Last Minute Preparation Strategy for CAT 2025: Section-Wise Tips to Boost Your Score

Last Minute Preparation Strategy for CAT 2025: Section-Wise Tips to Boost Your Score

Ongoing Event

CAT Application Date:01 Aug' 25 - 13 Sep' 25

Team Careers360Updated on 19 Jun 2025, 12:09 PM IST

Last Minute Preparation Strategy for CAT 2025: With CAT 2025 fast approaching, having a smart and focused last-minute preparation plan can make a real difference. These final days are key to boosting your confidence, revising important concepts, and sharpening your exam strategy. A well-structured approach now can help you avoid panic, stay calm under pressure, and improve your performance in CAT exams. Read on to discover last-minute section-wise tips for exam along with the mistakes to avoid during CAT preparation.

This Story also Contains

  1. CAT 2025 Last Minute Preparation Strategy and Tips
  2. Section-Wise CAT 2025 Exam MCQs
  3. Last Minute Preparation Strategy for CAT 2025
  4. Last Minute Preparation Strategy for CAT 2025 (Section-wise)
Last Minute Preparation Strategy for CAT 2025: Section-Wise Tips to Boost Your Score
Last Minutes CAT prepration tips

CAT 2025 Last Minute Preparation Strategy and Tips

Every year prior to a few days before the exam one should take the CAT mock test which will be released by the exam authority to get more familiar with the CAT question paper.

Prior to a few days of CAT, one should evaluate themselves, and how well they are prepared to tackle the exam day pressure. Apart from that how you are going to apply the concept while solving a question on the exam day to not lose the accuracy level and manage time as well. Check the CAT last-minute preparation tips that one can apply during the last-minute preparation strategy of CAT 2025 and fetch the desired score.

If we talk from the point of view of CAT preparation for the last five days, it is totally different and crucial as compared to the early days' preparation strategy. At this point, candidates should slender their CAT preparation and should avoid doing unnecessary things such as taking new topics to cover, investing too much time in lengthy questions, and getting overconfident about the CAT.

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These are the things included in the last-minute preparation strategy for CAT 2025. For those who are taking CAT 2025, this article belongs to them, it contains all the important tips and strategies that one needs to follow at the CAT last minute tips.

Section-Wise CAT 2025 Exam MCQs

VARC MCQs

DILR MCQS

QA MCQs

CAT Metaphorical Meanings - Practice Questions & MCQ

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CAT Concept of range - Practice Questions & MCQ

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CAT Introduction to Games and Tournaments - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Divisibility rules of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 13. - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Negative Tones - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Introduction to Ordering and Sequencing - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Areas of Similar Triangles - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Logical Corollary - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Introduction to Scatter Graphs - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Trapezium and Area of Trapezium - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Main Idea and Title - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Introduction to Binary Logic - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Area of Shapes Between Parallel Lines - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Contextual Meanings - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Introduction to Logical Deductions and Connections - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Relation Between Arc and Chord - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Literal Meanings - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Introduction to Caselets - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Relating Arc Lengths to Radius - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Positive Tones - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Introduction to Table-based DI - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Concept of total work - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Neutral Tones - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Introduction to Line Graphs - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT To find the nth term of an AP - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Parallel Reasoning - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Introduction to Selections and Distributions - Practice Questions & MCQ

CAT Discussing Decimals - Practice Questions & MCQ

Last Minute Preparation Strategy for CAT 2025

A few of the most important CAT last minute preparation tips for the CAT 2025 exam are given below:

Avoid Studying New Topics

In these last few days of CAT 2025 preparation, do not touch on any topic that is new to you. Learning an entire topic in these crucial days will lead one to confusion. The main demerit of taking a new topic is, that it will reduce the quality of understanding and it will make it difficult to memorise pre-learned concepts. Candidates should only focus on and polish such topics about which they are confident.

Expert says- keep polishing learned concepts and get command over them. On the exam day prior to solving any question from the section, one should invest five minutes to scan the section so that one will get to know, which question they should take to solve first so that time will be easily managed.

Check also- CAT Score Vs Percentile

Revise from already Prepared Notes - Every Day till the Exam

As per experts, it is good to do last-minute CAT preparation with the prepared sticky notes and not touch the books that they have used during the early days of preparation. Doing revision through handouts will help you to brush up on such topics in which you are confident about it. Sometimes, candidates can easily figure out the answer while just taking a look at those notes (This clearly saves candidates time if they are able to do the calculation in their mind).

Apart from saving time, practising with handouts in the last days of preparation will boost the candidate's confidence level. So, candidates are advised to avoid preparing from the textbook and from other study materials in the last days of CAT 2025 preparation.

