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How Many Hours Study Required to Crack CAT 2025 - The CAT exam is a computer-based test that measures your math, logical reasoning, and English skills. Based on past trends, CAT 2025 is expected to have three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. Be sure to check the official CAT website regularly for any updates on the exam pattern and syllabus. This article offers tips on how many study hours you might need to crack the CAT Exam, along with useful study advice for MBA candidates.
CAT 2025: VARC, DILR, and Quant: MCQs & Weightages | Chapter-wise MCQs
CAT 2025 Study Material: VARC | Quantitative Aptitude | 60 Days Study Material by Experts
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Section | Number of Questions (Approx.) | Time Allotted | Key Topics Covered |
24-26 | 40 minutes | Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Sentence Completion, Critical Reasoning | |
20-22 | 40 minutes | Data Interpretation, Logical Puzzles, Seating Arrangements, Venn Diagrams | |
22-26 | 40 minutes | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number System, Modern Math | |
Total | 66-74 | 120 minutes | All Sections Combined |
Key Points:
The exam is computer-based and conducted in multiple slots.
Each section has a sectional time limit of 40 minutes, and candidates cannot switch between sections.
The CAT marking scheme includes +3 marks for correct answers and -1 marks for incorrect answers in multiple-choice questions (MCQs), while non-MCQs (TITA questions) do not have negative markings.
The difficulty level varies, with Quantitative Aptitude and DILR often being the most challenging sections.
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a highly competitive exam for admission into premier management institutes like the IIMs. The CAT 2025 exam is expected to follow a similar structure to previous years, featuring three main sections:
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) – This section tests a candidate's proficiency in English, including reading comprehension, grammar, and verbal reasoning.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) – This section assesses analytical skills through puzzles, data sets, and logical reasoning problems.
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) – Focuses on mathematical problem-solving abilities, covering arithmetic, algebra, geometry, number systems, and modern math.
Time management plays a crucial role in achieving a high percentile in CAT. Since each section is time-bound, candidates must:
Prioritize Questions: Focus on solving easier and CAT high-weightage questions first to maximize scores.
Avoid Time Traps: Do not spend excessive time on a single question. If stuck, move on and return later if time permits.
Practice with Mock Tests: Simulating real exam conditions with the help of a CAT mock test helps improve speed and accuracy.
Optimize Sectional Timing: Allocate time strategically within each section based on strengths and weaknesses.
Before improving your skills, it’s important to know where you stand. Assessing your proficiency helps you understand what you’re good at and what needs improvement. This way, you can focus on the right areas and track your progress over time.
Self-evaluation means checking your skills and knowledge. You can do this by:
Taking quizzes or tests related to your skill.
Practising and seeing how well you perform.
Comparing your work to examples from experts.
Ask yourself: What am I confident in? What do I struggle with?
Once you evaluate yourself, you can list your strengths (things you do well) and weaknesses (things you need to improve).
Strengths help you stay confident and motivated.
Weaknesses show areas where you need to put in more effort.
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Preparing for the CAT exam requires smart planning and consistent effort. The right amount of CAT study time depends on your starting level, strengths, and weaknesses. However, a well-structured approach can help you make the most of your preparation.
The ideal daily study time varies from person to person, but a general guideline is:
6–12 months before the exam: 2–3 hours per day
3–6 months before the exam: 4–5 hours per day
Last 2–3 months: 6+ hours per day, including mock tests and revisions
Studying for long hours doesn’t always mean better results. Instead, focus on:
Understanding concepts deeply rather than just memorizing.
Solving a variety of problems to improve speed and accuracy.
Take mock tests and attempt CAT sample papers to analyze your performance.
Reviewing mistakes and learning from them.
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Creating a good CAT study plan that fits you helps you work smarter and stay organized. A good plan tells you what to study and when making it easier to reach your goals.
Realistic Goals: Choose goals that are challenging but possible. For example, you might decide to complete one chapter or solve a set of problems each day.
Milestones: Break your big goals into smaller steps, called milestones. Each milestone is a little victory that shows you are making progress. Celebrating these wins keeps you motivated.
