Be it the day of the CAT or be it when the final admit results come out it is not easy to be a mentor — on one hand you are happy for students who crack the exam and get admitted and on the other hand you feel sad for those who have a bad test day or fail to convert. The toughest thing was always to meet a student who was happy, knowing that the one waiting outside was sad. So with the years, one develops a certain equanimity since one cannot be so happy that one is not able to empathize with the ones who are having a hard time and one also cannot get so bogged down by sadness that one cannot partake in the joy of the successful.
In some cases students just disappear, somehow they take it very personally, that they have failed, they have failed even after reading all the blogs and attending all the sessions, they feel almost as if they have let me down. And I am left wondering, whatever happened to that guy, that girl. The others thankfully come down to meet me or reach out to me through the blog comments even if it is just to feel lighter instead of heavy and burdened.
There are two things about cliches — they are dead boring since they have been repeated so often but at the same time, they are also true, so are all the cliches about failure, I won’t repeat them but I will attest that they are true.
In one of the recent posts, I spoke about how everyone has to face a test and how heroes in myths are defined by overcoming obstacles. The thing about myths is that they rarely show heroes failing at a task spectacularly. But if we look at real-life successes, almost every spectacular success has had a big failure or inability as well. I am not linking failure to success or calling it a pre-requisite.
All I am saying is, everyone fails, so do not go beating yourself about it.
There is nothing to be gained from self-flagellation
The first reaction understandably is to hit oneself with an emotional whiplash and of these, the worst one is — I am useless, I am not smart enough, I suck, I do not have the skills to crack this exam, no matter what I do it will not change a thing.
Firstly, I will be happy if you are telling yourself all of these in anger rather than through a bucket of tears since anger with oneself can be a very good motivator.
But whether you are telling yourself these things through anger or through tears, you need to quickly move from “I suck” to I suck at this particular aspect of CAT, from being emotional to being strategic.
- This was the first time I took an entrance test, and I was overwhelmed by it
- My reading speed was the biggest hindrance when the paper became tough
- Before the test, I did not talk myself through what I was going to execute during the three sections
- Before the test, I did talk myself through things, but everything went out of the window once the test started
- I did not hunker down and solve 2 DI sets but flitted from set to set
- I could not solve moderate QA questions from Arithmetic; my level plateaued at easy questions
- My technique to solve evaluative RC questions was not really up to the mark
My favourite story about dealing with doubts about one’s ability is Brian Lara’s answer when questioned about being McGrath’s bunny (he has got him quite a few times). Lara did not talk about the number of centuries he scored against Australia or his single-handed manhandling of a peak Australian team over an entire series; all he said was, “Someone has to get me out sometime, right?”
Evaluate the extent of damage and your options and view things in proportion
The right lens to view things should not be through your success or failure at CAT but in terms of your prospects of doing an MBA from a premier B-school.
Just like the extent of damage in a war varies across the various battlefronts, the damage, if any, to your MBA dreams, varies across different profiles.
Who are the aspirants who are the worst hit?
Those who already have 4 years of work experience and had a horrible CAT are the worst hit since another shot at the CAT and the 2-year MBA is effectively ruled out; they only have the rest of the exams in this season to make it count. (It is not that you will get rejected, you can still get an admit into a 2-year program but the number of recruiters looking at a 5-year profile will be fewer; you will still be able to get the career growth you are looking for in your domain)
Those who have three years of work-ex will still have a shot at the CAT next year but to stay close to the average profile in a b-school (having 4 or more years of work-ex will make the profile a bit of an outlier) they should crack one of the remaining exams in this season.
Those who have 2 or fewer years of work-ex have nothing to worry about as far as their IIM-MBA dreams go — they are well and truly alive. You can still get there, not when you wanted to and in the way you wanted to but you can still get there.
Some of you might wonder whether you have the energy to take another shot. Well, you do not have another option.
Roger Federer played from 2012 Wimbledon to 2017 Australian Open, 17 Slams, without winning a single slam, being stuck at 17, losing to players who were not in the same league as him. At every single slam during those five years my friend and I would talk, just before the semis or finals, about how well Fed was playing, the new things that he was inventing — the SABR (Sneak Attack By Roger) — and as usual the crazy points in the matches until then, only for him to lose in semis or finals again.
