.
    # Extracurriculars- Not satisfactory.

    ***QUERY- Sir, now since I ll b writing CAT and other MBA exams October onwards i.e; after 4-5 months and I am unemployed for now, will it be considered as another year gap when I ll be appearing for the interview for admission in B-schools or for the MBA placements after post graduation ?? Do you suggest me to take any kind of job for these few months to be counted as experience (though I dont think I will earn any good relevant experience) or focus on my preparation for CAT ??
    Expecting a reply from you Sir. Also, I am about to join CL classes by this May end when my B.tech gets over.

    Thanking you,
    With regards,
    Saikat Saha

    • Saikat, since you are neither employed nor studying so it will be considered as a gap year but it can be easily explained and will not be a problem during MBA interviews or during job interviews after MBA. If possible do pick up a job since it will act as a back up for you.

      • Thanks a lot Sir for replying to my query. 🙂
        ***LAST QUERY- I will then look for a job. Incase, I dont land into one, can u give me some idea about what kind of explanation I can give for the year gap, which they ll agree on?
        And apart from the academic background I mentioned before as well as the year gap in Class12th due to gennuine health issues, and the least of extracurriculars in college, will it b impossible for me to get into IIMs (provided I have a good CAT score) ?
        Expecting a reply, Sir.

        Thanking you,
        With regards,
        SAIKAT SAHA

        • Saikat, the only explanation that will pass the muster is the truth. Medical issues for XII and the real reason for you not having a job after engineering.

  400. Sir,

    I am currently a third year B.tech(mech) student from a reputed NIT, planning to appear for CAT ’14 and hopefully get into one of the holy trinity.
    My academic particulars are : 95.2% in X, 94% in XII, 8.65 CGPI (upto 5th Sem). I have quite some co-curriculars, but some of them are of the kind where there are no certificates I can produce. (involvement with an NGO, SPICMACAY chapters, student clubs etc.) For the rest, I do have evidence. I also have a number of top 10 AIRs in various olympiads during my school life.

    Currently I am in a dilemma regarding my choice for summer internship as part of my B.Tech curriculum. I have BHEL and L&T as options.

    –Would this choice of internship now weigh too much on my candidature later?
    –Is there some unsaid rule that PSU’s are not considered highly as far as internships are considered? (its something i came across on a website)
    –Is my inability to produce a certificate for involvement in an NGO, or some clubs in which i have been actively involved in the past 3 years, a factor that weighs negatively or may be met with some apprehension by the interviewers?
    — Would my considerably good school life all india ranks and gold medals in various national level olympiads (more than 5-6 times) and an NTSE scholarship put me in a better position? or is it not considered?
    –In general, what are my chances for IIM A-B-C..what kind of percentile should I aim at?

    Any help and suggestion would be greatly appreciated.
    Sincere thanks. Many apologies for the laborious and long post.

    • Ishan, my responses are given below:
      1. lack of certificates is not an issue, it can be explained in an interview but wherever possible do collect them.
      2. choice of internship will not impact your chances in MBA but the work that you have done in the internship will. Go for the one that gives you a better project. There is no preference for any kind of company.
      3. the interviewers do not rely on certificate but your knowledge of the area to check the genuineness of your claims. A letter from the NGO/club in lieu of a certificate is acceptable.
      4. all your extra curricular, NTSE etc and certificates will be helpful in the interview.
      5. With your academic profile and other activities you have a very good chance of making it to the top IIMs subject to a good CAT score.

  401. hello sir,
    my marks
    10th- 74.8%(jharkhand board)
    12th- 63% commerce(jharkhand board)
    b.com- 65%(vinoba bhave university)
    work ex.- fresher
    category- schedule cast(s.c)
    how much percentile exactly do i need in cat to get admission in top IIMs
    in jharkhand board it is almost impossible to score above 80% in intermediate of commerce , at the time when i had passed my 12th , the person with 76% marks was the state topper.
    sir, please guide me on this regard

    • Amit, unfortunately only IIM B has a normalisation process, all others go by the absolute percentage/CGPA.
      A SC candidate can get a call from IIMs at a CAT score of over 85%ile but given your marks in X, XII and Graduation my suggestion is to target a 90%ile.

  402. Hi Sir,

    I was wondering why these IIMs & other B schools charge so high fees & why IIMs student are considered best.what is special in their education that makes good managers .

    Appreciate your time and thanks in advance.

    Regards,
    Amit Mehta

    • Amit, an institute is only as good as the students who join it. The selection process that ensures that only the best make it to the final stage makes the IIMs good. The fee is to cover for the expenses since good faculty is expensive.

  403. I got a 9.6 CGPA in X, 97.25% in CBSE XII boards. If I am able to maintain 80 – 90% throughout my B.Com(Hons.), what are my chances to get a call from top IIMs? Will my chances get stronger if I clear CA IPC alongside B.Com(Hons.)?

    • Hemant, very good chance of a call from all the IIMs if you can maintain over 80% in graduation. CA IPC will not improve your chances but completing your CA will.

  404. respected sir hw is amity noida for mba. i have heard some very bad reviews about this college by its alumini regarding placements stuffs… what is your view about amity business school noida..

    • Monis, only the flagship MBA program (Code 10019) at Noida can be considered. All other programs are avoidable due to poor placements.

  405. Hello Sir

    Here is my profile-

    Xth-80%(CBSE board)
    XIIth-56%(CBSE board)
    B.com-(UP board, Year of completion 2012)

    I am general, male. In total I have 5 years of work experience(Full time ,BPO). I started working in 2009 when I started with my graduation (attendance was not a big deal in my college). Technically I have 2 years of work experience after graduation but I did not get that job on basis of my graduation. I know that my profile is below average but I would really appreciate if you could answer couple of my questions.

    1. Do B-schools take into consideration BPO work experience?If yes then would then B-school consider my work experience?
    2. I gave CAT 2013 and got 86 %tile. I am working very hard this time. If I score 99+ then do I stand any chance of getting into an IIM(old or new) or other top notch B-schools like SP jain, MDI, IMt etc.

    Thanks a lot.

    • mehra123, BPO work experience is counted for admission to all MBA institutes however only the experience after graduation will be considered.
      Given your academic performance the top IIMs are unlikely unless you get a 100%ile in CAT but for the other IIMs call is possible at a CAT score of around 99%ile. Among the top IIMs Bangalore is possible due to your work experience. Most of the top non-IIMs are possible at a CAT score of 95%ile but a score of 97%ile will make it safe for you.

  406. hello sir,
    I have completed my 10th with 9.2 CGPA and 12th 90%
    I am also pursuing CA and have passed B.com 2nd year with 70%
    What are my chances for any of the IIMs
    Please help me !!!

    • Sagar, All IIMs are possible for you due to excellent X and XII scores. However in case of IIM A, B and C you will need over 99.5%ile to get an interview call. The 70% in graduation could make things difficult for you in IIM A and B.

  407. Dear Sir,

    thanks for inspirational story; Please advise below-

    I am working with TCS for last 7.5 years; following are my academics

    10- 82%
    12- 73%
    B.E (E&C)- 82% (gold medalist in intra college competition)

    IIM- A has always been my dream and I have started preparing for exam; could you please advise if I can get call from IIM-A?

    I haven’t figured out other exams like GMAT and 1 year MBA option; what do you suggest keeping my work-ex back in mind

    IIM A is my dream so I am not able to think anything else.

    Appreciate your time and thanks in advance.

    Regards,
    Nikhil

    • Nikhil, Given your work experience you should go for 1 year MBA programs of IIMs and ISB for which you will need to take GMAT. CAT is not an option for you. And yes, you can make it to IIMA.

      • Sir,

        any specific reason why you are saying ‘CAT’ is not an option for you’. I think that this is going to be my last formal education (most probably) and I want to give it a best shot. I want to study with ample amount of time (2 yrs) thats why I am more inclined towards CAT; is there any other perspective which I am not able to see; kindly advise?

        Currently I am in south Africa for assignment and my pkg is 10; so are saying this keeping ROI in mind?

        I really appreciate your guidance in this matter.

        Regards,
        Nikhil

        • Nikhil, a 2 year program is designed keeping in mind the requirement of students who have less than 3 years work experience. For candidates with over 4 year work experience the 1 year program is sufficient.

          • Sir but there aren’t too many 1 year programs in the world. Even top US MBA programs are two year programmes, as in Stanford and Harvard. Only exceptions are European schools like LBS.1 year programs become a huge bruden for even many experienced people because many subjects taught are not covered in work experience. So, I think 2 year program is always more suitable even for people with high work-ex and hence, most American and Asian programs including Singapore and Hong Kong are 2 year programs

          • Kanchan, you are right that most of the MBA programs are of 18-24 month but if good 1 year programs are available then I would not ignore it.

  408. Hello Sir ,
    I finished my
    10th with 9.2 CGPA
    12th with 90%
    currently pursuing CA and also have completed 2nd year of B.com with 72%
    what are my chances for IIM A or IIM B

    • Sagar, 72% in B.Com reduces your chances significantly in IIM A & B but you are not ruled out since your X and XII are excellent.

  409. hello sir, myself Naresh..My career marks are –
    10th- 82.4%
    12th- 72.33 %
    B.tech – 8.08 Cgpa (upto 5th sem)
    It has been my dream to get into IIM A since i passed my 12th . i m having the OBC category.I m in 4th year of Engineering now.. the campus will be around August ending… TCS is the most likely crackable campus.. if i work there for 3 years then will i get into IIM A at any cost ?

    • Naresh, as per the current criteria, IIMA does not give any weight to work experience for interview call hence with a 72% in XII as an OBC candidate you will need about 97%ile to make it to IIMA. My suggestion is to go for CAT’14 and not wait till you have 3 year work experience. It is usually difficult to prepare along with your work and the earlier one does an MBA the better it is for your career.

      • sir do i really have a chance to get into IIMA ??? it will mean the world to me… can i start preparing now and get a good score in CAT ??

  410. Hello,

    I’m currently pursuing my B.E. at a top tier engineering college in India and am confused about a couple of things.
    My scores are as follows:
    10th – CGPA 9, CBSE
    12th. – 91.2
    BE – By the time they’ll be required, I’ll be in the bracket of 60-65, Best case scenario somewhere in 65-70.
    I am a general candidate.

    Owing to a rather poor percentage, I won’t be able to get a job in the industry I want through my college placements and am looking to pursue MBA right after my graduation.
    However, I am certain of doing well in CAT/GMAT etc as logical and analytic have been my strong point.

    With my percentage, is it realistically possible to target ABC?
    If yes, What %ile should be targeted?
    I have a well rounded CV with various achievements and leadership positions.
    Also, how much weightage do schools like FMS/XLRI/MDI/IIM K/I/L/S give to grad scores?

    Thanks a lot in advance.

    • Daksh, your graduation marks make IIM A and B unlikely unless you get a 100%ile in CAT/ IIM C is possible for your since it considers only X and XII marks for interview calls, however it typically needs a CAI score of over 99.5%ile. All other IIMs are possible for you at a CAT score of over 98%ile.
      Almost all top MBA institutes outside the IIMs have a low/no weight for past academics and hence calls are possible from all of them. FMS and IIT Mumbai will need over 99%ile while calls are possible from most of the others at a CAT score of over 97%ile.

      • Thanks a lot for taking out time to answer my query. Really respect what you’re doing.
        Regards,
        Daksh

      • Sir,
        When do you reckon is the best time to start preparing for CAT? I just finished with my 4th semester exams and will be doing a very rigorous internship this summer.
        Also, I’d like to let you know that I love taking part in case studies etc. so I want to leave some time out for extra curricular activities as well.

        Keeping all this in mind, when should I start?

        • Daksh, for CAT’15 the best time to start is in the period Oct-Dec’14. This gives you sufficient time to build your fundamentals, allows you to focus on your semester exams and also allows sufficient time for extra curricular activities.

          • Thanks again for the prompt reply, sir. Here’s hoping that two years down the line I’m asking you about which tier 1 B school to join! 🙂
            Regards.

  411. Hello Sir,
    I have above 80 in 10 th and 12 .but have only 60 % in b tech.
    I have 3 years experience in designing field.
    Is it possible to get into iim and select finance or software as my field.
    what are the chances of getting placements in finance or software sector?
    is there any cut off based on bachelor degree marks to be eligible for attending placements ?
    do HR prefer graduate with high score in bachelors too??

    • Leena, With a 60% in graduation IIMA is almost ruled out but with over 80% in X/XII IIMC is possible and with 3 years work experience IIMB is also possible. All other IIMs and other top MBA institutes are also possible for you. Given your 3 year work experience it is advisable for you to take GMAT along with CAT/XAT and consider the option of 1 year MBA also.
      A shift to finance or marketing or IT is possible after an MBA but you may not get full credit for your 3 year work experience. Placement after MBA is a function of your performance in MBA and not your past academics.

  412. Hello Sir
    I have acadamics as follows
    10th 82%
    12th 70%
    Btech 75% in civil engineering in 2013 after that I worked for 2 months in core and then I left job for 7 months , now from march 14 I have joined a coaching Institute as faculty . Will my work experience be counted . Is there any chances that I can get IIM through CAT , what percentile I need . should i try for MBA or not.

    • UDS, yes your work experience will be counted but it is advisable that in addition to teaching you also get involved in other aspects of running of the coaching institute so that you get a holistic understanding of business. This will be helpful in the interview.
      Given your academic track record IIM A, B and C are difficult unless you get a score of around 99.8%ile but all other IIMs and most of the other MBA institutes are possible at score of over 98%ile.

  414. sir,
    i have an 89% in 10th
    85% in 12th
    63%in graduation
    what would you think is the range of colleges i can get into with??

    • Vishal, with 63%ie in graduation IIM A and B are unlikely unless you get a 100%ile in CAT but all other IIMs and other top MBA institutes are possible for you.

  415. Hi GP Sir,
    Your story motivated me to take CAT this year. I am a 2009 pass out engg graduate with 87.25 % in 10th and 69.4 % in 12th and 7.58 in b.tech . I got late joining in TCS as i got through in off campus recruitment process and joined as late as in March, 2011. If i take CAT 2014 , do i stand any chance to make it to top iims based on my past academic record so far? Will I be grilled for my past record ??

    • Sayan, IIM A and C could be difficult due to your low score in XII and graduation however IIMB is possible due to your 3+ year work experience which will compensate for low marks in XII and graduation. All other IIMs and other top MBA institutes are not a problem. You will be questioned about your not so good performance in school/college but it can be handled.
      Given your over 3 year work experience you should also take GMAT along with CAT and try for 1 year MBA from ISB Hyderabad also.

        • Respected Sir,
          I have converts from IIM-Shillong,MDI Gurgaon and SPJIMR (Marketing). Which institute do you think would be better for me as someone who wants to go for marketing?

  416. sir my 10th percent is 85.5%
    and 12th percentage is 77.4% i am currently in 4th semester with cgpa 7.07……can i get into top IIMs what should be my target? my 10th and 12th percent is not so good but i can still improve my graduation result……..please do reply ……..

    • Shikha, X is good, XII is acceptable but a CGPA of 7.07 is likely to eliminate you from IIMA and B for which you should have a CGPA of a least 8. IIMC is not a problem as it considers only X and XII marks but typically needs a score of over 99.5%ile for an interview call. All other IIMs are possible at a score of over 98%ile.

  417. Sir,
    I got 82% in 10th, 69.6% in 12th,btech cgpa 8.2(upto 5th sem),i’ll be giving cat this year,will my score in 12th hinder my admission in iims even with a good score in CAT,and is work experience necessary for iims or not? What should be my target in cat to get into iim-L or C???

    • Anil, your XII score will be an issue and you will need a high CAT score to get into the top IIMs. A general category candidate typically requires over 99.5%ile for IIMC and your target will have to be 99.8%ile. At this score most probably IIM A and B will also happen. IIML will be possible at 99%ile also.

  418. Sir,I am currently pursuing B.Sc. 2nd yr
    My grads are
    10 th-76
    12 th-64
    And graduation around 6.5 cgpa
    What score I have to get to
    get a ticket to a top college
    will my low acads affect the post mba career as well

    • Mithu, unfortunately based on your marks in X, XII and graduation the top IIMs are unlikely unless you get a 100%ile in CAT, other IIMs are possible at a score of over 98%ile. Fortunately outside the IIMs, most of the top MBA institutes have a low/no weight for past academic performance and hence they are all possible for you.
      Placement after MBA is a function of your performance in the program and not your past academics and hence it will not impact you career.

      • thank a lot, but sir will 100%tile ensure a call from iim a and fms delhi.is it just exact 100%tile or near about it,what is the exact score do i require?

  419. hello sir, my details are
    10th-90.5%
    12th-84%
    degree-approx above 80%
    mode of degree- distance
    subject- B.Com( accounting and finance)
    work experience-zero
    extracurriculars- nill
    now my questions are.
    1) what are my chances for iim a,b,c? what is the min. percentile required? though i belong to obc nc, i wanna get it in general catg. so plez specify for general catg only.
    2) having a degree with distance mode, we know that there is no objection for eligibility, but is it also going to affect during further selection processes like PI’s where they might not be interested in such a background.i have heard that profiles with regular degrees have extra edge over the distance mode. is it true. what do u think.? what can be done to compensate that?
    3) i donot have any extra curriculars. i heard frm one of the iima alumni that EC activities will impress them during PI’s. so can you suggest me a few extra curriculars which could be beneficial during the selection process. like i have an interest in classical vocals. iam planning to go fr its training. will it be counted? apart from that, is having add-ons and appreciation certificates which are related to management or subject related stuff or even if they are far away from subject. are they also beneficial?
    4) i have been volunteering in a very famous organization (isha foundation). here it is like, anyone who does the basic program can volunteer for any activity. that itself is your eligibility, but they donot provide any certification fr that. so can we put it in our resume even without certification, specifying the general rule as an extra-curricular?
    5)i have been into paid-content-writing for one of the websites. i wrote a few articles which have been published online and can be seen by anyone. so can i put it under extra-curriculars even after getting paid for that? does it count?
    6)anything else that you wanna specify exclusively for the above profile?

    • Chakradhar, my response are given below:
      1. with your excellent academic record all IIMs are possible. A fresher from general category needs a score of over over 99.5%ile (97%ile for NC-OBC) for an interview call from IIM A,B and C.
      2. your information is incorrect, mode of graduation does not matter and there is no preference for candidates with regular degree.
      3. extra curriculars are helpful but not essential and no specific extra curricular is considered “good”, whatever you do out of choice in our spare time is acceptable provided you have knowledge of the area. Classical music is fine, you do not need add-ons and appreciation certificates which are related to management or subject related stuff.
      4. you can put Isha Foundation in your resume.
      5. writing can also be a part of your extra curriculars and internship will need to be put under trainings and internships.

      • thank you sir! i have a fresh doubt sir.
        now, according to iimA admission process, we can appear for cat if we are in the final year of the degree provided that the final examination must have been conducted before june 30 of the same academic year, for example, if my final xams are in may 2016, i can appear for cat 2015, provided i submit the marks memo and degree completion certificate on or before 31st december 2016, if i get an admission in june 2016 through cat-2015.

        so now my doubt is, i will be entering into my final year right from june 2015. but still the 2nd year results would not be declared by at least september 2015, so technically i am in my final year, awaiting my 2nd year results, so will i be eligible for writing cat-2015 as the application process happens until august of every year and my 2nd year results may come in september, so i will not be able to provide my 2nd year marks/%age details in the application form. will i be eligible sir?
        eagerly awaiting your reply

        • Chakradhar, the non-declaration of 2nd year results is not an issue you will be eligible for CAT’15. You will provide the latest available mark sheet at the time of CAT registration.

          • thank you so much sir!
            i have a new doubt.
            today, every one knows the fact that media have been hyping the payment packages of IIM grads . and it has been possible to know this due to the initiative taken especially by IIM-A to systematically provide a fool-proof data of the payment packages of its students through IPRS. so my questions are

            1) recently i have been going through a few blogs and websites where a few so-called iim pass-outs have confessed the reality of tampered and hyped package details marketed by the institutes even providing wrong information to IPRS department. but all of them chose to be anonymous. now here, i do not know if, to believe those anonymous ones or not, but sir, you being an iim alumni, you must be aware of such things. what do u have to say about it. are the iprs reports real or not up to the mark.?

            2) now many have been saying that freshers do not have any scope of getting a high salary. they may have to be settled with a max package of 10-12 lpa. where as experienced guys get as high as 37lpa or USD 150k pa. now i have a problem here, as i am a fresher. a) is there really no possibility for freshers, even if they are among the top 15-20% in their batch. what do you think? b) what is the maximum a fresher can expect according to you?
            please specify everything in as much detail as possible sir keeping only IIMABC in mind. please! awaiting your reply eagerly!

          • Chakradhar, all institutes report Cost to Company (CTC) figures which includes things like PF, Gratuity, Insurance, Maximum performance variable etc and hence the discrepancy. Most of the students are interested only in the in hand amount which would usually be about 20% lower than the CTC figure.
            Freshers also good/high salaries and please do not convert USD 150k into Rs and then compare. If a person is based in US he/she will be paid accordingly, even if you have to do a comparison it should be on the basis of Purchasing Power Parity.
            Suggest that you go through the placement reports of the institutes to get a clear idea of their placemtn figures.

  420. Dear Sir,
    i scored 63% in class X and 47% in class XII. In graduation i scored 54% in commerce from Delhi University and am a Company Secretary. I know am no where near IIMs. Last year i appeared for IIFT and scored 47. Just wanted to ask should i appear for IIFT n other mba entrance like XAT, SNAP or NMAT this yaer. will there be any chances of getting admission with such acads in past or should i focus my energies in my career n some other course

    • Karan, only the top IIMs are focussed on past acads, almost all other institutes have a low/no weight for marks in X/XII/Graduation and hence are possible for you. Prepare hard and get a good CAT/XAT/IIFT/NMAT score and you will be able to make it to a top MBA institute.

  421. Dear GP sir,

    My self Janardhan, I have been working as software engineer in Techmahindra more than 4 years. I would like to seek your valuable advise for my career growth. I am average student since from my school days. I got 78% in SSC, 66% in +2, 71.8 in B.SC(CS), Category – OBC(any reservation). Now I am preparing for CAT14. I would like to know the best IIMs in case if get good score in CAT14, request you to let me know the chances to get in IIM (ABC), how much percentile i required to get call for IIM(ABC and L)

    • JANARDHNANA, to get into the top IIMs, an OBC candidate normally needs over 95%ile for a call from the top IIMs but since you have a week academic record you should target 97%ile.

  422. Sir,

    Firstly I would like to acknowledge your generous attempt to help so many individuals. I feel you are doing a wonderful job and would like to congratulate you for that.

    I am presently preparing for CA Final which is due in May 14 and want to do an MBA from the IIMs. I have cleared all stages of Company Secretary course and have also cleared Leavel I of the CFA (US) program. According to you, is it advisable for me to appear for CAT 2014 if I start preparing for it from July 2014.

    Also I scored 88% in class X (ICSE) and 92% in class XII (ISC). What are my chances of breaking into the top 3 IIMs?

    • Vineet, after your CA finals in May’14 you will have around 5 months to prepare for CAT’14. The time is sufficient for CAT preparation but will obviously need you to put in around 6 hours every day. In any case waiting for a year does not make sense, in case you do not do well in CAT’14 then CAT’15 is in any case available to you. With your academic record all IIMs are possible. At present focus on doing well in your CA Finals and let us start worrying about CAT after you are done with your exams.

  423. SIR,
    i got 80% in Xth 83% in XIIth and graduation BE mech 68% Pune University (2012 passout)
    I gave cat’13 and got 81 percentile. I have no prior work ex and prepared for cat. I am really stressed out due to the gap thing.

    To get an admit in IIMs what are your suggestions ? Can I get an admit in the IIMs. I also checked graduation criteria for the IIMs. Do the IIMs consider the universities of graduation because scoring in Pune University is very hard in fact even the toppers in Pune universities can’t cross 80% mark.

    Really tensed….Plz reply sir…

    • Ameya, while IIM A and B might be difficult due to your 68% in graduation but all other IIMs and other top MBA institutes are possible. IIMA does not normalise scores of different universities but IIMB has a system of normalisation. Given that you graduated in 2012, your first priority should be to pick up a job because it is usually difficult to justify a gap of 2 years. For the retake your focus should be on practice and testing that can be taken care of with a test series + test gym but start by revising your last year material – focus on the MCQs, this should not take more than 6 weeks.

      • Thanks a ton for your advice sir. I will put in my best & also get a job….THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN !!!

  424. Sir,
    I have converted IIM-Lucknow and XLRI-BM programmes and I have 2.5 years IT experience. I wish to explore more areas during my MBA and have no rigid conviction of staying in IT field post MBA. According to you, should I join XLRI-BM or IIM-L? Considering both are awesome bschools but IIM-L rating has gone down a bit in recent years compared to XL where placements get over quickly within just 2 days?

    • Ramkumar, this is a good problem to have 🙂 My preference is for IIML.
      While IIML and XLRI are at par and both will provide good placements and career opportunities. XLRI placements get over faster because of a smaller batch size. IIML should be preferred because:
      1. the IIM name is stronger than that of XLRI in domestic and international markets which will lead to better opportunities and will be an asset in the long term.
      2. even if I discount the first brand name, the fee at IIML is significantly lower than that of XLRI but the average salary is similar.

      • Sir but that is where I have some confusion because the average salary is not displayed in the IIM-L site. Also, heard that IIM-L had gone upto almost mid May last year placing all its students. Yes, batch size could be a factor here as you said but could there be any other thing like companies preferring private colleges gradually because of huge quota issues and all?

        • Ramkumar, IIML as a policy does not disclose salaries but it is at par with that of XLRI. Companies do not have any preference for any kind of institute – private or government and they go to any institute that provides them with good manpower. Joining either of the two is not an issue as both are equally good and will provide good career opportunities. If you are more inclined towards XLRI then go ahead with it.

          • Sir,
            I considered your this advice and also suggestions of some other mentors and withdrew from XL to join IIML.
            But now I see in this post that you have placed XLRI over IIM-Lucknow as your own order of preference. I am puzzled. How can you change your own stand sir?
            http://www.gpkafunda.com/?p=2469

          • Ramkumar, maybe I should have used some other format to put up this post. I had mentioned that institutes within 2-3 positions are at par but the confusion continues. Let me again try and clarify the issue.
            IIM A, B and C are at par and one can choose any one without any problem but in a list I have to put up a 1, 2 and 3. I know of people who have left A for B orC and have excellent careers.
            XLRI BM, IIML, FMS, JBIMS and ISB are at par and if fee is the most important factor then FMS and JBIMS are the best similarly for people with 2-3 years work experience ISB should be preferred. IIM L is preferable to XLRI due to lower fee. Last year I had recommended JBIMS over XLRI to a student.
            IIM I, K and SP Jain are at par.
            IIM S, MDI, IIFT Delhi are at par and so on.
            Next time will try and club institutes in different brackets (as above) and hopefully it will cause less confusion.

          • Sir,
            Thanks for he prompt reply and detailed clarification on this matter. I now understand this aspect completely.
            But not in agreement with you that people with 2-3 years experience should prefer ISB. Can you tell me why you at all feel so? Do you know how much tough it is to explore other sectors in ISB and how large its batch size is?

          • Ramkumar, it saves you an year and allows you to get in the industry earlier which is good for your career. Ideally it should be over 3 years.

      • Sir,
        I did have an ISB offer this year (I would be 3 years work-ex in July) but confident of getting atleast one big IIM or XLRI, I left it and did not pay the 2 lakhs registration fee. I want finance preferably and was told by many that ISB is poor in finance and for finance, IIMs have a definite lead, especially A,B,C,L.
        So I think specialization and stream matters too while taking such decisions. Saving 1 year is not as important as getting the desired field.

        • Dear GP Sir,
          I think there needs to be a correction.There is no way a person can select/reject ISB Hyderabad on basis of his work-experience duration because ISB will only admit students having atleast 2 years experience. So, for a fresher there is no way he can choose XLRI or IIML over ISB because he/she has no chance to get a ISB offer that time. So by this, your statement that a person with >2-3 yrs exp should choose ISB implies, whenever a person gets ISB (which would only be if that person has 2-3 years experience) he should chuck everything else (except if that is IIM-A/B/C) and join it regardless of any other aspect involved like as someone said stream/specialization, degree of comfort in 1 year programme relative to 2 year one etc. Only because work-experience has exceeded 2-3 years. Do you see a flaw and narrow-sightedness in this reasoning? So is this the way coaching institutes would be misguiding people?

          • Krishna, you are correct in understanding that if a candidate with 3 year work experience has calls from ISB and IIM L, my suggestion is to choose ISB.
            It appears you have not gone through the article mentioned by Ramkumar in his query above and hence missed the context. A couple of lines taken out of context can be misleading. Please refer to the blogpost Jayein toh jayein kahaan 2014: Which Institute? Hopefully it will resolve the issue for you. Do not miss out the two lines on top of the table.
            I too can turn around and ask: Do you see a flaw and narrow-sightedness in your approach? So is this the way you jump to conclusions? However, being a faculty I know that at times we miss out on a few things. Hence I do not attribute any motives to you except a genuine desire for clarification.

        • Ramkumar, this is a matter of individual choice. That the 2 year program is a better academic design goes in your favour.

  425. Hi Gp sir,

    I have scored below-

    X 68%
    XII 63%
    B COM 61%
    Then I cleared CA
    Work Exp-Dec’11 till date(2 Year 5 Month as now)
    Q_1 I would like to know whether with this % & Work exp & CA degree can get me admission into IIMs,FMS,IIFT or any other top institute?
    Q_2 Should I do MBA as I am CA already?
    Q_3 should Itry into executive MBA

    Please suggest me best option?Thanks a lot.

    Regards,
    Amit Mehta

    • Amit, some CAs fo for an MBA primarily to get out of audit and accountancy and to get into the wider fiance area so a MBA after CA is a personal choice based on your career goals.
      With your marks in X, XII and graduation while IIM A and C are unlikely IIM B and all other IIMs, XLRI and all other MBA institutes are possible. With your work experience you can target both the 1 and 2 year MBA programs for academic year 2015 but if you do not make it to a good institute in this attempt then go for only 1 year programs.

      • Okay,Also could you please tell me how much percentile I need to get for taking admission into FMS & IIMA,B,L & I ,XLRI & IIFT?

        • Amit, with less than 70% marks in X, XII and graduation IIM A and C are unlikely unless you get a 100%ile in CAT. Due to your 2.5 year work experience IIM B is possible at a CAT score of over 99%ile. Other IIMs will also need over 99%ile for a interview call. Other institutes do not consider school or college marks for shortlisting and use only the CAT score. FMS requires around 99%ile and almost all other institutes are possible at 97%ile.
          XLRI requires over 95%ile in XAT while for IIFT you should target a score of 50 in the IIFT entrance test.

  426. Hi Sir,
    I have 10th- 79.6 % ,
    12th- 71.6 %
    B.tech- 8.5 CGPA,(08-12)
    General candidate.
    working as software engineer from 2012.
    I am good in mathematical skills and puzzles, after working on my English for sometime I believe i can get over 99 %ile. in CAT 2015 (I think it will take one attempt of 2014 to reach there)

    Will I be eligible for IIM abc ? and also since the huge ramp-up in the tution fees , is it worth leaving my current job with which i can get upto 8 lac PA package by 2016, I have heard that even in L and C 20s of people get around only 10Lac package(just rumors anyway i don’t have any acquaintance who knows about those colleges)
    So I am scared to think that even after paying 15-20 lacs if i get approx same salary.
    Please give suggestions
    Thanks in advance.

    • Shyam, with your marks you will need over 99.7%ile in CAT to get a call from IIM A and C. IIMB could happen at 98%ile due to your over 2 year work experience.
      If you are serious about MBA then do not delay CAT to 2015 but go full throttle for CAT’14 since it is still 6 months away. Since you are comfortable with Maths/puzzles, you primarily need to work on the English section.
      The earlier you go for MBA the cheaper it is and the faster your career grows. Given your estimate of future salary in the current job, you can only consider the IIMs, XLRI, FMS, SP Jain, IITs, MDI, NITIE and IIFT all of which will be able to provide you with over a Rs 12 lakh pa placement.

  427. Sir,

    X – 92
    XII – 65
    BE – 7.9 CGPA
    Work experience – 2.5 yrs.

    What are the chances of my getting into IIMB with a 99+ percentile?

    Would appreciate your response. Thanks!

  428. Sir,i have a query. My 10TH percentage is 71
    12th-61
    Graduation(B.E)-59-6 YEARS Due to some backlogs
    How much do I have to score to get into atleast top b-schools?

    • JD, top IIMs will need almost a 100%ile in CAT while the others are possible at a score of over 98%ile. Most of the good institutes (non IIMs) are possible at a score in excess of 95%ile.

  429. Dear Sir
    My Profile is as below:-
    10th(CBSE) : 92.4
    12th(CBSE) : 80.2
    B.Tech : 72.6
    Category : NC-OBC
    Total work ex : 48 months (TCS) as of March 2014
    I have given WAT/PI for IIM Indore and is waiting for final admission list. In case, I am not able to convert the call, I am planning to take CAT 2014. With my profile, can I ever expect a call from IIM A, B or C. I am looking for a 2 year full-time MBA course. Please help me to understand where I stand.

    • Mukul, hopefully IIM Indore will happen and you will not have to worry about CAT’14.
      However if unfortunately you have to go for CAT’14 then I will not rules out any institute for you. As a NCOBC with a decent acads you have a good chance of calls from the top IIMs at a score of over 95%ile but with a 5 year experience by May’15, ideally you should take GMAT also and target the 1 year MBA program of ISB Hyderabad and of the IIMs.

  430. Sir . I have a question.
    I am in very critical stage of my life finishing my BBM graduation exam this monh and not given any entrance exams . I want o get in IIMA.
    MY scores are low
    10th = 54% (NIOS)
    12th = 78% (Commerce, Rajasthan state board)
    BBM = 60% (Bangalore university)
    now i want to go to IIMA/IIMB no less then that or equal to these two Institutes. I have no one to guide how , what , when .
    I dont want to end up here. Please sir help me out.

    • Yogesh, unfortunately as per the current criteria of the top IIMs, with your academic record IIM A, B & C are unlikely unless you get a 100%le in CAT. Other IIMs are however possible a a score of 99%ile.

      • Thank you sir ,
        Right now i am recruited in TCS as Business Analyst. I can work there for 2-3 years.

        Q 1.) Is there any option such as industry profile based admission after some years of work experience?

        Q 2.) How many years of work experience can give me advantage to get in IIMA/B/C ??

        Q 3.) Do they consider academic score after getting professional experience also? or just CAT scores ??

        Q 4.) Is Executive MBA is as valuable as PGP?

        Q 5.) What is the criteria/ Eligibility to apply for Executive MBA from IIMA/ IIMB ??

        Sir, Please guide me.
        I am hoping for a fantastic career as comparable to IIMA Pass-outs, even tough my grades are not good. I want to Power start my career.
        I feel you are the one who can give me best out of best suggestions and guidance right now.
        Thank you sir.

        • Yogesh, my responses are given below:
          1. to the best of my knowledge, at present no institutes have a “industry profile based admission” process.
          2. IIM A and C do not consider work experience for interview shortlisting but in IIMB a 2 year work experience can get you an interview call at a lower CAT score. However for the final shortlisting all IIMs have around 5% weight for upto 3 years work experience.
          3. Most of the IIMs consider academic scores along with the CAT score. Work experience may or may not have any weight.
          4. This depends upon the institute – for ISB Hyderabad and Great Lakes the 1 year program is more valuable but for IIMs and most of the other MBA institutes the 2 year MBA is valued more.
          5. A 5 year work experience is required but do check up with the website for the specifics. Also there are multiple programs and there could be different eligibility requirements.

  431. Sir,
    I am a IIT-Kanpur passout of 2011 having around 3 years work-experience in the consulting sector and wish to explore a finance job post an MBA programme. I am planning to write CAT-2014 for admission to IIMs. But some people are advising me to instead take the GMAT route and go for ISB. They feel ISB is better than the IIMs and is currently the best institute of the country as it has a lot of foreign faculty and a highly updated world-class curriculum compared to even the top IIMs-A,B,C,L which are not fully updated and at par with global standards. I feel a bit confused about whether I should focus now on CAT or the GMAT. What would be your advice?

    • Rujuta, While ISB is among the top 7-8 MBA institutes in India it still is not considered better than the top IIMs. However I am partly in agreement with the advice that you have received. Given that you have a 3 year experience and it will be 4 years when you join MBA program next year you should consider the option of ISB Hyderabad via GMAT. My suggestion is to go for both CAT and GMAT this time if you make it to the top IIMs then join them else go to ISB Hyderabad. The 2 year program of IIMs should not be considered after 2015.

      • Thanks sir for your reply. Sir, I am somewhat confused by the term “top IIMs”. Does it refer to only IIM-A,B,C or all the IIMs upto IIM-Indore?

        • Rujuta, the top IIMs usually refers to A, B, C and L. The next two I and K have established themselves and are considered among the top 10 MBA institutes in India. IIM S is at the IIFT, MDI level and the six new IIMs are at the NMIMS, SIBM level.

  432. Sir 76% in 10th
    66% in 12th
    75-85% in Grad (BBA)-expected

    What minimum percentile needed for receiving a call from top IIMs

    • Rohan, with the current selection criteria you will need a 100%ile for a call from IIM A, B and C. Most of the other IIMs and other top MBA institutes are possible at a CAT score of 98%ile.

  433. X-69%
    XII-64%
    GRAD-BCA-63%
    MBA-FIN-65%
    WORK EX -2.1 YRS AT A PUB SEC BANK AS AM
    + 4 MONTHS AT PVT BANK AS AM
    CAN I GET INTO IIMS?

    • Abhinav, top IIMs are unlikely due to your low marks in X, XII and Graduation. However due to your 2.5 year work experience IIMB possible. Other top MBA institutes and the new IIMs are all possible.

  434. hii sir,
    i got 72% in 10th (CBSE),75% in 12th(Maharashtra state) & i have cleared B.E with 64%.I have a work experience of 2 years.
    I HAVE JUST STARTED PREPARING FOR CAT 15.
    My query is that are there any colleges those see your past academics.And based on that selection is done.

    • Sai, almost all MBA institutes outside the top IIMs are possible for you. In IIM B your 2 year work experience will be helpful in getting a call.

  435. Dear Sir,

    I am quite in a state of dilemma. Please go through my profile:
    X – 84 %
    XII – 79 %
    B.Tech – 73 %
    Work Experience – 30 months.
    I was working as Assistant Engineer with one of the leading hotel chains in Asia. Recently, I called it quits and decided to prepare full time for CAT/XAT and other competitve examinations. I’ve enrolled in coaching classes which are going smooth. However, I hadd given XAT 14 and scored 86 percentile this year. Since, I had not much infomation about the colleges, I only applied to Welingkar and IMT Hyderabad and Nagpur. IMT has shortlisted me for PGDM Finance in their Hyderabad campus while the STAGE 2 for Welingkars is still in process. I am wondering whether I should go for IMT Hyderabad or Welingkar MUM (if selected) or should I try and give another shot to CAT and XAT and aim for premier institutes? Your assistance will be higly appreciated.

    • Aditya, None of these three are top notch institutes and can be ignored at present. The average salary (CTC) for all three will be around Rs 6 lakh pa. Given your background (decent academics plus 30 month work experience) and the fact that with part preparation you have been able to secure 86% in XAT my suggestion is to continue with your preparation and target better institutes through CAT’14/XAT’15.

  436. hello sir, i completed my bachelors degree in mechanical from one of the top institutes in gujarat, but as i havent secured 60% was unable to get placement. and now i appeared for gate examination and getting Top NITs for Mtech in mechanical field. sir is their any chance i will get a placement in any MNC??because i havent scored 60!..and can i get placed in IIMs if i get in to them??plz help

      • i am an SC Candidate with 10th=82 and 12th=71% with grad=58%
        am getting top NITs for mtech should i go for mba or mtech??which one is better??how much percentile i require to get a call from iims and symbosis?

        • Axay, M.Tech or MBA is a a matter of personal choice and the area in which you want to have a career hence it will not be feasible for me to answer.
          As a SC candidate you will need over 85%ile in CAT to get a call from the IIMs and other top institutes but given your low marks you should aim for a minimum of 90%ile.

  437. sir,i have 65% in 10th,61% in 12th(1 yr repeat), btech-61% (5 yrs), currently working as trainee at kirloskars 1 yr about to be completed……do i have a shot at top b schools excluding iims?..have read alot on blogs,the zist was i wont gt a call from any premiere institutes coz of my bad profile as it doesnt suit d profile of dr pool of candidates.Planning to give cat 2014..do you think i can make it ,if yes dn at wht %ile…

    • Prateek, almost all the MBA institutes outside the top IIMs have a low/no weight for past academics and hence are possible for you. In IIMB your work experience will be helpful in getting a call. For top IIMs you will need almost 100%ile to get a call, most of the other IIMs and other you MBA institutes are possible at 98%ile.

  438. Hi Sir,

    I am completing 6 years of full time work-ex in july’14. Can I write can and do a full time 2 years MBA.

    10th marks- 77.4 %
    12th marks- 83.4 %
    Engineering from NIT bhopal-2004-2008 : overall 8.43 CGPA

    Please let me know

    • Shashank, suggest you take GMAT and go for a 1 year MBA program form ISB Hyderabad, IIMs or institutes outside India. A 2 year program is not suggested for someone with over 4 years experience.

    • Hii
      My name is Disha
      I have completed my SSC in 2008 with 89%
      Then completed my HSC in 2010 with 67%
      I took Microbiology and completed FYBsc in 2011 however I had to leave studies for some personal reasons.
      Now,in 2014 I am going to take admission in SYBsc for microbiology.
      Next year when I complete my Grad Can i give CAT in 2016?
      Will the gap in my studies cause any problem in getting into IIMs
      I am a very bright student.
      Please help!!!

      • Disha, since you will be completing your graduation in 2016 you can take take CAT’15. Taking CAT’16 will lead to a loss of another year.
        The gap between FY and SY will definitely be questioned in the interviews but it can be handled comfortably and will not be a reason of rejection. NMIMS however is ruled out since you have this gap of 3 years.

  439. Sir i got 68% in X and 58% in Xii…Now i m doing b.tech…What % required in grad for getting into any iims????..kindly waiting for your rly…

    • Bishal, even with over 80% in graduation, with your low marks in X and XII you will need almost a 100%ile to get a call from the top IIMs. Most of the other IIMs and other top MBA institutes are possible at a score of over 98%ile since most of them have a low/no weight for past academics.

      • thnx a ton sir..u r very helpful..u r doing such a great job…when people succeed they dont gve tym othr people lyk us who really need sum1 lyk you…once again thnx a lot sir….:)
        and sir 1 more question is there any course in iims which dont need any gud academic past records lyk any diploma course…??

  440. Dear Sir,
    I got 84% in 10th ,82% in 12th and B.COM 60%(expected).
    I’ve also dropped a year.
    I belong to SC Category .
    right now i’m preparing for CAT’14 ,so is there any chance for me to go for IIMs.and how much %ile should require?

    • Milind, while your graduation marks are low you have good marks in X and XII and hence all IIMs are possible for you. While a SC candidate can get calls at 80%ile my suggestion is to target 85%ile in each section and an overall score of over 90%ile to be sure of a call from the top IIMs.

  441. Sir,
    Would you please tell me when you might be free because i have some queries which would be better addressed on the phone. Hoping for a quick and positive reply.

  442. Dear sir ,
    i scored X – 70%
    XII-62.6%
    BTech- 9.2 (cgpa)
    work experience -3yrs and OBC category…if i prepared well and able to scored 99.5 or above percentile..is there any chance of IIMs including IIM Bangalore..plz do reply

    • Ryan, due to your OBC category, work experience and graduation CGPA of 9.2 you have a good chance of getting a call from all IIMs including IIMB at over 98%ile.

  443. hii sir
    my 10th % = 83
    12th % = 87
    graduation(b.pharmacy) % = 70
    sir i passed out in 2012 i dont have any work ex. i gave cat 2013 with 5 months preparation but i didnt made it because of my poor planning.. i want to get into iims so is it advisable to give cat 14 but i am feared about my huge gap between graduation and cat 14, will it be a big backdrop at my pi if i score good percentile? at present i got admission in itm navi mumbai, i am confused to take it or to give cat 14

    • Priti, given your academic record I am inclined to suggest a retake of CAT/XAT but will need more information to advise, please call me at 9811155160 to discuss.

      • thanq sir for ur valuable suggestion now i think i will go for some job and will give cat14. i applied for sbi po and will try for some more state services so that i can plan for cat. if i take itm now i think i cant reach for iims

  444. My scores are as follows
    10th= 43%
    10+2=69.33%
    B.tech=63%
    How much i have to score to get Any IIM OR what will be the effect of my score in 10th .

    • Siddhant, unless you have a 100%ile in CAT the IIMs are unlikely for you due to low scores in X, XII and graduation. Most of the other MBA institutes are possible fo you.

  445. Hi Sir,
    I am Siddhant, going to complete my Masters in Engineering in Telecommunication Engineering from Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore in June, 2014 with 6.5 / 8 points. My academics so far :
    Xth : 91.8 % (2005)
    XII th : 76.67 % ( Got AIR 6800 in IITJEE 2007)
    Dropped for IIT JEE preparation ( did not turn out as expected )
    B.tech : 69.875 % ECE 2008 – 12 (Got AIR 18 in GATE 2012 from ECE)
    ME : 6.5 / 8 points.(2014)

    At IISc , I got interested in studying mathematics (mainly applied probabillty, optimization and economics) and now I want to study Finance at IIM A . I have started my CAT ’15 preparation in February 2014. I have got a job here and so i will be having some job experience as well in 2015. What are my chances of getting IIM A ? I do not want to study anywhere else or anything else, so please guide me on my situation. Is it even possible with my twisted academic profile?

    • Siddhant, as per the current criteria, with less than 80% in graduation and XII you are unlikely to be shortlisted for interview unless you get a 100%ile in CAT.

  446. Sir,
    i hav scored 81% in Xth (ICSE)
    and 82 % in XII(ISC)
    currently i am B.tech (Computer Sc. & engg) with 75%
    and i belong to general category..
    Sir what are my chances of geting into iim’s and other non iims..
    what percentile i hav to get to get into iim..???
    what min no of marks shud i score in each section of cat paper..??

    • Anurag, with less than 80% in graduation you should target over 99.5%ile in CAT for the top IIMs. All other IIMs and most of the other top MBA institutes are possible at 98%ile. Target over 97%ile in each section.

  447. hello sir,
    i am presently doing B.Tech in CSE and currently in 4th sem. profile- X – 95% , XII – 67% and grad – 80% . I want to know my chances in IIMs.
    I did fairly well in my X but i messed up big time in XII. So will a poor score in XII affect my chances to get into the top IIMs???
    or can i compensate for it by having a very high percentile in CAT?
    Awaiting your reply.

    • Nikhil, since you have very good X and graduation marks you have a chance, however target a 99.5%ile in CAT to be sure of calls from top IIMs.

  448. Hello Sir! I have recently been selected for MBA in NITIE, Mumbai.
    I’m anxiously waiting for the IIM Lucknow results!

    I had 96 % tile in CAT ( QA/ DI : 72 % tile, VA/ LR : 99.47 % tile)
    I have 84 % in 10th, 46 % in 12th, 64 % in Chemical Engg.
    I’m an SC candidate.

    I would like to know that, if i join NITIE or IIM Lucknow, will my 12 th performance of 46 % hamper placements and summer internships?
    In other words, once i make it to IIM Lucknow, after that , will companies have absolute cutoffs for 10 th and 12 th for placements ( say 60 % minimum?) or will the IIM tag itself absolve me of my past indiscretion in academics?

    thanks in advance.

    • Sarthak, you may be questioned on your marks in XII and maybe also in Chemical Engineering but that is likely to be more out of curiosity than anything else. Almost all the companies consider your performance in MBA and not your past academics so you need not worry in this regard.

      • thank you so much sir! i really appreciate it! i’m looking forward to soaring new heights with MBA!

  449. Sir ! I have calls from all IIMs except A n B with
    CAT Score – 88.56 %tile ( ST category )
    Xth – 80%
    XIIth – 80%
    grad.- 6.32/10 ( passed in 2013, dropped for CAT)
    I have given Interviews of IIM C,L,K,S. Not selected in C. Sir, I am not able give a convincing answer to why MBA. I think i have ruined L too as I was very nervous and a bit aggressive in GD. In K i worte a very bad essay. So finally I think, I would not be able to make through any of them. And my only chances left are IIM-I and FMS. Sir please suggest me how to improve.

  450. Hi Sir … i am preparing for my cat 2014 and m aiming for he top three iims however my acrads are not that appealing…X-82% XII-65% grad- 77%…is it possible to get through wid a 99+ percetile in cat for the top iims.. i am a general category candidate and with no work experience.

    • anindita, unfortunately a 65% in XII and 77% in graduation means that with the current criteria you will need almost a 100%ile to get a call from A, B and C. All other IIMs and most of the other top MBA institutes are possible at a score of over 98%ile.

  451. 10th-57%,12th-52%, Btech-60% from NIT, work ex-4yrs in LPO, SC candidate, Is it possible to get through iim ahmedabad if i score more than 98 percentile in CAT? Will my poor academics affect the placement in these institutes.

    • Amit, with your acads your target for the top IIMs should be 90%ile. Placement after MBA is a function of your performance in the MBA program and not your past academics.

      • Hello,

        Like other students, i am also keen to know whether I will be able to crack CAT/CET and whether I will be able to get into a top college. My acads are as below:-
        10th: 80.4%
        12th: 77&
        Bcom: 70%
        I have completed CA and currently working.

        Please guide me to take decision whether to try for it or not..

        Thanks in advance..

        • Dear MBA Aspirant,

          You have a decent acads record. Your CA background and work experience also add value to your candidature. Overall, you are a good candidate.

          • Thank you team CL. But by this acads subject to exam marks, will it be possible to get into top B school in India IIM’s or ISB or will end up in not so good college.

          • MBA Aspirant, you have good acads and with your CA and marks for academic diversity it will not be a problem in IIMs and other top institutes.

  452. hello sir
    I had prepared for CAT 2013 at CL for 40 days and managed a score of 86.95 (QA-75.62 VA-90.95) & applied at TAPMI,NIRMA,UBS,XISS
    till now i have converted XISS-HRM, nothing +ve from TAPMI yet,NIRMA and UBS are not out yet.
    Should i go for any of these college or appear for CAT 2014 ?
    Although i have average academics 10,12,grad(B.tech) – 65% but i am feeling extremely motivated since the last three years to do well (last 2 years of grad=74%).
    I do not have a job in hand right now therefore.there is a pressure to do an MBA this year.
    This being the situation now my questions are
    Should i take in this year or appear for CAT again next year ?
    With my acads do i stand a chance to get into a top college and how much minimum CAT%ile would i require ?
    Have people previously converted to top tier colleges with my sort of acads ?
    I know the question is too big but just a query from a desperate engineer who wants to do well..
    Thanks in advance for your precious time sir.

    • Vishal, with a 40 day preparation you have got a decent score and should be able to cross 95%ile with a better preparation in retake. Given your acads track record IIM A, B and C are unlikely unless you get a 100%ile but most of the other top MBA institutes will not be a problem since they have a low/no weight for past academics. For FMS, IIT Mumbai and other IIMs you will need a score of 99%ile all other top institutes like MDI, NITIE, IITs etc 97%ile is a safe score. Howeverr you should pick up a job and prepare siultaneously as you will need to focus on practice and testing which will need a couple of hours on weekdays and about 6-8 hour on holidays. However if you convert TAPMI you can consider joining it.

  453. Sir,
    My academics score are as below with 44 months work ex in PSU Bank by the time i appear for CAT 14.
    Xth- 81 %
    XIIth- 57 %
    B.E- 55%
    What percentile is mininum to get a chance for IIM’s in OBC Category….
    Thanks

    • Abhinav, with your low academics, despite OBC category, you will need a score of 99%ile to get a call from the tip IIMs. However with a 44 month work experience my suggestion is to take GMAT and go for a 1 year MBA program from ISB Hyderabad and other top MBA institutes outside India.
      Please send a mail to Ms Shradha Dave at shradha.dave@careerlauncher.com along with your resume for guidance.

  454. Sir, suppose a student with poor academics gets into any of iim then doesn’t he face problem at placements with criteria companies keep for shortlisting students.

  455. Hello GP Sir

    I wanted to ask a pretty trivial question.If i score a 99+ in CAT with 2 years of work ex and 90.12% in class X and 88.03% in class XII but only 74.50% in graduation(mechanical engineering), will I have a good chance of making it to the top 4 IIMs in the country?

    Also, I wanted to ask if getting anything between 70-80% in graduation amounts to the same score while evaluating the candidates for the final shortlist. I mean will it matter if I get 74.50% or 76.50% in graduation?

    • Madhuraj, due to 74.5% in graduation IIMA is ruled out unless you have a 100%ile in CAT. For IIMB you work experience of 2 years will compensate for less than 80% in graduation and you can get interview call at 99%ile. IIMC does not consider graduation marks but typically requires over 99.5%ile for a call. IIML will not be a problem.
      The bracket for marks are 75% to 80% or 76& to 80% and hence 74.5% will be at a level lower than 76.5%.

  456. hello sir….
    i have a query.

    I have 83.4% in X standard, 71.4% in XII standard and 74% in graduation (engineering). i will be graduating in 2014. I appeared for CAT-13 with lots of preparation and hope but i could score only 68 percentile.
    sir, i would like to know that, does one year drop without work experience affect chances to get admission in IIMs.

    • palchhin, a drop year does not adversely affect your chances of making it to IIMs and other top institutes. However if you put in a serious effort the last time then my suggestion will be to pick up a job and prepare simultaneously. A retake preparation needs to focus on practice and testing so a couple of hours on weekdays and 6-8 hours on holidays are sufficient.

      • thank you sir for your kind advice.
        but sir, after CAT-13 i have lost confidence and i fear that i would not be able to focus on my preparation for CAT-14 if a take up a job.

          • sir, what if i don’t take up a job and prepare for CAT-14? Will i get IIMs?
            and does a job at any NGO count in work experience?

          • Palchin, a drop of 1 year can be explained and is not a problem for admission to IIMs and a NGO work experience is also not a problem.

  457. Hello gp sir,
    i m ishit again.sir i am in 6th sem ece.but i dont like engineering.i dont want to do job after engg.my engg. will complete in june 2015.but my passion is in marketing field,not in engg.so i will give cat 2015.i have 18 months to prepare for cat and i am sure that i wiil get 90+ percentile in cat.so in this situation i have no work ex.so iims are not possible.but can i get addmissions in below iim colleges like nirma uni,etc…?
    10th -89%
    12th-66%
    graduation-60%(expected)
    no work experience
    cat – 90+percentile(expected)
    so in this situation can i get addmission in nirma?

    • Ishit, since there is sufficient time you should go for CAT’14 itself, if you do not make it to a good institute then CAT’15 can in any case be considered. There is no point in wasting a year after graduation. A 90%ile in CAT Nirma is possible, a score of over 95%ile will get you calls from most of the good MBA institutes.

  458. Hello Sir,
    Am sorry for posting another query on this thread. I gave a sincere attempt at CAT’13, but failed dismally. One major factor was my job and the work pressure. I’ve a work-ex of 2yrs now and I’ve quit my job and be relieved by June. I’m going to prepare for CAT’14 full fledged. What am really worried of is, will the gap for the next one year completely hamper my chances during PIs and spoil my B’School dreams??? Has someone before secured an admission despite quitting his/her job for exam preparations???

    • Gopal, yes other students have made it to the IIMs and other B schools after leaving their job for preparation. While my recommendation is to prepare along with your job but since you have already quit, make it count by getting a 99%ile in CAT.

  459. I have 87%-in X,
    88% -in XII ,but will expecting something between 74-79% in Btech.
    Is it possible to get to IIM A,B,C,K with this score considering there selection criteria & AR.?

    • Bibhu, based on the CAT’13 criteria A and B are unlikely (due to less than 80% in graduation) unless you get a 100%ile in CAT but all other IIMs, XLRI, FMS etc are not a problem.

  460. Hello Sir,
    Sir 1 of my friends is studying in IIM Ranchi. He scored D grade in 4 subjects in his 3rd term exam. And We have heard that if we score 4 D grades than college people may throw you out. Do you have any idea about this criteria?? Give some suggestion, how to get out of this worst situation.??

    Looking forward for your positive response.

    • Sheetal, all IIMs have a provision wherein a student who is below a certain level is asked to leave the institute. Each IIM has its own criteria for this. The only way to avoid this situation is to be regular in your academics from the first day of the program.

  461. hello , sir I am in 6th sem BTech. & my final year classes will begin from july this year. Till now I haven’t prepared anything for CAT. Should I appear for CAT this year or wait for a year & appear next year(with proper coaching). Is it possible to prepare for CAT in just 6 months(CAT ’14)?
    I have 87%-in X,88% -in XII ,but will expecting something between 74-79% in Btech. Is it possible to get to IIM A,B,C,K with this score considering there selection criteria & AR.?

