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CET topper: 'I was very focused about what I wanted to do'

Scoring 199 out of 200 in the Common Entrance Test is no easy task. But Shagun Shah, who stood first in this year's CET in the medicine category, begs to differ.

A studious all her academic life Shagun studied not more than six to eight hours every day to achieve this feat. Of course, she upped her work hours once she finished her Class XII exams in March this year.

Shagun spoke to rediff.com about her success mantras, her preparation strategy, college life and how she cracked the CET.

Cracking CET: It was very difficult to crack CET because it is not like the Class XII exams. In HSC (Class XII) once you learn something you don't have to know much. But CET is all about applying logic; you have to keep on practicing. Especially in physics, biology and chemistry you have to keep on solving lot of questions.

So CET was a lot of hard work.

Preparation strategy: I would study for more than six to eight a day, with breaks every two hours. The study duration increased once I finished my Class XII board exams.

I followed exactly what my teachers told me to do. Whatever questions they asked me to solve, whatever study notes they gave me, I studied all of them very thoroughly.

Success mantras: I always wanted to be amongst the first 100 CET toppers when I started to prepare for my Class XII boards. So I was very focused about what I wanted to do.

Ambitions: I want to become a cardiologist. I always wanted to become a doctor since my childhood.

Hobbies: I didn't get enough time during my Class XII but I like to play badminton, listen to music and watch television.

Inspirations: My parents and my four teachers. Vipul Sir, Harshal Sir, Vengsarkar Sir and Gude Mam.

Scores in Class X and XII: In Class X, I scored 94.71 per cent and in HSC I scored 90.5 per cent in PCB (physics, chemistry and biology) and in CET I scored 199 out of 200.

Enjoying college life: I enjoyed my college life fully in Class XI as I had nothing much to study. Once I entered Class XII I reduced my enjoyment time and started focusing on my studies.

Happy moments in college: Not too many because I didn't attend college much but I remember we all girls (friends) sitting out in the college campus and eating all the time.

Feelings after the news broke: My teacher called me to inform about it but I didn't believe that I really stood first. So I went and checked again. I was totally shocked that it was my name right at the top. Now, I am very happy about it though.