Strategy articles from someone who has sat the exams and been through the process recently — CAT 99.92 percentile, GMAT 725, ISB PGP Co'28. No generic advice. No recycled content.
When I was coaching Priya — a CA at a Big 4 firm, 92 percentile stuck across 4 mocks — the first thing I asked was: how many DILR sets are you attempting?
"Four," she said. "Sometimes five if the last one looks manageable."
That was the entire problem.
DILR has 20 questions across 5–6 sets. Most students believe the strategy is linear: attempt more sets → more questions → higher score. The data from 60+ mock reviews says the opposite.
The math is clear. If you attempt 4 sets at 60% accuracy, you get roughly 12 questions right. If you attempt 3 sets at 90% accuracy, you get around 18 right. The second approach — fewer sets, fully executed — consistently scores higher. The issue is psychological: skipping a set feels like leaving marks on the table. But the marks you lose by half-completing an attempt are worth more.
In the first 5 minutes of DILR, do not answer a single question. Read the opening line of every set. Classify each one:
Commit to your 3 sets before you begin. Execute them in full. Do not start a red set mid-way through a green one. If you finish early, revisit the reds.
She applied this in her next mock. DILR went from 81 percentile to 94 percentile in one attempt. She attempted 3 sets, completed all 3, got 14/15 correct. The previous pattern: 4 sets, 11/20 correct.
On the actual CAT, she scored 98.1 percentile — a 5.7 point jump from her average mock score. XLRI BM admit followed.
Before your next mock: write down which 3 DILR sets you're committing to before you begin. After the mock, compare your accuracy on completed vs abandoned sets. You'll see the pattern immediately. Selectivity + execution beats volume + scramble — in DILR and in every other section of CAT.
I'm ISB PGP Co'28. I went through the process — essays, application, interview — and since graduating I've helped 11 students get into ISB. Here's what I've learned from both sides.
A high GMAT. A brand-name employer. An impressive job title. A clean academic record. These things help. They're not the differentiator. ISB receives thousands of applications from people who have all of them. They're a baseline, not a decision criterion.
Clarity of purpose. Not "I want to grow as a leader." ISB wants: where you've been, what you've learned, and why an MBA at ISB is the logical next step — with evidence. The more specific the reasoning, the more credible it reads.
Evidence of leadership — in any context. ISB doesn't require management roles. A team lead who took a product from 0 to 1 is more compelling than a VP who ran quarterly reviews. The question is: did you make something happen?
Intellectual engagement. Essays and interviews test whether you think carefully. They're looking for candidates who ask hard questions about their own field, who have formed considered opinions.
Most ISB essays read like LinkedIn profiles. They summarise what the person has done — without revealing who they are. ISB's essay questions are designed to get past the resume. "Describe a time you failed" doesn't want a polished redemption arc. It wants genuine reflection. The best essays surprise the reader — with honesty, specificity, and a voice that couldn't have been anyone else's.
ISB's average GMAT is ~700–710. Scores below 680 face headwinds. But I've seen 680-scorers get in and 730-scorers get rejected — because the essays and interview either compensated for or undermined the score. The score gets you through a filter. Everything else gets you the admit.
I've done both. CAT 2025 at 99.92 percentile, GMAT Focus at 725. These are fundamentally different exams, and the choice between them matters more than most students realise.
CAT is speed-first, accuracy-second. It tests how quickly you can process information under extreme time pressure. DILR has no real equivalent outside India. VARC at CAT's pace requires very high fluency.
GMAT Focus tests deeper reasoning at a measured pace. The Quantitative section is harder conceptually — multi-step logical thinking rather than computation speed. The Verbal section rewards careful analysis over pace.
Take CAT if: IIMs are your primary target, you have strong speed and pattern-recognition instincts, or you have 6+ months to prepare. CAT rewards volume of practice.
Take GMAT if: ISB is your primary target and you want flexibility for global programs, you have strong analytical reasoning but struggle with time pressure, or you've attempted CAT twice without breaking through.
Take both if: ISB is your dream but IIMs are a serious backup, you have 6+ months, and you're genuinely prepared for simultaneous prep. I did this — it's demanding but viable.
Most students start thinking about their MBA profile after they get their CAT score. That's 6 months too late.
Your CAT score gets you interviews. Your profile gets you admits. These are different things that require different preparation — and the profile work takes significantly longer.
Adcoms evaluate five things: academics (can't change), work experience (partially changeable), extra-curriculars (highly changeable), leadership evidence (changeable), and your story (entirely within your control). Most applicants focus on what they can't change and neglect the four things they can.
Month 1–2: Document everything. Write down every project, every impact metric, every responsibility from your current and past roles. Most people are sitting on compelling profile content they haven't articulated. The goal is to understand what you already have before deciding what to add.
Month 3–4: Fill one specific gap. After a profile evaluation, you'll usually have 1–2 clear gaps. Pick the highest-impact one. For engineers with no leadership story, this might be leading a small team initiative. For finance professionals, it might be a structured pro bono advisory role.
Month 5–6: Build your narrative. Why MBA? Why now? Why this school? These three questions need specific, evidenced answers. The best MBA essays take more time than most people allocate. Start early.
Trajectory, not title. Adcoms are not counting years or evaluating job titles. They're asking: is this person growing? Is the complexity, responsibility, and impact of their work increasing? A 2-year career with clear upward trajectory is more compelling than a 5-year career at the same level. Document yours — and make it visible in your application.
Submit one question about your profile, prep, or application. I reply to every serious question by email — for free.
Usually answered within 48 hours. No spam, ever.
I'll reply to within 48 hours. If your question genuinely needs a full session, I'll tell you that — and why.