CAT Exam Preparation Tips- 2025 [Updated]

Jaro Education
30, August 2025
2:00 pm

Let’s be practical – the CAT exam is not your regular entrance exam. It is not simply about how much you know, but how you apply what you know in a high-pressure situation. Sounds a bit intense, right? It is, but thousands of students pass the exam every year, and you definitely can as well.

If you’re solving difficult quant problems in 40 minutes or reading through dense RC passages and sweating from nervousness, then you are in good company. CAT preparation is not easy; it requires strategy, consistency, and quite a lot of patience. Fortunately, you don’t need to be a math genius or grammatically obsessed, but yes, just an understanding of how to plan and apply yourself.

So, this blog will not only provide you with another set of generic tips for the CAT preparation. It will give you a real, easy, step-by-step guide to smart preparation for CAT 2025. So put on the coffee, shut those distracting tabs, and let’s go deep into the CAT exam preparation tips you will need to undertake to excel in this exam.

Understanding the CAT Exam Pattern

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Before getting into CAT preparation mode, you’ve got to understand what the CAT tests are. The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer-based entrance test for MBA aspirants aiming for IIMs and other top B-schools. It includes three sections:

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) – 24 questions and a weightage of 72 marks
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) – 22 questions with a weightage of 66 marks
Quantitative Aptitude section (QA) – 22 questions and a weightage of 66 marks.

Duration: 120 minutes in total. That’s 40 minutes per section. And yes, switching between sections isn’t allowed. So, not only do you need to be accurate, but you also need to be fast and focused. CAT preparation is not just about knowledge; it’s a battle of speed, stamina, and smart thinking.

Step-by-Step CAT Preparation Strategy for 2025

Understanding a few fundamentals, CAT Preparation tips will help you clear your thoughts and thus bring in streamlined clarity.

1. Know Where You Stand

Do a diagnostic test instead of diving into books and smashing through topics. Your first step for CAT preparation is to take a complete diagnostic mock test. It isn’t about getting good at this time. It is to truly evaluate where you currently are. This mock test helps you to evaluate:

What are your strengths and weaknesses in each section
How do you manage time under exam pressure
Which sections need immediate attention, and which can be polished later

Too many aspirants skip this process when starting their CAT preparation and end up wasting time preparing for topics they may already be reasonably good at, while ignoring sections they’ve struggled with and need to get a firm grip on. Your diagnostic score is your reality check. From this point, you will create a tailored study plan based on your performance.

2. Build Conceptual Clarity

Now that you know where you stand, it’s time to understand the real concepts. This is the most crucial phase of your CAT preparation journey. Avoid the temptation to rush into solving mocks too early. A strong base ensures consistent performance in the long run. Speed will come later, but first, you must build your foundation. Focus on:

Quantitative Ability (QA): Strengthen your basics in Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Numbers, and Modern Math. Refer to the NCERTs from classes 6–10 and standard preparation books like Arun Sharma.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): Develop the habit of reading editorial articles from reputed newspapers and journals. Practice daily reading comprehension passages and work on sentence correction, para-summary, and jumbled sentences.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): Begin with solving simple puzzles and interpreting basic charts and graphs. Build logic through Sudoku, Venn diagrams, and seating arrangements.

3. Make Mock Tests Your Best Friend

Mock tests are your practice field when it comes to CAT preparation. They recreate the real CAT environment, test your nerves, and let you improve your strategy. While your score will vary at first, do not panic. The objective is to improve. But do not take them. Use them more strategically:

Start with one mock per week. When the exam draws near, increase to two per week.
Treat it as a learning experience. Spend more time analysing the test than taking it. Take regular note of the types of questions you make mistakes on. Learn if the mistakes are due to gaps in your understanding, misinterpretation, or time management.
When on the CAT preparation journey, keep a mock test tracker, where you record your score, the number of questions you attempted, the number of questions you got right, and key learning outcomes from each test.

4. Section-Wise CAT Preparation Tips

Let’s drill down into specific strategies for each section:

VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension):

Make reading a daily habit. Focus on variety, including economics, philosophy, fiction, and psychology.
Practice 1–2 RC passages daily and analyse your answers.
For verbal ability, work on sentence rearrangement, odd-one-out, and paragraph summary questions.
Learn to read actively—look for the author’s tone, argument, and underlying assumptions.

DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning):

Practice different set types such as tables, pie charts, puzzles, caselets, and logical arrangements.
During CAT preparation, don’t attempt every set in mocks. Focus on choosing the right sets based on your strengths.
Create a DILR log where you record the types of questions you’ve solved and rate your comfort level with each.
Start untimed. Once confident, introduce time limits to simulate pressure.

QA (Quantitative Ability):

Prioritise Arithmetic as it has a significant weight in the CAT exam.
Focus on conceptual clarity, then build speed through daily timed practice.
Practice mental calculations to reduce dependency on the calculator.
Maintain a formula book and revise it regularly.

