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Preparing for CAT 2025 while working full-time can feel challenging, but with the right strategy, it’s absolutely doable. CAT is a top MBA entrance exam accepted by IIMs and leading B-schools across India for admission into MBA and PGDM programs. Candidates who meet the cutoff are shortlisted for WAT, GD, and PI rounds. Expected to be held in November 2025 in 155 cities, the CAT exam demands smart planning, especially for working professionals. This guide is here to help you balance work and preparation effectively for CAT 2025.
If you’re serious about cracking CAT 2025, practising section-wise MCQs is a game-changer. It helps you understand the exam pattern better, improve speed, and spot your weak areas early. Whether it’s Quant, DILR, or VARC, regular MCQ practice trains your brain to think faster and smarter, exactly what you need to stay ahead in the competition.
There is no thumb rule for cracking IIM CAT. The CAT preparation strategy or plan that worked for others doesn't need to work for you as well. Every student planning to take the CAT exam should have their own unique strategy, drawn, keeping their weak and strong points. The key to cracking CAT exam is not how long you are preparing but the preparation strategy. Candidates with the right strategy and study plan can clear the CAT exam, even become topper, in two or three months.
Getting 99+ percentile in CAT exam not only gets you shortlisted for MBA admission in top IIMs as well as other premium B-schools. To appear for the CAT 2025, students need first to fill out the CAT application form and pay the fee.
The CAT toppers in the previous CAT exams as well as experts say that CAT is more of an IQ-based exam than knowledge-based one. It does not matter how much one does study. What matters is how they study, their strategy, and plan for CAT preparation. Anyone with the right strategy can achieve a score above the average even without full-time preparation.
Below are the few most important tips for CAT preparation for for those who are looking for an answer on how to prepare for CAT with job. The preparation strategy of CAT can be used by candidates to prepare for other B-School entrance exams as well.
Utilize Your Free Time
Get Professional Guidance
Have Self-confidence
Follow Fix Schedule
Get the Right Preparation Material
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Let us look at each of the tips for CAT preparation for working professionals to have a better understanding and insights on how to prepare for CAT 2025 while working:
One of the best quotes for working professionals with regard to CAT 2025 preparation is “Start from wherever you are, do whatever you can, and use whatever you have.” Never say that you do not have time for preparation
Put your mind straight onto something and it will surely give results. No doubt that balancing the preparation of CAT for working professionals with a nine-hour job is a tedious task. But, a pinch of planning and preparation can definitely help in CAT preparation for working professionals to the goal of taking admission in one of the 21 IIMs of India
If getting to work takes a lot of time, try making short notes and read them while commuting in order to cut down additional free time
Working professionals, if they are comfortable can even subscribe online video tutorials and prepare by actively listening to them while either traveling to the office or during their free office hours or whatever free time they get during the day
Check out all the tips to consider on how to manage CAT preparation with job.
During weekends working professionals can also join from online webspace whereby new methods of solving questions are taught by the professional and experts
Getting the understanding of the CAT syllabus is one of the best ways for CAT preparation for working professionals as it helps to figure out the topics need to be given more time and energy
Solving previous years question papers of CAT would be more beneficial to working candidates who wish to secure a better score in less time
The Mock test of CAT will also assure good results if taken up attentively. Professional guidance from experts can help in CAT preparation for working professionals to save time and know different/easy ways of solving questions
Connect with other CAT candidates, raise your queries and ask more questions, share your insights & enhance the knowledge base related to CAT 2025 syllabus
As confidence is the key factor in CAT preparation for working professionals, such candidates are advised to stay motivated to boost up your confidence and make your move accordingly. Remember that CAT without coaching is also possible if you know where to start and how to go ahead with CAT preparation for working professionals. Knowing when and how to start CAT 2025 preparation helps candidates to get good percentile in IIM entrance exam
The best way to improve your self-confidence would be to know the basics of all topics, solving more and more mocks/previous years CAT paper and even CAT Sample Papers
As one of the Major Tips to CAT 2025 preparation for working professionals, interact with other candidates who are going through the same grind like you and keep the motivation level high
Prepare a timetable and try to follow it even if you feel exhausted. It is better to draw a timetable for a shorter span of time as it is easy to follow and comply with. While planning a preparation schedule, keep an eye on the revised CAT 2025 exam pattern and syllabus. As time management is a major concern when it comes to CAT preparation for working professionals, drawing a time plan and following it properly will help in saving time for each topic.