    • Bibhu, my suggestion is to start preparing immediately and go for CAT’14. The best time to prepare is along with your college and if unfortunately you do not make it to any good institute then CAT’15 is in any case available to you. Once you start working job cannot be ignored and it is not advisable too sit and home after graduation for preparation. You will need to put in some extra effort but preparation is possible in 6 months.

  462. I got a 89% in my X, a 85% in my XII and a 62% in my B.Com(H) (2013)..i also passed my IPCC (both groups) after graduating i started with my articleship (CA) and continued with it for 10 months…but now I want to start my own business ,become an entrepreneur and wish to do MBA before it so i quit my articleship last month and have even joined CL to prepare for CAT/XAT …since i am doing nothing nothing now …i want to ask will my gap be considered since articleship is not counted as a job experience ?

    • Taranum, it will be considered as a gap. Articleship is a part of CA and shows continuity. Idelly you should continue with your articleship and prepare for CAT simultaneously.

  463. Quite awesome sir !
    Sir, I scored 77% in tenth , 83% in XII , and I completed my mechanical engineering with 61% in 2013 ! I didnt do any job till date. If I were to attempt CAT will I have trouble in the interviews about my 1 year long break ? Will the Bank PO coaching anyway help me in CAT prep or should I take CAT coaching ?

    Thanks in advance sir !

    • Saratchandra, in the interviews you will be asked about your break. However the earlier you pick up a job the better it will be for you. A 2 year break is a bit difficult to explain. For MBA preparation go for CAT coaching.

  464. sir i got 91.2 percentile in maharashtra cet score is 104 OMS category .. how should i proceed next and what colleges can i get >?

  465. Dear GP Sir,

    Thanks for the reply again.I did not get through the Gurgaon PGPM.I think the fact that I have left my job scored negatives for me.Now this has really started worrying me.I am confident that if i study smartly enough I can crack the exams but I need to know whether leaving a job for betterment can be such a detterent and have people who left their jobs and prepared gotten throug??.Please help Sir.

    • Shuvayan, you are also in a sense over qualified with a 4 year work experience. Take GAMT and go for 1 year MBA of ISB. Leaving the job is not an issue but you should pick up one now since retake or GMAT preparation will take less time as compared to your previous attempt.

      • Dear GP Sir,

        I am planning to apply to SOIL as their admissions are open.Though I wanted to get into an excellent school by giving GMAT & CAT,I do realise that 1 year MBA is the best option for me.Now for that I can either wait to take GMAT & try for ISB,even in which case(considering i get through-my profile is pretty average:
        Xth-85,XIIth-88,B.tech-84.No exceptional extra/co curriculars.Experience wise also my profile is decent.I have seen the profiles of people in ISB & I do not think that my profile is that good.Also even if i do get into ISB,there will be a gap of 1 year as their course will start next year.
        Keeping these points in mind I have decided to give a shot at SOIL.
        But I need some expert advice as MBA is ultimately about long term value addition and ofcourse package. 🙂

        • Shuvayan, your career is significantly influenced by the institute you do you MBA from and SOIL is unlikely to provide a significant push to your career. If doing an MBA is not essential this year it will be worthwhile to pick up a job and go for ISB next year. You have a decent academic and work profile and a good GMAT score is the missing link. Suggest you meet with the students of SOIL to get a good idea of its placement scenario.

  466. I scored 85% in 10th class
    and 92% in 12th (humanities)
    I didn’t study maths in my 11th or 12th. I had difficulty in doing it in first attempt so I am trying again.
    I scored 76% in BA hons applied psychology at DU (waiting for last sem result)
    I am taking a break for a year to give CAT N XAT…I would be doing freelance writing but apart from that, I am taking a break to focus on CAT n XAT….
    what chances do I have?

    • Monisha, it should not be a problem but will be good if you can show full time work experience.
      Given you excellent academic record your target has to be the top 20 institutes. With a BA in Applied Psychology HR programs of XLRI and TISS should be high on your priority and these two do not need high score in QA. What were your sectional and overall CAT and XAT scores this year.

  467. what a miracle … bows to u..
    hope u can also help me sir.
    I just passed out B.com with just 60 %
    my X = 65 %
    12 th = 72%

    i am confused for which coaching center shuld i chose
    CL or IMS or TIMES? ….
    and with my past scores.. which B-school i shuld join ?
    Which branch shuld i take in MBA ?(i am good with computer knowledge and accounting)
    I heard CL is a advanced coaching technique .. and most of b.tech students go to there…
    is it true that colleges chose b.com students over b.tech students ?
    Thank u

    • Sidharth, based on the current criteria, with your X, XII and Graduation marks the top IIMs are not possible unless you get a 100%ile in CAT. The other IIMs, XLRI, FMS, IITs, MDI and all other institutes have a low/no weight for past academics and hence are not a problem.
      Regarding the institute, I will obviously recommend CL 🙂 but you should do your own research and decide.
      Colleges do not have any specific preference for engineers but most institutes have a greater number of engineers because of their greater comfort with Maths.

  468. Sir,
    I m an engineering student in 1 of the reputed colleges in Odisha.
    My career profile is as follows
    I.C.S.E 10th:96%
    C.H.S.E(ODISHA STATE BOARD):77%
    Cgpa(up to 5th semester): 8.00
    I m a CAT 2014 aspirant..do i stand a chance to get calls from top IIMS given to a high CAT score?
    My 12th score really bothers me and i feel like giving up.
    Your suggestion would certainly light this confusion.
    Thanks.

    • Megha, Do not get disheartened you have a good academic track record but with less than 80% in XII you will need a high CAT score to have a chance in the top IIMs. If you are a general category candidate then you should target a score of over 99.5%ile in CAT. To improve your chances push try improving your B.Tech CGPA to 8.5

    • Dheeraj, IIMC is possible but it usually requires over 99.5%ile. IIM A and B also consider graduation scores but if that too is below 80% then these two are unlikely unless you get a 100%ile in CAT. With a couple of years of work experience the score required for IIMB can come down.

  470. Respected gp sir,
    I m ishit.i m in 6th sem ece.(b.e.).our university consider only last 4 sem performance for counting cgpa.i got 6 spi in 5th sem.in 10th-89% and in 12th-66%.
    sir ,I read your story.it is very motivated for a student like me.sir my dream is to get admission in iim c.i will do anything for it.plz advice me on my 3 question.
    1.is there any possibility for me to get admission in iim c?
    2.if yes then how much cgpa is required in be?
    3.how much work experience will need?
    4.how much cat score I have to get?
    plz only consider iim c criteria.plzz..tell me my future plan to get into iim c.your answer will make my life sir…egarly waiting for your ans..

    • ishit, IIMC considers only X and XII marks for interview call while IIM A and B consider marks of graduation also. With a 66% in XII you will need a high score in CAT. A general category candidate need over 99.5%ile for IIMC and you should target over 99.8%ile.

  471. i m a btech passout 2013 agg 70 percent
    XII 71.2
    X 86.8
    i want to write iift 2014 and plan to convert it .. what are my chances? and i have done a good voluntering work from july 2013 to february 2014 .. will this count ? and after preparing for 8 months i plan to work for 6-7 months before i join mba in 2015 .. can u help me please ?????

    • sw, most institutes outside the IIMs have low/no weight for past academic record and IIFT is no different. Volunteering is always helpful in the interview provided it was a genuine effort and not done for an impressive CV.

      • thanks a lot for your help ,, can u please guide me how should i prepare for iift ? and anything which can make my resume strong

        • sw, prepare for CAT and IIFT will be taken care of. You should plan to take CAT, XAT, IIFT, SNAP and NMAT. It does not make sense to focus only on one test.

  472. Hello sir,

    My 10th %age- 80.2
    12th %age- 60
    B. Tech – 74.56%

    I am a student of CL Agra. I need to know what kind of prep should i do to get into top notch B- schools. Apart from academics if we are looking for entrepreneurship exposure and learning which colleges would you suggest?

    Please provide your guidance sir.

    • Rohit, all the top 40 MBA institutes are good and they will provide you with good education and exposure. Entrepreneurship is a trait of an individual and cannot be taught. Your focus at present should be on ensuring a good score in CAT/XAT and other MBA entrances and to do well in your college/work.

  473. SIR I HAVE SECURED
    10 CBSE-84%
    12CBSE-79%
    BTECH ECE- 67%
    I HAVE 2 YEAR GAP AFTER BTECH WITHOUT ANY JOB OR CERTIFICATION
    WHAT ARE CHANCES FOR IIMS AND FMS..

    • Akshay, the gap can be explained and students with gap also make it to IIMs and other top MBA institutes. However two year gap is not common and a bit more difficult to justify. It will be prudent for you to pick up a job and prepare simultaneously as no one can guarantee admission to a good MBA institute.

  475. Hello Sir,

    I scored 83% in X and
    65% in XII with less than 50% in mathematics.
    Am I eligible to apply and be selected in FMS ?

  476. Respected GP Sir,
    For your information, I am an engineering graduate passout of 2010 and have a 3 years IT experience. I would like to take a consulting/IT role post MBA and dont have a huge fascination for finance.
    I had all IIM calls except from C this year. I also wrote GMAT and appeared for ISB, Hyderabad around January (Round-II applicant). I have converted ISB. Because the IIM results would take tim to come, I had to pay the admission amount of Rs. 2 lakhs in advance at ISB and reserve my seat.
    Now I am confused about whether I should join ISB or IIM-A/B if I convert. I would like to know your suggestion on which B-school would serve me better. Kindly advice me if ISB-Hyderabad 1 year PGP scores over IIM-A 2 year PGP programme for people with work-experience.

    • Rahul, while ISB is among the top institutes in the country it is still rated below the top IIMs. The placement opportunities in A & B are significantly better than that of ISB hence you should prefer IIM A and B over ISB. While ISB will help you save a year but I think that the extra 1 year in A or B will provide better quality of placements.

      • Thanks for the reply sir.What would you advise when it comes to choosing ISB versus IIM-Lucknow/XLRI/FMS etc? Also, can you please explain why is it that if IIM A/B are significantly better than ISB in terms of placements etc, it is only ISB which comes in the global rankings of top 50 colleges? Also, I heard IIM-A/B/C are better for finance, marketing profiles and ISB for IT Systems so could ISB be better for someone like me who wants a top-notch systems profile?

        • Rahul, I would prefer FMS to ISB because of its significantly lower fee. I would be indifferent to ISB Vs IIML Vs XLRI since they are at par wrt placements. ISB will save a year but will cost more.
          My order of preference is a function of placements and fee while most of the B school rankings take into account many other factors that I do not have the capability or the expertise to measure. All these factors are inputs for a good institute. For example evaluating the intellectual capital or the amount/quality of research by an institute are inputs that are beyond me. The quality of placements is a measurable output and if it is good I assume that the inputs are also fine. All three top IIMs A, B and C have a strong IT/systems faculty and are able to provide as good if not better profiles for students specialising in IT/systems.

          • A really great, well informed and well balanced reply sir! Clears a lot of my doubts. Thanks a lot!

  477. Sir, my marks in ICSE ,ISC are 82% and 86% respectively.I am in my second year of B.Tech still having a C.G.P.A. of 8.5.But the problem is that I am not from such a recognised university.Will that affect my chances in IIM’s?I am very much tensed with this.

    • Pratik, the name of your college is not important. Calls are a function of your marks in X, XII, Graduation and your CAT score. In the interview also your knowledge of subjects in Engineering will be evaluated and not the reputation of your college. With more than 80% in X, XII and a CGPA of 8.5 you have a good chance of calls from all IIMs. Focus on your CAT preparation and do not let such minor issues worry you.

  478. sir,i have passed icse with 93% and isc with 76%.i am a student of b.sc chem hons.i am preparing for cat but i saw iim’s emphasize on class 10 and 12 as well as graduation scores.i know i wont get great percentages in graduation as i am doing it from calcutta university.i want to ask you whether i would be eligible for iimc if i score well in cat and get maybe 60-70% in graduation?if yes, how much should i score in cat?

    • soumyaroop, while IIM A and B require a good performance in X, XII and graduation, IIM C considers only X and XII marks which are good for you but it typically requires over 99.5%ile in CAT for a call. All other IIMs are possible at a score in excess of 98%ile. Asa fresher for IIM A and B you will need to get a 100%ile for a call.

  479. Sir,
    With 90.8% in 10th(CBSE) , 78% in 12th(CBSE) and presently in 3rd year with CGPA(7.4),do i have a chance of getting into IIM-A,B,C and what percentile I need to score for it!

    Pratim

    • Pratim, because of less than 80% in XII and graduation IIM A and B are difficult unless you get a 100%ile in CAT. IIMC is not an issue but it typically requires over 99.5%ile for a call. All other IIMs are possible for you at a score of over 98%ile.

  480. Sir,
    I have completed my B.E in a span of 4 and half years instead of 4, Except NMIMS am i eligible for other B-Schools? Can i still aspire for CAT,XAT and other competitive exams??

  481. Sir i am studying in NIT S
    My scores are
    x- 87%
    xii- 89%
    btech- 77%
    i am preparing for CAT 14. What are my chances to get in IIM ABC if i score greater than 99 %ile
    would the normalization of marks in case of IIM B be of any good considering my less than 80% marks in graduation.

    • Karan, because of less than 80% in graduation IIM A and B are difficult unless you get a 100%ile in CAT. IIMC is not an issue but it typically requires over 99.5%ile for a call. All other IIMs are possible for you at a score of over 98%ile.

  482. SIR
    MY PROFILE IS
    10th 60%
    12th-68%
    b.pharm-60(upto4-1)
    sir i am from a small college
    and i want to do mba fron top b -schools most probably from iims. do i have any chance of getting into iims. i belong to reserved category .what should be my cat score to get into top b-schools.. for pharmacy students is this field good to choose?
    thank you sir in advance

  483. Hi,
    My academic records are as follows:
    10th – 93.76%
    12th – 91%
    Dip in AME – 90%
    BBA(CA)-49.46%
    M.Sc(IT)-80%

    Will I be eligible to write CAT and do I stand a chance of IIMs?
    Thanks
    Meghana

    • Meghana, despite you brilliant record in X and XII you may not be eligible for IIMs (and CAT) due to less than 50% in BBA. If you Dip in AME is considered equivalent to graduation then you have a very good chance of getting into the top IIMs.

  484. Dear GP Sir,

    I am planning to apply to the BLP of SOIL as I am having 4 yrs of exp in TCS as of now.I had resigned recently as I wanted to prepare for CAT ’14.I cam to know about SOIL just two days back.Though everything about the institution looks good to me,i would be grateful if you can please provide me with some expert advice on whether to join or not(If i get selected 🙂 )..Thanks

    • Shuvayan, SOIL started on a positive note but has not really picked up. For someone with a 4 year experience my suggestion will be to take GMAT and traget ISB Hyderabad or top institutes outside India.

      • Dear GP Sir,

        Thanks a lot for the reply.I have received a call for GD/PI from Great Lakes,Gurgaon and I will be attending it.I am not certain about joining the course as of now,as i am getting mixed reviews.So could you please guide me.Also I am considering ISB through GMAT as going abroad is not an option for me.

        • Shuvayan, ISB or PGPX (from IIMs) through GMAT will be my preference for you but you should go through the GL interview.

          • Dear GP Sir,
            I had my GL interview today.It was pretty cool except that I could not give the figure for INDIA’s GDP & they were not satisfied with my stagnation factor for quitting my job.According to them I should not have taken this risk,to which I replied that considering the exposure and career growth which an MBA will give me,the risk was worth taking as anyways I was not happy in my job & I could not have taken the same risk after some more years when I have dependants.I am not sure how they interpreted this but it seems like I again have to get a job as a coder and prepare along with it.Can you please guide me Sir.I really hate to code.

          • Shuvayan, the interview appears to be okay, let us hope for the best. I will not read too much in their not being convinced since it is their job to disagree with you.

  485. SIR
    my profile is
    10th -92%
    12th-86.5%
    b.tech-80.29%(mechanical)2013-passed out
    and one or two extra activities
    i dropped a year to prepare for ies.but now i wanted to go for mba that to in iim.do i have any chance…..even if i get into iims will i get selected in placements.what should be my cat score to get into iims???

    • Sri, you have a good academic record and hence all IIMs are possible for you. A general category candidate typically needs over 99.5%ile for IIMC and with your academic record top IIMs are possible at 99%ile while the others will need over 98%ile. Many students get into the IIMs after dropping a year and in placements your performance in MBA is the focus area and not your drop year. Suggest that you pick up a job and prepare simultaneously.

    • Sri, you can get into the IIMs even after dropping a year for IES. With a good academic record you have good chances of a call from the IIMs if you do well in CAT. Pick up a job immediately and also start preparing for CAT’14. Which category do you belong to – General, OBC, SC, ST?

  486. Greetings Sir,

    Sir my scores in my exams are like this:

    10th ICSE: 82%

    12th CBSE: 80%

    and 80% in BCA.

    I have no work experience Sir and I want to take CAT 2014, what are my chances to get the IIMs. My main aim is to get into a good IIM. Im ready to work hard, please guide me in this regard sir.
    Thank you in advance.

    • Pratik, with 80% or more in X, XII and graduation you have a good chance of getting a call from all the IIMs and your interview calls now are a function of your CAT percentile so focus on your preparation. If in the final year do ensure that your graduation percentage does not fall bellow 80%.

      • Thanks a lot Sir,
        I have one more query sir, please guide me, I am thinking of joining CL classes in Raipur, are they as good as in any other place conducting CL. As for CAT’14 only about 7-8 months left, is that enough?
        To be honest sir, I’ve always been keen towards learning English and being a science student my Maths is also good, I had even scored well in my Maths Olympiads that I took in my school time but I know that CAT is a whole new level. And most of all I’m willing to work hard and give my best, so according to you is 7-8 months enough? I’m a bit low in confidence and I need your guiding words.
        Thank you 🙂

        • Pratik, 7-8 months are enough to clear CAT. Suggest that you visit the Raipur and Bhilai centers and meet with the faculty and Center head and then decide. Raipur is being run by Ms Priyanka Singh who is a very good quant faculty and Bhilai is run by Mr Siddharth who is a XLRI graduate.

  487. sir
    i am 2013 passed out (mechanical)
    i love mechanical engineering(upto graduation),at the same time i wanted a better position in the field of management,but after coming out of the college i am very confused,,”that should i join a job or should i prepare for cat or should i prepare for ies,,,finally i joined coaching for ies blindly….but after some days i strted to think about cat and iim….but the whole year i kept idle preparing for ies iknow that ies is not my goal finally i understood what i needed (that is iim)..now i left ies coaching trying for some jobs,, i am above 80%candidate from schooling.,,is it possible to get into iims if i get some above average score in cat even after wasting i whole year of time.. sir reply plzzz
    if i join a job now can i ask my hr to give additional experience certificate will the iim and recruiting companies do the background check up???

    • Dear Sriman,

      1) Do not put your career at risk by opting for fraudulent methods. You are likely to get caught and may have to pay a heavy price for your mistake.

      2) One gap year does not mean an end to your chances of securing admission to top b-schools, including the IIMs. Prepare well for your entrance tests, score well and you will be able to get through to good b-schools.

      3) Getting a job while preparing for entrance tests will be good for you as your work-experience will boost your profile.

      • sir
        i am 2013 passed out(mechanical engineering)from a small college, upto now i have been preparing for some psu’s,i wanted to do my mba from iim..but it,s been late so now i am thinking to join mba(finance and minor) in osmania university-in 2015, after completing it…
        can i join iim for a different specialisation(marketing and other minor). i would really like to learn about both marketing and finance because i got some ideas regarding my own bussiness! is it good to proceed in that way.
        i have 92%in 10th
        87% in intermediate
        82% in b.tech

        with regards

        • Sriman, You can apply to IIM’s later on for any specialization. You can also join the FPM program of the IIM’s
          You have decent academic grades. Probably will make more sense for you to work for a year and try CAT again
          You might contact your nearest CL center for counselling

  488. Hello Sir. I’m persuing Bachelors in Electronics and Communication Engineering.I’m in my final year and my B.E aggregate is 60%,10th- 80.62%,12th-47.8%.
    I don’t wish for IIM’s but I really want to get admission into any of the top 20 Colleges. My Maths is very good and I’m a blogger. I’ve some decent extra curriculars. I’ll be giving CAT-14 and CMAT.Should I join any company to gain some experience of 8-10 months or so or just concentrate on my CAT preparations.I have time so can I join any company along with my CAT preparations going on?.I want to do MBA this year.
    Thank you in advance.

    • Dear Dhruvv,

      Working somewhere while preparing for entrance exams is certainly advisable. You work experience will add value to your candidature. Further, it will give you additional points to talk about in your interviews. Otherwise, it may be difficult for you to justify a gap year. Hence, it is advisable that you take up a job while preparing for entrance exams.

  489. Dear Sir,

    How good are the PGPM(Energy) of Great Lakes/ICICI Business Leadership programs??I am a 2009 B.Tech (2009,EE) and worked in TCS for around 4 years.I am very much interested in the Energy Management course but I don’t know whether being in IT for 4 years will be a hindrance during placements.
    As for the ICICI program,it seems lucrative but I am not sure of it’s worth.
    I want to get into a program this year itself.
    Please provide some guidance Sir.

    Thanks

    • Shvuvayan, ICICI business leadership program is good and can be considered. Energy Management is not recommended for someone with 4 years work experience. My suggestion is to take GMAT and try for 1 year programs ISB Hyderabad and other good institutes outside India.

  490. sir my academc credentials are like this iam an product of sainik school imphal manipur.
    class x cbse is 93 percent
    class xii cbse is 78.4 percent agg, and 82 percent in PCM.
    BE in ELECTRONICS and comm.. RGPV BHOPAL is 69.88% passed out in 2010 followed by 2 years of experience in crompton and greaves. sir do i have a chance to make it to the top b schools for my future dreams. or should i go for my MASTER IN ENGIII AND THEN GO FOR MY MBA , your views towards this matter is highly crucial, i am an excellent debator, extempore speaker, has both NCC-A. NCC-B CERTIFICATES, AND VERY GOOD FOOTBAL PLAYER………REGARDS khan

    • Monis, with your graduation marks IIM A is unlikely unless you get a 100%ile in CAT. All other IIMs are possible for you. IIMC typically needs over 99.5%ile while with a 2+ year work experience IIMB can call you at a score in excess of 95%ile also. All other IIMs are possible at a score of over 98%ile.

      • thank u sir,,these days domain focuss mba are also in demand like an mba in oil and gas from university of petroleum and energy studies dehradun.
        sir what is your view towards this college and the core domain mba programmes..
        if a person do m.tech with more then 75 percent marks, then his b.tech marks will be considerd by IIMs or his m.tech marks.your views are higly anticipiated by me sir,, i hope i can cherish my dreams..

        • Dear Monis,

          UPES is a decent institute and its core MBA programme can be considered. Your graduation marks are considered by most institutes, not your marks in M. Tech. However, a good performance in M. Tech will certainly be an advantage.

  491. sir , i am in 6th sem ECE my marks as of now are
    10 – 90%
    12-82%
    as on 6th sem my % is 76% i would be appearing for cat in 2015 do i stand a chance too get call from top IIM’s if i score 95% above in cat

    • Gagandeep, you can expect calls from almost all the IIMs given that you score 98+ percentile (99.5+ for IIM-C and L) in CAT.

      • ssc-90.92%
        hsc-92.83%

        b.e 63.33%(final year-our univ grants degree on final yr marks)

        8 sem aggregate is-59.66%.

        Can I manage to get into IIMs? which ones? at what cat score?

        • Radhika, IIMs will go for the aggregate of all semesters and hence IIM A and B are unlikely for you unless you have a 100%ile in CAT. IIMC does not consider graduation marks hence you have a good chance in it however one typically needs over 99.5%ile for a call. Other IIMs are possible at a score above 98%ile.

  492. ANks, you have chances of getting into premier institutes in India. You’ll have to score well in CAT. For the coveted IIM-A, L ABM programmes, you should aim for 95+ percentile in CAT. You can also consider writing IRMA test.

  493. Sir,
    10th- 59%
    12th-67%
    Graduation ( Agri. Engg.)
    Do i have any chances of getting into good colleges?
    I prefer Agri-Business related courses. How much should i suppose to score in CAT? do i really have a chance in ABM or any mainstream field?

  494. First of all.. a big thanks for your all the efforts to solve the queries.
    I have gone through your replies, like others i have small question.
    1. I have gap of 2 years after SSC, Due to bad financial condition. and i dont have any experience certificate as well.
    does this will affect while applying IIMs or any other B School?

    Waiting for your reply!!!

    • Sushant, this can be explained and will not impact you adversely. Focus on your preparation and we will discuss how to handle this at an appropriate stage.

  495. Hi Sir,
    I am in 2nd sem and im pursuing BBA.
    Having 2 extra years for sitting in management entrance examination,i want to utilise this time.
    Can you please guide me regarding how I can start utilising the time rightly and at what portions i have to concentrate on and please suggest me some books for the right preparations.

    • Vishakha, since you will be taking CAT’15 you should start your structured preparation latest by Nov’14, meanwhile you can consider the following:
      1. read a newspaper daily – indian Express or Hindu.
      2. revise maths from IX and X standard books.
      3. read novels/books of different types by different authors.
      4. ensure a good performance in BBA, if possible target over 80%.

    • eva, CAT preparation is not a full time job and hence it is suggested that you pick up a job and prepare along with it especially if you have already prepared for it once. Job also acts as a back up option and is also helpful in the interview.

  497. I scored 82% in ssc, 58% in hsc and 70% in tybcom. I have 18 months work experience. I worked as a dealer with a stock broker. I’m planning to appear for CAT 2014. Can i get admission in Top IIM’s with decent CAT score?

    • Manish, with 58% in XII and 70% in graduation the top IIMs (A, B and C) are unlikely unless you score 100%ile in CAT. All other IIMs and other top B schools are not a problem. Other IIMs will need at least 98%ile while a 97%ile can get you calls from top non IIMs. Given that you are from Mumbai, JBIMS is a very good option.

      • Thanks a lot Sir for your guidance. I have one more query. How much marks are required in SNAP to get call from SIBM? Can I also appear for SNAP along with CAT? Do SNAP require different practice strategies?

  498. Sir,
    I have the following academic qualification.
    X: 90%(Orissa state Board)
    XII:79.33%(Orissa state Board)
    B.tech in ECE:9.87(CGPA),91.2%

    I wanted to know will my XII grade affect my chance in IIM.The score I need to score for getting into IIM.
    Thanks and looking forward to your reply

    • iter, your very good performance in X and Graduation will hopefully help overcome the less than 80% in XII. IIM C typically requires over 99.5%ile in CAT while the other top IIMs are possible at a score 99%ile, for other IIMs you should have over 98%ile.

  499. Hello Sir,
    I have very low academic profile.X=59% XII=51% .
    In BE my aggregate is 43% if all 8 semesters are included.But our University(VTU) gives degree class based on 5th to 8th semesters only which is 52% in my case.Also on 8th Sem marks card the agrregate is given of 5th to 8th semester. So am I eligible for MBA through CAT? I will score good percentage in Entrance Exam Im confident of it. If Im not eligible for CAT then which is the best Institute for me to do MBA in India? Or is it advisable to do Executive-MBA after 5-7 years of experience? Am I eligible for Executive-MBA? Please Help Sir.Thanks a lot

    • Venkatesh, unfortunately IIMs look at your graduation percentage based on all 8 semesters so I do not think you are eligible for CAT. While you might be eligible for some other papers/MBA institutes my suggestion is to pick up a job and go for 1 year executive MBA programs after 3-5 years as work experience will be able to compensate for your poor performance in graduation.

  500. hello sir, i have 10th-82%
    12th-49%
    grad-6.76cgpa
    sir is there any chance for me to got into any top institute of india for MBA as my 12th is very low. please guide me. thnk you

  501. Respected sir,

    First of all, thank you for your wonderful blog.
    Secondly, just like others i was confused about giving CAT or not because of my bad 10+2.

    Here it is,
    10th – 71%
    12th – 64%
    B.Tech – 75%
    Should i give CAT?
    Do i stand any chance in any of the IIMs or FMS or XLRI?
    i heard XLRI allows people with only 5 yrs of work ex.
    is it true or a fresher can also apply?

    • Sagar, with your X, XII and graduation marks IIM A, Band C are unlikely unless you get a 100%ile in CAT. All other IIMs, FMS, XLRI and other top institutes are not a problem.
      Freshers are eligible for the top two programs of XLRI – Business Management (BM) and HRM.

  502. Sir,
    My Acad. are as following=> 10th =>61%(CBSE)- 2006 pass out , 12th => 66% (CBSE)-2008 pass out, B.Sc Multimedia & Animation => 59% {2012} . work ex => as of now 20 months , till Fed 2014. I am a male , General Category Candidate. In this 20 months i work with one national news channel for 6 months & then left my job to work as a Freelancer project & recently join a VFX company (Jan. 2014). I have experience to work with both film ( Hollywood & Bollywood) & T.V. as an Digital artist.

    Sir, can u please tell me the chances of which IIM should i target? and required percentiles approximately for them. .

    Apart from IIM’s does my profile fit for other top B School like XLRI, spjain, FMS, JBIMS, MDI, MICA, NMIMS,SIBM,TISS etc.

    THANKS in advance.

    • Sourav, apologise for the delay in responding to your query.
      Among the top IIMs A and C are unlikely for you due to low marks in X, XII and graduation, IIM B is possible due to your work experience. All other IIMs and other top B schools are possible. You should target at least 98%ile in CAT for the IIMs. FMS requires 99%ile in CAT while other top institutes are possible at a score of 97%ile. Very few good MBA institutes are available below 95%ile. Your profile is good for MBA in marketing.

      • Thanks for your advice.
        I have one more doubt. My collage is affiliated to one of the distance university (PTU) but we attend collage as same as regular university for that they give us diploma.

        Thus distance university affect my chance in iim or any other top institute because i heard that due to distance university degree i am not eligibility in NMIMS.

        THANKS in advance.

  503. I am currently pursuing BA LLB from a top NLU. I wish to write CAT.My previous records are
    10th-87%
    12th-68%
    BALLB(pursuing)- CGPA-6.2
    I am an OBC candidate.What are my possibilities.

    • Munna, 68% in XII and CGPA of 6.2 reduce your chances but as a OBC candidate from Law you have good chance of making it to the top IIMs with a score of 97%ile. all other IIMs are possible with a CAT score of 93%ile.

  504. Sir, I am currently in my second year pursuing BA ECO (hons). Following is my academic record:

    10th: CGPA 9.6
    12th: 83.8%
    1st year score: 88.7%

    I will be appearing for CAT’15 and just wanted to know if i will be able to qualify for calls from IIMs with a >95 percentile. Thanks.

    • Ananya, a general cartegory candidates needs a CAT score of over 99.5%ile for IIMC, over 99%ile for IIM A and B and over 98%ile for all other IIMs.

  505. I have 94% 10th 81% 12th. But the problem is that my Bachelors perc are 61% from university of pune, which has an average percentage of 65-69%.Am I eligible for any IIM or does my Bachelor percentage rule me out?? How am I supposed to compete with students who get >80% in their universities(ours had a topper at 80%) Although there is a percentage to CGPA calculation authorised by our universities which makes my cgpa 7.5, will that be considered.

    • Rajas, you are eligible since you have over 50% in graduation. CGPA conversion will not help since the university gives percentage. IIM B has a normalisation process that will help you but the others do not and IIMC does not consider graduations marks. Given your graduation marks IIM A and B are difficult unless you have a 100%ile in CAT. IIMC typically requires 99.7%ile and other IIMs are possible at 98%ile.

      • Hi,
        If I’m not wrong even IIM-I , L and K need graduation percentage. Or is it not that important in these 3 if you’ve got good CAT score? Especially IIM I surely considers graduation marks for application rating. Can my less graduation marks be covered by a good cat score for these 3 IIM’s??

        • Rajas, IIM C does not consider graduation marks so it is not an issue. IIMB has a normalisation process so it can be covered to some extent but 61% is very ow and hence for IIM A and B you will need a 100%ile for these two. The other IIMs also have a weight for past acads but it is not as rigourous and/or they give a larger number of calls so interview calls are possible at lower CAT score as well.

  506. I have 91.5% in x(state board), 73% in xii(state board), and 70% in b.tech(ee) without any work experience. Do I hold a chance to get selected in any top IIM ? If so how much percentile will make it possible?

    • Saikat, with the current selection criteria, less than 80% in XII and graduation rules you out of IIM A and B unless you have a score of 100%ile. IIM C requires around 99.7%ile. All other IIMs are possible at a score in excess of 98%ile

  507. My scores are as follows
    10th= 77%
    12th=77%
    B.tech=65%
    I AM GENERAL STUDENT . HOW MUCH I HAVE TO SCORE TO GET TOP IIM OR TOP B SCHOOLS.

    • Manish, with an average academic record you will need a 100%ile to get a call from IIM A and B. For IIM C you will need a score of over 99.7%ile. All other IIMs are possible at a score of over 98%ile. Other top MBA institutes are possible at a score of over 97%ile, good institutes are not possible below 90%ile in CAT.

  508. My acad. 10th- 85% , 12th – 80% , B.tech (Mech.) – 78%… Work Experience- 19 months in core engineering in reputed organisation… But now i have left my job, due to job dissatisfaction and I was unable to focus on both studies and work and was unable to give my 100% to both… I need to ask that does this leaving job for cat 2014 preparation would create any problem further during PI sessions for IIM’S and other top b-schools??

          • Sir, the worst acads u have ever seen,
            X-53.5
            XII-55
            BBA-70
            Work ex-3 years in family business. Took CAT 13 and scored 91 percentile. MAT-97.23 and MHCET-90.98. Thinking to give CAT 14 another shot. Will my acads will be a big trouble? I m very much worried. Wanted to get into IIMs/FMS/XLRI/JBIMS only. Kindly help me Sir. Feeling dejected bcoz of my past sins……
            Will be very thankful to you.
            Regards.

          • Abhinav, your acads will make getting into top IIMs difficult unless you have a 100%ile in CAT. IIMB however has high weightage for work experience and with your 3 year work experience is possible at 97%ile also. However all other MBA institutes have low/no weight for past academics and should not be a problem, your CAT/XAT score will be the critical factor in this regard. Do take GMAT also and try for 1 year MBA of ISB Hyderabad and other top institutes outside India.

  509. hi sir, i was like you when i gave my first bord exams. i used to spend most of the time in cricket n other otdoor activities. i studied for just one hour a day for my ten boards. i scored a low percentage as expected. it was 76.8% my twelve exams were a bit better because i had given a good effort one month prior to my exams. it was then i started to change. i scored 84%. i did my bsc under university of calcutta and scored 71.125% n stood first class third in my university. currently i am a student of rajabajar science college and studying radio physics and electronics and my cgpa till now is 8.7. i sat for gate this year but i lost mah father a month before that.n i couldnt do as well as i was prepared for it. i dont know whether i will get into an iit or not. my plans for giving cat is at the lst year of my mtech programme. if i get an 8.5 up in mtech will i get into iim a,b and c? and how should i prepare for the ct exams? i mean how much time should be devoted per day to get above 99percentile?

    • Prakhar, with less than 80% in X and Graduation IIM A, B and C will be difficult unless you get a 100%ile in CAT however all other IIMs, FMS, XLRI and other top MBA institutes are possible. Your rank in the university and 8.7 CGPA in M.Tech will be an advantage in the interview. It is possible that the admission criteria of the IIMs might change as it happened in CAT’13. Also you need to focus on not only the CAT/IIMs but also on other top institutes (FMS, IIFT, XLRI, MDI, IITs etc) and exams (XAT, IIFT, NMAT and SNAP)

  510. Sir,
    my name is Rahul. My acads are as follow:
    xth-64.14
    xiith-75.6
    graduation(commerce)-68.8
    cat2013-93.01.
    sir do i have a chance at any of the old iims if I try harder? And also i am planning to work at a BPO so will that be a drawback while considering work ex? and also guide about the preparation.
    thanking you.

    • Rahul, with your average academic record you will need a score of almost 100%ile to get a call from the top IIMs. However other IIMs and other top MBA institutes should not be a problem as they have a low/no weight for past academic record.
      Work in the BPO will not adversely affect your chances.

  511. My scores are as follows
    10th= 85%
    12th=66%
    B.COM=69%
    I AM OBC NC. SIR IF I SCORE ABOVE 99%TILE IN CAT 2014, WHAT ARE MY CHANCES OF GEETING IIM-A,B,C. FMS.
    PLEASE REPLY.
    ASAP

    • Gyan, you have an average academic record, as a NC-OBC candidate if you get a 99%ile in CAT’14 you will get calls from all these institutes. Actually you can get calls even at 97%ile.

  512. HI SIR,
    From last 3 years i have been dreaming of getting in to iim a…..after going through many blogs and iim selection criteria i got dissappointed and statred preparing for another competitve exams and finally joined bank of india at clerical cadre.but this year again a hope to join iim a geared me up to appear for cat 2014 ,i just want to know with the following marks is there a hope to get in to iim a
    xth -60.8 %
    xiith -66.66%
    grad(bca)-62.42 %
    job ex-till now 11 month in bank of india-head cashier cum clerk
    category-obc

    nd also appeared for ibps po-3 interview,hopfully i will be selected nd by the end of this year i will have an job ex of 15 months as cashier in bank of india nd of 6 months as officer in some other bank……..with this pathetic situation can i get into iim-a.
    i can not think of anything other intitute ….dont know y…….iim a fascinates me like anything…….
    pls answer

    n

    • Purushottam, with such acads you won’t be able to get a call from IIM-A. The only way to get a call will be to be in the top 50 ranks of your graduation-discipline.

  513. hello sir,
    i dropped an year after my XII to preapre for entrance exams and i have a reappear in one of the subjcts of my 5th sem. i am currently in 6th sem. will it affect my chances at IIMs and FMS. profile – X-87% XII-84% grad -73%

  514. hello sir,
    i am presently doing BE in CSE and currently in 6th sem. profile- X – 87% , XII – 84% and grad – 73% . I want to know my chances in IIMs and FMS . and also sir i dropped an year to prepare for entrances after XII and i have a reappear in one subject. will this affect anything?

  515. Sir, I am Giri. I am 2014 B.Tech pass out with an aggregate GPA of 8.5 from Mechanical stream and I got job in IT sector. Due to financial problems i have to do the job. My aim is IIMs. My academic background is as follows:
    X-94%
    XII-89%
    B.Tech-85%
    After having two years job experience i want to go for IIMs. So i am kindly requesting you to suggest me that is there any effect as i joined IT company with mechanical background…

  516. Sir,
    My academic record is this:
    Xth(2007): 90.48, XIIth(2009): 84.5, BA(hons)Economics(2013): 72; gap year after 12th; general category female.
    I passed out in 2013, and focused only on my preparation instead of opting for a job , since I was quite weak in quant. I prepared well, but by fate or whatever, this year I encountered technical failures(message flashed after 5 minutes, and again twice: “Your test has been terminated”) during CAT, which threw me off-track and I ended up scoring 86 percentile.
    I’m now giving job interviews and hoping I find one soon(by april end). I would like to know your opinion whether I should aim for CAT 2014 or 2015, since I certainly don’t want to compromise on the b-school I get in; my preference remains for the top 4 IIMs or FMS.
    My queries are:
    1. How should I plan things ahead to successfully get to the top IIMs?
    2. Should I target CAT 2014 with confidence, or wait to get some work-ex and target CAT 2015?

    • Sunaina, you have correctly identified Job as priority number 1 as preparation for retake is not a full time job,
      For CAT my suggestion is to target CAT’14, in case you do not make it to a good institute CAT’15 can be considered. Since you have prepared well for CAT’13 in this attempt you do not need a classroom program, you need to focus on practice and testing. My suggestion is to enroll for the Smart CAT Cracker Comprehensive which includes videos sessions, test series and test gym.

  517. Hello sir ,

    I wish to pursue MBA from any of the IIMs .
    10th –> 95.86%
    12th –> 94%
    B.E (C.S) —>8.8/10

    Presently working for a software firm with 6 months experience now . Already started preparing for CAT 2014 from last month. What are my chances for getting into IIMs ??? And also how can i prepare for verbal part in the exam ???

    • Nidhi, you have decent acads. You can get calls from all the IIMs provided that you score well in CAT.
      The verbal part is dominated by the RCs which account for roughly 40% of the verbal part. To master RCs you have to be an avid reader. Follow a daily news paper, monthly/bi-monthly magazines(Outlook/India today will do) and also novels if you are interested in. The idea should be to comprehend whatever you read. For basic vocabulary you can refer to “Word Power Made Easy” by Norman Lewis. For PC, PJ, FIBs you can refer to other articles on this blog.

  518. Sir,
    I have secured 81% and 84% in X and XII respectively and completed by b.tech with a cgpa of 7.76.Currently i’m working in a IT company. I will be targetting cat’15 so it will give me a two years of work experience. Kindly tell what are my chances to get into top b-schools like IIM A,B,C and XLRI or FMS,delhi? and how much i have to score in CAT to ensure an IIM call

    pls Help

    • Sandeep, with the current criteria due to your B.Tech CGPA (less than 8), IIM A is unlikely unless you have almost 100%ile. With 2 years work experience IIMB is possible. IIMC does not consider graduation marks but needs around 99.7%ile for a call. FMS requires around 99%ile in CAT, XLRI needs over 95%ile in XAT and both do not consider past academics for interview calls.
      My suggestion is to target CAT’14 as there is sufficient time to prepare, if you do not do well then CAT’15 is in any case available to you. Also except for IIMB you will not be able to add any other institute to your list.

  519. AM shruthi kasthuri
    category- OBC
    tenth- 92%
    inter- 92%
    degree- 80%
    can i get admission in IIM-ABC.and whatz d percentile i have to score.
    thanks in advance

    • Shruthi, an OBC candidate with excellent academic record can get a interview call from IIM A, B and C with a 95%ile in CAT.

  520. hello

    I have work experience of 15 years. I am trying to take CAT. A lot of them suggest for executive MBA but I don’t like it.

    my academic record is a sine wave

    10th = 72%
    12 = 51%
    BSc = 56 %
    MCA = 71 %

    if I can get good percentile will I have a chance of crossing the IIM gate?

    thanks

    • Ganesh, I agree with the suggestions that you have been given. With a 15 year work experience you should be looking at a 1 year Executive MBA rather than a 2 year MBA. My suggestion is to take GMAT and apply for the 1 year MBA of ISB Hyderabad or the IIMs (PGP Executive or PGPX) or top institutes outside India. You can write to Ms Shradha Dave at shradha.dave@careerlauncher.com for more inputs on GMAT and overseas education.

      • Thanks a lot GP, for a quick reply. I was taking a course at career launcher for CAT and they advised me for an executive MBA.

        The reason for me to take CAT is to have a degree from a premier institute by crossing the gate the hard way ( which i could not do earlier during my graduation days ) . It is my goal and a dream to crack the exam and make it .

        I know there is intense competition and i have a bad track record. I want to go for it as age is not a stopper for this course.

        all I wanted to know is ( by probability ) can i see myself in a race… executive MBA i might not opt.. i will rather keep quiet, than to go the way which i don’t to … any inputs / thoughts …?

        • hi GP

          in my earlier post, “by crossing the hard way” i did not mean, that cracking GMAT and getting into executive MBA is easy..

          i am just poised towards a goal that i could not achieve and i was thinking if i do stand a chance… that is it no offence… sorry and thanks..

        • Ganesh, unfortunately the delay this time has spoiled the average.
          I am not in agreement with the logic, one needs to act as per the situation. While you can make it to IIMs but given the work experience you will be a misfit in the 2 year program and will also be wasting a year. ISB Hyderabad is as good as the IIMs and should be your prime target.

  521. Hello sir.. now since i got final call frm SIBM pune,I need your further opinion about the college, academics, industry value, placements in MBA-finance. As you are associated in training/mentoring students for so long, i think urs feedback will b of high significance for me to firmly take a decision. Also plz b noted that I have 2.5 yrs of exp in project engineering.Plz advise

    • Prateek, SIBM Pune is the best institute in the Symbiosis family and will provide good education and career opportunities in all areas including finance. You should go ahead with SIBM Pune without any hesitation. Please click here for the placement scenario of SIBM Pune.

  522. Hi,
    My academics:
    10th: 85
    12th: 62
    BE: 66
    Work Ex: 3.5 Years
    I wish to take up GMAT and into ISB, please let know if i have a good chance with a good GMAT score, and also what the GMAT score should be for me to get into ISB.

    Thanks!

    • Swati, unlike the IIMs ISB is not hung up on past academic record and one can cover up for not so good scores with work experience and good GMAT scores. You should target a score in excess of 700. You can write to Ms Shradha Dave at shradha.dave@careerlauncher.com for more inputs on GMAT and ISB.

  523. Hi Sir,
    I’m a working professional with 3 months work experience and my scores in 10th-86.6%, 12th-78.4%,B.E.C.S.E- 76%. Now i work in ITIS sector. So do i have a chance to get into Top IIMfor a course in Finance or IT. And if so, When would be the best time to take up my CAT exams and how much should i score?. Please guide me

    • Preethi, the earlier you do an MBA the better it is for your career hence my suggestion is to go for CAT’14 itself. With about 7-8 months to CAT you should start your preparations immediately. With the current admission criteria IIM A and B are unlikely for you unless you get a 100%ile in CAT. IIMC and all other IIMs are possible for you. IIMC will need over 99.5%ile while the others are possible at a score of over 98%ile.

    • Sir, I am Giri. I am 2014 B.Tech pass out with an aggregate GPA of 8.5 from Mechanical stream and I got job in IT sector. Due to financial problems i have to do the job. My aim is IIMs. My academic background is as follows:
      X-94%
      XII-89%
      B.Tech-85%
      After having two years job experience i want to go for IIMs. So i am kindly requesting you to suggest me that is there any effect as i joined IT company with mechanical background…

  524. Hi sir,

    i am a 2013 pass out, i am aiming for cat’15 …currently i am working in a IT company and have a overall work experience of 8 months .with acads: X: 75.2 XII :71.6 ,BE(CS) :70.13 i have started my cat prep and will join a formal coaching at the end of this year..what are in reach for me..should i remove the dream of getting a admission in any of the new iims.and other top 15 bschools even after scoring say 95+ tile.and how should i plan for it..plz reply..

    • Parag, marks are important only for IIM A, B and C, with the current admission criteria these institutes are unlikely for you unless you get a 100%ile in CAT. All other IIMs and other top MBA institutes like FMS, XLRI, SP Jain, MDI, IITs etc are all possible for you. While many good institutes are possible at a score of over 95%ile, for top institutes you should target:
      1. over 99%ile for FMS and IIT Mumbai
      2. over 98%ile for the IIMs (except A,B & C)
      3. over 97%ile for other IITs, NITIE and MDI
      4. over 95%ile for other top institutes.
      While you are targeting CAT’15, my suggestion is that with 7 months to go you can try for CAT’14 also. The earlier you do an MBA the better it is for your career.

  525. Sir,I scored 95.14 % in ICSE. But due to some problems,ended up wit 73.50% in ISC with just 49.00% in Mathematics. After 12th,I went into depression and ended up not cracking NLU entrance exams. Then I joined a normal law college in my state. During my college,I ferociously prepared for NLUs again .But I missed classes in my college. I couldnot register for the university exams.Anyway,I ended up with a top 10 rank in my entrance. Today,am a student at one of the top 5 NLUs. I hope to clear all the levels of CFA after law school and gain some 3 years of work experience as an associate in a law firm. Do I stand any chance for IIM-ABC? I am an OBC candidate.

    • Sir,I was rank 02 in my state law entrance and the next year,I was rank 08 in NLU entrance exams. Hope to score around 85 % in BA.LL.B.

    • Devipriya, yes you have a chance of getting into IIM A,B & C. As a OBC candidate you can get a call at a score of 95%ile but my suggestion is to target over 97%ile in CAT. Also suggest that you target CAT immediately on completing your BALLB and do not have to wait for a 3 year work experience.

  526. despite 99.68 percentile as 12th percentage are low i.e. 47.8% so is that an obstacle to get into the iims m afraid it will be a big disadvantage
    plz reply

    • Pallavi, Please post a query only once. Multiple posting leads to delay. Your query has been answered and is repeated below.
      Pallavi, 99.68%ile in which exam?
      With 47.8% in XII the top IIMs are difficult but not impossible. As a female SC candidate a CAT score in excess of 90%ile will most probably help you make it to these institutes. My suggestion that you should target 95%ile in CAT.

  527. Dear Sir,

    Class 10 = 82%
    Class 12 = 61%
    Graduation (BE) = 56% with 1 year backlog.

    Currently working with a chemical MNC as Purchase Executive. Total experience is over 2 years currently. Kindly advise on the colleges to target for entrance exams 2014 as I have just started preparations.

    • Abhirup, Except IIM A and C all other colleges are possible. You should take all the important papers – CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP and CET.

      • Dear Sir,

        Class 10 = 82%
        Class 12 = 61%
        Graduation (BE) = 56% with 1 year backlog.

        Currently working with a chemical MNC as Purchase Executive. Total experience is over 2 years currently. Kindly advise on the colleges to target for entrance exams 2014 as I have just started preparations.
        Reply ↓

        GP on March 1, 2014 at 11:58 am said:

        Abhirup, Except IIM A and C all other colleges are possible. You should take all the important papers – CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP and CET.

        Dear Sir,
        NMIMS clearly states in the eligibility criteria that The candidate must have completed graduation in the stipulated duration as per the respective University / Institution awarding the degree. As I have had 1 year backlog as I could not clear my papers, are you sure that I am still eligible to apply for it?

        Regards,
        Abhirup

          • Yes, so as I have taken 5 years to complete my engineering, how will that affect my chances of getting into other B-schools? Also, how will it affect the placements if I manage to get into any one of them?

            Regards,
            Abhirup

          • Anhirup, placements after MBA are a function of your performance in MBA and not your graduation so it will not have a major impact on your placements.

  528. i secured 99.68 percentile
    category : SC
    10th %= 75.06
    12th %= 47.8
    graduation %= 62.5
    post graduation %= 81.8
    what are my chances to get into the iims
    i wanna do mba from best college

    but sir 12th percentage are low i.e. 47.8% so is that an obstacle to get into the iims m afraid it will be a big disadvantage
    plz reply

    • Pallavi, 99.68%ile in which exam?
      With 47.8% in XII the top IIMs are difficult but not impossible. As a female SC candidate a CAT score in excess of 90%ile will most probably help you make it to these institutes. My suggestion that you should target 95%ile in CAT.

  529. i hav scored
    x – 90%
    xii – 97%
    currntly in b.tech 3rd yr with cgpa -8 ,, i seriously want to get through cat in 2014 who much should i score and what are my chances ??

    • Vaishnavi, you have great acads track record of X and XII, while CGPA of 8 is good if you can pull it up a notch it will be helpful. In CAT’14 you should target a score of over 99%ile with minimum of 95%ile in the two sections.

  530. Hi Sir,
    I am pursuing BBA 2nd Sem from IP Univ .
    i got 8.8 cgpa (84%)in class 10
    and 65% in class 12 .
    I am really tensed over the fact that my career will have an adverse effect due to my class 12 marks and i will not be able to make my way to IIMs.
    Can you please tell me that with this marks how much % i shall get in my BBA and what percentile can make my way to IIMs or IIFT?

    Please help.

    Thanks.
    Regards,
    Aisha

    • Aisha, a 65% in XII will make it difficult for you to make it to IIM A, B and C unless you get a 100%ile. All other IIMs are possible. Most of the non IIMs like IIFT, FMS, XLRI, etc do not consider these marks for admission and rely only on your admission test score. Ideally you should target over 80% in graduation and over 99%ile in CAT.

  531. Hello sir, i m going through very uncertainty..its a request to please help me out .. i really really want to do M.B.A from one of the IIMs..but my academic profile is
    10th- 56%
    12th- 60%
    b.tech(appearing)- 69% (so far)
    plz see to this n tell me, will i b able to get one of the IIMs if suppose i get 99+ percentile?

    • Sakshi, with the current criteria IIM A, B and C are unlikely unless you get a 100%ile in CAT but the other IIMs are possible.

      • thnk you sir, but i have heard that iim calcutta doesn’t give much weightage to academics? it preferably sees CAT result..is it so?

  532. Sir,

    I am surprised to see someone actually replying to all the questions students post! Thanks!

    I too want to know if I am eligible for the top IIMs or not.
    Xth: 92%
    XIIth: 86%
    BTech CGPA: 7.56/10

    I am taking CAT’14 seriously this year.

    • Tushar, with the current criteria IIM A and B will be difficult unless you have almost a 100%ile but all other IIMs are possible. If you have a couple of years work experience then IIM B also will be possible.

      • Yes, I will have >2 years of work experience when I give CAT. Thanks. Finding it very tough to prepare along with job 🙁

        • Tushar, my suggestion is to cut out other activities and focus on your job + preparation. Initially it will be difficult but soon you will get into the groove. Do ensure 1-2 hours on workdays and 7-8 hours on holidays.

  533. Dear Sir,

    I have done BE in Information Science and currently working with an MNC.
    Summary:-
    Professional Experience – 3.5 years
    10th – 74%
    12th – 56%
    B.E – 63%
    I have below queries :-
    a) Please suggest me,if I can go for MBA with these scores.
    b) Beside this, the one question which haunts me too much is, even if a candidate gets admitted to a good B school with these scores, what is the chance he or she shall be able to conform to the criteria for selection in the final college placement and will he/she make a good opportunity to get placed in good companies after that or if I landed up working the same CTC which I am getting now or lesser than that.
    Kindly advice me what to do?

    Regards,
    Shephali

    • Shephali, you can go for MBa with these scores. While IIM A and C might be difficult unless you score a 100%ile all other IIMs and other top MBA institutes are possible. Many top institutes (like FMS, JBIMS) do not have any weight for past academic records.
      Placement after MBA is a function of what you have done in MBA and not of our past academics and you will not be discriminated at the time of placements.
      With a 3.5 year work experience, in addition to CAT, you should take GMAT also and try for 1 year MBA program of ISB hyderabad and other top institutes outside India.

  534. hi sir, Im Arjun Raja, i have a score of 70% in x & xii and 6 CGPA in my Btech I.T… im preparing for Cat2014…Will i be able to get IIM-B if i score 95 marks in CAT…??..i’m a 2013 passed out have no work experience will it affect???

    • Arjun, as per the current criteria with your X, XII and Graduation marks you can get into IIM A and B only if you have a score of 100%ile. A 2 year drop is difficult to explain and my suggestion is that you should pick up a job.

  535. My academic profile:
    Class 10: 86.5%
    Class 12: 82.50%
    Graduation B.Com(Accounting & Finance) : 90.50%
    pursuing CWA(Final)
    I am 21 now.
    I want to aim for the IIMs by the time I become 25 after saving up a considerable chunk for the fees and getting valuable experience along the way.
    I also have a work experience of 6 months in audit.

    • Divya, with your academic record calls are possible from all IIMs. My suggestion however is not to wait till 25 but to go for CAT’14 itself. The earlier you do an MBA the better it is for your career.

  536. Dear Sir,
    Thanks for the motivating story.I have given CAT 3 times till now but could score only 88,89 and 83(latest).First two times I was not serious enough,and this time due to too much office pressure and dissatisfaction at my current job i used to stay kind of low.I have been working in TCS for 4 years but realized there is not much growth opportunities and the work is also not enriching.So I have quit around 1 month back with the determination to crack GMAT and CAT,as from what I have seen,it is the people at the management positions make the real decisions that affect the company.The coders have to follow only what they are told.But now I am a little worried about how to portray the fact that I have resigned.The interview panel will think that I quit because I could not manage work & studies.Though it will be partly true but the real reason for quitting was stagnation and the fact that I want to do MBA this year itself.Please give some guidance

    • Shuvayan, it is not uncommon for people to quit a job and prepare for entrances. Stagnation is a good enough reason, so focus on your preparation. Whie you should prepare for CAT/XAT as well as GMAT, given your work experience a 1 year MBA is a better option.

      • Thanks a lot sir..Ya actually I plan to apply to both 2 year & 1 year programs.Your reply has lifted my spirits..Thanks again 🙂

      • Dear Sir,

        Thanks a lot for the reply.Yes I have thought about ISB and Great Lakes for the 1 year programs but for ISB I am not sure whethere my profile is good enough.
        I have nothing exceptional in my work experience except the fact that I had gone to Istanbul for 1 month for Business Knowledge Transfer from my client and had handled the same project alone for about 2 years(though there was not much to do) :).Now ISB is a big investment,so I need a little guidance as to should I try for it with this profile because from what I have seen about their students,they generally have a little managerial experience and have demonstrated some leadership quality or the other.

  537. sir , this may look similar to other comments but please sir , i need an answer.
    i have scored CGPA 10 in X.
    and have scored 94.6% (commerece and maths) in XII.
    i am currently pursuing BBA course.
    what exactly are my chances of IIMs?

    • Akshay, if you have over 80% graduation also then you chance good chance of getting shortlisted by all IIMs, if not then IIM A and B are difficult but all other are possible.

      • sir , thaks a lot for replying.
        and i will definitely work on my semester xams.
        one last thing sir.
        i have scored these marks in CBSE board.so do i have an edge over state boards?

          • Sir,
            I am pursuing my BTech degree from not such a reputed college like an IIT or any NIT and I really want to get admission to an IIM.
            So should I go for GATE to first get into an IIT for MTech and then go for CAT or should I directly go for CAT. The issue concerning me is that whether doing an MTech degree will hamper or will it boost my chances of getting into an old IIM?

