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How to Crack CAT 2025 in the First Attempt: The journey to crack CAT 2025 in the first attempt isn't just about hard work; it's about working smart and having the right approach. Many students find CAT to be a tough challenge, especially when attempting it for the first time. The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a highly competitive entrance exam for MBA aspirants in India.
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This article created a roadmap that will help students navigate the CAT 2025 preparation strategy to clear the CAT 2025 in the first attempt. From understanding the exam pattern to mastering each section, from creating a study plan to taking mock tests, we cover everything you need to know to maximise your chances of success.
The first step towards cracking the CAT exam in the first attempt is to thoroughly understand the exam pattern and syllabus. The CAT is a computer-based test consisting of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability.
It is essential to have a clear understanding of the exam pattern, the number of questions in each section, the duration of the exam, and the marking scheme. With a clear idea of the CAT exam pattern, you can get your CAT preparation right by improving your weak areas and strengthening your strong areas. Time management is also crucial while preparing for CAT 2025, as it is a time-bound exam, and you will need to solve many questions in a limited amount of time.
It's crucial to understand what you're preparing for. The Common Admission Test is not just any entrance exam - it's designed to test your aptitude, logical thinking, and problem-solving abilities rather than just your knowledge. This makes it different from many other exams you might have taken before.
The CAT exam is conducted once a year, usually in November or December, by one of the IIMs on a rotating basis. It's a computer-based test with a duration of 2 hours (120 minutes), divided into three sections:
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Quantitative Ability (QA)
Each section has its time limit, usually 40 minutes, which means you cannot move back and forth between sections.
Understanding the CAT 2025 marking scheme is equally important: you typically get +3 marks for each correct answer and -1 for each incorrect answer (unanswered questions don't carry any negative marks).
Now that you understand the CAT exam, let's look at how to prepare effectively and crack it in your first attempt.
To crack the CAT exam in the first attempt, candidates are advised to follow the steps below;
No one knows you better than you do. So, candidates are advised to assess themselves and understand where they stand in the race for the most challenging entrance exam for MBA admission in India. When they know their weak and strong points, they can diligently study for CAT 2025. After analyzing it, candidates will see they need guidance from the coaching institute.
Many resources will be helpful. This article also provides some of the best tips on how to clear the CAT exam on the first attempt. Coaching may help you understand the basic concept of the exam and create the right CAT preparation study plan, but it is not a guarantee of success.
Through self-preparation, candidates can crack the exam and achieve a good score enough to get a call from the IIMs and other top MBA colleges in India. All you will need is to remain focused, set targets, and draw the right strategies to crack the CAT and achieve the target score.
To get fruitful results for any task, one must put time and effort into it. Six months to one year is usually a reasonable amount of time to crack the CAT 2025 in the first attempt. One of the most significant advantages of starting early for CAT preparation is that in the fag end, candidates will not panic in case they had difficulty understanding any topic or subject.
Early preparation would mean they would have a reasonable amount of time to revise whatever they had studied during the early stages of CAT preparation. They would have ample time to prepare for CAT 2025 and would not be jostling towards the end. Therefore, aspirants who are only aiming to crack CAT 2025 must start preparation as early as possible.
An answer to the question of “how to crack the CAT exam for MBA” is that one should have a good grasp of the syllabus of the CAT. Though the IIM, which conducts the exam, does not prescribe any specific CAT syllabus, the relevance of the topics can be understood by going through past years' question papers on CAT. Based on the CAT sample papers and question papers, one gets to know the topics and subtopics from which the questions are primarily asked.
By knowing this, the candidates will be able to determine for themselves how much time they would need to devote to each of the topics. Having a good understanding of the CAT 2025 syllabus will pave the way for studying well and answering the questions with ease.
After going through the syllabus thoroughly, the candidates need to start section-wise preparation. Here are some tips that are given below for the same.
Preparation for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section - This section broadly consists of questions based on Reading Comprehension, Grammar, Vocabulary, and Verbal Reasoning. Each area in this section needs a different approach to preparation. To prepare for the reading comprehension part, students should inculcate the habit of reading newspapers and novels. For the vocabulary and grammar part, one should go for a good book for regular practice of both, and practice lots of questions based on verbal reasoning.