Always use good study materials. It does not matter how much resources you have. What matters is the quality of the study materials. So get a few good quality CAT preparation material rather than making a pile of rubbish resources.
A lot of good study apps that are helpful in CAT preparation for working professionals can be downloaded and assessed easily in smartphones
If you're a working professional planning to take the Common Admission Test (CAT) this year, it’s important to start preparing with the right strategy. One of the best ways to begin is by checking out the Best Books for CAT Preparation, which can guide your study sessions effectively.
Try to dedicate at least 2 hours each weekday and around 5 hours on weekends, adding up to a consistent 20 hours per week. This routine not only builds your concepts gradually but also keeps you in rhythm despite a busy work schedule. The earlier you begin, the better your chances of performing well.
Also, don’t miss out on exploring the Best Study Material for CAT to complement your preparation with high-quality practice content.
Balancing work and CAT prep isn’t easy, but the right resources can save you time and effort. Opt for compact video lectures, weekend batch coaching, mobile-friendly apps, and topic-wise PDFs. Focus on smart tools like time-based mock tests and adaptive question banks. Flexibility is key, your prep should move with you, whether you're commuting or between meetings.
CAT Sample Paper
CAT sample papers give you a solid idea of what to expect on exam day. They’re designed to simulate the real paper, with similar question types and difficulty levels. Solving them helps reduce anxiety, improve time management, and identify where you need to focus more. It’s like getting a sneak peek, only smarter because you get to practice too.
CAT Previous Year Papers
CAT previous year papers are gold for serious aspirants. They help you understand the trend, structure, and types of questions that actually appear. By solving these, you can gauge the evolving difficulty level and work on real exam strategies. Plus, they show you how the test setters think, which gives you a psychological edge in your prep.
CAT Mock Test
Mock tests are your rehearsal before the real show. Taking full-length CAT mock tests under timed conditions helps build stamina, improve time allocation, and sharpen accuracy. They show you how you'd actually perform on exam day. Review every mock to find what’s working and what’s not each one is a feedback loop to help you improve faster.
CAT Practice Set
Practice sets are perfect for building topic-wise confidence. Whether you’re struggling with geometry or logical reasoning, focused practice sets help you master one concept at a time. They’re also great for short, targeted study sessions during breaks or after work. Solving 10–15 questions daily keeps your mind sharp without overwhelming your schedule.
For working professionals preparing for CAT 2025, here are a few tips to keep in mind on the exam day:
Get a Good Night’s Sleep: Ensure you are well-rested the night before the exam to keep your mind fresh and alert.
Eat a Light, Healthy Breakfast: Have a nutritious meal that will keep you energized without making you feel sluggish.
Reach the Venue Early: Aim to arrive at the exam centre well before the reporting time to avoid any last-minute stress.
Stay Calm and Focused: Keep a positive mindset and avoid any negative thoughts. Take deep breaths if you start feeling anxious.
Follow Instructions Carefully: Listen to the invigilators and read all instructions on the question paper and computer screen thoroughly.
Manage Your Time Well: Allocate time to each section and stick to it. Don’t spend too much time on any one question.
Attempt Easy Questions First: Start with the questions you find easiest to build your confidence and save tougher ones for later.
Review Your Answers: If time permits, review your answers to ensure you haven't made any careless mistakes.
Keep Necessary Documents Ready: Make sure you have your admit card, ID proof, and any other required documents with you.
Stay Hydrated and Comfortable: Drink water and stay comfortable throughout the exam duration
Yes, one can prepare for CAT while doing their job. You do not need to spend the whole day preparing form CAT. If a working professional starts CAT preparation at an early stage, then every day 2 hours of studies are enough.
