How to Do Time Management for CAT 2025 Exam - Expert Tips & Strategies

How to Do Time Management for CAT 2025 Exam - Expert Tips & Strategies

Ongoing Event

CAT Admit Card Date:12 Nov' 25 - 30 Nov' 25

Team Careers360Updated on 12 Nov 2025, 11:13 PM IST

As CAT-2025 is around the corner, you have to make optimum utilization of the remaining time. Most of the aspirants focus on time-based preparation, while some of the candidates completely ignore it. In the CAT exam, time management is very important during the exam as this exam is 120 minutes long and divided into three sections of each, 40-minutes long, and has around 22 questions. Also, you can visit the CAT-2025 Exam Pattern to understand the pattern of the exam this year.

LiveCAT 2025 Admit Card (Out) LIVE: IIM MBA mock test link active; download hall ticket at iimcat.ac.inNov 12, 2025 | 8:17 PM IST

CAT 2025 | The last 5 years' trends for average, median, and highest salary packages secured by PGP students of IIM Ahmedabad are as follows. 

Batch / Year

Highest package

Median Package

Average Package

2023

Rs 1,14,19,300

Rs 31,58,720

Rs 34,45,386

2022

Rs 61,48,640

Rs 31,49,910

Rs 32,79,923





2021

Rs 55,00,000

Rs 27,60,000

Rs 27,54,721

2020

Rs 55,88,000

Rs 25,00,003

Rs 26,12,600

2019

Rs 70,00,000

Rs 24,00,000

Rs 25,83,126

Read More

This Story also Contains

  1. How to Manage Time for the CAT 2025 Exam?
  2. How to manage time in the CAT Exam: Toppers' Advice
  3. Why Is It Important to Properly Manage Time for CAT 2025?
  4. Strategies for time management during preparation for CAT - 2025
  5. During Exam Day - How to Do Time Management During the CAT Exam?
  6. Do You Know the Art of Leaving?
  7. CAT Exam 2025 Time Management Tips: Section-Wise Strategies
  8. OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES
How to Do Time Management for CAT 2025 Exam - Expert Tips & Strategies
How to Do Time Management for CAT Exam 2025

You will hardly get 2 minutes for each question. Considering the difficulty level of questions in this exam, 2 minutes are not enough if you don't follow the right approach. In this article, we are going to discuss some fruitful strategies to improve your time management skills, along with an overview of the test pattern and how to structure your study plan. While you may adapt these recommendations to your particular needs, keep in mind that CAT sections must be completed in a specified pattern. Aligning your strategies with this framework will allow you to get the greatest outcomes.

How to Manage Time for the CAT 2025 Exam?

Time management will be crucial for the CAT 2025 examination. Time management skills can be developed in three simple steps:

  • Make a target
  • Divide 40 minutes into each section accordingly to achieve your target
  • Apply this in your mock tests
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Remember, you have just 40 minutes for each section, and you have to complete each section within this time. It should also be remembered that changing between parts is not permitted throughout the examination. To succeed in the CAT test, MBA candidates must develop efficient time management skills both before and after the exam. Although the number of questions in each segment varies, the allocated time stays similar. As a result, applicants must grasp how to complete each component within the allotted time.

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How to manage time in the CAT Exam: Toppers' Advice

When we say how to do time management for the CAT, it not only refers to the overall timings of the CAT exam but also includes the sectional timing as well. One of the theories on time management is the “goal-setting theory,” which is based on the concept that a person can be more motivated to perform any task if they have a clear and specific goal to achieve.

As per the topper of the CAT, Vishesh Garg, “Time management should be considered the fourth section of the CAT examination. It is not just preparing verbal ability, reasoning, and quantity, but preparing all three and attempting them within 3 hours of the stipulated time.”. For him, time management & hard work will lead to success for sure.”

Another CAT topper, Ashish Sen, said, “Time management combined with my knowledge of my strong and weak areas benefited me to get 99+, which I never expected. I managed to schedule the preparation time along with placement preparation. During the exam, I found 2 sections in DILR time taking and chose not to attempt them. Coming to QA, I knew which questions I would solve in 60 minutes and attempted only 20 questions.”

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Why Is It Important to Properly Manage Time for CAT 2025?

As per the exam pattern of CAT 2025, candidates will have 40 minutes to solve any particular section. In 40 minutes per section, candidates will have to solve both multiple-choice questions as well as TITA questions. Henceforth, it becomes imperative for candidates to understand and manage their time well.
Time management has the greatest impact on your CAT score. A study shows that if the time taken per question is increased, the score of a candidate drastically decreases.

