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If you are planning to appear for CAT 2026, knowing when and how to start your preparation is the first and most important step. CAT is a highly competitive exam that rewards consistency, clarity of concepts, and smart practice rather than last-minute effort. Many beginners feel confused about where to begin, what to study first, and how to plan their time. Starting early allows you to build strong fundamentals, practice regularly, and gradually improve your speed and accuracy.
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This article helps CAT 2026 aspirants understand the right approach to begin their preparation with confidence and direction.
The question is when and how to start preparing for CAT 2026. The answer is 'NOW'. If you are an absolute beginner, you must have a comprehensive CAT study plan from zero. With almost 5 months left for the CAT examination, now is the best month to begin CAT preparation. A national-level management exam, the Common Admission Test (CAT), marks the participation of more than 2 lakh candidates every year.
Understanding the CAT exam structure is the first step toward creating an effective preparation plan. The exam pattern helps you know what to expect on the test day and how to distribute your study time across different sections. Each section requires a different approach and preparation strategy.
Scoring a good percentile will require extensive preparation for CAT 2026. Candidates who are going to fill out the CAT 2026 application form must check the exam pattern beforehand to prepare and do well in the CAT exam. The exam pattern of CAT 2026 is expected to be similar to that of 2026, but the candidates can expect some changes. Given below is an exam pattern for CAT 2026.
Particulars | Details |
Exam Duration | 2 hours |
Total no. of questions | 68 MCQs |
Mode of CAT 2026 | CBT i.e. Computer-Based Test |
Marking scheme |
|
Sections (3) | Quantitative ability |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | |
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension |
The vast CAT 2026 syllabus covers numerous concepts across the three main sections. However, the IIMs have not explicitly released the official syllabus yet. The Ideal time to start CAT preparation is now.
Along with the CAT exam pattern, candidates must also know the CAT 2026 syllabus to prepare in advance. According to some management experts, six months of committed preparation will push you toward becoming a CAT topper. In this time frame, the candidates will understand all the important concepts related to how to start preparing for CAT 2026.
Based on the past year, the CAT syllabus 2026 will likely be the same with a few changes. The overall question paper will be divided into three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning. Candidates will be required to solve 68 questions in total.
Creating a structured preparation plan is essential for CAT 2026 success. Without a clear roadmap, you might study inefficiently or miss important topics.
Once aware of the CAT 2026 syllabus, candidates must divide their preparation to answer the question of when to start preparing for CAT 2026. It is common for candidates to get confused even after knowing the exam pattern and syllabus, and waste a lot of CAT 2026 precious time. Better scores than others will open your gateway to top B-Schools. Candidates can break their preparation into three stages as mentioned below-
| CAT 2026 Month Wise Plan | |
Month-wise Strategy Division | Target Points |
6 Months |
|
3 Months |
|
1 Month |
|
How to start CAT preparation? There is no better way than starting your CAT preparation at home. Preparing for the CAT 2026 exam at home can be effective with the right approach. Start by understanding the exam pattern and syllabus, then create a study schedule covering all the sections: Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability, and Logical Reasoning/Data Interpretation. Use high-quality study materials and online resources, and practice regularly with mock tests and previous years' papers to improve your speed and accuracy. Focus on understanding concepts rather than just memorising them. Additionally, maintain a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition and adequate sleep to keep your mind sharp and focused. Consistency, discipline, and a positive mindset are key to successful CAT preparation at home.
Self-study allows you to learn at your own pace and focus more on areas where you need improvement. It also gives you the flexibility to study according to your schedule. Use high-quality CAT study materials and online resources, and practice regularly with CAT 2026 mock tests and previous years' papers to improve your speed and accuracy. Focus on understanding concepts deeply rather than just memorising them.
Most CAT toppers admitted that a significant portion of their preparation started when the CAT was 6 months away. The points mentioned below can be referred to by candidates if they are planning to start their CAT 2026 Preparation within 6 months of duration -
CAT Toppers say, “Time management should be considered as the fourth section of the CAT exam. It is not just preparing Verbal Ability, Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability, but preparing all three and attempting them within the stipulated time”. Attempting questions with a time allotment of 40 minutes for each section makes the CAT exam difficult. To achieve fruitful results, candidates must try to divide their study timetable such that, within 24 hours, they practice each section daily.
If some candidates feel that they will be unable to study and prepare for CAT 2026 on their own, then such candidates should join some coaching institutes. Another answer to the question, CAT 2026: When and how to start preparation, is that nowadays, popular social media groups are trending and helping candidates to crack CAT and other management exams. One Topper of CAT told us that he joined the coaching institute and began preparing from their study material to learn new and efficient approaches to solving the questions.
In the initial 6 months of CAT preparation, candidates should only focus on clearing their concepts. One of the assets of CAT toppers is the clarity of fundamental concepts. Most of the toppers believe that it is easy to guess what type of questions will form part of the data interpretation & logical reasoning, and quantitative ability sections. But even guessing what will come in VARC, i.e., verbal ability and reading comprehension, is very challenging. To clear concepts, candidates must be aware of the CAT exam pattern and the CAT 2026 syllabus.
Once they have completed their basic knowledge of the CAT exam 2026, candidates will be closer to the CAT exam day. Agitation and stress are the most common during this period. Do not panic and follow the points below for CAT 2026;
Keeping track of previous year question papers, mainly there are three sections in the CAT. Candidates are advised to draw an efficient section-wise strategy as the CAT 2026 is almost near.
