Parul University MBA Admissions 2025
Registrations Deadline- 12th June | India's youngest NAAC A++ accredited University | NIRF rank band 151-200 | 2200 Recruiters | 45.98 Lakhs Highest Package
CAT 2025: When and How to Start Preparation? When to start CAT preparation 2025? It is one of the most frequently asked questions by the CAT aspirants now. It is important that the candidates understand how to start preparing for CAT 2025. With almost 5 months left for the CAT examination, now is the ideal time to start CAT preparation. Planning for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 is a crucial step toward your dream of studying at India's most prestigious management institutes. The CAT exam is conducted every year by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). It is a computer-based entrance exam that serves as the gateway to not only the IIMs but also hundreds of other top management institutes across India.
For those aiming to secure admission to top B-Schools for the academic year 2025-27, the time to start preparing is NOW. The question of when? And how? It will disappear after students confidently navigate the CAT Exam preparation. This article will give insights into every aspect of CAT 2025 preparation – from when to begin studying to how to structure your preparation plan across different timeframes. This article in depth goes in-depth on how to start preparing for CAT 2025 by also specifying the ideal time to start CAT preparation.
The question is when and how to start preparing for CAT 2025. 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. The CAT 2025 is expected to be held tentatively in November. To know about the preparation plan and timing, the best books for CAT 2025, and the strategy to devise a study plan for CAT, candidates must go through this complete article on CAT 2025, as well as when and how to start preparation by Careers360. The test evaluates your analytical abilities, problem-solving skills, and comprehension capabilities. The candidates can also make use of the CAT 2025 early preparation guide if they are in need of one to enhance their CAT 2025 preparation.
Registrations Deadline- 12th June | India's youngest NAAC A++ accredited University | NIRF rank band 151-200 | 2200 Recruiters | 45.98 Lakhs Highest Package
Highest CTC: Rs 18.33 LPA | Average CTC: Rs 7.39 LPA | Experiential Learning | Classes by Industry Professionals | Alumni Mentorship Program
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 2025. Candidates who are going to fill out the CAT 2025 application form must check the exam pattern beforehand to prepare and do well in the CAT exam. The exam pattern of CAT 2025 is expected to be similar to that of 2025, but the candidates can expect some changes. Given below is an exam pattern for CAT 2025.
Particulars | Details |
Exam Duration | 2 hours |
Total no. of questions | 68 MCQs |
Mode of CAT 2025 | CBT i.e. Computer-Based Test |
Marking scheme |
|
Sections (3) | Quantitative ability |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | |
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension |
The vast CAT 2025 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 2025 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 2025.
Based on the past year, the CAT syllabus 2025 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 2025 success. Without a clear roadmap, you might study inefficiently or miss important topics.
Once aware of the CAT 2025 syllabus, candidates must divide their preparation to answer the question of when to start preparing for CAT 2025. It is common for candidates to get confused even after knowing the exam pattern and syllabus, and waste a lot of CAT 2025 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-
Month-Wise Preparation Plan for CAT 2025
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 2025 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 2025 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 2025 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 2025 on their own, then such candidates should join some coaching institutes. Another answer to the question, CAT 2025: 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 2025 syllabus.
Once they have completed their basic knowledge of the CAT exam 2025, 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 2025;
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 2025 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 2025.
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 2025, 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 2025, 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 2025. 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 2025, 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 2025 preparation journey. With the right approach and dedicated effort, you can certainly achieve your dream of studying at India's premier management institutes.
Read more-
Quick Links-
Why, When, and How to Take a CAT Mock Test
CAT Exam: Important topics for preparation
How do I do Time Management for CAT?
How to do Time Management for CAT?
How many questions should I attempt in the CAT to get the 99th percentile?
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.
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.
Hi aspirant,
You can refer to the link attached above for more information on the same.
All the best!
Hi aspirant,
You can refer to the link given above for more information on the same.
All the best!
Hello dear,
The CAT exam requires a significant amount of time for preparation, including brushing up on basic concepts and practicing advanced problem-solving. Starting too early can feel overwhelming and may not be sustainable with other academic commitments.