Expected PercentileTime taken Per Question
More than 99 percentile1 to 1.5 minutes
95 to 99 Percentile1.5 to 3 minutes
90 to 95 percentile3 to 4.5 minutes

Strategies for time management during preparation for CAT - 2025

Before-Exam-Day-How-to-do-Time-management-for-CAT

To crack any exam with a good score, two things are very important: Accuracy and Time management. Here, we are going to discuss a few strategies to develop time management skills during preparation.

1. Make a Proper Time Table

  • Making a timetable will allow candidates to channel their preparation in the right direction
  • Always remember that planning before execution should be made compulsory
  • Another time management theory for CAT is the ABC System theory, which states that to use time more effectively, a person needs to prioritize the tasks that need to be undertaken
  • Shivam Chandak (one of the toppers of CAT) said, “I had not joined any coaching, but I took the test series and also did previous CAT papers. I think self-study is sufficient when one has a clear picture of his/her schedule. That being said, I think good coaching will improve one's chances, provided he/she maintains self-study along with it.”

Also read: CAT - 2025 Preparation Time Table

Quick Link -

2. Start With The Unknown

  • Since you have a good 6 to 9 months of time duration in hand, you can always start with those CAT syllabus topics that are unknown or that you find difficult.

  • Make sure to find apparent and meticulous ways of solving questions using time management tricks

  • To start ahead with the unknown, it is advisable to spend one hour daily on each topic and simultaneously make notes on the same.

3. Practice Mocks With Set Schedules

  • To gain an understanding of the CAT exam day scenario, giving mocks is extensively recommended. The mock test of CAT will help candidates assess themselves, understand the exam pattern well, and see the preparation level required.
  • Do not take a mock test of CAT for granted. CAT topper Aditya Devalla said, “He used to regularly take the mock test and devote at least four to five hours. He practiced a lot of questions on Geometry so that he was able to solve it with ease, as solving more questions gave him the confidence to respond correctly on the day of the exam.”

  • Topper Abhilasha Balakrishnan said, “He attempted mocks regularly, identified his strengths and weaknesses in every mock, capitalized on his strengths and worked on his weaknesses, and repeated this cycle. By the time CAT arrived, he had given around 20–25 mocks, which gave him exposure to a lot of questions and DILR sets. Rest; it was just being present on the day of the exam and applying all of this properly.”

4. Keep Reverse Strategy

  • Do not try to work out your brain on what is unimportant. Solve the previous question papers of CAT using the reverse strategy, especially for those questions that seem difficult to leave. Understand the questions and look out for the options. In the reverse strategy, candidates first have to go through the options given and then try to put the question with options to find the most suitable answer.

Quick Link:

During Exam Day - How to Do Time Management During the CAT Exam?

During-Exam-Day-How-to-do-Time-Management-for-CAT

  1. Solve Easy Questions First: On exam day, as soon as you start your CAT question paper, it is advisable to start with easy questions. Here, easy questions mean those that candidates are comfortable solving, i.e., easily understandable questions, quickly solved, and require less time. Finding such questions becomes easy only when you know the time management for CAT. For questions that appear to be unknown or time-consuming, mark them for later on. While you are in the exam hall to give the CAT, before starting a section, spend some initial time scanning the questions. On the top right corner, a small button on the screen will allow candidates to look at the entire section in a single view.

  1. Attempt TITA Questions at the End: Every year, IIMs include more than five TITA questions in the question paper. TITA questions are attractive because there is no negative marking. Candidates tend to waste a lot of time on TITA questions on account of no negative marking, as they forget they have MCQs to solve as well. However, candidates forget that TITA questions are time-consuming. Henceforth, it is advisable to do TITA questions at the end when you are done with the MCQs of that particular section.

  1. Make an Average Time for Each Question: Before starting the CAT question paper, it is advisable to set an average time per question. If you are unable to do so, try taking an average time per section, and along with that, leave some additional time to review what you have answered to ensure chances of accuracy.

  1. Apply Reverse Strategy For MCQs - To properly utilize the technique of time management for CAT, try solving the multiple-choice questions with the reverse strategy for those questions that are difficult and understandable.

Quick Link:

Do You Know the Art of Leaving?

To save time and do sectional time management for CAT, it is crucial to remember that you know the art of leaving. Leave those questions unanswered that you think are difficult, time-consuming, or out of your reach.

