From a 9-to-5 Job to CAT 99.75%: Arnab Das on Why PW Marathons Are a Game-Changer

Cracking CAT while working a full-time role at a company like Visa is a feat of discipline. Arnab Das, an NITK Surathkal alumnus, didn’t just pass the exam; he dominated it with a 99.75 percentile overall and a staggering 99.82 in LRDI.

Arnab’s journey highlights why PW MBA Wallah has become the go-to choice for serious aspirants. Here is how the PW ecosystem helps students turn high-pressure preparation into a success story.

Arnab Das’s CAT Journey: From a 9-to-5 Job to 99.75 Percentile

Arnab had already appeared for CAT once and scored 99 percentile, a score many aspirants dream of. Yet, he felt he had underperformed in VARC and Quants on exam day, preventing him from reaching his full potential.

This time, while working at Visa for over 2.5 years, he decided to refine his preparation with a more structured and realistic approach.

“Is saal hopefully acha chala gaya… maine aapse padha hai LRDI aur Rahul Bhatla sir se padha hai Quants.”

Instead of quitting his job, Arnab chose to optimize his preparation around work, relying on focused study windows and high-yield resources.

Why Arnab Didn’t Quit His Job for CAT Preparation?

Like many working professionals, Arnab initially wondered whether quitting his job was necessary to crack CAT. However, he soon realized that the right resources matter more than long study hours.

PW’s marathon sessions played a crucial role here. These long-form, intensive classes allowed him to cover entire chapters in one sitting—often late at night after work.

"I feel sir ki aap job ke saath hi kar sakte ho kyunki jaise aap logo ka YouTube ka marathon session chalta rehta hai... Job ke baad ek ghanta do ghanta baith ke dekh bhi loge, thoda practice kar loge, thoda mocks de doge to I feel wo sufficient hai."

This shift—from “quitting” to balancing—became the foundation of his preparation strategy.

How PW’s Practice-Focused Approach Helped Arnab Score 99.82 Percentile in LRDI?

Continuous practice and solving a diverse range of sets became the core of Arnab’s journey to a near-perfect 99.82 percentile.

He realized early on that, unlike other sections, LRDI is highly unpredictable and does not follow a fixed syllabus or offer shortcuts. To master it, he relied on the wide variety of sets discussed in PW sessions, which helped him build both logical thinking and mental stamina.

“LRDI pe main sirf practice hi bataunga. Wo actually practice se hi aata hai. Koi special formula ya jugad nahi hota.”

Even though Slot 3 was lengthy and calculation-heavy, this disciplined practice helped him secure a 99.82 percentile in LRDI.

Section-Wise Refinements That Improved Arnab’s Overall Score

Arnab didn’t rely on LRDI alone. He fine-tuned his approach across sections:

VARC: Elimination Over Guesswork

Instead of searching for the “perfect” answer, he focused on eliminating incorrect options, reducing silly mistakes and traps.

Quants: Speed Through Small Processes

In Quants, he learned to break problems into small, repeatable steps, ensuring most questions were solved in under 60 seconds.

This shift dramatically improved his speed and accuracy under time pressure.

Making Complex CAT Sections Simple: The PW Faculty Approach

For many, Quants and LRDI are the biggest hurdles. Arnab explains that the teaching methodology at PW focuses on efficiency rather than just solving the problem.

• Feature: Shortcut Methods & Time Management.

• Behavior Change: Shifting from 4-minute manual calculations to 60-second logical shortcuts.

• Result: Being able to attempt more questions under the high-pressure 40-minute sectional limit.

"Rahul Bhatla sir bahut easy kar dete hain kyunki maine kiya hai... saare problems hi almost 50-60 seconds mein karte hain. Unse padh sakte ho," 

says Arnab. He emphasizes that in Quants, where you only have about 100 seconds per question, learning these "small processes" is the difference between an average and an elite score.

Why PW Mocks and Practice Are Central to CAT Improvement?

Arnab’s jump to a 99.75 percentile wasn't just about watching videos; it was about the rigor of the PW practice ecosystem. He highlights two specific strategies that worked:

1. The Elimination Strategy in VARC

Instead of falling for "trap" answers, Arnab used the logic taught in class to filter out wrong options. "Pehele jo galti karta tha VARC mein, wo tha ki main pehle correct answer dhoondne ki koshish karta tha... humein dhoondna chahiye ki kaunsa option nahi hoga. Pehle option ko kaato aur phir answer pe jao."

2. The "No Formula" Logic for LRDI

Scoring a 99.82 in LRDI requires more than memorizing steps. Arnab advocates for the sheer volume of practice sets provided by PW.

Essential Practical Tips for CAT 2026 Aspirants from Topper

For those starting from scratch or considering a retake after a disappointing result, Arnab offers a practical roadmap:

• Don't Chase Motivation, Chase Routine: Use the late-night hours after work to watch marathon sessions and practice DPPs.

• Mock Frequency: "Mocks do, mocks bahut saara do aur practice karte raho," is his primary advice. Mocks aren't just for testing knowledge; they are for building the temperament needed for exam day.

• Don't Lose Heart: If you had one bad sectional but know you have the potential, don't be afraid of another attempt. "Dil chota nahi karke fir se exam do, ho hi jayega."

Arnab Das’s journey proves that CAT success isn’t about having 10 free hours a day. It’s about using the two focused hours you get after work with the right strategy, practice, and mentorship.