Divide Your Time: Split your CAT study time among the different sections or topics you need to cover. For example, if you have math, reading, and reasoning sections, decide how much time to spend on each.
Focus on Weak Areas: Spend a bit more time on the subjects that are tougher for you. This balanced approach helps you improve in every area.
Consistency is the cornerstone of effective preparation. When you study regularly, even if it's for short periods, you gradually build a strong foundation of knowledge and skills. This regular approach not only helps in retaining information better but also reduces anxiety because you’re always a step ahead of your syllabus
.Instead of cramming everything at the last minute, consistent preparation allows you to absorb material over time, understand complex concepts at your own pace, and track your progress steadily. This way, you transform studying from a stressful task into a part of your daily routine that feels natural and rewarding.
Creating a habit of daily study is essential for long-term success. Start by setting aside a specific time each day dedicated solely to studying. This could be early in the morning when your mind is fresh or later in the evening when you have fewer distractions. The key is to make it a fixed part of your routine so that it becomes automatic. Here are some tips to help develop these habits:
Set Clear Goals: Break down your study plan into manageable chunks. For instance, you might decide to cover a specific topic or solve a set number of practice questions each day. Achieving these small goals gives you a sense of accomplishment and keeps you motivated.
Create a Dedicated Study Space: Having a quiet, organized area for studying can significantly enhance your focus and productivity. Keep your study area free of distractions like mobile phones or unnecessary clutter.
Use a Planner: Keeping a daily or weekly planner can help you track what you need to study. Marking off completed tasks not only reinforces your progress but also builds the habit of routine.
Incorporate Short Breaks: Studies show that taking short breaks can boost your concentration. Consider techniques like the Pomodoro Technique, where you work for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break.
Procrastination is a common challenge that can derail even the best-laid study plans. It often creeps in when the study plan seems too difficult or when distractions are just a click away. Overcoming procrastination starts with recognizing its causes and taking practical steps to counteract it:
Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Large tasks can feel intimidating. By breaking them down into smaller, more manageable parts, you can reduce the feeling of overwhelm and start making progress right away.
Set Clear Deadlines: Even if they’re self-imposed, deadlines create a sense of urgency. Mark specific times in your planner to complete each small task, and hold yourself accountable.
Minimize Distractions: Identify what commonly distracts you whether it’s your phone, social media, or background noise and find ways to eliminate or reduce these interruptions during your study time.
Use Productivity Techniques: Techniques like the Pomodoro Technique can help structure your study time effectively. Work in focused intervals, and give yourself short breaks to refresh your mind.
Reward Yourself: Motivate yourselves with small rewards. After completing a challenging section or a full study session, treat yourself to something you enjoy. This positive reinforcement can boost your motivation to keep going.
Mock tests are practice exams that help you get used to the real exam format and timing. They are a great way to check your progress and find areas that need improvement.
It's important to take mock tests regularly. Here are some simple tips:
Regular Schedule: Try to take a mock test every week or every two weeks.
Consistent Practice: Regular tests help you build exam stamina and get comfortable with the test format.
Adjust as Needed: If you find some areas difficult, you might want to take more frequent tests for those topics.
After each mock test, spend some time looking at your results. This will help you understand what you did well and what needs work:
Identify Mistakes: Look at the questions you got wrong. Try to understand why you made the mistake.
Track Your Progress: Keep a record of your scores to see how you improve over time.
Focus on Weak Areas: Use your test results to decide which topics need more study.
Plan Ahead: Adjust your study plan based on your mock test performance, giving extra time to challenging areas.
Juggling study for working professionals or candidates with other academic duties means planning your time so you can meet both work deadlines and study goals. It’s all about using your available time wisely and keeping a steady routine.
Make a Daily Schedule: Use a planner or calendar (even a simple paper one) to set aside specific times for work and study. This helps you see clearly when you can focus on each task.
Prioritize Your Tasks: List what must be done first. You might try simple methods like marking tasks as urgent or important to decide what needs your attention right away.
Set Boundaries: Let your employer, colleagues, and family know your study times. This can help reduce interruptions during important work or study hours.
