The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of the important, toughest, and most competitive entrance exams in India for B-schools like IIMs, and the CAT-2025 is scheduled to be held on November 30, 2025, in three shifts in different cities of India. Apart from the IIMs, top B-schools across the country also accept CAT scores for their admission process. The exam is designed to test a candidate’s problem-solving skills, logical reasoning skills, and time management skills under pressure, all essential traits for future business leaders. If you're planning to pursue an MBA, cracking the CAT exam is your first big step!
IIM Kozhikode will announce the Common Admission Test (CAT 2025) results tomorrow, December 24, at 6 pm. Candidates can access the results on the official website, iimcat.ac.in.
The QA section includes 22 questions, focusing on mathematical skills and problem-solving abilities. The VARC section has 24 questions, testing comprehension and verbal skills. The DILR section contains 22 questions, assessing the candidate's ability to interpret data and solve logical problems. The entire exam has a total of 68 questions to be completed in 120 minutes, requiring efficient CAT time management and strategic answering.
Sectional Time Management Tips for CAT 2025
MBA aspirants must learn time management skills to manage time effectively before and during the exam to ace the CAT exam. Going by past trends, the number of questions will vary across the sections. But the time for each section will be the same. For that, candidates must know how to answer CAT questions in each section within the stipulated time. Here in this article, you will find tips on how to manage time.
Section-wise Time Management Tips for CAT 2025: Before Exam
CAT isn’t just about cracking an exam; it’s about checking your potential. It pushes you to think critically, manage pressure, and solve problems efficiently, which are key qualities for any future manager or entrepreneur. A good CAT score not only gets you into IIMs but also earns you respect and recognition in the competitive world of business education. Plus, many recruiters consider your CAT journey as a reflection of your perseverance and strategic mindset. So, preparing for CAT is an investment in both your education and your future career. Check out the section-wise time management tips for the CAT exam 2025.
Plan CAT 2025 Preparation Based on Strengths and Weaknesses
Once you know the CAT syllabus, identify your strong and weak areas. For example, candidates from science or engineering backgrounds often find QA and DILR easier, helping them plan their preparation time more effectively.
They might take less time to complete the CAT 2025 syllabus as compared to the verbal ability and reading comprehension sections. Vice versa would be the case with the student who is from a humanities background.
Candidates must devote at least two months each from January onwards and become well-versed in the syllabus of CAT by July. For each section, candidates must devote two months each. Depending on your weaknesses and strengths, one can decipher how much time you need for a particular section, as in, they can complete it in a month and devote approximately three months to the other one.
Dedicate two days each week to VARC, QA, and DILR, and reserve one day for revision. Break your day into focused study slots, around 4 hours per section, based on your learning speed. Plan your weekly and monthly targets and stick to your goals.
Start with Difficult Topics
Begin your preparation by focusing on detailed and complex topics. Early preparation gives you enough time to understand tough concepts, which you can later revise quickly as the exam nears.
Practice Mock Tests & Review
Once you finish the syllabus, start taking section-wise CAT mock tests. In the last 3–4 months, regularly attempted full-length mocks and CAT previous year papers. Analyse your mistakes to identify weak areas and improve accordingly.
While the sectional time limit sounds like a limitation, it is a boon in disguise for all MBA aspirants. Below, we have decided how to handle the challenge of the time limit that you face while appearing for the CAT 2025.
The thumb rule for attempting any exam is to start with comfortable CAT questions, as they are expected to be less time-consuming. CAT Topper, Abhilasha Balakrishnan says, "From my CAT mock test preparation, I already knew one thing, that is, the one thing that puts me off is the timer. I always start getting worried whenever I see a timer. So I made it a point that I would never see a timer unless only a few minutes were left.
That helped me to keep calm. Since one of my strong sections was VARC, the first section was pretty good, so I had the confidence that I could scale through with the exam."
Skip the Tricky and Time-Taking Questions
Yes, you read it right. Practising the art of leaving questions is how you will survive on the CAT exam day. It is one of the most important tricks you should have up your sleeve to crack CAT 2025. You have to let go of the rotten eggs so you can go to the golden ones, which are easy to crack. It must be noted that just giving as many answers as attempting the doubtful questions will lead to a negative marking, thereby lowering your entire CAT marks.
Be sensible and quick enough to recognise the difficulty level of the questions that come at you and accordingly invest time in them as and when required, or simply skip them.