          • Aban, the name of you college is not a criteria for admission to IIMs and other top B schools. Your performance in CAT and the interview determine your chances of selection. A MTech degree will not enhance your chances of selection, taking up a job and gaining work experience will be a better option.

  538. Hello GP and Team,

    I needed to know some realistic expectations on CAT admissions this year based on my acads. I have scored 80% in 10th, 81.5 in 12th and 64% in B Tech from Mumbai University. Is there any chance of me getting admitted to IIMA or FMS, How much should i target to score on CAT in that case?

    Your response will make a lot of difference. Thanks in advance!

    • Vaibhavi, based on the current admission criteria IIM A and B are unlikely unless you get a 100%ile in CAT however IIMC is possible. FMS does not take into account the marks of X, XII and graduation hence it too is possible for you. For IIMC you will need over 99.7%ile while for FMS a score of over 99%ile will be required. Given that you are from Mumbai University, HBIMS should also be in your list of target MBA institutes.

  539. Hi,
    My academic background is:
    class 10th: 96.5%
    class 12th: 89%
    B.tech from Jaypee Institute of Information Technology (currently in 6th sem): 8.1 CGPA

    Do I stand a chance in being admitted to any one of the IIM’s if I manage to get 96+ percentile? I have started preparing for the same for CAT 2014.

    Please let me know whether a CGPA of 8.1-8.4 is good enough to get a call or not?

    Also, does my college matter? (As in, it’s not IIT or NIT).

    • Tanya, IIT or NIT doesn’t matter. If you perform well in CAT, you will be getting calls from the IIMs. Try to score around 98+ percentile to get the calls from the non-IIM institutes too.

  540. sir,
    I m confused!
    My 10th score is 90.6%
    12th score is 78.2%
    and still pursuing b.tech with a cgpa of 7.23
    I am in my final year and will graduate in 2014.I got 72percentile in cat’13 as i didn’t prepare properly for cat.
    So what should my next step.Should i join CL and prepare for cat’14?
    If not,then please suggest what my next step should be.

    Thank you.

  541. X class : 83.8
    XII class : 64.6
    Engineering : 70(till 6th sem, currently in 8th sem)
    XAT %ile : 99.6
    Sir, i had a reasonably good XLRI GD/PI but have low percentage in XII (64.6)..and just another engineering college..what r the chances of XLRI convert…?? Also if not selected, should i take admission in XIM B, or try again next year…what are the chances of IIMs with such a percentage drop in XII and Engineering??

    • Sanket, XLRI is not as rigid as the IIMs wrt marks in X, XII and Graduation hence if you have had a good interview and GD then admission to XLRI is possible.
      If unfortunately you are unable to get admitted to XLRI then my suggestion is to pick up a job and go for a retake of CAT/XAT. Due to your low score in XII and graduation, IIM A and B are unlikely unless you have a 100%ile in CAT but all other IIMs are possible.

  542. Hi,
    I have 80% in X
    70% in XII
    and 8.8(cgpa) in B.Tech(ECE).
    I am presently working in IT Sector with 1+ yrs of experience.
    I am planning to appear in CAT-14.
    What should be the target %ile for me to get a call from top10 B-schools.
    Further what should be the target numbers of correct question in each section that needs to be attempted to accomplish the above.

    Thanks in Advance.
    Rupam

    • Rupam, your XII marks almost rule you out of IIM A and C and you will need almost 100%ile to have a chance of a call from these. With 2 years work experience by the end of this year IIM B is possible at 99%ile and all other IIMs are possible at 98%ile.
      Based on CAT’13 data you will need to get around 15 net correct answers in QADI and around 10 correct answers in VALR to get a overall score in excess of 99%ile.

  543. Dear Sir,

    I am a BE mechanical Engineer working in a MNC in Qatar. I am a 2010 passout and scored 60% in BE. I need your advice on how should i prepare for CAT exams from home. Basicallly i m confused about how and what should i start with. Also I scored 68% in 10th and 55% in 12th and took a 3 years self drop after 1st year of engineering due to financial problem so need to know if i am eligible for any of the good B schools. I was not a very bright student but still want to give a best shot instead of regreating rest of my life that i should have atleast tried. Kindly advice.

    Regards,
    Navin M Gowda

    • Navin, you are eligible but given your work experience my suggestion is that you should go for a 1 year MBA program from ISB Hyderabad or other top institutes in US. A 2 year MBA will be be an overkill.

  544. respected sir,

    my 10th is 61% and 12th is 48%

    b.tech is 52%

    do i have any chance of MBA in IIM, I know its a long shot but is it possible with good career profile?

    • Srinivas, with a below average performance in X, XII and graduation the IIMs are difficult. You will need a 100%ile to have a chance in the top IIMs and over 99%ile for the other IIMs. However almost none of the other top MBA institutes consider your past academic record and hence calls are possible from institutes like FMS, XLRI, MDI, NITIE, IITs etc.

  545. Hi Sir,
    I am planning to appear for CAT 14, wanted to get realistic about my chances for IIM A, B, C.
    My acads are 10th – 92%, 12th – 78%, Engineering – 72%.
    Work Ex – 2 years.
    It would be a great help if you could let me know my chances for those 3 IIMs and even FMS.
    Thanks & Regards.

    • Ahmed, as a general category candidate, IIMC is not a problem and due to your work experience IIMB is also possible however IIMA will be difficult with 72% in engineering. FMS does not consider pat academic performance so it is also possible. IIMC will need over 99.5%ile in CAT while FMS will require over 99%ile. IIIMB is possible at 98%ile also due to your work experience.

      • Thanks a lot Sir,
        Yes i belong to General Category.
        I wish i could tell them that 72% is actually a big achievement in Pune University 🙂

  546. Sir, i got 83% in X ,68.6 % in XII , btech cgpa 8.4(upto 5th sem),i have started preparing for cat,,i wanted to knw will my 12th precentage affect my admission in iims if i score 99%tile in cat??? n is work experience necessary for admission in iims??

    • Rohit, with around 99.6 percentile you can expect calls from IIM-c and L even with low score in class 12th. Work-experience is not mandatory for the IIMs.

  547. sir
    i am in NC-OBC
    i scored 86.95 percentile in CAT-2013
    in Xth -85%
    in +2 – 78%
    in grad.-85%
    i got call from IIM indore and kashipur
    do i stand some chances if i do average in WAT/PI
    regards.

    • Harmender, they have given you a call so you have a chance. CAT score does not have a very high weight so a good performance in the PI and WAT can help you convert the call.

  548. Sir,
    I have 69.6 in 10th class and 66.2 in 12th
    and have a 7.80 pointer in B.tech(bionformatics stream from NIT).
    also i have 2.7 years of IT experience.
    what are my chances of getting into iim’s and for it what is the minimun %le i need to target for this year CAT examination.
    Also please name some of the other institue from which i can complete my MBA education.

    Thanks

    • vicky, as a NC OBC candidate with below average marks in X and XII and a decent performance in B.Tech, you will need to target 98%ile for IIM A and C. Your work experience can get you a call from IIMB even at 90%ile and for all other IIMs 95%ile should be the target.
      Your best bet are the government institutes like FMS DU, IITs, NITIE and MFC. Calls are possible from all of these at a score of around 93%ile.

  549. sir i am very much frustrated thinking of my career..
    i got around 60% marks in both 10th and 12th(both cbse) and in graduation(with b.com) 55% marks..(completed my graduation in 2012)
    i was preparing for c.a (intermediate) but failed..
    and currently i am preparing for CAT’14 from ims lucknow
    i am totally confused what to do and what not?..
    whether i’ll get one of the best colleges even if i score more than 95 percentile??
    and if so, the decision of continuing CA after completing my MBA would be right or not?..
    sir please guide me ..plzzzzzz

    • Ayush, if you study hard you can certainly achieve a very good score in CAT or XAT. There are institutes like XLRI, IIM-C, L which can be converted even with not so good past academic record. Continuing your CA or not will depend on the fact that whether you get a good profile after MBA or not.

  550. GP Sir,
    Here are my academics : 10th- 68%, 12th- 76%, B.Com- 63%
    I am in Final Stage of Chartered Accountancy (CA) course.
    I have got a total work-ex of 2.5 years (excluding CA Articleship) so far.
    I want to target top IIMs (A,B,C) .I took CAT in 2009 without preparation and got 70%ile.
    I want to take CAT-14 with full prep, do u think i am having any chance to get into top IIMs ?
    And if I become CA before taking CAT-14, what difference would that make in my profile for IIM selections ?

    • Parth, for IIM C you will need to score at least 99.5%ile but with a commerce background, a professional qualification (CA) and a 2.5 year work experience you have a good chance of making it to IIM A and B at a lower score also. Completing CA will be helpful in your admission process.

  551. sir,
    class 10th-88
    class 12th-81
    Btech.-7.8
    I will start my job in june this year. Is there any chance of getting into iim A,B,C if i appear for CAT this year?

    • Ila, while your X and XII marks are good but your B.Tech CGPA is a bit low and hence IIM A might be a bit difficult. You can however get a call from the top IIMs with a score in excess of 99.5%ile and the others at a score of over 98%ile.

  552. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS. hi every one this is my profile. PLEASE COMMENT NUMERICALLY BELOW.PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS GUYS…
    10th-90.5%
    12th-87%
    degree-probably 75-80%
    work experience-zero
    type of degree-DISTANCE MODE from annamalai university
    subject-B.Com(accounting and finance)
    now my questions are
    1)after having a degree through distance mode am i eligible for cat and iims and premier b schools in india

    2)my final year xam is going to be in may 2015, so am i eligible to write the xam in 2014 coz in iima website they mentioned that the eligibility requirements shud be completed on or before 30th june of every year and all the original documents of the qualifying xam to be submitted on or before 31st of dec of the year of admission

    3)having a degree which is thru distance mode what are the chances of me being selected during gd-pis compared to the regular degree candidates…would the regular full tym degree candidates have higher chances than me, considering just the mode of degree.

    4)my original documents are under one of the medical universities in india. my regular degree is mbbs. so when i will be in the 3rd yr of mbbs my distance mode of degree will be completed and my plan is to shift frm mbbs to iims right in the 3rd year of mbbs itself considering the b.com degree through distance mode. so the problem that is likely to arise is that i cannot risk the discontinuation of my mbbs degree for gd-pis where they require the original documents for verification and if i need my original documents then i shud discontinue the course and the probability of me being selected with a distance degree into iims after GD-PIs can vary and my career cud be at a HUGE RISK…SO IS IT REALLY COMPULSORY TO SUBMIT THE 10TH AND 12TH ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS DURING GD-PIS OR CAN WE ALSO SUBMIT AN ATTESTED COPY OF THE SAME.

    • Chakradhar, my answers are give below:
      1. except for Symbiosis and NMIMS you are eligible for all MBA institutes including IIMs.
      2. since your final exam will be over before 30th June’15 so you are eligible for CAT’14. If admitted you will have to submit the proof of clearing your graduation by 31st Dec’15.
      3. the mode of graduation does not matter, you have as a good a chance as that of students with regular degree.
      4. the original documents will be required only after you get the admission offer so it should not be a problem. However some institutes may want to verify the documents at the tie of interview and hence it might be useful to apply for duplicates of X and XII standard certificates/marksheets.

  553. Hello sir,

    I got 59% in 10th , 68% in 12th and 63% in b.tech , having 18 months of experience in a reputed it company. Is I am eligible for top b-schools if I score good in cat and please guide me how much weightage does 10th and 12th contain in selection procedure.

    • Antriksh, given your marks in X, XII and Graduation IIM A, B and C are unlikely unless you get a 100%ile in CAT. All other IIMs and other top B schools are possible.

  555. Hi sir,
    I am gonna write a bit more from the conventionals as i am literally stuck in a mess..seeking a genuine help..btech passout 2012 batch…hons in electrical engg…10th-81….12th-78….got placed at infosys frm college but got date of joining of 12th aug 2013…..did a one year course from cl….wrote cat dis year…got 86 percentile…i am basically from uttarakhand…owing to the tragedy of uttarakhand previous year i delayed my date of joining of infosys by a year or so….don’t have intimation of any revised joining of late….in lucknow nowadays whr i did my btech n cl coaching from…mere 86%ile in cat is really not sufficient…iims are far fetched at dis %ile….jus crazy about iims…couldn’t think of anything other dan top b schools….ready to spend one more year as well….but emm really in so much of dilemma….coz i can’t sit idle…..dat wud affect my profile as to wot have i been doing since 2 years,…jus wanna do something in which i cud fynd tym fr my studies as well….people suggested me to go for bpo’s nd kpo’s in lucknow as dere is dearth of jobs in lucknow….good at english…so sum suggested to go for training institutes as in teaching nd…dat wud work both ways…dat would hone my skills as well…..but emm very confused about the fact whether any experience of bpo ,kpo or say for an instance teaching would be considerable for iim’s entrance or not(provide emm a btech guy_)? what should i do?
    An early reply is highly solicited….

    • Aman, it’ll be advisable to get a job related to your field and give CAT your best shot this year. Sitting idle at home is not going to help. As far as job is concerned, your profile matters and not the organizational domain. Teaching can be considered as an option if you are doing that for a registered organization.

  556. Sir,
    I will have work experience of 3 years as on August 2014.i have appeared for CAT 13.but i could not do well. I am planning to appear for CAT 2014.Is there any decent chance with these much experience to get good B-school?

    • KVN, experience of 3-4 year is not an issue for IIMs and other top institutes but you should also take GMAT to ensure that you can apply for 1 year MBA programs of ISB Hyderabad and other top institutes outside India.

  557. Sir,my qualifications till now are listed below:-

    X 93%
    Xii 92%
    Btech(currently 6th sem) CGPA 7.3
    Category : GEN
    I want to get into the primier institutions – IIM A,B,C or FMS
    When should i ideally give CAT exam and what percentile will be required for the same.

    Thanks

    • Sriram, you should go for CAT’14 and given your academic record you will need to target over 99.5%ile for IIM A,B and C. FMS will be possible at a score of 98.5%ile but to have a decent chance of selection you should have over 99%ile.

      • Hello Sir,

        After reading your blog , I have a ray of hope.
        I scored a 59 % in 10th with 1 month of study. I got a compartmental in math’s.
        In 12th I got 62% in 2004. I started my graduation in 2007 and finished in 2010 with 1stclass(Pol.Sc)

        I want to sit for CAT and target the IIMs.
        need your advice

        • Shekhar, since you have graduated in 2010 and are likely to have 3+ years work experience and hence along with CAT you should consider GMAT also to open the possibility 1 year program of ISB Hyd. With a compartment in maths in X and a degree in political science you should immediately start preparing for CAT’14, join a classroom program or start with IX-X standard books of Maths. The gap years is not is an issue and can be handled comfortably.

          • Thanks for your reply sir.

            Yes, i have a 3 year Work exp with a TOP IT MNC.
            how much do i need to score to target for IIM and ISB.

          • Shekhar, for IIM-C and L you should be targeting 99.5+ percentile and for others 97+ should do if you have decent academics and a good profile. ISB takes admissions through GMAT and the average GMAT score is around 715-720. People with lower scores also have converted with exceptional work profiles and academics.

          • Hello Sir,
            As advised by you ,i am doing what you had suggested.
            Just wanted to understand ,are the IIMS ruled out for me because of my past scores and failures.Would ISB PGP consider a candidate with a compartmental in Maths in 10th.

            Possibly i am not able to put my question correctly.i am not confused but a little sad.
            Regards
            shekhar

          • shekhar, on the basis of the current admission criteria the top IIMs are ruled out for you. In ISB too past academics are considered but do not have a high weight and your compartment will not eliminate you.

          • Thank you for your reply.
            So am i not eligible to apply for ISB, if i get a 700 + as well in GMAT
            Is there any other collage that can help get me out of this.
            Regards
            Shekhar

          • Shekhar, you are eligible for ISB and can get admission to it since unlike the top IIMs it does not rely significantly on past academics.

    • Academic Background:
      Class X- 89%
      Class XII – 81%
      Graduation – 8.31(CGPA)
      Professional Experience:
      6 months experience in IT sector as of February, 2014

      Targeting CAT 2014:
      what are my chances to hit premiere IIM’s based on my acads. Also I would like to know what should be my target number of correct answers in CAT out 60 questions and the corresponding percentile.
      Thanks

      • Somnath, with good academic record you have a good chance of calls from all IIMs. Your target score in CAT’14 has to be over 99.5%ile for IIMC and over 99%ile for IIM A and B. Based on CAT’13 data you will need to get 16-17 in QADI and 12-13 in VALR net correct answers to get the desired score.

        • Sir,
          Is the date on which I take CAT is of importance. Last time I took up CAT in 2012 and ended up scoring 92.83%ile (OA). Later on my friends said that taking up a easier CAT paper has resulted to my low score as I appeared for CAT on an earlier date and thus normalisation led to this.

          Please comment on this and help me choose a correct date for CAT this year so that I can appear in CAT without having to consider normalisation.

  558. Sir,
    I have a problem which is eating me completely and troubling me a lot. I need ur advice, plz ans as soon as possible. I have written gate 2014 civil and and i am expecting 51.4 marks here. But unfortunately i messed up and failed in one subject in 7th semester. Now i am worried that when i apply to colleges for mtech my previous semester marks card will have FAIL. Then will i get admit in any college? Plz do ans.. Thanks in advance.

    • Sidharth, most of the colleges have a date by which you need to complete your graduation so if you can take the paper again along with your 8th semester exam then it will not be a problem.

  559. Hello Sir,

    I am willing to get admission in one of the best B schools or iims.
    And my score in X and XII is 79% and 69% respectively and my b.tech score is 78%. What do i need to do in such a case??

    • Srishti, for the top IIMs you need to get over 99.5%ile and over 98%ile for the other IIMs. Other top institutes are possible at a score of over 97%ile and overr 95%ile for other good institutes.

  560. Dear Sir,
    I got 80% in10th and 86% in 12th,I got 62% in b.com.I graduated in 2012,Ihave no work experience.Is it possible for me to get into iims if I secure a high percentile in cat?If it is possible then what is the required score?I am an nc-obc.please reply.

  561. respected sir,

    my 10th is 83% and 12th is 68%

    b.tech is 72%

    i am targeting cat 2014. please tell me target iim s and also other top b schools which would consider my profile.

    • Shrayansh, at this moment your focus should be on getting an excellent score in CAT-2014 and not bothering about the colleges.

  562. Sir,
    I have secured 96% ile in CAT 2013. However, I was only able to score 59% in my graduation. I have two years of IT work experience. Do I have a chance of getting into a top B-school other than the IIMs? Also even if I do get into a b-school, will my graduation marks affect my final placement chances as I have heard that many companies have an eligibility criteria of 60% in 10th, 12th and graduation?

    • Mahesh, some of the companies do have that criteria but at this moment your primary concern should be converting the calls and getting into a good B-School. With good GD and PI you can cover up your academic performances.

  563. Sir

    I am aiming for CAT’14 . I scored 86% in X , 77.8% in XII and 66.7 % in BTech . Currently I am working as a software engineer and will complete 2 years in July 2015 . Is it possible for me to get admission into any of the IIM’s ?

  564. Sir thank you for sharing your experience,i must say i just wanted to hear this from someone.sir i have few questions in my mind i hope you will help me out by answering these.
    Sir i have scored 63% in 10th std,61% in 12th std and mostly i will able to score 55 to 60 % in my graduation too and i have got a drop after my second year in graduation for a year.As i will be completing my graduation this year in 2015 from Mumbai University so am giving cat 2014 and i am only aiming for Faculty of Management Studies(Delhi) and Jamnalal Bajaj Institute Of Management Studies(Mumbai). Are there any chances of getting into these prestigious college..if yes then please help me out by telling my how much percentile to score to get into these colleges with this academic background .
    i would be grateful to you if you please answer my question.

    Thanking you
    Kethi Praveen Kumar

    • Praveen, apologise for the delay in responding to your query.
      Given your academic record IIMs are ruled out but and you have rightly identified all others are not a problem since they do not consider past academic performance. For FMS you will need over 99%ile in CAT, since you are from Mumbai University for JBIMS you will need to take CET.

  565. Sir, i have 83.2% in 10th
    89.2 in 12th
    and 76%(6th sem) in graduation but i can make it upto 8 and above still having 4 more sems(5 yr integrated degree)
    preparing for cat 2015
    Can i expect calls from IIM?

      • Sir,
        Unfortunately i do not have any strong extra curricular background like being core member in any tech club or participated in any events. but am interested to do only certifications in IT like Oracle java certification and SAP certification. and ill complete those in the end of my collage and in the meantime iv’e published 6 research papers. does IIMs bother much about those extra curricular stuffs?

        • Hari, extra curricular activities are add-ons and not a mandatory condition for the IIMs. Don’t bother so much about them.

  566. sir,
    please guide me with any book or website(better if u tell about any book) which will help me in my vocabulary part and antonyms synonyms. And how to prepare in this field. Can you tell me how much time i need to give to the above field daily.

  567. sir,
    please guide me with any book or website(better if u tell about any book) which will help me in my vocabulary part and antonyms synonyms. And how to prepare in this field.

  568. Respected Sir,

    I wanted to know as to what are my chances in getting call from IIM-A,B,C and what should be my target to score?
    I belong to SC category and have scured
    89% in Std X
    80% in STD XII
    72% in BE(Graduation)
    respectively.
    I have 6 months experience of working with IT company.
    I would be appearing for CAT-2014

    • Ruchi, a call from all IIMs is possible 85%ile but you should target an overall score of 90%ile in CAT’14 with at least 80%ile in both sections.

  569. Dear sir

    I m sudheer ,aged 26 years having 45 months of experience in banking till date.I got 87% in class X and XII,80% in Graduation(Bsc Biotechnology).I am a non maths student so i am facing much more difficult in analysing cat standard questions.I have so much of passion towards MBA.last year as a trial i gave CAT but the result was very desperate.

    Daily i can spare 3 hours on my preparation..Please suggest me a online tutorial for improving quant?

    • Sudheer, you can consider our online offering – Smart CAT Cracker.
      Given your work experience you should take GMAT also as it will open up the option of 1 year MBA from ISB hyderabad and other top institutes outside India.

  570. sir,
    i have 84% in class X , 74% in class XII 8.4 cgpa in btech till 5th sem
    is iim a possible for me if i score high percentile in cat i belong to general category

    • Ramesh, a call from IIM Ahmedabad is unlikely if you have less than 80% in class 10th or 12th. If you are among the top 50 percentilers of your respective Graduate course, then irrespective of your academics you would be called.

  571. Sir,
    i have decent score in X and XII : 80.2 and 80.4 resp. Also i did my B.E and scored meagre 57%. I Have 3.5 years of exp in IT MNC. I am not interested in going abroad for MBA becoz of High cost. So GMAT will be of no use.
    I am 27 years of age. Is it too late to give CAT again. I wanted to target new IIMs , MDI, IIFT. Is my Experience and Age a negative factor.

  572. Hello Sir,

    I’m a final year student and planning to pursue an MBA in one of the best institutes of India after gaining two years of experience from a good company.

    Keeping in mind my 10th score is 74%, 12th score is 87% and graduation score is 72%.

    I’m placed in both Infosys and Cognizant, Can you please tell that which company should i join to get preference in the Selection Process of IIMs.

    Or do they just consider years of experience without considering company’s profile?

  573. 10th-65%
    12th-61% (repeated)
    b.tech-60% (5 yrs instead of 4 yrs)
    work ex-1.2 yrs
    can i make it upto mdi , imt ghaziabad,k.j somaiya,if yes than with what %ile….

  574. respected sir,

    my 10th class is 83% and 12th is 68%
    b.tech is 7.2

    please tell me about the iims i can target and also how can the online program of career launcher be helpful?

    thank you !

    • Annu, IIM A, B and C are possible only if you get a score in excess of 99.8%ile. All other IIMs ae possible for you.
      For the details of the online MBA preparation program of CL, please visit the website of Smart CAT Cracker.

  575. sir,
    i am in great urgency to know whether i will get any iim’s or iit
    plzz sir it’s urgent..
    my profile..
    10th-85
    12th-89.2
    b.tech-58

    to get any iim’s or top b schools what percentile should i achieve in cat exam…plzzz suggest me sir…
    thanks in advance

  576. SIR
    i did my b.tech in sep 2012 : 64%
    10 : 89%
    12 : 81%

    i will be sitting for cat 2014
    but i do not have a work experience nor a post graduation degree..
    will this act as a hurdle in getting admission from top b schools or IIMS..!!?

    • Nitika, you’ll have to justify the gap of 2 years after graduation. You should get a job and then start preparing for CAT 2014.

  577. Sir,

    Completed my class 12 with 60% plus but there was a break in studies post that due to family issues and ill health. Wantto start afresh now and was wondering is Symbiosis Pune or other colleges will give me any chance. I like mass comm a lot but no study materials for the SET or other exams as well. Even if I crack the exam do you think anyone will take me in in such esteemed universities. PLease advice as I am in a career deadlock now .

    Thank you

    • Ritzi, it’s never too late to mend. Start as soon as possible. As long as you can justify any gap in studies with proper reasons, it wouldn’t be a major issue.

  578. Sir, My OA: 96.67, QA:98.72, VA:82.4, NC-OBC and 4 months work ex. I have got calls from IIM L PGP ABM, IIM C PGDM, and newer IIMs. I am really tensed over the interview and WAT process. Please help me. Also should I apply for MBA for IIT B,D? How are they?

    • No need to be tensed, just keep yourself updated, do attend gd/pi sessions. As you have just cleared your graduation, questions based on your graduation subjects will be asked in the interview and also apply to IIT B and IIT D , they are good colleges especially for Operations.

  579. Sir,
    With scores of 93% in 10th, 81% in 12th and 67 % in B.Tech, my educational career has gone really downhill. Although I am currently I am preparing for CAT ’14, do I stand a chance for admission in any premiere B-school in 2014? (XAT 2014 – 87.5 percentile). Any more advice is welcome.

    • Your academic scores are good except for the graduation score. There are many good colleges which do not give much importance to your academic score such as IIT B, IIT D, NITIE, MDI, FMS, XLRI, few IIMs etc.

  580. Sir,I have scored 85.8 in Xth, 61.6 in X11, 71 in b.tech. i am targeting CAT-2015. What are my chances for IIMs. or FMS. Thankyou!

  581. sir,
    my Xth percentage are 83%, in XII- 64% and currently I am pursuing B-tech in petroleum engineering, I have a year gap in between due to failure in one subject and due to “one mark” my CPI of last 5 sem is 5.38. I am a ST category student. what are my chances of getting IIM’s, IIFM, and other good colleges? at what percentile my admission would be secured under reserve quota in IIM’s?
    please reply asap.

  582. Sir,
    My academics are
    Secondary – 80%
    Senior Secondary – 74.4%
    Graduation (Engineering) – 66.3%
    Category – NC-OBC
    Work exp – 4 years
    Designation – Assistant Manager

    What will be CAT percentile required to get cal from Old IIM’s ? s der any chances of getting into it even i hv poor acads? r esle i can go 4 GMAT?

    • Mohammed, for older IIMs you should aim at 90+ percentile. However most of the older IIMs have different criteria other than the CAT score too for Shortlisting the candidates. If you are looking for the best executive courses, you can take GMAT too.

  583. Sir,
    I got shortlisted for iim kozhikode stage 1.
    My cat score is 94.93 with 93.4 and 92.5 in each section.
    My 10th and 12th percentages are 88.2 and 92.8.
    My engineering cg (Bits goa) is only 5.56.
    Will make it to the interview stages for me to explain this inconsistency? Will there be any further shortlisting before wat gd pi based on my profile?

    • Govind, IIM-Kozhikode will be coming out with their second list based on which GD/PI calls will be made. If you get a call for the next round, you’ll have a decent chance to convert only if you perform well in the GD and PI.

  584. Dear Sir

    As inspiring as your story sounds(and i am sure all of it is true); in today’s world, IIMs are conducting CAT just as a farce. I am an Electrical Engineer from NIT Rourkela and currently working as a Manager in Tata Steel Ltd. I truly am a big fan of Career Launcher. With 12 to 13 hours of work per day, i only had CL’s online guidance with me to prepare for CAT, XAT or for that matter any other entrance. Although i was not exceptional, i still managed to get a 99.15 percentile in CAT and 96.78 in XAT. I am writing all this because, i have known people including myself who despite scoring a 99.XX percentile have not got any calls from IIM A/B/C/L.. and I also know people who with 92.xx percentile have received interview call from IIM B.

    The only question i am asking here is, “If all the importance is to be given to your so called “application rating”, what is the use of conducting CAT?? Just ask for the academic scores and take students for GD/PI.” I know there is no point me asking this here but read your post now and the thought crossed my mind. “IIM B is not the same as it used to be in your time”

    Anyone who is suffering like me has my best wishes.

    • Sambit, unfortunately we have a stupid system within the IIMs and have to live with it.
      Hopefully you have received a call from XLRI and will make it to its final list. Call from FMS is also possible.

  585. Hello sir.
    I am a 2013 passout student in chemical engg with 86%. Have scored 83% and 84% in 10 and 12 resp. And I am currently working in a IT company. Its been only 6 months I have joined.

    I am planning to take CAT 2014. For which I am attending coaching classes. As I find it difficult to catch up with the class as well as working had an idea if I could drop my job and prepare at a full stretch.

    Please guide me.

    • Swathi, it wouldn’t be advisable to quit your job. Try to adjust your timings, cut down your leisure time and invest that on studies.

  586. Hello Sir,
    I wanted to ask that can i get a call from IIMs-A,B,C ?

    My score in X standard was 74%, XII standard was 87% and aggregate B.Tech % is 72% with one experience in Infosys.

    Please help!

    • Himanshu, if you are targeting CAT’14 then all three are possible. IIM A and C will need you to get around 99.&%ie in cAT while IIM B will need around 99%ile. The 2 year work experience will help in IIMB.

      • Along with the number of years (experience), Does the reputation of the company also matters in the shortlisting process?

  587. Sir i have 69.6 in 10th class and 66.2 in 12th
    and have a 7.80 pointer in B.tech.
    also i have 2.5 years of IT experience.
    what are my chances of getting a good mba college/iim and for it what is the minimun %le i need to target for 2015.

    Thanks

    • Vicky, for the premiere institutes you should be aiming at the percentile range of 97-99. If you wish for IIM-C , try to get 99.6+ percentile.

  588. sir i got 85% in 10th 68in 12th 72% in BE & 62.5 percentile in XAT what is mah scope of geting a good college and which colleges can i get..

    • Abhi, please refer to the blogpost for the cut-offs of XLRI and XAT-allied institutes.
      It’s highly unlikely that you’ll be getting a decent college at that score.

  589. Hi sir , my name is arpit reaaly liked your story ,,,
    just wanted ask ..as i was very poor in academics and also got gap in my graduation due to some family issues.

    10th -2005-40%
    12 th-2007 – 55%
    pursuing bba from sikkim manipal distance education 6 semester ..
    average % could be above 55%..

    i am very worried that i cant get into iims or any other good colleges for MBA as they wont consider my profile as lot of ppl who apply are engineers from iit and have good academic record,….just wantd to ask what are my chances to get into a good MBA college,,and what percentile i should look …

      • Thanks for ur reply does that also goes for iims..and please also tell me how to start preparing for the cat ..as I went to times institute didn’t get anything coz all students were engineers and I was unable to study with them…they were very fast …I have to start from scratch …suggest me some books so that I can reach to a level ..so that I can sit in the classes for cat …

      • THANKS FOR UR REPLY …DOES IT GOES FOR IIMS ALSO…AND ALSO TELL ME WHICH INSTITUTE TO JOIN FOR PREPARATION..I DID TAKE DEMO CLASSED IN TIMES BUT CUDNT UNDERSTAND ANYTHING AS I HAVE TO START FROM SCRATCH..PLEASE SUGGEST ME THE INSITUTE AND SOME BOOKS SO THAT I CAN REACH TO LEVEL TO SIT COACHING…

        • Arpit, you can go to the CL centre in your city. The study material starts from the very basics and goes upto CAT/XAT level. Take a demo at CL. All the very best.

  590. dear sir,
    i am going to appear for CAT-2014. my scores are-
    class X-87.60%
    class XII-58.60%
    B.E(mechanical)-64% (till date..with 3 more semesters to go)

    what percentile in CAT would open doors of IIM-A,B,C,L for me (specifically IIM-A) ????

    • Saurabh, with a poor graduation and X standard score you will need to get over 99.8%ile to get a call from IIM A, B and C.

  591. Sir,
    i got 84.35 in 10th
    58 in 12 th ISC Board
    Btech is 52 % till 5 th sem and i have 6 back logs currently pending
    i am sure enough that i will clear it by this sem and increase my aggregate to 65 % till 8th sem.

    so what percentile should i target to get call from all iims ???plz help sir..
    i am in general category

    • shubham, give your nelow average academic record you will need almost 100% to get a call from the top IIMs, for the other IIMs you will need to score around 98%ile.

  592. Sir, I am a OBC Candidate with a mediocre score throughout in my academic career.
    10th- 74.4 (CBSE)
    12th- 76.6(best of 5 ) (CBSE)
    B-TECH-72.79
    I am targeting CAT 2014 .
    Till CAT 2014,I will have more than 2.5 years of Work Experience in a reputed IT Industry.
    How much percentile I should target for getting a Call from IIM C, MDI, SP JAIN, NEW IIM’s.
    Is there any chances for IIM L, IIM K ,IIM I with a mediocre academic track.
    I will have a fair work exp till my CAT Exam.
    Is there any chances of getting a call from IIFT with such a mediocre track? (IIFT- 2014)
    Beside CAT,XAT and IIFT,which exams should I need to take?
    Beside I have a decent Extracurricular activities in teaching at school level.I have joined a NGO too.

    Please Guide me. Your Guidance will be needful.

    Thanks in Advance 🙂

    • Simant, you have a decent academic track record and as a NC OBC candidate you can expect calls from all IIMs, all IITs, FMS, NITIE and SP Jain at a score of over 95%ile. MDI and SP Jain are private institutes and do not have reservations.
      Given your work experience and NC-OBC category, you should restrict yourself to CAT and IIFT.

  593. Dear Sir,
    One more thing which I left my current position is Associate Manager Finance will it impact if I will get 99 percentile in CAT 15 . Is there any possibility to get admission in any IIMs college.

  594. Dear Sir, My 10th- 63%, 12th-65%, B.Com- 60% and also I am CWA qualified having 2.6 years experience in very big organization. I am preparing for CAT 2015. Is there any chance to get admission in IIM or FMS,IIFT . Currently my package is around 10 Lacs will it good for me to regular MBA or I should try for executive MBA after one year.

    • Raj, do not wait till AT’15, the earlier one does an MBA the better it is for ones career. My suggestion is to go for CAT’14 and also take GMAT this year. If you make it to top IIMs then join it, if not use the GMAT score for admission to executive MBA programs of IIMs and ISB.

  595. i secured 99.68 percentile
    category : SC
    10th %= 75.06
    12th %= 47.8
    graduation %= 62.5
    post graduation %= 81.8
    what are my chances to get into the iims
    i wanna do mba from best college
    plz guide and help
    reply

    • Pallavi, with 99.68%ile and SC category you would have received calls from all IIMs and will also be shortlisted by FMS. Start PDP classes if you have not done so already. You have a very good chance of making it to the top IIMs.

  596. Sir,
    I got 94.93 in cat with 93.18 in section 1 and 92.04 in section 2.
    10th – 88.2
    12th – 92.8
    BE – 5.56 from bits
    What should I apply for?

  597. Dear Sir,
    Firstly I apologize for bothering you over and over again. Im a final year engg student(University of Pune). 10th=85%, 12th=69%, GRAD(aggregate)=51%. CAT 13: OV=94.03,QA=96.85,VA=80.56.
    I know MDI XiMB and IMT are mostly out. but now i came across last years shortlisting criteria of IMI- PGDM it says 60%+ in grad. Are there any chances this criteria will change sir? and Could you suggest any other good college sir that i could apply to this year?

    This year i have performed bad compared to what i expected. if i give CAT 14 which colleges should i aim for? Taking into consideration the fact that my overal GRAD agg will be BELOW 60 but my final year B.E(qualifying degree ) is 60+!
    Thank you for patience Sir. Please give me your guidance, i cant change the past but i want to get into the best POSSIBLE B school from this point.

    • Sharad, to know whether the criteria of admission for a particular will change or not you’ll have to wait for the official notification. If it says 60+ in aggregate, it means 60+ only. If you are wish to take admission this year only, hope for a good XAT score.

  599. Sir thank you very much….your story is truly inspiring!
    Sir , i am third year engineering student from pune university.
    i secured 91% in 10th and 78% in 12th. My graduation average is 63%. I have decided to appear for cat in 2015. Sir can i get a call from IIM-A? I know my 12th score is less, but if they can relax the criteria is it possible for me to get there? if not which are the other options i have?

    • Alok, with the current criteria you will need to score around 99.75%ile to get a call from IIM A. It is possible that the criteria might change in 2015, so just focus on doing well in engineering and getting a good score in CAT. Apart from the top IIMs most of the institutes do not consider marks of X/XII/Graduation and go only by the performance in CAT/XAT so many other institutes are available to you.

  600. OverAll : 94.93
    QA: 95.59
    VA:87.78
    Xth:96.8
    XIIth:84.6
    B-Tech:8.01

    Any chance in indore/kozhikode ?

    Thanks

  601. Hi Sir,
    I’m an applicant for 2015. I have a Bachelors degree from the US with a CGPA of 3.34/4.00. My college does not have a system of converting GPA to percentage, so will my percentage be (3.34/4)*100 = 83.5%?
    The rest of my acads are OK too – Xth = 93.17% (ICSE), XIIth (HSC) – 81.5% and I have 2 years of work experience as well, so I think I have a fair shot if I do exceptionally well on the CAT. My graduation percentage was the only concern that I had. I really appreciate your help. Thank you.

  602. Sir,
    as the cat results are out i have a query for u.
    Aritra Chatterjee
    cat ptile-87.77
    sect 1-70
    sect 2-94.27
    10-83.67
    12-86.14
    Being also a regular CL student i am very anxious about the colleges to which i shall be applying.Waiting for your reply

  603. Sir,
    My CAT Score-98.6
    Category-Gen
    Xth-54%(cbse)
    XIIth-68.5%(cbse)
    B.tech-62% from Kurukshetra university

    Any chance of calls from IIM, SP Jain, MDI, FMS, NITIE?
    Plz tell me any other good college.
    Thanks

    • Himanshu, you can be sure of getting calls from at least a couple of new IIMs, MDI and NITIE. FMS may be a border line case but keep your hopes high.

  604. I have got following marks in my academics:
    SSC——-73%
    HSC——-59%
    B.E.——–56%

    Will I get admissions into any of IIM ?
    how much do I least need to score ?
    What should I do to get into iims?
    What should I do ?

  605. Sir,
    CAT Score-87.77
    Category-SC
    Xth-84.4%
    XIIth-70.6%
    Grad-71%

    I have applied for FMS,DSE,DFS and all the IIM’s.Can I expect any calls and what other colleges should I apply for?

  606. Hello Sir

    OA – 94.25
    QA – 89.8
    VA – 93.8
    X- 84.2
    XII – 89.8
    B.Tech – 81.4
    Work Experience – 27 Months
    Category- General

    Any chance of calls from new IIMs (IIM S and others), SP Jain, MDI, MFC, MBE, NITIE, MDI ?
    Thanks 🙂

    • Apoorv, calls are possible from new IIMs, MFC and MBE. The others are unlikely. You can also consider applying to MICA and TAPMI.

  607. sir
    quant-56.67
    VA-62.55
    OA-60.12
    X=80.4
    Xii=70
    b.tech=69.76
    any chances ? mib,mfc,new iims, nitie -pgdim and pgdisem?

  608. Plz guide me
    10th-89.38 12th-78.4 b pharm-70.40 work ex-3 month trainee in small chemical company
    Quant-95.59 (129)
    verbal-92.04 (119)
    Overall-96.20 (248)
    Nmat-200
    XAT-15
    applied to MIB MHROD,nirma,gim,lbs
    where should i apply so that i can get best out of my CAT score………wht can i expect now? any iiims?

    • Jay Acharya, calls from new IIMs are possible. You should also apply to MICA, IITs (all except Mumbai). TAPMI can also be considered by you.

  609. hey there! how you doing.? so i scored 71.2% in X(2008); 58% in XII(2011) with non-med as my stream.. i mentioned the year because i repeated my XII, thinking that i can score much better than what i scored last time but it didn’t go according to how i planned.. So that time i knew that science wasn’t for me(even though i was passionate about chemistry). So i opted for BBA, a professional course. And i discovered that i’m more into management, business.. soon i started flunking classes “college ki hawa lag gayi” and due to my stupidity and rebellious attitude, i had to sit again in my first year.. currently i’m in 4th sem.. i scored 69.33% &69% in sem 1&2 resp. p.s. there’s still 1 paper in each semester to clear.. and yes i’m gonna clear them right away.. and yess.. i did some research on how they select candidate’s application.. so i got to know that i have to score 80+ in bachelors to amplify my application rating score.. and trust me now i’m the most sincere guy in my class.. even my teachers and class-mates wonder “how the he*l i’m a year back student”i’m syuper interested in marketing infact i love the subject.
    and i’m thinking of joining coaching institute foe CAT2014..

    so all i wanna know is ,”Do i have a shot ?” or did i screw up real good… !

    • Vignesh, you have really worked hard to mess up your situation and will now need to work equally hard in retrieving the situation. The start is good -clearing the backlogs and back into classes to learn. However with your not so good X, XII and Grad marks you will need at least 99.75%ile to get a call from top IIMs ad 98.5%ile for other IIMs. Fortunately most of the other B school do not consider past academic record and you can get calls from other top B schools at a score of over 97%ile. So start preparing for CAT’14 asap.
      All the best.

      • Thank you sir!! that’s what i needed to hear.. “the number to work for” and thank you again @GP you gave me hope!

  610. I have 82% in X (CBSE), 85% in XII (CBSE), 90.6% in B.TECH, CAT Score( QA+DI: 94.3%, VA+LR: 91.52%, Total: 95.32%). Which colleges can I get into? Is there any possibility that I might get a call from any IIM for PI?

    • Ankit, you may expect calls from a couple of the new IIMs. NITIE, FMS and XIMB are highly unlikely. You might just get a call from MDI, but it’s a borderline case.

  611. sir,i am first year student .i want to start the prepration of cat as soon as possible but i have some question which making me depress.i have 8.6 cgpa in 10 and 55% in 12. i belong to sc/st category ,so is it possible to get admission in top iim if i got 90 percentile or more???????

  612. Quant- 96.85
    VA- 80.56
    Overall- 94.03

    Will i get a call from any of XImb, MFC DU, IMT, MDi, IMI
    what other college should i apply to ?

    • Sharad, XIMB through CAT is difficult as the VA cutoff was very high last year. MDI also looks difficult. IMI and MFC DU are possible.

      • Dear Sir,
        presently I am in my final year engg and my agregate is 51. But Im sure of scoring 60+(first class) in my Final year . IIT Kharagpur and madras say a first class in graduation is required.(not aggregate)
        In that case can i apply to them this year itself with a score of OV- 94.03, QA-96.85, VA- 80.5. ? or can i apply only next year onwards when i have got my B.E result?
        thank you sir.

  614. Sir CAT results are out and my scores are:
    QA+DI=151(99.14%ile)
    VA+LR=136(97.72%ile)
    OA=282(99.49%ile)

    Can I expect calls from all the IIMs?

  615. Hi Sir,

    Can you please Explain how Work Experience Helps in Final Selections . I have 3 Years Experience as an analyst in FORD.
    and Also I have Completed my CWA intermediate. I heard CA/CWA/ACS also Helps in Final Selections . Can you please explain This?

    Thankyou in Advance.
    Harish

  616. Sir I have 95% score in Class-12 and 92% in class 10. Also 2.5 years work-e.What would be the minimum percentile requirement in CAT for a student like me to get a call from IIM-A?

  617. Sir i am OBC candidate and currently pursuing Btech. I have 64% and 78% in 10th board and 12th board respectively. Right now i have 6.6cgpa in my btech till date. What are the chances of getting IIMs at what percentile. Is their any reservation in XLRI??

  618. Hello sir ,
    Your story is truly inspirational and gives low scorers like me a ray of hope . Sir , but my case is a bit more worse than yours as stated in the above post .
    Xth CBSE – 72% (maths – 74% . aggregate fell down cause of language marks )
    XIIth Private candidate , Tamil Nadu state board – 75% . I was detained in my 11th cause of which , I left school and applied for 12th as a private candidate . with just 3hours of tution everyday , I was able to score a 75%.
    B.com(accounting and finance) – 62.1%
    I have 3 years of work-ex in accounting and finance fields . Sir , would my scores have an adverse effect on my application for iim’s , fms and the other in top 20 ?

    Requesting for your expertise ,
    Rahul

    • Rahul, Animesh, your academic performance is not outstanding but it is not bad either. Also it cannot be changed so ignore it and start your CAT preparation because a good CAT percentile can get you a call. Only IIMA will be an issue with its focus on past academic record, your work experience will be helpful in compensating for your acads in IIMB. for a general category candidate IIMC typically requires over 99.%ile in CAT and this should be your target score. Most of the other IIMs and the other top MBA institutes (like FMS) do not give weightage to past acads and hence are not a problem.

      • hi sir,
        i am an average student with 50 % marks in 10th and 58 % marks in 12 ( i had 6 subjects and i was able to pass but i wasn’t able to pass my maths exam) and 70 % in graduation (bba) , am i eligable for any decent mba college whether iims or any other college .

        • Gaurav, you are eligible but given your not so good academic record you will need to target over 99.5%ile in CAT for IIMs.
          Other top MBA institutes do not consider marks of X, XII & Graduation and will give interview calls at 97%ile. Good MBA institutes will not be possible below 95%ile for a general category student.

  619. 10th – 89%
    12th – 82%
    B.Com – 76%
    CWA Inter , Final Student
    3 Yrs Experience with Ford
    do i stand with any chances to get into IIM A if i get 90 + percentile.

    Category : OC

  620. hello sir,
    currently m pursuing my btech 8th sem…so this year i will be giving my cat as well as other competitive exams ….but my 10th ,12th and my btech scores are like average.
    10th-78%
    12th-80%
    btech-7.4 cgpa(upto 6th sem)
    i want to do an MBA as a fresher so how am i going to start so as to crack the cat exam this year with a good percentile??
    and i want your feedback about my academic perfomance too??

    • Animesh, your academic performance is not outstanding but it is not bad either. Also it cannot be changed so ignore it and start your CAT preparation because a good CAT percentile can get you a call.
      Dec-Jan is the right time to start CAT preparation since with your college schedule you will need about 8-9 months. If you are disciplined, can study on your own and do not need regular faculty guidance then go for a correspondence/online program and I will recommend the Smart CAT Cracker Comprehensive Plus. If not then join a classroom program, please contact your closest CL center for the details.
      It will also be useful to get into the habit of reading a newspaper daily and supplement it with a current affairs magazine. Reading online should be preferred as CAT is online.

      • thank you so much for your valuable feedback sir.
        Sir, from the above comments you have mentioned most of the time that if academic perfomance is not 80% then it will be difficult to get a call from top IIMs.Is that going to be same for the year 2014 CAT?

        • Animesh, that comment was relevant for CAT’12, this year IIMs have changed their criteria and is likely to be relaxed further for CAT’14.

  621. Hi Sir,
    Need your advice.
    X marks: 55%
    XII marks :58% without maths
    Went abroad and got serious, topped average University in 1 year and transferred into best university in Canada… 75% Undergraduate average
    Also I’m a CFA L3 candidate
    Work experience of 2 years as a Investment analyst
    Will give GMAT and hoping for a score around 720

    What are my chances IIM-A IIM-B IIM-C
    Any guidance will be much appreciated
    Thanking u in advance

    • Adi, IIM A is an issue due to its heavy focus on X/XII/Graduation marks. IIMB and C also look at these scores but in B your work experience will be helpful and the weight for X/XII for C is very low.

  622. Hello Sir,
    My Xth , XII th & BE scores are respectively 74.8, 56.6 & 72 percentages. I have a work experience of 1 year currently. I was planning to attend 2014 CAT. Can you please suggest me how much do i need to score for getting CALL from IIMS. I am a NC-OBC.

  623. HELLO SIR
    I Need your guidance,
    Xth-8.4 cgpa
    XIIth-78.6%
    BE- 76% till 5th sem…. i had a backlog in 1st sem which i have cleared even if i clear CAT will it affect my placement in iims…????

    • Aman raj, since you have cleared the backlog it is no longer an issue. It will not impact your placement in IIMs.

  624. sir/madam,
    my 10th marks are 9.2/10 CGPA
    my 12th marks are 85%

    and in graduation i am maintaining a 65% avg.
    i ahve no work experience, can i hope of getting into iims?

      • thank u sir thank u very much if i score more than 99 can i get placed in iim-ahmedabad for sure….with no work experience please sir give me a brief detail

        • Keerthi, nothing can be guaranteed but with 99%ile you have a very good probability of call from IIM A. This year work experience will not get any marks for interview calls.

  626. Sir,

    My percentages are 81% in 10th boards, 72% in 12th boards in computer science. However my marks in 12th math is only 52%.

    I studied my engineering in University of Nottingham , Malaysia which is a Uk university and i graduated with 57% in mechanical engineering in june 2013,that is i got 2nd class marks The degree was a B.eng degree. Right now i am working as a site supervisor in an engineering company in Qatar. I have also written SAT’s where my score was 89 percentile and TOEFL where my score was 95 out of 120 ie; i got a bronze level certificate.

    Sir, is there any way i can make it to the IIMs. Are my marks good enough?

    Hoping to receive a reply from you as soon as possible.

    \Regards.

    • hopeful one, your graduation marks may be an issue in IIM A and B but should not be a problem for the other IIMs. Your work experience will help compensate for the not so good graduation marks. It is your score in CAT that will essentially determine your chances of getting in to IIMs, a score of over 99.5%ile will be needed for the top IIMs and over 97%ile of the others.

  627. Sir
    my academics are
    x=83%
    Xii=68
    N m pursuning my b.tech , iam in 6 th sem now nn get 72 % above in b.tech, n I want to appear in cat 2014.
    So , tell me can I get calls from top iims n I have only 9 months for preparation of
    Cat 2014 , is 9 months sufficient for preparation for a fresh or new start .

  628. Sir,
    My profile
    10th-91.57
    12th-86.6
    Btech- CGPA 9.69
    Experience–NONE
    Category- OBC
    CAT 2014
    How much percentile and number of attempts in each section to get call from IIMs??? Waiting for your reply..thanks

    • Siba, you have an excellent academic track record and as a OBC candidate a score of 90%ile in each section and overall score of over 95%ile can get you calls from all the IIMs, FMA and all IITs.
      Based on the past CAT papers, 14-15 net correct answers in each section should be sufficient but given your capability you should target 18-19 net correct in each section.

    • peace, a general category student should target a 99%ile to have a decent chance of making it to the older IIMs. For IIM C you will need over 99.5%ile.

      • Yes GP Sir,I belong to General category.Right now I am going through a course in my core engineering and after that I will work for one year.So I am planning for 2015 CAT.
        How and when should I start my preparation considering that 2015 CAT is my target?

        • Peace, the best time to prepare for CAT is along with your college. My suggestion is to take CAT’14 and consider CAT’15 only if you do not get an institute of your choice. The earlier one does an MBA the better it is for your career. Also it is usually difficult to spare time for preparation along with a job.
          For CAT’14 you should start your preparation immediately and for CAT’15 stat preparing in Dec’14.

  630. sir i got a job offer from aakash institute as a full time physics teacher. If I work there will it be counted as a work ex for IIM’s
    i am currently in 4th year electrical engineering student in Delhi College of Engineering
    my acadamics
    10th – 87.6%
    12th – 88.8%
    btech – 61%
    will i be able to make it to an IIM if i score good percentile? and what about the work ex in teching job?
    please guide me sir

  631. Sir
    My acad. is very avg.(55% in X, 65% in XII) and also Btech with backlogs but still 65%.
    Please tell me with these backlogs am i still eligible for iims,fms,iift,mdi if these all backlogs cleared before interview+gd.
    I dont know my backlog results as my university publish result after 5-6 months from the exam date.

  632. Hello Sir!
    I am planning to give CAT’14. But, I’m a bit confused whether to go for the classroom package offered by CL or the Smart CAT Cracker. Being a working professional, I think that Smart CAT Cracker would be the right choice but I don’t know if I can rely on the same completely. Just fyi, I’ll be giving CAT for the first time. Please guide me properly. Waiting for your reply!

  633. hello sir
    my academic performance are
    1) 10 th – 63%(u.p board) in 2004
    2) 12 th – 74%(u.p board) in 2006
    3) B.tech – 60.80% (electronics and communication) ,completed in 2012.
    currently i m working.
    i want to do MBA from iit kanpur. How can i get addmission in iit kanpur for mba program. please guide me sir

    • Saurabh, admission to MBA program of IIT Kanpur is on the basis of CAT. Start preparing for CAT’14, your target score is minimum 95%ile.

      • Sir,
        Is it possible for me to get call from iit kanpur. if i score 95%ile in cat-2014. because i m afraid from my poor academic Performance and i have read in a article that iit kanpur wants atleast 65% in 10th,12th and in graduation and please tell me there is any chance of IIM’s for me. i m a NC-OBC student .please tell me what should i do.

        • Saurabh, as replied earlier, admission to MBA program of IIT Kanpur is on the basis of CAT. Start preparing for CAT’14, your target score is minimum 95%ile. Your academic performance will not be an issue.

  634. Hello Sir, I am a second year Journalism student.. I did not have Mathematics in 11th and 12th..
    Is there any chance,, I’d be able to crack cat with score decent enough to get into FMS?
    Please sir.. Your guidance would be invaluable..

    • Lipi, I have been travelling and hence the delay. Apologise for the same.
      All MBA entrance exams check Maths upto class X so it should be possible for you to get a good score in CAT and get admitted to FMS and top IIMs.

  635. Hi Sir,

    Would like to seek few suggestion from you in order to have a twist to my carrier , currently I am working for a IT company on Banking domain . Have total IT experience as of now is 5+ years . Have changed around 3 companies in my carrier path . Looks like a MBA was my aspiration , however situations did not allow me to think of it . My 10 th marks is 82 %(ICSE) , 12th marks 47 % , BTech – from tier 3 college at 6.96 cgpa . Can you please suggest me , is it wise to go ahead with CAT or XAT and aspire for top B Schools as carrier option . Looking ahead for a constructive responce to motivate me . Pls let me know is it true suggestible to aim for ISB or my 12th marks would refrain me .

    • sita, I have been travelling and hence the delay. Apologise for the same.
      Given your work experience my suggestion is to go for a 1 year MBA from the IIMs or ISB Hyderabad for which GMAT will be required. The 2 year MBA through CAT is not recommended.
      Your marks will be discussed in the interview but will not be a reason for rejection.

  636. dear GP sir please reply to one of my query
    i have a horrible profile
    i have 83% marks in class 10th and 82 % marks in 12th ..
    after my 12th i had 3 years drop due to financial reasons
    at present i am in 4rth year of b.sc (agriculture) from BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY and going to write cat 2014 …i am confident that i will get above 90 percentile …….but my poor academics are a big sort of problem ….if i get 99 percentile do i hold any chance of getting a call from any iim ..i am a general category student
    please reply sir
    waiting eagerly
    warm regards
    kriti mishra

    • Kriti, I have been travelling and hence the delay. Apologise for the same.
      Focus on your CAT preparation, your academic record is good and the drop years will not be a problem. These will be discussed in the interview but can be handled comfortably. The ABM program of IIM A and will give you a preference and you can get calls from these two at over 95%ile but for the others you should target 99%ile.

  637. Here is my academic record: 1) X Std:CGPA of 7.8, 2)XII Std: 79.2%,3)Chartered Accountancy-All India #1 Rank in both IPCC and CA Final. I am a General Category guy and have almost 3 years of work exp.What are my chances of getting into the IIM’s(especially IIM A,B and C) and what CAT score would i need?Thanks in advance.

    • Dracula, I have been travelling and hence the delay. Apologise for the same.
      You have good chances of selectionn in the IIMs. As a general category candidate you need to score over 99.5%ile for IIM C, over 98%ile of IIM A & L and given your work experience, over 95%ile for IIM B. Your rank 1 in CA will be helpfu in converting the calls.

      • Thank You sir.I Have read that the top performers in the 5 academic categories get shortlisted for the interview directly(irrespective of application rating) provided they score a minimum of 90 Percentile in CAT(atleast 85 in both sections).Is this true?Considering that i have #1 in CA,does that ensure me a call if i get minimum 90%?

  638. Sir, i have 93% in X, 79.8% in XII and 66% in BE. How much percentile I need to get calls from IIM-A,B,C ?

    thank you sir…

    • Saurabh, I have been travelling and hence the delay. Apologise for the same.
      As a general category candidate, a score in excess of 99.5%ile will be required for IIM A, B & C with your academic record. IIM C is your best bet.

  639. Sir,
    I have the same X (70%) and XII (67%) record as you have…. but the problem is i have the same record in my B.E too i am a 6,7 CGPA and pursuing my final semester in the mentioned course… do i have an chance at all to get into the IIMs or other cream schools like IIMs???