Take Regular Breaks: Short breaks help keep your energy up and your mind clear.
Find a Quiet Space: Choose a spot free from distractions so you can concentrate on your studies.
Active Learning: Instead of just reading, try summarizing what you’ve learned in your own words, making simple notes, or using flashcards. This helps move information into long-term memory.
Study in Short Sessions: Break your study time into smaller sessions with breaks in between (a method that also works well with the Pomodoro technique).
Practice Regularly: Use practice tests or quizzes to check your understanding. Testing yourself helps you remember better.
Minimize Distractions: Turn off notifications on your phone or computer during study sessions so you can focus entirely on the material.
As exams get closer, it's important to adjust your CAT study schedule so you can review everything more intensively. Instead of keeping the same study routine as before, try to dedicate more time and focus on key areas to boost your confidence and performance.
When exams are near, increase the number of revision sessions you do. This could mean:
Studying longer each day: Add extra study time to cover more material.
Using focused sessions: Instead of long, drawn-out study periods, work in shorter, focused bursts.
Reviewing actively: Rewrite your notes, quiz yourself, or use flashcards to help the information stick.
Practising with past papers: Test yourself under timed conditions to build exam confidence.
Identify which topics are giving you trouble and make them your priority:
Self-assessment: Use CAT practice tests or review your notes to see which areas you find most difficult.
Extra practice: Spend extra time revising these weak topics until you feel more comfortable.
Seek help: Ask teachers, and classmates, or use online resources to clarify any confusing points.
Targeted revision: Focus on improving those specific areas so you build a stronger overall understanding.
Taking care of your body and mind is key to staying focused and performing well, especially during exam periods. Here are two simple ways to keep both in check:
Regular physical activity can boost your energy, improve your mood, and reduce stress. Even short bursts of exercise can make a big difference. For example:
Daily Walks or Runs: A brisk 20–30-minute walk or jog can clear your mind.
Home Workouts: Try simple exercises like stretching, yoga, or bodyweight exercises.
Active Breaks: Use breaks between study sessions to move around—this helps refresh your brain and prevents fatigue.
Keeping your mind calm is just as important as physical fitness. Mindfulness and stress management practices help reduce anxiety and improve concentration. Consider these strategies:
Deep Breathing: Take a few minutes to breathe slowly and deeply; it helps calm your nervous system.
Meditation: Even 5–10 minutes of meditation each day can clear your head and enhance focus.
Mindful Breaks: Practice mindfulness during breaks—focus on your surroundings, notice the sensations in your body, and let go of stressful thoughts.
Simple Relaxation: Listening to calming music or doing a quick mindfulness exercise can ease stress and keep you centred.
It depends on how early you start and your current proficiency. Generally, aim for 2–3 hours daily if you’re 6–12 months away, 4–5 hours if you’re 3–6 months out, and 6+ hours in the last 2–3 months with added mock tests and revisions.
Start by assessing your strengths and weaknesses, then set realistic daily and weekly goals. Allocate dedicated time for each exam section, include regular mock tests, and ensure you build in short breaks to avoid burnout.
Focus on active learning by practising a variety of problems, taking timed mock tests, reviewing mistakes, and using techniques like the Pomodoro method (25 minutes of focused work with 5-minute breaks) to maintain concentration.
Practice under exam-like conditions with mock tests. Learn to quickly identify and answer easier questions first, and avoid spending too much time on a single problem. This helps you maintain a steady pace during the exam.
Identify your weak areas through self-assessment and focus extra time on these topics. Use targeted practice, seek help from teachers or peers, and review your mistakes until you feel more confident.
Consistency builds a strong knowledge base and reduces exam stress. Daily study habits, even in small bursts, help reinforce learning over time and prevent last-minute cramming.
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Although, it's very unlikely that you will secure a seat in top ABM with CAT 67 percentile. Here's is a breakdown to your question:
· CAT Percentile vs. Score: A CAT score of 67 typically translates to a percentile in the range of 90-95 percentile based on the provided data from previous years. While this is a decent score overall, it falls short of the cutoffs for most top-tier ABM programs.
