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The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of the toughest and most competitive entrance exams in India, expected to be held in November 2025. It is the gateway for students aiming to pursue an MBA or similar management programs, especially at the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management IIMs. 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, and time management 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!
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The CAT exam consists of three main sections: Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR). Each section has a specific number of questions and an allotted time of 40 minutes. 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.
Section | No of Questions | Time Allotted |
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 40 Minutes |
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 Minutes |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 40 Minutes |
Total | 68 | 120 Minutes |
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
Once you finish the syllabus, start taking section-wise CAT mock tests. In the last 3–4 months, regularly attempt 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.
Must-Read- List of CAT Toppers
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."
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.
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.
Also Read- CAT Exam: 10 Dos and Don'ts for the exam day
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
Third Phase – Go for questions that are time-consuming and would require more head pondering.
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.”
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.
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. |
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
Right after entering the examination hall, the countdown begins, and aspirants taking the CAT exam have only two hours to complete all the questions. It is necessary to manage 120 minutes accordingly. The most important thing is to keep calm and not let the anxiety take over. Here are some suggestions that one should follow on the day of the exam.
The CAT exam is 2 hours with 40 minutes per section (VARC, DILR, QA); you cannot switch between sections.
Stay calm and manage your time wisely.
Quickly scan the section and attempt easy or familiar questions first.
Read RC and DILR sets carefully to understand them fully.
Skip questions that take too long; come back if time allows.
In DILR, try solving 2 questions per set first; return to the rest later.
Reserve 2–3 minutes at the end for revision.
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’ts | 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. |
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.
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 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No. Each section has a fixed 40-minute limit. You cannot move between sections once one begins.
Start with easy questions, skip tough ones, and use the last few minutes for revision. Don't spend more than 2–3 minutes on one question.
Yes. If a question takes too long, skip it and come back later if time allows. It helps avoid negative marking.
Start mock tests after finishing the basics. Begin full mocks at least 3–4 months before the exam.
Aim for 6–8 hours a day, dividing time between VARC, QA, and DILR. Adjust based on your strengths.
On Question asked by student community
Hello
As you said you by mistakenly done that, you don't need to get worry regarding that ,
Just inform the help desk and carry the correct certifications , the state certificate will not disqualify you .
The steps you can follow is -
1. You can check if the correction window is available or not
2. Contact the CAT desk immediately.
Hope this helps
In CAT registration, you cannot create a new user ID with the same mobile number, even if you use a different email ID. Each mobile number and email can be linked to only one account. If you already registered once, the system will not accept a duplicate with that number. To register again, you must use a new mobile number and new email ID. If you lost your old login, you can recover it through the forgot password/user ID option on the CAT portal.
Yes, you can fill the CAT form even if you currently have a backlog. CAT eligibility requires you to be in your final year of graduation or already graduated backlogs don’t stop you from applying.
While filling the form:
Enter the aggregate percentage/CGPA of marks you have obtained up to the latest semester for which results are declared (in your case till 4th semester).
There will be an option to mention that you have a backlog.
If you clear the backlog later, you’ll just need to show the updated marks during admission.
Hello Aspirant,
Yes, you can apply for the CAT exam as a final-year student. You must declare your backlog on the online application form. You do not write about it on the final-year student certificate; that document is to certify your enrollment status. You must clear all backlogs before the final admission process to any MBA college.
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!
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