    • Ram, I have been travelling and hence the delay. Apologise for the same.
      You will have to target a score in excess of 99.7%ile in CAT to have a chance in the top IIMs, the other IIMs are not a problem. A couple of years work experience will be helpful in reducing the required score.

  640. hello sir,
    my 10th mark – 77.90%
    my 12th mark – 81.58%
    and CGPA- 6.7(B.E. Production) (in May 2014)
    Currently i am a final year student.I am really passionate to enter into any one of the IIM’s. In order to achieve it how much marks in CAT and work experience should i gain. I belong to OBC-NC. Please guide me sir. It will be really helpful for me. I am really passionate to enter into IIM and i will follow your advice. Thanks for such a nice post sir. Looking for your reply.

    • Sowbesh, I have been travelling and hence the delay. Apologise for the same.
      You have decent acads profile and as a NC-OBC candidate a score of over 95%ile could get you cals from all IIMs. Go for CAT’14, the earlier you do an MBA the better it is for your career.

      • Thanks a lot sir. But all are telling that if you go into IIM with some work experiences then you will get some additional preferences. so i am really confused sir and you are the only person to reply me in a positive manner. I am really thankful for you sir. Can i do my MBA with some work experience sir??

        • Sowbesh, yes work experience is helpful for getting admission in the IIMs but many freshers also make it to the top IIMs. So your target should be CAT 2014 and in case you are not successful then pick up a job and try again next year.

  641. Sir, My 10th & 12th percentages are 84% & 83% respectively. I completed my B.Tech in 2013 with an aggregate of 76.5% & i am joining TCS from March 2014.
    I need your guidance. Although my aptitude level & other CAT perspectives like GD PI are satisfactory but i never prepared for CAT specifically in my college days. But now after understanding importance of MBA from a prestigious B-School, i want to have a complete dedication towards clearing CAT.

    I will be appearing for CAT ’14 & ’15 after 1 or 2 yrs work experience of mine. Kindly guide me how can i start preparing for CAT’14 being a late starter. Although i have started my preparations by solving good CAT books like Arun Sharma & Quantum CAT – Sarvesh Verma, But I am in short of a proper guidance to score a 98+ percentile.

    Kindly Guide me & help me in fulfilling my will to join top IIMs.
    Thank You…!!!

    • Ritwiz, I have been travelling and hence the delay. Apologise for the same.
      You are not late for CAT’14, Dec-Jan is the right time to start. While many books are available in the market, it is advantageous to join a MBA preparation program. If you are disciplined and do not need guidance from faculty then go for a correspondence program + test series, if not go for a classroom program as it will give you a structure to follow. The books you have mentioned are best attempted after you have cleared your fundamentals.
      Please contact your nearest CL center to interact with a faculty and work out a study plan.
      The recommended correspondence program is Smart CAT Cracker Comprehensive Plus

      • Thank You for your suggestions sir.
        I also have a query that my TCS Training will get over by June 2014. Also there are no CL branches or any other CAT coaching institutes in my town. So, i will be unable to join any coaching institute till June. After June, i will get my base job location, then i will join for sure.

        Till that time, how can i prepare for the exam? Is the correspondence course much better to do?

        Also sir, please do tell me about the list of some good Verbal Ability & Reasoning books which i can follow. I am not able to find any proper source to study these sections.

        Regards & thanks a lot for your help.

        Ritwiz

          • Thank you sir. And sir, as per my academics (10th- 84%, 12th – 83% & B.Tech – 76.5%) & along with a work experience of TCS of 2 years, how much percentile do i need for getting shortlisted to good IIMs like IIMA, IIM C, IIM B , NITIE, etc.??

          • Ritwiz, as a general category candidate your target score should be:
            IIMA: around 99%ile
            IIMB: over 98%ile
            IIMC: over 99.5%ile
            NITIE/MDI: over 97%ile

  642. hello GP sir,my Xth percentage is 66% and my 12th %age is quite low it’s 48% nd in Btech till 2nd year it’s 83% so can i get into IIM??

    • Pragnya, I have been travelling and hence the delay. Apologise for the same.
      Yes you can get into the top IIMs. While IIMC will be difficult due to your 48% in XII, IIM A and B should not be a problem if you maintain a score of over 80% in graduation. Try and push it to above 85%

  643. Sir,
    I have appeared for cat 13. open category student.
    My academic record is horrible
    10th- 85%
    12th- 70%
    B.E-(still appearing) – 51% till now. (Also got a year down in my 1st year)
    Im expecting to score around 97 percentile in cat and have applied to mdi,imi,imt. other than the iims. do i stand a chance of getting into any of these colleges?
    Also Im appearing for XAT 14, is it true Xlri doesnt select students with a break in their graduation like NMIMS?

    Also sir would you recommend that i appear for cat again next year? because im sure ill get a first class in final year. will that improve my chances with the iims? Im confident i can improve on my CAT performance. Please help me with you guidance sir. Thank you

    • Sharad, apologise for the delay, I was travelling and hence the delay.
      Your academic record will be a point of discussion in the interview but can be handled comfortably and with a decent performance in the interviews you can get a final call from all the institutes including IIMs and XLRI. Do start PDP immediately to ensure you are well prepared for the interviews.
      SP Jain would be difficult for you and can be avoided.
      Let CAT’14 not distract you at this point of time from XAT. We should discuss this only after CAT/XAT results are declared.

  644. Hello GP sir,

    I have been an average and below average student throughout my career. I have scored 64% in X (CBSE) in 2006, 52% in XII – Science(CHSE, Orissa Board) in 2008 and completed Engineering with 65%(BPUT, Rourkela, Orissa) in 2012. I am currently working with a management consulting firm as a business analyst. If I get good score in CAT 14. Do you think, I have any chance to get calls from IIM?

    Thanks in advance

    • Gaurav, apologise for the delay, I was travelling and hence the delay.
      Yes, a good score in CAT can help you get a call from the IIMs and also from other top MBA institutes.

  645. Sir,
    I scored 80% in X and 75% in XII board exam.
    Now I am pursuing my B.Tech from a self financed engineering college.
    I don’t know whether I will get IIM ever or not for having graduation from a non reputed college.
    I am in 1st year. If I want to crack IIM when will I start preparing for CAT?

    • Dipayan, apologise for the delay, I was travelling and hence the delay.
      Your college is not an issue, you can get into IIMs. While you can start your CAT preparation in your 5th semester you should ensure the following:
      1. Read a newspaper daily and follow it with a weekly current affairs magazine.
      2. Read novels by different authors.
      3. Get in the habit of solving puzzles – word based and mathematical.
      4. Ensure that you have over 80% in your engineering.

  646. X = 94.5 %
    +1 and +2 together = 91.7%
    I made into NIT Calicut ,but have low cgpa here now I entered into 6th semister , by the end of Btech (s8) il have CGPA over 6.2 !
    Since CAT is not at all related to my electronics branch of engineering , Im confident that i can crack CAT’15 if i work from now.
    What score I need to get into reputed IIMs [if i va a chance] or any good business schools with all my academic scores sir , kindly reply me 🙂

    • Harish, only the top IIMs worry about marks in X, XII and Graduation. Almost all the other institutes do not take these into account. So FMS, IITs, MDI, XLRI etc are not a problem.
      As a general category candidate, for IIM A, B and C you should target over 99.5%ile and among these your best bet is IIM C since it considers marks of X and XII only. All the other IIMs are possible at a score of over 98%ile.

  647. Sir, i got 98% in class 10th and 69% in class 12th. And i got 70% in economics hons from delhi university. Iam OBC-NC, what will be the right cat score for me to get into IIM or MDI gurgaon or FMS?
    And sir, shall i start doing some other courses to get some more certification? Do certificates really help?
    Most of the people who do really well in CAT turn out to be engineers. I opted economics instead of electrical engineering. Will i be really able to do it?
    Iam so scared

    • Shreya, A NC-OBC with over 95%ile in CAT can get calls from all IIMs, FMS and MFC.
      MDI Gurgaon does not have reservations hence you will need over 97%ile to get a call.
      I am not a big fan of certification, my preference is towards a job.
      Many non-engineers also make it to the top IIMs, focus on your preparation and do not get blown by this psycohlogical warfare of the engineers/coaching institutes.

        • As you said earlier the necessary condition to get into IIM-A is to get 80% at two education levels. though i belong to nc-obc

          • Shreya, this was the case till last year (CAT’12) but now with a change in Academic Profile score criteria you can make it to the interview shortlist of IIMA.

        • Shreya, IIMA has this year made changes in the way the Academic Profile score is calculated and hence you can make it at a score of 95%ile

  648. Hi Sir,

    Am Arun Prasad, Am planning to write CAT 2014.I have 76.2% in Xth std 2005. 69% in XIIth std and 69% in B.tech IT 2011 passout.I have 2 yrs Work Experience in IT. Am currently working now. Please tell me with this percentage do i have chance of getting selected in IIM and how can i manage time in preparation as am currently working. I will be so thankfull to you if you give me any suggestions. Thanks for Understanding.

    Regards,
    Arun

    • Arun, as a general category candidate, based on your marks of X/XII/graduation, for IIM A you may need almost 100%ile to get a call. IIM C will need over 99.5%ile and IIMB is possible at over 98%ile due to your work experience. For all other IIMs a score in excess of 97%ile should ensure a call.
      Start preparing immediately for CAT’14, for the first 4 months you will need to put in 2 hours on weekdays and about 6 hours on weekends/holidays. This will take care of your fundamentals and then you can move to test taking. It might be useful to sit with a faculty and work out a study plan.

        • Arun, as a NCOBC candidate your score requirements will come down significantly. While calls are possible at 90%ile also, given your academic record your target scores should be 95%ile for IIM A, B & C 95%ile and 92%ile for all other IIMs.

  649. Dear GP Sir,
    Thank you very much for your reply
    I Need your guidance,
    Xth-8.4 cgpa
    XIIth-78.6%
    BE- 76% till 5th sem…. i had a backlog in 1st sem which i have cleared but in 1st sem i have scored only 59% am i still eligible for FMS…

      • Sir, i got 98% in class 10th and 69% in class 12th. And i got 70% in economics hons from delhi university. Iam OBC-NC, what will be the right cat score for me to get into IIM or MDI gurgaon or FMS?
        And sir, shall i start doing some other courses to get some more certification? Do certificates really help?

        • Shreya, A NC-OBC with over 95%ile in CAT can get calls from all IIMs, FMS and MFC.
          MDI Gurgaon does not have reservations hence you will need over 97%ile to get a call.
          I am not a big fan of certification, my preference is towards a job.

  651. Sir,I am probably of your kind but with somewhat agreeable Educational records.It is all blank now(anyway).
    X=90%
    XII=90.5%
    BE(Mechanical)=89% (2013 passed out)
    As of now I am not working and I blame myself for that.I can crack CAT,I have confidence.Hoping for 1 or 2 year work experience and then MBA.The thing is that I do not have any mentionable co or extra curricular activities,I cannot speak English that fluently as all of those IIM grads can,I do not have writing skills too,I am not a public speaker as well.I am scared.Without all these I know it will be stupid to enter IIM and sit among students who all would have the talent to write 50 pages with fancy English words on a topic “50 pages”.
    So my question is that Sir,what are some qualities that one should work on to avoid these embarrassing situation as I mentioned above at IIM? And can I improve whatever skill that you mention within 1 or 2 years?
    Awaiting your answer!

  652. Hello Sir,
    I have 88.15 % in Xth (State Board ) , 83% in 12th(State Board ) and 71.62% in BE …. m planning to appear for CAT 2014… and m currently working …. by the time i appear for cat i would have a work exp of around 1.5 years….. do i stand with any chances to get into IIM A with 99.5 + %tile…

    thanks

    • Prathik, this year, for interview calls, IIMA is not giving any weightage to work experience but it will be there for the final call. The impact of the change in criteria for interview calls can be fully understood only by end Ja’14 however my estimate is that with over 99.5%ile you could make it to the interview shortlist.

  653. I have a score of 59.06 in SSC,60.04 in HSC and 60.12 in Bsc.IT. Can you please help me which other institute entrance exam should I apply for including CAT to get in to MBA. and I don’t have any workexperience.

        • Hi friend,
          This is Naresh. I have scored 65% in my Tenth, 76% in my +2, 62% in my Graduation and 66% in my MBA and placed in stock broking company (MNC) as a process analyst through campus placement. I dream to do MBA in IIM. I belong to BC-D category. How much should i score to get in to IIMA and how much should i score to get in to other IIM. Please advise. Thank you in advance.

          • Naresh, as a OBC candidate with average academics you should target 95%ile in CAT to ensure a call from the top IIMs. You have not mentioned your work experience so it is difficult for me to say if you should go for another MBA.

    • Manoj, with not so good scores in X, XII and graduation you will have to discount your chances of getting into the IIMs unless you have a very high score (over 99.5%ile) in CAT. Other institutes do not normay have weightage for past academics so they arre all possible. In addition to CAT you should take XAT, NMAT, SNAP and TISS admission test also.

  654. sir,
    Xth-87.4%
    XIIth-78.4%
    b.tech.-7.2 cgpa(till 2nd year),
    would i be able to make it to any of the IIM’S or fms,xlri,sp jain,tiss,mdi,isb etc.and should i start preparing from now(end of 3rd sem)?? and should i prepare from study material of time or cl or some specific book??please help sir.

    • Apoorv, with your current academics all IIMs except IIM A are possible but if you can push your CGPA to 8+ then IIM A is also a possibility.
      It appears that you will have to take CAT’14 and hence should start latest by Jan’14 and yes, CL material is the obvious choice 🙂

  655. Hello Sir,

    I have completed my graduation through distance education. Can I apply for CAT and get admission in IIM’s? Please advise.

  656. Sir ,
    my Xth is 86.7 . XII – 89.1 . B.E.-70% . But the problem is i have 2 years GAP after engg .( Did nothing but prepare for CAT ) I have done CAT well this time . Scored above 95 percentile in mocks . Hopefully score the same in actual CAT . How much impact will the GAP years have ? Please help !

    • K.Raveesh Babu, this will definitely be discussed in the interview but can be handled. Suggest you start PDP immediately to ensure that you are well prepared for the personality assessment stage.

  657. sir,
    i scored 92.7 % in 10th but 58% in ISC. 🙁 Can i get into IIT Madras’ integrated M.A? right now i am pursuing my B.A with English major. I have an average 69.8% in BA till now.

    • Sidhi,
      As per the eligibility criteria written on their website, the following are the required marks in Qualifying exam:
      For General and OBC : 60%
      For SC, ST and PD : 55%

      The Qualifying exams can be one of the following:
      • The final examination of the 10+2 system, conducted by any recognized Central / State
      Board, such as Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi; Council for Indian
      School Certificate Examination, New Delhi; etc.
      • Intermediate or two-year Pre-University Examination conducted by a recognized Board /
      University.
      • Final Examination of the two-year course of the Joint Services Wing of the National
      Defence Academy.
      • General Certificate Education (GCE) Examination (London/Cambridge/Sri Lanka) at the
      Advanced (A) level.
      • High School Certificate Examination of the Cambridge University.
      • Any Public School / Board / University Examination in India or in any foreign country
      recognized by the Association of Indian Universities as equivalent to 10+2 system.
      • Higher Secondary Course (H.S.C.) Vocational Examination.
      • Senior Secondary School Examination conducted by the National Open School with a
      minimum of five subjects

  658. hello sir,
    i am a general candidate preparing for cat’14. my 10th and 12th marks are 57 and 73% respectively and my B.tech percentage is 63(till 2nd year). My question is, is there still a chance to make it to any fms,xlri ,sibm,pune,iift?
    Or I should focus on other colleges? Please guide.

    • Varun, except for IIM A and B almost all other IIMs and top MBA institutes, FMS, XLRI, IIFT, SIBM etc, are possible despite your X/XII/Graduation marks. Will be helpful if you can pull up your B.Tech percentage to 70% by the end of 6th semester.
      As a general category candidate you should target over 99%ile in CAT to get a call from the top IIMs.

  659. Hi GP, I am 27 years old and I have a very unique career and academic graph. I did my Xth in 2002 (74%); however, couldn’t do my XIIth due to some family problem; so, instead I did BPP in 2008 (It’s a bachelor preparatory course from IGNOU) & Certificate in Computing (68%) again from IGNOU in 2009 and then I started my B.Com (59%) which I completed in the year 2013 (2009-2013). However, I had started working very early in my career and did exceedingly well there. I have about 6 year of International Sales & Marketing experience (Software Sales) and worked with good mid-size software firms. In fact, by virtue of my performance, I grew real quick to become a manager (Which I am sine last a couple of years). I am planning to appear for CAT 2014 and I really intend to clear it with good percentile. My salary package is quite good as well. I just want to get into top tier B-schools. Please suggest, if I will be eligible for top IIMs or XLRI or FMS or any other top tier B-schools.

  660. Hello Sir,
    Class 10 -92 %
    Class 12 -89%
    Graduation-63%
    Work Experience 1 year(MNC)
    Professional Qualification-CA
    i gave CAT on 7 th november
    Quants-11(100%)
    Verbal-22(85%)
    Can i expect a call from any top college?

    • Karan, please enter your attempt and estimated correct in the True Percentile Predictor at CL Exam Corner to get an idea of your CAT percentile. The B-school Advisory will also give you the list of institutes that you can from where you can get interview calls based on your category.
      My estimate is that you would be in the 90-95%ile range in CAT and hence calls from TAPMI, IMT, BIM Trichy IMI, FORE etc are possible.

  661. Hello sir,
    Class Xth – 81.8 % (2007)
    Class XIIth – 79.6 % (2009)
    B. Tech – 85% (9.28 CGPA) (2013)
    Work Experience – 12 Months (by the time will fill the form for CAT’14) in an MNC.
    What are the chances of getting into IIM A/B/C and other IIMs?

    • Alan, you have good academic record so admission to top IIMs will not be a problem provided you get a good CAT score based on your category.

        • Alan, ageneral category student will need over 99.5%ile for IIM C and A will need at least 98%ile. IIM B can happen at a score of over 90%ile but requires good academic record and work experience.

  662. sir,
    my 10th cgpa was 8.6, 12th was 65%. currently im pursuing engineering in electronics and communication from VTU. I am in 2nd year and my 1st year aggregate was 70%. I want to appear for cat 2015 , please guide me on how to go about the right kind of preparations, I do not want to miss on anything as my 12th percentage is a little hampering one.

    • Alka, the first thing you need to ensure is over 76% (preferably over 80%) in graduation, as it will significantly reduce the pressure of low XII marks. Also get into the habit of reading – newspapers, current affairs magazine, novels etc. You could also look at completing maths of IX an X standard using the CBSE books.

  663. Sir, I seriously want to study in a great B-School………now I m working as a bank officer….but in my whole life I never remained serious about study and that’s why I have a pathetic career record.
    10th- 74%
    12th- 49%
    grad- 63%(Engineering)
    work exp-12 months
    If I will start preparing for CAT then how much score I need to get into a premier B-School? Which B-Schools I Should target with this pathetic academic record? And in future may I face any problem in campus selection bcoz of my low academic record ? Thank You.

    • Anand, if you are a general category candidate you will need over 99.5%ile to get a call from top IIMs and over 97%ile for the new IIMs. For admission to any good B school you should target at least 95%ile in CAT. Your past academic record will not be an issue once you get into a good B school.

  664. hi sir ,

    this is really a motivational story ..

    my profile is not very impressive ..
    10th –95.2 % –east delhi topper
    12th –78.8%
    b tech —6.45 cgpa
    work exp–2 yrs in an MNC
    active menber in an NGO
    i could not score well in 12th and b tech as i was going through treatment of cancer …when i am well now .. i am planning to do an MBA ..
    please help me on few problems:
    ++will I be able to get IIm A B or C with this profile …?
    ++what all options do i have with the above profile in top 20 colleges ?
    ++do Xlri and FMS also consider past acads for admission procedure ?
    ++i m presently earning well (4.25 lacs pa ) and have good opportunities aligned in future . would it be a sane decision to leave job at this point of time to do an MBA . would i be able to get ROI after doing an MBA from good colleges other than IIM A B or C ??
    ++or it would be good option to write GMAT and do an MBA from US ?
    at last, i want to tell you that i really want to do an MBA as i think i have qualities to be a good manager
    please answer my query sir

    thanks

    • Payal, I have today responded to your earlier query, repeating it for your reference and then will answer the your additional queries:

      “past academics is not considered by most most of the MBA institutes for shortlisting candidates. It is essentially an IIM issue. Given you academic record you will need to target 99%ile in CAT to get a call from the top IIMs, your work experience, NGO activity etc will be of great help in ensuring conversion of the interview.
      Your target has to be the IIMs, FMS, SP Jain, MDI, IIT Mumbai and NITIE. Given your work experience you can also consider 1 year MBA from ISB Hyderabad.
      You do not need to leave your job for CAT preparation, both can be managed simultaneously. The earlier you start the easier it will be for you.
      You have beaten cancer you can take care of CAT/XAT also.”

      Coming to your additional queries:
      1. IIM A is difficult unless you are almost 100%ile in CAT but IIM B/C and the other IIMs should not be a problem.
      2. Apart from IIMs you should target FMS, XLRI, SP Jain, MDI and IIT Mumbai. NITIE, NM Mumbai and SIBM Pune can be your back up options.
      3. ROI of all colleges mentioned above is very good and as mentioned earlier, do not leave you job to prepare for CAT.
      4. Given your work experience you should take GMAT and target 1 year MBA from ISB Hyderabad and top institutes outside India.
      Please call me at 9811155160 in case you want to discuss further.

  665. Please help me with my query.
    My 10th percentage is 95.2(East delhi ), 12th-78.5% (both CBSE), Grad-6.46 cgpa(Engg).i fought a cancer so couldn’t manage well with studies. + I have experience of 24 months as an executive. In my mock tests I am scoring 65-75 percentile. I am from engineer in MNC
    general category.
    An active member in an NGO ..
    What should be my target in this CAT 2014(first attempt) to get a call from top IIMs?

    Do colleges like XLRI and FMS consider past academics ?
    considering that i am earning quite well (around 4.25 lac pa ) in my current job..
    would it be a good time to leave the job and go for an MBA from colleges other than IIMs which would not provide me a good ROI immediately .

    Please guide how should I proceed now.

    • Payal, past academics is not considered by most most of the MBA institutes for shortlisting candidates. It is essentially an IIM issue. Given you academic record you will need to target 99%ile in CAT to get a call from the top IIMs, your work experience, NGO activity etc will be of great help in ensuring conversion of the interview.
      Your target has to be the IIMs, FMS, SP Jain, MDI, IIT Mumbai and NITIE. Given your work experience you can also consider 1 year MBA from ISB Hyderabad.
      You do not need to leave your job for CAT preparation, both can be managed simultaneously. The earlier you start the easier it will be for you.
      You have beaten cancer you can take care of CAT/XAT also.
      All the best.

  666. Wonderful post sir! Sir, I have appeared for CAT 2013 and am expecting around 96-97%ile. I am also appearing for XAT. But since I have 2+ yrs experience, I am also planning to take the GMAT so that I can also keep colleges like ISB at hand. Is GMAT pattern a bit different from the other exams? Does CL offer any coaching or guidance for GMAT? If not,which is the best coaching center for GMAT at present?

    • Krishnakant, the GMAT pattern is slightly different but due to your CT preparation you are about 75% prepared. The English section will need some more inputs but QA is almost done. CL offers GMAT preparation in select locations, please drop in a mail to bidyut.dutta@careerlauncher.com for guidance on GMAT.

  668. hello sir,
    my acads are
    X- 57%
    XII- 73.2%
    B.Tech-64%(till 4th semester)
    i am preparing for CAT’14. I want to know can i make it to top iim’s, FMS and XLRI with a decent %ile?

    Besides this, which other colleges i should be focused?

  669. Sir, i’m a final year engineering student,
    academic record:
    X – 96.32%
    XII – 79.8%
    BE – 7.4 CGPA(expected)
    do i have any chances of making it to the top iim’s
    what should be my CAT score
    i’m a general category student

  670. Hi Sir!
    Your story really motivated me. I have some questions.
    Is it mandatory to have work experience in order to join NITIE? And what should be the CAT score in order to get in this college?
    10th Marks- 84.14%
    12th Marks- 72.17%
    B.Tech (Civil)- 7.9 CGPA
    I am in general category.
    Based on my overall aggregate in 10th,12th and B.Tech, which IIMs am i eligible to apply??

    • Archana, you are eligible for all IIMs but for IIM A and B you will need a very high score due to less than 80% in XII and Graduation. All other IIMs are not a problem. NITIE does not need work experience.

  671. Dear sir,
    my name is sucheta and I want to join iimb. My academic record is as follows:
    x- 89.92% 2003
    xII-69%. 2003- 2005 (then a gap of two years due to an accident)
    BCA-88.92% 2007-2010
    MBA,Marketing- VTU- 79.16% 2010-2012(2nd rank in vtu)

    But two things have persuaded me to join iimb. The placements were very poor from MBA even with good scores and secondly I fell ill in april 2013(multiple organ failure) . I am recovering now but marketing profile will no longer suit my health. Hence I have decided to persue a career in IT field.But i’m confused whether to gain a few years of experience first in programming or to apply to IIM directly. Also there is gap in my education even though I font have a backlog in any course. In very confused please guide me so that I can make a wise decision.

    Looking forward to your advice.

  672. Sir
    Hi, I stumbled upon this great article and felt inspired , and noticed that every query was answered with great patience , id like to have your help Sir

    my tenth %= 86, 12th %=90 , b.tech (nitw) 2011 in EEE=7.3 , working in RIL from 2011 july , I did not give CAT 2013 , interested in doing Management from top colleges in US ,but I find the expenditure is huge with bleak employment prospects , what would you suggest sir , should I go on and do MS in USA , work for a few years and then do part time or full time MBA or clear CAT and join top 5 colleges ? Please help

    • Yash, go for MBA/MS based on your career plan and interests. If you are keen to continue in the technical area then MBA is a waste of time and GRE to MS and beyond is the way forward.
      If it is MBA then cost/opportunities will be an issue in US, it might be better for you to consider the option of ISB Hyderabad or colleges in South East Asia. These are cheaper than those in US and since the business action is in Asia you will have better/more opportunities, these institutes require you to take GMAT. You could take CAT also since preparation for CAT and GMAT is similar but given your profile you should restrict yourself to top IIMs, XLRI, FMS and JBIMS.
      Forward your resume to me at gp@careerlauncher.com and I’ll connect you to someone who can guide you on overseas education options.

  673. i have completed my b.tech in 2013. i m aspirant of cat-2013. i didnt perform well in cat-2013.i want to do mba from a top management colleges not necessary iims. should i try for cat-2014? will 2 year gap without any work experience affect into taking admission in top management colleges?
    Xth-72.5
    XIIth-69.2
    b.tech-68.40

  674. Hello Sir,

    I am currently working in the telecommunications sector and am interested in taking my profile forward by doing an MBA in the same field.
    I came across SITM Pune and i found it quiet intresting as one of the semesters is all about my work ex. How would you rate it as an option ?
    Could you also please suggest any other colleges as well ?
    Br,
    Sarthak

    • Sarthak, SITM is a decent college but it is a niche program and the placements are not great (around Rs 5 lakh pa), it is advisable to go for a general management program to broaden your horizons. SITM can be a back up option.

  675. hi sir,
    i am a ST candidate
    i have following scores :
    Xth (cbse) – 80%
    XIIth (cbse)- 78%
    B.Tech ( IIT-KGP ) – 6.32/10 ( cgpa ) in industrial engg. and
    expecting score in CAT is above 85 percentile , so please tell from which IIM i can expect a call .
    thank you !

    • Ashok, ST candidate with 85%ile in CAT and good acads (B.Tech is low) can expect calls from all IIMs. DO start PDP immediately after IIFT so that you are well prepared for the interviews.

        • Ashok, Power PDP is an online program for interview preparation while Integrated PDP is offered at the CL centers and covers all aspects of personality assessment.

      • Dear Sir,

        Xth=76.6%
        XIIth=56.2
        Graduation=59.4%
        I belong from SC category.I am expecting to score more than 85% this year CAT. What are my chances to get calls from IIM?

        • Sushil, as a SC candidate with okay academics and over 85%ile in CAT you are likely to get IIM calls from most of the IIMs. You may miss a few on account of your below par XII and graduation scores. Calls from FMS, all IITs and NITIE are all likely. Do start PDP immediately to ensure you are well prepared for the next stage to overcome the gap due to XII/Graduation marks.

  676. Hello sir, I really need guidance and advice regarding my future studies….

    I aspire to do MBA from top b-schools…and i am ready to work hard for it now…

    But this has been my past academics so far-
    Xth std – 78% (SSC)
    XIIth std – 56%

    I am in my Final year of BMS (Bachelors in Management Studies) from D.G.Ruparel College, Mumbai.

    Please could you tell me what are my chances of getting into the top IIM’s??

    Thanks 🙂

    • Onkar, the IIMs give weightage to X, XII and Graduation marks and hence your 56% in XII could be an issue if you get less than 99.7%ile in CAT. By virtue of being from Mumbai university you have a good chance of making it to JBIMS which is as good as the IIMs.

  677. Sir my X and XII % are 80 each,but afterwards,i have a 2 year break each in my engg.which i completed in 2012 (in which i’ve scored 64% only) as well as before admission in the same,so i know for me IIM’s are ruled out ,but what i want to know is that do i stand a chance in other B-schools i.e in the top 20-25 bracket (the likes of NIRMA etc)……or should i just give up preparing for CAT etc. because it will all prove worthless in the end because of my breaks and horrible career graph after school!!

    Your feedback would be greatly appreciated by me to decide my future course.

    Regards,
    Gaurav.

    • Gaurav, not all IIMs are ruled out, except for IIM A and B all others are possible. Most of the MBA institutes do not have any weightage for past academic record and consider only the test score for shortlisting candidates.

  678. sir,
    i have scored
    82.6% in X
    77.0% in XII
    and 72.5% (CGPA-7.5) in engineering (BE civil)
    i passed out 2012 and currently doing job in teaching field have experience of 1 year in teaching field
    what are my chances to get into top iims? and is teaching counted as work experience ? and is there good career for civil engineer after getting mba from top iims
    what score should i require to get into top iim?
    thank you in advance

    • Amol, As a general category candidate you will need almost 100%ile to have a chance of a call from IIM A and B.
      IIMC requires over 99.5%ile and the other IIMs are possible at a score of over 98%ile. Teaching is counted as work experience and there are good prospects for civil engineer + MBA.

    • Aanchal, as a general category candidate with average marks in X, XII and graduation you will need over 99.5%ile for IIM A, B and C and over 98.5%ile for the other IIMs

  680. Sir,
    I have scored-
    10th- 7.2 CGPA
    12th- 52%
    I am going to take B.com 1st sem exams this december,
    How much should I score in B.com & CAT in order to get a call from IIM-A,B,C?

    • Nihal, target over 80% in graduation since school and college marks are important in the selection process of IIMs. As a general category candidate you will need over 99%ile to get a call from all IIMs.

  681. SIr”,
    I Need your guidance,
    Xth-46.6%(Bihar State Board)2008
    XIIth-78.6%(CBSE)2010
    B.com Hons-63.11% (University of Calcutta)2013
    I took CAT13, Screwed it actually!
    I want to get into an IIM! So CAT14 is My Target!
    Please throw some light on the possibility of getting into any of the old or new IIMs or atleast, any of the Top 15 clg in india. Which all are ruled out for me, Given my poor Xth marks?
    Please help!

    • Vijay, as a general category candidate with poor academic record, the top 3 IIMs (A, B and C) are ruled out for you unless you get a 100%ile in CAT, the other IIMs and all other top B schools are all possible for you.

  682. hello sir i’m an undergraduate doing engineering currently in 5th semester.. I plan to write cat’14 but i’ve some doubts which needs to be cleared
    My marks in the examinations i’ve written in my life are as follows
    Xth-91.4%
    XII-79%
    engg-8.3(cgpa till now)..
    Are my score decent enough for getting calls from IIM’s also considering i’m from a NC-OBC category..
    thank you

  683. Sir,

    I am from Tamil Nadu. I am a B.E.Civil Engineering Graduate with 4 years of work experience. I am in a blue collar job and hardly find time to prepare. I took CAT 2013 with only around 2 months of preparation time. I did not do well. I have planned to quit my job and prepare for CAT 14 since i got nearly a year’s time to focus. Some of my college friends and colleagues told me that Civil Engineering graduates don’t make it to top B schools, since the institutions prefer IT field background people and do not consider blue collar job profiles. I do not know how far it is true. I have searched many MBA blogs and found people talking about IT career and their work in IT sector and not about guys like me in a blue collar job. Since my school days i have dreamt of making to a top b school and study. Requesting your valuable suggestions Sir.

    • S Viknesh, I was working in HPCL Refinery in production (blue collar) and like mee many other blue collar job profiles have made it to IIMs and to other top MBA institutes. There is no truth in the statement that IIMs prefer IT background. Just focus on your preparation and you will make it to your dream institute.

      • Dear GP Sir,
        Thank you very much for your reply. I am glad to hear that people form Blue collar jobs also have also made it to IIMs. I will resign my job at the earliest and start my preparation for CAT. Can you please tell me which MBA class room program course that suits me to join in CL sir?

        • S Viknesh, I will not recommend resigning from your job to prepare for CAT. Start your preparation immediately for CAT’14, there is sufficient time. CAT preparation is not a full time occupation. Which city are you based in?

          • Dear GP Sir,
            I am working in a construction of 600 MW thermal power plant in Mettur Dam in Salem District in Tamil Nadu. My nearest cities are Salem(2 hrs travelling time to reach) , Erode(2 hrs travelling time to reach), Coimbatore(4 hrs travelling time to reach) sir.

          • S Viknesh, look at correspondence/online program options. alternately pick up a job in Chennai and join classroom program.

  684. hello sir,
    i have
    89% in X
    81% in XII
    65% in b.tech
    could u suggest me whether i can get into any of the iim’s,
    and could you suggest me how much should i score to get into iim

    • Pavan, 65% in graduation makes and lack of work experience makes IIM A and B difficult. IIM C needs over 99.5%ile in CAT for a general category candidate for the other IIMs a score of 98.5%ile should be enough.

  685. dear sir,
    i am very inspired from your blog
    sir my academic results is
    10th =76.17%
    12th =64.31%
    b-tech =70%(continue)
    work exp. =0 months
    i am in 3rd year b tech student at WBUT university,
    i will give cat next year and sir, if i am sure i got 98 percentile,so sir plz suggest me ,can i get call from iims or any other top b-school,
    sir ,i am very worry about my carrer. plz help me
    plz give the advice

    • Rakesh, IIM A and B will be difficult with your graduation marks and you will need almost 100%ile to get a call from these two. IIM C typically needs over 99.5%ile in CAT. A general category candidate should target minimum 99%ile to be sure of calls from the IIMs. Other top B schools (MDI, NITIE etc) are all possible at 98%ile.

  686. Hello sir,
    my class X percentage=72%
    my class XII percentage=63%
    B.tech=cgpa 8.07(till six sem)
    now i got a call from an IT MNC company after working for 2 years i want to join any one IIM as i want to grow my career as a HRM, this year i have given cat and it was a pretty good experience. I am expecting my score will be around 96-98 percentile. My question is will i get any call from most of the IIMs if i continue to score like this after 2years job experience or my past poor academic records will play a major role

    • Utsav, you could get a call this year itself if you score in excess of 98%ile. In general a 2 year work experience will be helpful in getting a call and converting it but one cannot be sure about the criteria that will be adopted at that point of time. My suggestion is to focus on the MBA entrances this year and if you get into a top B school join it else pick up the IT MNC job.

    • Sao, your X and XII marks are excellent but graduation CGPA is low, as a general category candidate with zero work experience you will need over 99.5%ile for IIM A, B and C.

  688. Hello sir ,
    my 10th percetage is 82.6 and inter it is 84.2 an btech it is 66.85 2013 passed out . i got selected in wipro technologies and planning to cat 2015 .could you please suggest me which bschool should i target .

  689. Hello Sir,

    I posted the below query yesterday but I guess it was rejected during the approval process….Please advice on the below.

    I am a software professional with 5+ years of work experience..I am reaching a stagnation point in my current role as developer…I want to switch my role but not my domain. I want to continue in the IT industry but as a business analyst…I am thinking of going for MBA. Given my situation should I go for a one year full time executive MBA or a two years full time regular MBA? I have heard that with my level of work experience I should only target the top b-schools in India. I am thinking of appearing for major exams in 2014 like CAT, XAT, GMAT etc. But by the time the results for these b-schools are out and GD/PIs are over I will have a total experience of 6+ years. Does any b-schools in india accept a candidate with so much work ex? Will I have problems during placements? I do not have the finance to look for b-schools abroad. I have also heard that working professionals with 2 to 3 years experience are preferred in most b-schools. Is my decision to go for an MBA a right one? I am in a very big dilemma. Please advice

    • R C Das, An MBA from a top institute will give a push to your career and also allow you to change the direction as desired by you. Given your work experience a 2 year MBA program is not recommended. Instead of CAT you should consider GMAT since it will allow you to target ISB Hyderabad and the Executive programs of top IIMs.

  690. Sir,
    10-89.75%
    12-76%
    UG-61.61%
    Now i am working in a core industry.Please tell my chances of getting iims if i score above 99 percentile in cat.Shoud i need to focus on other exam also?

    • Swagato, IIM A and B are likely to be difficult based on your graduation marks but all other IIMs are possible. However you should prepare for XAT, NMAT and SNAP also.

  691. Sir, with
    X – 75%
    XII – 80%
    Btech – 67%
    Exp – 2yrs IT experience in a reputed company.
    is Great Lakes, Chennai 1 yr program a good option?
    And what percentile will be required for that, and how are its placements.??

    • Prateek, GL Chennai is a good back up option. What is your expected CAT percentile? Placements are decent in GL Chennai.

  692. Dear GP Sir,
    Heard a lot about you and connecting with you for some professional guidance.
    CAT 2013 went bad and quite dejected, since I am 26.5 and this was My first attempt [Certain family reasons ,planned late].
    and profile is work-experience heavy.
    Profile : X – 84%,XII -79% Grad- 75% [NIT-alumnus]
    Work-Ex- 3.5 Years [Current date].
    So,in case I decide to go for college with a expected bad percentile, I may end up getting colleges like BIMTECH NOIDA or better say IILM-GSM.
    As a fresher I might have opted for them without any Qualms ,but will My bit higher work Experience be any issue during the placement ?
    totally confused.Bit scared shall I give another shot for CAT 2014 [What if I add one more year and still not click through,CAT has changed this year felt].
    Please give me some Guidance,a seasoned Guru like you can surely show me the path.

    • Abhimanyu, an NIT alumnus with your work experience should be joining a top 25-30 B school and hence the likes of IILM are not recommended for you. It is early for you to be thinking of CAT’14, please focus on SNAP and XAT as many good b schools are possible through these tests and there is sufficient time to prepare. Applications for both are open till 22nd November. Please refer to their websites for more details. Given your work experience a 1 year program is preferred and hence do take GMAT which is required for ISB Hyderabad. You can also consider Great Lakes Chennai 1 year program.

  693. Sir,
    I am a DA candidate..
    I scored 87 % in 10th and
    94% in 12th
    I am currently persuing B.E E.C.E
    with CGPA of 8.48 till 6th semester
    I have written CAT exam on October 23rd
    and I have attended 18 questions in section I with confidence of having 16 questions right…
    and in section II I have attended 26 questions with confidence of having 22 questions right….
    what is my chance of getting call from IIM B’s school..

    • Hariharan, Please enter your attempt and estimated correct in the True Percentile Predictor at http://www.careerlauncher.com/cat2013 to get a clear idea of your CAT percentile.
      However my estimate is that you should get over 90%ile in QADI, over 95%ile in VALR and Overall. As a PWD candidate you are likely to get calls from all IIMs, FMS and other top MBA institutes. Please start with PDP early to ensure that you are well prepared for the Personality Assessment stage.

  694. Sir,
    i am having
    X-93%
    XII-95%
    B.Tech(NIT)-8.75
    Work Exp.>4 month
    What are the chances of getting IIMB if i get 98-99%ile based on my profile.

  695. Sir,
    I’ve scored 87% in 10th ,82% in 12 th but could score only 50% for my Graduation. (BA English Litt. ).I couldn’t do well due to the death of my little sister ,just months before my final exams.However,I’ve secured 60+% in both 1st yr & 2nd yr .I’ve secured 1st rank in the state for my PG in MCJ with 90%.
    My question is will I be able to get into IIM-A if I scored 99 percentile.??

    • Mia, IIMA this year has decided to call the top 50 in each category directly for the interviews irrespective of their academic performance, so you have a chance if you make it to this list.

  696. sir,
    I secured 64% in 10th nd 66% in 12th.Currently i’m pursuing B.TECH from govt.college n i secured 7.0 CGPA in 1st year nd since i want to do study furthr after b.tech so i’m confused whethr i should start preparing for MBA or not???
    (the thing which is troubling me is that my past academic record is not so well this can lead to rejection frm top college in future.)
    plz guide me i sincerely need your advice.

    • Vani, while you cannot do anything about your X and XII marks you have sufficient opportunity to improve on your CGPA of the 1st year. You target should be a CGPA of 9 in each of the remaining semesters so that you end up with a 8.5 for the 4 years. This will be helpful for your further studies as most of the institutes look at the last performance more closely than X and XII.
      Start your CAT preparation about a year in advance of you CAT year, till then get in the habit of reading (newspaper, novels, magazines) and solving puzzles as reading and reasoning skills are the foundation of a good performance in CAT and all other MBA entrances.

  697. Sir,
    i am having
    X-80%
    XII-82%
    B.Tech(NIT)-7.04
    CL Mock-90-95%ile
    Work Exp.-14 month
    What are the chances of getting IIMC if i get 98-99%ile based on my profile.
    Other Exams which i have applied- IIFT, XAT,SP JAIN,MDI

    • Akash, profile is fine but for a call from IIMC a general category candidate needs a score in excess of 99%ile. The other institutes that you have mentioned do not consider academic profile but give calls on the basis of scores in the test.

  698. Hi Sir,

    Following is my profile score:
    IIM A – 26/45
    IIM B – 23.94/45
    IIM C – 20/23
    SNAP – 5/10

    Sir can you tell me what are my chance with the IIMs and other A+ category B-Schools for an OBC candidate?

    Thanks in advance

  699. Hi Sir,

    If I am aiming for 90 percentile in both the sections and an overall of 95 percentile at least. Could you tell me minimum of how many questions I should attempt and how many out of them I should get correct to get a call from the IIMs?

    Thanks in advance.

  700. Sir,

    Thank-you for the articles, sir.
    Please help me with my query.
    My 10th percentage is 70%, 12th-68.2% (both CBSE), Grad-64.20%(Engg). + I have experience of 24+ months as an executive. In my mock tests I am scoring 65-75 percentile. I am from ST category. What should be my target in this CAT? Also as per my analysis of mock tests, my basic fundaments are clear, but speed is the biggest problem for me. Please guide how should I proceed now.

    Thank-you.

    • Vida, based on CAT’11 and CAT’12 as a ST candidate if you get a score of over 70%ile in each section and an aggregate of 75%ile then you are sure to get calls from all the IIMs, you can check your estimated CAT Percentile in CL Percentile Predictor.

  702. My academic performance:
    10th: 83%
    12th: 82%
    B.Tech: CPI-7.5 (projected, grace in one subject)

    Do I have any chances of IIMA. What if I have some entrepreneurial records?

  703. Sir,

    My marks in X,XII and Engineering as follows:

    X – 80.87
    XII – 79.57
    B.tech(CSE) – 80.30

    I am really worried as because my PROC scores are not up to the mark. From all 9 procs I came to know that my weakest section is QA/DI where as I am doing a good job with LR/VA. Even I am got 95%ile in one of proc in LR-VA section. I cannot find a solution to resolve my weak link in QA & DI. My maximum %ile in QA-DI section is limited to only 70-75. Could you please guide me how can I get a good %ile in QA & DI.

  704. Sir,

    Thanks for your inspiring articles. It would be great if you could give me an idea about my chance with my academic background. I am aiming at IIMs/MICA only. My academic background is :
    84%- X (ICSE)
    94.2%-XII (ISC)
    64.6%- Bcom (Hons) SRCC
    1 Year work-ex in finance (Big four firm)

    I have been giving the proc mocks in CL and also practicing but since I havent had much time to prepare, most of my prep is only left for this one month so am not quite sure 🙁 My VALR section is strong but not so strong in QADI. Could you tell me my chances at the various IIMs and A+ category B schools?

    • Sam, while IIM A will be difficult (due to graduation marks) if you do not get a very good CAT score, all other IIMs and other top schools should not be a problem. As a NC OBC candidate you should target an overall score of 95%ile with at least 90%ile in each section.

  705. Sir,

    Details of my profile are

    10th : 65% state board
    12th : 84% state board
    B.Com : 59.6%
    Qualified Chartered Accountant & Company Secretary
    Work-ex : 36 months by Feb 2015 (financial services – credit rating analyst)
    General Category
    I am preparing for CAT 2014.
    Am i eligible for getting a call from IIM A, B & C?? and also from FMS & XLRI? (If I do well in CAT 2014). According to some people I am not eligible for IIM A, B and C due to poor performance in 10th and in grad.

    • Suyash, your CA, CS and work experience will help you get calls from all the institutes subject to a good score in CAT. Unlike the IIMs, FMS and XLRI do not worry too much about past academic records.

      • Thanks a lot Sir.
        I have one more query. Is there any recent change in the admission criterion (since as per your earlier comments on some queries you had said that below 80% in 10th class will rule out IIMA)? Also how much %ile should I aim at in CAT 2014 in order to get a call from IIM A, B and C and from FMS??

        • Suyash, For FMS and the top IIMs a general category candidate should target 99%ile. The formula has changed only for IIMA wherein your graduation percentage is more important than X and XII marks.

  706. sir,
    i have a friend who is in iim -b.she has completed her 1st term exam and she is not satisfied with her marks.she has got below average marks in few subjects and is quite upset.she is thinking of dropping out.do u have any similar stories to motivate her?

    • Winne, tell your friend that the she still has 5 terms to cover up for the not so good 1st term marks and the best jobs usually go to the all rounders and not those with the highest marks.

      • thank u sir for ur advice.i guess by all rounder u mean an active member in any group ,but the problem is she is not a member in any group.she tried her best to join various activity groups but didnt suceed.
        .

        • Winnie, then she should start participating in no-academic activities also. She has 5 terms to improve her grades and also improve the profile.

  707. Sir,
    Currently i am in final year of engg.
    Profile 10th-91%
    12th-73%
    B.tech(biotechnology)-80.1%
    I study in Vellore institute of technology,Vellore.
    sir,my question is whether graduating from biotechnolgy would be a hurdle for getting admissions in top-tier B-schools.
    Do they dont consider biotech grads as a suitable candidate for pursuing MBA?Do they give us less priority during interviews ?

    • Pragya, biotechnology (or any other stream) is not a hurdle for admission to the IIMs or any of the other top MBA institutes.

  708. Hello Sir,

    I have 91% , 97%, 85% in my class X, XII and my graduation respectively. How much percent should I score on my MBA exams to be successfully getting into top IIMs or XLRI?

    Will three months of preparation for the MBA exams be enough for getting top percentile?

    • Prithiv, You have a very good academic track record but a general category candidate should target 99%ile in CAT to get a call from the top IIMs. A 3 month preparation time is insufficient, you should plan for a 6-7 month preparation period. Ideally you should start your preparation by January’14 for CAT’14.

  709. sir I am scored 60-70 %ile in my previous 2 CL mocks…….
    I would like to know what should be my method of preparation remaining 45 days for CAT to make it atleast a 85……?
    should i practice more on fundas or shall i work on all the mock and previous year question papers of CAT??
    my basic fundas are clear but could not make it in the mocks because of lack of knowledge in applying the fundas…………….

    What else can I do in the remaining time??
    Plz help me……

    • Pankaj, in the remaining time focus on practice and revision. Forget the funda-books and focus only on MCQs. Practice question from the Mocks CATs and past CAT papers. Identify important questions and revise them regularly.

  710. Hello Sir,
    I have scored 84% in 10th and just 56% in 12th due to various reasons but in my BE overall score is 65%. I have an 18 months of IT exp. Now, due to frustration in this field I am planning to move on by doing an MBA in IIM. I looked at a previous years criteria at different IIM’s, as consider academic marks from 10th. Do you think, i have chances of getting a interview call from either IIMA/IIMB/IIMC if i score more than 99%tile. Could you give me your thoughts on this?

  711. Sir I have 86% in 10th, 85.8% in 12th ,64.3 % in B.E (MU) . What are my chances of getting into IIM-A,B,C? How much %tile should i target in my CAT ? I want to give CAT next year.I belong to SC category .

    • Ravindra, while the cutoffs for SC category will be lower but my suggestion is to target 85%ile in each section and an overall score of 90%ile. The corresponding target score for a ST student will be 80%ile and 85%ile respectively.

    • Justin, Last year the best institute through CMAT was GIM. This year there should be many other equivalent colleges. Will have to wait for the notification of the colleges.

  713. Dear Sir,
    first of all i am a big fan of your’s.I ‘ve joined cl’s correspondence prog as i study in manipal and cl does not have a centre there. i have been following u for over an year now
    sir i have a doubt
    my academics are as follows-
    10th-84%
    12th-76%
    engineering(currently in 3rd yr)-8.1
    but the %age conversion factor of our college is 9.09 while even srm has 10 so the thing is if i convert my cgpa into% it will be around 72%
    other achievements-
    national level sports player
    active participation in technical events
    working under a faculty on a project might publish a paper
    sir i would like to know whether xlri is out of my league or whether can i get it and if yes then how much %ile will i need and whether can i get a call from few iim’s i know iim-a,b,c are out of reach n sir what about fms.
    i know sir i am freaking out but plz help me

  714. Hi Sir
    I have the following acads: Xth : 92% XIIth : 74% and BE : 73%
    I have got an experience of 32 months in an IT firm.
    I wrote CAT 2012 and scored 82.4%ile
    QA/DI: 53%ile
    VA/LR: 95%ile
    This time also I am performing poorly in mockcats.The scores are really bad in both the sections,what should I do?I dont know where do I lack despite working so hard. 🙁
    Plz suggest.

    • Sandeep, possibly you are out of touch. It will be advisable for you to not take a Mock for 7-10 days,brush up your concepts and then attempt a Mock. You can brush up your concepts by going through all the Mocks that you have taken so a far and by attempting past CAT papers. You can also explore the option of enrolling for Smart CAT Cracker

  715. hi sir, i have a weird scenario of my academic record plus life , just want to seek advice from you do i have an option for preparing cat and do i have chances for IIM`s or not .

    my class 10 th marks are 61.5 , cleared in year 2001, (icse)
    my class 12 th marks are 48.5 , cleared in year 2003 (icse)

    i got admission in engg which i continued for 2 years after which i had to leave due to some financial reasons
    after which i started working in domestic call centers .
    i have started my graduation B.Sc(I.T) From SMU distance education . and secured B grade in 1st year . my graduation will complete in june 2015 , i want to prepare for CAT and look forward , so do i have chances , i mean should i carry on with preparation or not . please guide me .

    • Abhinav, except for a few IIMs that give a very high weightage to past academics you can make it to almost all the top MBA institutes. Even these IIMs are possible with a very good CAT score. If possible, try to pull up your graduation score to above 80%, if not the higher you can pull it the easier the admission process will be. Your struggles will actually help you a lot in the interviews.

  716. Hello sir,
    I completed my graduation last year, I gave only MAT till now and i scored 99.24%, through which i can get admission in Asia pacific institute of management, and I don’t want to drop this year for CAT.
    Is this college good and can I expect 6 lakh salary package after completing PGDM from this college?
    I consistantly scored 70-75% in CAT mocks?
    Should I try CAT once or take admission this year?
    Pls suggest..

    • Shilpy, Asia Pacific is a decent B school but is unlikely to provide a package of more than 5 lakh pa. You could however join it an also go for a retake.

  717. Hello Sir,
    I completed my graduation, and gave only MAT till now, on which basis i can get an admission in Asia pacific institute of management, and i don’t want to waste my year for CAT.
    Should i take admission in the same?
    Is this college good and can i expect around 6-7 lakh salary package after completing PGDM from this college?

  718. Hello Sir,

    I am preparing for CAT 2013. I have been working hard but M very confused in verbal section. In Sec I(Qunat), I usually Score 90 %tile or above. But , In verbal my score ranges between 50%tile to 98 %tile. What should I do?
    I am good in ParaJumbles and Para Completion.
    My problem is that I usually end up having two probable options. Please guide.

    • Aditya, since you are comfortable in QADI I am assuming that LR is not an issue and hence comfort in Para jumbles and PAra completion should lead to a better score in VALR. In VALR target the 9 LR questions and 8 questions of Para completion, Para jumbles and Sentence Completion. This should not take more than 45 minutes. In the remaining 25 odd minutes target 2 RC passages. Do not worry about leaving the 2-3 Grammar and Word Usage questions and one RC passage.

      • Yes , LR is not an issue. I strat sec II with LR and then Para Jumbles and Para Completion.

        I will do as suggested by you.

        Thanks a lot for help.

  719. sir,
    I have scored 91.4 in class 10th,83.8 in class 12th and 86.2 in Btech. I will be giving cat this year . is the past academic background fine enough to get a call from iim-a if i score the required percentile in cat

  720. Hello Sir,
    Really inspiring story.
    M aveg. aced student
    X-83%
    XII-78%
    (2-years GAP but working in IT sec. )
    BBA-84%(till 2nd year) SC category
    I want to know …… chances of getting IIM Indore a ( will they count my 2 years of work experience?) & tell me how much should be my CAT score for IIM Indore

    • Akhil, IIMs consider only full time work experience after graduation so the 2 year work ex in the gap years will not give you extra marks but will be helpful in the interview. As a SC category student a CAT score of 90%ile+ with 80%ile+ in both sections will be sufficient for a call and conversion from the top IIMs. Also your X, XII and graduation scores are very good and will be helpful in getting final calls.

      • Hi Sir,

        I have an experience of 41 month till date in IT with MNCs.
        Below is my Acads.
        Xth: 71.8%
        XIIth: 61.4%
        B.E(IT) : 50.1%

        I am appearing for CAT XAT SNAP and GMAT this year.

        Please suggest what are my chances to get a call from good Bshool and whats the score which i should target?

        Also can my low grad score be a problem?

        I was also trying to explore some 1 year progs from singapore. Are they good?

        Kindly advice.

        • Shan, your graduation score is poor and could make getting calls from the IIMs difficult despite a 41 month work experience. However calls from other top institutes should not be a problem. With your work experience, a 1 year MBA from from ISB Hyderabad, Singapore or other top institutes should be the preferred option. Please contact Mr. Rajat Ghosh Chowdhury at gc.rajatk@gmail.com for guidance on international MBA options.

  721. Hello Sir,
    Your story is really inspiring. An average academic student can get motivation from this. I am NC-OBC candidate. My Acad is X- 78%, XII- 57.5%, BE- 67% ( two year gap in BE), work exp- at present 25 months in MNC manufacturing company. This year I am appearing CAT & other all major MBA entrance. Looking out to just released IIM-A criteria is it possible for me because the criteria is changed ? IIM- B out of question i think, What about other IIM’S?

    • Vishal, as a NC OBC candidate with over 2 years of work experience you have a chance in all IIMs. Hopefully your work experience will be able cover up for poor marks in XII and Graduation.

  722. sir i got 48 % in graduation..
    but i have the confidence to score gud in competitive exams.
    plz let me know the exams i can appear for and good colleges which give more importance to the exam score then the graduation marks…
    and i have one more doubt..cat exam form does not ask graduation percentage..what if i appear for cat exam ?
    kindly help.
    thank u so much

    • Richa, unfortunately most of the top B schools are out for you. Focus on IIFT, TISS and XLRI. The score in graduation is an issue but it can be tackled with a good score in the entrance test.
      You cannot appear for CAT as its eligibility is 50%in graduation for a general category candidate refer to this link http://cat2013.iimidr.ac.in/cat_eligibility.htm You can however take CMAT.

  723. Sir”,
    My Acads,
    10th(Bihar Board)-46.6 %
    12th(CBSE)-78.6 %
    B.com(Hons) (Calcutta University)-63.11%
    I Secured 755.5/800 in MAT-May13 (98.81%ile) (I Didn’t wanted to go for any of the colleges listed with MAT)
    1. Do I have any chance of making it to the IIMs(other than A,B)
    2. Will My Extreme Poor Result of 10th makes me unqualified to get into other premier Institutes as well, Like FMS, XLRI.
    3. How much %ile i should secure in CAT to get into FMS-BHU?
    Regards,

    • Vijay, Your X marks are an issue but you can make it to IIMs and other top B schools with a good score in the entrance test. If you are among the top 50 students in any section or overall in CAT then even IIMA is possible. For FMS BHU you will need a significantly lower score (possibly around 85%ile), will check and get back.

  724. Hi sir

    I got 54% in 10th, 68% in 12th and 61% in btech(till 4th semester).
    plz tell me how much percentile in cat 2014 and in btech is needed to get iim a,b,c and other top institute according new iim admission criteria 2014-16.

    thanks.

