One way ticket to top MBA colleges is through CAT exam!
Common Admission Test (CAT 2025) is a MBA entrance exam, which enables the students to be eligible for top MBA colleges like IIMs, IITs, XLRI or KCC-ITM. The CAT 2025 examination notification is released on official website on 27th July 2025.
Many CAT aspirants, register for this competitive entrance exam, but only few succeed in getting through the examination and score 95plus percentile score. In this blog we will discuss CAT preparation strategies and provide the CAT aspirants with a comprehensive guide of cracking the entrance exam with outstanding scores.
CAT Preparation 2025
Mentioned below is the detailed preparation guide for the CAT examination in 2025:
1. Knowing the CAT Syllabus 2025
Candidates must keep an understanding of the CAT exam syllabus, which is available on official website of CAT. It is essential to know about the CAT exam syllabus, so that learners keep their focus on the given topics only.
Mentioned below are the topics included in each section:
VARC-Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension:
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Reading comprehension
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Para completion
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Vocabulary(Synonyms/Antonyms)
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Grammar
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Fill in the blanks
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Para jumbles
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Verbal reasoning
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Summary questions
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Matching of meaning and usage
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Sentence correction
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Analogies
DILR-Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
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Rotes and networks
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Scheduling and allocation
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Grids
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Arrangements
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Word puzzles
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Maths puzzles
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Coding and decoding
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Data Interpretation
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Bar graphs
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Tables
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Venn diagram
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Line graphs
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Pie charts
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Scatter plots
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Radar charts
QA-Quantitative Ability
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Arithmetic
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Ratio
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Percentages
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Algebra
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Geometry
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LCM and HCF
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Factorials
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Divisibility
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Probability
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Set theory
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Progressions
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Logarithms
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Base system
When the learners are aware about the syllabus, they can make a study plan section wise for each day. This allows learners to make a study plan smartly.
2. Knowing the CAT 2025 Exam Pattern
Candidates must keep an understanding for CAT exam pattern, which is available on official website of CAT. Knowing about the exam pattern helps in creating a study plan according to the marking scheme and questions mentioned against the each section. The duration of the examination is of 2hrs, which consist of three sections:
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VARC-Verbal Ability and reading comprehension
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DILR-Data Interpretation and logical Reasoning
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QA-Quantitative Ability
There will be total 66 questions. Section wise break of number of questions is 24 questions of VARC, 20 questions of DILR and 22 questions of QA. For each section 40 mins time is allotted to the candidates.
Total marks is 198, out of which correct answer will be rewarded plus 3 marks and negative 1 marks will be deducted for every wrong answers and there will be no negative marking for Type in answer (TITA) and for unattempted questions. When learners are aware about CAT exam pattern, they can create a impactful preparation strategy for the cat examination.
3. Devising a study plan:
It is essential for learners to give equal importance to all three sections topics. To be able to clear sectional cut off for each section, learners need to focus on all three section with the equal dedication. Learners need to divide their study hours into three parts and focus on each section's topics each day.
4. Know your positives and negatives:
As a CAT aspirant, the basic requirement for any candidate who is preparing for CAT examination is to be true with themselves and keep honesty with their preparation. Candidates need to be aware for their strengths and weakness. Topics which require more practice need to be addressed to gain high scores in their examination.
5. Keep consistency:
To gain mastery in each section, it is important to practice previous year papers and mock papers on the daily basis. To keep the consistency, aspirants should, take out an hour and practice questions to strengthen their CAT preparations.
6. Analysis of practice papers:
It is essential for learners, to analyze the performance section and topic wise in practice papers. This will instill an awareness of the topics which requires more practice and improvement.
7. Early CAT preparations:
Try to start your CAT preparations early, this provides extra time to brush your skills and knowledge for the examination. Starting CAT preparations early, provides sufficient time for completing CAT syllabus 2025, practice and analyze mock papers more effectively.
Ideally candidates should begin CAT preparations a year or at least 6 months before the examination. Early CAT preparations helps in avoiding last minute rush and stress during examination.
8. Time management:
Most crucial aspect of CAT preparation is time management. While practicing mock papers and previous year papers, set a timer. This will improve learners speed and accuracy for the examination. As per the learners strength and weakness devise a timetable which includes study hours for three sections. A separate time should be allotted for practice paper and revision.
