Many aspirants aim to crack the CAT exam. There is a journey filled with self-doubt and sleepless nights behind every success. Shouvik Chatterjee is among the CAT toppers that has inspired many. He is a determined aspirant who has turned failure into success. From shutting down his startup to scoring 99.43 %ile in CAT 2024 within four months. His story reveals how self-belief and hard work can transform everything. Read to know more about the CAT topper journey. Discover all the key strategies that helped him score 99.43%ile in the CAT exam.
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Who is CAT Topper Shouvik Chatterjee?
Shouvik Chatterjee was an entrepreneur before becoming a CAT aspirant. In August 2024, he decided to shut down his startup. It was a hard time for him. He gave his all to build something meaningful. That’s when he joined iQuanta’s last batch to begin his preparation journey. He started from ground zero with almost no preparation time. His story started in August 2024. By December 2024, he achieved the 99.43%ile in the CAT on his first attempt.
The Turning Point: From Startup Failure to 99.43%ile in CAT 2024
Shouvik had only four months when he began CAT prep. Aspirants often spend almost a year or more to prepare well. This made him feel more intimidated. He remembers thinking, “How could I ever catch up?”. But he did not let that fear hold him back. He lived by one simple mantra: “Karm karo, phal apne aap aayega.” It was his daily reminder. He concentrated in the first 30 days. He focused on Quant. It is one of the difficult sections in the exam. He covered the entire Quant syllabus in just 1 month. This helps him build a confident mindset. He formulated a simple study plan. It involved:
- Practice VARC, Quants, and DILR every day
- Attempt a mock every two days.
Shouvik gave 45 full-length mocks and 25+ sectional mocks over the next 4 months. But his mock test scores were not encouraging. He remembers that his scores were consistently disappointing. His average mock score was nearly 45 marks. It broke his heart. There was a time when he almost gave up dreams of IIM. He was not satisfied with his mock scores even a week before the exam. He thanks Vikrant Kathuria Sir for encouraging him in his low phases. He revisited important sessions 30 days before CAT. It was Abhishek Leela Pandey Sir’s Algebra sessions and Kamal Lohia Sir’s Arithmetic sessions. Those classes solidified his basics. Things started clicking. He began scoring 25 marks consistently in Quant. It was indeed a big improvement. Something magical happened 15 days before CAT. He revisited Raj Kumar Jha Sir’s advice. It was“Read carefully in LRDI, don’t go for tricks. Go step by step.” That one line was a game-changer. He started scoring above 20 marks consistently in LRDI. His total mock scores were around 65 marks. But knew he needed around 80-90 marks to achieve 99 percentile.
The Miracle Week Before CAT
The last seven days before CAT were challenging. His average score in mocks was 65. This leads to frustration and disappointment 4 days before the exam. But then, something exceptional happened. 2 days before the CAT, his mock scores stood at 90 marks. He was surprised. He had cracked the VARC strategy. His consistent score of 20 in VARC became 40-45. He considered it a fluke initially. So, he took multiple sectional and full-length mocks to gain clarity. But it was really a consistent 40 in VARC. 2 days before the D-day, his total mock scores stabilised between 80 and 90 marks. Then he grabbed the opportunity to perform really well in the CAT 2024 exam. When the results came, Shouvik Chatterjee scored 99.43 %ile in his first attempt. The one who once doubted himself had become the CAT topper.
How iQuanta Helped Reshape His CAT Journey?
Shouvik’s success is about hard work and iQuanta’s guidance. He often shares how iQuanta’s teachers played an important role in his journey.
- Jeet Singh Sir: His late-night application sessions were essential. It helped him to stay confident and consistent.
- iQuanta Faculty: He thanked them for always being available to resolve doubts. They explained concepts in simple ways. This improved his overall preparation.
- iQuanta’s concept videos and mock analysis were also helpful. It refined his strategy and mindset. He learned time management strategies and handling pressure in the sessions.
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