There were articles asking why he was still playing. I was supporting him saying that it need not be #1 or nothing, as long as he is easily making finals and semis and believes he can win he should play since he is still ranked in the top 4 and since unlike in a team sport, he is not delaying a transition or eating into the prime years of a youngster. In effect, I had mentally ruled out the chance of him winning again, I was happy that he was competing well.
Federer is great not because he has won 20 Slams but because he believed in himself so much, believed in himself through four years of heart-breaking failures, four years of aging and his body breaking down in 2016, while others were catching up with him.
I am sure no victory tasted sweeter to him than the 2017 Australian Open when he finally won a Slam again. (I have never felt more elation at the end of a sports match than while watching him win the 2017 Australian Open)
All of you are so young! This exam season is still young! And you have enough time to acquire the skills your skills to crack the CAT at another shot (if required).
Cut all the negative voices out of your head, your own voice, and that of your parents as well, if necessary (since all most Indian parents seem to care about is the timing of your wedding and how another CAT attempt affects that).
They will release the paper with your response soon and based on that we will release a tool to calculate your score — this can cause another meltdown. It is never easy to actually see the marks if you know you did not do well. Do not try to find out, let the results come out when they come out.
Some of you might be raring to smash the other tests to smithereens, and others might be feeling out of gas and motivation to pick yourself up.
The latter, please give yourself a break, do the things you like to do, eat the things you like to eat, and relax for the rest of this week, restart next Monday.
There is little you can do right by pushing yourself without a break or a good rest and being a bunch of ragged nerves.
Getting ready for the next event
It is not easy to crack the test on your first or second attempt unless you are on the top of your game for at least 10 to 15 mocks with additional reserves to handle a tougher-than-usual paper. I cleared the test on my second attempt.
Even those who have set their sights firmly on the old IIMs will be taking a few more tests, at least the XAT. Now that you have the CAT monkey off your back, go ahead full-throttle on these other tests.
Even if you have decided on another shot at the CAT and IIM-A, take the other tests you have registered for seriously, crack a final admit, NMIMS, SIBM, or XL, and then reject it. — achieve something this season and set yourself higher goals for next year.
Some of the comments to this post are very good, and some of you might find an echo of your performance, current state, and questions in them.
P.S: The picture with this post is not of Federer but of Marin Cilic (crying) after he lost the 2017 Final to Federer.
“Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.”
The CAT Writer 
So well written sir
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Hi sir,
Thank you for this post. This was my first crack at the CAT, and it is unlikely to fetch me the calls I set out to get (ABCL/FMS). I have 17 months of work experience under my belt, and I was hoping to secure an admission to my dream schools this season because I’ve understood what I want to do with my career (operations or general management) and my current role as a software engineer is miles away from it.
Before the CAT, I was super certain that if it doesn’t work out this year, I’d dive straight into another attempt. Now, however, I’m a little unnerved by stories of repeaters having let go of decent admits and not being able to match their old percentile in their second attempt. Is there a way to ensure that I make it to the IIMs in my second attempt? How did you prime yourself for a retake?
At the moment, I’ve directed my focus onto XAT and want to do well at it as you suggested.
I am certain that I have to get into an MBA program by 2026, and have a GMAT score of 730 (classic edition) as a backup plan for the next year.
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Hi A,
You are in a good place since you have a GMAT Score under your belt and only have 17 months of work-ex.
I think not just ABCL but I & K also provide great prospects. There is no reason why you will not find your dream jobs there. The focus should always be dream jobs not dream schools!
As far as the second attempt goes, I had a very simple strategy in mind — work on things that I suck at — all areas apart from Arithmetic and Geometry, both of which I was good at. I did not overprepare. I focussed on my prep solely on taking mocks and becoming a complete all-rounder as far as my skills on all areas are concerned.
There will always be stories of those who do well and those who miss out. What we never know is the details. So it is always better to focus on our story!
Hope this helps,
All the best!
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This one is for the 3/4 years of experience candidates who didn’t do well in CAT.