No, one can prepare for CAT while doing their job. As per the CAT syllabus, if a candidate is able to study for 20 hours in a week then they can ace this national-level MBA entrance test with a decent percentile.
If a candidate appears for the first time for the CAT exam they can crack the CAT but there is no guarantee that they can secure the 90+ percentile. However, if a candidate has appeared for CAT or any other national-level MBA entrance exam then they can excel in the CAT exam in the last three month of preparation and without losing their job.
Yes, you can prepare for the CAT exam while working by establishing a study routine that fits your schedule, utilizing downtime effectively for review and practice, setting achievable goals, using online resources for flexibility, and ensuring you balance study with self-care to stay motivated and focused. It's about managing your time efficiently and staying committed to your preparation plan.
Yes, you absolutely can. Cracking the CAT isn’t about how many hours you study, but how effectively you use your limited time. Even small, focused efforts every day can lead to big results over time.
Start as early as possible. Early planning gives you the space to pace yourself, revise thoroughly, and avoid burnout before the CAT 2025 exam.
Start with basics, build concepts, practice topic-wise questions, and take regular mocks. Analyse mistakes deeply, revise often, and focus on time and accuracy management.
Turn your daily routine into a disciplined plan, and reserve your evenings or early mornings for
CAT Mock tests 2025 simulate the real exam and show you where you stand. Each test is a learning opportunity, an honest mentor that helps you improve your speed, accuracy, and confidence.
Definitely. CAT 2025 rewards smart, sustained effort over random marathon sessions. Success comes from showing up daily with focus and purpose, not just clocking in hours.
With a CAT rank of 5419, your percentile is around 95 to 97. This means you may not get into the top IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, or Calcutta, because they usually take students above 98 or 99 percentile. But you still have good chances at newer IIMs and other top MBA colleges.
You can get admission into IIMs like Amritsar, Raipur, Jammu, Udaipur, and Bodh Gaya. These IIMs accept students with lower percentiles, usually between 90 and 94.
Apart from IIMs, you can also get colleges like MDI Gurugram, IMI Delhi, Great Lakes Chennai, and maybe even FMS Delhi or JBIMS Mumbai depending on your category and performance in interview rounds.
You should now start preparing for the interview, group discussions, and written tests that most colleges will conduct after shortlisting you based on your CAT rank.
Here are websites you can check for cut-off and admission details:
https://www.imsindia.com/blog/cat-cutoff/
Hello Sahitya
For FMS Delhi, your percentile should be 99%+ and it should be 99.5%+ to be on the safer side.
Now coming to the academics:
1. 10th marks: 75%+ are given 10 out of 10
2. 12th marks: 75%+ are given 10 out of 10
3. Graduation marks: FMS doesn't considers graduation marks for screening.
So if you have 75%+ in both 10th and 12th, you will get full marks in academic score.
To know more about FMS: FMS
Hope this answer helps! Thank You!!!
Hello Ayush
This is definitely a myth that with 0 work-ex you can't get IIM ABC because freshers still get into them although the competition is brutal but if you have good academics (9/9/9) and a good CAT (99.5%+), you have a chance.
These are some other good colleges except IIM ABC which you can aim for:
TIER 1:
Tier 2:
To know more about CAT: CAT by Careers360
Hope this answer helps! Thank You!!!
Hello Aspirant,
With an AIR (All India Rank) of 1,60,000 in NEET and in the OC (Open Category) there is a very slim chance of getting an MBBS seat in a government medical college, especially in General Category seats through All India Quota (AIQ), but here are some options:
You can also participate in state counselling rounds, as sometimes, seats remain vacant/unfilled, including mop-up rounds.
Hello aspirant,
The question papers for CAT MGU University can be found on their official website, or you can also visit careers360 website for the same.
The link of which, I am attaching here,
https://university.careers360.com/articles/mgu-cat-2025
Regards
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