Don’t Stick to Single Questions
Keep a maximum of two to three minutes for a question. If you are not able to figure out the way to solve it, move ahead to the next question. Another CAT topper, Ashish Sen, says, " For the exam, I just keep an eye out for the timer, so that I don't end up spending too much time on one question. Also, I had kept the last 12 mins of the VARC section solely for the VA questions, irrespective of how far I had progressed on the RC part."
Always be mindful of the timing, with each section in the CAT exam given 40 minutes as per last year's CAT exam pattern, spending it and potentially wasting a lot of time on one question can prove to be lethal. Thus, spend a maximum of 2 to 3 minutes on one question. If you are still unable to do it, go to the next question.
While juggling between sections is not allowed in CAT 2025, the possibility of candidates switching between questions within a section can also lower their chances of scoring. Thus, dividing each section into three rounds will help ease the process.
First Phase – Solve questions that you find extremely easy and are completely sure about
Second Phase – Opt for questions that you feel you can give a try at
Third Phase – Go for questions that are time-consuming and would require more head pondering.
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Revision is equally important for ensuring a good CAT percentile. After the completion of the CAT paper, revise the answers to ensure that there are no mistakes. Allow at least 10 minutes at the end of the CAT exam for the revision of each section. Tanya Gupta, an IIM Kozhikode student, mentions, “I made sure that I attempted all the questions that I was sure of. After this, I revised my answers in whatever time I was left with.”
Go Back to the Marked Question in the Buffer Time
Mark the time-consuming questions for review and revisit them once you complete the section. After a thorough revision, try and solve those questions. “In the first step, I solved all the questions that I could do in one go till the end. In the second step, I attempted those questions that I thought I would be able to do after giving them a try. After attempting all such questions, if there was some time left, I attempted those which I thought were the hardest for me,” mentions CAT topper Shubrajyoti Saha of IIM Shillong.
CAT Section-Wise Time Management Tips
Time management is key to cracking the CAT. You need to balance speed and accuracy in each section, QA, VARC, and DILR, so you can attempt more questions without making mistakes.
CAT Management Tips for VARC 2025
CAT Management Tips for QA 2025
CAT Management Tips for DILR 2025
Focus on improving reading speed and comprehension.
Start with basic concepts and gradually move to complex topics.
Practice different types of DI and LR sets daily.
Practice para jumbles and odd one out questions regularly.
Solve a variety of questions to strengthen problem-solving skills.
Analyze each set to identify patterns and shortcuts.
Regularly read newspapers, magazines, and editorials.
Focus on accuracy before attempting to increase speed.
Work on improving calculation speed and accuracy.
Take mock tests to get used to the exam pattern.
Take mock tests and analyze your performance to find weak areas.
Time yourself while solving DILR sets to improve efficiency.
Work on vocabulary by learning new words daily.
Practice mental math to reduce dependency on calculators.
Regularly review and revise key concepts and techniques.
How Sectional Time Management for CAT 2025 will be Advantageous?
As per experts, dividing the CAT exam into sections limits candidates from spending much time switching between them. As they are supposed to attempt one section at a time, it also gradually increases the chances of gaining higher sectional scores. Moreover, taking a buffer time of approximately 10 minutes for each section also aids in saving more time at their disposal and completing the CAT exam beforehand.
The advantages that applicants can have with this pattern of the CAT 2025 exam, which has been a constant over the last couple of years, are:
Complete focus on a particular section for a stipulated period of time
Not worrying about complex mathematical formulae while solving a reading comprehension, one after the other
The flexibility of dedicating a shorter time span to sections that you are less confident about
CAT 2025 Percentile Predictor
Use the CAT Percentile Predictor to estimate your score, gauge your performance, and know your chances of getting shortlisted by IIMs.
CAT Time Management Tips: Common Mistakes to Avoid
Here are some of the most important tips that candidates must consider to avoid so that they can successfully manage their time during the CAT exam.
Don’t do
Why?
Don’t spend too much time on one question.
Move on quickly if you can’t solve it to avoid wasting time.
Don’t start with the toughest section.
Begin with a comfortable section to build confidence and manage time effectively.
Don’t skip regular practice and mock tests.
Consistent practice is essential to improve speed and accuracy.
Don’t neglect analysing mock tests.
Reviewing mistakes helps identify weak areas and refine strategies.
Don’t ignore time management strategies.
Practice with a timer to ensure you complete sections within the allotted time.
Don’t overlook sectional time limits.
Monitor time per section to maximise the number of questions attempted.
Don’t panic under pressure.
Staying calm helps you think clearly and make better decisions during the exam.
Things to Keep in Mind for Time Management During CAT 2025
During the CAT 2025 examination, it is quite possible that the candidates may find themselves under a lot of pressure. To manage the exam stress and perform well in the CAT 2025 examination, the candidates can refer to the CAT exam day tips and tricks provided below.