    • Himanshu, With your marks in X, XII and graduation IIMA and B are unlikely unless you are close to 100%ile in CAT. However the other IIMs are still possible.

  725. Sir , I have had a fairhold over academics with the split as under :
    10th-91%
    12th -93%
    graduation (so far) -81%
    Sir what started of as a not-so-into-it effort has now gained pace .
    I have now been getting around 85-90 percentile on the Mock CAT .
    Now i have a few questions for you .
    1) Sir how does one scale the performance on the Mock CAT to the actual exam provided the efforts are sustained for the time remaining ?
    2) As per my academic credentials what would be the minimum safe sectional as well as overall percentile for me to receive a GD/PI call ?
    3) Sir once one gets a call for a GD/PI , does the CAT score still play a role in the GD/PI call getting converted to an admit ?
    or are the other factors then laid emphasis on ?
    Thanks in advance sir 🙂
    PS. I attended the SQC workshop at patel chest today .
    Found it really intriguing to say the least .
    Applied thos principles to a mock today itself n it really worked at many instances .
    thanks a lot sir .
    *respect* 🙂

    • Nikhil, with about 3 months to go the 85-90% can be easily converted to 98-99%ile by focusing on practice and revision. Also a 90%ile in Mock CAT would usually convert to above 95%ile in CAT since the Mocks are taken only by the serious candidates.
      Your academic track record is good and will be helpful in getting you calls from all IIMs, do ensure that your graduation score does not fall below 80%. A general category candidate without work experience will need around 99%ile to get interview calls from the top IIMs. CAT score has weightage at both the stages, interview call stage and the final score stage but let us wait for all the IIMs to declare their criteria for this year.

  726. Dear Sir,
    i got 93.8% in 10th, 79.6% in 12th and after 2 years of B.Tech my CGPA is 6.7…sir will the decreasing %age in academics affect my chances of making it to the IIM A,B,C ??
    I am currently enrolled in the year long program of CL for CAT-14..
    Please do reply sir…
    Regards & Thanks
    Nikhil

    • Nikhil, lessthan 80% in XII and graduation will rule you out for IIMAand IIMB will be difficult withou a couple of years of work experience. However IIMC, other IIMs and other top MBA institutes are not a problem.

  727. hello sir ,

    plzz help me as i am seriously worried….
    i got 84 % in 10 th ICSE BOARD
    59 % in 12th ISC BOARD
    and 55 % till 4 th sem in BTECH CE

    plzzz tell me that what are the chances of getting in to IIM’s if i score 99.7% above ???
    i know IIM A ,B and C are ruled out but other than this which IIM colleges i can get admission ?

    • Parth, For a general category student, IIMA is out of question, B is possible only if you have 100%ile (sectional or overall) or have at least a couple of years work experience. IIMC and the others however are all possible at 99%ile.

  728. Dear Sir,

    My academic profile.
    10th- 84
    12th- 85
    Btech- 79%
    Currently working in L&T- 1yr 2 Months

    What are my chances of getting into IIM A, B, C in CAT 2013.

    Thanks and Regards
    Sanchit

    • Sanchit, If you are a general category student then IIMA is ruled out due to 79% in graduation but IIMB will be possible due to your work experience. IIMC is not an issue at all.

  729. Hello sir,
    I will give CAT this year. I scored 67% in 10th, 79% in 12th, 74% in graduation(BSc Chem Hons). I completed my graduation last year, no work experience but got a fellowship through which i worked in Bhabha Atomic Research Centre for 2 months but it is irrelevant to MBA point of view. Right now i am doing nothing, but learning French.
    Pls suggest me sir what extra i can do to strengthen my CV.
    I am thinking of doing certification in internet marketing. Will it help?
    Pls do reply sir…

    • Shilpy, with just 3 months left for CAT my suggestion is to focus on getting a good score in CAT. Your profile cannot be changed significantly in the next 6 months.

  730. Sir,
    I have 10 percentage-77% & 12 percentage-74% but my b-tech score is 5.8 GPA equivalent to 52%. I am really afraid of the placement scenarios if i get into a Good B-School . Can you please help me with that info as I want to get into a very good B-School and uplift my career.

    Regards,
    Shruti

    • Shruti, placements after MBA are primarily oin the basis of your performance in MBA so your past academic record will not be a problem if you get into a good b school.

  731. Hello Sir, I have been searching out to contact you, and found this way as the only possibility. Saying about myself, I am preparing for cat’14. I am an above average student for the quant section and will nail it in cat’14 in this section. For the verbal section, I am a below average student. I need to reach the average level to get my score pulled up to at least to 97 percentile. I read your article para completion is not a rocket science” about 4-5 days back and yes it made wonders! I experienced a revolutionary improvement in it and para-jumbling section. Sir, I would like to learn some more from your tactical way of solving Critical reasoning, grammar and R.C.
    Thanks a lot in advance.
    Your admirer
    Nikhil

    • Nikhil, get into the habit of reading – daily newspaper, a weekly magazine and novels should be enough. Regular reading will help you improve vocabulary and sentence correction along with RC.

  732. Hello Sir,
    I have asked the same questions to many people and never got a straight reply!
    I hope you will help me.. Let me give you a glimpse about my profile…
    Xth- 86%
    XII-79.2%
    Grad(B.TECH)- 77.70%
    Yes, I am a perfectly average student whole my life. I even gave CAT in 2011 and again got very average percentile i.e 90.53
    Now, Sir my question is that if I get selected in one of the top 10 colleges.. what are my chances to get a strategic consultant profile from top 5 companies in consultancy(BCG,Mckinsey,Booz&co).
    Sir I will be very thankful if you give an honest reply.
    I am working in one of the top IT company as an Application developer and I dont like this job at all. So sir I can put an extra effort and crack CAT but later when I get to know that I cant get my dream job just because of my past record even if I am in 1 of the best B school. It will hurt a lot So please sir help here..

    Thanks
    Himanshu

    • Himanshu, most companies do not look at your past academic record while recruiting from MBA institutes and it is you performance in the MBA program that will determine if your dream companies will consider you or not. My suggestion will be to focus on your preparation without worrying about the placement aspects. If you can get into the top IIMs or XLRI and do well in MBA then you will be considered by these companies.

  733. Hi Sir,

    I have the below academic profiles:

    10th – 89.27 %
    12th – 95.25 %
    UG – 8.2/10 in one of the top 10 engineering colleges in India
    2 yeras of work experience in a top IT company.

    Is the above profile is good to get into IIM-A,B or C?

    Also due to working, I am not getting much time on preparing. Still only 3 months to go for CAT, is it possible to get good percentile to get into IIMs? Give me some tips here for prepapration…

    • Karikalan, you academic profile along with 2 years work experience can get you calls from all the IIMs. Since you belong to NC OBC category, a score of 95%ile in CAT with 90%ile in each section will be a safe score for calls from all the IIMs.
      With about 3 months to CAT, you should focus on Mock CATs and MCQs only. Take practice test and Mock CATs, analyse your performance in each, identify the important questions and revise them regularly. In addition to the Test Series the other CL programs that will be useful for you are Test Gym Adaptive and Smart CAT Cracker.

        • Hi GP Sir,

          I am the sincere follower of your blog since I asked the above question from you. You gave me some confidence at many stages with your blogs. Even with the short preparation and pathetic D day experience, I managed to score 93.54 (Sec 1 – 88.58 and Sec 2 – 93.44). Now I got calls from A,B,L and K (Stage 1). Now I want to convert all these calls. What are my chances in converting these calls? Please provide some posts on WAT,GDPI preparations here.

          Thanks,
          Karikalan

          • Karikalan, your chances of converting these calls will depend on the level of your preparation. Work even harder than you did during your CAT preparation. Post on WAT and GD/PI will come soon. Wait for a few days.

          • Hi GP Sir,

            You and your blog are the great source of inspiration to me. With limited period of preparation and with guidance from this blog, I am happy to say that I am part of ‘IIM Ahmedabad’ now. Thank you for all the responses of my queries.

            Thanks,
            Karikalan

  734. sir..i forgot to ask a question there…sorry sir..my dbt is i have above 80% in both 10th and 12th..but only 70 in graduation..as u said i cant enter IIM-A..but is it possible for other IIM’s??IIM B or anyother..??help me sir..

    • Sesha, IIM A requires over 80% in X, XII and graduation for a general category candidate hence it is ruled out for you. IIMB has a normalisation process and hence it is not ruled out but is difficult, work experience can help you improve your chances in IIMB. All other IIMs are not a problem if you can get 99%ile in CAT.

  735. hi sir…i need your help first let me say my academic profile
    10th-85.6%
    12th-83.6%
    i am currently doing B.Tech IT 3rd year..after finishing my degree i might get only 70% which is really less..but i am very sure that i will do well CAT exam..and crack it with the percentile they expect..i will..and will work for 2 years for experience..even though will my engineering % affect my admission into IIM..??shall i try for it confidently..or should i forget abt IIM please help me sir..

  736. Dear Sir,

    My Profile :

    10th Std : 91 %
    12th Std : 83%
    B.Com : 80%

    I am also a CA, have passed all the levels in the first attempt with the following marks:

    CPT : 74%
    PCC(Inter CA) : 55 %
    CA Final : 55.50%
    I also have 1 year Work – Ex in a Pvt Bank
    Do I stand a chance in any of the IIMs? I will be appearing for CAT ’13.Also kindly indicate the CAT score I should aim to make it to any of the IIMs.

    Also would really appreciate if you could suggest a study stratergy as I would be getting only 2.5 months for preparation, and I will be starting from scratch.

    Thanks and Regards,

    Pritish Tardalkar

    • Pritish, As a general category candidate with over 80% in X, XII and graduation and a CA with 1 year experience, you can get a call from all IIMs and other top B schools. You should target around 99%ile in CAT for a call.
      With less than 3 months to CAT you should focus on Mock CATs and MCQs only. Take practice test and Mock CATs, analyse your performance in each, identify the important questions and revise them regularly. In addition to the Test Series the other CL programs that will be useful for you are Test Gym Adaptive and Smart CAT Cracker.

  737. sir,i attempted MAT last year and got 97percentile, can u suggest some good colleges for Joining MAT sir

  738. Hello Sir,
    My name is Vyas. I am from NIT Trichy. My acads are as follows.

    Xth- 90% in CBSE
    XIIth-88% in CBSE
    Btech- 8.3 cgpa upto 6th sem

    I have done few courses in finance and internships inside and outside india. I am also planning to write cfa level 1. If i get around 98% in CAT will it be enough for a IIMB or A call? Or is it better for me to work and try for iims to improve my chances?

    • Vyas, you have a good academic record and and with a score of around 98.5%ile you can get a call from all the IIMs including A and B. If you are interested in CFA then go ahead and do it but it is not required to improve your chances in IIMs.
      My suggestion is to go for CAT and XAT along with you college (final year). The earlier you do an MBA the better it is for your career.

  739. Sir iam inspired by your story…I am from delhi …I got 83% in 10th 92 in maths n 88 in science cbse and in 12th i didn’t get good score i got only 70 % with 75% in PCM..I didn’t go for engineering as my score was not good enough to get into any college i did bsc electronics(H) from DDU college which comes under DU i passed out getting exact first division then came the crucial point i couldn’t clear Msc entrance to get into DU so i went to south india and I did Msc Electronics from a college in coimbatore i never liked it from the early on the atmosphere and their way of academic but i got intrested towards this mba especially ascinated by the role of and HR in the final year of Msc i joined cl in the late aug 2012 i gave cat n got only 60 percentile,,i am desperate to get into iim iam giving cat 2013 as well so iam preparing this year.. as of now iam not thinking about my past only focusing on my future can u suggest me how to go towards it…

    • Shankar, With CAT about 3.5 months away, you should focus on practicing MCQs in the fundabooks, section tests, Test Gym adaptive and Mock CATs. Also do identify important questions from each of these and revise them regularly. Hope you have gone through the blogposts “7 Rules to Excel in CAT VA” and “7 Rules to Excel in CAT QA” and worked out your strategy for the Mocks.

    • Thank you sir for ur kind reply .Iam using adaptive test gym also i went through that 7 points for QA and LR. I have 68 odd percent in Msc and just now completed in 2013 Iam in dilemma that i should go for a job or prepare for cat since work experience adds to your profile and considered in IIMs also confused that which exam i should give Pls helpme out atleast i want to be in a good college ranked under 25.My acads are cbes 82.8 in 10th and 69.4in 12th 60.0 in Bsc and 68 odd in Msc.Waiting for your reply

  740. HELLO SIR..
    CLASS XTH-78.4%
    CLASS XII-85.6%
    GRAD-8.0(TILL MY FOURTH SEMESTER)
    NOW I AM IN FIFTH SEMESTER..
    AM I ELIGIBLE TO RECIEVE CALLS FROM ALL IIM’S IF I ACHEIVE A SCORE OF 99% OR SO IN CAT..?

    • Chirag, do ensure that you CGPA does not fall below 8, if possible take it to 8.5+ IIMA is ruled out for a general category candidate with less than 80% in X or XII or Graduation and IIM B is difficult for the same reason. But all other IIMs and other MBA institutes are possible and high CGPA will be helpful.

  741. Sir,

    My academic scores are :

    10th – 78%
    12th- 89%
    Graduation – 74.5 %

    I have recently joined Career Launcher in order to appear for CAT 2014. I am working for a multinational company and till 2014 i will be having 2+ years of work experience as a developer.
    I would like to know my prospects because I want to pursue my career in Management. Which exams should i target for in the coming year ?

    Regards

    • Niladri, given that you have a decent academic record and a good job you should be targeting the top 25 MBA institutes only and hence take CAT (for IIMs, MDI, IITs, NITIE, SP Jain etc), XAT (for XLRI and XIMB) NMAT (for NM Mumbai), SNAP for (SIBM and SCMHRD) and CMAT (for JBIMS). IIMA is not possible for you since you have less than 80% in X and Graduation.

  742. sir mere 10th me 72% marks hain aur 12th me 59.4%. me bahut paresan hu sir =
    apne career k bare me soch soch ke me tension me hu . sir mere 12th me kam =
    % hain to mujhe lag raha hai ki ab mai kuch nahi kar sakta. sir mene 12th 2=
    012 me kiya uske bad mene bsc. me admission le liya but me sure ni hu ki me=
    ne sahi kiya ya galat . mujhe apse bahut umeed hai ki ap mera sahi margdars=
    han karoge . sir me b.tech karna chahta tha mechanical branch se but 12th m=
    e kam % ki vajah se me apne man se taiyar nahi ho paya . sir mujhe sahi adv=
    ice dijiye ki me kya karu me puri tarah se hopeless hu sir mujhe kuch b sam=
    ajh nahi aa raha . sir agar me bsc. karta hu to aage mera career kis field =
    me badhiya ban sakta hai sir plz help kijiye meri plz sir plz.. . .sir mujhe mail karna meri id hai—— shubhamnainwal.pauri@yahoo.com

  743. Sir,
    First of all , thanks for inspiring me.
    My marks are as follows :
    Xth : 75%
    XIIth : 84% (commerce)
    Graduation (BBE , now known as BMS) : 70% (pursuing 3rd year)(delhi university)
    got ER last semester because of my bad health (jaundice).
    Right now , this ER annoying me a lot…will this affect my chance to get into IIM.
    I m ready to compensate for it …..so sir should i go for MBE (du) or experience as a probationary officer in bank…
    what would be right to do if i want to get admission into IIMs ?
    And in which IIMS, i stand a chance….?
    Sir …..please reply….i m in deep tension….help me out…

    • Kunal, if you clear the ER along with your 5th or 6th semester exams then it is not a problem at all for IIMs or any other MBA institute so continue with your focus on CAT’13 along with your college.
      However since you have less than 80% in X and Graduation IIM A and B are not possible but you will not have a problem in the other IIMs and other top B schools.

  744. Sir,
    My Acads Are..
    10th(Bihar Board’Hindi Medium)2008-46.6%
    12th(CBSE,English Medium)2010-78.6%
    B.com (Hons) (Calcutta University)2013-63.11%
    I scored 98.81 %ile in MAT May13.
    Though I got many good B schools, But I want do my MBA from the Top class colleges In India, IIMs. I don’t have any basics of English as i had a pure Hindi background till 10th class & Quants is also the same( Scored exactly passing marks in maths i.e 30), i don’t have basics of most of the chapters,I am taking CAT this year.Please suggest me, Should i get a job for experience, so that i can build my basics of English & Quants within this period & Aim for CAT14-15 or I should focus on CAT13 & start preparing for it from now onwards?,

    Thanking You in Advance.

    • Vijay, since you have studied in Hindi medium and are not very strong in Quant, I do not think you have sufficient time for CAT’13. My suggestion is to take CAT’13 without any hopes but start preparing for CAT’14 for which you have sufficient time. You should pick up a job and prepare simultaneously because it will helpful in improving communication skills which is important for the personality assessment stage and also give you some extra marks.

  745. sir your story is truly inspiring.
    but i have a poor academic score
    10th- 72% (CBSE)
    12th- 59% – science (CBSE)
    b.tech.- 60% – computer science

    but now i have realised my potential and willing to work real hard.
    i am 2013 pass out and will take CAT in 2015. so that i will have two years of work experience.
    if i score more than 95%ile in CAT’15 do i stand any chance of getting through any of IIMs with such a poor academic score.
    only IIMs.
    please do reply.

    • Vishal, IIM A and B are ruled out because of your marks in schools and college but the other IIMs and topB schools are possible if you get a good scorein CAT and other MBA entrances.

      • sir do you think i’ll get to enter any IIM in 2015 or 2016. who knows may be all of them change their shortlisting criteria to 70% or 80% and if by chance i enter the IIM anyhow do you think that low ranked IIM like IIM Rohtak or IIM Shilong can give me good placement because to be honest I want to join IIM only for good salary package.

        • Vishal, one cannot look into the future but I do not think that the scenario you are painting is possible.
          Since your focus is salary and nothing else but salary suggest you check out the placement data of the new IIMs, you will be pleasantly surprised with the salary data.

  746. SIR I HAVE COMPLTED MY
    TENTH(CBSE BOARD)-75%(2005)
    TWELVETH(ORISSA STATE BOARD)-54.6%(2007)
    B.TECH(ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING)-63.6%(2011)
    WORKING IN AUTO PARTS MANUFACTURING COMPANY SINCE JULY 2012
    SIR I JUST WANT YOU TO ASK YOU THAT I WILL BE APPEARING FOR CAT THIS YEAR AND IF I GET MORE THAN 90 PERCENTILE IN CAT CAN I GET ADMISSION IN TOP 20 B SCHOOLS LIKE IIMS,FMS,MDI,IMT,SP JAIN,JAMNALAL BAJAJ IITS AND TIER 1 B-SCHOOLS AS NOW THEY ARE SEEING LIKE PAST ACADEMICS,WORK EXPERIENCE AND MANY OTHER THINGS AND MY PAST ACADEMICS ARE JUST AVERAGE
    SIR PLEASE SUGGEST ME SOMETHING WHAT TO DO……

    • Gourav, a general category candidate with average academics and about 2 year work experience will need at least 98.5%ile to get calls from the top B schools.
      IIM A is ruled out based on your marks in X, XII and Graduation. IIM B is difficult but hopefully your work experience will be helpful here. Your target score in CAT/XAT should be 99%ile.

  747. U r frm IIM background so u have see some situation mentioned
    1.have u see any non career students in iim,fms,iift?
    2.is there any company who required non career student?
    3.have see any non career student got placed in iim,fms,iift?

  748. sir i scored 68% in x
    and 71% in Xll
    i m an general category student ,.,
    i’m doing b.e. recently clear my 6 semester problem is that i’ve had a semester break in 5 semester ,,so after 8th semester i need
    6 months more to complete my degree .,so am i eligible for cat exam ?or can i give cat entrance in 8th semester?

    • Yash, Since you will complete your graduation in Dec 2014, you will be eligible for the next CAT’14 only.

  749. Hello Sir

    I am a final year B.Tech student and would be taking CAT this year.This is my profile as of now

    10th-90%
    12th-85%
    CGPA till 5th semester-around 6.5-6

    What are my chances of making it to the top B schools which includes the likes of IIMs,XLRI,FMS,IIFT among others.How much of a deterrent are my graduation marks going to be?

    • Shipra, with a CGPA of 6.5 IIM A and B are not piossible for you but all other IIMs and other top B schools are not a problem. If you can push your CGPA to above 8 then IIM A and B will also be possible.

  750. sir,
    i scored 66% in 10th,69%in 12th,49% in graduation(b.com).
    well i am an ST category student.so am i eligible to write SNAP,
    XAT,CAT exams???
    .and do i stand any chance to land in a good mba college?

    • Puja, the eligibility requirement foer SC/ST students is 45% in graduation so you are eligible. If you are able to get a good score in CAT/XAT/CMAT/SNAP then you can make it to good MBA institutes. For an IIM call you will need a score in excess of 85%ile.

  751. Sir,
    Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with us.
    I am from Berhampur, Orissa. I have just finished my B.Tech. (final exams in June, 2013). My marks are as follows,

    X: 83.7 % (ICSE)
    XII: 57.5 % (State Board)
    B. Tech. 67% (BPUT)

    There are a few questions that I would like to ask :

    1. Will work experience help compensate my poor acads ?
    if yes, then to what extent ?
    2. Does the profile of the company that I’ve worked in matter ?
    3. Am I at a very great disadvantage when it comes to IIMs
    and can I, in some way, compensate it?
    4. Will my acads hinder my chances in XAT institutes ?
    5. Does XIMB have a state domicile policy for Orissa?
    6. I am yet to start preparing for CAT/XAT. I am hoping to give
    my first CAT/XAT exam in 2015, after getting about a year’s
    worth of experience. That gives me effectively a year and a
    half. How do you suggest I prepare for them? What books
    should I follow, especially for quant?

    Hope that my queries will be replied to.

    Best Regards,
    Swayam S.

    • Swayam, my answers are given below:
      1. As far as IIM A is concerned work experience will not compensate for the academic performance in XII and graduation. For the other IIMs, depending upon the institute 1-3 years work experience will help you compensate for past academic performance. Other top institutes like XL, FMS etc give very limited weightage to past academics and hence no compensation is required.
      2. Profile of the company that you have worked for has very little impact. It is essentially the quality of your work that makes a difference.
      3. Refer 1 above.
      4. Refer 1 above.
      5. It is not stated explicitly but students from the state get some kind of preference.
      6. You are unnecessarily delaying the process. Target CAT’14 if not CAT’13. The earlier one does an MBA, the better it is for your career. However, for QA you can start with Maths books of IX and X standard. Reading any good daily newspaper, any current affairs weekly and novels/books and also get into the habit of solving puzzles that come in newspapers.

  752. Sir,

    I am average student and also from a small town that is Puri(Odisha)…I completed my X in ICSE Board by getting 68% and my XII in CHSE board but i got fail in math and phy and again have to reappear the exam and in total i got 48%..Then i join BBA course in SCS Autonomous college,puri..And currently scoring 725…Thinking to go for CAT and XAT exams..Also buyed different books for aptitude and reasoning and currently preparing..My question is am i good enough to crack those exams?? Is it littlebit tough for me according my background score?? Really i am confused and tensed and also dont know what to do after my BBA course..So sir plzzz HELP!!!

    • Jyoti, with 72.5% in graduation you are eligible for MBA and if you get a good score in CAT/XAT/CMAT you have a chance in almost all MBA institutes.

  753. sir,I really need ur help….ive spoiled my lyf by my own hands……………in 10th i got 94%..bt in 12th….it falled to 72% aggregate in PCM overall 74.3%…what should I do?….I really want to perform good in colleges….i got selected in srm university..b.tech in civil engg.n many more engg colleges such as thapar,vit(not a good rank though),manipal (1400) rank…bt my confidence level is shattered..what should I do…..scored 79 in jee mains…should I take one years drop?

    • Sudeep, you need to pull yourself up an restart. While your scores in 12th and JEE Mains are low, it is not end of the world. You have got admission to good colleges, join one of these and ensure that you do well in the program, do not repeat the mistakes of 12th. Also do consider the option of repeating a couple of papers to improve your 12th marks, it will be helpful if you have over 80%.

  754. Hi Sir ,

    Can you guide me how to prepare for gk section in SNAP , IIFT , NMAT etc . as my gk is pretty weak…..

    Is CL material for GK preparation sufficient apart from reading newspapers daily….

    Please suggest .
    Thanks

    • Shreya, between daily newspaper, Gyandhara on SIS, Management Compass and the GK webinars you are well covered for GK.

  755. Hello Sir,
    I have did engineering from pune university in 2012. I got placed in a company and worked for 4 months and left it because of some domestic problems. After that I started preparing for mba exams and realized that i did a blunder by not writing cat and xat exam. To be into top colleges, one should have a excellent score in cat or xat.because of the less preparation time, i didn’t make a good score in snap. now i have decided to drop 1 more year(total 2 years after 2012) for preparing of cat 2013. Some mba graduates told me that 2 years of drop will put a barrier for admission in top b schools like iims, iits. Now, I am so confused whether i should take any average b school this year or go for cat 2013. Please help me out sir.

  756. sir
    m doin b.tech in computer sc.(4th sem) with 62%(as i m not a rattafy) till 3rd sem.
    my 10th % is 55(because of cricket and football) and 12th % is 67(because of cricket and football).
    i ws volunteer in my college fest (once).
    i hv created an android app with many downloads and also created few websites.

    last week samsung selected few snr. students in campus placement.but they askd atleast 60% throughout(and i know they dont get it that i can even be used for apps creation and many other students who got %age by ratttta cannot).rest u cn understand why m worried.
    so i m thinking to do mba after b.tech but as we know thr admission critra.and i hrd that even if i called for the interview in b-school by getting >99%tile they reject me due to my acads.
    so m unable to decide what to do.

    plz guide me on this. i want to do mba not mtech in computer as m confident that better skills and knowledge than an mtech experienced.and i cannot take risk of getting or not getting job after btech due to familys’ financial condition. so i m considering i wont get job after btech. also tell me my android app and websites are considrd as an extra curricular activity or i m waisting my time.

    sir plz answer me on each point as each very important for me.

    thanks..

    • Dear Himanshu, while your marks are low they will not be a problem in most of the B schools. IIM A and B however are ruled out for you. Your app development and website development skills will be helpful in clearing the interviews. Even in your job interviews these things will be helpful. So do start preparing for MBA entrances and if you get in excess of 97%ile in CAT then you should get calls from the top MBA institutes.

      Secondly, you need to stop giving excuses for you poor academic performance. You poor marks are a reflection of lack of effort and not because of lack of ratta. Focus on your college work, you still have time to improve your college marks.

  757. sir,
    I have 78.8% in 10 and 68.8% in 12 .My cgpa till the last 7 sem is 7.63.I want to to take CAT exam in 2013.Is there any possibility of getting eliminated due to my academic score?

    • Based on your marks in X, XII and graduatio, you are not in contention for IIM A and B but there is no problem with respect to other IIMs and other top MBA institutes.

  758. Hi sir,
    I took cat this year and scored 80%ile in it..I got a call from IMT nagpur and i converted it. I also got a call from KJ SOM through cmat in which i scored around 99%ile and i am in waitlist. I sincerely want to take cat one more time,since i feel i can improve a lot from this years performance.The problem i face is that at present i dont have a job to add to my workex.
    My academic performance: 86.4 in 10th
    71 in 12th and 66 in grad (b.e civil
    I am really targeting iim’s nxt yr.Please guide me through this.

    • Udit, hope you are not planning to sit at home and prepare.
      If you are a fresher then do pick up a job and if you are already working then continue with it. A retake requires lesser preparation time and to move from 80%ile to over 95%ile you will need to focus on your test taking skills.
      Your preparation in this attempt should focus on two broad themes: practice + revision and mock test + analysis. Use your gallop material for practice + revision and test series for mock test + analysis.

  759. sir, i have cleared ssc and will start working in ministry of statistics from october
    my academic profile goes like this :
    10th : 87%
    12th : 83%
    b.sc(H) comp sc: 66%
    b.ed: 63 %
    a total couch potato in school and college with hardly any extracurricular participation but i have joined an ngo lately
    what are my chances of getting into the IIM’s or one of the top 10 reputed management colleges in the country ??

    • Aditi, your chances are a function of your score in CAT/XAT/CMAT. Extra-curriculrs are helpful but not essential for admission to top MBA institutes. If you belong to general category then IIM A and B might not be possible since you have less than 80% in graduation but all other B schools should not be a problem if you can score over 98.5%ile in CAT.

  760. Hello Sir!
    This is Sagar!I am a B.tech 3rd year student.
    Since i don’t have any professional experience yet,I have nothing much to add into my profile which proves me to be eligible to get into a good management college.
    I have been preparing for CAT 2013 since Sept 2012.
    Apart from the CAT score n overall percentile what are the other factors that can ensure to some extent a call from the top IIMs.
    I also need to know the various things i can take part into so that I have something to talk about in my PI.
    I have recently joined an NGO in New Delhi.
    What else can i look up to?

    • Sagar, call from top IIMs is a function of your CAT score, marks in X, XII & Graduation, Post Graduation and work experience. Other factors are not considered by the IIMs.

  761. Hi,
    I Stumbled across your site while looking for IIM B normalisation process. Background – IIT Kharagpurp, 7.84, 10th 85%, 12th 90%. Working in an I Bank for the last 2 years. I’m more or less done with Finance and want to explore other areas and an MBA seems to be good way for that. Due to my CGPA at IIT, I’ve been under the impression all this while that I’d not even be considered for Phase 1 at IIM Bangalore. I know it’s not exactly reasonable of me to ask, but it’d be great if you could suggest if that’s right. Recently, I realised that in IIM B’s scoring, they also provide a max of 5 points for work exp, which I would get if I apply this year. So 2nd part of my question would be, if my work exp weightage would be able to offset my GPA loss.
    And third part ( yes I have 3 questions ! 🙂 ) ..I have people around who have got B at 93 / 95 % in CAT because of work exp ( similar profile but I’m not sure of CGPA ). So would something like that work for me too ? or would I need something extra because of the GPA ?

    • 1. IIMB You will be considered for Phase 1 of Bangalore but IIM A is ruled out due to CGPA of less than 8.
      2. Your work experience will help offset the CGPA of 7.84
      3. Work experience can ensure a IIM B call at a lower percentile.

  762. Sir,
    my academics score is not very bright its just an average with 69% in 10
    64% in 12
    57% in B.E (2009)
    i could not find a job with my low BE percent.
    started my own bussines with few friends but that too didnt workout now the only hope left is to do mba ..i am preparing for cat since jan 2013 ..will any of top clg like of iim league will consider me if i get above 99 score in cat with almost no experience ..
    and i also wanted to know what if i show 3 years of work experience in my uncle company with all the paper proof and with 99+% in cat will clgs take me..or is it better to apply as fresher while filling the cat form … please name the clgs from iim which will consider me like there are plenty of new iim do all of them follow same hiring procedure like you shoild be from iit nit with top academics rec…

    • Bharat, it is not lack of work experience, you were working in your own business which did not take off, so it can be explained. You can show work experience in your uncle’s company but it will be questioned and you will be checked for your knowledge of the same.
      IIM A and B are ruled out but all the other IIMs and other B schools are not a problem.

  763. my academic scores are given below..
    Xth – 57%
    XIIth – 58%
    B.B.A – 6.04 CGPA
    and now the query…
    i’m a student at CL mumbai and preparing for CAT, CMAT & NMAT..i have no clue of how much score iam to attain to get in the IIM’s or other top B-schools..considering my academics i know that IIM-A,B are out of context…what chances do i have of getting in other IIM’s and what score must i get…PLEASE REPLY.

    • Nikhil, with our school and college marks IIM A and B are not possible for you. but for the others you can get a call with a score of around 99%ile. All other b schools are not a problem.

  764. Hello GP,
    Found the article while browsing and felt its a really good read !!
    I have a good academic record that can get me past any B school although I have a 78% in XII which might cause some hindrance with IIM-A but I am not aiming for IIMs in particular.

    Actually I started 3 companies when I was in final year of college after attending some entrepreneurship drives out of which one got funded with 20 lac. Due to some issues I had to quit all of them and join an IT company.

    My question is that I don want these high paid jobs after MBA and all I want is to start a company for which I have all the ideas and technical abilities to do but where I lack is in marketing and managing. In my previous company I had a co-founder doing all this work which made him have a vital role in the company and for the next one I have decided that I should take that vital role so I have been thinking of doing an MBA but the dilemma is whether its the right path and if it is which is a better course and college.

    I know you would have gone through the same journey in building your company so hoping for some insights which would help me shape my career.
    Thanks for your time.

  765. sir thanks for the reply but i have one more quest sir is isb better than iim-b,c or indore?? and i really don’t understand why does isb has 1yr programme and is it true that for isb i’ll be needing atleast 4-5 yrs of experience.waiting for ur reply and sir it is remarkable that u take time from ur busy schedule to reply to our queries and sir also guide me how should i start preparing for gmat or cat coz i get ample time during my college and in holidays m totally free and can u plz give me ur mail id i’d like to talk to u in detail and seek ur advice on coaching coz i got screwed in 12th n jee just coz i selected a wrong institute
    thank you very much

    • Harshit, for a fresher my vote will be for the IIMs that you have mentioned but if you have at least 4 years, or more, of work experience then a 1 year program is preferable since in the placement process this will be an advantage. Go for the IIMs now but if you do not make it then look at ISB and other 1 year programs.

  766. Sir,
    I am a software engineer passed out in 2012.I have given February CMAT but not expecting high marks.So planning to work for a year and then try again for MBA entrance.
    I already got a job but its not pertaining to my IT field.Its the post of Technical editor.And i am not able to get a job related to my field.
    My question is if i join the job,will it be counted as an experience?My priority is doing MBA and i dont want this job to create problems in my Personal Interview rounds and hamper my chances of getting into a good B-School…

  767. Hello GP,
    Well its really motivating to hear that a pathetic student finally gets into IIM-B.It would have taken a great deal of patience,courage and hard work to make it to the IIMs.Having failed throughout my life,it would require a herculean effort to get through CAT and finally make it to the IIMs.I would like to ask you about my chances(though meager) of getting into the IIMs or other top ranked B-Schools. My academic profile is as follows:
    Xth-85.67%(ICSE)
    XIIth-76.33% (CHSE-Orissa)
    B-Tech-8.4/10(BPUT-Orissa)

    At present I ‘m with Infosys, having been with the organisation for a year and a half now.Moreover,I have already joined CL for a regular classroom course and aiming at CAT ’13.

    Any suggestions would definitely help me in redefining my goals and achieving it with ease.I’m waiting for your suggestions with bated breath.

    • Sambit, Your XII marks pull you down a bit because of which IIM A and B are unlikely but there is no problem wrt all other IIMs and other B schools. Your work experience will an advantage since it is given some weightage by most of the institutes.

  768. Sir, I am waitlisted 5 at SIBM-P. They will declare a list on 11th and I have a hope of converting. I also have calls from New IIMs, IIM-L, MDI, IIT-B, FMS. CAT: 99.54%ile. Should I confirm my seat at SIBM if converted? If I cancel the admission at later stage, Rs.31000 will be deducted. My IIML interview was ok and WAT/GD was decent. At new IIMs, PI was decent but WAT was not that good. Plz advice. I am 2012 BE passout with 6 months WE. But actually its 0 since the forms were filled Aug. This is my 1st attempt.

  770. and sir… is there any sectional cut off for any other bschools xpct iims…. if yes then wats the range of sectional cutoffs.

  771. heloo sir,,,
    pls provide some tips and guidance to crack quant section… sir m really weak in maths…yes i hav started studying again 8,9,10 std ncert books…sir wat else i can do for improving my maths to a height of cat level….nd also if possible pls mention topics covered under cat quant section…..

  772. sir thanks for the reply but i have one more quest sir is isb better than iim-b,c or indore?? and i really don’t understand why does isb has 1yr programme and is it true that for isb i’ll be needing atleast 4-5 yrs of experience.waiting for ur reply and sir it is remarkable that u take time from ur busy schedule to reply to our queries and sir also guide me how should i start preparing for gmat or cat coz i get ample time during my college and in holidays m totally free and can u plz give me ur mail id i’d like to talk to u in detail and seek ur advice on coaching coz i got screwed in 12th n jee just coz i selected a wrong institute
    thank you very much sir

  773. Sir , before I begin I must admit that I was very poor in maths from the very beginning of my school life , though I managed to get through by getting some marks , it was never satisfying . In class 10 (CBSE ) boards exam I scored 58 % in mathsin 2009 and in class 12 it was 18 in 2011( I was down with a terrible fever on the morning before the exam day and had to escorted by my parents to somehow manage myself to sit in the exam , and this was for the first time in my life I failed in any of my examination ) , now I am studying english honors and also preparing for CAT . My question is , do top b-schools from India consider the marks of 10th standards and 12th standards marks ?

    • Saptak, the IIMs consider marks of X, XII and graduation important but most of the other b schools do not think likewise and will consider your candidature favourably in case you get a good score in CAT/XAT/SNAP/NMAT/CMAT.

  774. sir

    i am btech student.

    sir i got 85.5% (in madhyamik)

    82% in (hs)
    and 78% (till now) in btech ,

    if i get 99%ile can i get a call from iim a ,b if i can not obtain 80% in btech.
    and sir if i pursue mtech and then do mba .. will this be an advantage??

  775. Hi,
    This was quite a story. I’m still in the early phases of my career. Did the same set of stuff like you, unlike that in class 10th and 12th was inclined towards academics getting quite a handful of percentage but enter college and i realized that most of the subjects were mundane and i wasn’t learning anything actual which was going to help me in my life later on. So i just chilled out in college, barely managed a late 6 point something GPA, but what i focussed on all this while was that although my GPA was low, my experiences and knowlede weren’t and differentiated from the herd. It’s been sometime out of college and i managed to intern with one of the Big4 and later on went to join another Big4 post completition of my Engineering degree. What i find idiotic is that most of the people judge you by your GPA. I dont think in the indian landscape of education where you study 70% of the subjects just because they are in your curriculum rathern than they being your favored choice of subject, GPA should be an ideal criteria for judging so many students. Hope these educational institutions understand this and don’t let great talent go untapped just because they did not score an “A+” in Electronics Subject Class.
    Cheers!

    • Anshal, unfortunately the top IIMs have also started believing that high marks, that are a function of your ability to cram, are essential for you to be a good business person. Interestingly what you have studied in school or college is by and large not relevant to MBA, so you are being judged on your cramming ability of what is not essential for the program. Hopefully better sense will prevail soon.

  776. sir,
    I’m an average student with the following academic details
    X – 89%
    XII – 75%(PCM)
    GRADUATION – 60%( BSc. Computer Science)
    Things bugging me
    1.My falling %age,
    2.hv a gap of 1.5 yr after graduation.
    I then went for Oracle certification from NIIT(which lasted 1 year) and now i’m looking for a job in an IT company.
    I want to persue mba in systems after gaining some work ex.
    With the profile mentioned above do i stand a chance to get admission in a good colg?If yes,which colgs i shud aim for and how much of work exp i shud go for before attempting CAT so as to make my profile a littile better?
    lastly is age an issue as in i wont be able to give CAT before 2015 when i’l turn 27 so… plz guide me.

    • Parul, you are on the right track, pick up a job and start preparing for MBA entrance your percentage and gap are not an issue. You do not have to wait till 2015 to take CAT you can take it in 2013 or 2014 also. IIM A and B are ruled out but all the other IIMs and other B schools are possible.

  777. sir ,
    m a B TECH 3rd yr ( I T) student .My grad score till now 73%.
    My 10 — 90%
    12 — 71%
    what score do i need in CAT 2013 to get a call from IIMs ( other than A, B) .and other good MBA colleges.?
    please reply .

    • Debayan, to be reasonably sure of getting a call from any IIM or FMS you will need a minimum of 99%ile. For XLRI you will need a minimum of 95%ile in XAT.

  778. sir i have a problem that i have cleared my IBM daksh interview sir by mistake i write graduate on my resume. but m not graduate and i have to submit ma document on 26 feb.. m having my last sem mark sheet in which m all clear but in other sem m having backs so do m i eligible for that post and can i deposit ma last sem mark sheet. as a proof of graduation

  779. Hi Sir,

    I have a accademic score of 85% in 10th, 53.5 in 12th, 62% in BE and 68.5 in Mtech, Also i have 5 years of IT experience. since my accademic record is not consistent i am not sure if i will be eligible to purse executive MBA in Top business schools. Please suggest me the schools i should target for E-MBA. I am good at apitude and have been scoring well in GMAT Mocks. What will be the ideal score for any of the suggested schools?

    • Manjunath, while IIM A and B 2 year program is ruled out because of less than 80% in XII and graduation the other IIMs and other B schools are possible. However with 5 years work experience you should not consider a 2 year MBA but go for a 1 year MBA program from ISB Hyderabad or Singapore or Hongkong.

  780. Hello Sir,
    I m doing Job since last 8 Months and i have appeared for CAT earlier twice..But got poor scores..Now vl b appearing for CAT 2013..

    My Acads :-
    10th – 88
    12th – 82
    Graduation ( Engg )- 79.6

    Do i stand any chance of Making it into IIM A,B, and c…or any other chances..if i score more than 99 in CAT ?

    Pls reply.

    • Rahul, Unfortunately because you have less than 80% in graduation IIM A and B are ruled out. I know this is stupid but IIM A and B have a disagreement with logic. IIM C, other IIMs and other top B schools are not a problem.

  781. Sir, i need your guidance on writing CAT 2013 because i have scored low marks in +2 and graduation..
    Details:-
    10:- 68%, +2:- 50%, graduation:- 53%, PGDM(HR):- 63%( correspondence means) , work exp:- 4+ years. Sir do i stand any chance to get into IIM’s, XLRI, ISB etc..Please give your valuable suggestion on this profile.

    • Atul, IIM A and B are unlikely but your post graduation and 4 year work experience could pull you thru in IIM C. The other IIMs, FMS and the other top B schools will not be a problem.

  782. Hi,

    My 10th – 89%
    12th (state board) – 89 %
    Engineering – 69 %
    work experience -22 months
    Do i have a chance in IIM – A provided I score above 98% CAT..
    i took gre and scored 91% overall..i beleive i can make it to CAT top 2 %..but will i get a call with my low % in Engineering??

  783. Sir, My academic career is bright enough and I have recently passed out from IIT Madras(2012) in Chemical engg & joined a core company. i am planning to shift into a Non core Analytics company. Would that create a problem for me in the future for getting into IIMs?

  784. Hello sir, my academic profile is:
    Class X: 88.7%
    Class XII: 89.6%
    B.Tech: 7.94(Till 6th Sem)
    I will be graduating in June 2013. The problem is I haven’t yet got a Job. I will be giving CAT 2013. I have started preparation. My question is, if I don’t get a job this year and get a good percentile, will there be any problem in admission process of reputed B-Schools due to the gap of 1 year (2013 July-2014 July)?

    • Debanshu, a good percentile (> 99%ile) will get you a call even without a job. However a job will help in your preparation.

  785. dear sir,

    my academic profile is ::
    class X – 85.2% (2004)
    class XII – 77.2% (2006)
    B. Tech – 7.19 cgpa out of 10(2007 – 2011)
    job::marketing executive in iffco tokio general iinsurance(july, 2012 till now)

    i am preparing very hard for CAT,2013-14. will i face any problem for gaps in academics i.e. after XII (1 year) and after graduation( 1 year).is there any chances for me to get into top IIMs and other top B- Schools except IIMA and IIMB.

    please do reply sir…….i really getting nervous……..thank you..!!!!

  786. Hi Sir,

    With 99.4 percentile my IIMC interview is on 28th feb. I belong to SC category. Could you please suggest on how I should go about my preparation considering I have reservation?

    • Dinesh, while with 99.4%ile in SC category you should be able to convert the call but I would advise against complacency because CAT score has a weight of only 35% in the overall score while WAT + PI has a 54% weight. So prepare for the interview as suggested in my blogpost at http://careerlauncher.com/gpspeaks/?p=1120 Hope you have attended the PDP sessions and taken a Mock interview. Which city are you from?

    • Dinesh, while with 99.4%ile in SC category you should be able to convert the call but I would advise against complacency because CAT score has a weight of only 35% in the overall score while WAT + PI has a 54% weight. So prepare for the interview as suggested in my blogpost at http://careerlauncher.com/gpspeaks/?p=1120 Hope you have attended the PDP sessions and taken a Mock interview, if not do let me know which city are you from so that it can be orgnanized immediately?

  787. sir , my academic background are as follows:

    10th-73%
    12th-77%
    graduation-71%

    wid these marks , can i make it to “IIM-C”, if my CAT score is 99%ile

  788. @GP—-Sir I have a mediocre academic profile, which is as follows:
    Xth-73.6%(ICSE)
    XIIth-67.11%(CHSE-Orissa)
    B-Tech-7.1/10(BPUT-Orissa)

    Sir I know it is impossible to convert any IIMs with such an academic profile. Although at times I do really feel guilty of having under-achieved in life till now and I too understand that its already late to mend. But sir I want to know what are my chances of getting into other top ranked B-Schools.

    Sir at present I am with Infosys, have been with the organisation for a year now and I don’t foresee a career in this industry but how can I be able to achieve the required threshold with such kind of a profile which pulls me back every time I think of CAT,XAT or any other examination.

    Sir I have already joined CL for a regular classroom course and aiming at CAT ’13.

    Any suggestions from someone like you will be a boost for me in order to achieve the future endeavours waiting for me on my path.

    Thanks and Regards,
    Rakesh

    • Rakesh, with your acads profile while IIM A and B are ruled out but all the other IIMs, XLRI and other top b schools are not a problem. Given that you are in Infosys you should target the top 30 B schools only.

  789. dear sir,
    i m at urge of a cliff in matter of situations,
    10th-61%
    12th-59%
    took a gap of 1year for engineering entrance & now i m
    pursuing B.E in electrical with 62%
    & no campus recruitment..or job also.
    it seems i have to take a gap of another year to crack cat exam is it fair enough to take this step as i will be 25 yrs completing my post graduation &
    moreover i belong from a middle class family and cannot afford mba..from iims
    should i write cat exam next year,
    plz plz do reply……:)

    • Srinivas, while it might be difficult first thing that you need to do is to get a job. Apply to private companies directly and also check out the PSUs. I don’t think that anyone should drop a year to prepare for MBA it can usually be done along with your job.
      However in the worst case of not being able to get a job you should still prepare for MBA. IIMs and all other B schools have loans and scholarship for students who need financial support.
      CL also provides merit cum means scholarship to students wanting to prepare for MBA entrances. Which city are you from?

  790. Hi Sir,
    It’s been highly motivating reading your blog.I am targeting for Cat 2013.And in one of your replies you rightly said, we are taking academic performance as mere an excuse for not making it big.
    I completed by Btech in 2011 with 72% and scored 82 %and 74.4% in Xth and XIIth respectively(from CBSE Board). I am working in a reputed company from past 18months. I never gave CAT before. I will enroll in a coaching institute soon.Target to crack CAT in first time itself after having left touch with books from past 18months.Also, I fear that I’ll be ruled out of top institutes ‘coz of low score in academics and at same time hav seen people around me giving CAT for 4 -5th time and scoring good %er but still can’t make to reputed institutes. My dream is to study in FMS.Moreover from where i can get info abt college placements.
    Looking forward to hear from you.
    Thanking you in advance

    • Shruti, Do not worry about not having been in touch with books for the last couple of years, you will refresh yourself very fast. It will obviously require some effort on your part hence do not delay and the earlier you start preparing the easier it will be for you. Your marks in school and college are an issue for IIM A and B but that is their loss. The other IIMs, XLRI, FMS, JBIMS, SP Jain etc will not have an issue at all. In fact your work experience of about 3 year at the time of joining will be a big plus and would be helpful in ensuring interview calls and conversion.
      Given that you are already working in a reputed MNC you should restrict yourself to IIMs, XLRI, FMS, SP Jain, JBIMS, MDI, NITIE, IIT-B,D, NMIMS Mumbai, SIBM, SCMHRD and a couple of other institutes. You can check the placement data of these institutes on their website.

  791. Good evening sir, dear sir i’m very apprehensive about my career because i’m not erudite student my scores in 10nth-55%, 12th-67% and in graduation-55% still can i get entry in IIMs. i’ve been working in a pharma company as medical representative for 3 years pls guide me sir. and pls also suggest me other top college. thanks your anand

    • Anand, You can get into IIMs if you get 99%ile in CAT but IIM A and B are not possible because of your school and college marks. All the other IIMs and other top B schools like XLRI, MDI, SPJ, FMS, XIM, GIM, Symbiosis, NMIMS etc are not a problem. You will need a minimum of 95% in SNAP or XAT or CMAT to get into the top non CAT institutes. Your work experience will be helpful in increasing your chances of admission.

  792. Sir my class x marks are 84%(best of 5) and class 12 marks 76% (best of 4).But there was a mishap my physics chem math marks were in 45s and bio 60 one due to depression of not being able to appear for the Class 12 boards practicals due to sickness i gave those exams out of 70marks.
    But i wanted a good stream or college that was possible on marks basis. So only option i had to let go btech or biology my fav subject as no top collg in bengal was offering that through entrance.
    So could sit in Presidency and another autonomous collg under CU in BA english, BSc. Eco/Geo through entrance basis and eligibility of 65% aggt was fullfilled.
    I went with Eco a new subject and not very friendly to me just for the sake of a good college.
    With Statistics and Mathematics as general subjects of 300marks each and Economics Honours of 800marks and having compulsory subjects English-50 Bengali-50 ENVS-100
    Now i could not farewell due to many reasons which the world will have no time to listen. My Economics Honours marks is below 50%. But taking the general subjects Math and Stat and other compulsory subjects I am having an aggregate more than 50%. So I am confused am I eligible to sit for CAT/XAT atleast.
    Getting BA/Bsc(Hons.) in Collg to study is a prestigious matter in Bengal’s CU’s archaic and tough course. So many students go for BA/BSc/BCom 3yrs Pass course a simpler one and easy for getting marks. And if the students of BA/Bsc Pass course secure above 50% they are eligible for CAT??But not Honours students??
    please clarify as in the eligibility criteria its written 50% in graduation not 50% in graduation’s hons. why will my others subject marks be ommitted while calculating my bachelor’s CGPA??
    whereas Btech guys CGPA those 7.5 8.5 scores are mostly on percentile(i.e. there particular class batch performance basis).

    Lastly say if I have below 50% in graduation what are the options for good MBA collg.
    I can say I am quite good in English,Analytical and Practical aptitude. I need a scope to portray and forget my one year god induced mishap.

  793. dear sir,
    like the others i have a query too i’ve been avg in studies throughout my life major reason being indulgence in sports activities.i am a national level swimmer i mean i was…
    i have scored 85%+ in 10th 76% in 12th and i am in a very reputed engg college of this country and there my cgpa is well above 8.i am the president of our technical club .sir can u plz tell me if i have a shot at iim-b,c or any other and should i try for cat straightaway or should i first take up a job in my engg field then try.sir i am a quite positive thinker so ans me honestly i will not feel depressed in any case.SHOULD I GO FOR CAT?? IS THERE ANY CHANCE OF ME GETTING INTO A GOOD COLLEGE??

    • Mohit, with the criteria currently being used by IIM-A no general category candidate with less than 80% in X or XII or Graduation can make it to IIM-A. In IIM-B however you have a slim chance of making it to the final list. You should however go for CAT because in all other IIMs and other good B schools you have a very good chance of getting admission.

      • sir thanks for the reply but i have one more quest sir is isb better than iim-b,c or indore?? and i really don’t understand why does isb has 1yr programme and is it true that for isb i’ll be needing atleast 4-5 yrs of experience.waiting for ur reply and sir it is remarkable that u take time from ur busy schedule to reply to our queries

        • and sir also guide me how should i start preparing for gmat or cat coz i get ample time during my college and in holidays m totally free and can u plz give me ur mail id i’d like to talk to u in detail and seek ur advice on coaching coz i got screwed in 12th n jee just coz i selected a wrong institute
          thank you very much sir

  794. Dear GP,

    I have 89% in my SSC, 91% in 10+2 but only 62% in my bachelor’s degree(I got a low score because,I’m a chartered accountancy student and my CA exam marks are used to calculate my degree marks by university)I am an OC candidate and no chance of reservation.Have I got any chance to get into IIMs, if score good in CAT?

    • Arun, it is only IIM A and B that are hung up on marks in X, XII and graduation but here too you will possibly get some benefit due to you CA. You will in any case need to score over 99%ile in CAT.

  795. truely a motivating story sir…plzzz help me out
    i completed my graduation from jntu university campus hyderabad which ranks number one in andhrapradesh…..but the problem is its grading system is difficult because of which it doesn’t usually give a grading of 80++ % in btech….and hence even the topper can get a max of 80…..nd here are my academic details..
    my class 10 percentage is 91%
    class 12 % is 85%
    and graduation% is 72%
    and i am planning to write cat next year….will i be able to get into iima or iimb???….plzzz help

    • Ashwith, I have responded to your email query hope you have seen it. Repeating the same for you reference.
      Unfortunately IIM-A is ruled out since it goes by only the absolute scores, IIM-B on the other hand has some kind of normalization process so it is possible for you. Other IIMs and all B schools are not a problem.

  796. Respected Sir

    Reading your little story is a ray of hope for many bright buds who are reaping the consequences of a carefree (‘acadLess’ ) childhood.
    I appeared for CAT ’11 without a single day of preparation and scored 96 percentile. I thought I could do better but just as I was about to embark on my ‘serious’ preparation for CAT ’12, people shook me with reality.

    My acads are far from enviable
    X : 85 %
    XII : 62%
    Grads (B.Sc.) : 62 %

    Sir, knowing my caliber, I am not interested in any other institute except IIMs A, B or C. I know it’s almost impossible, but still, I’d like to hear it from you before I give it up forever and draw the final line. Do I stand any chance at all in IIM A, B or C?? Is there ANY way/ANY escape clause that might serve as a ray of hope?

    Sir one more thing. Very important.
    I am perhaps the queerest of cases ever, as I’ve never find anyone who could solve my following query :
    I was pursuing engineering but dropped out in the first year and started teaching students for IIT JEE at the age of 18.
    By the time I was 24, I had about 6 years of workex (most ppl don’t even have 3yrs work ex by then ) and students taught exclusively by me were studying in some of the most renowned colleges across the country.

    By the time I was 20, I was earning a higher salary than most IIM grads. By the time I was 22, I was the senior most faculty at my institute (agewise I was by far the junior most.Most others were my father’s age) and of course, the highest paid.

    When I joined, the institute had a turnover of around 12 lakhs. Within two years of joining, I almost single handedly took it to 1.2 crores . And when I left it last year, it had a turnover of over 6 crores.

    My question is, does the teaching experience count as workex??

    I have a greater problem. I had a fallout with my boss last year. I did not approve of his strategies and methods, and I quit as I could not stand to see all that was happening at the insti in my presence. As a consequence, he would be the last person to issue a work ex certificate to me. On the contrary, he is leaving no stone unturned to vilify me and sully my image amongst the students and parents to assuage their protests and queries over my absence. (He suffered more than 1 crore loss with immediate effect due to students withdrawing, on hearing about my exit)

    So basically, I do NOT have any experience of my about 6 years of workex. I have my XL, HR interview on Mar 1, 2013, and I have nothing to carry in the folder except my Xth and XIIth Marksheets which in my case are the best documents for the worst kind of first impression!

    Sir, I’d be very highly obliged if you could guide me out of this unenviable predicament.

    Thank you very much for your time and patience sir.

    Thank you.

    • Karan, You have had an interesting journey and most of the institutes across the world would be keen to have some one like you as their student but the IIMs (specially A and B) think that only your marks, which are mostly obtained by mugging, indicate your caliber and IIM A and B are ruled out for you due to your XII and graduation marks. Additionally IIMs normally give benefit of work experience only for full time work experience after graduation, obviously you will need to show proof of experience. The proof can be some or all of appointment letter, resignation letter, discharge letter and pay slips.

      Most logical people would say that what the IIMs do is extremely stupid but they have the autonomy to impose such stupidity on the very people (tax payers) who provide them a significant amount of funding. No wonder you find practically all IIM graduates run after MNC jobs and entrepreneurship is an exception. Thus I really do not understand your fascination for IIM A, B or even C.

      You are likely to find XLRI to be better than IIMs in this aspect but they too would need some proof of employment.

      My question to you however is why do you want to do an MBA? Do write to me at gp@careerlauncher.com

      • Karan, do update me on your preparation for XLRI. Please confirm the city to which you belong so that I can connect you to someone who can help in XL preparation.

  797. Dear Sir,

    I am just a 12th standard student at Narsee Monjee College of Commerce and Economics.
    I had a gap year in the 2011-12 boards as my father had to be rushed to an ICCU on the day of a board exam. I have no mother or siblings, so I had to make a decision which I took, and missed the board exam, and took him to the ICCU. After several appeals for redressal, the board did not consider my appeal, however my college principal and all other factsheets can provide proof of the incident.
    It was a bad year and a severe case of trauma for me, I had to find a way to continue the business he ran, and did it at the age of 17. I run the business now. I had to take care of a lot of other things as you can imagine, Sir. I have secured a 65% in my Board exam this year, all factors considered, I was not able to concentrate and the pain was too much. I took counselling sessions and am finally getting back to normal.
    My 10th standard score is 94%. I was awarded the best student of my school award in my passing out year.
    I will secure an above 80 in my graduation as BBA/B.Com.