The CAT exam requires a level of focus and maturity that is not always present in class 9. Starting preparation at this stage can be challenging to maintain. At class 9, you're primarily focused on learning foundational concepts. So you just need to boost your fundamentals by practicing more and more at class 9 because the Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT syllabus includes all the topics of Mathematics from Class 9 to 10 such as Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra, Trigonometry and Mensuration.
Start Preparation 12 Months Prior:
Identify Weak Sections:
I hope you got your answer, That's all Thank you.
IIFT CAT Cutoff 2024
IIFT Delhi
General: 95–98 percentile
OBC: 90+
SC: 85–95
ST/PwD: 75–93
IIFT Kolkata
General: 85–95 percentile
OBC/SC/ST: 50–95 (varies)
Note: Final selection also includes WAT, GD, PI, academics, and work experience.
To prepare for CDS, CGL, and CAT during graduation, create a clear study schedule focusing on basics, reasoning, and aptitude. Practice daily mocks, improve time management, and stay consistent. Balance college and preparation with discipline and regular revision.
A career as Marketing Director is also known as a marketing expert who is responsible for the overall marketing aspect of the company. He or she oversees plans and develops the company's budget. The marketing Director collaborates with the business team to plan and develop the marketing and branding strategies for the company's products or services.
A Business Development Executive identifies and pursues new business opportunities to drive company growth. They generate leads, build client relationships, develop sales strategies, and analyse market trends. Collaborating with internal teams, they aim to meet sales targets. With experience, they can advance to managerial roles, playing a key role in expanding the company’s market presence and revenue.
Content Marketing Specialists are also known as Content Specialists. They are responsible for crafting content, editing and developing it to meet the requirements of digital marketing campaigns. To ensure that the material created is consistent with the overall aims of a digital marketing campaign, content marketing specialists work closely with SEO and digital marketing professionals.
A Sales Manager leads a sales team to meet targets, formulates strategies, analyses performance, and monitors market trends. They typically hold a degree in management or related fields, with an MBA offering added value. The role often demands over 40 hours a week. Strong leadership, planning, and analytical skills are essential for success in this career.
A marketing manager is a person who oversees a company or product marketing. He or she can be in charge of multiple programmes or goods or can be in charge of one product. He or she is enthusiastic, organised, and very diligent in meeting financial constraints. He or she works with other team members to produce advertising campaigns and decides if a new product or service is marketable.
A Marketing manager plans and executes marketing initiatives to create demand for goods and services and increase consumer awareness of them. A marketing manager prevents unauthorised statements and informs the public that the business is doing everything to investigate and fix the line of products. Students can pursue an MBA in Marketing Management courses to become marketing managers.
An SEO Analyst is a web professional who is proficient in the implementation of SEO strategies to target more keywords to improve the reach of the content on search engines. He or she provides support to acquire the goals and success of the client’s campaigns.
Digital marketing is growing, diverse, and is covering a wide variety of career paths. Each job function aids in the development of effective digital marketing strategies and techniques. The aims and objectives of the individuals who opt for a career as a digital marketing executive are similar to those of a marketing professional: to build brand awareness, promote company services or products, and increase conversions. Individuals who opt for a career as Digital Marketing Executives, unlike traditional marketing companies, communicate effectively through suitable technology platforms.
Individuals who opt for a career as a business analyst look at how a company operates. He or she conducts research and analyses data to improve his or her knowledge about the company. This is required so that an individual can suggest the company strategies for improving their operations and processes.
In a business analyst job role a lot of analysis is done, things are learned from past mistakes and the successful strategies are enhanced further. A business analyst goes through real-world data in order to provide the most feasible solutions to an organisation. Students can pursue Business Analytics to become Business Analysts.
NAAC A+ Grade | Ranked No.1 Private University in India (QS World University Rankings 2025)
Amongst top 3% universities globally (QS Rankings)
NAAC A+ Grade | Among top 100 universities of India (NIRF 2024) | 40 crore+ scholarships distributed
Deadline: 30th May'25 | MBA @ DES Pune University | Top Ranked B-School | 100% Placement Assistance
Ranked #41 amongst institutions in Management by NIRF | 100% Placement
International Tie Ups | Project Based Learning | State of the art infrastructure | Applications Closing Soon!