An interview with Chirag Aggarwal, CET 2014 Topper

Student Silhouette
‘Time management is the
key to succeed in the CET’
Briefly tell us about yourself.
I am a production engineer, an avid reader and a tennis
enthusiast. I completed my 12th in Science. Watching my
father in the manufacturing industry, I was always intrigued
with the process and technology, so I decided to get an
engineering degree and get some training at the factory
simultaneously. Shifting base to Kolkata after graduation
gave me a new perspective. I realised I wanted to start my
own business and so the thought of doing an MBA seriously
set in.
CET 2014 topper
CHIRAG AGGARWAL
says solving as many questions
as you can in the CET is essential
for getting a competitive score. In
an interview with Puja Shah, he
talks about how he prepared for
the entrance, his biggest hurdles
and how he overcame them to
top the CET.
Why did you decide to pursue an MBA?
Self growth and career prospects are the two main reasons.
Getting my MBA from one of the best institutes in India will
help me unlock doors in the future. Even though I belong to
a business family, I believe an MBA is very important. Times
are changing and the business environment has become
global and very complex.
I decided to do my MBA in India primarily because you
can get a better MBA here at a fraction of the cost of what
you would spend if you went abroad. Indian institutes have
produced some of the finest MBAs consistently. There is no
reason for me to look elsewhere.
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Did you expect to do so well?
I had been consistently scoring well in my IMS simulation
tests. But the actual CET was a very different scenario, and I
was a little nervous. I did expect to score above 140 since I
got the toughest slot, but that’s it. Luck was on my side and
I topped.
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How did you prepare for the test?
I had begun preparing for the CMAT since September 2013,
but the CET was announced as the test for Maharashtra
colleges, I had to shift my focus, as I was targeting JBIMS.
I went through two grammar books, various vocabulary
building exercises, solved my coaching class material
diligently and focussed intensely on the mock tests. I
had a “mock test every 2 days” plan, wherein I solved
one test every 2 days and spent a lot of time analysing
my performance. I had a daily schedule of solving an RC
everyday, working on my calculation speed and reading
extensively. I studied for two to four hours everyday and
gave another four hours to the tests and their analysis.
Advanc’edge MBA May 2014
student silhouette
What was the biggest hurdle in your test
preparation and how did you overcome that?
Getting into JBIMS is very tough. Because of the
quota and limited number of seats, I was eligible
for only 27 seats out of 120, and there were
around 50,000 students competing for those 27
seats. So, making myself believe that I would get
into the college I wanted if I worked hard enough
was my biggest hurdle.
In the initial stages of preparation, there is a
lot to learn - basic things, vocabulary, getting to
know various question types, grammar rules, etc.
All this is a bit enervating. But the key is to push
through.
from plan A.” I made a commitment to get into
JBIMS, no matter how tough that would be. So I
focussed on the CET alone.
What’s next after topping the CET?
I am planning to do an internship in sales and
marketing since it is a new field to me. I have
already started looking for companies where I
could get the best learning experience and further
hone my skills.
Your advice for other candidates?
My advice would be to set high standards for
yourself. Give 100 per cent and the results will
take care of themselves. You should have a
strong belief in your own capabilities. For the
CET — make a study plan and divide it into small
measurable goals. I had a small diary in which I
wrote everything I had to do on a particular day.
It was helpful in measuring my progress and
boosted my confidence. A
Which institute was your first choice?
My first choice has always been JBIMS. It has one
of the best returns on investment and an amazing
alumni network. The faculty and industrial
experience which we will get will be unmatched.
They call it the “CEO’s factory”. With such a name
who wouldn’t want to study there!
How did you find the CET?
The CET is like a deck of cards. You never know
what cards you will be dealt. Though the kinds
Which section, according to you, is a decider in
of questions asked are similar to those in other
the CET?
exams, what distinguishes the CET is the number
Time management, and not any particular section,
of questions and the time available. You have to
is the key to succeed in the CET. At times, I would
be quick — not only in solving a question but also
be stumped by the RCs, sometimes by the quant
in deciding whether to attempt it or not. Some
based questions and sometimes by the logical
students get caught up in a particular question set.
puzzles. You never know
They feel that since they
what the exam might
have invested sufficient
THE C.E.T. IS LIKE A DECK OF
throw at you. The issue
time in a question set
CARDS. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT they should persist
isn’t whether you get a
CARDS YOU WILL BE DEALT.
particular question set
further. This is a recipe
or section right, but
for failure. The CET will
it is maximising your
always have difficult
score and that means focussing on solving as
question sets placed deliberately to unnerve the
many questions as possible. Making the time to go candidate. The key is to avoid such traps and
through all the 200 questions is the key and will
focus on the other questions.
definitely improve a score by 10-15 marks.
How important do you think training centres like
How did you stay abreast of what is happening
IMS are in helping students crack tests like the
around you?
CET?
I’m an avid reader, and read anything and
I think it is great because they bring out the
everything under the sun. The only criterion is
best in us. They provide us with study material,
that it should be interesting. Reading helped me a
practice sets, challenging quizzes and simulated
lot. In the CET, I got a passage on inflation which
tests which are replicas of the actual exam. What
I read in seconds and answered the questions
more can you ask for? And the best part is that
with ease. This was possible only because of my
everything is online these days, so you can study
extensive reading on that topic.
from the comfort of your home.
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What other exams did you take?
I strongly believe in what Will Smith said, “There’s
no reason to have a plan B because it distracts
Advanc’edge MBA May 2014