Preparation of Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) section—This section in the CAT checks one's analytical skills and logical rationale or reasoning. To deal with this section, it is essential to understand and clear the basic concepts. The DILR section consists of questions based on Line charts, Pie charts, Bar charts, and Mixed charts. Candidates should regularly practice many questions based on the mentioned topics to have a firm grasp and better clarify concepts.
Preparation for Quantitative Aptitude section - This section requires lots of practice and excellent command of the formulas, concepts, and theorems, as it is the section in which questions are asked from Maths topics only. Usually, candidates find this section the most rigorous, but having a strong command of basic concepts of the topics would give you an edge over others. This section includes questions on Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, and Mensuration. Strong mental calculation serves a lot to cater to this section.
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While you prepare for each section, make sure that you learn the basic concepts first and then move on to the more difficult ones. If your basics are strong, you will do well, as you will be able to solve the most complex problems without much difficulty. You should build your preparation on the principle that a durable house has a strong foundation and can survive in all kinds of adverse situations. Similar is the case with CAT preparation.
Regarding reading comprehension, start with reading books written in simple language, and after each paragraph or completion of a chapter, comprehend what was mentioned in it. It might be difficult in the initial stages, but it will prove beneficial later. Similarly, with quantitative ability, first be thorough with your ninth and tenth maths classes, and after knowing the formulae and their applications in easy questions, move on to the more difficult ones.
Start from basics: Don't rush into advanced problems. Make sure you understand the fundamental concepts first.
Use quality study material: Choose books and resources that explain concepts clearly with plenty of examples.
Practice incrementally: Begin with simple problems and slowly get ahead with complex ones as your understanding improves.
It is usually stated that time lost never returns. Therefore, the candidates must divide the time they have at hand as they prepare for the CAT and how to crack the IIM entrance exam. An average to brilliant student might easily prepare for the CAT in six months. Therefore, going by the trends in the past years, one can assume that questions will be asked from three sections.
Hence out of the six months, candidates must try to finish all three sections within a span of three to four months and keep the last two months before the exam to take the mock tests as they will be able to know the type of questions that are asked in the entrance exam.
Mock tests are an important resource for the preparation of any entrance exam. Candidates must take two to three mock tests in a week and should analyse them thoroughly to make their SWOT analysis. While taking the CAT mock tests, candidates must ensure that they adhere to the sectional and overall time limit.
It is only then that they will be able to solve the questions with ease on the day of the exam. If one adopts a leisurely approach, then in such a case, they would be decisive themselves, and once the CAT result is out, then it might not be to their liking. The primary objective of the mock tests is to identify one’s strong and weak areas.
Candidates should also practice using the model test papers of the different areas as they are updated and consist of new types of questions based on the same concept that you have studied throughout the preparation. Aspirants should practice a question of a new kind at least two to three times to understand the pattern.
The above-mentioned preparation tips will help you land a position at one of the premier MBA colleges in India. So, pull up your socks and start preparing for CAT 2025.
Toppers often credit section-wise strategies is the best plan to move ahead for the preparation especially if you have quite limited time. This strategy works best to facilitate quicker turnaround in fixing weak topics.
Here are some tips and strategies from last year's toppers. Rahul Gupta (100 percentiler) of CAT 2019 shares his section-wise preparation strategy for CAT. Rahul says, “Since I appeared for the CAT last year, also, this time I gave four to five months for serious preparation for the CAT. I started preparing for the CAT in June and took up the basics in each section”. Check the section-wise preparation strategy of Rahul.
For the English Section - As far as my preparation for reading comprehension and verbal ability is concerned, I used to read a lot of fiction novels as well as newspapers. In order to ensure that I could answer the questions with ease, again I used to practice with CAT mock tests.
For DI and LR Section - I used to practice a lot of questions from particular topics and also focused a lot on them while taking the mock test.