5. Manage Your Time Effectively

Many students know the answers, but can’t finish the paper on time. Learning about time management during CAT preparation will separate the top percentile scorers. Here are some tips to help you improve:

Set a 2-minute limit per question and stick to it. If stuck, move on and return later.
Practice mock tests under real-time conditions. Note: to gain the benefits of mock tests, do not pause and have no distractions during the mock test.
Train your brain to reset after every 40-minute section. Train to build mental endurance!
Practice sectional tests under timed conditions. This will help you condition yourself to the rhythm of the section.
Get digital timers, CAT apps, or good old-fashioned stopwatches to keep you disciplined.

6. Avoid These Common Mistakes

Even the most prepared students are capable of making some rare mistakes. Here are the most common CAT preparation mistakes to avoid:

Neglecting Mocks: You cannot own the CAT without several mocks, as it is your professional practice ground.
Overconfidence in One Section: If you ace the QA but perform poorly in DILR or VARC, it won’t help you. CAT has sectional cutoffs.
Ignoring Analysis: When you take a mock and after the story, never analyse your response; this is a huge opportunity that, for some reason, you choose to ignore. You should try to figure out the reason behind a question you got right or wrong.
Cramming Last-Minute: Last-minute mugging does not pay in CAT. In the final days, give more time to light revision and high-impact practice.
Burnout: The human brain cannot sustain 10 hours of study in a single day, so introduce breaks. Sleep well before the exam. Exercise. Your best resource on CAT day is your clear mind.

7. Take assistance if you are Clueless

Many first-time takers of the CAT exam are often confused when trying to set up a well-planned Preparation plan. In many of these cases, one can join the CAT 2025 Course because, in this case, the students will receive excellent Content (which is updated according to the latest Standards) and also benefit from the massive CAT Preparation community and gain access to many potential mentors who are themselves studying in Top B-schools of the country.

How to Prepare for CAT While Working or Studying

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Wondering how to prepare for CAT while having a full-time job or studying full-time in college can be difficult, but it is not impossible. The key is to plan wisely and remain consistent in your efforts. Many of the top achievers, including those who achieve 99+ percentiles, cracked the CAT while continuing to go to work or college full-time. Your ability to effectively manage time and prepare with focus is what distinguishes you, not the actual number of hours you are studying for.

First off, you should plan to study around your most productive hours. If you are an early riser, wake up early and plan to study for at least an hour when you are fresh. Early mornings are generally distraction-free and a perfect opportunity to develop conceptual clarity or reading comprehension practice. Similarly, you can use the late evenings for revision or mock test analysis, depending on your energy levels at the time.
Since you would already be busy most of the day, use whatever dead time you have during the day! You can listen to CAT prep podcasts on your commutes or lunch breaks. You can revise formulas or read articles on your phone if that would help keep that concept fresh in your mind. You could also look for apps or use flash cards to help make some mindful learning more manageable on the go.
Time-blocking is a game-changer. Create a weekly schedule where each study session is assigned to a particular section—Quant, VARC, or DILR. This keeps your preparation balanced and ensures no topic is left behind.
The weekend is your biggest asset. Use it to take full-length mock tests and dedicate extra hours to in-depth mock analysis and revision. Don’t just take mocks—review every question, especially the ones you got wrong or skipped.
Stay connected with other aspirants through Telegram CAT groups or online forums. These communities often share helpful resources, strategies, and motivational support, helping you stay on track and accountable.
Most importantly, remember that quality trumps quantity. Even if you study just 2 focused hours per day over 6–8 months, it’s more than enough to ace the exam—if done consistently and smartly. Avoid burnout by scheduling short breaks, staying active, and prioritising sleep.

Recommended Books for CAT Exam 2025

Here is the list of recommended books for the CAT exam 2025. Candidates can check the same:

Book Title	Authors
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT	Arun Sharma
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations	Abhijit Guha
Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT	Sarvesh Verma
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension	Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay
Word Power Made Easy	Norman Lewis
High School English Grammar and Composition	Wren and Martin
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT	Nishit K. Sinha
How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT	Arun Sharma
The Pearson Guide to Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning for the CAT	Nishit K. Sinha
CAT 2024 Solved Papers	Arihant Experts

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Whether you make it to an IIM or choose an alternative route, what matters is continuous upskilling and staying future-ready.

Final Word

Preparing for the CAT is not about being perfect. It’s about being better. Every practice test, every error, every hour you put in contributes to your story. There is no easy way to success, but there is a clear path. Plan smart, be consistent and have faith in your hard work.

\If you’re somebody who sees themselves in the IIM lecture hall, or in five years, leading a boardroom meeting, this is where it starts. And when you get there, your next journey starts with an MBA that will pivot your career angle.