Great Lakes - PGPM & PGDM 2025
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Extended Application Deadline: 10th Feb 2024
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a highly valued management admission test in India. Its ever-changing nature often confuses applicants, even with preparation. Aspirants might learn from former toppers' experiences in dealing with this problem and remaining calm on test day. This article includes CAT 2025 preparation ideas, methods, and insights to help you succeed.
The CAT exam pattern consists of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). The exam typically features a total of 66 questions. The duration of the exam is 120 minutes. The CAT follows a multiple-choice question (MCQ) format as well as a non-MCQ format, with some questions requiring direct answers instead of selecting from options. The sectional time limit requires candidates to manage their time effectively within each section, as moving between sections is not allowed during the exam. The detailed CAT exam pattern is given below:
CAT Exam Sections | Number of questions | Time limit | The time limit for PwD students |
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 minutes | 53 minutes and 20 seconds |
Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 40 minutes | 53 minutes and 20 seconds |
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 40 minutes | 53 minutes and 20 seconds |
Total | 68 | 120 minutes | 160 minutes |
The CAT 2025 syllabus is divided into three main sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). VARC focuses on English language skills, including reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and sentence correction. DILR assesses your ability to interpret data from various formats and solve logical reasoning problems. QA covers a range of mathematical topics, such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and number systems. Mastery of these areas requires conceptual solid understanding, problem-solving skills, and effective time management. The complete CAT 2025 syllabus is given below:
CAT 2025 Sections | CAT 2025 Topics |
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | Grammar or English Usage Synonyms Antonyms (Vocabulary Based) Fill in the blanks Meaning/Usage Match Jumbled Paragraph and Close Passage Verbal Reasoning Reading Comprehension Analogies and Reverse Analogies Summary Questions Facts Inferences Judgments Verbal Logic One-word substitution |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | Bar Graphs and Column Graphs Caselets and Tables Venn Diagram Combination of two or more types linked to each other Line Charts & Pie Chart Calendars, Clock ,Cube Number and Letter Series Binary Logic ,Seating Arrangement Connectives Matching/ Puzzle Logical Sequence |
Quantitative Aptitude | Higher Order Equation HCF and LCM , Circles Average Graphs Base System Combinations Quadrilaterals Percentage Linear Equations in Two Variables Factors Probability Mensuration Races Inequalities Divisibility Functions Trigonometry Logarithms Digits Sequences & Series Triangles Maxima and MInima Complex Numbers Progressions Polygons Higher Powers Set Theory Coordinate Geometry Theorem Number of factors and number of trailing zeroes Surds and Indices |
One may be familiar with the material, but they may gain some important CAT 2025 hints from people who have an advantage over the rest, which will help them pass the test without a problem. Read the whole article to learn "how toppers prepare for CAT," their sectional and overall percentiles, and the difference they make in acing the test without much effort.
A candidate may be brilliant, but worry remains until the day of the examination because you are unsure of the kind of questions that will be asked or whether the exam pattern of CAT will change.
Before we get into how toppers prepare for the CAT, please let us know their sectional and total scores. Despite volunteering in several college organisations or working as a professional, nothing could stop these toppers from realising their dreams. The chart below shows the section-wise scores of toppers, allowing you to determine how much you need to score to get the desired percentile in the CAT.
Quick Link- When and how to start CAT preparation
Name of CAT 2023 Topper | CAT Topper Score | Topper Interview Link |
---|---|---|
Rounak Tikmani | 99.90 | Click here |
Nishakar Kumar | 99.83 | Click here |
Shreemant Singi | 99.28 | Click here |
Suvam Debnath | 99.52 | Click here |
Pulkit Daga | 99.14 | Click here |
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Extended Application Deadline: 10th Feb 2024
250+ Companies | Highest CTC 16 LPA | Average CTC 8 LPA | Ranked as Platinum Institute by AICTE for 6 years in a row | Awarded Best Business School of the Year
Also Read: Full List of CAT Toppers
CAT preparation tips from toppers often emphasize the importance of a structured approach and consistent effort. Some of the CAT preparation tips suggested by toppers are mentioned below.
Understand the Exam Pattern: Familiarize yourself with the CAT exam pattern and syllabus to create an effective study plan.
Strengthen Basics: Focus on building a strong foundation in all sections by thoroughly understanding fundamental concepts.
Practice Regularly: Take regular mock tests and solve previous years' papers to get used to the exam format and identify areas for improvement.
Manage Time Effectively: Practice solving questions within time limits to develop speed and accuracy.
Review Mistakes: Analyze your mistakes from practice tests to learn and adjust your strategy.
Stay Motivated and Balanced: Maintaining motivation is critical. Balancing your study routine with breaks ensures sustainable and adequate preparation. It inspires you and keeps you determined towards your goal.
