Indus Business Academy (IBA), Bangalore PGDM Admissions 2025
Triple Accreditation (NBA, IACBE & SAQS) | Dual Specialisation | Merit-Based Scholarships Available
CAT Exam 2025 Preparation in 6 months: Aspirants preparing for the Common Admission Test (CAT 2025) often wonder when to start preparation for 2025. With just six months until CAT 2025, now is the perfect time to develop a structured preparation strategy.
CAT 2025 will be conducted in November tentatively by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). In this article, CAT Aspirants will gain access bout a strategic 6-month preparation plan. These helpful and proper CAT preparation books provide an easy-to-follow guide with simple tips. These helpful and useful CAT preparation books will boost student performance in the CAT exam.
CAT 2025: VARC, DILR, and Quant: MCQs & Weightages | Chapter-wise MCQs
CAT 2025 Study Material: VARC | Quantitative Aptitude | 60 Days Study Material by Experts
Online MBA: Guide | Universities That Redefine Online MBA | Online MBA at IIMs
Students who scored well in past exams strongly suggest starting your preparation at least six months ahead of time - and starting even earlier can give you even better results! This helpful guide from Careers360 shares tested and proven methods to maximize your CAT preparation during these six months.
The first important step for CAT aspirants is to determine what subjects they are good at and which ones need more work. Aspirants must follow proper syllabus analysis for CAT 2025 and follow the tips shared by experts. The CAT 2025 Exam pattern is essential to read at an early stage of preparation, as it will increase the chances of a better score.
There are a lot of CAT preparation books available online. By going through CAT preparation books or CAT preparation tips from toppers, candidates can easily crack the exam with a good percentile.
Week | Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
1 | Basic Numbers, Classification, conversions (Decimal to Fraction), Base conversion | Bar Graph | Nouns |
2 | Pie Chart | Pronouns | |
3 | Divisibility Rules Remainder Theorem | Line Graph | Verbs |
4 | Tables | Conjunctions | |
5 | Spider | Articles | |
6 | Caselett | Prepositions | |
7 | Data Interpretation | Reading | |
8 | Tenses | ||
9 | Loans and Installments | Subject-verb agreement | |
10 | Direction | Conditionals | |
11 | Sentence correction | ||
12 | RC and PYQs | ||
13 | Active and Passive Voice | ||
14 | Functions and Graph | Distribution | Direct and Indirect Speech |
15 | Maxima and Minima | Selection | Verbal Analogies |
16 | Logarithm and Modulus | Miscellaneous | Participles |
17 | Decision Making | Parallelism | |
18 | Problems involving Ages | Comparison | |
19 | One word substitution | ||
20 | Synonyms and Discussion on PYQs | ||
21 | Data sufficiency in LR | Antonyms and Discussion on PYQs | |
22 | Parajumbles and PYQs | ||
23 | Idioms and Phrases and PYQs | ||
24 | Trains and Streams | Critical Reasoning | |
25 | Misc Part-1 | ||
26 | Escalators | Mathematical Grid | Misc Part-2 |
If they focus only on the relevant topic, aspirants can save up to 30% of study time. Understanding of relevant topics comes through familiarising oneself with the CAT Exam pattern.
Aspirants will benefit from Higher accuracy (by 25%) if they understand the CAT 2025 exam pattern. It lets you predict question types in the MBA Entrance exam and avoid surprises. 6-month study plan will help aspirants to focus on adequate entrance exam preparation.
Section name | Total Questions |
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 |
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 |
Total | 68 |
Regular practice leads to faster and more accurate solutions. If preparing with a 6-month preparation, it will help students review real-time errors and correct them early to prevent them from becoming habits.
Check out some tips to consider when only six months are left for the CAT 2025 exam preparation. These tips are for those opting for coaching to crack and those looking to prepare for the CAT 2025 without coaching in six months.
No matter how strongly motivated a person is, when the exams approach, tension and complexity will follow. It does when you don’t know about your ideas. Therefore, we should develop confidence in processing our preparation by understanding, organising, and remembering important information.
Candidates are often confused about whether to choose self-study or training. As many experts with an engineering background have suggested, there is a superior in the QA section. In contrast, students from non-engineering backgrounds may choose the training as it helps them to solve questions within a limited time frame. However, self-examination can turn everything into cake pieces, the main elements of which are self-motivation and discipline.
CAT preparation in 6 months requires the candidates to set a weekly target for themselves and try to achieve it. Candidates shall also include giving a CAT mock test once every 15 days and sticking to it. While taking the mock test, try to get at least five questions correct in each section.
Knowing one’s strong and weak parts can help determine the level of preparation and the areas that require more attention. However, working in weak regions does not mean you will not look towards strong areas. Always start with preparation and start with your strong areas so that you have the confidence to face your weaknesses.