CAT Exam 2025 Time Management Tips: Section-Wise Strategies

Now, let us go in-depth on section-wise time management strategies for each section of the CAT examination to effectively attempt the CAT 2025 exam.

Time Management Tips for CAT VARC 2025

For CAT VARC 2025,

  • Manage your time by quickly skimming through passages to understand their main ideas before diving into questions.
  • Start with questions you find easier to build confidence and ensure you get marks early.
  • Set strict time limits for each passage and stick to them to avoid spending too long on any one part.
  • Practice regularly under timed conditions to improve your reading speed and comprehension.
  • Use the process of elimination on tricky questions to save time and make better choices.

Time Management Tips for CAT DILR 2025

For CAT DILR 2025,

  • Manage your time effectively by starting with questions or sets you find easier to boost your confidence.
  • Quickly scan the entire section to identify which sets you can solve faster and prioritize those.
  • Allocate a specific amount of time for each set and stick to it to ensure you don't spend too long on any single one.
  • Practice regularly with timed exercises to improve your ability to analyze data quickly and accurately.
  • Stay organized and avoid getting stuck on difficult questions—move on and come back if time permits. Keeping a steady pace and staying calm will help you efficiently handle the data interpretation and logical reasoning challenges.

Time Management Tips for CAT Quantitative Aptitude 2025

For CAT QA 2025,

  • Improve your mental math skills and use shortcuts and formulas to speed up problem-solving.
  • Familiarize yourself with question patterns by practising with previous years' papers.
  • Track your time during practice to gauge your pace and make adjustments as needed.
  • If a question is too complex or time-consuming, move on and return to it if time allows.
  • Keeping a steady pace and focusing on efficient problem-solving will help you navigate the quantitative section effectively.

B-School Accepting CAT Scores: Location-wise

OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES

Candidates are highly encouraged to download and review the resources listed below to improve their CAT 2025 exam preparation. These ebooks have been specifically designed to meet the needs of management exam aspirants and can be extremely beneficial for their studies.

eBook Title

Download Links

3000+ Most Important Words - Vocabulary Builder

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500+ Most Important Idioms and Phrases

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300+ Most Important Phrasal Verbs

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Permutation & Combination - Video Lectures and Practice Questions

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Mastering DILR Questions with Expert Solutions

Download Here

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How can mock exams assist me prepare for the CAT?
A:

Mock exams provide a genuine exam experience. They assist you in understanding the test structure, assessing your preparation level, and identifying your strengths and shortcomings.

Q: How should I manage my time throughout the CAT exam?
A:

Do not spend more than two or three minutes on any one question. If you can't figure it out fast, on to the next one. Instead of feeling slowed down by difficult questions, concentrate on answering simple ones quickly.

Q: How much time should I spend preparing for the CAT exam?
A:

To adequately prepare for the CAT, study for at least 6-7 hours every day for 6-8 months.

Q: Can I prepare for the CAT without taking a coaching class?
A:

Yes, you can. There are several free materials accessible online, such as videos on YouTube. Practice regularly, focus on your weaknesses, and use past CAT papers for studying.

Q: How should I begin studying for the CAT exam?
A:

Create a study timetable to keep track of what you need to learn. Prioritize tough subjects and devote an hour every day to them.

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Questions related to CAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CAT ?

Hi there,

You have to apply separately for each symbiosis college, like SIBM Pune, as they as not automatically included. The CAT form automatically includes many IIMs, but the SNAP exam is a separate test that is given for admission to Symbiosis Institute, which requires its own separate application and fee.

Hope it helps!!!

Toppers usually study 3–6 focused hours a day, but it’s not just about time — it’s about smart preparation and consistency. Focus on quality practice, regular mocks, and targeted revision.

Check this complete guide to learn how toppers plan their day and reach 99 percentile: Read Now

Hello,

To get admitted to the Institute of Management Studies (IMS), BHU, for an MBA in 2026, you must clear the CAT entrance exam. For that you need to fill out the application form of the CAT in August 2026, which you can get on the Official CAT website

I hope it will clear your query!!

Hello

You can get all the papers on the Careers360 website. To access the paper and download it for practice, just visit here:

https://design.careers360.com/articles/nift-cat-2024-question-paper-with-solutions

Hope it will help you!!

Hello dear candidate,

Yes, you have a very good chance of getting a BPT seat with 488 out of 600 and TS EAMCET rank of 14,000 under the ST category.

As the cut off of BPT for ST category students are generally between 25,000 to 45,000 ranks, depending upon the college and you have TS EAMCET rank of 14,000.

Thank you.