To have a decent score one has to begin preparing a few months in advance to score 99 percentile or more. Some relentlessly worked hard, analyzed their performance by taking mock tests, and overcame those mistakes. Such were some toppers who have shared their exam preparation plan with Careers360.
One of the working professionals, Sukumar who bagged 99.3 percentile proved that no barrier can stop one achieve a dream in this regard he shares, ’My idea was to have some work experience to improve my skills and chances of getting into Top tier B-Schools, as I secured placement in a company I wanted to work in. So, I planned to use this year to get some calls and have some Interview experience so that I would know the areas where I have to work on. My preparation strategy was, I took the TIME test series and came to know which questions I can do and which questions I should leave rather than preparing for the content because the time available for my preparation was limited.’
Another CAT topper focused on clearing concepts before taking the next step of preparation, Ronit Baerjea, who takes immense pleasure in watching sitcoms and poetry states, “My journey started with joining a couple of the most prominent Facebook groups (such as iQuanta, ElitesGrid, and Quantifiers), in September 2018, and going through all the questions and solutions posted by previous year's aspirants. I spent a lot of time analyzing the shortcuts mentioned and rigorously dissecting their mathematical robustness. The 2-3 months I spent re-introducing myself to mathematical concepts untouched since my JEE days were crucial to my eventual confidence and consistency in this particular section.”
Also Read- CAT Exam: Tricks for Quant, DI&LR, VRC by 99 percentilers
To tackle one’s weak areas is the biggest challenge while preparing for CAT. However, few toppers share their experience as to how one can overcome their mistakes and weaknesses. Ankit Desai believes that overcoming the fear of failure is the first step toward success and so he scored 99.1 percentile.
To tackle his weak area, he shares, “I knew I wasn't good at VARC. So in the first few CAT mock tests, I tried to understand the questions I could solve correctly in the section. This is where analyzing the mocks comes to the rescue. Once I understood that I wasn't comfortable with inference-based questions and para jumbles, I started practicing more RCs and more para jumbles daily. Also, I started reading an article or two daily for one month to increase my reading speed.”
Another topper, Lakshay Kumar who thought QA to be his weak point, scored the 99.7 percentile. To tackle his weak area he states, “For the weak area, there was no synonym to hard work there. If practicing 2-3 hours didn't cut it then I worked 4-5 hours on that section. Geometry as a whole is a very wide topic and I always had the fear that there were a lot of concepts that I had not prepared. To counter that, I carefully understood the pattern and extent of the topic and prepared accordingly.”
With a sectional time limit of 40 minutes for each section, it is a challenge to solve all the questions in a stipulated time period, wherein no balanced time from the previous section can be taken forward. Such was the challenge for toppers and thus succeeded by showcasing their management skills by planning a strategy to attempt questions from each section. Such was a topper Lakshay Kumar who says, “For Reading Comprehension, I made sure that I completed it in the first 40 minutes (skipping any difficult questions) and then gave 20 minutes for the Verbal ability section.
For Reasoning, I gave the first 7-8 minutes reading and deciding the difficulty level of each question set and then the rest 52-53 minutes in attempting the sets with the easiest being attempted the first. For quants, the rule of them for me was to attempt in order of question paper but skip the question if within the first 30-40 seconds the approach does not strike your mind.”
One of the most common dilemmas that every aspirant faces is choosing between self-study or coaching. No matter if the student belongs to an engineering background or not, every candidate feels an urge to join a coaching centre so that they can learn the tricks of the trade. However, many toppers believe that the only ingredient that adds to success is discipline and dedication towards your plan no matter if it is self-study or through coaching.
Somansh Chordia who scored 100 percentile shares how he decided to prepare, “I had joined TIME. With so much content and guidance available online and CAT being a relatively easy exam in terms of the syllabus, I wouldn’t say coaching is necessary but it certainly saves a lot of time as the experienced faculties help you find out the common approaches taken by students so that you can easily discover what suits you the best. Other than this, what coaching institutes primarily offer is a competitive atmosphere that is necessary to remain motivated to push our limits. But how important this again depends on the individual and if there are friends around you going through the same process, this might not be necessary.”
Mock tests are trial exams that help you have the same exam environment and prepare you for D-day. Without taking the mock test one often stays in anxiety and as the question paper appears things are forgotten in a flash. To reduce such mishappenings and keep you motivated, mock tests will help you analyze the difficulty level of the question paper and prepare you as per the exam pattern of CAT.
Anumay Ashish highlighted his weak points by taking mock tests frequently, he says that “The last part was the CAT mock tests, I gave around 25-26 mock tests and evaluated the performance of each of them properly; highlighting my disabilities and weaknesses.”
