All You Need To Know About CAT - Konversations with Karan - Online Courses to Learn Skills for your Job

Narendra Varada

Karan sir with this profile (SSC 75.8 & intermediate 75.4 & btech 60 what chances to get calls from iim Kozhikode

01:25 PM

Karan Kakkar

Hello and Welcome Everyone to this live chat, I am Karan Kakkar, currently a student at IIM Kozhikode

01:27 PM

Karan Kakkar

Please feel free to ask any queries, doubts or any questions that you have regarding CAT

01:27 PM

Narendra Varada

Karan sir with this profile (SSC 75.8 & intermediate 75.4 & btech 60 what chances to get calls from iim Kozhikode

01:25 PM

Karan Kakkar

Hey narendra, well it will be tough with this profile but if you score above 99.80 and gain some quality work experience you can expect a call from IIM Kozhikode

01:29 PM

Sristy Jindal

Hi Karan, This is Sristy

01:30 PM

Akshay Jamodkar

Hi Karan, I am a working professional with 3.5 years of exp....my question is how hard it would be for such an experience to get into IIMs?

01:31 PM

Akshay Jamodkar

My Acad s are above 90% and Work exp is good as well.

01:32 PM

Narendra Varada

Karan sir my profile SSC 75.8 and intermediate 75.4 and btech 60 and no work experience with this profile what percentile get in cat 2017 to get calls from iim c and k

01:32 PM

Sristy Jindal

I am working in TCS and will have 3.5 years of experience when I join a B school with CAT and such exams next year. I am quite skeptical about the placements with this experience. And will it just bring a huge education loan on me without any improvements job and salary wise.

01:33 PM

Akshay Jamodkar

Hi Karan, I am a working professional with 3.5 years of exp....my question is how hard it would be for such an experience to get into IIMs?

01:31 PM

Karan Kakkar

Hi Akshay, this is a common misconception that many aspirants have. An experience of around 3-4 years is perfectly fine and will be to your advantage if you know how to leverage it during your PI round. Although avoid having 4+ years of work-ex in a technical field like IT.

01:34 PM

Akshay Jamodkar

Thank you!

01:36 PM

Akshay Jamodkar

My Acad s are above 90% and Work exp is good as well.

01:32 PM

Karan Kakkar

Then you won't have much problems, see below I have answered your question.

01:36 PM

Abhishek Mahur

I am in my first phase of preparation. 10th 89% 12th 90% B.Com(h) 6.56 CGPA till 3rd sem. What should be my CAT score and what are my chances to score well with average level of aptitude in quants?

01:38 PM

Aman Ranjan

Hi karan,

01:39 PM

Sristy Jindal

But I don't want to be in IT anymore like coding and stuff. I want to learn and pursue management

01:40 PM

Sristy Jindal

I am working in TCS and will have 3.5 years of experience when I join a B school with CAT and such exams next year. I am quite skeptical about the placements with this experience. And will it just bring a huge education loan on me without any improvements job and salary wise.

01:33 PM

Karan Kakkar

Hi Srishty, we have many students at IIM Kozhikode who bagged very good consulting, marketing roles with around 3 years work experience in IT, So it all depends on how you can portray your work-ex in the personal interviews. First focus on clearing CAT and if possible try to make a job shift into MBA related fields like analytics, marketing etc. All the Best!!

01:40 PM

Aman Ranjan

I just completed my graduation and I have scored 9.2 cgpa in 10th, 83% in 12th and 6 cgpa in my graduation with my major in chinese language, literature and cultural studies. By the time of the CAT I will have 6 months of work experience. Can you please tell me my chances for top 5 B-schools???

01:41 PM

Shivangi Parekh

hi karan, my question is, what can be done if one has a gap of 1 full year ? does this create an issue in interviews ?

01:41 PM

Shivangi Parekh

is it ok if i start taking mocks from august ? or should start now even if my 50% of portion is not completed ?

01:43 PM

Karan Chaudhary

Hi Karan, this is Karan but completely shattered, my profile 10th 68%, 12th 78.5%, b.tech 69% 2014 year, lobless since graduation, totally lost and hopeless as I missed bank Po job 2 times by 1 and 3 marks. Which schools should I target and how much %ile I need?

01:45 PM

Abhishek Mahur

I am in my first phase of preparation. 10th 89% 12th 90% B.Com(h) 6.56 CGPA till 3rd sem. What should be my CAT score and what are my chances to score well with average level of aptitude in quants?