For Quantitative Ability - I studied basic theory, arithmetic, and number systems. Two months before the exam, I used to regularly take mock tests and devote at least four to five hours. I practised a lot of questions on Geometry so that I could solve them with ease, as solving more questions gave me the confidence to respond correctly on the day of the exam.
While starting early is ideal, many candidates find themselves with only 3 months to prepare for CAT 2025. Don’t be too stressed, just plan your strategies and implement them with your 100%.
Preparing for the CAT 2025 in just three months requires focused and efficient planning. Here’s how you can approach it:
Month -1: Familiarize yourself with the CAT exam pattern and syllabus. Understand the types of questions in each section: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). This will help you prioritize your study areas.
Month -2: Create a detailed study plan for each section. Allocate time based on your strengths and weaknesses. Focus on improving your weaker areas while maintaining your strengths through regular practice.
Month -3: Practice consistently. Solve previous years’ CAT papers and mock tests to get accustomed to the exam format and time constraints. Analyze your performance to identify areas needing more attention.
Lastly, revise strategically. In the final weeks before the exam, focus on revisiting concepts, formulas, and shortcuts. Stay calm and confident, and remember to take care of your health and well-being during this intensive period of preparation. With dedication and smart studying, you can make significant progress in preparing for the CAT within three months.
Setting your target colleges early can help you determine the CAT 2025 percentile you need to aim for and tailor your preparation accordingly.
Knowing which business schools accept CAT scores can motivate you during your preparation journey and help you plan your applications strategically.
As you prepare for CAT 2025, keep your ultimate goal in mind - securing admission to your dream B-school. With determination, strategic preparation, and the right mindset, you can certainly crack CAT 2025 in your first attempt and take the first step towards a successful management career. Best of luck with your CAT preparation journey!
Related Links for CAT 2025
Quick Links:
How to Prepare for CAT VARC (Verbal and Reading Comprehension)
How to Prepare for CAT DI & LR
How to Prepare for CAT Without Coaching
How to prepare for CAT in 3 months.
The CAT entrance exam is not as easy to crack. It is one of the toughest MBA entrance exams in India and requires thorough practice and preparation.
With the proper strategy and dedication, a focused aspirant can aim for the top CAT percentiles even on the first attempt.
Quality matters more than quantity. Start with 2-3 hours daily and gradually increase to 4-6 hours as the exam approaches. Consistency is key.
Ideally, 6-12 months of dedicated preparation are recommended. However, with focused effort, you can prepare effectively in 3-4 months.
CAT typically consists of three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Each section has a time limit of 40 minutes, making the total exam duration 2 hours.
Hi aspirant,
Preparing for any competitive exam, whether it is the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) or the Common Admission Test (CAT), requires a deliberate and consistent strategy.
CAT Exam Preparation Tips 2025
You can refer to the link given above for more information on the same,
You can also refer to this link.
All the best!
Hi aspirant,
You can also refer to the link given above for more information on the same.
All the best!
Hi aspirant,
The CUSAT CAT 2025 admit card has been released.
The admit card will be accessible for download on the official website, admissions.cusat.ac.in. Candidates can obtain their admit card by logging into their candidate portal and entering their User ID and password. The admit card will provide vital information including the exam date, time, and location.
You can also refer to this link for more information on the same.
All the best!
Hi aspirant,
As of the CAT 2024 exam for the MBA class of 2025-2027 at IIM Mumbai, the NC-OBC (Non-Creamy Other Backward Classes) category requires an overall percentile of 75.
It is essential to understand that these are the minimal qualifying percentiles required to go to the next level, the Personal Interview (PI). The actual cutoffs for receiving a PI call may be much higher, depending on the number of candidates, their profiles, and IIM Mumbai's special admission requirements for the year.
A higher score will considerably improve your chances of being shortlisted for the PI process.
CAT Cut off for IIM for OBC Category
You can also refer to the link given above for more information.
All the best!
All the best!
The CAT is a great option after graduation if you're interested in pursuing an MBA and building a career in management. It can open doors to top business schools like IIMs and lead to lucrative corporate roles. However, if you're not interested in management, there are other career options like higher studies, certifications, or entrepreneurship. Consider your career goals, interests, and investment before deciding.
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