Keep Taking the Mock Test in the Final Days of Preparation for the CAT

It is always better to give mock tests every day, but due to the length syllabus of CAT many candidates would not be able to take mocks every day in the last five days of the examination one should take mocks and keep track of the time. While taking final mocks one should set an aura like they are sitting in the examination hall for this they need to keep aside their phone, the room should be locked, have your rough sheet and a pen, and the timer should be set.

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Quality (Not Quantity) Should Be Your Measure

Candidates should ensure that, do not take such questions first when they are not sure of what. By doing this one can lose their confidence level at the beginning of the exam. Firstly, they should solve such questions that they can solve while reading the question. At the beginning of every section one should keep aside the difficult questions, through this candidates can increase their overall number of attempted questions.

Keep Polishing Speed and Accuracy Level

Losing speed and accuracy is always a bane in any entrance exam. When the exam day is near one should keep the focus on them, as speed and accuracy are an integral part of the CAT. If someone is seeking an answer how they can maintain speed and accuracy level? Then here is the answer- candidates should try to increase their calculation speed in a smart way.

Do mental calculations as much as one can. As per the past year's trend, the questions asked in CAT do not require complex calculations, hence, candidates are easily able to do the mental calculation, try to avoid an on-screen calculator as it will save time. There are lots of tricks available over the internet and in textbooks to increase mental calculation speed. Those questions related to the reasoning part will be easily solved by doing mental calculations. This is one of the most important last-minute preparation strategies for CAT.

Also Read- How many questions to attempt in the CAT exam to get 99 percentile

Manage Time in an Effective Way

After taking command over speed and accuracy level candidates should take a look at time management. Firstly, they need to evaluate whether they are able to solve a section within the stipulated time or not. If we talk about the CAT 2025 time management strategy, then one should classify their time into three parts. In the first part, one should attempt those questions, which they can answer at the time of reading the questions or need a bit of calculation.

After that candidates should take such questions, that they find they can solve but need some additional time. In the end, candidates take such questions which are time-consuming and tough ones. If a candidate is able to solve 75 percent of questions from the whole paper with good accuracy and speed one can expect a decent percentile. By doing time management, candidates can stay relaxed on exam day.

Follow Exam Day Do’s and Don’ts

All candidates must follow the Do’s and Don’ts written on their admit cards.

The list of important CAT exam day dos and don’ts are as follows:

Do's

Don'ts

Reach the CAT examination centre as per the Reporting Time (90 minutes before the test)

Don’t carry any electronic gadgets like a watch, calculator, digital car key, tablet or mobile phone.

Carry only your original ID and CAT exam admit card with your affixed photograph

Women candidates should not wear jewellery, apply henna (mehndi) on the palm side.

Follow the dress code detailed on your CAT Admit card

Follow the security check guidelines

Ignore Social Media but Stay Tuned to the CAT Official Website

Don’t use social media like Instagram, Facebook or YouTube for the latest updates and information as there may be confusing information there. You should visit CAT's official website for any updates. This is an important last-minute tip by CAT Toppers.

Check Also - How to score 100 percentile in CAT 2025

Last Minute Preparation Strategy for CAT 2025 (Section-wise)

In the last moments of preparation, candidates need to focus on major as well as minor things. No doubt preparation as a whole is very important for any competitive exam but at the same time, it is also essential to emphasise specific sections of the test as it ensures how well one can attempt the paper. Check preparation strategies given to ace each section of CAT 2025.

Last Minute CAT Preparation Strategy (Quantitative Aptitude)

The quantitative aptitude section is considered to be the most difficult section in CAT. To ace this section, one needs to have a good speed and accuracy rate. The major part of this section is covered by concept-based questions. Thus, it is quite important for the candidates to first, clear their concept for each topic.

To excel in this section one should have a strong command of calculation as well and one should try to calculate in mind without using pen-paper in order to save time. In the last days of CAT 2025 preparation, candidates should go through the previous year's question paper so that one should know the dominating topics of the Quantitative Aptitude section and attempt such questions first while taking the CAT 2025.

Last Minute Preparation Strategy for CAT 2025 (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning )

The Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section is wholly based upon practice. Generally, the question asked under this section is to check the analytical and logical thinking of the candidates. There is no need to learn any kind of formulae to ace this section. One needs to apply his mind logically to get the answers. The elimination method can also be used to perform better in this section i.e., one can eliminate the options that are totally irrelevant and illogical to get the right answer.

Last Minute Preparation Strategy for CAT (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension)

The Verbal and Reading Comprehension section is well known for taking the time. The only section which can disbalance time management. In this section, candidates will have to read long passages and answer all the asked questions pertaining to the passage. This section requires good reading skills. Another important thing is that the aspirants must have a good command of their vocabulary as it is very important to ace the verbal ability section of the paper.

Verbal Ability

Only those candidates who can easily tackle questions from the Verbal Ability section did their Verbal Ability preparation for CAT 2025 from day one. In the last-minute preparation of CAT 2025 for the Verbal Ability section, one should read the flashcards they have prepared at the initial stage of their preparation.