01:38 PM

Karan Kakkar

Hi Abhishek, your acads are good except your %tage in B.Com so first try to improve on that. Since you are a commerce grad, you will need to score 98+ percentile in CAT to get calls from both old and new IIMs. In order to gain entry into IIMs you should have a good level of aptitude in the quantitative ability section.

01:46 PM

Hiiiii ..I m Niyati and I m sy bcom student ! Also doing job Nd preparing for cat !! Will you plz suggest me the material name I should prefer Nd other books too !

01:49 PM

Tejas Iyer

Hi Karan, Thank you for being here today and I have been reading all your posts and it has helped me a lot. My profile is 10th - 94,12th - 83.66 and B.Tech - 7.74, just passed out and waiting for my call letter from Cognizant. I am often worried if my profile is good enough or not.

01:50 PM

So Nu

hi karan actually I am completing my 3yrs degree course in 5yrs so I wanted to knw even if I get a very higher percentile in CAT will I receive any calls from IIMs for GD PI and my academic career is not good and even I don't had any work experience so I wanted to know

01:50 PM

Abhishek Mahur

Thank you. I should better start working on Quant.

01:51 PM

Aman Ranjan

I just completed my graduation and I have scored 9.2 cgpa in 10th, 83% in 12th and 6 cgpa in my graduation with my major in chinese language, literature and cultural studies. By the time of the CAT I will have 6 months of work experience. Can you please tell me my chances for top 5 B-schools???

01:41 PM

Karan Kakkar

Well your grad score is on the lower side but an extremely high score in CAT (above 99) will give you a great shot at the IIMs because of your diverse profile. Also IIM calcutta does not considers graduation score in its evaluation so that will be your best bet. All the Best!!

01:51 PM

Narendra Varada

Karan sir my profile SSC 75.8 and intermediate 75.4 and btech 60 and no work experience with this profile what percentile get in cat 2017 to get calls from iim c and k

01:32 PM

Karan Kakkar

Hi, I believe I have already answered your question. All the Best!!

01:52 PM

Shivangi Parekh

hi karan, my question is, what can be done if one has a gap of 1 full year ? does this create an issue in interviews ?

01:41 PM

Karan Kakkar

Hi Shivangi, The interview panel will certainly try to probe you regarding the 1 year gap, If you can justify this gap you won't face any problems.

01:55 PM

Karan Chaudhary

Hi Karan, this is Karan but completely shattered, my profile 10th 68%, 12th 78.5%, b.tech 69% 2014 year, lobless since graduation, totally lost and hopeless as I missed bank Po job 2 times by 1 and 3 marks. Which schools should I target and how much %ile I need?

01:55 PM

So Nu

hie karan even if I get a percentile like 100 percentile in CAT do u think will I get any gdpi call and also a final admission call in any of the IIMs as I am completing my 3yrs degree course in 5yrs and also I don't have any work experience

01:56 PM

Shivangi Parekh

is it ok if i start taking mocks from august ? or should start now even if my 50% of portion is not completed ?

01:43 PM

Karan Kakkar

You should start right now since taking mocks is a lot like taking diagnostic tests, it will help you in gauging your preparations. 50% course coverage is ok, try to solve questions related to areas for which you have prepared.

01:57 PM

So Nu

karan plz if u can reply to my query it will be of great help

01:58 PM

Karan Chaudhary

Hi Karan, this is Karan but completely shattered, my profile 10th 68%, 12th 78.5%, b.tech 69% 2014 year, lobless since graduation, totally lost and hopeless as I missed bank Po job 2 times by 1 and 3 marks. Which schools should I target and how much %ile I need?

01:45 PM

Karan Kakkar

Hello Karan!! no need to be shattered, you have a decent profile and since you missed your targets by 1-3 marks you should stay motivated, there is always next year. I would suggest you to take up a job (Bank PO or any other) and also prepare for CAT, target 99.50+ in CAT. FMS, IIFT would be ideal colleges for you since they give very less weightage to Acads

02:00 PM

So Nu

what are the online test series name one like bulls Eye if any more test series name u can say

02:01 PM

Priyanka Bora

Hi karan

02:02 PM

Karan Chaudhary

Isn't there any chance for IIM?