The secret to aiming and achieving how to crack the CAT 2025 in six months is to master the art of time management. There is always an overemphasis on CAT preparation. So, you don’t have to put in 6-7 hours to prepare, but rather measure them into actionable targets. Set aside a standard time that suits your routine and stick to it. The best way is to create a schedule that helps to prepare well for CAT 2025.
It allows the allocation of fixed time per section daily, helping students better utilize time. While preparing for CAT 202,5, students need strategies and better study resources to increase productivity.
Section-wise CAT preparation helps to identify weak vs. strong sections. Accurate Performance Tracking is very much required during the CAT 2025 6-month study preparation.
Now that you have your basic concept, it is time to gear up. Attend various online classes regardless of whether you join a training company. Continue reading it online or in newspapers like The Hindu. Practice 3-5 questions daily on para jumbles, RCs, para summaries, and other grammar-related topics. Finally, ensure each weak person takes a quiz and evaluates their vocabulary skills.
Initially, solving DILR questions may seem tricky. However, once you start solving 3-5 sets daily, you will become more familiar with the method, speed up, and be able to solve them more accurately.
To get started preparing a QA section, you must clear your basics topic-wise. Starting with topics like profit and loss, percentage, and arithmetic, there are a few issues around which questions are framed. Grind on the subject and look at all the questions you can ask. If you have cleared your concepts in this section, you can do calculations in your mind while solving QA questions in CAT.
There are many of the best CAT preparation books for the CAT 2025 exam, which can help you crack it in six months. While preparing for CAT, make sure that you refer to good study materials. Many toppers consider that having good CAT preparation books and materials helped to clear the CAT and paved the way for the best B-schools in India. The table below shows some CAT preparation books and syllabi that were preferred by last year’s CAT toppers. These books are the key to preparing for the CAT exam.
CAT 2025 preparation materials and the best CAT books are essential in determining the success of a CAT aspirant. Now let's focus on a few CAT preparation books that have the potential to bring the best results in 6 months.
Book Title | Authors | Features |
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for the CAT | Arun Sharma | Comprehensive coverage of DI topics, self-sufficient for preparation |
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT | Nishit K. Sinha | Strong concept building, practical application of problems, graded difficulty levels |
Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency | Ananta Ashisha | Focuses on the interpretation of data and the sufficiency of information, a practical approach |
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT | Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay | Step-by-step approach to improve verbal ability and comprehension, including practice questions |
30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary | Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis/Simon & Schuster | Enhances vocabulary through practical exercises and learning strategies |
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT | Sharma and Upadhyay | Comprehensive coverage of verbal ability topics, practical exercises, and mock tests |
High School English Grammar and Composition | Wren & Martin | Covers the entire syllabus of English grammar, includes practice exercises, and self-assessment sections |
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT | Arun Sharma | Detailed coverage of quantitative topics includes shortcuts and tips for solving problems |
NCERT Mathematics Books (Class 6 to 10) | NCERT | Fundamental concepts of mathematics, clear explanations, are essential for building a strong foundation in maths |
PSC for VA for CAT | Nishit Sinha | Covers verbal ability topics, a practical approach with practice questions, and previous year papers |
Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT | Sarvesh Sharma | Comprehensive coverage of quantitative topics includes advanced-level problems and solutions |
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | Abhijit Guha | Detailed coverage of quantitative topics includes numerous practice questions and solved examples |
CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | Gautam Puri | Practical approach to DI and LR topics, includes practice questions and a mock test. |
Check out how one can divide their CAT 6-month preparation month-wise. These provided inputs will help candidates during their CAT preparation days.
Begin your journey to unfold the path to how to prepare for the CAT exam in six months by analyzing where you stand. You can explore this by providing multiple mock tests and evaluating your answers closely. You must identify weak and strong areas and gather good online MBA CAT preparation books or materials to fix those errors.
During these months, students should focus on building speed and accuracy by becoming familiar with the techniques for solving quant questions, shortcuts for DI and LR, and the strategy for verbal skills. These months are a foundation month for your CAT preparation and can give you more time.
During these critical months, when you grade in November, you should focus only on training and speed. Solve as many questions as possible by selecting the CAT sample papers. Join various training institutes for their mock test series and get a pinch of salt through your results. Examine your performance after giving a mock test for CAT 2025 and check where you went wrong.
With CAT 2025 just around the corner, we focus on your scoring—work according to the CAT exam pattern and question papers. Make sure there is a good correction. This will undoubtedly assist the students in cracking and unraveling the question of how to crack CAT 2025 in six months.
Preparing for the CAT exam in six months requires a structured and disciplined approach. Here’s a detailed strategy focusing on the key areas:
Start by building a strong foundation in all the sections: Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability, and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning. Use standard textbooks and online resources to grasp the fundamental concepts.
Stay updated on any changes in the CAT exam pattern, syllabus, and important dates. Regularly check official notifications and reliable websites for the latest information.
Effective time management is crucial for CAT. Practice solving questions within a set time limit. Gradually increase your speed while maintaining accuracy. Use timers during practice sessions to develop a sense of timing.