How to prepare for CAT VARC (Verbal and Reading Comprehension): Candidates should start reading newspapers, journals, blogs, articles, etc, to enhance their skills. They should try to solve comprehension, and inferencesfillll in the blanks with the right vocabulary choice, and read passages. Try adding a new word each day to your vocabulary.
How to Prepare for CAT Quantitative Ability: Focus on building up mathematics basics. Candidates should focus on topics like profit and loss, number systems, and geometry, as they might form key questions in the question paper of CAT 2026.
How to prepare for CAT DI & LR: Try to study basic topics like seating arrangements, blood relations, syllogisms, etc, to grip on this section. It is advisable for candidates not to use a calculator while solving questions from this section.
As for CAT 2026, candidates can focus and try improving the areas in which they feel are not as strong as compared to others. Instead of being melancholy about what all new can be learned, candidates should take the initiative to focus on and enhance their preparation for weaker areas.
Candidates are advised to check the previous year's question papers of CAT. After finishing the syllabus, candidates should try to revise at least 2-3 sample papers on a daily basis. It will help in improving speed as well as let candidates know how accurate they are. While solving the question papers or sample papers of CAT rigorously, there will be a time when candidates will not find any questions of a new type.
When there is almost a month left until CAT 2026, candidates will be required to keep calm and emphasise only what is majorly required. Below points mentioned below will help candidates in scoring great and most likely a call from any of the IIMs.
IIM will release the official CAT mock Test to give candidates a gist of the actual exam simulated environment. Solving the mock tests helps candidates to understand and assess the difficulty level of CAT 2026. Lakshya, the topper of CA, T said that “he was regular at testing myself via mock tests (once a week). Post any mock test, he gave some time to analyse the test and figure out what went wrong and then focused on that”. The most effective method of evaluating the current preparation level is the mock test.
Starting any new topic will lead to confusion. So, candidates should focus on and improve their strong areas. Do not waste your time figuring out new topics or trying to learn new concepts.
CAT results will be declared by the authorities on the first of January 2026, in online mode. Around 2.0 lakh candidates will appear for the exam. To learn and read the success stories of the toppers, when and how they started their CAT preparation, and their message for future candidates, go through the complete article on CAT toppers.
We wish you all the best for your CAT 2026 preparation journey. With the right approach and dedicated effort, you can certainly achieve your dream of studying at India's premier management institutes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In the final month, focus primarily on taking mock tests to evaluate your preparation. Analyze the results of these tests to identify your strengths and weaknesses. Refrain from starting new topics; instead, focus on refining your strong areas and continue practicing regularly.
For the Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) section, read newspapers, journals, and blogs regularly to improve reading skills and vocabulary. For Quantitative Ability, focus on key topics like profit and loss, number systems, and geometry. In the Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning section, practice basic concepts like seating arrangements, blood relations, and syllogisms to build your problem-solving skills.
The ideal time to start preparing for CAT 2025 is now. With about 5 months left for the exam, starting your preparation at this stage will give you ample time to understand the syllabus, practice regularly, and improve your skills.
The CAT 2025 exam will consist of three sections: Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension. The exam will have a total of 68 questions, and it will be a computer-based test (CBT) lasting for 2 hours. Correct answers will earn 3 marks, while incorrect answers will result in a 1-mark deduction.
You can prepare for CAT 2025 at home by creating a structured study plan, focusing on conceptual clarity, and practicing regularly with mock tests and previous years’ papers. Utilize high-quality study materials and online resources. Staying disciplined, maintaining consistency, and managing your time effectively are crucial to succeed in self-study for CAT.
Yes, with 6 months of dedicated preparation, you can certainly achieve a strong performance. Focus on time management, clearing your concepts, and practicing regularly. Start by mastering the basics, and then gradually work on improving your speed and accuracy through mock tests and sample papers.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
Here are some top colleges accepting XAT and CAT exams :
Top colleges accepting CAT:
IIMs (All Indian Institutes of Management)
FMS Delhi
SPJIMR Mumbai
MDI Gurgaon
IIT Bombay (SJMSOM)
IIT Delhi (DMS)
IIFT
IMT Ghaziabad
JBIMS Mumbai
Top colleges accepting XAT:
XLRI Jamshedpur
XIMB Bhubaneswar
IMT Ghaziabad
Great
Hi there,
A female candidate with a CAT percentile of 67.97 and low sectional scores should target private and tier-2/3 B-schools that accept overall CAT scores in the 60–70 percentile range and have flexible sectional criteria.
Some suitable options include AIMS Institute Bangalore, Doon Business School Dehradun, Christ Institute of
Hi there,
Yes, you are eligible for XISS Ranchi with a CAT percentile of 67.60.
According to recent admission trends, the CAT cutoff for the PGDM in Human Resource Management for the general category has been around 60 percentile. For other programs such as Marketing, Finance, and Rural Management, the
Hi there,
Careers360 offers a wide range of eBooks and study materials to assist with CAT preparation. You can access past CAT question papers with solutions to understand the exam pattern and difficulty level. Additionally, there are quantitative aptitude handbooks, cheat sheets, and section-specific practice sets for arithmetic, algebra, and
Hi there,
The minimum eligibility criteria for a general candidate to receive a call from IIM Sambalpur are as follows:
VARC: 65%ile
QUANTS: 65%ile
LRDI: 65%ile
Overall: 90%tile
Keep practising and aim to improve your score. You can also focus on other management exams where you may secure a strong
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