Manish Gautam

Converted IIM - A,B,C

I had joined CL test series for CAT 2018 preparation. The online UI was very interactive and was constantly updated. The feature that makes CL student portal distinct from others (yes, I tried others too) is that as the number of test takers increase over the months, they keep updating your percentile score. Even though this does not give the exact preparedness level of your competition, this is, without doubt, the best and accurate tool available in the market at present. Others leave out a major portion of competition (those who did not write the test during the window) or their evaluation is overtly extrapolated. In my opinion, CL test series gives a very close look at your current performance and points out your weaknesses.

Coming to Gautam Puri Sir. I had one day received a call from CL Pune (in mid October or so), saying that they were holding a session for test series students. Contrary to my laid back attitude, I decided to attend the session. I had thought that this would be a big session with large number of participants. I was again in for a surprise. There were just six of us called for the session.

Anyway, moving on. Gautam Sir was particularly very interested in each candidate's individual performance in each section. This opened room for discussion on our scope of improvement. The discussions helped me boost my marks from constant 140s to constant 150s. This, I can say with absolute confidence, happened because I did not try anything other than what Gautam Sir had recommended. He also shared his personal phone number which I went on to use till one week before the examination. His tips during my conversation with him in the last week proved to be of major strategic advantage in CAT 2018 examination. My major fear of silly mistakes and the belief that this problem cannot be solved made me feel helpless all the more. Gautam Sir's strategic approach & solution to this prevalent problem was not only unique and fruitful, but it gave me back my confidence over an insolvable conundrum. This has been the highlight of CAT 2018. My confidence was at an all time high during the exam. Even though, I screwed up badly in the DILR section, the onus of under-performance is on me alone. Anyway, all is well that ends well. I am fortunate to have been favorably chosen by IIM A, B & C for admission to the incoming batch of 2019-21. A major credit goes to Gautam Puri Sir & CL team. This could not have been possible without your help. Thank you.

I know I have written a lot that you could not possibly write in a testimonial. But I have only written what I have felt all this time and that, all of it is true. You guys don't receive a lot of appreciation for the work that you do. But you deserve it. So this thank you is for you for always being the helping hand for students year after year working silently in the background.