Candidates might be interested in-
You have 40 minutes for each section. Candidates with disabilities (PwD) get 53 minutes and 20 seconds for each section.
Toppers concentrate on:
Strengthening the essentials first.
Practice frequently.
Taking and analysing mock exams.
Putting up additional effort to address weak areas.
Mock examinations may help you identify your weak subjects and practice them regularly. For example, if you struggle with geometry, devote some extra time to completing related problems and understanding topics.
Mock tests are pretty significant. They assist you:
Get acquainted with the test structure.
Manage time efficiently.
Both work wonderfully. Coaching saves time and offers assistance, but self-study with dedication and the correct tools is equally successful.
It is preferable to begin 6–12 months before the test. This allows you adequate time to review the material, prepare, and take mock examinations.
Yes, many high performers are working professionals. They emphasise creative approaches such as choosing appropriate topics and practising effectively with limited time.
Take frequent pauses, monitor your progress, and remain focused on your objective. Joining study groups and connecting with other hopefuls might also help you stay motivated.
Hello,
Here are important points regarding your query :-
Hope it helps !
Hi,
Based on the previous year analysis, According to your CAT 2024 percentile some of the colleges in which you have chances to get a seat includes:
You can predict more colleges using the CLAT 2024 college predictor tool .
Hope this information will help you
Hello Greetings
With a CAT 2024 percentile of 68.28%, you may face a challenging time getting into IIT Delhi, as their cutoffs are typically higher. However, being an SC female student, you may be eligible for relaxation in the cutoff criteria .
To give you a better idea, here are some general CAT cutoff percentiles for IITs and other top B-schools:
- *IIT Delhi*: Typically above 90 percentile for general category students.
- *Newer IIMs*: Such as IIM Vishakapatnam, IIM Shillong, and IIM Udaipur, may have lower cutoffs, around 80-90 percentile.
- *Other top B-schools*: Like IMT Ghaziabad, XIM Bhubaneswar, and TAPMI, may also consider students with lower percentiles.
It's essential to note that CAT cutoffs can vary from year to year, and other factors like your academic background, work experience, and performance in the personal interview (PI) and written ability test (WAT) also play a significant role in the admission process.
To explore more options and predict your chances of getting into various colleges, you can use online CAT college predictor tools .
Have a great day
Hello Greetings
Considering your 82.58 percentile in CAT and 22 months of industry experience in IT and Financial analysis, you have several options for General Management PGDM or PGPM programs.
*Decent Colleges Accepting Low CAT Percentile:*
- _SPJIMR_: Offers PGDM and PGPM programs, accepting CAT scores, with a minimum eligibility criterion of 50% aggregate in graduation ¹ ².
- _SOIL_: Provides PGPM and PGDM programs, considering CAT scores, with a focus on experiential learning ³.
- Other institutes like _IMT Ghaziabad_, _XIMB_, and _IRMA_ might also accept candidates with lower CAT percentiles, but this may vary depending on the program and intake.
*Key Factors to Consider:*
- _Work Experience_: With 22 months of experience, you might be eligible for PGPM programs, which typically require more work experience than PGDM programs ¹.
- _Career Gap_: Explain your career gap effectively in your application, highlighting any relevant activities or skills gained during that period.
- _Profile-Based Selection_: Some institutes consider profiles, including work experience, academic background, and extracurricular activities, in addition to CAT scores ¹.
*Next Steps:*
1. Research the institutes mentioned above and their programs.
2. Review the eligibility criteria, admission process, and fees for each program.
3. Prepare your application, ensuring you effectively communicate your strengths, work experience, and career goals.
4. Be prepared for interviews, focusing on your profile, experience, and motivation for pursuing a PGDM or PGPM program.
Remember, a lower CAT percentile doesn't necessarily limit your options. Focus on showcasing your strengths, experience, and fit with the program to increase your chances of admission.
Have a great day
Hi Gaurav,
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a national-level management entrance exam conducted annually in India for admission into MBA/PGDM programs at prestigious institutions like the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other top B-schools.
For registering for CAT 2025, you can follow the given steps:
For more recent details, you can check out the given link.
Best wishes!
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.
Admissions Open | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.3 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2024 | Extended Application Deadline: 10th Feb 2024
250+ Companies | Highest CTC 16 LPA | Average CTC 8 LPA | Ranked as Platinum Institute by AICTE for 6 years in a row | Awarded Best Business School of the Year
Highest CTC 35 LPA | Median CTC 9.27 LPA | 172+ Recruiters
India’s first Urban Multidisciplinary University | Case-based pedagogy
NAAC A++ Grade | Only Indian University member in the Global Liberal Arts Alliance
NAAC A Accredited