Reading Comprehension

Those who have a good command of reading can easily excel in the Reading Comprehension section. Those who have developed the skill of concluding the long passages by reading at the time of preparation can score well in this section. Experts say while taking this section at the time of CAT 2025 one should read very carefully the whole passage and try to understand it in the first read. Do not read the paragraphs in a hurry, because sometimes questions asked in the Reading Comprehension section are tricky ones.

Quick Links - 10 Days to go for CAT: Last-minute preparation tips

Mistakes to Avoid During CAT 2025 Preparation

Preparing for the CAT 2025 requires strategic planning and focused effort. It is crucial to avoid common pitfalls that can derail your preparation and hinder your performance on exam day.

  • Failing to understand the CAT 2025 exam pattern and types of questions can lead to poor time management during the test.

  • Spending too much time on theoretical concepts without practical application can leave you unprepared for the exam's problem-solving demands. You must adhere to CAT 2025 time management tips to strengthen your preparation.

  • Skipping regular revision sessions can result in forgetting key CAT 2025 concepts thus impacting your confidence and performance.

  • Not taking enough mock tests or practice with CAT 2025 sample papers and not analysing their results will prevent you from identifying weaknesses and improving your test-taking strategies.

  • Studying in isolation can limit your exposure to different problem-solving techniques beneficial for CAT exam 2025 preparation.

CAT 2025: VARC, DILR, and Quant MCQs & Weightages
Comprehensive CAT prep guide with focused practice on Verbal Ability, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What should I focus on in the last few weeks before CAT 2025?
A:

Focus on revising important topics, taking mock tests, and improving your speed and accuracy with timed practice.

Q: Why is revision important at the last stage of preparation?
A:

Regular revision helps you remember key formulas, tricks, and methods, so you can use them quickly in the exam.

Q: What are the CAT last minute tips?
A:
  • Develop your strategy
  • Prepare a Clear Study Plan 
  • Build on your Strengths 
  • Ignore your Weaknesses
  • Taking CAT Mocks and thorough Analysis is key
  • Take a week off from your job/studies before the CAT Exam 2025
  • Avoid stress in the Last 24 hours to CAT Exam Day
  • CAT Exam Test Taking is Key
Q: Is there negative marking in CAT?
A:

Yes, 1 mark will be deduced for each incorrect answer. 

Q: How many topics are there in CAT exam?
A:

The CAT exam is divided into three sections including Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). 

Q: What should I do on the last day of the CAT exam?
A:

On the last day before the CAT exam, you should relax don’t panic. Don’t study any new topic. You should revise key concepts, your notes and formulas. Revise the mistakes you made during your mock tests and practice tests. Maintain a positive mindset.

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Questions related to CAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CAT ?

Hello,

Thank you for your question!

KL- MAT syllabus: Quantitative Aptitude, Reasoning, English/Verbal Ability, and General Awareness (similar to MAT/CMAT pattern).

CAT scores are valid in many private universities including KL University, but always check the year’s admission notification.

CAT vs other exams: CAT is toughest (IIMs + top B-schools), while MAT/CMAT/ATMA are relatively easier and accepted by many mid-level private universities.

Hello it will clear your doubt!

Hello Aspirant,

  1. I saw a cat. The cat found an old map inside a drawer of the king's palace.

Here's why:

  • "a cat": It's the first time we mention the cat, so it's indefinite.

  • "The cat": Now we're talking about that specific cat we just mentioned, so it's definite.

  • "an old map": It's the first time we mention a map, and "old" starts with a vowel sound, so "an."

  • "a drawer": It's one of possibly many drawers, not a specific one known to us yet.

  • "the king's palace": This is a specific, unique place, so "the."

Hello Kapish

You can find the last 5 year questions of DILR for CAT at Careers360 website. Moreover, you can find the previous year papers of all the subjects i.e. DILR, Quants and VARC. I am attaching the link through which you would be able to access the same.

Here's the link: CAT Previous Year Papers by CAREERS360
Sample paper of DILR: CAT Sample Paper (DILR) by CAREERS360

Thank You!!!


Hello Divya,

Yes, candidates with an online BBA can sit for both CAT and GMAT provided that the degree is from a recognized (UGC approved in India or accredited abroad) institution. The leading B-schools in both India and abroad do not look down upon online degrees as long as the degree is from a recognized body, they will mostly be looking at your test scores, academic performance, work experience, and profile holistically. What matters is the legitimacy of the institution and how you showcase your abilities, not whether your degree was obtained online or in-person.

Yes, someone with an online BBA can sit for both CAT and GMAT, provided the degree is from a UGC recognized university. Top B-schools in India (like IIMs) and abroad generally accept online degrees if they are valid, and you won’t be marked down just because it’s online. What matters more is your entrance exam score, academic record, work experience, and overall profile.