    Please tell me Sir, will IIM consider me for MBA after that, even if I get a 99 Percentile in CAT with a record of :
    2009-10 SSC 94%
    2010-11 FYJC 84% (NM College)
    2012-13 HSC 65%
    2015-16 Grad 80%+

    Will that one decision have wrecked my chances of a top B-School Sir?

    • Akhilesh, You took the correct decision taking care of your father was more important than taking the exam. Dropping a year is not a problem and will not affect your chances of getting into top b schools. However IIM-A and B may not be possible due to less than 80% in HSC but that is their loss. All other b schools would welcome a candidate who handled such a difficult situation well.

      • Thank you for your kind reply Sir, I remain grateful.

        I would like to keep in touch with you via email, is this possible?

        Can you also tell me the best BBA Colleges on an Indiawide level? Is NMIMS up there? This is going to be my next step potentially

        Also, sir, my chance for the MBA’s will come 3 years from now (minimum), since I am currently only 17 years old, and just passed SYJC.

        Would the IIM’s consider that I have been working in a self employed capacity running a business with decent turnover since the age of 17?

        • Akhilesh, my email id is gp@careerlauncher.com
          NMIMS is among the best BBA colleges in India. Since you will graduate in 2015 you will be eligible for CAT 2014 and your preparation should start in Jan 2014 which is just about a year away. Till then reading a daily newspaper (preferably Indian Express or Hindu), a current affairs weekly and get into the habit of solving puzzles.
          IIMs normally consider only full time work experience but there is no harm in trying.

          • No Sir, I will graduate in 2016. My Bachelors has not begun yet. It will from June 2013. I do read the newspapers and other books regularly.

            For other questions, I have sent you an email directly Sir.

  798. Hello Sir,
    I am very impressed with your story.
    I am a working guy and having more than 3 years of work experience in IT. What would be my chances to getting into reputed MBA college in India with below mentioned academic profile:
    X:69%
    XII:68.62%
    B.Tech:73.55%
    Waiting for reply.

    • Rahul, You can get into any MBA institutes except IIM A and B which typically look at more than 80% in X, XII and graduation. You should also consider 1 year MBA from ISB or Singapore since you will have almost 5 years of work experience by the time you join the institute.

  799. i really want to do MBA from IIMs..my profile : 91.4% in 10th ,83.6 % in 12th and 66% (english hons)..wil i be abl to make it to the iims ?

      • sir i am tanya neha…never mind..i did my 10th and 12th from icse board…so will this have any negative impact? plz reply

        • Tanya Neha, apologise for incorrectly typing your name, n and m are next to each other on the keyboard.
          X and XII are fine, 66% in graduation would be a problem for a general category candidate but for OBC category it is not a problem. You can get thru IIM A and B as well.

  800. sir i want to ask you a very important thing for my carrear….
    sir i have 65% in X,62.4% in XII and 77% in B.E.I have done engineering in 2012 and want to attempt CAT exam in CAT 2013 and want to get addmission in good businees school.I dont have any work experience after college.Sir plz suggest can i get addmission in IIM or other reputed college if i score well in CAT.Sir plz kindly reply……………im so much worried because most people used to say that without work experience doing mba is dangerous in getting job durin campus placement or getting admission in IIM or any other reputed college.
    SIR PLZZ REPLY I WILL BE HIGHLY THANKFUL TO YOU

    • Chandini, admission all MBA institutes and IIMs except IIM A & B is possible for you if you score over 99%ile in CAT or 96%ile in XAT. Suggest that you pick up a job so that you will get the benefit of work experience also.

  801. Sir,

    i m doing b.tech in computer science(4th semester). my 10th,12th % = 54 , 67.8. i want to do mba from iim(or fms).
    i will appear in cat 2014.
    what are the chances to get these schools.
    please guide me sir

  802. Truly inspiring words Sir. I am a student of btech(IT) and currently in final year of engg. I gave cat-2012 and got 92%. I have a very average profile –
    Xth – 88%
    XIIth – 78%
    Grad (Currently in final year) = 73%

    With my kind of average profile..wat are my chances for the iims ? My dream institute is IIM-C. Currently i have a job offer in hand and will give cat-2013 . Please guide sir. Thank you.

    • Tushar, With less than 80% in XII and Graduation you are ruled out for IIM A & B but all others a re possible provided you get 99%ile in CAT’13. The gap between 92%ile and 99%ile is not high and you can be covered by 4-5 extra correct answers in the paper. Accept the job offer and prepare simultaneously.

  803. Dear sir,
    Hi!
    Im studying in 3rd year in thapar university.Im currently having a cgpa of 7.2.Sir I have a backlog in 4th sem and had taken that subject this semester. So I have very less time available due to my hectic schedule.
    Sir I m CONFUSED whether 1.I should start reading newspapers & prepare for cat OR 2. should I try to maintain and improve my cgpa??My profile-x-93%, xii-74%.I have heard that iims do consider your past academics and I have also heard that you should start preparing for english improvement & devolop reading habits early.
    Sir I m an average student who takes lots of time for learning and memorizing & I also need to revise a lot of time if I want to score good.
    PLZ help me.Im confused which path to follow.plz remove my ambiguity.THANKS in advance.

    • Anupriya, take care of your backlog and college performance before considering anything else. You can take CAT next year but tart reading newspaper regularly.

  804. Dear sir,
    Hi!
    Im studying in 3rd year in thapar university.Im currently having a cgpa of 7.2.Sir I have a backlog in 4th sem and had taken that subject this semester. So I have very less time available due to my hectic schedule.
    Sir I m CONFUSED whether 1.I should start reading newspapers & prepare for cat OR 2. should I try to maintain and improve my cgpa??My profile-x-93%, xii-74%.I have heard that iims do consider your past academics and I have also heard that you should start preparing for english improvement & devolop reading habits early.
    Sir I m an average student who takes lots of time for learning and memorizing & I also need to revise a lot of time if I want to score good.
    PLZ help me.Im confused which path to follow.plz remove my ambiguity.THANKS in advance.

    • Kaku, you need to take care of your backlog and college performance before considering anything else. You can take CAT next year.

  805. Truly inspiring story sir ! Like everyone else , i too have a dream of getting into the IIMs. But where i lack is my acads –
    Xth – 88%
    XIIth- 78%
    Grad(Currently in final year of engg) – 72%

    I gave cat 2012 . Got only 92%. Clearly not enough to get any IIM call. Can i really make it into one of a iims with an average profile ? I have got a job in hand. So i will work and give cat-2013 for sure. How to go about it ? Please guide sir. Thank you.

    • Tushar, IIM A and B are not possible with their current academic criteria but the others are not be a problem. Job plus preparation is the right strategy for a second attempt and to reach 995ile from 92%ile you will need to increase the number of correct answers by 4-5. All the best.

  806. Hie there,

    well, first lets talk maths!

    10th – 89.2%
    12th – 94% (district topper)
    aieee – 4491 AIR – gen category
    BE-CSE @PEC, Chd
    Graduation – 73%
    SDE intern @Amazon.com – Hyd

    keeping an eye on acads, retrospectively
    i’m quite certain, i can crack “atleast” 98%le.

    basic question is, wether should i gain 2 years of experience so as to compensate graduation marks loss. ?
    i aim for IIM-A/B and ISB not the other ones.

    and what about getting into B-schools, international ones.

    Thanks!

    • Deven, 73% in graduation would be an issue for IIM A & B and typically work experience will not compensate for it unless these institutes change their criteria. International b schools would typically ask for at least 2 years work experience.

  807. Dear Sir,
    Your story is truly inspiring.I am an Engineering graduate(Metallurgy and Materials Engineering) from BESU,Shibpur.I graduated in 2012.My academic profile is:
    X-91%
    XII-85%
    Graduation-76.5%(First Class with Honours)
    I got 5 placement offers in course of Campus Interviews(CTS,IBM,Capgemini,MJunction and Haldia Petrochem).I chose IBM and worked for 5 months.I quit my job in December 2012 in order to focus entirely on CAT 2013 preparations.Will this have a negetive impact on my profile?If so,what is the best way to defend my decision in an interview?Please help sir…

    • Pratyay, while this will have a negative effect it can be handled. However I do not think that MBA preparation is a full time job and one can easily balance work and preparation, if possible pick up a job and prepare alongside, work experience marks will make selection easier.

  808. Dear SIr,

    I am a qualified CA and my profile is as follows

    10th 85

    12th 78.5

    Bcom 77

    I will have about 1 year of workex by January 2014 in addition to 3.5 years articleship experience. Do i stand a chance to get calls from IIM ABC? Assuming i crack CAT?

    WIll my CHartered Accountancy qualification compensate for low 12th and grad marks?

      • Sir refering to my query above for CA and work ex of 12 months….to compesate for less than 80 percent in 12th and Graduation…

        2 more questions:-
        1. WIll I have a shot at IIM A also? would they consider that as a CA i did my articleship during graduation hence the scores are low?

        2. Also sir,
        I have taken GMAT and scored 710….taking this score into consideration in your opinion do you think i can crack CAT and score 99.5+

  809. Sir, i have scored 52% in 10th, 83% in 12th, 58% in graduation, 61% in Post Graduation (M.Com.). sir i have just cleared C.A. (chartered accountant)and C.S.(company secretary). I want to do MBA from IIM. i will appear in CAT Exam this year. sir i want to know that how much percentile i need to get admission in IIM. and another question is that my English is not so good, is that affect ?

  810. sir.
    my acadmeics are
    10 (cbse) 66
    12 (cbse) 63
    bms-60
    2010 cat score is 91.6 percentile
    m having regional level sports certificate
    2 intercollege certificates
    22 months with credit suisse…
    my question is as same tht was asked above…
    apart from iim cud i b considered any other top b-schools…..if hopefully get between 95-99 percentile..

    • Ramya, the minimum score at which you can be assured of a call from a good B school is 98%ile. Apart from IIM-A & B you will be considered by all B schools.

  811. hello sir,
    i jst made a look into various profiles of top bschools…the students who are getting selected is mostly of iits..top colleges…nd yes with good acadameic background….

    my cat 2011 score was 93. percentile…
    nd past accadameic scores are avg…
    10 (cbse) 66
    12(cbse) 64.8
    bms (MU) 65 %
    regional level in cricket
    got 3 posistion in atheletics in intercollege
    nd aother school are school level certificate…
    m having 24 months of workexperience in tcs…
    apart from iim-a .. acc 2 u what are the chances tht i can be selected to any other top b schools.. i know nd i have tht much confidence on my hardwork which i hav done in my undergraduate days…that i can convert 93. percentile to 99 or above 95… bt i doubt tht i ll get selected to other top b schols also coz of my past academics… pls give ur opinion and guidence.

    • Aman, Apart from IIM A & B which give a very high weightage to past acads record, all other B schools are possible for you. Obviously you will need at least 98%ile in CAT or 95%ile in XAT/SNAP/NMAT to get into a top end b school.

  812. Hi,
    I am a 26 year old guy who got 57% in 10th, 47% in 12th, 63% in B.tech & 3 years gap between 12th & B.tech. I have 2 years of experience in IT field.Do I have a chance to get into IIMs ??????
    Please reply! Thank you in anticipation.
    Best Wishes.

    • Saurabh it is difficult but possible. Because of your marks in school & college IIM A & B are not possible but other IIMs and MBA institutes will consider your candidature.

  813. sir,i filled my specialisation as operations. i have now checked the batch profile of people in operations and all of them have some kind of work-ex. i am a fresher and a 2012 graduate. i am joining accenture on 6 th feb so taking an off on any of the dates on which nterviews can be given (7th to 14 feb) would be hell of a task…are there any chances of selection considering i am a fresher..? is it even worth giving a shot….please reply…in a fix…cat oa–96.42
    xii–85 x–90.4 b.tech cse–78.48…

    • sir,i have got a score based call from sp jain..i filled my specialization as operations. i have now checked the batch profile of people in operations and all of them have some kind of work-ex. i am a fresher and a 2012 graduate. i am joining accenture on 6 th feb so taking an off on any of the dates on which interviews can be given (7th to 14 feb) would be hell of a task…are there any chances of selection considering i am a fresher..? is it even worth giving a shot….please reply…in a fix…cat oa–96.42
      xii–85 x–90.4 b.tech cse–78.48…

  814. i have been prepairing for cat 2013 for past 3 months now and i am much confident about cracking it this year..bust my only concern is that my previous academics record is not impresive i scored 69 65 and 58 in my 10 12 Engineering respectively.. i am aiming for 99 + percentile in cat ..with this score will colleges like IIM and XLRI would consider me. my work experience is also not that much i have been helping my father in his bussines,need some serious guidance about my chances in mba and top colleges..does students like me or with average academics actually made up to iims nowdays ?

  815. Sir I got 84 percent in 10th and 60 percent in 12th. Having 70percent in BE Mechanical. Can I get admitted to IIM’s having a good CAT score?? I need your reply for my moral boost Sir please.

    • Ashish with the exception of IIM A and B you can get into all other MBA institutes if your get more than 99%ile in CAT and 95%ile in XAT, IIFT and SNAP.

  816. I have a poor academic record( less than 55% aggregate in BE).
    But want to join IIM for management studies. I dont meet the eligibility criteria of IIMs. Will the IIM panel consider my case if i score well in CAT ?

    • Siddhesh, the eligibility criteria for IIMs is 50% in graduation so you are eligible. However there is high weightage for marks in IIM-A and B admission to these two will not be possible but these would not be any problem in the other IIMs. Suggest that you in any case work hard to improve your scores in engineering.

  817. sir,
    i got 85% in 10th…but in +2 i got only 74.6%..
    in UG i am doing b.tech civil engg..i have got a cgpa of 6.57..
    am i eligible to get admissions to iim’s through cat??

    • Faisal, given your marks of XII and graduation IIM-A and B are not possible but rest of the IIMs and other b schools are not a problem.

  818. Good afternoon sir,
    i am into my 5th semester of BBA {industry integrated} from MDU rohtak having its college in pitampura and now i am planning to join an institute for MBA coaching. It would be very kind on your part to suggest which institute should go for.
    thank you.

  819. thanx a lot for the reply sir….whenever i sit keeping a mathematics or electronics book in my front….it’s very hard to tolerate even half an hour…..but when i sit with any english, hindi or any other theoritical stuff….i can sit hours wth taking deep interest…..i hav few backlogs now & just 6 more months to go for the b.tech completion….i am also from an average college in odisha…..& was unable to sit in the campus due to backlogs instead of having the best communication skill in my branch……keeping in account my interests….can i choose MBA or journalism in future….which will be better for me with respect to both money, security & status….please reply

  820. Sir,
    As I have heard from many, Is there any preference for people pursuing core jobs than non core jobs in the selection for B School?

  821. Thanks for the article
    I am also an IIM aspirant…..But I sometimes doubt if I will be able to make it.My academics during graduation is not so good.I had good marks in xth and xiith

    Xth-94.6
    XII-97
    but for Btech its only 71.23
    and I had got 3 backpapers also which I had cleared then itself.
    I was not so active in College also.So I dont have any proofs for my organisational skills……Could you please tell me what chance I have to make it to the top bschools?

    • Aparna, anyone who is willing to work hard has a chance of making it to IIMs. You have very good marks in X and XII, 71% in B Tech is a bit of a disappointment but still apart for IIM A and B all other IIMs and other B schools are possible. Lack of proof of organisational skills is not an issue. Along with your MBA preparation please focus on your college and try to increase your marks to the maximum possible level it will be helpful for admission.

  822. QA- 81.39(101)
    VA- 79.11(100)
    OA- 81.95(201)
    Academic Record:engg till 3rd year 89%; XII-95.6%;X-90% This is my first attempt without any preparation.Should I apply to other good MBA colleges or attempt CAT 2013,Suggest me something?

    • Kondamoulika, at 82%ile you are unlikely to get admission into any good MBA institute hence you should be looking at going for CAT’13. However please do pick up a job, MBA preparation is not a full time activity and work experience will be an added advantage which will improve your chances of selection.

  823. dear sir,
    i am very inspired from your short passage
    sir my academic results is
    10th =80%
    12th =65%
    b-tech =74%(continue)
    work exp. =0 months
    i am in 2nd year b tech student at WBUT university,
    i wanna take cat this year and sir, if i am sure i got 98 percentile,so sir plz suggest me ,can i get call from iims or any other top b-school,
    sir ,i am very worry about my carrer. plz help me
    plz give the advice

    • Rakesh, you will take CAT in your 7th semester so if you are in 2nd year (4th semester) you will have to take CAT in Sept 2014. So the first thing you should do is focus on your college exams and ensure you are able to increase your B.Tech marks to minimum 80%, I am aware this might not be possible still try to increase it to the extent possible. Along with your college get into the habit of reading newspaper daily and a current affairs weekly. To improve in QADI get into the habit of calculating mentally and if possible complete the 9th and 10th standard Maths books.

  824. Sir,
    Greetings to start with.
    I am a student from an engineering background and so far my academics is concerned, it doesn’t sounds good as well.
    10th- 63.5%
    12th- 54%
    B.tech- 6.41 CGPA, which is only (59.4%)

    I cleared my engineering on June 2012 and presently i am working as a site engineer in the pipe line sectors, which basically deals with oil & gas sectors. I joined job on 1st OCT’12, and still working on the same company.
    Sir, my dreams are very high, but somehow i just couldn’t excel in the first half of my life, like every single individual has a story to tel, and so i am no exception. But, is it so that if u are in india and if u do not excel in your first half of ur academics, u don’t have a second chance to improve urself?
    I am working very hard and seriously on CAT preparation since half a year now. I am aiming for CAT’13 & on a regular basis i am scoring 92-95%ile in Mock CAT exams. I just need your help to guide me to my proper destiny.
    My last question is i don’t dream of IIMs sir, because of my low profile in academics.But if i score a 99%ile + in CAT 2013 & XAT, is there any healthy chance for me getting placed into atleast top 10 or 15 colleges of IINDIA? Well, i am dreaming more of XLRI and SPJain rather than IIMs.
    A reply from your side would be a kind help and higly appreciated.

    Regards..
    Thanking you..

    • Pritam. unfortunately IIM A and B now believe that you should be punished for the rest of your life for a mistake committed when when you were a child but thankfully the other institutes do no subscribe to this philosophy.
      With your academic track record these two are not possible but the others are on so work hard towards the other IIMs, XL, FMS, Bajaj, SP Jain, MDI, IITs, NITIE, XIMB etc. You will need at least 98%ile in CAT or 95%ile in XAT/SNAP/NMAT/IIFT to make it to these institutes. Hopefully IIM A and B will also see reason soon but let us not bank on it.
      92-95%ile in mocks would normally lead to 95-98%ile in CAT/XAT and with 8-9 months to go you are on the right track.
      All the best.

  827. sir yesterday my result announced of 5th sem and got kt in 1 subject so will there any chances of my to enter IIM?

  828. Dear sir,
    I have just passed out from IIT. I have had an ordinary profile at IIT. I would like to improve my profile for getting into a top b- school. What are the things I can do to better my profile??

    • Abhinay,there is no problem in your profile from a b school perspective.focus on your work it will help you improving your profile. You should be looking at only the IIMs, XL, FMS, Bajaj and worst case at MDI or SP Jain.

  829. Sir….my acads is as follows:
    10th -79.2%( best 5 subjects)
    12th-61.33%
    btech in civil: 70.2%
    work exp : will be around 2 years in aug-2013 in a reputed construction company..Please give me a list of college i should aim for with this kind of profile.kindly mention the names of the college that have taken students with the profile similar to mine.i think i can score arnd 90 to 95 percentile if i prepare well for CAT.

    • Garima, since you are in a decent job you should not compromise on the institute. At 90-95%ile you will be constrained to find institutes that you should be going for after leaving your job. You should try for a minimum 95%ile in CAT/XAT. In addition to the IIMs you should be consider FMS, XLRI, Jamunalal Bajaj, MDI, IIT(B, D), IIT(D), NITIE, S.P.Jain, XIMB, SIBM(Pune, Blr), SCMHRD, NM(Mumbai, Blr, Hyd), XIMB, IIT(Kgp), IIT(M), IIT(R), IIT(K), UBS, IMT(Ghaziabad, Nagpur, Hyderabad), IMI, KJ Somaiya, BIM, UBS, FORE, LBS, TAPMI, SIIB, GIM, KJ Somaiya, FORE, Welingkar.

  830. sir, i am in a critical situation…..since my childhood i had a deep interest in english and hindi.I had scored highest marks in 10th and 12th in these subjects with 86 in hindi & 83 in english. i am extremely weak in mathematics & right now i am a computer science engineering final year student. i am confused what to do in future ….whether MBA or smething else that suits my interest….please guide me

    • Prashant, I find it surprising that a Computer Science graduate is not comfortable with Mathematics. The QA or Maths in all the MBA entrance exams is of Class IX & X level. However to me the critical question is where is your interest area. Unfortunately no one but you can answer this question. The call of converting your love for languages into a career or to let it remain a hobby/interest has to be taken by you.

  831. sir i have a problem actually i had a gap of two years during graduation i am doing bsc it is there problem for getting good colleges for mba in 10 th 70 12 th 59 pcent i am percuing grad………….i am tensed very much now

    • Arshpal, gap of 2 years will not eliminate you but you will still need to explain the reasons. Based on your scores in 10th and 12th some of the IIMs will not be possible but other IIMs and B schools are not a problem.

  832. Dear Sir;
    I have 63% in class 10,70% in 10+2 but exact 50% in b.com(hons),i wanted to know that what are the criteria a company normally sets for students when they come to recruit in b-schools?Sir, even if i get admission in good b-school,will i get recruited by the top MNCs as i have heard they only recruit students who have past academic records more than 60% through out.Please suggests me,what should i do?should i take admission or do mba?And if yes, which b-schools would be the best to apply under mat&cmat that would bring into effect my query?

  833. Sir,
    I got 68% in 10th & 46% in 12th and i did Electronics and communication engineering (2006 – 2010) with 60.4% but due to my backlogs i cleared it in 2012. On April 2012, i joined an oil and gas company as a Service Engineer ( although company is not a high profile one ) and seeking a career in upstream. During my engineering days i enhanced my mathematical skills and my vocab is average and continuing to chisel my skills in verbal part.

    If i take CAT in 2014 because at that time i will have an experience of 2 and a half years, will my academic background ( esp. 12th marks ) is going to be an obstacle in selection criteria if i get a call from a top b school ?

    Can my work experience in oil and gas sector counter balance my academic record ?

    • Manoj, If it is possible try for CAT’13 and other MBA exams for admission in May 2014, an experience of 1.5 years is sufficient. There is no point in delaying it by an year. While IIM-A, B and a couple of other IIMs are not possible due to your X and XII marks rest of the IIMs and MBA institutes are all possible.

  834. respected sir,
    my academic records is under:
    ICSE=74%
    ISC=62%
    B.Tech(till 6th sem)=75%
    i have been placed in software firm and i will join in june.I want to do MBA from IIMs .Will i get call from IIMs if i score above 99% in cat exam..plz reply.

    • Tirupati, With 99%ile you should be able to get a call from most of the IIMs except A and B since you have less than 80% in X, XII and graduation.

  835. Respected sir,
    first of all i would like to thank u for sharing ur views with us…it is motivating one.
    I am final year student pursuing B.tech .i don’t have good academic records in ICSE and ISC.
    ICSE(overall)=72%;
    ISC(overall)=60%;
    B.Tech(till date)=74%
    Sir i want to prepare for cat,give me a thorough knowledge about how to prepare and what books should i read to gather knowledge.I have been placed in software firm and i will be joining it in june.will it be good enough if i prepare and work simultaneously.I think it will effect my prepration.
    am i eligilble for IIMs ..if yes then how much %ile should i have to bring in cat.

  836. I am a final year engineering student from ECE and i am looking forward to appear in CAT exam.
    Class 10th-73%
    class12th-74%
    CGPA-65%
    so wheather my CGPA or past academics records refrains me from getting sit to prestigious B school like IIMA??
    IF i score more than 90%tile in CAT then will it nullify the above barriers??

    • Sagar, you will need to score more than 99%ile in CAT to get into the IIMs but IIM-A and B are unlikely because of less than 80% inn school and graduation.

  837. Sir,
    I’m currently in college and preparing for CAT , my scores are ..

    X – 93% – cbse
    XII – 75 ( after IMPROVEMENT exam : 86.2% , appeared for all subjects ) – cbse
    so , i wanted to ask whether my improvement exam results will be considered for admission to IIM’s

    Thankyou

  838. Respected Sir,
    Your case is an inspiring one and seems to be bit similar to that of mine. I have have scored 69% in class X and 67% in Class XII. but in Graduation it was far much better, scored 8.3 CGPA in Mechanical Branch. Aspire for getting into IIM’s, i wld be writing CAT by this year, also adding to it i have 1 year experience in work as well till date. So as per the above academic details do i stand any chance to get into IIM’s.

    Please suggest or put your valuable point’s , it wld be helpful for me to carry on with by career objective.

    • Satish, unfortunately in the last 2-3 years IIM-A & B have started giving very high weightage to X, XII and graduation marks an hence these two are unlikely for you unless the criteria are changes, There would not be an problem in other IIMs and b-schools.

  839. Sir,i am very weak in studies my all frndz are good in studies they make fun of me . Sir iam in class 12 and want to become a topper i want to show them i can also do it

    • Sailendre, To improve your marks you need to:
      a) attend classes with full attention
      b) revise at home what you have studied in school
      c) revise over the weekend whatever you have studied in the week.
      d) ignore the stupid comments by your classmates.
      This is a slow process and will take you at least 12 months of sustained effort. Initially it may not give you the desired results but continue with it.

  840. Sir,
    I am in a great dilemma right now. I prepared for CAT 2012 this year but failed to make up with a good percentile this time. Sir i completed my engg. in June 2012 and it has been a gap of 6 months now. I don’t know what to do next. I am Planning to carry on with my preparations and give in my 200% but one thing is bothering me is that during my this yrs. preps. their would be a gap of 1.5 yrs. Do u think that this gap of 1.5 yr. will be a demerit for me in the interviews of top institutes of other. Or shall i take up a job and carry on with the preparations but doing a job and carry with the preparations is a tough task. Sir plz help me out with this I want to do well this year and give my 1000 % but the only thing which is bothering me is the 1.5 yr drop with no work exp. will it be a drawback for me in interviews ?? Seeking forward to your advice. For your assistance my academic career is 10th-76.7%,12th-71% and Graduation(Electrical and Electronics)-73.5%

    • Kinshu, I have already responded to this on email, hope you have seen it. I am repeating it again.

      First thing is that you have to pick up a job. MBA preparation is not a full time occupation especially for second attempt. Pick up a job that you will be happy to continue with even if MBA does not happen.

      For preparation my suggested action plan is:
      1. You should prepare along with your job it will be your 2nd attempt and you need to practice and analyse more than being taught. In any case we will be offering online sessions for students.
      2. However do evaluate the option of not doing MBA at all because you should be confident of bridging the gap before you start the process. Also with your school marks and the current selection criteria IIM A and B are ruled out.
      3. If you decide to go ahead with CAT’13 start with your funda books, attempt all the attempted and unattempted questions in all areas and revise the ones that you had attempted. Identify important questions for revision. This should be over by May end.
      4. Join Test Gym + Test Series program and practice questions from Test Gym. Do take all tests of test series as per schedule, analyse them and identify important questions for revision.
      4. Attempt all past papers of CAT, XAT and IIFT for additional practice.

      All the best.

  841. my academic profile is like this.
    10th-76%
    12th-55.40%
    BE-43%(till 6th sem aggrigate)
    sir i want to do MBA throught the mat exam…..but my parents not supporting me because i am economically weak….now i am in 7th sem.after complition of my engg. want to do the job.any oppertunity is there for job….plz suggest me sir.what will i do?????

    • Alam, Your graduation percentage is a worry and at 43% you will not be eligible for most of the MBA institutes. MAT does not provide any decent colleges and should not be considered. Suggest that you work hard on your engineering and try to pull up your percentage to beyond 50%, pick up a job work for a couple of years and then go for an MBA.

  842. hello respected GP sir,
    i m a very new guy here in ur blog,i had done my btech 2012 with 64.5 :%.with polytecnic in 67%,nd h10th nd 12 is with 70%.
    . i never respect study and marks thats why my acedmic was nt good but now i want to think seriuosly about my carrier.i m belong to a small town nd done my btech with less opportunity like coaching nd other activites so i dnt think high..i dnt hav good good communication mean spoken or written..i studied in hindi medium till 12th std.but now i want to do mba for my carrier growth and ofcouse to increas of my family standerd..i dnt hav a good job bz clg dnt provide us placement..i m simple guy with high aim..i hope u ll suggest me how i can make my english better like cat std nd ofcouse well in gd nd pi..i feel really bad bz i cant speak english..how i can b like other so i can get a handsome package to remove my family’ poverty .i hope u ll motivate me .i m living in a town where not so much facility.i want to join a best b school upcoming year..i ll b highly obligated to u.
    thanks gautam sir.
    regard:
    kamal kumar

    • Kamal, which city are you from?
      To improve you English language skills suggest you do the following:
      1. Read a good English newspaper daily to become comfortable with the language, my suggestion is Indian Express.
      2. Whenever you come across a new English word find its meaning using a dictionary and start using the word.
      2. Read the newspaper aloud every day for at lest 30 minutes.
      3. Start speaking in English. If you are sure that the person you are talking to understands English then you should speak only in English.

  843. I’ve done well in the CAT this year; 99.12 overall and 97.2 and 98.6 in the sections. But my case is an inverted form of yours.
    I scored 90 in Xth; 84 in XIIth and only 54.2 in college. Is there any hope for me; not only in any IIM (since most have a minimum requirement of 60%) but in a good reputed institute on the basis of my Graduation percentage. To get in Calcutta I would have needed 99.8 %ile; but is there any other college where I could get?

    • Snehanth, the eligibility criteria in IIMs is 50% in graduation and not 60% so you are eligible and given your CAT score should be able to get a few IIM calls. If you have applied to NITIE, MDI, SP Jain then these calls are also on.

  844. sir,
    i m Amal from Kerala
    i have 92% in 10th
    86% in 12th
    ” 55% ” in B tech…and with one year lag…[i had a very very bad time in engineering college](age is 22)
    now i m interested to take 3 more years to study BA English from distance education because of my interest…(at age 25)after that if i join in iim for MBA make any problem ? these year gaps make any problem ? i know it sound little crazy but i wish to study something which give me satisfaction…please give a advice sir…

    • Amal, If you enjoy English and a BA will give you satisfaction then go ahead and do it but to do BA English in the distance education mode does not mean you should not work. Please pick up a job and do BA simultaneously.

  845. respected sir
    Congratulations sir ,you are doing great job.Please help me
    by answering my question.i have got :
    81% – class X
    67%- class XII
    70%(PURSUING BTECH II YEAR currently).
    when to start preparing for CAT exam ?Am i eligible for iim b,c and
    other top b-schools?and how to start preparation?
    thank you
    yours truly
    harsh

    • Harsh, you should start your CAT preparation about a year before the exam date or around the end of your 5th semester. Given your marks in X, XII and Graduation it may not be possible to get a call from IIM A or B but the other institutes would not be a problem.

  846. Inspiring story Sir.
    Coming to me, I was an average student, somehow managed to secure between 60 to 65 % in Class 10, 12, BCA (correspondence) and MCA (correspondence). Also 3 years of academic gap after 12th.
    Total 8 years of experience (post degree 5 years) in tier 1 IT MNC with 3 years as project lead/associate manager role. Currently earning 10L+/Annum with around 6 months of onsite exposure in past.
    Now to boost up my career to next level, I am planning to go for MBA. Could you please suggest some good options for me? I am a PMI certified PMP (Project Management Professional) as well.

    • Neel, your story is more inspiring than mine, I did not have to work before my engineering. Go for a 1 year MBA from the IIMs (PGP-X), ISB or from Singapore. YOu can also explore AIM Manila.

      • Thanks for your suggestion and confirmation Sir. I was thinking in the same line.
        I am starting with GMAT official guide. Will get back to you after some times. Thanks Again.

  847. Hi,
    I’m Arjun from Bangalore
    My 10th % is 82.56
    My polytechnic % is 69%
    My BCA % is 72%.
    Which IIM’s would i have a chance to get in??
    Pls help me

  848. Hi,
    I’m a BCA graduate from evening college with 72%..
    Do you think i have a potential to crack CAT?
    Can the CAT be cracked by first attempt?
    I’m really low on my self confidence.
    pls help me in deciding whether to go for it

    • Arjun, cracking CAT is a matter of systematic preparation and consistent effort and many students who have studied from evening college or distance education have been able to clear CAT in the first attempt. It will however require you to spend at least 20-25 hours per week for the next 7-8 months.

  849. Hello Sir i am big fan of yours. I gave CAT 2012 But got only 20%ile.

    My Academic profile :-

    Xth- 85.69% ( was 1st in school with technical subjects)( SCIENCE-93, MATHS -96)
    XIIth – 73.80%( PHYSICS- 88, MATHS- 75 )
    BE IN ECE Graduation- 70 % Aggregate.
    Sir i am fan of yours. I read your biography and you are the best. I want to study MBA in IIM-A.
    Sir i got too low score only 20%ile in CAT 2012. Sir what should i do now ?
    I want only IIMs. Sir i cried alot on results day.
    What should i do sir ? I have 9 months for CAT 13. I have joined coaching class last year.
    Please sir help me …I saw you in News channel also..
    Reply sir…

    • Dushyant, with with 20%ile in CAT’12 you need to evaluate if MBA is the right option for you. It is important for you to first evaluate which is the right career option for you, maybe you are meant to be some other profession. With a good grasp of technical subjects maybe further studies in engineering is the right path for you.
      Suggest that you along with your parents (or someone who understands you well) have a realistic assessment of your strengths and weakness and your ability to do well different areas and then decide which direction you need to move in.

  850. Hi,

    Like many person i also do have a concern.
    My strength: Maths
    My weakness: Verbal
    I have passed my BE on 2011, and since then working with TCS.
    I am targetting cat 2013.
    I was a pretty average student;
    X: 69.6%
    XII: 67.2%
    BE: 69.2%
    So please can you tell me what would be the chance for me to get into IIM’s after the above details

    Thanks in advance 🙂

    • Piyush, Your chance of getting into a good B school is by and large a function of your performance in CAT and other MBA entrance exams.
      While IIM-A and B are closed because you have less than 80% in X, XII and graduation, admission to other institutes will not be an issue. Your work experience will be an added advantage because it is given weightage in the admission process by most of the institutes. Given that you are working in TCS you should not restrict yourself to the IIMs, XLRI, FMS, NITIE, SP Jain and other institutes in the top 20 list.

  851. I have given CAT 2012 and got a depressing 84%ile. Before, I plan for CAT 2013, I am looking for a career counselling. Hence, seeking a help from you. I am a 2011 B.Arch graduate from IIT Kharagpur. I am presently working in IT/Finance company. I am sharing my profile with you so that I can get a better insight from you on the colleges which I can opt for or can be eligible with a CAT score of >99%ile in 2013.I want to know the colleges from which I can expect a convert next year on the basis of my profile, so that I can decide on attempting next year.
    Xth— 80.17%—- CBSE—-2002
    XIIth—-88.1%—- SSC—-2004
    B.Arch(Hons.)—–7.1/10—-2011
    Work Experience: 2 years 7 months by Jan 2014.
    Extra Acads: Athletics—District Meet, Inter Hall, Inter IIT, Inter College and etc.
    Note: I am not selected in Profile Based List of SP Jain, hence a concern on my profile. Your help will be highly appreciated.

    Thanks in advance.

  852. Sir,
    I am 3rd yr mech engineering student of nit patna. I got 85% in 10 , 79.4%in 12th and 87%in b tech. The problem with me is that I have a gap of two years between 12th and b tech,first being deliberate to get good rank in jee/aieee,2nd year was due to family and financial problems leading depression. What chances are there for me of getting into top IIM after getting good score in CAT ? What problems will I face ?

    • Yasir, do not worry about the gap it can be explained easily and will not impact you negatively, please prepare well for CAT 13 and target a scoe of 99%ile to ensure a call from the top institutes.

  853. Sir,
    i have got 79% in 10th from up board and 76% in 12th from cbse. I am currently doing btech from IIT(BHU).
    if i am able to maintain a good pointer in my btech, is it poaaible to get into IIM? i have some doubts due to my bad percentage in board. will they consider the board because it is very difficult to get 90+ marks in state board.
    Sir please reply as soon as possible.

    • Amitesh, IIM-A andB can be a problem due to less than 80% in X and XII but others would be fine. Ensure more than 80% in ITBHU

  854. such a motivating lines.thanku sir.i have a query.i was a bright student since my school days.now i m in ece final year.getting a job is a stress for me.i have failed in aptitude test in the first round itself.i m lagging in aptitude knowledge.wat must i do

  855. Dear Sir,

    It is quite inspirational to read your life-experience. I am a process engineer, with 2 years of experience in a petro-chemical manufacturing industry. I have a very keen interest in pursuing my Masters, but with a very average aptitude for Mathematics.Tapping into your experience, could you indulge in commenting on whether a person with very average mathematical aptitude can clear a CAT exam? Your comments would be highly valued

    • Avni, the aptitude tests have concepts of IX and X class so if you have could handle maths in school it should not be a problem. It would be useful for you to purchase class IX and X NCERT maths book and go thru them before you start our preparation.

  856. Sir,
    i was good in studies in school got 89.6% in 10th and 89.4% in 12th….but in graduation my CGPA is too bad as its equivalent to 50% only.
    though i am in 3rd year of engineering now and i will improve my grades but m quite worry that with such a low pointer in engineering. can i make it to IIMs???
    please help sir.

    • Abhisj=hek it could impact your chances of getting a call in IIM-A and B but others would not be a problem. Work hard and pull up your percentage or CGPA in the remaining exams.

  857. cat :90.4 percentile, X-91%, XII-88%, Btech from NIT , job ex of 18 months in a leading PSU (marketing sector). i know iims wont call , but heard from a frnd someone got through IIMK last year at 88%ile. Do i stand a chance in IIMK? if so wat should i focus on now?

  858. Helo, Sir! Please help me out! I have got OA- 95.70 p’tile (score 248), QA+DI – 93.70 p’tile and Va+Lr -93.82 p’tile. Category – Gen, Work ex – nil, Xth- 81.33% and XII – 79.85% (Both 4m West Bengal Board) Grad – 80.00% (completed this year in Agriculture allied). Is there any chance to get any call from any of the IIMs? Plz reply…
    Looking forward to hear from you, Sir!

  859. Sir,

    I have scored 79.06 % ile in cat but aggregate of my b.com percentage for two years is 48.67 & i m confident to improve it in third year . Can i get admission in a decent college this year . please guige me sir ,what should i do?

    Thank you.

    • Ayush, first ensure at least 50% in graduation else you will be ineligible for most management institutes. Pick up a job after graduation and prepare simultaneously for CAT’13. You will need at least 95%ile to get into a good b school.

  860. sir i am a cl student i want to know which iims should i target and hope for i have already got a call iim k and got rejected by iim s so i am really confused.I very less marks in my grad and i m really tensed about that. and i have nearly no extracurricular activity,except some musical and cultural program performances
    my 10th- 72.8 12th-66 and BFTech-58.5(Bachelor of fashion technology)from NIFT(national institute of fashion technology)
    and also 8 mon work ex in garment manufacturing
    CAT- OA-96.94 QA-97.5 VA-90.51
    Also i am an sc candidate

    • Amit, an SC category candidate with 97%ile in CAT should get all IIM and FMS calls. You have great extra curriculars so do not worry. Hope you have started with your PDP classes.

      • thanks sir, for getting my hopes high
        and yes i have started with my gd pi preprations thankyou very much

  861. sir, I am a self employed lawyer practicing civil laws in a sub-division court for 2 years.i want to know that if the iims will give any value to my experience as they might prefer corporate work exp.?
    i did my schooling from WB state board.got 78.5% at 10th 58.1% at 12th(science) and 52.75%
    in BA. LL.B(hons) 5year law course from north bengal univ.and a SC candidate.If this type of background will be a disadvantage for my profile ? is there any hope to be in the iims or iift? i am very tense and confused.plz plz help.your reply will provide oxyzen to my life.Your motivational words are exceptional and you are doing a great work sir.

    • Koushik, you will be given weightage for work as a lawyer and your background will in fact be an advantage in the selection process. Start preparing for CAT’13 and I am sure you will succeed.

  862. i see that ur telling 99% is a must to get a call from any iim. but is there no chance for a 96.5 percentile guy (10th and 12th – 92% and cgpa = 8.52) to make it into iims like indore or kozhikode??? also do you get mails from every iim (i got one from kozhikode telling me to register so that i can be considered for next round calculation) or are directly told after the shortlist?

    • Vamsy, 99%ile will ensure a call but it is possible at lower score also. Only IIM-K has this registration process others do it directly and send a interview email directly.

  865. Sir

    Thanx for sharing ur story it was vey motivating.This is my btech final year from U.P.T.U. nd my % in 10th was 87.4 then 12th 64.4 but i gave improvement xam so got 74.4 with 60 in maths n physics n 80 in chem..my btech % in mechanical engg is 70% i want to knw if i hv any chance of getting into top b schools if i get a very good percentile in CAT..i want to knw is this 12th result of mine going to create much hindrance in my MBA entrance…awaiting ur reply

    • Surabhi if you get a good score in the MBA entrance exam then admission to a top institute is possible. While IIM-A and B are unlikely the others would not be an issue. Your 12th result is not a problem.

  866. Respected Sir,

    I am a OBC-NC candidate. My CAT 2012 OA percentile is 78.
    I have X – 86% , XII – 77% , B.E – 69%.

    It would be really great if you could give your wise opinion on my chances of getting an IIM call.
    I also would like to request you to give me suggestions of other good B-schools ( CAT and non CAT ) where I could stand a chance.

    Thank You.

  867. Respected sir,
    I am highly inspired by ur personal experience..I will be highly obliged to u if u can help me in guiding out my career..
    My academic performance-
    std-10th 75%
    std-12th 65%
    B.com- 65%
    sir i am already trying since 2yrs to get in a gud mba collg bt im unable to because of my low scores..I hv to tk my admission this yr,i badly need your help to guide me in which collg i shud tk my admission and which exam i cn giv this yr??
    i got 69percntile in mat lst yr and waiting for my xat reslts..
    shud i giv mat again this yr??I hv already tried both cat and xat once..
    is XIME bangalore a reputed or decent collg??
    Sir kindly help me as i have shortage of time now and feeling very hopeless about getting a gud reputed college….
    Plzzz rply me surely….

    • Garima, it might sound harsh but if I do not say this then I would not be doing the right thing. If in your 3rd attempt also you are unable to get a decent score then possibly this is not the right career for you. It might be useful for you to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses and identify the correct career option. There are bound to be other career choices that you are more suited for in your pursuit of MBA. Very few successful individuals are MBAs.

  868. Respected Sir,
    I have cat oa–96.42. x–90.4 xii 85 b.tech 78.48 At this scor is it very difficult to convert a call from mdi…do you knw some examples where people have converted at this score…sir please tell the true picture…

    • Kanika, MDI call is unlikely at a score less than 97%ile. However if you get a call then you will need to do extremely well in personality assessment.

  869. Sir,
    as i told u that i appeared for CAT 2012…without any prepration.
    nd my CAT score is 75.38%ile with nearly 75%ile in both sections.

    So now i want to knw…dat do i hve a chance dt if i prepare well fr CAT 2013 than…in any case i will score 95+
    i m in d final sem ..
    10th – 77%
    12th – 65%
    BE – 67% average…

    i m nt hving any job in my hnd rite nw…
    nd d plcement season is also abt to end…
    what to do sir..plz guide me..

  870. Hello sir,thanks a lot for sharing your story.I need your suggestion.Please guide me.
    My scores :
    X (cbse) : 63 (2005)
    XII (cbse) : 62.7 (2007)
    Btech (ipu) :72 (2009-2013)
    I had drop 2 year because of medical exam preparation and i don’t have good extracurricular activities record. as i have poor academics now i am confused whether should i go for some work ex r start preparing for cat 13. how much %tile i need to get iim a, b r c..?

  871. see i m very frank person. I just want to know if I get admission in either of the best 10 b-schools, how much amt of job package would i get? Also what min percentile do i require to get in either of the best 10 b-school? Also how much preparation time shud be devoted for getting that percentile? thnx

    • Ashish, you will need a minimum of 99%ile to get into a top 10 B school. You would need around 8-10 months of preparation time, about 20 hrs/week

  872. Dear Sir,
    I have got 71% in 10th, 58% in 12th(Both from State board) and 71.0% in engineering. I have almost 54 months experience in a reputed bank as Credit Manager in corporate finance. I got 93%ile in CAT. Sir Now shall I wait for another year for CAT or should take admission in IITs or other top25.? Also I want to know will my work ex make a negative impact on my selection parameters??
    Waiting for your reply sir
    Thank you.

    • Rohit with almost 5 years wor experience it would be better for you to go for PGP-X, the 1 year MBA program of IIMs as opposed to the 2 year program in a lower ranked institute.

  874. Sir,
    I have a question.I have around 90% in ICSE(10) and 85 in 12 (not considering best of rule) and expecting around 8.00 cgpa(74 %) in my Btech.Would it be possible to gain entry into the IIM’s provided i secure over 99% percentile.Means would my previous results prove to be of any sort of hindrance??????

  875. hey, reading this article did give me a thrill. I think you have a good story, and are in a way, an inspirational figure.
    The reason I am commenting on this is because I need a little help. I am currently studying science in 12th, maharashtra state board, and with my board exams starting in feb, I have barely studied anything so far. Don’t get me wrong, i’m not the type of guy who goes around doing nothing and doesnt study. This whole year, I have been working two internships and doing a lot of social work. That is why I didn’t get to study much.
    My board marks are quite important to me and I really need help trying to finish my portions on time.
    So far, I have finished only my maths portion, and have done barely anything else. I needed to figure out a way to manage my time well enough to study everything else and prepare for my practicals. I need help, please respond.

    • You do not need help, you know the problem and possibly the answer too.
      You just need to pull up your socks, stop all other activities and just focus on your studies. It is a time management problem and the earlier you start focusing on your subjects the better off you will be. All you need to do is stop all other activities for a couple of months and restart after the boards.
      All the best.

  876. Respected Sir,

    Thank you for the extremely inspiring article!!!!

    I am pursuing masters in Applied Economics form Presidency University and preparing for cat 2013.

    I have secured:
    94% in X (icse)
    89 % in XII (isc) and
    60% in graduation on economics from Calcutta University.

    sir, i would like to know, will my low grad marks affect my chances of getting into an iim ?
    Since CU always gives extremely low marks compared to other universities,will iim standardize it?

    if i complete my post grad, will it compensate for the shortcoming?

    also sir, how important is extracurricular achievements to get into iim A ,B, C, L? does one need to be from top institutes like DSE,ISI, IIT to get through?

    • Suvayan, while your graduation marks are a bit on the lower side X and XII are very good. Your PG will definitely compensate for your graduation marks. Extra curriculars are helpful but not essential for admission to the IIMs.

  877. I read your blog in detail and noticed 1 peculiar thing….EVERYBODY wants to go in IIM-A/B/C but Sir I want to go to FMS,New Delhi ONLY….I don’t no why but its the voice of my heart….when I stand in front of FMS Campus I feel motivated like never before
    I can even Reject a seat in IIM-A for FMS. Kindly suggest areas on which I should work upon to make me competitive enough during the GD-PI process@ FMS . I have heard there is a round of Extempore also(am afraid of this for sure)
    10th = 91.6 %
    12th= 87.4%
    Graduation= 71.5%
    Work Experience= 8 months@ IBM and still counting
    Represented School at National Level Geography Olympiad
    will give Cat 2013 to grab a seat at FMS and now planning about the basics before firing the Gun.

    • Pranshul, for FMS the most important component is CAT score. FMS hasa weight of 70% for CAT and 10%each for GD, Extempore and Interview. So focus on getting at least 99.5%ile in CAT to be sure of getting into FMS.

  878. hello sir,
    i have appeared for the dec MAT 2012 and in that i got 75 percentile….!!
    my academic marks is as follows:-
    10th = 57%I
    12th =61.4%
    Graduation( bca ) =80%
    i don’t have any work experience. I m realy very tensed in appearing for the gd-pi rounds. can u give me a suitable answer for…the qn like :- ” i m having a gap of 2yrs after graduation, so wat type of answers i need to give to the interviewer regarding my gaps…!! can u plz suggest me a suitable answer and also some good colleges of pune , which accept my mat score and where i can apply ….!!

    • Ena with 75%ile in MAT you are unlikely to get any decent MBA institute. I would suggest picking up a job and moving on. You have tried MBA but it has not worked out so explore other options. With 80% in BCA maybe you should be looking at a career in computers.

  879. Sir..I m in the final sem of BE frm a private engg clg of MP
    10th – 77% cbse
    12th – 65% cbse
    and BE average – 67%
    I have good communication skills and average extracurricullars.

    I appeared for CAT 2012 nd realized dat I can crack it with a regular preparation. I didnt join any coaching but gave AIMCAT test series of TIME nd attained around 90%ile in every test.

    I wan to ask u…dat based on my profile if i start preparing sereously for CAT 2013 then do i have a chance to get a call frm IIMs bcz i believe if i carry the eligibility for IIM den i shud work for it.
    Will my academics be any hurdle for getting into an IIM.?

    • Abhishek, with the exception of IIM-A you can get calls from all IIMs if you get 99%ile in CAT. Since you did not prepare for CAT’12 suggest you start preparing for CAT’13 immediately after the CAT’12 results are declared. Also take part in the campus placement process and pick up a job so that you will get some benifit of work experience also next year.

  880. hi…i m in 10th..i have been worried lately bout my boards.i hav taken a LOT of leaves due to some health problems n i m not sure dat i wud b even allowed to giv borads.i got 80% in 1st sem dis year.wud i be able to giv boards with less than 60% attendance n wat to do if not.i hav been workin very hard for d boards n hope to get at least 85.wud i be able to giv d exam……..its guj board.

    • Siya, if your school allows you then it should not be a problem, I am sure the school authorities will be compassionate towards a hard working student.

  881. Sir,
    I have attended one of your seminars, you see everything in a simple way… especially Maths. Well, I wanted to get into IIT but ended up studying in a regional college. And I do want to get into either of the IIMs.
    My scores were 62% icse board, 87% inter state, 73% btech cse. I want to know if I’ll be with my profile eligible for IIM-A,B,C,L.
    Pls help me, completed Btech in 2012. Placed in infosys, joining in may2013.
    Not satisfied with my work so far.
    Thank you sir.

    • Lakshmi, while IIM-A is not possible because of less than 80% in 2 out of X, XII and graduation, for other IIMs there should not be any problem if you score 99%ile in CAT.

  882. Hello sir,thanks a lot for sharing your story.I need to suggestion.Please enlighten me.
    My scores :
    X : 64.80 (2005)
    XII : 66.00 (2007)
    BBA :72.1 (2011)
    I had few family problems hence I couldnt sit for mba.I have taken CAT 2012 but planning to take admission through CAT 2013.Are there any chances of getting into a good college after a gap of 2 years? I am afraid but things were not in control.I am hopeless.Pls enlighten me

    • Aparajita, it is possible for you to get into a good B school despite a 2 year gap but you will obviously need to ensure a very good score in the entrance tests. If you could share what have you done in the past two years it will be easier for me to advice. You can send me a mail at gp@careerlauncher.com in case you don’t want to share the information on a public platform.

  883. sir, i have scored 81.67% in ssc from cbse and 85.2% in hsc, i have done btech in ec and due to my poor performance got only 63%. i am 2011 passout with no work-ex. i am expecting 75-80%ile in CAT this year… what are the colleges i should apply for?? one request sir, can you please make a list of raking of colleges in terms of placements becoz we dont have any list from CL and we cant count on outside rankings becoz there are too many parameters and we dont know which one they had taken into account so if you can do this, we will be highly thankful for you and one more question,, when will be the cmat flts be uploaded??

    • Mayank, 75-80%ile in CAT all decent colleges are out. Suggest you focus on CMAT to be conducted in Feb for a chance into the Mumbai University colleges. 2 CMAT flts have been uploaded and the balance will be uploaded shortly. Will have the college ranking uploaded

  884. Sir,
    I am currently a 3rd year student of a Top 10 Engineering College of India.
    My 10th Percentage: 93.2%
    12th Percentage: 91.1% m
    Engineering Pointer(out of 10): 7.7

    Sir I want to make it to IIM-A only,otherwise I will maybe work for sometime. I am extremely motivated and am working hard for CAT 2013. I am also desperately trying to get my pointer close to 8. If by any chance after this 6th semester of college which ends in May my pointer does not cross 8 and is close to 7.9 or 7.8., will IIM-A consider me as potential call? I am good in extra-curriculars and have won various quizzes and have managed several events in college.

    • Dhruv, if by 6th semester you can get your CGPA to 8 or above your chances of getting a call go up significantly. At a CGPA of less than 8 you still have a decent chance in IIMA because of greater than 80% in X and XII

  885. Hi

    10—86.4
    12—72.3
    B.TECH(civil engineering from NIT)–65.1
    Currently working with wipro for last 3 years years.Please let me know the college i should apply to .If i don’t get into top 20 college this time i will be writting gmat (but the prob is that i don’t have that much money 40-50 lakhs).Is there any chance that with my profile i will be able to get scholarship from good college

    • Anshul, scholarships for MBA abroad are difficult so do not bank on them however 1 year MBA programs in Singapore or Hongkong are also good and cheaper. Hope you have applied for CMAT keeping inn mind JBIMS. In India you can explore 1 year MBA program of ISB or Great Lakes or SOIL.

  886. Sir,
    I am a b.com graduate and my 10th, 12th and b.com marks were average. As there was a semester system in graduation , i completed my graduation in june 2012. I dropped this year for giving CAT. But i am not expecting a good percentile in CAT . So, i need to ask u whether it would be preferable for me to drop one more year for CAT.
    One more thing is that whether i should prepare for CAT while working .

    • Gaurav, do not drop a year, pick up a job. Since you have already prepared once the time required for preparation would be lesser.
      I hope you re giving XAT and CMAT also. CMAT registration has been extended till 9th January, check out http://www.aicte-cmat.in for details.

  887. Sir,
    my 10th,12th,Bscit score are 68%,55%,70% and also i am belong to SC Category .And i hoping for around 90%tile in CAT.Is there is a any chance to get admission in good mba colleges ?

  888. Your speech was inspirational Sir i got
    90.2% in 10th nd 91.2% in 12th i choosed Bsc.Footwear technology I m first year bt i hve a dream to study MBA in IIMB i started my preparations bt wil tis graduation make me unfit to be choosed in iimb Thnks in advance sir…

  889. Sir, my academics are as under:
    10th-90.2%
    12th-79.2%
    B.E.-68%
    My scores are constantly declining.Currently m working in TCS.Will my academics be a hindrance in getting calls from IIMs?How are the new IIMs in terms of placements?Which other top b schools do not give much emphasis on academics?What should be my minimum Percentile in CAT to get calls from IIMS?How is symbiosis?Please guide me sir..i am very confused:(..

    • Sushant, only IIM-A has a high emphasis on academics so apart from IIM-A all other institutes are open to you. Since you are working in TCS you should restrict yourself to the IIMs, XLRI, FMS, Bajaj and other institutes in the top 20 list. For call from the IIMs you should target a score of 99%ile.

  891. sir,i have scored Xth-80.26%,
    XIIth-69.17% B.E-64% (mumbai university)
    i hv an educational gap between my 12th and engineering and i didnt give my sep 12 cmat.Currently i m searching for jobs simultaneously i m preparing for feb 13 cmat .In case i dont get satisfactory marks in feb 13 cmat and i sit at home preparing for next year cmat thus making a 2 yr gap will that hamper my chances of getting admission in a good institute and subsequent placements?
    if i get a job which is irrelevant to my qualification like the job of editor,content writers etc will that be counted as work experience?

    • Vidya, do continue with your job search since a 2 year gap can be an issue for some institutes. Moreover I don’t think you need to sit at home and prepare for MBA entrance exams. A good preparation for Feb CMAT’13 will be the basis for your next year preparation (if you need to take exams again). You have an advantage by virtue of graduating from Mumbai University, the best MBA colleges in Maharashtra offering MMS program are under Mumbai university and hence your chances of selection are high.
      During placement the companies will focus on your MBA performance and not so much on the gap.
      All kind of jobs will count as work experience.

  893. Respected Sir,
    I have scored :- 10th std- 64%,12th std -52%….Completed my BCom through distance learning from Kalina-Mumbai University with 52%.Ideally I had to complete my education in 2001.But,completed BCom in 2005(Marriage-pregnancy and later separation & divorce).Moreso, I had given BCom exam in March 2004 and had failed in one subject.That one subject alone I cleared in March 2005 and got my BCom marksheet and passing certificate by June 2005.
    I’m 31 year old,who has a daughter aged 11 in Grade V.
    I have worked with Eserve International-now acquired by TCS,Indusind bank as NRI Relationship Manager,HSBC Bank as Relationship Manager-Wealth vertical and at a CBSE school at Bangalore currently in their Admin Dept….so far a work experience of around 60+ months.
    My current job at the school and migration to Bangalore is on account of remarriage.I intend to take a break and aspire to attempt for CAT 2013.This will upgrade me academically as well as professionally.
    Do I stand a chance in a good B school with this kind of academic profile??? In case I score good in CAT will I be shortlisted for the IIMs? I still need to do a lot of homework for entrance tests apart from CAT in Karnataka/India in particular for MBA/pgp/mms……I’m a total amateur.pls help….

