CAT Preparation 2025: How to Prepare for CAT Exam? – (Tips, Tricks & Study Plan)

 The CAT exam is renowned in India for its competitiveness, attracting thousands of students seeking an MBA at elite IIMs. The CAT preparation comprises a systematic study plan, consistent chapter practice, and regular assessment. While just reading a blog on CAT preparation won’t help you score 90%ile +, this blog will help you start your preparation for CAT 2025 on the right note. It’s no secret that serious CAT aspirants and most of the toppers begin their CAT prep in January itself. This gives them enough time to shore up their weaknesses, increase their pace, and solidify their test-day attempt strategy.

The most common question is, “How can I prepare for the CAT to be considered for MBA admission to top universities?” The key is to follow an organised CAT 2025 study plan that covers critical topics.

Read More: CAT Exam 2025: Date, Registration, Eligibility, Pattern, Syllabus, Preparation Tips, Cutoff

Best CAT 2025 Preparation Strategy 

Remember, everyone has their own pace of learning. But if given the opportunity, you should ideally start your CAT Preparation 2025 12 to 8 months in advance. This includes aspirants regardless of whether they are graduates or working professionals. Learning should be divided into phases, starting with the basic concepts and then moving on to advanced applications, shortcuts, and tricks. 

Before you even delve into your CAT preparation strategy and plan for 2025, you must first familiarise yourself with the CAT syllabus and CAT exam pattern.

Just click on these links to check out the CAT syllabus and CAT exam pattern.

Read More – CAT Syllabus – Section-wise syllabus, important topics, and types of questions

Read More – CAT Exam Pattern – Marking scheme, time limit, and sectional details

Another thing that you should do is take a look at last year’s paper. There were some structural changes introduced in last year’s CAT exam that warrant a closer look. You can find it all here.

Read More – CAT 2024 Exam Analysis – Pattern changes, difficulty level, types of questions

Once you’ve reviewed all the above information and have a good idea of what to expect from CAT 2025, proceed ahead.

Section-wise CAT preparation: VARC 

If past years’ trends are anything to go by, and barring any major overhauls, we can safely expect CAT 2025 to include 24 questions in VARC, with 16 questions on reading comprehension and eight on verbal ability. The mix between MCQs and TITA questions will be around MCQs – 20-22 TITA – 2-4. The reading comprehension section will have four passages of four questions each, each with a verbal ability component. Additionally, there will be questions on para completion, para jumbles, odd ones out, and para summaries. To perform well in this section, it is essential to possess strong English communication skills, including vocabulary and grammar.

Below are a few tips to help you prepare for VARC: 

1. Get to know the underlying meaning: CAT requires accuracy and speed to score well; rather than carefully focusing on each reading comprehension passage, practice reading it briefly and identifying the gist.
   
2. Improve your vocabulary and grammar: Make a habit of reading regularly, whether it’s a novel, a magazine, or a newspaper. As a result, you can expand your vocabulary and improve your reading speed. 
3. Select the appropriate reading material: Choose suitable reading material to help you understand the basics of the verbal ability section. Your material should include grammar and verbal reasoning segments in VA and detailed explanations for every question. 
4. Practice at least 4-5 reading comprehension questions per day: Aspirants should practice as many as 4-5 reading comprehension questions daily. It will help you understand the section better and increase your confidence during the main CAT exam. 

Pro Tip

Familiarise yourself with Reading Comprehension material from quality sources. Try reading essays on Aeon.com or even Politico. Subscribe to editorials from the New York Times, The Telegraph, and The Hindu. You can also sign up for newsletters from The Ken, The Morning Context, and Semafor. All of these provide quality material that will not only improve your reading speed and comprehension abilities but also boost your vocabulary and general awareness.

Read More – MBA vs PGDM – Differences, salaries, jobs, higher education

Section-wise CAT preparation: DILR

Last year, it was DILR that saw the biggest changes. The number of questions went up from 20 to 22. And instead of 5 sets of 4 questions each, there were 3 sets with 4 questions and 2 sets with 5 questions. DILR, while simple at the outset, requires speed, critical thinking, and some mathematical know-how. Ideally, we suggest students practise one DILR set every day as part of their CAT preparation strategy. The DILR section addresses linear and matrix arrangements, family trees, family relationships, coding-decoding, directions, sequence and series, analogy, and syllogisms.

