CAT Success Story: Scoring 99.99 percentile in CAT often sounds like a distant dream, especially for students who don’t come from a “perfect” academic background. But for Himanshi, this dream became a reality through persistence, the right guidance, and belief in the process.
Here is the story that Himanshi shared with us and fellow aspirants about her CAT journey, including the panic, doubts, and the strategy that ultimately worked.
Table of Contents
The Moment the Scorecard Felt “Unreal”
When Himanshi first saw her CAT scorecard, she genuinely thought she was looking at someone else’s result. She checked it again, only to realise it was hers. The disbelief quickly turned into panic; she describes being in a completely shaken state, even while talking about it later.
She admits she never expected such a result, largely because she didn’t consider her academic profile “strong enough.” She recalls doing well till Class 9, and then feeling less confident as she moved towards Class 10 and beyond.
Where the MBA Dream Came From
Himanshi’s decision to pursue an MBA was inspired by a close family member who had completed his MBA from IIM Shillong. That inspiration planted the idea that an MBA could be the right direction for her.
At the time, she was pursuing B.Com and had also cleared CA Foundation. However, when CA Intermediate exams arrived, she fell ill and couldn’t continue. That became the turning point, she decided to leave CA and focus on MBA.
Finding Direction Through Career Launcher’s CAT Coaching”
Himanshi joined Career Launcher in January, about a year before CAT. She describes her journey with CL as structured and supportive, where she was guided at every step on what to do and how to do it. The structure brought a routine to her daily schedule, packed up with consistency and discipline, helping her score 99+ percentile in CAT.
Regular classes and doubt resolution became central to her preparation, and she repeatedly credits the CL ecosystem for helping her stay consistent. More importantly, she mentions that whenever she had doubts, they were cleared, sometimes even at late hours, because the faculty and team were responsive and supportive.
This steady support didn’t just help academically; it helped her build confidence, especially during phases where CAT felt overwhelming. The mentors and teachers guided here every step of the way
Also read: How CAT Coaching helps build exam discipline
The Toughest Challenge: DILR and the Confidence Dip
Like many aspirants, Himanshi struggled with DILR. She remembers a phase when it felt extremely difficult, and she thought it might not be possible for her.
But she didn’t stop. She continued with the process, and slowly, it started to click. What initially looked impossible became doable, and that shift in mindset became a key part of her journey.
CAT Exam-Day Strategy For CAT VARC, DILR, and QA
Himanshi’s exam strategy was to be calm and practical. She knew what is CAT exam is all about, which a lot of aspirants miss. The exam is not about attempting “everything”; it is about attempting “what is right”
VARC: Start by scanning, then choose what feels doable
- She scanned all passages at the start to filter out lengthy or complex ones.
- She started by reading the opening paragraph to judge readability and attempted only manageable passages.
- This helped her filter the VARC section, allowing her to leave the questions which were complicated and time-consuming.
DILR: Read the set, attempt only what looks solvable
- She applied almost the same strategy for DILR by reading through each set before attempting to identify solvable ones.
- Her Focus was on doable sets and avoiding spending time on sets that did not click early.
- Since DILR section is a little complex, her strategy helped her attempt more questions in the time given.
QA: Confidence through preparation
- For QA, she mostly relied on strong conceptual preparation developed through CL’s coaching classes. The teachers helped her with the doubt resolution and
- She then executed questions with confidence due to familiarity with question types and practice.
Why CL’s MyZone Sectionals Helped Her Handle Exam Pressure
Himanshi shares that she wasn’t heavily focused on full-length mocks, but she was extremely regular with:
- Sectional tests
- Topic tests
- Practice via her MyZone account
She explains that these tests taught her how to handle pressure and made the exam feel familiar, because the practice environment was similar to what she experienced on the actual day.
What She Credits Most: Support System + CL Guidance
When asked what worked for her, Himanshi credits:
- Her teachers for their constant guidance and for resolving each and every doubt.
- Her parents and moral support
- And the structured guidance she received during preparation
From Cheeka to a 99.99 percentile, what stands out is not just her effort, but the way consistent support helped her move from self-doubt to belief.
The Journey Continues: Preparing for the Next Stage (PDP)
Himanshi is clear that CAT is just one part of the journey. She is now preparing for the next stage, WAT-PI and GD, and understands that the process is still ongoing.
Conclusion: Himanshi’s Story Built on Consistency
Himanshi’s journey shows that big outcomes are often built through small, repeated efforts, and through a support system that helps you stay steady when confidence dips. She didn’t begin with certainty; she began with doubt. But through regular practice, guidance, and consistent preparation, she reached a result she once couldn’t believe.
And now, as she moves into the next stage, her story stands as proof that with the right process, belief can be built, one step at a time.
Career Launcher Congratulates Himanshi’s dedication and discipline.
