How CAT 2024 Topper Mani Chilukuri Achieved 100 Percentile On First Attempt Through Self-Study – News18

Last Updated:December 26, 2024, 11:29 IST

Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Mani Praneeth Chilukuri topped the CAT exam on his first attempt. His dream is to secure admission to the Young Leaders Programme at IIM or ISB Hyderabad

IIM-Calcutta announced the CAT 2024 results on December 19, with Mani Praneeth Chilukuri, a B.Tech (CSE) student from IIT-Bombay, securing a perfect 100 percentile. Remarkably, Mani achieved this feat on his first attempt through self-study, reflecting his dedication and focus. His ultimate goal is to join the prestigious Young Leaders Programme at IIM or ISB Hyderabad.

Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Mani is a multifaceted individual with interests in sports, music, films, and photography. Academically brilliant since childhood, he secured outstanding ranks in JEE Mains and JEE Advanced 2020. Here’s how he managed to score a perfect percentile in the CAT exam through self-study.

Mani has consistently excelled in academics. According to his LinkedIn profile, he ranked 32nd in JEE Mains 2020 and 47th in JEE Advanced, following which he joined IIT Bombay for a B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE).

In an interview, Mani revealed that his preparation for CAT was not extensive. He began focused preparation only a few weeks before the exam, balancing it with his job and other commitments. His philosophy emphasised staying calm, composed, and focused during exams, which he credits for his consistent performance in competitive tests.

Mani prioritised understanding the CAT exam’s pattern, syllabus, and structure through YouTube videos. He then solved past years’ question papers to familiarise himself with the exam format. He attributes his success to his ability to remain calm under pressure and systematically approach the exam.

Section-Wise Preparation Strategy

Mani’s strong mathematical foundation gave him confidence in this section. During the interview, Mani also shares his strategy for the exam:

Verbal Ability And Reading Comprehension (VARC)

• Focused on taking notes while reading passages.
• Aimed to deeply understand paragraphs rather than relying on guesses.
• Prioritised interpreting the meaning of the passage accurately.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

• Maintained a calm and composed mindset to simplify problems.
• Focused on identifying patterns quickly.
• Solved problems systematically with clarity.
• Balanced accuracy with speed through regular practice.

Quantitative Ability (QA)

• Staying calm to avoid silly mistakes under time pressure.
• Solving questions systematically and with precision.
• Leveraging familiarity with concepts to solve questions quickly without compromising accuracy.