    • Kavita, while you academic profile is weak you work experience could help you overcome this deficiency. However some of the IIMs with strict acads benchmarks may not still consider you for their 2 year MBA program. With over 5 years work experience and a family it would be practical to consider the 1 year MBA program of ISB or the IIMs rather than to go for a 2 yar MBA program. Great Lakes Chennai or SOIL Gurgaon could also be a good options for your.

  894. sir,
    I got 64% in10th,
    52% in 12th
    and 55% in Engineering (Qualified GATE with 98 percentile) in final year.
    Also gave CAT this year (also expecting between 97-99percentile)
    Currently have 3 months of job experience
    But I have done B.Tech in 4.5 years
    what are the chances of getting into IIMs

  895. Sir,
    My educational stats are as follows:
    10th-91%
    12th-76%
    BE (IT) 2012-65%..Mumbai University
    I have given both CMAT as well as CAT-2012..Both were casual attempts…I have an offer from a reputed Software company but my joining is probably in the months of may-june 2013….I intend to study for CMAT feb with complete dedication…My doubts are:

    1.In case i clear CMAT with good %ile…will i be allowed in JBIMS,Sydneham..etc as currently i dont have any work experience.Will it hamper my chances?
    2.If i work outside IT sector like teaching in coaching classes,etc will it count as work experience.
    3.Mumbai university is rather stingy in terms of marks.First class is considered to be decent when it comes to Mumbai university.Will the process of normalisation take place in institutes like JBIMS?
    4.In case my feb-CMAT results are not satisfactory,should i give another try for 2013-2014 CMAT/CAT or join any decent institute i get into.

    • Nehal, my answers are given below:
      1. Work experience has 2 marks out of 240 for Bombay University colleges so it will not be a problem.
      2. Work in coaching classes is counted as work experience in most colleges.
      3. JBIMS is a part of Bombay university which does not go for normalisation.
      4. My suggestion would be to pick up a job and give another shot to CAT/CMAT but let us discuss it in March after the results are out. At present your focus should be on Feb CAMT.

  896. Hello sir,

    i got 86% -Xth , 78% -12th , 75.5% during B.tech.
    and have 30 months of work experience as of now (major IT company) and pretty ok extra curricular activities.

    considering my academic scores , I don’t stand a chance at IIM-A. But, isn’t the case with other IIMs like IIM-B and IIM-C.
    as last year results depicts (I have read somewhere) that IIM-B didnt even call those having 99.99 % just because they didn’t have 90+% in 10th and 12th.
    If that is the case people like me should stop thinking about IIMs. please enlighten on this concern of mine 🙁

  897. Dear Sir,
    I have –
    59.33 % in 10th
    59.66% in 10+2
    64% in B.Com
    now for last 2 years, i am scale 1 officer in Canara Bank.
    actually i want to persue MBA in IIM or FMS Delhi…
    whether good prospects are there for admission in IIM or FMS keeping my marks in consideration,
    Please guide me thoroughly…….

    • Anuj, IIM A is ruled out for you but all the other IIMs, FMS and XLRI are available. Admission is a function of your performance in CAT/XAT.

  899. sir,

    i started my preparation 2 days back for cat 2013. this the first time for me. iam a science student(dentist), so could u pls give me suggesion for me to do well im maths part and how much time should i spend dialy for these 10 months on preparation. And thank u for ur encouragement and inspiring words

    • Nagaraju, the best starting point for you would be the class IX and X maths books to clear your fundamentals and also for initial practice. Then move on to your study material and attempt the questions from there. Also to ensure comfort with numbers and good calculation speed do mug up tables and reciprocals till 30.

  900. HELLO SIR,
    I GOT 84% IN 10TH, 85% IN 12TH AND 65% IN GRADUATION(BDS), I TOOK BREAK FOR I YEAR AFTER 12TH AND FAILED ONCE IN GRADUATION(IIND YEAR)
    I GOT PG SEAT(MDS) 12TH RANK IN MY STATE LAST YEAR AFTER PREPARING AN EXTRA YEAR
    IAM NOT AT ALL INTERESTED IN CONTINUING PG
    SO STARTED PREPARING FOR CAT , NO EXTRA CIRCULAR ACTIVITIES TO BOAST OF EXCEPT CONDUCTING CAMPS
    I DID PRIVATE PRACTISE(AS DENTIST) FOR 18 MONTHS , DOES WORK EXPERIENCE COUNT
    DOES MY POOR ACADEMIC PROFILE EFFECT MY CHANCES

    • Nagaraju, are you creating excuses for potential failure? I am sure apart for the various deficiencies that you have listed down you also have many positives also, focus on them. Worrying about your negatives will only pull you down. Prepare well for the exams and focus on increasing your practice which is a valid worrk experience and you should be able to make it to your desired institute.

  901. Hello Sir,

    I was very inspired by your story sir. I was wondering if you could help me.
    I am currently in 2nd yr B.Tech at NIT Trichy. My current CGPA is 7.4. My 10th and 12th boards percentages are 92 and 90 respectively. Assuming my final CGPA stays around 7.5, will I be eligible for CAT 2015? Will I be eligible to take GRE and try for MBA abroad??

    • Hemanth, I am surprised that with 90% or more in 10th and 12th and a CGPA of 7.4 you are still worried about your eligibility, you are eligible at 50% marks in graduation. Yes it would be helpful if you could increase your CGPA to 8.5 or more and you do have time to ensure this. You have completed only 3 semesters and pushing up your CGPA to 8.2-8.3 should not be difficult if you are willing to put in some effort in the remaining 5 semesters. Stop worrying and start working.

  902. hello sir

    i am currently in 2nd year of my engineering now in 4th semester
    my doubt is can i give CAT exam this time ( i mean in 2013)
    for experience ( for sure i will be wrking hard for the exam) ..
    so that it will benefit me wen i will be giving CAT in my final year of enggg???

  903. Sir,
    I’m a bit demoralized about my current state due to my pathetic academic background. I want to ask two questions.
    1) I scored 81 percent in 10th, and since then i declined to 60-65 percent range in my 12th and B.tech Mech. Engg. (not from a premier institute. 2012 batch). Is there any possibility for me to make it to IIMs? i’ve heard there is heavy weightage given to past academics?
    2) Should i justify my drop to 62% in 12th from 81% in 10th with complete honesty?, because, basically I’ve no concrete reasons.

    • Aniket, yes you can make it to all IIMs (except IIM-A) provided you get 99%ile in CAT. Weightage is given to past academic record but it is can be easily compensated for with good CAT and Personality Assessment performance.
      The only way to justify a drop in performance is by sharing the true reason for it even if it means saying “I did not study”.

  904. Sir,
    I want to know that whether i stand any chance in getting through IIM-C or any other IIM after cracking CAT.
    I secured:
    60% in class 10th
    66% in class 12th
    66% in B.Sc. Food and nutrition
    77% in M.Sc. Food and nutrition.

  905. hi sir

    my 10th % is 75.3
    12th % is 60.6
    b.tch(cse)2009 passout % is 57
    with a good cat score will any iims consider my profile
    and with a good gmat score will isb hyderabad consider me….
    m very confused
    pleaseeee reply to my doubts sir it would be very helpful for me pls pls

  906. Helo, Sir!
    I have wrote the CAT this year. My profile is as follows-
    Xth – 81.33% (West Bengal State Board)
    XIIth – 79.85%
    Grad – 80% (in Agriculture allied in 2012)
    Category – General
    Work ex – Nil
    Sir, is there any problem regarding my profile for IIM A or IIM L specially PGP ABM?
    Looking forward to hear from you Sir!

  907. Sir ,
    i am B.E. graduate in C.S.E passed out in 2009 form B.S.A.I.T.M clg faridabad haryana with 3 years of work exp. i am preparing for cat 2013 but my past academics score is not much, i scored 69% in 10th 65% in 12th and 58% in B.E..only MBA can boost my career is there any possibilities that i will get selected in IIM or XLRI, FMS or top colgs like them..i have also done diploma in software testing but could not find a suitable job so started working with my father in his metal bussines will that work exp. will be considerd.

    waiting for the reply

    regards
    bharat sharma
    bharatsharma1287@gmail.com

    • Bharat, your academic record cannot be changed but can be compensated for by good performance in CAT or XAT or other MBA entrance exam so stay focused on your preparation without worrying about the past. There is nothing wrong with your work experience and you will get credit for it. In fact family business usually gives a better exposure that a job because you are involved in all aspects of business while in a job one is confined to a very narrow area.

      • i am aiming for 98 and above percentile in cat 2013 will i get call form any good clgs at this score…considering my past academic score and my work exp….
        Regards
        Bharat sharma

          • i think even after 99% in cat i will not get any call from iims or any other top B. clgs coz my academics, i am studying hard for cat 2013 but feel very low in confidence…. plz advice about how to bring up my confidence….

  908. Sir

    I Scored 83% in class X and 76% in Class XII and Currently I am in my final year of engg with 65% I didn’t prepare well for my CAT exam earlier this october, however I feel my exam went well. It was more than satisfactory. I attempted 18 (approx) ques in Q & A section and 21(approx) in V & R section. What score can I get in CAT and what colleges I can apply to? I am sure at least 10 questions in each section is right.

    And please do tell me about NPTI, Badarpur. Is it worth spending my precious years there?

    Thanks in advance.

  909. Dear Sir,
    Sir, I am currently studying in class X and i have a overall aggregate of 85% and I am worried about my future.I am aslo interested in robotics but i fail to understand as join which college and what has to be done to get there.I sometimes feel sad as I see my other friends as they are joining colleges in abroad and are slowly getting settled.Please help me Sir.

    Regards
    Tarun Sudhams

    • Tarun, immediately after your class X exams start preparing for IIT if you want to do engineering in India if it is from outside India please prepare for SAT. Most importantly please have a discussion of your career goals with your parents they are your most important guides.

  910. Hello sir,
    I have been a good student throughout.
    10th – 87%
    12th – 79.8%
    B.Tech- 73.5%
    MBA(HR) ( Currently in last semester) – 7.9/10 cgpa
    Only problem is that i have a 2 year gap between B.tech and MBA.I was preparing to get through some good MBA college. How do i justify this? will it pose a serious problem for getting a placement?. also i do not have any work experience.

    Thanks & Regards

  911. hello sir
    my 10th percentage is 78
    inter 74
    btech 50% with a year gap….
    with a good cat score will any iims consider my profile
    and with a good gmat score will isb hyderabad consider me….
    m very confused and i cant find any life with ma low percentage in btech
    pleaseeee reply to my doubts sir it would be very helpful

    • Mounica, a good CAT score for IIMs is 99%ile at which all IIMs and other good MBA institutes are available to you except IIM-A because you have less than 80% in X, XII and graduation. ISB Hyderabad will require a minimum of 2 years work experience.

  914. Hello sir, my academics are not very good. In 10th i have ended with 67.8%(2003) and in 12th i have 69%(2005) both from Jharkhand board…the toppers from state got 82-83% in same year. Now my question is do they(IIMs) normalize the marks bcz in our country the board and university are diverse and they have different marking scheme. I am really tensed about the future.

    • Narendra, some institutes normalise and some do not but it is not in your control. Stop worrying about something that you cannot change. Focus on CAT preparation because it can cover up for your deficiency in board marks.

  915. “If Pune Univ is stingy in terms of giving marks then you will gain because you marks will be increased. ”
    I am sorry Sir but I dint understood. Can you please explain?

  916. Respected sir, I am preparing for CAT 13.
    My profile is 10th: 86%, 12th: 81.5%, BE(Pune Uni): 62%.
    I have heard that IIM- B, I, K, S do normalisation of academic scores (like your scores will be compared with only your board or university people) Is it so? Actually in Pune Uni, getting marks is very difficult. Uni topper is somewhere in 70s and above 60% are considered to be decent. So if there is such normalisation, do I stand a chance of getting a call from these IIMs?
    Also, any cooments about IIM A if I score 99.5+??

    • Sayyed, you have not understood the normalisation process. If Pune Univ is stingy in terms of giving marks then you will gain because you marks will be increased. If you get 99.5%ile then IIM-A is on for you.

  917. my academic profile is as follows:
    x std(icse):92%
    xii std: 86.4%
    btech cgpa:8.6
    i hv just completed my btech in the mnth of july from a premium college of bhubaneswar.i hv already gt job offer from infosys.i hd planned 2 join infy in the mnth of jan so i didnt care 2 prepare anything for cat this yr.bt just a few weeks back v gt da notice that the doj has been shifted 2 april.m feelin really dejected dat i hv already wasted 4 mnths already. i hv decided dat i wud effectively use da remainin 4 mnths left 4 my preps nd is it possible that aftr joinin infy i cud simultaneously prepare nd still manage 2 gt into any of da iims in 2013 or da yr aftr dat? i hv heard frm a lot of ppl dat infy makes u slog hard nd deres hardly any job satisfaction.i desperatly want 2 join a good mba coll nd hv a bttr future prospect….sir m really in a fix…plz suggest sumthin…eagerly waiting 4 ur reply…

    • Preeti, You can prepare for CAT along with you job at Infy. All companies will make you slog (with or without an MBA) so be prepared for it. Job satisfaction is usually high if you enjoy the work. Take your own calls and do not get carried by what others think of Infy, it is a great company and you may enjoy working there.
      However do start preparing for CAT’13 immediately so that you can make the best use of the time available. If you can put in 4-6 hours daily for the next 3-4 months you would have covered significant ground when you join Infy and then you can reduce it to 2-3 hours per day. After joining do not ignore you job as it will be helpful in MBA interviews also.

  918. Sir my profile:-
    Graduated in 2012 from NIT Durgapur: pointer-7.84/10
    class 10th:89.4%
    class 12th:84%
    And during my schooling i had appeared in many international level and national level contests and did pretty well,and in my b.tech i took part in not many but few things like event management,robotics etc….

    I am desperate to give CAT and do and MBA and then start-up my own company(an idea i always had),so please give some light and help me to find the path and tell if above mentioned marks and profile will decrease my chances in CAT,Also i belong to SC….But have zero work XP,having no work-ex will create problem???if i make it upto any IIM will there be any problem because of this profile,plus recently i got rejected from a PSU because of color blindness,is this factor gonna affect me after MBA???…PLease guide me,i’ll be more than glad…

    • Abhishek, you would possibly be able to make it to IIMs even outside the SC category. Great acads and extra-curricular, just focus on CAT preparation. Colour blindness is usually an issue in Engineering ad in PSU but not for MBA and it would not impact you admission or career.
      If you have completed your B.Tech, pick up a job and start working, the experience will be helpful in MBA, preparation for CAT can happen along with the job. All the best.

  919. Hello!

    I’m doing my B Tech Currently.

    My academic background is as follows:
    SSC(AP Board): 87%
    HSC(AP Board): 84.3%
    B Tech (JNTU): 72-75% By the end of third year
    If I get a succeed to score an excellent score in CAT(I’m being too much optimistic here!), what are my chances of being shortlisted to any of the IIMs ? And also what are my chances for being shortlisted to schools like SP Jain and other colleges of similar elite?
    Also can you please tell me if my academic background would be sufficient for being shortlisted in other non-CAT colleges like FMS, NITIE etc.?

    • Srinivas, you have a good academic track record and it is sufficient for being shortlisted by all MBA Institutes – IIMs and the others. Focus on CAT preparation and do not carry any doubts on this issue.

  920. Sir,
    After reading the eligibility criteria for campus placements i feel totally depressed.I feel like its over,my career is in darkness.Sir,i have 72% in 10th ICSE and 50.8% in 12th ISC(Computer Science stream)(percentage includes maths and physics),I am a final year BSc.Computer Science student,my current aggregate is more than 60%. I failed for maths and physics in 12th.I think i was declared passed because of the remaining subjects.I am scared to face interviews.I need to get a job as soon as i finish my Degree as my family is going through financial crisis.I was suffering from blood circulation problem in my brain when i was in 12th,i had to go through various tests during my exams.I know only loser’s give explanations but that was the situation.My mother has a lot of expectations from me.Please tell me where can i find a job?Can u help me get a job sir.I need your guidance.
    Regards
    JJ

    • JJ, you cannot change history. That you had a poor XII score is a reality that cannot be changed and you need to move on. Please start applying to various companies and I am sure many of them will give you a chance. Also many PSUs, Banks and other Govt/semi-Govt entities conduct a recruitment tests for which you are eligible. Read “Employment News” for such vacancies.

  921. hello sir i would like to know i want to be a software engineeir….what i should do ,,,i m in class 11 with science stream from F.M.S.S.S delhi……………i got 71.6 %in class 10

    • Azhar, you will have to take engineering entrance exams after class XII to get into an engineering college. Please let me know where you stay in Delhi so that I can connect you to the right person for addressing your queries.

  922. hello sir,
    i have attended one of workshops on quants in Bhopal and learned so much from it.i am a second year engineering student having information technology as my branch and realy looking forward to prepare for cat,but my 10th and 12th class percentage are very poor(59.8% in each),and my cgpa is 6.2. i know for me iimA is out of the equation but in other iims do i really have a fair chance to qualify even if i get a good score in cat.
    if yes,than what should be the right time for me to start the preparation,and is there any trade in any b school related to I.T so that i can specialize in that.
    kindly do answer my query sir,your guidance is much needed.
    Regards
    Aditya

  923. hello sir,
    i have attended one of workshops on quants in bhopal and learned so much from it.i am a second year engineering student having information technology as my branch and realy looking forward to prepare for cat,but my 10th and 12th class percentage are very poor(59.8% in each),and my cgpa is 6.2. i know for me iimA is out of the equation but in other iims do i realy have a fair chance to qualify even if i get a good score in cat.
    if yes,than what should be the right time for me to start the prepeation,and is there any trade in any b school related to I.T so that i can specialise in that.
    kindly do answer my query sir,your guidance is much needed.
    Regards
    Aditya

  924. Great and very inspiring story sir. Hats off! I took the CAT exam on 6th Nov. And it went ok only after the three months of hardwork. Expecting not more than 80 percentile in my first attempt.
    Sir, I would like to know about following three questions.

    1) How much time is needed for the preparation of CAT 2013 if I join coaching centre alongside regular job of 9 to 6. Except Sunday? I am average in aptitude.

    2) Being an OBC non creamy layer candidate, how much percentile is needed to get admission into any of the IIMs?

    3)How much role the profile of the company and non IITian plays during the interview of IIMs? Is there nepotism in IIM-A, B and C? I am working in a small manufacturing company.

    My Academics: 73.1% in 10th, 72.2% in 12th, and 8.6 CGPA in mech engg 2012 passout. Work exp- 1 month

    • Himanshu, Hope you are taking SNAP, XAT and CMAT. The decision of a second shot at CAT should not be taken till the CMAT results are out because if you do well and get Bajaj, I would recommend joining it. Coming to your specific questions:
      1. Since you have already taken CAT once, for the second attempt you can start in March/April.
      2. The cut offs for NC-OBC candidates is usually around 3-5%ile points below the general category candidates.
      3. I am not aware of any nepotism in the IIMs or the other well known B schools so do not worry about it. Admission in these is on merit. The size of thecompany is not important, how well you do your job and how much you know about your work are the important factors.
      Do justice to your job and prepare well, you will be able to make it to an IIM.

  925. Hello Sir,
    I have attended one of your workshops on quants in bhopal this year and learned so much from it,i am a second year engineering student and realy looking forward to prepare for cat.But,i have poor academics 59.8% in 10th and same in 12th and my cgpa is 6.2
    Do i have any chance of getting into any of the top 10 b schools? (except iima , i know about there short listing criteria).If Yes,then what is the right time for me to start preparing….
    Kindly do reply sir,I rely need your guidance….

    • Aditya, if you can get 99%ile in CAT then most of the IIMs and other B schools are on for you. Suggest that you start in Dec’12 or latest by Jan’13 for CAT 13. Make sure you put in at least 2 hours every weekday and atleast 4 hrs on a holiday towards preparation. Also start reading a daily newspaper (my preference is Indian Express) and a current affairs weekly.

  926. Hi sir,
    I have been worried a lot lately. My career graph resembles a lot like that of volatile sensex with many ups and down.
    I scored 77% in 10th,
    44.5% in 12th(depression),
    80.97% in diploma engg and
    62 % in B.Tech(2012)
    Now I got myself into a marketing job in a small electronics manufacturing firm(employee strength: 100+) in pune (2 months exp), where my job role is of sales n marketing executive wherein I am supposed to follow procedures like pipe lining, getting appointments, going for meeting, giving presentations to managers of other companies, closing the deal, follow ups etc.
    Sir, I want to know, do I have any chance getting into IIMs K,C,B etc(not possible in A, I know) and will this kind of work experience that I am having currently would help me getting through the competition? Reason why I am asking because I have seen in one of the IIM’s website where they consider only executive or managerial level job experience…..
    Please help solve my career quandary….

    • Abhinav, a rule that I have for myself is that past cannot be changed hence there is no point worrying about it. I will worry only about those factors that are in my control and hence can be influenced or changed by me. Worrying about the sine curve nature of your performance is a waste of time because it cannot be changed. Similarly you have a certain work profile and you cannot change it immediately. However you will get benefit of your work experience.
      At this point of time the two things that you should focus on are:
      1. doing well in your current job so that you can rise up in your company or move to a better one.
      2. preparing for CAT and other MBA entrance tests – your target has to be above 99%ile

  927. Sir I have 86% in 10th, 85% in 12th ,63 % in B.Tech . What are my chances of getting into IIM-A ? How much %tile should i target in my CAT ? I want to give CAT next year.

  928. Sir,

    I really want to make it to the IIM A/B/C.

    My academic profile is as follows :
    1. 10th standard – 83%
    2. 12th standard – 82%
    3. BE – 72.8%
    However, in my university there is a distinct % to CGPA conversion rule and by that rule my CGPA is 8.15

    So, should I use my CGPA while filling up the CAT forms???
    And I also had one and only one supplementary in my degree course. Can that be problem with my IIM dream?
    Please suggest…

    • Titir, IIMs expect the university/college to provide a equivalence formula to convert the CGPA into percentage, please check up with your seniors for the same. As long as you clear your supplementary it will not be a problem.

  929. Sir my 10th percentage was 76 and in 12th was 69. Currently I’m in first year of engineering. I want to pursue MBA from foreign university. How should I prepare for the exams I’ll be giving after three and a half years?
    Your proper and detailed guidance would be highly appreciated sir.

    • Ayush, foreign universities expect a minimum of 2 year work experience so worry you should now focus on your engineering and not worry about the preparaton process.

  931. Hello sir my qualifications are as follows:
    10th- 90.02%
    12th-80.66%
    UG(engineering)-65.5%
    Category-general
    I want to know that what are my chances of getting admission in good MBA clgs like IIMs,MDI etc pertaining to me securing above 98 percentile in CAT?

    • Gaurav, For IIMs one needs to get around 99%ile in CAT. With your X and XII marks more than 80%, you would not have problem in any institute.

  932. hi sir,

    i just checked and found out that the admission criteria for SPJIMR is a two stage process :-

    1st stage – they select you based on your profile (past acads and extra curricular activities), this is done even before the CAT or XAT results.

    2nd stage – if you get above 85 or 90%tile they will call you for interviews.

    sir, do you have any idea how should ones profile be to get selected in the 1st stage. my academic record as of sem V is :-

    10th – 75%
    12th – 78%
    b.e. – 58%

    i know its not good but is there any chance for me?

    • Rahul, Typically to get profile based calls one needs to have:
      1. very good acads
      2. 2-3 years work experience and
      3. social orientation.
      Since your acads are not outstanding and you are a fresher, I think your chances of getting a profile based call is not very high.

  933. Sir
    I have 51.1 in 10th , 55.6 in 12th , 71.2 in BBA (tourism) . I wanted to do MBA , so in order to improve my profile i am pursuing Company Secretary Course . I have cleared CS Executive in 2 attempts by scoring 55 percent . Improving my profile by doing professional courses and scoring above 90+ in CAT . What are my chances of getting admission in top b schools .
    Does the corporates look for prior academic or what we have learned in mba after getting admission .
    I am doing professional course in order to improve my profile , is it right to complete this and then go for mba .

    Sir please advice .

    • Aditya, you will need to target a minimum of 95%ile to get into any good MBA institute. CS will be helpful both for admission and during MBA, you should complete it. The focus of companies is usually what you have studied in MBA.

  934. Sir,

    I have 5 years work ex in IT industry,and have attempted CAT 3 times till now,this year’s being my best attempt. But by now since I have surpassed average age of candidates at IIMs, I am a bit disheartened and not sure if many number of exp in the industry will be a deterrent for my selection and later for placements( heard from coaching institutes and seniors).

    My second concern is that I’m a metallurgy student who took up software industry after college and want to take up MBA now. This variation is always questioned in PI,as they want to know why jumped from meta to IT and now MBA. My answer is always that I wanted to do comp sc,but got into IIT meta,so pursued that but got back into IT industry cos that was my interest. But now want to do MBA cos I find this industry limiting for me,since I don’t have a CS engg and knowledge and besides want to take up analytical role after pursuing MBA,as that way I will atleast have a degree and know-how rather than making a shift into analytics directly.

    Can you also provide your email id for any more concerns I may have?
    Thanks.

    • Rahul, with your 5 year work experience, 1 year MBA from ISB, Singapore or US is a better option than the 2 year MBA programs of IIMs but since you have already taken CAT let us wait for the results before deciding. You could however take GMAT and start explore the 1 year MBA options simultaneously.
      Large number of Engineers from different branches move to IT and then to MBA and this question of “shifting” is very common and can be easily answered. You can contact me at gp@careerlauncher.com

  935. Sir,

    Happy Diwali. Nice article. My academic record is as follows :-

    10th – 78%
    12th – 78%
    B.E. (till 5th sem) (currently in third year) – 58% (trying to get above 60 by next sem)

    I know IIMA is out of my choice. Do I have a chance in the other IIMs? If yes, how much should I score in CAT? I am planning to give CAT in 2013. I will also be trying for XLRI and SPJAIN, what are my chances for XLRI and SPJAIN?

    Thank you,
    Shirish

  936. sir ,
    10- 91.3% (100 in maths)
    12-82%
    btech- 6.2(till 5th sem)

    several achievements and good extra curricular record

    if i get above 98% in cat . from which IIM’s can i get a call??

    also is it that the CGPA at the time of filling the form matters or is it the CGPA after the graduaion matters for the call ??

    pls HELP!!!!

    • JD, Great performance in school but college is a let down. Nevertheless because you have more than 80%in X and XII all IIMs are open to you if your get 99%ile in CAT. I know it is difficult but if you can pull up your CGPA to 8 it will make your life easier. The CGPA at the time of filling up the forms is used for admission purpose, which is typically till the VI semester.

  937. Dear Sir,

    I want to know whether i may appear for CAT 2013, as i m working in SBI as a assistant since 2008 and i did distance MBA (Finance) from SMU in 2011, MA in 2008, BA in 2005 from CSJM University Kanpur. Kindly also advise me the fee of IIMs.

    Sir recently i m very confused about my career growth so please guide me.
    Thanking You

    • Pavan, You are eligible for MBA from IIMs or from the other top institutes. Suggest that you visit the CL center at Kanpur to understand the admission process of the IIMs and also the preparation process. The total expense involved for an MBA from IIMs, including the fee, is around Rs 12-13 lakh however liberal scholarship and education loans are available for students. MBA from reputed Govt Universities like Delhi and Bombay University are cheaper, around 2 lakh, and are good options.

  938. Dear Sir,
    I was very impressed to read your article. I am 30 now with acedemic qualification – scored 84% in 10th,60% in 12th,earned a diploma in mech engg,graduated in maths n finally did MBA from not so reputed government college in Guj.I was more inclined to study than to work and hence have zero wrk exp now. As you see I devoted my years in acquiring knowledge but the application was missing. Now settled abroad I am urged to brush up my skills n start working. I intend to join a B-school but am not sure to go for CAT or GMAT. Again I may not satisfy the criteria for selection due to my grades n wrk exp. I am in need of guidance which I never got over years and am demotivated.Your article really gave me hope Sir and the motivation I was looking for.Your reply would be of great help. Thanks.

    • Devashree, please start working, you have an MBA and it should be sufficient to get you a start. After working for a few years if you feel the need of a second MBA MBA then go for a 1 year MBA from a reputed university. Work experience of 2-4 years is essential.

  939. dear sir
    i have given cat this year and hope to score around 98 percentile this year.sir my academics are like this 10th-78%,12th-59% and btech-69% with 15 mnths of work experience.shall i get a
    call from any iims with this percentile or will be ignored due to my poor academics.plz guide sir.

    • Bikash, while IIM-A is unlikely, not all IIMs are fascinated with past academic performance and you can hope for IIM calls. It would have been easier with a 99%ile. Your expected score of 98%ile is a shade lower than the safe score.

  940. Hello sir , i m doing BBA-LLB course (5yrs integrated law)

    i m in 3rd yr currently n aftr this yr i’l b awarded BBA degree( specialisation in law or pre-law) so aftr 3rd yr i plan to work wid a start-up firm vch is banglore based in d field of media entrepreneurship. since my college hrs r very less 3 hrs only in mrng 7-10 i’l b able to mng wrk.. n by d tym i get my LLB i’l cmplt 2 yrs of wrk ex aftr first graduation (BBA) . n LLB wud b second graduation.

    also aftr 3rd yr i’l also b enrolling for pg diploma in intellectual property vch is of one yr.

    Sir i wish to ryt cat in my LLB final i.e. 5th yr of the BBA-LLB course. n my basic query is dat since i’l strt wrking aftr BBA n at d same tym enrolled in LLB .. will my wrk-ex be relevant ?? since d work ex will be aftr first graduation i think dey shud consider it. or will i be questioned later on dt hw cn b doing LLB as well as working both at d same tym ? bt fr dt clg hrs r very less n colg has kept d tym less so dt a student can work or tk inetrnship or prepare for higher education entrance xamz.

    sir pls guide me if my wrk-ex will be considerd or nt ??

    also i wanted to kno whether my BBA (law) degree will be considered as a degree in humanities degree or nt ? since i had a mix of subjects of humanities and management and the BBA is with specialisation degree ??

    I m really in a mess .. pls help 🙁

  941. Thanks for the answers..sir,some other questions troubling me are:
    1.Sir why are you suggesting 1 year mba instead of 2 yrs?
    2.and I was greatly surprised to find in ISB’s wiki that it is not approved by AICTE and thus its’ degrees are invalid..is it really true?
    3.sir,when I will be asked about 5 years for grad instead of 3 years,what will I say to tackle it,and what reasons will I give so as to satisfy them?please sir,I beg you,kindly tell me..this is really troubling me..

  943. hi sir ….the webinar ur conducting is an online thing …i mean you will interact with registered students online…??….

  944. sir i have very low percentages in my 10th and 12th. 12th-59% and 10th 48% .. i have done my bcom with 54%. i have given cat 2012 . im extremely worried about what should i do with such low %s . wil it curb my chances to get into a good mba college and after then will i be eligible to sit in campus placements. and to the worst will i get job after doing mba??

    • Akash, some of the MBA institutes (eg IIM-A) are ruled out, however most just look at over 50% in graduation and you can get admission with a good score in CAT or the entrance test and in Personality Assessment test. Campus placement is a function of you performance in MBA not of school and college prior to MBA. So if you are keen, start preparing. All the best.

  945. Sir
    I Got
    51% in 10th
    44% in 12th
    63% in B.tech
    97 Percentile In CAT 2011
    Category-SC
    I Know That i never get a admission in IIM’s because of my poor academic background ……..but apart of that can you tell me which are the other best institute where i can get the admission

    • Vir, poor academic record may not be the only reason for not converting the calls. Please keep in touch, if your CAT 2011 performance is repeated you will get a call and we will work together to convert your call. Do apply to FMS also go thru the blog http://www.gpkafunda.com/?p=957#more-957 and apply to the institutes in the top 2 rows.

  946. Sir,I had posted here before also…let me just remind you..
    i)10th-90%
    ii)12th-68%
    I had taken chemistry honours in my graduation which I had taken 5 years to complete instead of the normal 3 years because I could’nt pass the honours paper twice..I had asked whether I could get IIMs,and you said yes,except IIMA,and I know why…but that time you said so because I had told you that I had 60% in graduation….but I had miscalculated sir…I was so heartbroken to find out that it was less than 50%..that means I can’t take CAT and can’t get into many good b-schools…so my questions are:
    1.I’ve heard that to take IIFT,GMAT and XAT one doesn’t require 50% in graduation?is that correct?
    2.and so can I get admission into IIFT delhi,or ISB Hyderabad which sees GMAT score, or XLRI and other colleges that accept XAT score?…will my 5 year grad be a hindering factor in getting into IIFT or ISB or XLRI(and other XAT score accepting colleges)??
    3.is there a chance that I will be rejected in the interview of IIFT,ISB or XLRI,because of 5 year graduation instead of the normal 3 years?
    4.now I am doing my higher studies,is there any possibility that in the next couple of years the above mentioned exams and colleges will also make 50% in grad as an eligibility criteria??i’m askin this as many b-schools now see CAT score,which they didn’t previously,as they had their own entrances..
    5. is there any age limit for these colleges or exams?,..please let me know sir i’m greatly worried..

    • Sonal, reponse to you queries is given below:
      1. IIFT, XLRI and a few other institutes have are possible, you can check their websites.
      2. 5 years for graduation will definitely be questioned and will need to be explained but it can be tackled.
      3. Yes there is a chance but only if you are not able to explain the reasons to their satisfaction.
      4. Difficult to say anything either way.
      5. No
      Suggest that you go for a 1 year MBA from ISB, Great Lakes, US, Singapore rather than a 2 year MBA.

  947. Hi Sir!

    The only problem I have is that I have a BELOW 60% score in my graduation. My XIIth percentage is 71% and Xth percentage is 85%.
    In case I get into a good B school (which I am hoping to considering the way my CAT went), will my graduation score be a problem during the placements?

  948. Hi Sir,

    I have Work experience . What is ur suggestion on Online Executive MBA from NIBM Chennai? or can u suggest some other colleges. Whats the scope and job oppurtunities in EMBA?

    • The online EMBA programs are unfortunately not given sufficient importance by the Industry and hence placement opportunities are limited. Hence I would not recommend this format.

  950. X-81%
    XII-90%
    Graduation-60%
    Work Exp-5 years
    I was jobless for 2 years after completion of my graduation. So with this past academics and work exp…do I have fair chance into getting IIMS with 99% CAT score

    • With a 99%ile CAT score you will get a call from all the IIMs.

      However I think that a 2 year MBA program after 5 years work experience is an overkill. You should go for a 1 year MBA program of ISB or in Singapore or USA.

  951. dear sir , I attempted cat 12 but my problem is quant section , i could attpmt 12 ques wid accuracy in 1st section bt my speed was so less dat i cud attpmt only 12 ques whereas i cud hv attpmtd 6 ques more vch i new wid cmplt accuracy . m very scared dat evn if i wait fr cat 13 i wont b able to mk it in quant sectn. can a non-enineering student really crack cat ? my acads r also very poor.

    • Ila, many non-engineering students crack CAT. However it is too early to think of CAT’13. Please shift your focus to SNAP (16th Dec) and CMAT (21-25 Feb) for which sufficient time is available and application window is also open. You should take XAT also which will open up XIM Bhubaneshwar, GIM and many other institutes.

  952. sir i’ve completed my 10th with 78% (in icse pattern) and inter with 68% (ssc pattern). right now am doing my b.tech 1st year in electronics and communication engineering. i really want to crack cat exam sir..am trying to work hard for it. i want to study in iim-banglore particularly…can i get the seat there with these percentages?? i’ll to get best percentage in my b.tech this time. how to aim for getting a seat in iim-b?? if not in any other iim’s..
    THANQQ

    • Anu, it is difficult to say what the selection criteria will be in 2016 so let us not worry about your school performance, in any case you cannot change it. What is important that you focus on your college acads and ensure at least 80% in engineering. The factor which unlikely to change in the selection process is good performance in CAT. So get into the habit of reading newspaper (I am partial towards Indian Express), a current affairs magazine and novels from different authors. The reading skill is unfortunately lacking in a large number of students. Also get into the habit of solving puzzles. Your formal preparation should start around Dec 2014 for CAT 2016.

  953. sir your story was very inspirable . i am a big aspirat of MBA that means do or die there is IIM or nothing(even i dont want XLRI,IIFT…IIM means IIM nothing else), I have in X-52.13%,XII-66.50% , BE- 63.96% and my catagory is SC.
    sir is there any hope for me to get admisson in IIM, I can understand criteria about IIM-A. But rest of this can i get admission in remaining 12 IIMs.And what about CAT %ile.
    please sir reply its do or die condition ….
    wating…sir………..

    • If you are willing to put in more effort than what has gone into your academics till now you can make it to the IIMs. You should target a minimum of 90%ile but obviously the higher you are the better it is. Are you still in engineering or have you finished your studies? Also when do you plan to take CAT?

      • thank you sir … i am so glad for the motivation. i have finished my engineering with 63.96%. and from your support planning for CAT,
        but can i mind about my 10th percentage….if i got above 90%ile will i get among 12 IIMs, rest of IIM-A..
        so eager for you comment sir…….

  954. Sir,

    I have 90.5% in 10 n 90 in 12th but 79.7 in engineering grad.
    Do I stand a chance to get call from IIM-A,B? as I know that they look out for 80% throughout and Which are those colleges apart from A,B following the same criteria of 80% throughout and thus will not shortlist my profile?

    • Kapil, With over 80% in X and XII you will not be eliminated if you get around 99.5%ile. Also we do not know what the criteria will be for next year.

  955. I actually did very well in my 10th board exams scoring 96% & 100 in maths(Karnataka Board).I took up science & did not do well as expected by my parents,but was able to score 86% in boards.Also my KCET was not bad and my standing was 933 in my state.So i got admitted to the top 5 engg coll in my state.But after 2 yrs of my engg i realised that i was not meant for it.All that i did was fun during my 12th board exams and engg coll.My scores went down compared to the ones who were behind me.But again i was able to score 82% in each semester.I then thought to myself that i ll be just an engineer with good results. I want something more.Then my high skool resolution came to my mind & that was MBA from IIM.So now i have to start my preparation. Can i do it in 1 year?I m afraid bcoz if i start CAT preparation i may go down in the remaining sems of my engg. I dont know what to do?Pls reply

    • Jeet, Actually 1 year is more than what is required to do well in CAT. You have to be disciplined and cut down on fun and games so that both the College and CAT preparation are taken care of. If you are willing to put in an average of 2 hrs per days it is enough.

  956. Hi sir….i hav got 90% in X, 70% in XII and 56% in bcom..also i am a CA..cleared all levels of CA in the first attempt with good marks…can u tell m what are my chances of getting a call from IIMs considering i get 95 – 99 percentile…and if at all i get a call which all IIMs is it likely to be from?

    • Sneha, for IIM A, B, C,L, I & K you will need around 99%ile while for the other IIMs at least 97%ile is requied. Based on your profile you should be able to get calls from all IIMs if you hot the required score. The only grey area is IIM-A because you have less than 80% in 2 out of X, XII & Graduation but it should becompensated by your CA which is a professional qualification and has a weightage in the selection parameters. Also geing a girl from non-engineering background will get you extra marks.

  958. sir i have 60% in high school and 70% in 12th and 67 in my graduation. a experience of 1 or 2 years would make my profile strong to get admission in IIM, pls reply sir

    • Arush, work experiece of upto 3 years does improve your profile but the best time to take CAT is in your final year of graduation because once you pick up a job (after graduation) you cannot (and should not) ignore work which usually does not give sufficient preparation time. Also If you can get over 99%ile in CAT then work experience has only a marginal impact.

  959. sir i secured 60% in high school and 70% in my 12th. is 1 or 2 year experience in it company would make my profile strong enough for admission in IIMs

    • Smita, I get lot of spam on this blog and hence have a system wherin every query goes thru an approval process before the post is visible.

  961. Hello,
    Your story has really inspired me alot to work efficiently towards my goals. I would like to know your thoughts on my career approach.
    I got 80% in Xth and 65% in XIIth grade. Also, I completed engineering in 6 years instead of 4 years. I completed engineering with 60% from Pune University. Though I had low performance in engieering, the graph has been rising. Though i could not learn to deal with my problems then, I got first class in final year of engineering. After then I joined an international software firm and have been working since 20 months there. Though I did not have any kinda leadership experience here, i am an important part of buisiness driving project.
    I want to have managmemnt education from old IIMs, IITB, IITD, SPJAIN or XLRI. I can see that IIMs are though part here. But I have hopes to get into one of the rests. Do you think I would need some kind of leadership experience? If yes, then can I cover that in an year if I am aiming for 2014 admissions. Also, can you give me any direction to work on my leadership skills?

    • Smita, all of us go thru ups and downs in life fortunately your low phase is behind you. 6 years for a 4 year program is a negative but it is history you cannot change it and the fact that you have come out of an adversity and are now on the right track is a big positive.

      A work experience of almost 3 years at the time of admission in 2014 is very helpful and my suggestion would be to focus on your work and ensure that you excel in it. Leadership opportunities I am sure will only thru good work in your cuurent job. Among the IIMs Ahmedabad is ruled out since they insist on at least 80% in at least 2 out of X, XII and Graduation but that is their loss. All other IIMs and top B schools will look at you favourable. In fact if you get an interview call I am sure of your clearing it.

      All the best.

  963. Hello Sir,
    thanks to motivate us..i have very few days left for my CAT prepration. this is my first cat.. my average percentile in MOCKS- 90-97..with one 99.. I have to give cat on 31st of this month. in CAT. m giving everyday 1 or two MOCk.How to bind up the things in these last 3 days so i can maximise my score on the d dayOne more thing my score in english are pretty low so few last tips on this section.

    • Ishan, you should stop taking Mocks now and focus on revising all the important questions from all the Mocks and past CAT papers.
      For VALR, do go thru the CAT 2000-08 papers esp PJ, PC and summarry type questions. Your strategy for VALR should be to ensure all 9 correct in LR. Out of the 21questions of RC and EU you should target attempting around 13 questions with at least 1 RC passage. Most of the PJ this year are easy aand should not pose a problem. No guesswork in Grammar and Phrasal verbs, read them once if not sure of the answer- leave. Fill in the blanks aredo-able andshould be attempted.
      All the best.

  964. Sir,
    Your story truly imbues me.. I wanna have some valuable suggestions from you.. my current academic situation is extremely pathetic,i got 80 in X, 85 in XII n i m pursuing electrical engineering from YMCA,Faridabad (final year), my gradation percentage currently is egregious-57.. and not placed anywhere till now.. also i don’t hope for a placement from my college coz till the time i will cross 60 and become eligible for placement(end of 8th sem), no company will be visiting.. and i am not at all interested in going for core electrical field of gov jobs. I wanna enter the corporate world.. It would be really painful wandering here and there after graduating for the search of job.. So presently i m hungry for MBA but the sad point is that my prep is not enough to fulfill my appetite.. in any CL mock i m not scoring more than 75%ile, it varies from 60 to 75.. so though i am quite an optimistic person, still presently i am really in perturbation.. Sir, kindly please help me out, suggest me with your valuable suggestions.. i have also applied for NMAT, IIFT, SNAP, XAT.. plus i am not at all prepared for G.K for snap,iift.. how should i proceed sir to get into one of the prestigious b schools this year itself? waiting for a sooner reply..

    • Kshitij, with your mock CAT score in the region of 70%ile CAT is ruled out. You have to immediately shift you focus to the other tests you have applied for and with you score SNAP and NMAT appear to be the best option. IIFT is a diffcult paper with very few seats but XZR again is important due to XIM Bhubaneswar and Goa Institute of Management. Practically all the papers have GK as an important component, please download the IIFT & SNAP GK compendium from SIS elib and start working on them. Please go thru a past paper of each of these papers and identify the areas that you to work on. As I have mentioned earlier – focus on SMNAP and XAT.

      • thanks for the sincere suggestions sir.. my cat is on 31st.. i will be concentrating on snap n xat immidiately after it.. but still do u think i hav any hope for any good b school through cat.. my mock cat percentile has reasonably improved in the past few days.. i am getting sumwhat around 80 nowadaz.. like today i gave unproctered mock 7 and scored 85%ile.. i think my confidence level has degraded two days before the exam though it was quite good a month earlier inspite of getting low percentile.. i have applied IMI DELHI, IMT.. any hope for any such insti ..?

        • Kshitiz, 80-85%ile in Mock CATs usually leads to around 92-93%ile in CAT, so do not give up hope and if you can a couple of extra questions correct then you will be in the 95-97%ile range. Go with an open mind and do your best. Do call me tomorrow after your CAT andwe will plan your way forward. At present you are in line for IMT and IMI and also a few other institutes.

          All the best.

      • sir i am having my NMAT on 9th, just 9 days after cat.. can u giv some tips on how to boost up the prep in there 9days.. what strategy to adopt in 9 days after giving cat??

        • Kshitiz, after CAT take a break of a day and then take the four Mock NMAT over next 6 days with complete analysis and identification of important questions for revision.

  965. hello sir,
    thanks to motivate us..i have very few days left for my CAT prepration. these my third attempt.. my average percentile in MOCKS- 50 to 75.%.. I try my best to scanned question.. bt still my performence is not good. in actual CAT i scored 47 % 69% in 1st & 2nd attempt. i wann be IIM girl.. please suggest me what ideally should be my approch.. hw can i get 99 % . in CAT. m giving everyday 1 or two MOCk. after every Mock i used to analysis. my thinking is very possitive.. i will do all whatever is required to complete my dream. please suggest for the same …

  966. hello sir
    i’m preparing for iift this year…but the quant section is giving me nerves….quant was easy last yr..but there’s no guarantee this yr. …also are there sectional cuttoffs in quant?

    • Rahul, it was easy for everyone last year and it is difficult for everyone this year. This paper is about relative performance and not about absolute performance. You have to identify the easy questions to attempt and not get bogged down by the difficult one. All the best.

      • sir… i did not get the concept of relative performance and absolute performance in iift…it wud be great if u could generalise on it?

        • Absolute performance is what happens in schools and colleges, your performance determines your marks. In MBA entrance exams it is your performance compared to that of other candidates that determines your marks (Percentile score) hence if everyone does poorly it does not matter.

  967. Dear Sir,This is Sagar,My qualifications are not so good after 10th as i scored 67% in 10th,56% in 12th & 59% in b.tech & moreover am an unemployed guy.But now am thinking to do MBA in IIM so does my qualifications support for all the IIM’s or not.Sir,am in big tension nothing is coming to my mind what to do and what not to do please guide me something for my upcoming future what shall I do so that I can be settled from next year.
    Suggest me career guide according to my profile and suggest me whether am I eligible for all IIM’s or not?
    Am dropping my mail id id please kindly revert back me my mail is : sagarjena10@gmail.com.
    Please help me sir.

  968. This story of yours must boost many souls..
    Sir my academics are as follows:
    i)10th-90%
    ii)12th-68%
    iii)Graduation-60%..But there is a problem.I pursued chemistry honours,but i completed it in 5 years instead of 3 years,as i could’nt pass the honours paper twice.3 years is the normal time allotted for honours course.Can this hinder my IIM dreams?
    iv)Msc-55%
    v)And now I’m doing my M.Tech after clearing the GATE exam..
    vi)I have lots of extra-curricular records..

    So,sir my questions are-
    i)What is the upper age limit for taking CAT?
    ii)After the completion of my M.Tech,i want to work and gain experience and at the same time prepare for CAT..if i totally clear CAT,can i get calls from IIMA,IIMB or IIMC?
    iii)And as i am from science background do i have to go through commerce,economics and accounts books?

    • Sonal, why you took 5 years to complete a course that should be done in 3 years will be questioned, in depth, during the interview but is not a reason for rejection. If handled well this can infact be used to your advantage. Coming to your specific questions:
      1. There is no upper age limit for CAT or for MBA
      2. IIMA is ruled out since you have less than 80% in 2 out of 3 (X, XII & Graduation) but all others are possible if you have a good CAT score
      3. You do not have to go thru commerce or accounts or econoomics books for preparation. These are taught in the b school and you arre not expected to know them before hand.

      • Thanks for clearing all my queries…but sir i’m just worried about the ‘questioning of 5 years in depth’.How will i handle it and use it to my advantage?Sir,please give me some ideas..can i atleast get into IIMB or IIMC with this 5 year graduation?
        And sir i know that a non-engineering master’s degree gives a student extra marks.But sir,for me which one will be considered:the non-engineering Msc or engineering M.tech?and as i have taken 5 years for graduation,will i get the extra marks for a non-engineering bachelor’s degree?

  969. Sir,i need your help am in big tension that in my school career i got 67%,in 12th board i secured 56% and in b.tech i got 59% & am 2011 passed out student but till now i vent got a job &still am in hunt for job..now i was thnking to do MBA is it possible to crack IIM next year if i ll prepare sincerely for cat 2013 and please suggest me what shall i do am i eligible for top B.schools or not.If not then please guide me for further career options like govt sector,non govt sector.
    Am dropping my mail id please kindly revert back.me on my mail.id i.e (sagykhan007@gmail.com).please drag me out frm trouble.

    • Sagar, the first thing i would want you to do is pick up a job and start working, no one can guarantee a seat in a good MBA institute and if you are dependent only on MBA preparation it will put you under unnecessary pressure and make it a do or die effort. Do not worry about you academic track record, if you do well in CAT or XAT or the other MBA entrance exams you will be able to get admission in a good institute. If need to discuss anything more you can mail me at gp@careerlauncher.com

  971. RESPECTED SIR,
    I got 84 % in 10 th (icse board)
    58% in 12 th (icse board)
    81% in btech computer engg

    can i hope to get admission in IIM-A if I GET 100 %ILE IN CAT EXAM??
    WAITING FOR UR FEEDBACK SIR:)

  972. Sir,
    I want to do MBA and preparing for CAT 2013. My scores at school was not good. I scored
    Class 10 – 60.6%
    Class 12 – 66.6%
    B.Sc Honours in food and nutrition – 68%
    M.Sc in food and nutrition – CGPA 7.66
    I want to know that will my poor performance at the school is a barrier for getting an opportunity to do MBA from IIMs? And i have completed my post graduation in 2012, so should i stick only to the preparation or i should do any job sideways?

    • Nasir, while IIM-A is ruled out due to less than 80% in X, XII & Graduation all other IIMs and bother B schools are possible for you. I don’t think preparing for CAT is a full time job hence I would suggest that you pick up a job which will also act as a back up option.

  973. Hello Sr.
    Sr. I’m in a dilemma not regarding my CAT but about the degrees one holds. Sr can one do two degree courses with one year gap between them from two different univs. Please help Sr.

  974. sir,
    I got 89% in 10th,69% in 12th and i am dng b.tech(EC) .sir,i want to ask if there is chance in good b school for me.
    What should i try for:
    1.mba from not so decent college(iim due to low 12 marks)
    2.mba(TELECOM SYS) from iit delhi
    3.fpm from iima

    • Dev, your marks in XII are not so low that you need to compromise on the institute. If you can get above 95%ile better b schools are possible.

  975. thank you very much for your guidance sir!!
    i have 63% in 10th
    48% in 12th
    50% in engineering (electronics)
    sir, i know i am not a good student , but i am trying very hard for cat . Is there any chance for me get admission in any good b school??

    • Saurabh, while IIM-A is ruled out as you have less than 80% in X, XII and graduation but if you can get a good score in CAT you will be able to make it to good MBA institute including the other IIMs.

  976. I’m just an average Class 12 student. Want to get into a good engineering college. Studying in CL but had not been serious for 2 years. 5 months, thats the time I have….. Is something possible ? What should I do ? Agree to work hard ……

  977. Hello Sir,

    Firstly, I would like to say that your blog has helped me a lot in my preparation. I have followed everything that you have said so far. I also gave the CMAT paper as you had recommended.
    My CMAT score came out to be 253, with rank of 573. Now I know that this is not as difficult a paper as CAT is, and more people give CAT, but do you think that if I am able to replicate this kind of performance in CAT, that I will be in the top 2 percentile scores?

  978. hi sir…i’m a cl student (kailash colony branch) my details are:-
    X – 65%
    XII – 75%
    grad – 41%
    no extra curricular act.
    1yr+ expericence in bpo as customer care..although have much more than that before completing grad…
    just eyeing iift primarily and xat affiliated colleges…i’m concerned about quant as it is my only weak area ….other than that i’m pretty confident..what strategy should i adopt at this time and how good do you think are my chances at iift?

    • Modassar, I have already answered you query, repeatiing the same.

      Zia, you chancesin IIFT are a function of your performance in the paper. While most of the students are poor in GK and it may not matter much but you cannot ignore QA. With over a month to go for IIFT you can definitely improve in this area. Focus on the past IIFT papers.

  979. hi sir…
    my stats are :-

    10 – 65%
    12 – 75%
    grad – 41% (from calcutta university)
    no extra curricular
    took me 5 yrs to complete graduation since i had to reappear for a subject once ..and i unluckily dropped 1 yr…i have been working in call center since 1st yr of graduation…soi have only 1 yr plus experience after grad as customer service in a bpo (call center) ….i’m solely concentrating on iift and xat this yr…iift primarily since it does not have a grad cutt-off and i’m relatively confident about it…..except quant and gk…i think i’m ready for it…how good are my chances for iift???

    • Zia, you chancesin IIFT are a function of your performance in the paper. While most of the students are poor in GK and it may not matter much but you cannot ignore QA. With over a month to go for IIFT you can definitely improve in this area. Focus on the past IIFT papers.

  980. respected sir,
    I scored 76 % in class 10th and 68 % in class 12th. I am currently doing BCA and I am in 2nd year. i scored 76 % in first year. And I am pretty sure that I can score 80+ in 2nd and 3rd year. I want to pursue MBA after graduation. Do i stand a chance to get into a good B school ?

  981. Hello sir,
    I had a query regarding the Symbiosis international university that whether the university is AICTE approved..???
    Hope you’ll reply soon..

  982. sir i have
    93% marks in 10th (ICSE)
    91.4% marks in class 12th (CBSE) 97% in P,C, M.
    around 8.6 cgpa in BE ECE ;
    not much for extra activities
    whats my chances for IIMA,B,C,XLRI;

  983. dear GP sir,
    i am the one, who said said my condition is more worst than you in bhopal, nw i think ur really great,unfortunatelly u have done great in CAT, that i can not, but i think i can look more beyond cat, to be good in my life, to how my self….i think i can… but how?
    can u suggest me smething…….

    • Faimeed, go for what interests you and somethisn that you would enjoy. People who know you well would be able to suggest options better then me.

  984. Respected sir ,
    your story surely has made many minds to think for the iims . Till now i was of the view that i am not eligible for iims , but your short story has made me enthu and has motivated me to see myself in 1of the iims except ahmedabad one ..
    thank you sir for sharing with us your short story ..:)

  985. sir,
    Thanks for inspiring me by telling ur story.
    I got 75% marks in Xth and 84% in XII th.
    RIght now, i m doing BBE ( bachelor of business economics ) from delhi university and have just cleared my Ist year with 60%.I am confident that i will make the average marks to more than 70% after completing 3rd year.
    I want to start preparing for CAT from Jan’2012.So sir is there any chance of getting calls from IIM A if ll score 98-100 percentile…
    please reply sir.i need ur advice….

    • Vishal, unfortunately anyone wgho does not score over 80% in atleast 2 out of X, XII and Graduation is unlikely to get an interview call from IIMA. All others are not an issue.

      • Thanku sir,
        so, can i hope for FMS and other big institutes like IIMB,etc.
        Moreover, how much percentile should i score to secure my seat in these colleges.

  986. Dear Sir,

    I am weak in Quants. As suggested by you earlier, i took mocks and currently doing all the past year CAT question. My paper is on 30th . What should be my strategy in actual cat as i get horrified when i face a tough question specially in beginning. Shall i first go through full paper first to find sitters and focus more on DI depending upon the present scenario of CAT .. Eagerly waiting for your reply.

    Thanx

  987. Sir,

    Thanks for the article. Like I read about many in the posts above, I have a good academic background. NIFT passout, have a sound work ex of 2 years (3 by the time i join!). Mock tests results have been extreme. QA is good for me, somehow VA & LR is dipping low and lower and that’s worrying me no ends. Same reason my CMAT rank also went bad..in 1600s. 10 days for my CAT, I need some quick revival techniques for Reasoning.

    Finances are always a worry for PG. I have left job for this, and its bad to doubt decisions at this time, momentarily though. I am putting max efforts, SIS is a great help. Kudos to CL for SIS.

    • Shruti, given that most of the LR question sets in CAT’12 have been of arrangement, suggest that you attempt all the arangement questions that have appeared in old CAT papers and Mock CATs (Proc + Unproc) and revise them a couple of times. Similarly practice PJ & PC questions from CAT 1998-2008 papers.