Mock tests are essential for simulating the exam environment and evaluating your preparation. Take full-length mock tests regularly, analyse your performance, and identify areas for improvement. Focus on minimising errors and optimising your strategy.
Preparing for the CAT exam can be challenging, and avoiding common mistakes can significantly improve your performance. Here are some mistakes to watch out for:
Over emphasizing one section while neglecting others can hurt your overall score. Ensure a balanced approach to all sections: Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability, and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning.
Mock tests are crucial for understanding the exam pattern and improving time management. Avoid skipping them or not analyzing your performance thoroughly.
While shortcuts can save time, a firm grasp of fundamental concepts is essential. Relying only on shortcuts can be risky, especially for difficult questions.
Consistency is key in CAT preparation. Irregular study habits can lead to gaps in knowledge and inadequate practice.
Identify and work on your weak areas early in your preparation. Ignoring them can lead to low scores in specific sections.
Practical application of concepts through problem-solving is more important than just theoretical knowledge. Practice a variety of questions regularly.
Taking care of your mental and physical health is crucial. Avoid excessive stress by taking regular breaks and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
A structured study plan helps in covering all topics systematically. Without a plan, you may miss important areas or run out of preparation time.
Getting ready for CAT 2025 might seem like a big mountain to climb, but with a 6-month preparation, you can make steady progress without feeling stressed. Keep track of your preparation progress by taking mock tests, and always take time to understand your mistakes so you won't repeat them. Remember, successful preparation isn't about studying hard for a short time—it's about studying smart consistently over these six months!
Also read:
The time required to prepare for any exam will vary from person to person. Some learn fast, some learn slowly. The amount of time one has to devote to CAT preparation depends on how much work one has to do with its capabilities. The commerce students/ engineering students/ working professionals have to focus on their weakest areas.
You can definitely. Candidates joined the training to be disciplined and motivated throughout the preparation. However, this is a completely personal choice. This article also provides the details for CAT preparation strategy without coaching.
Focus on taking full-length mock tests, analyzing performance, revising concepts, and improving weak areas. Avoid learning new concepts.
The more you practice, the better you prepare for CAT 2025. So it is wise to start preparing for the CAT exam in advance so you have to time to cover all important topics properly. This is how candidates can achieve 99+ percentile. Also, take CAT mock tests as this will strengthen your preparation and grasp on topics.
There are a lot of CAT preparation books that are available online. By going through CAT preparation books or CAT preparation tips from toppers, candidates can easily crack the exam with a good percentile. Before starting the CAT exam preparation, candidates must also analyse the exam pattern and strategy suitable to them.
Yes, CAT preparation requires at least 6 to 8 months. But, if a candidate has previous experience in the CAT exam they only need 3 to 4 months to prepare well for the CAT exam.
Yes, it is possible of crack CAT in 6 month, all a candidate need is best reference books for CAT preparation along with dedication and hard work.
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.
Hello,
Yes, CAT is a better option if you want to pursue an MBA from top institutes like the IIMs and other reputed B-Schools in India. It is highly recognized and opens many career opportunities in management. However, if you want other options, exams like XAT, SNAP, or GMAT are also good.
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 (BDE) is a professional responsible for identifying growth opportunities and fostering strategic partnerships to enhance a company's market position. Typically, a BDE conducts market research, analyses industry trends, and identifies potential clients or business prospects. He or she plays a crucial role in developing and implementing sales strategies to achieve revenue targets.
A BDE often collaborates with cross-functional teams, including marketing and product development, to align business objectives. Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills are essential for success in this role. BDE strives to expand the company's customer base, drive sales, and contribute to overall organisational growth in a dynamic and competitive business environment.
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 is a revenue-generating source for a company. Any organisation or company which sells a commodity or service requires sales to generate revenue. A Sales manager is a professional responsible for supervising the sales team. An Individual as a sales manager works closely with salespeople, assigns sales territories, sets quotas, mentors the members of the sales, assigns sales training, and builds a sales plan.
The Sales Manager work also includes hiring and laying off sales personnel after evaluating his or her work performance. In bigger entities, sales quotas and plans are usually set at the executive level. He or she is responsible for overseeing the set target or quotas met by salespeople or upholding any policy. He or she guides his or her fellow salespeople and allows them to sell.
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.
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.
MBA @ DES Pune University | Top Ranked B-School | 100% Placement Assistance | Last date to apply: 9th May’25
Amongst top 3% universities globally (QS Rankings)
Ranked #41 amongst institutions in Management by NIRF | 100% Placement
FINAL Deadline: 04th May '25 | No more Deadlines | UGC Approved Programs | 100% Placement Record | Up to 100% Scholarships | Highest CTC 21.74 LPA
NAAC A++ Accredited | AMBA & AACSB Member | Highest CTC 16.22 LPA | Merit-based Scholarships | Last Date: 8th May’25
National Level Entrance Test | Recognized by Over 200 Top B-Schools across India