Those with three or four years of experience who experienced a terrible CAT although it’s not the end of the world, I do believe that it would be preferable to drop out of the two-year program for the reasons listed in the article. Instead, they can now concentrate on other courses offered by prestigious universities like ISB or even pursue executive MBAs at prestigious IIMs. Those with financial resources at their disposal may also consider choices overseas. Therefore, don’t give up; there are still much better things in store for you 🙂
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Hello Tony Sir, I figured from your previous post that you do reply to students from the comments . I am in dire need of an advise I have 3 years of work experience (GEM from a Tier-1 institution)as of now and this was my last attempt at CAT this year so I wanted some advise that should I try for 1 year ISB PGP or lower IIM’s (If I make the final selection cut).My main motivation to MBA wasn’t just getting a Job but more of a process that helps in the long run due to the kind of atmosphere that’ been built at A. I really need some suggestion sir .
Thanks.
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Hi,
I think the focus should be on the colleges and exams that will give you the platform for kind of career you want to build. While the culture at A is quite well-known, it is not that any of the other schools are any lesser, especially all the other old IIMs. My students with stellar pre-MBA profiles who wanted only A,B, C joined other old IIMs at my insistence and have written posts on this blog telling everyone else how it was way beyond their expectations.
My advice would be to decide on whether to join this year after the results are out. You can post a query with the options you have and I will get back. If nothing great comes out of this attempt then ISB-PGP is a fantastic option along with a few other 1 -year programs.
Hope this clarifies,
All the best!
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Hey Sir!
– 2022 B.Tech Grad.
– Working as a General Manager in a family firm. (June’22 – Ongoing).
Not sure about result but looking to get into one of the holy trinity. Is it worth to appear for it next year.
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Hi HT,
If you get into any of the old IIMs or any school that will give you a platform for a great career, go ahead and join.
Else, there is every reason to go for next year.
Hope this helps,
All the best!
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Sir, I am 25 right now if I join in 2026-2028 batch, I am 26. Is it too old for IIMs.
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Not at all, Tanay. Don’t worry about it.
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I screwed up. I screwed up big. I have cat 2024 and I had prepared well,I prepared to the full of my capacity,I never missed a class,or a lecture, or a mock. I gave simcats and takehomes and sectionals and I gave all I had, but I scored terrible,worse than anything I possibly could have after all this preparation. VARC I considered my strongest,I couldnt gather good accuracy in it and hance failed,in Dilr I dont know what happened,I just couldnt solve,i dont know,I kept trying but I couldnt solve, I randomly guessed to 8 TITA questions and got a 0 in this section,I failed! By this point I was so overwhelmed I couldnt do anything in quants,for first 20 minutes I just sat there,on the verge of a meltdown,I wanted to cry,but I didn’t,the last 20 minutes I tried really really hard to solve some easy questions. The questions I had practoced 20 times at home,I just couldnt do it there,and I had planned a proper strategy and curated that mindset that i am gonna stay calm but i didnt,I couldnt. Anytime I think about how majorly i f**ked up,I am in tears,even now,while reading your post a month later,I cried. Help me sir,please,I need to get back to my zone and give my cent percent in xat. Please help!
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Hi,
Really sorry to hear what happened in the exam with you. Sometimes we do not know why it happens but the brain goes into. a lockdown mode. It happened to my in the second year of engineering with my favourite subject engineering mechanics. I practiced a lot and went to a special tuition as well. In the exam I came completely unstuck, we had to solve 5 questions our of 10, each one for 20 marks. I could not solve even one question completely and ended up failing with 27 out of 100. It meant that I would not graduate with distinction despite having the requisite overall percentile.
Till date I do not know exactly know why it happened. I think it was over-preparation. I had solved way too many problems than necessary: similar problems with different numbers without really understanding the larger concept behind it. I was too caught up in the steps. When the time for the re-exam came and for all problem solving subjects after that in engineering I really focussed on the quality of my prep asking my self: am I blindly solving endless number of questions? have I understood this? can I move on?
That mindset held me in good stead for the rest of my engineering years. I was just focussed on really understanding what was happening once and for all and stopped solving the same question over and over again. I wanted to move the focus to my intelligence rather than my commitment.
The other thing one should always tell oneself in life is s**t happens once in a while (the law of averages) and move on. Not blindly move on of course but knowing what changes need to be made and them moving on to execute them.
It happens with the very best and it happens despite the very best of intentions. Sometimes it is because with the very best of intentions we overdo things.
I hope this helps.
All the best!
