He failed 15 competitive exams before cracking CAT at 99.86 percentile

 Soumil Saxena, a St Stephen’s College graduate, faced setbacks in more than 15 competitive examinations, including three UPSC Civil Services attempts and CAT 2023. He eventually cleared SSC CGL and SBI PO in 2023, working as an SBI Probationary Officer for nearly two years. While balancing banking responsibilities, he resumed CAT preparation and scored 99.86 percentile in CAT 2025. His journey ultimately led to admission to IIM Ahmedabad, highlighting resilience, persistence and the value of adapting after failure. Soumil Saxena, a St Stephen’s College graduate, faced setbacks in more than 15 competitive examinations, including three UPSC Civil Services attempts and CAT 2023. He eventually cleared SSC CGL and SBI PO in 2023, working as an SBI Probationary Officer for nearly two years. While balancing banking responsibilities, he resumed CAT preparation and scored 99.86 percentile in CAT 2025. His journey ultimately led to admission to IIM Ahmedabad, highlighting resilience, persistence and the value of adapting after failure.