Here is all you need to know about DILR.

1. Practice mock tests: 

      Candidates should practice mock tests regularly to assess their speed and accuracy in attempting the DILR section. They must attempt one topic-wise mock at least once a week in addition to one daily DILR set. Ensure the sets are different every day. Moreover, while analysing your attempt, look at why your approach was incorrect or lengthy. With just 40 minutes to attempt 22 questions, your speed is crucial.

2. Don’t attempt the entire DILR section: 

      Remember this – Your goal isn’t to attempt the full DILR section. Attempting just two sets will get you into 90%ile territory. Focus on getting two sets accurate within the time limit. Once you’re comfortable with this pace, you can work towards attempting more sets. Do not focus on attempting the entire section of DILR.

3.   Develop a strategy for DILR:

      A lot depends on the sets you pick to work with. Become fluent in recognising the difficulty levels of the sets and include questions to know which ones to attempt. Usually, you can expect at least 2 easy sets in the CAT DILR section. You need to know where to leave questions and where to move on to the next set. 

4. Focus on accuracy and speed:

      The DILR section depends on an aspirant’s speed and accuracy in answering questions. Revision and practice of the different DILR sets are essential to increasing speed and accuracy. 

Pro Tip

Not many would tell you this, but even within the same set, the difficulty level of individual questions can vary greatly. Often, after committing to a set, we find it hard to skip tougher questions. Learn to overcome this instinct. You won’t get additional points to work a set completely. The goal is to attempt as many questions from as many sets as possible.

Read more – CAT Score vs Percentile – How much do you need to score to get >90%ile?

Section-wise CAT preparation: QA 

Ah, the notorious QA section. Often touted as the hardest one, the QA section usually ends up with the lowest cutoff score. And for good reason. The CAT QA section, while only using basic math, presents questions that test students’ critical understanding and application of core theoretical concepts. The QA syllabus is largely divided into 5 parts – Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number system, and Modern Math. If you start your CAT preparation early, you should be able to cover the whole syllabus. 

Below are a few ways in which you can excel at the CAT preparation 2025 QA section: 

1. Mock tests are your end-all-be-all: 

Attempt as many sectional mocks for QA as you can. No CAT preparation strategy can be considered complete until you’ve added hundreds QA practice questions to it. Analyse each mock and see why your approach didn’t work. Often, even if you got the answer, the video solution included with every question as part of the IMS CAT coaching program, will reveal a faster, better approach more suited to the fast-paced CAT environment.

1. Begin your QA CAT preparation from the beginning: 

Don’t presume knowledge. Even if we think that the Math in CAT is easier than the one we faced in school or college, we will still get stumped. CAT questions are designed to fool and confuse you. The only way to guarantee accuracy is to familiarise yourself with the vocabulary of quant questions. Start your QA prep right from the beginning, i.e., from 10th standard math.

Read More – CAT Cutoff – How much do you need to score to get into the best programs?

1. Work on shortcuts:

For those looking to simply get through this section, shortcuts might not play that big a role. But if you want to maximise your attempts by saving time, learn and memorise shortcuts to conclude the final answer. Doing this lets you calculate faster and move between questions more quickly. Shortcuts will ensure accuracy in the shortest time possible.

1. Measure the time you take to answer your Sectional Responses:

While practising questions, note the time it takes to solve them and work towards reducing them. By practising more and applying short methods and strategies, time can be reduced. Additionally, what this will help you identify are the questions that burn the most time. These are the questions you should skip during the exam.

Pro Tip

Study the QA syllabus and marks distribution. Map it against your strengths to funnel your CAT preparation strategy towards mastering specific types of questions. For instance, CAT generally gives the most weightage to Arithmetic, followed by Algebra and Geometry. The least weightage is reserved for Number System and Modern Math. For someone looking to score 90%ile in the most efficient manner, focusing on Arithmetic and Geometry makes the most sense. Talk to your mentor and craft a QA attempt strategy based on your strengths and weaknesses.