02:02 PM

Shivangi Parekh

ok.. thank you very much...will start with the mocks soon

02:02 PM

Priyanka Bora

Are Times coaching material enough to crack CAT?

02:03 PM

So Nu

hi karan actually I am completing my 3yrs degree course in 5yrs so I wanted to knw even if I get a very higher percentile in CAT will I receive any calls from IIMs for GD PI and my academic career is not good and even I don't had any work experience so I wanted to know

01:50 PM

Karan Kakkar

Hi, If you can justify the reasons for doing a 3yr degree course in 5 years in the personal interview round you should be fine. Score a high percentile in CAT and try to gain some work-ex or certifications in the meantime.

02:03 PM

So Nu

is their any chance for IIMs even if I score a 100 percentile

02:03 PM

Priyanka Bora

Hi Karan..

02:04 PM

So Nu

plz karan may I know certifications in the mean time mean

02:04 PM

Karan Chaudhary

Isn't there any chance for IIM?

02:02 PM

Karan Kakkar

You will have very good chances for new and newer IIMs but old IIMs would be tough at this profile, for now just focus on scoring a very high percentile in CAT and you would be fine.

02:05 PM

Vishwas Gupta

Hello Karan my acads are 10th-10cgpa , 12th- 84.4% , grad- 80.2%, , and I am a GEM with no work experience. What percentile shall I require to fetch calls from the old iim's

02:05 PM

Vishwas Gupta

Hello Karan my acads are 10th-10cgpa , 12th- 84.4% , grad- 80.2%, , and I am a GEM with no work experience. What percentile shall I require to fetch calls from the old iim's

02:05 PM

Tejas Iyer

Hi Karan, Thank you for being here today and I have been reading all your posts and it has helped me a lot. My profile is 10th - 94,12th - 83.66 and B.Tech - 7.74, just passed out and waiting for my call letter from Cognizant. I am often worried if my profile is good enough or not.

02:05 PM

Priyanka Bora

I enrolled for Times Correspondence + Byju Classes. Can you please tell me Should I go for Times material to crack CAT

02:05 PM

Karan Chaudhary

Thanks for your suggestions

02:06 PM

Hiiiii ..I m Niyati and I m sy bcom student ! Also doing job Nd preparing for cat !! Will you plz suggest me the material name I should prefer Nd other books too !

01:49 PM

Karan Kakkar

Any coaching institute material would be fine, please refer this article https://insideiim.com/99-percentilers-prepare-cat-part-1-quantitative-ability/ for more info.

02:07 PM

So Nu

plz karan may I know u said workex or certifications in the mean time what does certifications in the mean time mean ???

02:08 PM

So Nu

plz karan sir reply

02:08 PM

Vaibhav Agrawal

Hello Karan!! I have completed my three years of 5 year Integrated MSc. course Applied Geology at IIT Kharagpur. I want to ask in which year will I be eligible to give CAT?

02:08 PM

Tejas Iyer

Hi Karan, Thank you for being here today and I have been reading all your posts and it has helped me a lot. My profile is 10th - 94,12th - 83.66 and B.Tech - 7.74, just passed out and waiting for my call letter from Cognizant. I am often worried if my profile is good enough or not.

01:50 PM

Karan Kakkar

Hi and thank you Tejas, Your profile is very good so no need to worry, just focus on scoring high in CAT. All the Best!!!

02:08 PM

Tejas Iyer

Thank you Karan

02:09 PM

So Nu

what are the certifications

02:10 PM

So Nu

hie karan even if I get a percentile like 100 percentile in CAT do u think will I get any gdpi call and also a final admission call in any of the IIMs as I am completing my 3yrs degree course in 5yrs and also I don't have any work experience

01:56 PM

Karan Kakkar

Yes, If you score a 100 percentile you would have great chances at almost all the IIMs. So put all your energy into preparing for CAT, all these things will into picture in the interview round. All the Best!!

02:10 PM

So Nu

what are the certifications

02:10 PM

Karan Kakkar

Refer to this article https://insideiim.com/how-to-get-an-iim-admit-despite-an-average-profile/

02:11 PM

So Nu

k thanks

02:12 PM

Tejas Iyer

Which are the other top b schools who do not give much importance to acad/work-ex

02:12 PM

Amar Amarnath

Hi..

