SNAP Topper Aniket (SCMHRD) on Strategy & Time Management
Aniket Ghoshal (MBA – Human Resources) SNAP Percentile: 99.73
Interviewer: Dr Rav Singh
Preparation and Mocks
Dr Rav Singh: SNAP is a critical exam, especially if CAT doesn’t go well. Considering the short prep window, what was your approach after CAT?
Aniket: I started preparing for SNAP alongside CAT from around June, and then intensified the focus with mocks from mid-September. My strategy was to tackle one mock every two to three days.
Dr Rav Singh: How many mocks did you take for the exam?
Aniket: I gave around 20 to 25 mocks in total.
Dr Rav Singh: How many attempts of the SNAP exam did you take?
Aniket: I personally took all three attempts for SNAP 2024.
Dr Rav Singh: Which attempt proved to be your best?
Aniket: I can’t recall the exact score, but the best percentile I achieved was based on my second attempt.
Exam Strategy and Cutoffs
Dr Rav Singh: How did you manage the 60 minutes without sectional timers, as SNAP is famous for its time pressure?
Aniket: SNAP truly tests time management since there is no sectional timer or cutoff. My order was: Quant first, then Logical Reasoning (LR), and finally Verbal. I kept a buffer for Verbal, aiming to dedicate about 10 minutes to it, knowing that Quant and LR required more time to solve questions.
Dr Rav Singh: You’ve mentioned Quant. How did you approach your weakest area, Algebra?
Aniket: My strategy for Quantitative Aptitude, especially with my weaker area like Algebra, was to make smart guesses or to only pick questions that I was confident I could solve in two to three minutes. There is no point in picking up tough questions and wasting valuable time.
Dr Rav Singh: How important is mock analysis for improving your score? Aniket: Mock analysis is crucial. You need to identify two types of mistakes:
- Silly Mistakes, which can be corrected easily.
- Lack of Conceptual Knowledge, for which you need to revisit and study the topic before attempting the next mock. If you do this, your score will definitely improve.
Dr Rav Singh: Did you give any other MBA entrance exams?
Aniket: Yes, I also gave the CAT and SNAP.
Final Advice
Dr Rav Singh: What is your one golden piece of advice for all SNAP aspirants?
Aniket: I would stress on two key things: Time Management Skills and Mock-Intensive Practice. These are essential not just for SNAP but for acing any examination.