      More importantly, you seem to be worrying a tad too much. I think your fear rather than VALR is the reason for low CMAT score. You seem to be forgetting that for IIMs you have a couple of advantages – your Gender and Academic stream (non-engineer) because of which you will be awarded extra marks by some of the IIMs and your work experience will give you some extra marks. I am sure you have a good academic record too.
      Relaxation, practice & revision is the key to success in the paper.

      • Thanks a lot for your advice Sir! Though this fear came is just 2 days back after that CMAT score…otherwise it’s all good. All set for CAT 🙂

  988. hello sir,

    my academic scores are as follows :-
    Xth – 79.6%
    X|| th – 65.4%
    Civil Engg – 79.7%
    I have been working with TCS for past 1.8 years.
    I am planning to take cat 2012 test. I often get disheartened thinking if i could make it to a good B school. MY mock scores are not good but i know if i put in little bit more efforts i would do good. Financial condition of my parents is not too good. Hence i do not want to waste money in MBA from random college and not landing up a good Job.

    Could you plz advice me on which colleges should i target and the min percentile i must score in CAT, XAT or other entrance tests.

    • Aahana, given that you are working in TCS for almost 2years, you should not consider any business school that is not among the top 25. If you do not make it to a good b-school yo ustill have a good job at hand and ca also take another shot at CAT next year.

      Apart from the IIMs you should apply to FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, SP Jain, XLRI Jamshedpur, IIFT Delhi and JBIMS (Bajaj) Bombay. For back up you should consider appling to NITIE, IIT-B & D, NMIMS, SCMHRD, SIBM and XIM Bhubaneshwar.

  989. Hi Sir,
    My Profile is:
    10th- 83.2%
    12th- 75%
    B.Tech- Govt Engg College with 64%…

    Does XLRI look at past acads??
    Besides IIM A, would I get a call from other IIMs, based on 2011?

    • Ashwin, IIM-A is ruled out based on their academic criteria but the other IIMs, XLRI, FMS IIFT are available to you provided your ahave a good CAT/XAT/IIFT score.

  990. Dear Sir ,

    Really inspirational story. Well , I am nt a CAT aspirant.I m already studying in MBA. Had 96.88 pc.
    My acads is otherwise fine wth 92 %in 10th n 86 in grads.
    But in 12th have got 59.8%(1 mark less than 60%).
    Alas! many companies put 60% criteria.
    So , reading ur story boosts up d confidence 🙂

    • Namrat, companies and institutes that put in place such stupid criteria lose out in the long run. Not considering you is their loss, don’t waste you time on them. All the best.

  991. sir,my academic records are as follows:

    10th(icse)-91%
    12th,science(isc)-Sir,i’m confused,which mark will the iim’s consider from the following?
    average marks including all subjects and eve is-73.4%
    average marks including all subjects but excluding eve is-69.8%
    best four subjects(eve included) is-84.75%
    best four subjects(eve excluded) is-77%
    but my pcm marks are very poor(in the fifties).

    Graduation-I had taken physics honours under Calcutta university.In 1st year exam I couldn’t qualify for honours but qualified for general(pass) course,but i reappeared for honours the next year and got 48.5%.Now my 2nd year results are out n this time again i couldn’t qualify for honours but qualified for general.So sir if I appear for honours again n complete it without any further hindrance then it would be 5 years upon completion,n if i pursue the general course now then it would be 4 years on completion….but for both honours n general the normal time duration is 3 years;so will my extra year/years depending on what I do now,effect getting calls from iims?Sir please advise me on what I should do now?..I am greatly worried…. .
    Extra-curriculars-I have won certificates for various activities during my school life.
    sorry sir,for making it too long,but i just wanted you to show the entire picture..Sir,now what do you think about my chances?if i clear the CAT very well… .thanxx..:-)

    • Abhirup, I have already responded to your query on email, pasting the response for your reference.

      Abhirup,

      Do not worry about things that cannot be changed, focus on what is in your control. I do not see any point in 5yrs for honours, suggest that you finish off general in 4yrs, just ensure that you have over 50% in graduation so that eligibility is not an issue. While you will definitely be asked about 4 years for graduation, it can be tackled easily. In any case you have good acads (except in graduation) and excellent extra curriculars. At present just focus on CAT and your graduation marks and we will cross the interview bridge when it comes.

      All the best,
      Gautam Puri

  992. A nice, succinct, inspiring story for those who have not been the most intellectually brilliant all through their academic life. It serves as a reminder to one and all that there ain’t no mountain high enough!

  993. Dear sir/madam,
    I just went through some forum where you have been answering the queries of CAT aspirants.
    Actually, i am 2011 passed out engineering graduate from a unknown college in Haryana.

    My 10th percentage:73.4%
    My 12th percentage:65.2%
    My graduation:64.8%(With 8 backlogs)

    I belong to general category. Currently i am working in a small software firm since 3 months. I want to get into any of top 20 colleges for MBA and ready for sheer hard work to get respectable score in CAT. The thing is, i have gone through many blogs and i have seen people crying because of poor academic background(as i do have) and considering that a main hurdle for getting into a good B-school. I am planning to take CAT after 2 year and i can assure of a nice CAT score then. But i want to know whether a good CAT score will lead me to at least one of the top 20 B-schools? Also up to that time i will be having 2 years of experience in hand.
    I am having a very strong instinct for joining career launcher since i have seen previous results but i am not able to because of the state of confusion explained above.

    Please help me in this regard.

    Thanks in advance.

    • Pankaj, all those who are crying about their poor academic background are actually creating an excuse in advance for potential failure. Your poor academic track record is a reality that cannot be changed but can be easily overcome by a good performance in the entrance exam (CAT, XAT, CMAT, SET etc). There wll always be an IIM-A which will not consider you because of less than 80% in X, XII and Graduatiion but most of the top 20 MBA institures will not penalise you for past errors.

      Ensure that you do justice to your work and get a good score in the entrance test, admission will not be an issue.

  994. Sir,
    my 10th-65%
    diploma-56 %
    and B.tech-58%
    these are my academics performance, if i score more 96 or 97 in cat12 then there is any chances in any IIMs and MDI
    or other top b-schools like s.p jain , mica.
    reply soon your reply will be really helpfull

    Regards
    Harsh

    • Harsh, to be sure of getting an interview call from the IIMs you must target at least 99%ile in CAT. IIM-A is ruled out since you have less than 80% in X, XII & Graduation, however the other IIMs would not be a problem. None of the good non-IIM institutes would reject you on account of academics.

  995. Sir,
    My Acads are as follow
    10th-83.6%(CBSE)
    12th-83.4%(CBSE)
    Grad(BE)-69.13%
    No eye-catching co-curricular activities.
    Is there any chance of my getting a call from IIM BLAC, if I get above 99%ile, as my score in graduation is very low and I’ve no work-ex whereas a lot of students are there who have all three above 80. I am consistently working hard and going to do an MBA only from one of these clgs.
    PS: I am taking cat this year with full efforts.

    • Ankur, Your acads are good, with more than 80% in two out of X, XII & Grad all IIMs including IIM-A will consider you if you get above 99% in CAT.

  996. SIr;i am a b.com(hons) from kolkata university,i have got just 49.625 percentage in grads.I would like to know that even if i make it to any b-school that accepts Mat score do these corporates which comes to recruit students sets parameters such as 60% percentage in 10,12 & grads or do the students get selected on the basis of their performance in the 2years of mba(pgdm)?? plz help sir>>!!

    • Samuel, 49.625% is history and while people will ask you why it happened, the corporates will evalute you on the basis of your performance in MBA.

  997. Hello Sir,
    With ur So Motivational Lines I m too Motivated.
    Plz Guide Me Sir. My Exam is on 16th Oct and its getting hotchpotch in VA especially. Quant I m doing Good but not VA.
    Plz Tell me how I can Manage all this.

    • Akshay, in the remaining 3 days suggest that you focu only on revision of all iortant questions of EU, QA, DI andd AR formm the Mock CATs and the past CAT papers that you have taken. You could also take a couple of RC test every day.

  998. Sir,
    I started my prep for CAT way too late…ie from 1st sept 2012, my cat is on 29th august…i have quit my job to devote full time in studies,…my quants are my worry….i score miserably in these section. How do i improve in a short time..pls help( i dont want to take CAT again as i dont have a job right now)

  999. sir, i am doing job in income tax govt department but m not permanent…i am on contract with 3 years…than iims wil consider my work experience or not?

  1000. hello sir
    My problem is that i am not able to improve my score in the mocks. MY %iles form the last 3-4 times is abt 90%. But i know i can improve. I do atleast 3-4 questions wrong in quant , either due to lack of concentration or calculaton or somethng which i dont know about. how to improve on that sir.

    • Chirag, 90%ile in Mocks usually results in around 96%ile in CAT so you are just a couple of questions away from the desired score and if you can eliminate 2 errors in QA you would have acheived your goal.

      Suggest that you revise all the important QA questions in the Mock CATs and Old CAT papers that you hva taken so far and also attempt all the questions from CAT 1995-2008 papers that you have not attempted so far. Please revise all these questions at least once in 3 days.

  1001. Sir,my CAT exam is just 25 days ahead.Since it is my engineering final year so i also have to prepare for interviews to get placed in a company.I have been preparing for CAT for the past 5 months and now in the last days its getting too complicated for me.I dont want to miss on this time.I sometimes get frustrated on what to focus upon.

    • Rohit, life is all about prioritisation and time management. You cannot afford to ignore CAT or placement interviews or college exams. You have do all three but the amount of time to be spent on each of these can be varied depending upon the datesof each of these. The placement interview preparation can be a low priority item till your CAT and then you can go all out for it. Remember, more companies will come in the next 2-3 monts but next CAT will come only after an year. Focus on revision of proc/unproc CATs and old CAT papers and take a Mock CAt once in 3 days. In the last 5 days do not take any more Mocks, just revise.

  1002. Hi sir my acads have been crap in10th got 53% n 12th i failed n now completing my graduation via distance education can i still do mba if yes which colleges should i apply and more should i do to make future better? I am really confused . I am currently preparing for cat n mainly for xat n cmat. Hope to get your reply soon.

    • Chandni, when will you complete your graduation? If you failed in XII how are you doing your graduation? Please give complete information. If you would not like to share it in this forum, please email it to me at gp@careerlauncher.com

      From an eligibility perspective there is no problem as long as you can get more than 50% in graduation but some of the colleges may not consider you because of poor X and XII performance. Your chances of getting into a good B school are dirctly proportional to your CAT/XAT/CMAT score.

  1003. Hello Sir,

    My academic background is the worst possible, faild thrice is Engineering, had a gap of an year in 11th due to attendance shortage. Got a meager 56% in 10th, 89 % in 12th and 54% in degree. My Only achievement was in 12th when I could manage the highest in class. After this ordeal somehow managed a job in Jet airways, there I did worked hard and realised my true potential, I was promoted to Assistant Manager within a short span. However, I always had a feeling that I could had done better in my academics. That’s when I decided to quit job after a work exp of 4 years and decided to invest in my career rather than an ailing airlines. Now I am preparing for CAT and GMAT. What is the scope for a guy like me in CAT, I am sure I will clear CAT, but I also know that my past will be a hindrance. To what extent will the acedmic gaps and results impact me?

    • Vishnu, your 4 year work experience will more than compensate for poor academic performance. While for most of the institutes poor acads is not a major issue, some of the institutes like IIM-A will not consider you because of their focus on Class X, XII and Graduation marks.

      • Thanks a Ton Sir, may be you won’t realise the impact your words had on me. Thanks again.

        Regards,
        Vishu.

  1004. Sir, i have a query regarding the admission into IIMs and what should i look forward to and where i stand in terms of having a chance for the admission.

    10th – 92.2 , ICSE.
    12th – 95.4 State Board.
    Currently in my final year studying in BITS Pilani, Pilani campus, pursuing Msc. Mathematics 4-year integrated course. I don’t hold a bachelor’s degree. Will i be eligible according for giving CAT ? And i have a relatively low GPA of 6.0 because of a tough competitive atmosphere on campus and even the abstractness and toughness of theoretical mathematics.

    As i am more inclined to pursue management rather than going for technical career in a IT company, i have this idea of aiming for MBA. My undergraduate GPA by the end, would be around 6.5, is any weightage given for the institute i come from ? Do i stand a chance in the midst of competitors from IITs and BITS and NITs and holding a better GPA record than mine? I have a stellar extra-curricular record too.

    Please do throw some light about how should i go about my attempt and the need for work experience prior to MBA and even about how much undergraduate GPA would weigh for admission, is it the most important criteria or does my performance in CAT and good communication skills in PI help for fading the effect of my low GPA?

    Thankyou.

    • Hi Shiva,

      Let me answer your queries in the order in which you have asked

      1. Yes you will be eligible for the CAT

      2. If you look at the evaluation parameters of almost all the IIMs, what you notice is a certain weight-age for X and XII marks. There is no pre-defined weightage assigned for graduation marks. In your case, the 10th and 12th std marks are good, so I do not see a problem. Also, during your IIM interview, you will have an opportunity to explain what a 6.5 CG mean. Given your stellar extra-curricular record, you can package your interview pretty well. Remember, interview is art of telling your ‘story’. Anything can be ‘sold’. What is important now is to ensure that you do well in the CAT and get that calls. You will be able to convert the calls, but you must have the calls 🙂

      3. IIMs clearly look at two category of applicants – (1) Fresher (2) Working Professionals. The problem would normally be faced by those who have completed graduation and not working. In the Indian MBA context, you will have more or less equal chance as a fresher or as a working professional.

      Hope this clarifies.

      Regards
      Gejo

  1005. sir…my 10,12 and bba percentage are 58,56 nd 65 …sir..nd hve 22 months exp…can i got cal frm iims if i perform 99 percentile…m confused…help me

    • Hi Rishabh,

      Well, past is past and you cannot change that. So the best is to look forward and get that 99 percentile.

      If you get a 99 percentile, there would be some IIMs which may not give you a call because on your 10th/12th score; but some would. Let IIM worry about this! We will focus on getting 99 percentile.

      Regards
      Gejo

  1006. sir, i have been an above average student throughout till now
    10th-86.6%
    12th-78.4%
    b tech- 84.6%(till 3rd year)
    i dont have a very good extra curricular record to boast of. i tried my hands in many stuff, but became jack of all (or even worse !)
    so do i have a fair chance of making it to any iims???

    • Anju, quit worrying about lack of extracutriculars. Your academics is very good so a call from IIMs will noe be dependent on your CAT performance.

  1007. sir, your story inspires many of us 🙂
    i have a query regarding my academic profile. i have been an above average student throughout till now. 10th-86.8%, 12th-78.4%, graduation-84.6%. unfortunately, i don’t have a very strong extra-curricular record. i tried my hands in many fields, but could only become jack of all( or even worser!), but master of none. So do i stand a fair chance among all aspirants to be selected in a good iim, and what should be my strategy to maximise my chances ??? how do i project myself as the way you did i.e. the actual me???

    • Ann, Anyone with your acads and good CAT performance can make it to the IIMs. In the Personality Assessment process you should project only the “real you” and not create a new “ideal” person. We will discuss this in detail after CAT, till then please focus on ensuring a good CAT score.

  1008. Dear Gautam,

    I am Parkash and i am an average student right from the starting of my studies and job i have cleared my 10th Exams with 52% and in 12th i’ve got 51% marks and currently i am pursuing B.com from Sikkim Manipal University and i am 2nd year and i have realized that i wants to go for CAT exam and make a career and get a good job in big corporates however i know i am an average student so this will be very hard for me therefore request you to please suggest me some guidence what to do and how can i crack the CAT Exam and my focus is to get an admission in IIM or MDI types of collages.

    • Prakash, anyone who is willing to put in effort can clear CAT. You can start with Maths books of class IX & X, get into the habit of reading newspaper everyday to improve your English & Comprehension skills and finally start solving puzzles to improve on your reasoning skills.

      • Thanks a lot sir for all your suggenstions and i have copied and will keep it in mind and i will do as you said earlier and one more question i wanted to ask that does 10th & 12th std. makrs matters for giving CAT Exams, is there any criterion for CAT Exams i mean to say if i don’t have very good percentage in 10 & 12 std. does that mean i am not eligible for CAT exam or take an admission at IIM kind of collages?

        Need some clarity

        Thank You sir!!

  1009. Dear sir,i have hust completed my graduation and i have started preparing for CAT 2013,however there will be a gap of two years because i am a fresh graduate of 2012.Moreover if i do not score well in CAT,things could turn even worse.I am a resident of Calcutta.I need to brush up my basics and then move on to the application level.I dont even have enough money to join a good coaching institite…pls help

    • Rishi, Two thingsyou must definitely do are:
      a) Pick up a job and start working, CAT preparation is not a full time job.
      b) Pick up Class IX – X Maths books and complete them in the next couple of months.
      CL has a merit cum means scholarship, please check up the CL center in Kolkata.

  1010. Sir, I require major attention in Quant section..my scores are horrible despite of continous efforts ..there is some area where my approach is wrong..I have to perform well..can you please suggest how should my outlook to this problem change?..my approach should be such that Ishould enjoy quants rather than running away from it.

    • Shubhangi, in the QADI section you could focus on DI which is now more about calculation and less about difficult concepts. Similarly you should identify the question types in QA that you can handle comfortably. In general try to apply concepts that you studied till class X rather than look for higher level maths to come to the answer. In the limited time availableI would suggest that you identify topics or question types that you are comfortable with and practice and revise them to ensure 100% accuracy in them.

      • Sir, why is it that even after preparation,I see new type of problems which I feel I cannot solve..and then I start to ponder as to how to approach the problem..and I end up beating around the bush and not getting an answer.This happened today when I was writing my CMAT exam..Its a kind request can you please conduct one more session of Quant Cracker..It will be of great help .
        Thank you

  1011. sir,
    i m really working hard for cracking this exam (cat)…sir m veru sure…nd i have preparing for ths for last 3 yrs…last time i appeared i got 92.5 percentile….
    following are my scores :
    10- 66.75%
    12 – 64.8 %
    bms – 72 %
    also particpated in regional level cricket tournament
    i am also having work experience of 36 months…
    sir kindly provide ur guidance and sir wether i ll be selected or not by iims for having low scores in academics…
    waiting fr ur reply…..

    • Manish, as far as IIM A is concerned you will not be considered but in all the other IIMs you have a chance. Your extra curriculars and work experience will play an important role. 92.5%ile last year means with an improvement in each section by 2-3 questions should see you in the interview shortlist.

  1012. Sir
    your story was really inspiring.i am consistently taking cl test series but i am not able to get more than 75 percentile in mocks.Kindly give some advice sir on how to improve my percentile.

    • Snehi, you ill need to give more details about your section wise performance and the areas that you are comfortable with for me to suggest anything.

      • Sir,
        I am able to score well in verbal and LR section.Am able to score around 89-90 percentile in this section.But my percentile has never crossed 70 in quants.Sir, am not able to manage my time properly in quants section.I am able to attempt only 16-17 questns with only 13-15 correct.i take more time in solving di questns.Sir, kindly suggest something on how to improve my accuracy and time management.Thankyou sir.

  1013. Sir

    I got 74 percent in class X and 81 percent on class XII
    But I completed my btech in 5 years with agg of 56 percent.

    From 2 years I am working in a Small company of 15 people.
    What are my chances to get a Descent college which can give me placement so that I can at least give a new start to my carrier. After all money is important no matter how much you screwed up in the last 4-5 years. Thank you

    • Siddharth, it all boils down to your performance in the test, a good percentile i CAT or any of the other MBA entrance tests will comfortably cover up for the 5 year B.Tech. Working in a small company is not an issue, what is important is that you should be doing it well.

  1014. sir, i have no work experience and I am in final year of graduation.
    I am doing B.Sc. (hons) Chemistry from Kirori Mal College(DU).
    Graduation %age- ~70%
    XII (2009) – 70%, then i dropped one year and reappeared in boards as well and got 82.6%
    X – 94.8% .

    got 56th rank in delhi in maths olympiad in 6th std.
    got bronze medal in javelin throw at district level in Xth.
    wrote and composed a rap song in school.
    have give many olympiads and procoms with above average performance.

    do I stand any chance of getting a call from top 3 iims ?
    my mock %iles vary from 92 to 99.5

  1015. Dear Sir,
    Your e-SQC session ended just few min. earlier.
    Thanks for enlightening to smart Quant cracking tricks.
    Sir, My Profile is as under:
    Xth -75
    XIIth- 76.7
    B.Tech-95
    Work Exp-33 months till date.
    Mock CAT Score b/w 80 to 93.
    What is my chances for IIM’s. Moreover, what is my safe score in actual CAT paper.
    Require your guidance to improve…
    Plz suggest me the coming 1 month strategies for preparation…
    Thanks a lot..

    • Shishir, Based on your profile all IIMs except IIM-A are open for you. A score of 90%ile in Mocksusually converts to around 95-96%ile in CAT so you are possibly just a couple of questions short of getting a call. In the last one month you need to practice past CAT papers, take Mock CATs and revise all important questions at least once a week. Please go thru my blog for a schedule to best utilise the last one month to CAT.

  1016. sir,my percentile varies from 85-95 in mock test except 2 tests…what percentile can i accept in CAT.also i have some doubts in questions,which i tried solving after attending your smant quant tracker.what will be the right forum to ask such questions?please do reply..

  1017. sir,
    thanks a lot for ur kind guidance.
    sir,I need to share my problem…..in class 10th and 12th I had 84% each,then in my graduation(engg.) my graph declined to 79%.I took cat in 2011 and got a dull percentile of 89.from my collg i took placement in a seasonal company where i could get some time to study for my this year cat,i am working in a sugar industry since last 3 months.i have been preparing here for CAT,but when it comes to procs i fail miserably there, my percentile sometimes scores 95 once in a blue moon and sometimes it touches the bottom line of 80s,this demoralises me and i loose confidence in my preparation.Sir please guide me a way i can boost up my score and confidence both.
    Sir will good B schools count my experience of working in a seasonal industry??
    does it really matter for admission that ur experience is in a same kind of industry u have been studing for??eg-Electrical engg. working in a plant as electrical engg.as in my case.
    Sir making this year to one of top 10 B-schools is a big want for me.

    • Ritesh,
      Typically a 95%ile in Mock CAT results inn 98-99%ile in CAT so you arre not very far from the desired score. Lack of detailed analysis of Mock CATs along with insufficient or no revision is usually the reason for fluctuating performance. Suggest that you focus on these two ensure consistent performance.
      Please stop worrying about working in seasonal or un-connected industry, your experience will be considered for admission to IIMs.

      • thank you sir,
        now i will put more focus on my revision and analysis section.thanks again for boosting my confidence.

  1019. dear sir,
    i have attended your seminar in bhopal.
    sir ji,
    i have an query,i have 89.8% in 10th and 59% in 12th nd my b.e. agg. is about 70%.
    and i have not crossed 50 percentile in any mock test.is there any chance for me to get a college of my desire or i have to stop for next attempt.
    sir,as i am not getteing time because a lot task is in seventh sem also.

    • Amber, 50%ile in mocks is likely to result around 65-70%ile in CAT, however to get into any decent B school you will neeed to get at least a 90%ile and this will require you to spend time. Suggest that you do CAT papers from 1990 – 2008 to pull up your scores. QA, DI and Usage from these paperrs will be helpful. You could ignore all the RC passages that afre over 700 words. Even if you are not fully prepared for CAT due to time availability, you could still target NMAT, IIFT, Symbiosis and XAT which ae scheduled in Nov – Jan period.

  1020. Sir

    My Profile

    Xth-97(from west bengal board)
    Xth-90(from west bengal board)

    and grad Non Engineer with 58% in graduation in Statistics Honours(Till 4 th semester)

    Final Year Student and Freshers

    having decent extra curricular activities

    IIM A or IIM B is possible for me with a good cat score this year?

    Plz do reply sir:)

    I m little confused whether my grad percentage will stuck me out or not………

    • Shuvam, there is no reason for IIM-A and B not to consider youu. While your graduation percentage is a bit on the lower side all other aspects are in your favour.

      • sir, i have no work experience and I am in final year of graduation.
        I am doing B.Sc. (hons) Chemistry from Kirori Mal College(DU).
        Graduation %age- ~70%
        XII (2009) – 70%, then i dropped one year and reappeared in boards as well and got 82.6%
        X – 94.8% .

        got 56th rank in delhi in maths olympiad in 6th std.
        got bronze medal in javelin throw at district level in Xth.
        wrote and composed a rap song in school.
        have give many olympiads and procoms with above average performance.

        Apart from that i know HTML and basics of CSS, but i have no formal training in that.

        do I stand any chance of getting a call from top 3 iims ?
        I personally feel my profile is pathetic as compared to other aspirants..

      • Sir plz Suggest me how much graduation percentage should I have with me at the end of this final year with these above 10 and 12 marks as a non engineer…?plz guide me sir:)

        and sir tell me one thing that for IIM B one have to be topper in each academic examination like class X ,XII and Grad with some excellent achievements in Extra Acds?then only one will be selected for getting calls with good cat score?

  1021. Sir…i know little things of many things till nw..mental calculations nd reasoning arr to my advantage whereas i am very weak in rc..with around 45 days left for me can get more than 95 percentile..what is the correct procedure for preparation??plz help sir..its a make or break for me..one more thing sir..i m in ca final which is due in may 2014..does articleship comes within purview of job ex required in mba??

    • Deepak, Suggest that you attempt those passages whose subject you are comfortable with. You could practice RC from Test Gym and short passages from past CAT papers. Since Reasoning is your area of strength, in CAT you should attempt the LR questions, Para Jumbles and Para Completion and then move to RC. It is okay of you attempt only 1 passage of RC in 10 minutes.

  1022. GP SIR,
    I READ IT IN THE WEBSITE OF TIME THAT IIMC IS CONSIDERING ONLY MANAGERIAL POSITION FOR WORK EXPERIENCE IS THAT TRUE. I AM A CLERK IN A NATIONALISED BANK DOES THIS WORK EXPERIENCE WILL BE CONSIDERED.AND DO ALL IIMS CONSIDER CLERK POSITION FOR WORK EXPERIENCE

    • Unni, till this is finalised we cannot say anything. In any case if you have a good CAT score, this rule will not impact you. Please focus on your CAT preparation and do not get distracted by by such news.

  1023. Hello sir,
    My acdemic background are as follows…
    10 – 67% ICSE
    12 – 62% ISC
    Am pursuing b.com and am in the final year…….I scored 61% marks in b.com part 1 and I just had appeared for my b.com part 2 exams and waiting for the results now……sir my academic performance is very poor and I am appearing for CAT this year …..I dont have any work experience ….I Joined career launcher for proper guidance….Sir if suppose I have scored 95%ile in CAT this year…..Should I fancy my chances for making it to any of the IIMs..?? Sir plz suggest some good colleges under CAT apart from the IIMs…
    Sir I need your help…..plz reply…?

    • Soumen, based on your academic performance while IIM A is ruled out (based on last years criteria) and IIM B will be difficult, all other IIMs and many other good B schools are available and you should work towards them. For IIMs you will need a minimum of 98.5%ile, for the other good B schools thru CAT the requirement is around 95%ile and no decent B School will be available below 90%ile. You should in addition to CAT take XAT, IIFT, Symbiosis, NMAT and CMAT. Please discuss this with the faculty at your center they will suggest appropriate B schools based on your performance in Mocks.

      • thank you sir for replying……and I’ll definitely work hard for the other iims and more prominent b-schools…….I’ll let you know abt the results of CAT..

  1025. sir,my academic background is as follows:
    X – 79% cbse
    XII – 79% cbse
    Grad-75.7% frm a private colg,UP
    i have various achievements in sports at zonal levels n in colg too..mainly as a captain.bt i hav taken a drop year after my grad(current) for mba prep which is quite sound.As mentioned earlier,IIM A is ruled out..but what about others..N would dis drop year n d percentages affect my chances in top B schools??
    ur suggestions r valuable n instill confidence..plz reply 🙂

    • Eeshita, The percentages are good stop worrying about them, it is IIM that has lost a good candidate who can balance academics and extracurriculars. Drop year does not matter, every year there are students who enter IIMs after dropping a year. You have a good chance in all other IIMs and other top B schools if you ensure a good score in CAT.

  1026. Hi Sir

    thanks a lot for all the help you are giving….i know this question has been asked several times but i still just wanted a help…

    tenth 87% (CBSE Delhi)
    10+2 75% (CBSE Delhi)
    B.Tech 87.52(Gold Medallist)
    CFA L1
    Excellent Extracurricular with 2 time Zonal Gold Medallist
    I am scoring around 95 in mocks but fear that the academics and ” General Male Engineer ” tag wont land me anywhere even with good percentiles….not able to concentrate due to it..need your help for the same..

    Thanks in Advance
    Anurag

    • Anurag, your academics are great do not worry about it. Also over 80% of IIM entrants are Male Engineers, in any case you cannot change your gender, so stop worrying and focus on your preparation.

  1027. Sir, I have a below average academic background and need some advice. I have scored
    81% in Secondary Examinations — West Bengal Board.
    64% in Higher Secondary Examinations — West Bengal Board
    78% in B.Tech(West Bengal University of Technology).
    I have a total work experience of 4 years.I worked in the telecommunication sector(Huawei Telecommunications) as a network engineer for a year and then moved on to Information Technology(Wipro Technologies) as a web developer and have been there for 3 years.Here during my stint in the securities and capital markets domain , I became interested in the functional aspect of business and wanted to do an MBA in Information Management.

    I gave cat in 2008 and scored 91%ile ,2009 79%ile and 2010 96%ile .Then I started fancying my IIM chances and in search of that elusive 98% ile+ score, I enrolled in CL this year and the classroom coaching has indeed helped me immensely in improving my QA. I am trying very hard and hopefully will be able to bring a 98%ile+ score this year or the next.But here I came to know that IIMs will be very difficult for me due to the current selection criteria. Honestly , I have no extracurricular activities to showcase and my academics is also very poor.So can you shed some light if I will be able to get admission to the new IIMs or colleges like SPJIMR,MDI Gurgaon,IMT Ghaziabad or NITIE if I manage to secure a 97 – 98%ile. I am in serious dillemma right now whether to pursue this avenue because for me the opportunity cost is very high and everybody around is suggesting that I give up my MBA dream since my profile is very detrimental to my chances.

    • Dhrubajyoti, this should be your last attempt for IIMs and given you background I would suggest that you focus only on IIM A, B, C, L, I and K. the difference between a 98 ande 99%ile is reducing one error so you are not very far from the desired score. You should also target XLRI. if you are not abloe to get thru to these institutes take GMAT and go for a 1 year MBA program in ISB or outside India.

  1028. sir,
    i’ve got 91% in 10th and 86% in 12th, and am currently at a score of 71% in the second year of my graduation. kindly let me know which iim’s can i hope to shoot in. plus my mock score has been declining since the first mock from 90 percentiles to as low as 49. please suggest what to do

    • Rishab, from eligibility point of view since you have more than 80% in 10th & 12th, all IIMs are open to you. Suggest that you take a break form papers for a week, analyse all the Mocks you have taken so far, identigy the important questions, revise them a couple of times and then take anotherr mock.

  1029. hi
    sir i scored 73% in 10th,56% in12th and 75% in my graduation ( nautical science )from mumbai university.can i get IIMS on my academic. sir,training in merchant navy as deck cadet wil count as work experience or not.please reply me……

    • Aman, IIMA is ruled out based on last years crirteria of school & college performance. On needed 80% in at least 2 out of 10th, 12th and Graduation.
      Deck Cadet in Merchant Navy would not counted as work experience if it was part of your graduation else it will be.

  1030. And Sir I would also like to add that I will be giving CAT after 2-3 years. Also sir do I have any chance in XLRI Jamshedpur

  1031. Respected Sir,
    I am a student of the 5 year llb student studying in a national law university. Currently I am performing quite well in my college academically along with decent participation in various extracurricular activities. Sir however the biggest glinch is that I have below average academics during my school days both in my 10th and 12th standard. Sir I am really passionate about marketing and therefore I want to get into top B-school .Along with my friends , I are also plannig to start a entreprenuerial venture . I am also giving my Company secretariat exams. Sir I am really worried about my prospect of getting into a decent B- school as a lot of B- schools have started emphasing on past academics. I am already disqualified from IIM-A, IIM-B and various other IIM’s considering they do not change their selection criteria which is likely , so I heard. Sir I will be really grateful if you could help me out as I am really worried about my future. Thanking You

    • Aditi, While IIM-A and B do focus more on academics, they are exceptions and most of the other good B schools do not give it such a high weightage for example the other IIMs, XLRI, FMS, IIFt etc. Suggest that you focus on ensuring good marks in graduation and since you have at least 2 years before taking CAT it is possible that IIM-A and B would change theire criteria.

  1032. Sir currently i am in 3rd year cse from govt. college in west bengal. I want to know that how can I improve in the verbal ability section of MBA. Though I am a regular newspaper reader and have studied 13 years in an english medium school yet I am feeling nervous about that one section. Also what are the minimum no. of correct answers I have to give to get more than 99 percentile in CAT 2013.

    • Niladri, Since it is CAT 13 for you, start reading books also from different authors and current affairs magazine. Dn’t worry, it is not a difficult section. In CAT you can get 99%ile by attempting 45-50 questions with 42+ correct.

  1033. Sir iam studying Mba 2nd year In some Pg college affiliated to some state University as this is not worthy in getting a job so i decided to take cat this year is my mba degree a drawback in interview?

    Is the Interview panel makes it a negative point of my mba to join in iims for pgdm?

    please help me sir?

    • Dheeraj, this is not a disqualification but an explanation will be required in the interview. There are many students who after completing 1 year from a B school (IMT, IIFT, etc.) go to the IIMs so uyou need not worry. Please focus on CAT and you college studies at this point of time, we will tackle this issue in Nov-Dec.

  1034. Hello sir,
    Your success path is truly inspiring.

    I scored 90% in X ,73% in XII and 71% in B.tech from some pvt engg. college in West Bengal.

    I have 30 months of experience Tier 1 IT company.

    But i have a gap of 2 yrs between my XII and engg. as i was seriously depressed and was having some financial issues at home also.
    I really wonder if there is any hope for me to get into IIM A ,B or C.
    Kindly help me sir.
    Thanks

    • Neeraj, IIM-A may not be possible, not because of gap of 2 years but due to the fact that you have less than 80% in 12th and Graduation, all the other IIMs are not a problem at all. Please focus on your preparation and we will discuss the gap year when you get the call, it is very easy to handle.

  1035. Sir,
    I have been a good student in school, with 90% in 10th, 89% in 12th. Having secured a rank of below 100 in IITJEE, I am now a student of IIT Bombay. But due to several problems (health etc), I am now on an extension of an year. I have grades of 7.3. I have been trying MockCATs and I generally have a percentile of 99.9. I have an aptitude for such competitive exams and I believe it shows in my performance. But should I even hope for calls from any IIMS given my extra year in B.Tech. Would like to know if I should even have a little hope. Your advice would be very valuable.

    • Saurav, extra year at IIT will be questtioned in the Interview, however it can be handelled easily. Many student who put in an estra year or dropped a year make it IIMs everry year, stay focussed on your preparraton. You will make it.

  1036. sir iam an average student igot 66.2% in 10th,73.5% in 12 th 62% in graduation and 75% in p.g is there any hope for me? in recent cat
    mock test iam securing above 97%tile

    • Sumit, IIM-A is ruled out in case they use the same criteria as last year because you scored less than 80% in 10th, 12th and Graduation. However all the other IIMs are open for you. A 97%ile in the Mock CATs would typically result in around 99%ile in CAT and you have a very good chance of getting calls from IIMs.

  1037. hello sir,
    your story is very inspiring. I have a sound academic profile. Had a score of 92% in Xth ICSE board,but then i opted to pursue diploma in computer science. My aggregate score in 3 years of diploma is 85%. I later did my B.E in computer scirnce and my c.g.p.a is 9.5.
    through campus recruitment i was selected to Mercedes Benz and currently working with the company from past 2 months. Will i be allowed to take up CAT as i have not studied 12th? waiting for your reply.

    • Sushma, you are eligible because the eligibility criteria for CAT and the IIMs states that the candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree, with at least 50% marks or equivalent CGPA.

  1038. SIR,
    NOW I AM WORKING IN BANK OF INDIA AS A CLERK AND DOING BA ECONOMICS FROM IGNOU AND HAVE SCORED 84 & 85 IN 10 AND 12.I AM PLANNING TO APPEAR FOR CAT .DOES MY GRADUATION BY DISTANCE EDUCATION WILL BECOME A HINDRANCE IN GETTING AN ADMISSION TO THE IIMS.AND HOW ABOUT MY 10 AND 12 SCORES.I AM FROM SC CATEGORY. PLEASE HELP ME SIR.please give a reply sir

  1039. X- 80%
    XII- 70%
    B.E- 55%(rt nw m in last year)
    n i wnt to be in gov jobs or defence job
    how would i procees thru IIM exam?
    basically what is IIM exam n hw i wl apply to ths jobs thru ths exam plz help me out

    • The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are the most prestigious business schools in the country. The selection to the 13 IIMs is based on a two-fold process – a common admission test (CAT) which is aptitude based, followed by a GD-PI for shortlisted candidates. Students passing out of these colleges get some of the best placements and pay packages in any profession. However, if your interest lies in Govt/Defence jobs, you should consider taking up Civil Services. You will find more information on this exam and jobs that it will lead you to at careerlauncher.com/civils

    • IIMs/MBA lead you to careers in the private sector primarily hence if your preference is for Defence or Government then you should not be appearing for MBA entrance exams.

  1040. SIR,
    NOW I AM WORKING IN BANK OF INDIA AS A CLERK AND DOING BA ECONOMICS FROM IGNOU AND HAVE SCORED 84 & 85 IN 10 AND 12.I AM PLANNING TO APPEAR FOR CAT .DOES MY GRADUATION BY DISTANCE EDUCATION WILL BECOME A HINDRANCE IN GETTING AN ADMISSION TO THE IIMS.AND HOW ABOUT MY 10 AND 12 SCORES.I AM FROM SC CATEGORY. PLEASE HELP ME SIR

    • Unni, Graduation from distance education will not be held against you, infact this might be an advantage in the interview stage. Your 10th & 12th scores are good and will improve your chances. Since you belong to SC category and have very good school performance, you can expect calls from all IIMs even at 90%ile score. Due to you work pressure you will need more tie to prepare, hence please start preparing for CAT 13 immediately.

      • thank you very much sir ur guidance was of great help for me.I will give due importance to your advice and start preparing.

  1041. Sir, my academic background is as follows,
    X- 73.8%
    XII – 95.4%
    Grad – 86.6%
    Have many achievements, and currently i am working in company(3 months) .
    i am scoring constantly in the range of 92-95% in mock cats.
    What are my chances of getting into IIM’S ???
    Will my 10th % be an hindrance to get into IIM’S ???

    • Ravi, Your 10th marks are history and you cannot change them but since your performance in 12th and Graduation is good it would not be a problem. On the contrary, your not so good performance in 10th could help you in the interviews. Let us discuss this when we start PDP.

  1042. Hello sir….My profile is worse than what you mentioned……..i have no achievements in life….10 , 12 engg all below avg, but still i know that i am an Mba guy…..i am feeling much motivated after your article….i cant imagine myself getting into IIM with damn poor profile….sir i am not getting good marks in mocks and i am not even worried about it…..am i overconfident …or should i start worrying?

    • Start preparing, school marks are not a reflection of an individuals ability to crack MBA entance exams. However clearing this paper does require sustained disciplined effort.

  1043. Sir, My academic graph is declining….my 10th score is 84%……12th score is 78%….and B.Tech Score is 59.9% only……sir what r my chances in Top MBA colleges provided if I score above 90 %ile in CAT 2012…..since i hv less than 60% in graudation…..will there be any problem in my Placement in MBA????…..plzz reply sir….i am getting very tensed about this…

    • Ankit, to get into any good B-school (top 30) thru CAT you need to score around 95%ile. However there are good institutes outside CAT that can be targeted like the Symbiosis group, IIFT, NMIMS etc and thru CMAT iin Maharashtra. So cast your net wide, prepare seriously and hope for the best. Your declining scores can be handledvery easily, let us worry about them after in November when you start preparing for Pesonality Assessment.
      Placement in MBA is not determined by you school & college scores but wby what you learned in 2 years of MBA.
      All the best.

  1044. Thank You Sir for those inspiring words.

    I really need to your advise sir. My academic profile is sound. 95% in 10th, 91 in 12th. I am pursuing B. Tech and have a GPA of 9.0. I have been studying regularly for CAT for the past one year. In the Mock CLs, I am regularly getting 95+ percentile but somehow I feel something is lacking in my prep. But I don’t really know how reliable those scores are. How can I improve my chances at getting into an IIM this year?? Please Help..

    • Ankit, First thing first – unlike many others you will not be rejected by any institute on account of poor academic background.
      Typically students who consistently score around 95%ile in CL Mocks end up getting interview calls so history is on your side. Please note that Mock CATs are typically taken by the students who are preparing seriously while CAT is attempted by both the serious and casual hence a 95 %ile in Mocks typically translates in 98-99%ile in CAT. So quit worrying and continue with your preparation, you are on the right track. Set improvement target for yourself, your next target should be to move to 97-98%ile in Mock CATs.

  1045. Sir,
    To be frank enough,i am a kinda mediocre in my acads..with 92% in class 10,77 % in 12..i am pursuing B.tech in information tech. and i am in my 3rd year..my CGPA is something around 6.9 .i was among the top 2 % rankers (what u say as 98 percentile) in WBJEE and was about 98 percentiler in AiEEE..as a result got into a descent Engineering college in kolkata.Apart from all these stuffs i been among those people out in college who love to lead things out and not follow things like d rest of the crowd love to like rabbits..:D For some extra add ons i have worked in Multilevel Marketing industry for about an year and brought about a turnover of 19 lacs through my network…i designing a website for e-marketing…so i think yeahh i do posses some kinda leadership quality in me :D…my thinking process is somewhat different form others…i would love to be start up new entrepreneurship projects after i am done with my MBA.i am planning to join SPJiMR for entrepreneurship week-end program.i have just started my prep for CAT-2013..and not a soothsayer that i can predict things from now…if i score a descent percentile should my profile enhance my possibility of making through top 20 B-Schools ?

    • Anurag, Yes your profile will be helpful in improving your chance of selection in B schools. However most of the time it comes into play only after you have cleared the written test. From a SP Jain perspective, adding Scoial Sector to your profile would be helpful.

  1046. Sir, i need help … I have 86% in tenth and 63% (non medical) in 12th along with 52% in my B.Tech (reason – major health issue)
    I have a lot many extra curricular both national and international level and have always been a leader everywhere. Have marketing experience (18 months) with a pharmaceutical company … and after that have an experience of a year as a research associate – trainee with a KPO … and then have another experience as a probation officer of around a year (current)
    Is there any chance of IIM A ?? (provided i score a 99.99 or a 100%ile in CAT) Also tell which other IIM’s do i have a fair chance in?

    • Shurabhi, based on the criteria used by IIM-A in the last two years you will not be considered by them even if you score a 100%ile in CAT. Looking at your profile, I would say it is their loss. The shortlisting criteria for this year has not been realeased and I would not be surprised if they change the criteria. Let us hope for the best. There would however not be any problem wrt the other IIMs.

  1047. I just cannot believe it!
    its like a shadow story for me the only difference, I am halfway.
    looking forward for a similar IIM remaining half.
    It has given me immense motivation, thank you very much sir.

  1048. Hi sir,
    Your Story is really inspiring. I have a problem.plz give me some assurance on that,sir! I have scored 97%(overall) in class X from West-Bengal Board and 90%(overall) in class XII from that same board and had been 65 th in 10 th standard and 49 th in 12 th standard in all over west-bengal.and also i had been a rank holder(top 10) throughout mah school .but after gettin admission in St. Xavier’s College (Kolkata) mah 1 st year goes well.but in 2 nd year I have just ignored the clg for the sake of my CAT 2012-2013 prep.and as a result mah 2 nd year hasnt gone well.and my college percentage has been decreased to 58% till 2 nd year with some supplies to be cleared.I m a non-engineer.and i have immense number of extra-curriculam activities and achievements throughut my lyf from school to college.I have been also recipient of the Inspire ,Govt of India’s Scholarship for securin top 1 percentile in both of my board exams.So plz plz tell me will my 2 nd year hamper my chance for IIM-A or IIM -B or IIM-C as a non-engineer?.coz r8 now I have just 3 more semester in my hand and the grad percentage wont be reaching 80% + if i will even get the full marks and clear the supplies…so plz plz help me out sir…give some of uor valuable suggestions.I know i have done it wrong in mah 2 nd year in of college after such an academics throughout but plz show me the way to get rid of it for IIMS……….Waiting for uor reply sir:)Thank You Sir.

  1049. Hi Sir,
    I am preparing for CAT 2012 for the last 4 months and working really hard. Inspite of that all my mock CAT scores till date are extremely low. I hardly cross the sectional cut-offs, accuracy and time management are still not good. I am extremely worried about how to improve my scores in the mocks (and hence in the real exam). My weak areas are mainly DI and RC. Inspite of practising quants a lot my score in that section is always way below average. Please suggest something that may help me improve my scores.
    My results: Class 10 – 84.25% (WB board)
    Class 12 – 78.5% (WB board)
    Engineering – 85.5% (WB board)
    Work Ex : 21 months (till date)

    • The criteria to be used for shortlistinmg candidates in CAT 12 has not been announced as yet and so we cannot comment on this issue.

      However, if we go by the criteria used by IIM-A in the last two years, you needed at least 80% in X, XII and Graduation to be able to make interview shortlist. With an 80% in two out of these three, you had an outside chance only. Last year a couple of 100 percentilers did not get interview calls from IIM-A because they had less than 80% in graduation and Class XII.

  1052. Sir,
    I scored 74% in 10th and just 56% in 12th due to my health problem but in my gradution overall score is 71%, is there would be any problem in getting admission in IIM because of this..??? Sir please reply I need your help.. I am feeling depressed due to this..

    • Rudra,

      As I have mentioned in another reply, if IIM-A continues with the shortlisting criteria of CAT 2010 or 2011, then you do not have a chance to make it to IIM-A. However in the other IIMs, this will not be a problem. Also the shortlisting criteria for CAT 2012 will be available shortly and hopefully IIM-A will also change the shortlisting criteria.

  1053. Dear sir ,
    Thank you so much for the confidence bolster post . I was okay okay in academic with 87 , 75 and 75 % in class X , Xii and my engineering respectively . I have work Ex of almost 30 months . Since last 2 years i tried extremely hard to make it to Top B school and to an extent i did . last to last year i let go IIT-k , IIT – R and Symbiosis in the hope that next year i will make it big . Last year turned disastrous and i failed everywhere by whisker and here i am .. In my last attempt , trying to do whatever it takes . Sir can you please suggest how should i streamline my prep for the remaining 3 months to make it to a good college

  1054. Thanks Sir,

    After reading your background, I have found some good hope for me. I was also an average student in my school days as well as in college days with teh percentage of 72 in X and 70 in XII and Aggreagete of 68 in B. Tech. This will be my third attempt for cat, fist being in 2009 with 84%ile, second in 2011 with 89.83%ile (applied to KJ Som and TAPMI, convereted TAPMI but not KJ )so did not go. this time i am hoping for something. Please guide me as to how my approach should be, also i have work ex of 2 years in a IT firm.

  1055. thanks sir… i was an average student in my school academics…i got 70% in tenth & 74%in12th nd in b.tech also i got 72%. but sir i really want 2 study but i didn’t get right criteria 2 study… sir plz help me out.. to wich topic i should give more prefrence nd ihow much time i should give… plz sir can u make a small fixture 2 study….
    if u can i will be thankful 2 u………..

  1056. Thank You sir for sharing ur past experience wid us…actually i found 80% of the things common between u nd me…i m commerce background student..currently pursuing b.com from university of delhi..this year i m appearing for final year..nd also prepared hard for CAT during last year..november attempt is at the peak..hardly 2-3 months more to execute my best performance in CAT exam..at this point of time i feel very uncomfortable as i will be attempting first time…nd i m not so gud at quantitative section..i don’t know how i would make out this year..tell me some measures so that i can deal wit this great exam..lot of people have hopes regarding my career…in my academics i was an average student…hardly got 80% marks in 10th nd 12th…nd now in mocks i m hardly reaching to 60 percentile..pls sir help me out

  1057. thank you sir, I feel revived after reading this story, thank you so much for sharing it with us. We are lucky that you are always there to guide us.
    I am an engineering final yr student (7th sem) and will take CAT 2012 in oct. Although I was a fairly good student in my school days but my aggregate decreased during my engg. I will surely try to improve in my last two sems and will try come out with flying colors in cat-2012, will of course need your support and guidance.. 🙂
    Thank you

  1058. Hi Sir,

    First of all thanks a lot for the motivating story .

    CAT 2012 will be my fourth consecutive attempt. In all the past 3 attempts I have been scoring 89-92 %tile. The only thing positive that I have gained is work exp of 3 years. Sir, this time I would like to make it big. But seeing my past track records I always get de motivated. Infact in all the Mock Cat of CL I am again getting 90%tile . Sir, please tell me what should I do at this point of time .Your suggestion will be highly helpful for me.

  1059. sir,in class 10th my score was 67.4%. in class 12th it was 59.8% but i improved in 3 subjects which increased it to 77%. in my graduation my aggregate is 62%.so will a gap year for improvement in class 12th.affect my chances in getting a good college.
    i need your help sir.

  1060. Thank you SO much, Sir, for sharing your story. It does inspire us to know that we don’t really need to be star-performers from our childhood. Even if the past has been imperfect, the present and future still can be bright… we just need to word hard and smart.

    Thank you! 🙂

  1061. dear sir
    i have a query ….i am a good student,i am currently doing b.tech and my aggregrate is 70% in the acads..and i scored 80% in X and 85% in XII with 95 in maths…sir during these 4 happened proctured CAT test i am not able to score more tham 20 marks…my moral has become too much down…how to improve the performance that i want to now….plzz reply me …

  1062. sir thank you very much for motivating us.sir my educational graph is gradually decresing . i got 90% in 10th but it becomes 57 in class 12. i m a final year mechanical engineering student preparing for cat. will my percentage becomes a barrier in cracking a good college

  1063. Dear Karan,

    Don’t lose heart! If you are regular and focused, things will work out for you. You can look at these college for MAT:
    Institute of Business Management & Research (Bangalore), Pune Institute of Business Management (Pune), Jagannath International Management & Research (New Delhi), Asia Pacific Institute of Management (New Delhi), IILM College of Management Studies (Greater Noida)

    • thank u vry much sir for ur valuable guidance,i will look out for these colleges.Thank u sir nd its an honour talking to u.

    • Hi sir,
      I took cat this year and scored 80%ile in it..I got a call from IMT nagpur and i converted it. I also got a call from KJ SOM through cmat in which i scored around 99%ile and i am in waitlist. I sincerely want to take cat one more time,since i feel i can improve a lot from this years performance.The problem i face is that at present i dont have a job to add to my workex.
      My academic performance: 86.4 in 10th
      71 in 12th and 66 in grad (b.e civil
      I am really targeting iim’s nxt yr.Please guide me through this.

  1064. thanx a lot sir,i have leart many many things frm dis small passage,sir i was also a vry week student nd was failed in class 6th nd 7th and was conditionaly passed in class 9th,in class 10th pre board i got 32% marks nd in maths it was 25% only,but in board i scored reasonably well gettng 77% marks nd in maths i scored 84,in class 11th i tuk commerce nd scored in 12th board 75%.Sir currently im in b.com 3rd year frm jagran college kanpur university,but d thn is dat my aggreegate percntage after combing fierst two years is 48.5%.I was acing for cat dis year but unfortuntly cant get appear in dat,now im gong to give MAT exam,sir can u pls suggests sum gud colleges of MAT.

    • my question is With u GP sir.your story Motivated me deeply as I am recently now in very frustration phase..
      i am ryt now in 4th year,ece branch..
      i had scored 70%marks in my 10 th class xams and badluckily i got only 54%marks in 12th with ryt now my CGPA in B.tech is at 7!!!
      i am very frustrated as i think i DOnt hv the carrer to apply for any good jobs..
      DO u think with such a career ,i would be able to land a job in next future ???
      Also,will this be any hindrance for CAT xams???

      • Ankit, your marks will be an issue for the top IIMs because they give weightage to X, XII and graduation marks. However most of the other top B schools do not have this baggage of school marks and hence admission to these institutes will be possible if you have a good CAT or XAT or SNAP or CMAT scores. In case you are looking at a job immediately after engineering, my suggestion is to prepare and take for GATE’14 since it will be used by some of the PSUs for recruitment.

        • I should have completed my Btech IT in 2011 May, Because of having some arrears i cleared it in 2011 december..and i joined to work in 2013 may. Its almost 3yrs get completed, but i have only one year of work experience and wasted 2yrs. will it affect my dream in gettingin IIM during PI round, will they concern about this

          • Arun 2689, this will be questioned/discussed in the interview but is not a reason of rejection. It can be explained/justified.

        • GP sir, my question is for you,
          My 10th-8.4
          My 12th-96.6%
          just completed my 1st year with an average of 70% from St. Stephens College Delhi
          But when i read a little about iim’s and their criteria, i just couldn’t believe,
          people with 99.9percentile who had any 2 out of 3’s less than 80% didn’t get a call from top iim’s.
          i don’t wish to appear to anything beyond cat, is there a slightest possibility for me to make it to top iim’s??

          • Roby, unfortunately in the last few years the top IIMs have started giving high weight to past academics without normalising the marks across boards/universities/programs. IIM B is the only one that has a normalisation process.
            You can get a call from IIMA if you are among the top 50 applicants (to IIMA) in your academic stream, this should happen at a CAT score of 99%ile.
            For IIM B and IIMC you should target over 99.5%ile. While in case of IIM B has normalisation of academic performance IIMC has marks for gender diversity (for girls) and also does not consider graduation marks for interview shortlisting. Other old IIMs will also need a 99%ile but the new IIMs are possible at a score of over 97%ile.

          • SIr,I have 90% in 10th,86.4% in 12th and a cgpa of 9.3 in my B.Tech.Do I stand a chance of getting into IIM A?

          • Arnav, yes you have a very good chance of getting interview calls from all IIMs with a good CAT score.

          • Sir i m a ca final student completing ca this november…i want to prepare for cat 15
            How shud i strt n proceed…IIM A B OR C are my targets..
            I m used to stdy for long hours..
            Regardin educational qualifications..
            My 10th..91 percntile
            My 12th..81 percntile
            My b.com..60 percentile
            Almost 2yearsof work exp. In a reputed audit firm in Bhubaneswar..and 3.5yrs of full time internship exp. too.
            Are there any chances for me..to get into top 3 iims??
            Pls guide me frnds..i m new to d mba universe…with a strong desire to enter d IIMs…

          • Dear Rohan,

            You have a very good profile. You definitely have good chances of getting selected to top b-schools. Attempt a few past years’ papers (CAT 2004 to 2008, for example). This will give you a feel of these tests. You will then be able to understand what all is required in these tests and which of these areas you need to work on.

    • sir,
      if i get trained for cat exam can i crack xat and get into xlri…..or will have to take a special training for xat.

      • Srikiran, CAT and XAT preparation is almost similar and anyone preparing for CAT is sufficiently prepared for XAT also.

    • Sir i m a ca final student completing ca this november…i want to prepare for cat 15
      How shud i strt n proceed…IIM A B OR C are my targets..
      I m used to stdy for long hours..
      Regardin educational qualifications..
      My 10th..91 percntile
      My 12th..81 percntile
      My b.com..60 percentile
      Almost 2yearsof work exp. In a reputed audit firm in Bhubaneswar..and 3.5yrs of full time internship exp. too.
      Are there any chances for me..to get into top 3 iims??
      I m very good at maths…alwys secured 90 plus in school…and my VA is also at par what my frnds say…but i feel a bit weak in this area..
      Pls guide me Sir..i m new to d mba universe…with a strong desire to enter d IIMs…

    • Hi I want to clear CAT 2015. I want to start preparing from now. I’m a working professional with 4.7 yrs of exp. Can I make it to IIMB. Need your suggestions and tips. Also I’m looking for online coaching schemes as I can’t attend the classes. Please help

      • Shailaja, you can make it to the top IIMs (including B) but my suggestion is that given your work experience you should go for both CAT as well as GMAT and target the 2 year MBA program of IIMs as well as 1 year MBA program of IIMs and ISB Hyderabad.
        Career Launcher has an online program for CAT preparation Smart CAT Cracker Comprehensive Plus, it is available without the books and study material also. For other variants of the program including a pen drive version of the program please click here.

        • Sir I attended one of your workshop. It was really inspiring due to some prior commitment I couldnt ask you a question I had in mind. I have 94.4 % in class 10 95.5% in class 12 . My aim is for cat 2016 . Currently I am pursuing statistics hons from du with an average score of above 70% . Will these graduation marks matter if I want to go for the top iims . I know we need a percentile of 99.5 and above but can this 70% affect my chances of going to iim A B or C. Please do reply. And even if I get a interview call will the graduation marks still matter?

          • Edith, IIM A and C will not be a problem but a 70% in graduation could make IIM B difficult. Once you make it to the interview your marks of X, XII, Graduation do not really matter.

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