P.S: Incase after you restart you are finding it tough to concentrate just google Sudarshan Kriya and practice it.
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Hello sir,
I have attended plenty of the workshops and masterclasses that you have conducted. This year, I gave it my all to cat 2025. I left my job (in hindsight, I know now that I shouldn’t have), I attended every single session, worked hard, at least I thought I gave the preparation my all. I’m from a design background so getting back into contact with math after a gap of 4 years was hard, but I tried my best. Then cat 2025 happened, and I messed up. Big time. Varc was my strong point, had gotten above 30 consistently in all my mocks. Dilr and QA were weak spots but I kept practicing.
Our response sheets released today and except VARC, which I did a little okay in, I tanked the other 2. I messed up badly. I’m writing this after having bawled my eyes out for the past 2 hours. I am feeling very lost and scared. I am not really sure what to do, I know I should prepare for the upcoming exams, but it’s too hard after seeing such horrible marks. IIMs were my dream and aim, and now it just feels like it’s all gone. I feel like all my aspirations came crashing down as soon as I saw my marks.
I didn’t know what else to do and then I remembered, that I had asked you during a workshop if we could reach out to you on your mail and you told us that any questions we might have whatsoever, we could reach out here and you would help out, since you answer queries here within a day.
I don’t really see any other way out, so I thought I should try this.
In desperate need of some guidance.
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Hi R,
I am not sure if this is your first all out attempt or second one. The thing with the CAT is that I know very few people who have cracked it on their first serious attempt.
Back in the day when I was preparing, we were all a bunch of super hard-working folks but only one of us made it in the first attempt. All the rest of us made it in the second attempt. I myself was expected to crack it first time round but I knew it the moment the paper ended that I had blown it, the QA section was a disaster.
The most important skill set to have in life is to focus only in the things you can control. Your decision to quit your job or your performance on the CAT are in the past.
This might be the toughest test that life has thrown at you and it’s in these times that you need to really stand up. If life has been harder and you have pulled through tougher times then you know you have can weather this storm as well.
For the rest of this week give yourself the freedom to feel every thing you need to. Let out all the emotion, reset and start on Sunday.
Remember, you need to crack just one exam and get into a good college that will give you a good break. Career is way more important that college and in the long run any of the colleges within a band will give you a great headstand.
There is still everything to play for.
Hope this helps,
All the best!
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Yes, sir, this was my first serious attempt. I feel really torn about trying to decide between if I should start looking for a job, or give CAT next year as well, or do both. Getting into an IIM is something I know I can achieve. I just don’t understand what I should do right now. I have NMAT SNAP and XAT exams coming as well, so I’m not even able to give myself time to sit and think rationally and deal with what just happened with this exam. This failure is really hitting hard. I don’t mean to sound repetitive, but I’m seriously looking forward to any advice you could give. Thank you.
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Hi R,
The first thing to carry from this attempt is what you have learnt – concepts, techniques and test-taking strategies – and figure out exactly what went wrong. The CAT is an exam where you have to execute all three perfectly: choosing the right questions, solving them efficiently with the right technique and having enough conceptual knowledge to be able to score against different kinds of deliveries and bowlers.
After my first attempt I knew exactly what was wrong: I was a one-trick pony in Quant, I knew a bit of Arithmetic and nothing else and in a 50-question section I got exposed when there were fewer Arithmetic than usual in my exam year. So I set about fixing that part and getting over my phobia/dislike of all the other areas (barring Geometry, which I liked) in Quant.
You have to do a similar dissection/debriefing and the precise reasons you failed. Did you select perfectly, did you allocate time correctly, was your technique flawless? Or was it that in all your practice you were memorising patterns but not really learning to solve unique questions?
The better you are able to dissect what went wrong the easier it will be for you to move on. This will be a bigger test of your intelligence and strategic capabilities than the CAT itself.
After you do this your task is clear: next few months focus on the non-CAT exams. Once done with XAT start looking for a job.
If you get an admit into one of the good colleges, great! Else take another shot while working, knowing that you know what it takes.
You need to work and prep if another attempt is needed. Sitting and home all day and only prepping for CAT means that you have developed no skills in your first attempt. Most people doing long-term prep don’t prepare to get better at specific things, they prepare mechanically, they prepare out of guilt.
Hope this helps,
All the best!
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