02:13 PM

Vishwas Gupta

Hello Karan my acads are 10th-10cgpa , 12th- 84.4% , grad- 80.2%, , and I am a GEM with no work experience. What percentile shall I require to fetch calls from the old iim's

02:05 PM

Karan Kakkar

Hey Vishwas, you have a great profile. Score above 99.2 percentile and you will get calls from old IIMs.

02:13 PM

So Nu

what are the online test series name one like bulls Eye if any more test series name u can say

02:01 PM

Karan Kakkar

TIME/CL/IMS/ Bulls eye all of them are great.

02:14 PM

Tejas Iyer

Which are the other top b schools who do not give much importance to acad/work-ex

02:12 PM

Karan Kakkar

IIM Calcutta/FMS/MDI/IIFT

02:14 PM

Amar Amarnath

Hi Karan...my acads are 90,91 and 61...2015 passed out ...no work experience upto now. .how much should I score to get into iim...

02:15 PM

Akshay Jamodkar

Apart from IIMs which B schools are good in HRM and administration?

02:15 PM

Priyanka Bora

Are Times coaching material enough to crack CAT?

02:03 PM

Karan Kakkar

Yes, TIME material and mock series if done properly with full revision is enough to crack CAT.

02:16 PM

Sreenivas Venkatesan

i am going to start my preparation now. hardly i get 3hrs daily and weekend i have. i attempted mocks and score totally only 90 around . What should i do now

02:16 PM

So Nu

and another one thing I wanted to know certificate for finance from national stock exchange can I have any time I mean do the exam occur in each and every time from National Stock Exchange and where does center is to be located for this certificate program of NSE as I belong from Assam

02:16 PM

Pratyaksh Mangal

Hi Karan 10th- 93% 12th- 74% Btech- 62% Experience of 15 months, left job in order to prepare. How can I get into a good b-school. What are my chances?

02:17 PM

Priyanka Bora

I enrolled for Times Correspondence + Byju Classes. Can you please tell me Should I go for Times material to crack CAT

02:05 PM

Karan Kakkar

Byju provides very good material as well, Try to complete their material before going for TIME.

02:17 PM

Vaibhav Agrawal

Hello Karan!! I have completed my three years of 5 year Integrated MSc. course Applied Geology at IIT Kharagpur. I want to ask in which year will I be eligible to give CAT?

02:08 PM

Karan Kakkar

You will be eligible in the final year of your graduation.

02:18 PM

Akshay Jamodkar

Apart from IIMs which B schools are good in HRM and administration?

02:15 PM

Karan Kakkar

MDI, XLRI, TISS are all great for HR.

02:20 PM

Priyanka Bora

Thank you.. karan

02:20 PM

Akshay Jamodkar

Thanks a lot Karan :)

02:21 PM

Sreenivas Venkatesan

i am going to start my preparation now. hardly i get 3hrs daily and weekend i have. i attempted mocks and score totally only 90 around . What should i do now

02:16 PM

Karan Kakkar

Keep practicing, refer to this article for more info https://insideiim.com/99-percentilers-prepare-cat-part-1-quantitative-ability/

02:21 PM

So Nu

karan sir as u have said iim Calcutta , IIFT and MDI does not give much important to academic scores and work experience so I wanted to knw that which MDI is that is it MDI DELHI or else MDI Murshidabad

02:21 PM

Priyanka Bora

But the question given in coaching material are enough to crack CAT with a percentile above 99.5?

02:22 PM

So Nu

and another one thing I wanted to know certificate for finance from national stock exchange can I have any time I mean do the exam occur in each and every time from National Stock Exchange and where does center is to be located for this certificate program of NSE as I belong from Assam

02:16 PM

Karan Kakkar

Hi just refer to the website https://www.nseindia.com/education/content/nse_certification.htm you will find all the info.

02:22 PM

Priyanka Bora

But the question given in coaching material are enough to crack CAT with a percentile above 99.5?

02:22 PM

Karan Kakkar

Hi, do extensive practice using mocks and then you would be able to score above 99.5.

02:25 PM

Priyanka Bora

Thank you.. Karan

02:26 PM

So Nu

which MDI is that karan sir u are talking about

02:26 PM

Pratyaksh Mangal

Hi Karan 10th- 93% 12th- 74% Btech- 62% Experience of 15 months, left job in order to prepare. How can I get into a good b-school. What are my chances?