· Cutoffs for Top ABM Institutes:
· Overall Good CAT Score: Generally, a CAT percentile of 90 and above is considered a good score for securing admission to decent MBA programs in India. For top-tier institutes, a percentile of 95 and above is often preferred.
· MBA Colleges Accepting 60-70 Percentile: While there are MBA colleges that accept CAT scores in the 60-70 percentile range, these are generally not the top-ranked or most sought-after ABM programs. The focus of those lists is on general MBA programs, not specifically ABM.
While securing a seat in ABM can be tough, you can research about other colleges, consider other examinations, to improve your application profile.
You Got This !
Hello,
achieving a 99.99 pecentile in the CAT exam significantly enhances your prospects for admission to JBIMS, which evaluates candidates using an application rating(AR) score, which includes
-entrance exam score (CAT/MH-CET/CMAT) : 60% weightage
-Past Academic Record (PAR) : 15% weightage (https://cracku.in/colleges/jbims/admission-process/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
-Extra-curricular Activities/Work Experience : 20% weightage (https://jbims.edu/uploads/announcement/Revised_M_Sc__Finance_Admission_Procedure_Batch_2024-26.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
-Diversity (Academic/Gender): 5% weightage
while ahigh CAT percentile is crucial, a lower academic record may impact your overall AR score. Nonetheless, exceptional performance in other areas, such as entrance exams and extracurricular activities, can help offset weaker academic credentials. it's advisable to review JBIMS's detailed admission criteria and consider strengthening other aspects of your application to enhance your chances
To find the 2024 MHT CET answer key, you'll need to check the official Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell website. This is the primary source for all official announcements and documents related to the MHT CET exam. After the exam concludes, the CET Cell typically releases a provisional answer key.
Once released, the provisional answer key will likely be available as a downloadable PDF file. You'll need to navigate to the official website, look for the MHT CET section, and find the link related to the answer key. This link might be labelled "MHT CET 2024 Answer Key" or something similar.
After downloading the answer key, you can compare your responses with the official answers. If you find any discrepancies or have objections, the CET Cell usually provides a window for raising objections. You'll likely need to pay a specified fee for each objection raised. The official website will provide instructions on how to submit your objections, which may involve logging into your candidate portal and following the provided steps.
Finally, after considering all objections, the CET Cell will publish a final answer key. This final version is considered definitive, and the MHT CET results will be based on it. Keep an eye on the official website for all updates and announcements regarding the 2024 answer key.
I hope this helps.
Greetings! Here's a detailed response to your query
Okay, so you're a bit confused about what to put in those CAT, FMS, DSE, and IIFT forms regarding your 12th scores. Since you did CBSE, they usually only consider your final 12th standard marks.
Even though you did great in 11th, scoring 495 out of 500, for these entrance exam forms, they're specifically asking about your 12th board exam marks .You mentioned you got 400 out of 500 in 12th, which comes out to 80%.
Therefore, when filling out the forms for CAT, FMS, DSE, and IIFT, you should enter 80% as your 12th percentage. The aggregate of 11th and 12th isn't typically what they're looking for in these sections. They want to know how you performed in your final board exams. So, stick with the 80% from your 12th results. Good luck with your applications!
Greetings! Here's a detailed response to your query:-
Determination of the best time to start the journey of CAT examination is based on individual factors like your current skill level, knowledge ,potential, learning pace and availability. To give yourself the best chance of success on the CAT exam , which usually takes place in November, it's advisable to begin studying between January and March of that same year. This 8 to 12-month preparation window is widely recommended by experts. But if you're managing your college along with the CAT preparations make sure you start from 2nd year onwards. It will hep you manage stress and you'll have ample amount of time to get along with the syllabus , pattern and various practice and mocks .
You'll be able to build a strong foundation in each sections and be able to know your strengths and weaknesses in different topics. The CAT syllabus is extensive, and early preparation allows for thorough coverage. Assess your learning speed and adjust your preparation timeline accordingly.
Essentially, while the ideal start time is subjective, beginning your CAT preparation well in advance is generally considered the most effective strategy for achieving optimal results.
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