Stick to Sectional Time Limits: Each section—QA, VARC, and DILR—has a strict 40-minute limit. Ensure to stay within this time frame, as there’s no option to move between sections.
Prioritize Easy Questions First: Start with questions you find easier or more familiar to secure quick marks, leaving more time for tougher problems later.
Avoid Getting Stuck: If a question is taking too long, move on and return to it later if time permits. It's important not to spend too much time on one question.
Monitor Your Progress: Regularly check the time remaining to ensure you’re on track to complete all sections within the allotted time. Adjust your pace as needed.
CAT Preparation 2025 Best Books
Choosing the right books is essential for effective CAT 2025 preparation. Candidates should refer to section-wise books that cover concepts, practice questions, and CAT previous year papers thoroughly. Careers360 has shortlisted a set of the best books for CAT preparation after referring to the various CAT preparation materials available today.
Book Title
Author(s)
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT
Arun Sharma
NCERT Mathematics Books (Class 6 to 10)
NCERT
Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT
Sarvesh Sharma
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations
Abhijit Guha
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT
Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay
30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary
Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis / Simon & Schuster
High School English Grammar and Composition
Wren & Martin
PSC for VA for CAT
Nishit Sinha
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for the CAT
Arun Sharma
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT
Nishit K. Sinha
Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency
Ananta Ashisha
CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
Gautam Puri
CAT 2025 Preparation Resources by Careers360
The candidates can download various CAT preparation resources designed by Careers360 using the links given below:
eBook Title
Download Links
CAT 2025 Arithmetic Important Concepts and Practice Questions
CAT does not restrict eligibility based on stream. Candidates from commerce, arts, science, engineering or any other background can appear for CAT and apply to MBA programmes offered by IIMs and other top B-schools.
The basic eligibility criteria for CAT are:
You must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university with at least 50 percent marks (45 percent for SC, ST and PwD categories). Final-year graduation students are also eligible to apply.
Being a commerce graduate can actually be an advantage in areas such as accounting, finance, economics and business studies, especially during MBA coursework in finance, marketing and operations.
After qualifying CAT, admission depends on multiple factors including CAT percentile, academic background, work experience (if any), performance in GD, WAT and personal interview rounds. Many IIMs and B-schools follow a diverse academic background policy, which means non-engineering candidates, including commerce graduates, often receive additional weightage.
Apart from IIMs, several reputed institutes such as FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IMT Ghaziabad, and many state and private universities also accept CAT scores for MBA admissions.
So, as a commerce graduate, you are fully eligible to appear for CAT and pursue an MBA, provided you meet the minimum academic requirements and perform well in the selection process.
If you want, I can also help you with realistic CAT percentile targets based on your academic profile or suggest suitable MBA colleges.
With a CAT 2025 raw score of 84 and strong sectionals, your expected percentile may fail in the high 98 range , depending on scaling. Your excellent academics and 2 years of work experience strengthen your profile .IIM Lucknow calls are possible but competitive for EWS engineers , while FMS Delhi looks mainly at CAT score and VARC , so you have a reasonable chance there . Final calls depend on cutoffs and composite score.
For MANAGE Hyderabad MBA , the OBC cutoff in CAT 2024 was generally around 85-90 percentile for shortlist consideration , tough exact figures vary by section and profile . For CAT 2025, if fewer candidates appeared , the cutoff might slightly adjust , but percentile based cutoffs dont change drastically year to year. A minor decrease is possible , but you should still aim for 90+ percentile to be competitive. Factors like VARC, QA-LRDI and overall profile influence the final shortlist.
For a raw score of 56 in CAT 2025 Slot 3, your expected overall percentile is likely to be in the range of the 90th-95th percentile. The exact percentile can vary slightly on the final normalization process and the process and performance of all test-takers. In this
article
you'll find more about the CAT result.
Hello,
With a projected CAT percentile of 87% but not clearing sectional cutoffs, your chances at top IIMs are limited because they require both overall percentile and sectional minimums. However, you still have a good shot at other reputed management institutes and non-IIM B-schools. Consider colleges like NMIMS, SPJIMR, IMT, TAPMI, Great Lakes, and other well-ranked private or state-level B-schools that accept CAT scores and weigh your profile holistically. Your academic record, BSc in Animation with 80%, and 5 years of work experience at Ubisoft India are strong points and may help in institutes that value work experience in their selection process. Also, explore institutes that accept XAT, MAT, or CMAT, where your profile can be competitive.
Hope this helps you.
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