02:17 PM

Karan Kakkar

Well your acads are on the lower side. You will need to score very high in CAT preferable above 99.5, please refer to the following article for more info https://insideiim.com/how-to-get-an-iim-admit-despite-an-average-profile/

02:27 PM

So Nu

karan sir as u have said iim Calcutta , IIFT and MDI does not give much important to academic scores and work experience so I wanted to knw that which MDI is that is it MDI DELHI or else MDI Murshidabad

02:21 PM

Karan Kakkar

Hi, MDI Delhi is better than MDI Murshidabad.

02:29 PM

So Nu

thank u karan sir

02:31 PM

Karan Kakkar

Any final questions anyone??

02:31 PM

Tejas Iyer

Which score does jbims accept

02:32 PM

Amar Amarnath

Hi Karan...my acads are 90,91 and 61...2015 passed out ...no wor MNk experience upto now. .how much should I score to get into iim...

02:33 PM

Sreenivas Venkatesan

Hi Karan 10th- 95% 12th- 94% Btech- cgpa 9.44 NoExperience . can I get into a good b-school. How much shud I score sir?

02:33 PM

So Nu

karan sir another one thing I wanted to knw do FMS give importance to only the students who get completed their graduation from Delhi university ?? me I am asking because I belong from a non engineering background

02:34 PM

So Nu

karan sir plz reply dis question

02:35 PM

Amar Amarnath

Hi Karan...my acads are 90,91 and 61...2015 passed out ...no wor MNk experience upto now. .how much should I score to get into iim...

02:33 PM

Karan Kakkar

Hey Amar, your Acads are good except your grad marks, try to score above 99.50 in CAT for a shot at old, new and newer IIMs.

02:35 PM

So Nu

karan sir another one thing I wanted to knw do FMS give importance to only the students who get completed their graduation from Delhi university ?? me I am asking because I belong from a non engineering background

02:34 PM

Karan Kakkar

No, There is no such thing.

02:36 PM

Sreenivas Venkatesan

Hi Karan 10th- 95% 12th- 94% Btech- cgpa 9.44 NoExperience . can I get into a good b-school. How much shud I score sir?

02:33 PM

Karan Kakkar

Amazing acads, a score above 98.5 and you will have a great chance at a lot of top b-schools.

02:36 PM

So Nu

FMS doesn't give importance to work ex and academics ryt ??

02:37 PM

Achal Shrivastava

If you go to IIM C website in batch profile it says that 91.4% are from engineering background and just 3.9% from commerce, I myself being a commerce student these data disheartens me a lot, can you tell the exact reason for such figures Sir.

02:37 PM

Achal Shrivastava

If you go to IIM C website in batch profile it says that 91.4% are from engineering background and just 3.9% from commerce, I myself being a commerce student these data disheartens me a lot, can you tell the exact reason for such figures Sir.

02:37 PM

Karan Kakkar

It is only because more engineers crack CAT and IIM Calcutta keeps a very high CAT percentile as a cutoff criteria, All the IIMs want to improve academic diversity so don't worry.

02:39 PM

Amar Amarnath

Thank you very much...meet u in khozikode next year

02:40 PM

Tejas Iyer

Which score does jbims accept

02:32 PM

Karan Kakkar

Changing its admission process again after a gap of one year for MMS 2017-19, JBIMS has clarified that qualifying exams for admission to MMS 2017-19 are CAT 2016 / MH-CET 2017 for domestic candidates and for foreign nationals and NRIs the qualifying exam is GMAT taken on or after Jan 2013. Please ask any current or past JBIMS student for more info.

02:41 PM

Amar Amarnath

Thank you very much...meet u in khozikode next year

02:40 PM

Karan Kakkar

Haha, All the Best!!

02:41 PM

So Nu

FMS doesn't give importance to work ex and academics ryt ??

02:37 PM

Karan Kakkar

Yes, Its admission process does not carries any marks for acads and workex.

02:42 PM

Karan Kakkar

Thank you and All the Best Everyone!!! I will be holding these chats every thursday so will talk to you then.

02:43 PM

So Nu

is their ny online Help for those who are facing some problems in the QA PART

02:44 PM

So Nu

sir plz reply to this last Q of mine

02:45 PM

So Nu

is their ny online Help for those who are facing some problems in the QA PART

02:44 PM

Karan Kakkar

refer to the website www.cat100percentile.com, All the Best!!

02:46 PM

So Nu

thanks sir

02:46 PM