CAT 2025: When and How to Start Preparation?

CAT 2025: When and How to Start Preparation?

Team Careers360Updated on 14 Dec 2025, 11:00 PM IST

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.

LiveIIM CAT 2025 Result (OUT) LIVE: MBA admission criteria for IIMs; CAT score weightage, cut-offsDec 26, 2025 | 11:01 PM IST

IIM Kozhikode will retain its three-stage admission process for the MBA (PGP) 2026–28 batch, with CAT 2025 scores carrying a final weightage of 35 percent. The minimum overall CAT cut-off for general category candidates remains at 85 percentile, with sectional qualifying scores required in VARC, DILR, and QA. Shortlisting of candidates will be based on CAT performance, academic record, and personal interview rounds.

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This Story also Contains

  1. CAT 2026: When and How to Start Preparation?
  2. CAT 2026 Exam Pattern
  3. CAT Exam Pattern
  4. CAT 2026 Syllabus
  5. CAT 2026: Strategic Preparation
  6. CAT 2026 Preparation without Coaching
  7. CAT 2026 in 6 Months? Yes, Possible!
  8. CAT 2026 in 3 Months? Yes, Possible!
  9. CAT 2026 in 1 Month? Yes, Possible!
  10. Know The Toppers of the CAT Exam
CAT 2025: When and How to Start Preparation?
CAT 2025: When and How to start preparation?

This article helps CAT 2026 aspirants understand the right approach to begin their preparation with confidence and direction.

CAT 2026: When and How to Start Preparation?

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.

CAT 2026 Exam Pattern

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.

CAT Exam Pattern

Particulars

Details

Exam Duration

2 hours

Total no. of questions

68 MCQs

Mode of CAT 2026

CBT i.e. Computer-Based Test

Marking scheme

  • A correct answer will carry three marks

  • For an incorrect answer, one mark will be deducted

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.

CAT 2026 Syllabus

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.

CAT 2026: Strategic Preparation

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

  • Time Management

  • Concept clarity with shortcuts

3 Months

  • Break preparation into sections

  • Work on areas of improvement

  • Practice sample paper/past years' questions

1 Month

  • Mock tests

  • Focus on Strong Topics

CAT 2026 Preparation without Coaching

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.

CAT 2026 in 6 Months? Yes, Possible!

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 -

Time Management

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.

Join Coaching Groups

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.

Concept clarity with shortcuts

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.

CAT 2026 in 3 Months? Yes, Possible!

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;

Break preparation into sections

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.

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Work on areas of improvement.

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.

Practice sample paper/past years' questions

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.

CAT 2026 in 1 Month? Yes, Possible!

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.

Mock tests

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.

Focus on Strong Topics

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.

Know The Toppers of the CAT Exam

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)

Q: When is the best time to start preparing for CAT 2025?
A:

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.

Q: What is the CAT 2025 exam pattern?
A:

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.

Q: How can I prepare for CAT 2025 without coaching?
A:

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.

Q: Is it possible to prepare for CAT 2025 in 6 months?
A:

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.

Q: What should I do in the last 1 month before the CAT 2025 exam?
A:

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.

Q: What should my preparation strategy be for the three sections of CAT 2025?
A:

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.

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Questions related to CAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CAT ?

HELLO,

With an overall 98.54 percentile ( QA/DILR 97.55, VARC 94.89) and strong academics 9/9/0, you have a good profile. As a B.Tech candidate you can expect calls from :-

  • IIM Shillong
  • IIM Udaipur
  • IIM Trichy
  • IIM Ranchi
  • IIM Raipur
  • IIM Kashipur
  • IIM Nagpur
  • IIM Indore is Boderline

Hope this

Hello aspirant,

Your kid has a good profile even in the general category with a BTech from IIT Delhi, three years of excellent job experience in a leading industry, and a 96 percentile in the CAT. He has a strong chance at reputable MBA schools like IIM Shillong, IIM Udaipur,

Your CAT percentile 49 is low for top MBA colleges. With 49 percentile, you may get admission in some private MBA colleges and lesser-known institutes. You can try colleges through state MBA counselling and management quota.


Here is the Career360 page for MBA expected cutoffs and lists of colleges you

With an overall CAT percentile of 82.71 in CAT 2025 as a general category candidate, along with section-wise percentiles of 80.56 in VARC, 75.81 in DILR and 84.56 in QA, your chances at top IIMs are limited, as most older IIMs usually shortlist general category candidates at much higher percentiles.

With an overall CAT 2025 percentile of 82.71, you are unlikely to get calls from the IIMs (including new or baby IIMs), as most of them generally shortlist candidates at 90+ percentile, even after considering category and profile factors. However, this percentile is still quite decent and opens doors to