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Guide to Start CAT 2025 Preparation

CAT 2025 Preparation made easy with expert tips, smart study plans, and top resources. Build a strong foundation, improve time management, and improve candidates' scores across all sections.
authorImageShivani Kumari31 Jul, 2025
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Guide to Start CAT 2025 Preparation

CAT 2025 Preparation: Starting your preparation for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 is an important step if you want to get into top business schools in India, like the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) . Since there are many applicants and the exam is challenging, preparing well is very important. The section below will give you a clear plan to help you through your CAT 2025 preparation journey.

CAT 2025 Preparation Strategy from Scratch

Most students start preparing for the exam 9 months in advance. If you start today, it will give you a big advantage over others. But remember, CAT preparation for 2025 is a long journey that needs a lot of patience and consistent hard work to succeed. Sometimes, you might feel like losing motivation to keep going. It’s a journey that lasts 9 to 12 months and requires regular self-motivation and confidence. Here are some important tips on How to prepare for CAT 2025 for every CAT aspirant should follow to get into their dream B-School: 
  1. Give Equal Time to All Sections: CAT is an exam that anyone can crack if they give equal time to all sections consistently. Focusing on just one section and ignoring the others can lower your chances because you need to clear the sectional cut-offs for each section. Even if you score 99+ percentile overall, not clearing one section's cut-off will make your efforts useless.
  2. Study Relevant Content: As students, we often think that studying more will help, but it doesn’t. For a competitive exam like CAT, sticking to the relevant syllabus is more important. It saves time. So, first, understand the CAT syllabus well and focus on the topics with more weightage.
  3. Consistency is Key: CAT is a long journey, and it needs consistent effort, not random bursts of hard work. So, practicing regularly is the key to success. Set aside some hours from your busy day and stick to it. Even if it's just one hour or 30 minutes, be consistent. You will see improvement in 1-2 months.
  4. Join a Coaching Institute : The CAT journey is 9 to 12 months long, and there will be ups and downs. You might lose motivation halfway through. With 3 sections and a vast syllabus, it can be hard to stay organized. Self-preparation might drain your energy because making a study plan takes a lot of effort.

It's not just about understanding concepts (which is only 20% of your preparation), but about how much you practice (which is 80%). So, to stay on track, it’s important to attend a coaching institute. There are many to choose from, and you can pick either offline or online based on your needs.

Start CAT Preparation Early

Starting your CAT 2025 preparation early is key to success. It's best to begin at least 6 months before the exam date, which is tentatively in November, 2025. This gives you plenty of time to fully cover the syllabus, practice a lot, and take several mock tests. By starting early, you can prepare at a steady pace and avoid the stress of rushing at the last minute with the help of CAT 2025 preparation tips.

CAT 2025 Time Management Tips

You should ideally dedicate a minimum of 6 months to CAT preparation, regardless of your talent level. Six months is sufficient, especially if you're strong in either VARC or QA. When it comes to your daily routine, CAT preparation isn't about sitting for 4 hours and solving a large number of questions. Instead, focus on spending an hour each day solving 20-25 easy-to-medium-levelYears' questions. For any exercise you practice, whether it's RC, DILR, or QA, always keep an eye on the time. 

Aim to solve 20-25 questions within an hour, focusing on easier and medium-difficulty ones. Once completed, review the difficult ones and make a note of them.

Step 1 Review Previous Years CAT Papers: Before fully starting your preparation, it's important to know what to study and how to approach it. Look at past CAT papers to understand the pattern and identify your strengths and weaknesses.

CAT Exam pattern comprises three sections:
  1. Verbal Ability (34 questions)
  2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (32 questions)
  3. Quantitative Ability (34 questions)
Duration: 3 hours (1 hour for each section). Also, remember that some questions in each section don’t have answer options.
Step 2 Take a Mock Test: Taking a mock test will help you see where you currently stand. It will highlight your strengths and weaknesses, which is crucial for creating a study plan. Focus on improving your weak areas first.
Step 3 Enroll in a Mock Test Series: Since you are studying on your own, joining a mock test series is essential. Regular mock tests will help you analyze your progress and understand how well your preparation is going. Be flexible with your strategy and adjust it as needed based on your performance.
Step 4 Make a Timetable:  Here’s a general idea of how your study schedule could look. Adjust it based on your strengths and weaknesses. If Quant is your weak area, spend more time on it. Dedicate one weekend day for taking mocks and reviewing them. Suggested study time each week:
  • Quant: 16 hours (4 weekdays + 1 weekend day)
  • Data Interpretation: 6 hours (2 days)
  • Logical Reasoning: 6 hours (2 days)
  • Verbal Ability: 8 hours (4 days)
  • Reading Comprehension: 4 hours (2 days)
  • Reading: 7 hours (1 hour daily)
  • Mock Test and Analysis: 3 hours (every two weeks)
Step 5 Stay Motivated:  This is the most important step. Don’t lose hope if you don’t perform well in a few mock tests. There will always be opportunities to improve. Remember, it’s not over until it’s over, so keep pushing forward.

 

CAT 2025 Daily Study Plan

Here's a daily study plan to help you stay on track with your CAT 2025 preparation tips on How to prepare CAT exam:

Morning Session

  • Start your day with a 30-minute revision of important concepts and formulas.
  • Spend 1-2 hours practicing questions from your weaker areas in each section.
  • Take a 15-minute break to stretch and grab a healthy snack.

Afternoon Session

  • Spend 1-2 hours practicing questions from your stronger areas in each section.
  • Take a 30-minute break for lunch and engage in a light activity to refresh your mind.
  • Spend 1 hour reading newspapers, magazines, or books to improve your vocabulary and reading comprehension skills.

Evening Session

  • Spend 1-2 hours solving practice questions or mock tests under exam-like conditions.
  • Take a 15-minute break to stretch and grab a healthy snack.
  • Spend 1 hour revising the concepts and formulas you learned during the day.

Remember to stay hydrated, eat a balanced diet, and get enough sleep to maintain your energy levels and focus throughout your preparation journey. PW MBA Online Coaching offers effective CAT exam preparation by conducting regular live classes and multiple full-length mock tests with performance analysis. Join PW MBA Coaching Class to start a strategic CAT preparation under the guidance of experts.

 

CAT 2025 Preparation Guide FAQs

When should I start preparing for CAT 2025?

It's best to start your CAT preparation at least 6 to 9 months before the exam. This gives you enough time to cover the syllabus, practice well, and take mock tests.

How should I begin my CAT preparation?

Start by going through previous year's CAT papers to understand the exam pattern. Then, take a mock test to assess your current strengths and weaknesses. This will help you plan your study strategy.

How important are mock tests for CAT?

Mock tests are very important for CAT preparation. They help you understand how well you are prepared, improve your speed, and identify areas where you need to focus more.

How much time should I study daily for CAT?

You should aim to study 3 to 5 hours a day. Focus on all three sections (Verbal, Quant, and Logical Reasoning), and try to maintain a consistent study schedule.
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