The CAT is your ticket to the high-profile IIMs and other high-ranking B-schools in India. A high score in CAT 2025 demands a step-by-step, intelligent, and section-by-section preparation strategy. Be you a fresher or a repeater, this exhaustive strategy will enable you to crack the CAT MBA exam with ease.
CAT 2026 Exam Overview
| Feature | Details |
| Exam Name | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
| Conducting Body | Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
| Duration | 120 minutes (2 hours) |
| Sections | VARC, DILR, QA |
| Frequency | Once a year |
| Tentative Exam Date | Last Sunday of November 2025 |
CAT 2026 Preparation Timeline (Month-by-Month Plan)
| Month | What to Focus On |
| May – June 2026 | Understand syllabus & exam pattern. Build basics across VARC, DILR & QA. |
| July – Aug 2026 | Strengthen concepts. Start solving beginner mocks & topic-wise practice questions. |
| Sept – Oct 2026 | Increase question difficulty. Focus on sectional mocks, time management & accuracy. |
| Nov 2026 | Full-length mock tests, intensive revision, fine-tune exam strategy. Avoid new topics. |
Section-Wise Preparation Strategy
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
| Focus Areas | Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Sentence Completion, Vocabulary, Grammar |
| Tips | Read daily (The Hindu/Indian Express), attempt 2 RCs/day, build a word bank |
| Resources | Word Power Made Easy, Arun Sharma VARC, novels, editorials, RC practice apps |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
| Focus Areas | Graphs, Charts, Tables, Logical Puzzles, Arrangements, Venn Diagrams |
| Tips | Start with basic puzzles, solve one DILR set daily, time your practice sessions |
| Resources | Nishit K. Sinha’s DILR, CAT PYQs, Puzzle Baron, Cracku DILR sets |
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
| Focus Areas | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number System, Modern Maths |
| Tips | Focus on fundamentals, practice 15–20 QA questions/day, revise formulae regularly |
| Resources | Arun Sharma QA, RS Aggarwal, NCERT Math (Class 6–10), CAT previous papers |
CAT Mock Test Strategy
| Phase | Mock Test Frequency | Purpose |
| Foundation (May–Aug) | 1 full mock every 2 weeks | Understand exam flow, analyze strengths/weaknesses |
| Practice (Sept–Oct) | 1–2 mocks + 2–3 sectionals/week | Improve speed, accuracy, reduce careless errors |
| Final Phase (Nov) | 3 mocks/week + deep analysis | Maximize score, build exam temperament |
Daily Study Routine for Beginners (Suggested)
| Time Slot | Activity |
| Morning (1 hr) | Editorial reading / 1 RC passage |
| Midday (2 hrs) | Quant practice (concepts + questions) |
| Evening (1.5 hrs) | DILR set-solving / puzzle-based practice |
| Night (1 hr) | VARC review / vocabulary / mock analysis |
Recommended Online Resources
- YouTube Channels: Cracku, 2IIM CAT, Rodha, Unacademy CAT, IMS India
- Mock Platforms: TIME, IMS, Career Launcher, TestFunda
- Apps: WordUp, Puzzle Baron, GradeUp, Daily Vocab Builder
Quick Tips to Crack CAT 2026
- Start early and stay consistent.
- Don’t ignore sectional cutoffs—balance all three sections.
- Review mocks religiously to identify and fix mistakes.
- Practice mental math and approximation tricks for QA.
- Focus on reading variety—science, philosophy, economics for RCs.
- Don’t chase 100% syllabus mastery; aim for 90–95% with accuracy.
Final Thoughts
Cracking CAT 2026 is a path of determination, intelligent planning, and self-control. By following a strategic day-to-day schedule, mock test intensity, and section-by-section command, any serious candidate can achieve 95–99+ percentile. Whether you are targeting an IIM, FMS, or premier IIT B-school, your CAT preparation starts now—so remain focused and start strong
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