Read More – Top MBA Colleges in India – Compare placements, fees, and RoI.

Month-wise CAT preparation strategy

Here is a month-wise CAT preparation strategy to help you focus on and cover the CAT syllabus systematically. This will also enable you to observe and mark your progress throughout the months leading up to the CAT. This is a shortened version of an elaborate CAT preparation roadmap beginning in July. 

CAT preparation in July 

The focus of July will be on the basic concepts of each question and identifying weak areas. You will attempt and analyse one full-length mock exam to identify areas needing work.

CAT preparation in August and September 

The purpose of these two months is to familiarise yourself with topics, topic areas, concepts, and types of questions in CAT. CAT fundas, such as applications, tests, and concepts, can help accomplish this. 

Preparation of CAT in October 

In October, you should do three things, including revising your concepts, working on your strategy, and continuing to take CAT mocks. 

1. Identify your strategy and work on it: Identify your exam strategy and test its effectiveness.
2. Revise your concepts: Take the topic-wise tests and section-wise tests for the second revision. 
3. Continue taking CAT mocks: Use CAT mocks to hone your strategy and revise concepts accordingly.

Preparation of CAT in November 

After every mock, the month of November should be focused on identifying problem areas and eliminating them. Furthermore, one must strengthen their mental abilities to succeed in this exam.

Read More – Top MBA Colleges in India With Low Fees

How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT? 

The QA section can be so tricky for most aspirants that we decided to add a whole new section to discuss QA CAT preparation. 

1. Start by learning the basics: The CAT is a speed test, and aspirants must improve their solving speed, including their calculation rate. Examine the tips and tricks that can be used in this stage to determine which ones work for the candidate and which ones to avoid.
2. Practice questions: Review NCERT books from classes 10 to 12 for practice questions. Once you know the basics, this will help you boost your preparation. Before you move on to more advanced levels, practice these books and improve your speed.
3. Utilise mocks: Use mock tests to identify his strengths and weaknesses in the section and give him a goal to work towards. One must be able to solve at least the basic questions within an acceptable timeframe.
4. Increase the difficulty level: After completing the basic preparation, the intermediate level of questions should be attempted. Concepts must be clear, and accuracy must be maintained at this level. Once you have clear concepts, you should continue to practice until your speed increases and then start practising again.

How to prepare for logical reasoning for CAT? 

CAT has upped the ante in DILR and added new questions that combine data and critical thinking. It, too, deserves another section of its own. Logical reasoning consists of 66 marks for logical reasoning and data interpretation in the CAT examination. 

Below are some tips for improving logical reasoning abilities that will help you understand and score well on the CAT exam:

1. Observe the words: 

Words like none, some, all, only, other than, and unless play a key role in determining the facts for a particular passage. Also, consider negative prefixes like dis-, un-, and non-. 

1. Make the most of your time:

If you are unsure of your selected answer or find it challenging to understand its logic, temporarily move on to the next question. Besides, you can always return to them after solving the other questions. This helps in utilizing the time approximately but also maintains confidence in answering.

1.  Be careful not to assume information:

Carefully read the passage and problem statements, putting aside prejudices and prior knowledge. Take note of the problem statement for that particular passage and record the facts without considering secondary shades of meaning.

1. Practice regularly:

Test your logical reasoning skills with sample reasoning questions from the past ten years. You will gain an understanding of why each choice is correct or incorrect. With enough practice, you’ll be able to identify them in real time during the CAT exam, improving your speed and accuracy.

CAT Preparation Tips for Beginners

Who are these beginners we’re talking about here? Primarily, those who are attempting the CAT for the first time and have 0 work experience. Candidates appearing for the CAT as beginners should prepare knowing their strengths and weaknesses. To get into IIMs, first-time CAT 2025 applicants will need a comparatively higher percentile since they won’t receive any marks for work experience during the shortlisting process. 

