HYDERABAD: Celebrations are in store for the weekend for B Sekhar Anand, who scored a nearflawless 99.99 percentile in the Common Admission Test.
The 22yearold thinks the key to cracking the exam lies not in cramming but using available time judiciously.
"As my work schedule leaves me very little time at the end of the day, I used to study for five to six hours over the weekend. Having appeared for CAT twice previously, it hardly took me two months for brushing up my basics," says Sekhar.
His work experience gives him an edge over others. "IIM Ahmedabad says it gives more weightage to those who have work experience. But others like IIMBangalore consider merit, especially performance throughout school and college. It is more important to get a call than bothering about admission criteria," says the trade analyst with Futures First, a financial services company.
Was the quantitative ability section easier for him considering his work experience and BTech degree? "In quant, IITians or BTech students might have an edge. However, it is balanced out by the verbal section where those from the Arts background tend to score better," says the IITGuwahati graduate.
Sekhar has already begun his preparations for the group discussion and personal interview rounds by listing out possible questions.
"Anything one says can be questioned by the panel of interviewers and it is important to have a thorough knowledge of current events," he says.
Considering the increase in fees for IIMs, Sekhar plans to fund his education partially through loan and from his personal savings.
His success and Sankranthi promises to make it a good weekend. "My parents are happier than I am. Since my grandparents are here, the festive spirit will bring a 'sweet' celebration," Sekhar signs off.