Mentioned below is the sample time table learners can follow for CAT preparations:
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Time Table for CAT 2025 Preparation
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Time
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Task
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Benefits
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5am-6am
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Rise early
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Waking up early enhances memory retention and buys learners extra time for completing their daily routine tasks.
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6am-7am
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Physical exercise
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Helps in gaining optimistic mind set and improve their physical fitness.
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7am-8am
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Newspaper reading
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This improves their general awareness and enhances their vocabulary too.
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8am -9am
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Breakfast time
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Have your breakfast
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9am-9:30am
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Prepare to-do list
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Analyze weak topics and prepare a to-do list for the day
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9:30 am-11:30
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Study time(weak topics first)
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Focus on the topic that requires improvement. Try to first clear the concepts of those topics.
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11:30am-12:30pm
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Practice Questions
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After that, learners must practice questions of the topic which requires improvement to strengthen the same.
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12:30pm-2:30pm
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Lunch and break time
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Have lunch and take a small nap to feel refreshed.
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2:30pm-4:00pm
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Study time for VARC section
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Start with practicing comprehension passages and completing VARC topics. After, studying, practice the questions of that topic.
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4:00pm-5:30pm
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Practice questions of DILR section
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Solve DILR section from previous year and mock papers. Devotee an hour for data interpretation questions followed by logical reasoning.
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5:30pm-6pm
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Tea break
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Take a short break after continuous 3hrs of study. Have a cup of tea/coffee with snacks to refresh your mind.
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6pm-8pm
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Practice/Revise QA section
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First select important topics of QA section (quantitative ability). Then solve the questions of the same topic.
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8pm-9pm
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Have dinner
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Freshen up and have a light dinner after solving questions of QA sections.
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9pm-10pm
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Revision
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Revise all the concepts of new topics, to improve the memory retention.
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10pm-5am
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Sleep time
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After a productive day, a 6 to 8hrs sleep is crucial for the aspirant.
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9. Important Topics:
CAT aspirants need to be aware about the important topics of each section. Based on the previous year papers, there are important topics for each section. These topics carry more weightage in examination. Therefore, it is wise to first start the preparations with mentioned below topics from each section:
VARC (Verbal Ability and reading comprehension): Reading comprehension, para jumbles and para summary carry more weightage in the examination.
DILR (Data Interpretation and logical Reasoning): Tables and bar graphs questions, Venn diagram questions, puzzle based sets and arrangement and matching questions carry more weightage in the examination.
QA (Quantitative Ability): Arithmetic, algebra and geometry carry more weightage in the examination.
10. Stay focused and motivated:
For any entrance examination, it is important for candidates to stay focused on their end goal and keep themselves motivated during preparation time. Scoring low during initial practice papers can be demotivating.
But always remember to be determined and consistent with CAT preparation timetable, regular revision and practice sessions. This will gradually increase learner’s scores in practice papers and prepare them well for the CAT examination.
Final Takeaway:
In conclusion, CAT Preparation 2025 is most crucial step to enter into any eminent MBA college. Here we have discussed about the effective preparation strategies for CAT entrance exam, which will guide the aspirants to crack the entrance exam with an outstanding score.
All the updates regarding CAT Admit Card 2025, CAT Syllabus 2025, CAT 2025 Exam pattern and CAT Result 2025 are available on official website https://iimcat.ac.in.
As the CAT 2025 registration has started from 1st August 2025, aspirants can visit official website: https://iimcat.ac.in. or can refer to blog on "CAT 2025 registration dates" for the important dates of the examination.
FAQs for How to prepare for CAT Exam 2025?
Q1.When should a CAT aspirant start their exam preparations?
Ans1. Candidates should start their exam preparation at least 6 months before the exam. This will provide ample time for completion of their syllabus.
Q2.Is it compulsory to daily practice mock papers for CAT preparations?
Ans2. It is advised to practice mock papers daily as it will enhance learners speed and accuracy during CAT examinations.
Q3.Are candidates allowed to use calculator while CAT exam?
Ans3. Physical calculators are not allowed in CAT exams but on screen calculators are provided during examination.
Q4.For how long CAT scores are valid?
Ans4. CAT scores are valid for a year, so candidates need to apply to the colleges following year after the release of CAT Result 2025.
Q5.Is it important to read newspaper daily for CAT preparations?
Ans5. Yes, reading newspapers for CAT preparations is important as it enhances learner’s comprehension skills, general awareness and vocabulary.