Below are some tips that will help them follow and prepare for CAT 2025: 

1. Make a study strategy:
   Candidates should make a study plan based on their ability to complete the chapters. As part of one’s preparation, one should also solve last year’s CAT question paper to understand the type and level of questions.
2. Stay on top of current events:
   Read news articles daily and note all critical events in your diary. Revise in your free time and stay up-to-date, as it is essential to ace the IIM interview round.
3. Check the syllabus and paper pattern:
   The candidates must be aware of the latest CAT exam pattern and syllabus to plan a study strategy. Note the sectional weighting and marks distribution for the CAT, and divide your time equally among all chapters. Additionally, knowing the paper pattern helps you understand the marking scheme.

Read More – CAT Eligibility Criteria 2025

Study plan for beginners

 

Components	Details
CAT Preparation- Ideal Time	6-8 months
Daily Investment in Preparation	Minimum 2 hours of dedicated study
Topics to be covered in a week	At least 5-6 chapters. For better conceptual clarity, solve chapter-wise exercises.
Mock Tests to be attempted within a week	Try and complete 1 mock test per week and track your preparation level
Daily Routine	Start your day by reading the latest headlines and newspapers  Select essential chapters from the syllabus  Begin by solving easy questions first and then move ahead to difficult questions  Solve 2-5 sample papers before the exams and exam date  Revise important formulas and concepts that you have learned.

 

CAT Exam Preparation Tips for Working Professionals

It can be challenging for working professionals to balance their work and CAT preparation. The right strategy can help you crack CAT despite long working hours and late-night studies.

Below is how one can strike a balance between work and studies while preparing for CAT:

1. Enrol for coaching: Working professionals will have difficulty preparing for CAT or attending coaching classes regularly. Night classes and CAT preparation online coaching are, therefore, more convenient.
2. Create a study plan: Organize your study plan in manageable groups to start your CAT preparation systematically. Maintaining a routine will enable you to track your progress and cover the syllabus quickly.
3. Set priorities: Since you work most of the day, your time is limited. Therefore, divide your time according to the urgency of each task. Spend more time improving the areas that need improvement the most.
4. Study on holidays and weekends: As a working professional, you will have the most time to prepare for the CAT during holidays and weekends. Take up more intensive topics on these days to catch up on missed study sessions.
5. Finding a peer group: Peer groups can be beneficial for clarifying doubts, motivating, and tracking progress. CAT aspirants can discuss and exchange ideas here.

Working professionals: what not to do for CAT preparation?

      Following are a few things you should avoid when preparing for the CAT exam
      as a working professional. 

1. Avoid Delay: Start preparing for CAT early instead of delaying and studying more leisurely. You must manage your time effectively during the day to cover all the important topics.
2. It’s not all about theory: You shouldn’t rely solely on study materials and theoretical knowledge. Practice with previous year’s question papers and mock tests will help you familiarise yourself with the exam pattern, and syllabus and assess your progress.
3. Prepare for CAT by staying on top of your work: Preparing for CAT is a priority that should not affect your job performance. Balance your work and exam preparation effectively by completing your responsibilities during work hours.
4. Avoid comparing yourself to others: Never compare your preparation level and pace to someone else’s. Focus on your progress.

Mistakes to avoid while preparing for CAT

• Inadequate exam practice

Find the difference between active and passive learning. The candidates should not ignore the active learning phase to prepare for CAT 2023. Chapter-wise exercises and mock questions are essential for conceptual clarity about each chapter.

• Avoid abstract ideas and don’t ignore current affairs and exam structure:

Aspiring candidates should be aware of the latest test structure, as this is the most important to understand. Verbal comprehension passages require understanding the topics, so don’t waste time on abstract ideas. Make sure you read the newspaper every day.

• Create a balance between your weaknesses and strengths: 

Answering the questions from the chapters in which you have good conceptual clarity is effortless and straightforward.  To score well on the test, you must prepare well for chapters needing clear long-term objectives. Make sure you spend time on the chapters you are struggling with. 

• Don’t start preparation before the exam date:

Candidates should start preparing as soon as possible and before the exam date. If dedicated and focused, CAT VARC can be prepared in 2-3 months. For CAT QA success, one needs to improve one’s mental calculation skills.

• Balance your strengths and weaknesses:

Identify your strengths and weaknesses: Prepare well for the chapters where you lack the clarity to achieve long-term objectives. Spend time working on chapters that you are struggling with.

How Long Does it Take to Prepare for CAT? 

The time taken to prepare for CAT depends on the aspirant’s efficiency, conceptual clarity, and understanding.  As everyone aims to get a good percentile for admission to the top IIMs, the time required to prepare for the CAT is one of the biggest questions. CAT preparation can take more than a year for an aspirant with a standard academic record. An aspirant with a stellar past scholastic record may take 6-8 months, while a student with a better-than-expected record may take 3-4 months. A lot of factors go into play here. The best way to figure out where you stand is by taking a diagnostic test. Sign up for the CAT Zero Fee program, and you’ll be able to take a free diagnostic test. Analyse your score and use the analytics to figure out where you’re lacking. Based on that, you’ll be able to better estimate your preparation time.

How much time is required for CAT Preparation?

The ideal time required to prepare for CAT depends entirely on one’s capabilities. It depends on one’s ability to grasp the fundamental concepts, so there is no fixed amount of time to pass the CAT exam if one starts from scratch. 

The time frame of two to three months is enough to finish the fundamentals of three sections for aspirants starting from scratch. On average, dedicated CAT preparation takes 6-7 months. If possible, spend two hours on weekdays and six to eight hours on weekends.

Time required for CAT VARC:

Candidates can cover VARC concepts in one and a half months. This section focuses primarily on reading comprehension. Understanding the critical aspects of passages is the first step in developing a structured way of thinking. 

Time required for CAT DILR: 

The fundamental concepts can be learned in 1-2 months, depending on how strong or weak one is in the section. The aspirants should spend at least 1-2 hours daily covering the DI/LR sections. 

 

L.R. Topics	No of Days
Arrangements (Linear, Circular, etc.)	4
Puzzles (Einstein Puzzles, constraint-based, etc.)	4
Networks, LR-based on picking coins	6
Games and tournaments, Scheduling, Cubes	10-12
Blood relations, truth-liar concept, family tree	6
Others (2-D space, LRs)	5-6
DI Topics	No.of Days
Line charts, bar graphs, pie charts, unconventional charts (Bubble charts, radar charts, etc.)	10
Tables	4
Venn Diagram	5
Others (Di-based on growth over the years, case lets, data sufficiency, etc.)	6-7

Time required for CAT QA 

When starting from scratch, it will take at least 2-3 months to cover all the fundamental concepts in Quant thoroughly. It is important to practice regularly and know the critical formulas. Make sure you know the application for each. 

Below are the following quant topics: 

 

Topic	Number of Days
Number Systems	5-6
Percentages, Ratio and Proportion, Alligation, Averages, Profit, Loss and Discount, Simple Interest and Compound Interest	14-15
Speed and Distance, Time and Work, Time	6-7
Inequalities, Linear Equations and Quadratic Equations	9-10
Functions, Logarithms	7
Surds and Indices, Progressions and Series	5
Mensuration and Geometry	12-14
Basic Trigonometry, Co-ordinate Geometry	3-4
Probability, Set Theory and Permutations and Combinations	10
Miscellaneous	5-6

 

Conclusion

Your CAT preparation needs to begin as soon as possible. Even if you’re confident in your ability to attempt most of the questions, it is better to first give a diagnostic test and check whether your faith in your abilities is misplaced or not. CAT 2025 is slated for November 2025, giving you just a few months to figure it all out. There are a lot of moving parts, and a little guidance can go a long way in ensuring you start your CAT preparation on the right note. You can always schedule a counselling call with one of our Education Advisors to chart out a plan.

CAT is widely considered to be the most prestigious management exam in the country and a gateway to top-ranked MBA programs at IIMs and other top-ranked MBA schools. This comprehensive guide to CAT preparation can help you ace the test. If you need more help, you can check out IMS programs by clicking on one of the banners above and filling out the form.