CAT 2025 Preparation

One of the most prestigious management entrance tests is CAT (Common Admission Test). It opens the door to top MBA colleges like IIMs, IITs, XLRI or KCC-ITM. Each year many management aspirants appear for the CAT examinations, for securing their admission in premier MBA colleges.

CAT aspirants must start preparing for the entrance exam. With passing year, CAT 2025 exam pattern, CAT 2025 question paper is evolving. So, it is essential to design preparation strategies for the CAT entrance exam.

Many aspirants, register for the CAT entrance exam, but only few succeed in getting through the examination and score 95 plus percentile. In this blog we will discuss CAT preparation 2025 strategies and provide the CAT aspirants with the CAT 2025 exam pattern, CAT 2025 question paper for mock practice and comprehensive guide of cracking the entrance exam.

CAT 2025 Exam Pattern

Candidates must keep an understanding for CAT exam pattern, which is available on official website of CAT. Knowing about the exam pattern helps in creating a study plan according to the marking scheme and questions mentioned against the each section.

The CAT exam is conducted IIMs annually and is a computer-based entrance test consisting of three main sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA)

There will be total 66 questions. Section wise break of number of questions is 24 questions of VARC, 20 questions of DILR and 22 questions of QA. For each section 40 mins time is allotted to the candidates. Mentioned below is the expected CAT 2025 exam pattern:

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The understanding of exam pattern is first step to know what is expected in CAT entrance examination. Following are the key features of CAT 2025 exam pattern:

• Total marks = 198

• Question format: Mix of MCQs and Type in answer (TITA)

• Total duration: 2 hours (40 minutes per section).

• Sectional timing: Candidates cannot switch between sections.

• Marking scheme= Correct answer will be given +3 marks and -1 marks to wrong answer. There is no negative marking for Type in answer (TITA) and for unattempted questions.

When learners are aware about CAT exam pattern, they can create an impactful preparation strategy for the CAT examination as it enables learners to prioritizing topics, practicing time management strategies, and strengthening weaker areas.

CAT Preparation 2025

Early preparation of CAT 2025 exam offers a strategic advantage to the learners. The examination requires learner’s consistency and determination for gaining outstanding scores in all the sections.

It is essential to start CAT preparation 2025 early as it builds strong foundation for quantitative and verbal skills. Candidates gets more time to practice previous year papers and reduces last minute rush and stress. This also helps aspirants to score well in the examination.

Mentioned below is the step by step preparation guide for CAT examination 2025:

Step 1: Knowing the CAT updated syllabus

Candidates must keep an understanding of the CAT 2025 exam pattern and updated syllabus, which is available on the official website of CAT. It is essential to know about the CAT exam syllabus, so that learners keep their focus on the given topics only.

VARC-Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section includes the following topics:

• Reading comprehension

• Para completion

• Vocabulary(Synonyms/Antonyms)

• Grammar

• Fill in the blanks

• Para jumbles

• Verbal reasoning

• Summary questions

• Matching of meaning and usage

• Sentence correction

• Analogies

DILR-Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section includes the following topics:

• Rotes and networks

• Scheduling and allocation

• Grids

• Arrangements

• Word puzzles

• Maths puzzles

• Coding and decoding

• Data Interpretation

• Bar graphs

• Tables

• Venn diagram

• Line graphs

• Pie charts

• Scatter plots

• Radar charts

QA-Quantitative Ability section includes the following topics:

• Arithmetic

• Ratio

• Percentages

• Algebra

• Geometry

• LCM and HCF

• Factorials

• Divisibility

• Probability

• Set theory

• Progressions

• Logarithms

• Base system

When the learners are aware about the updated syllabus, they can make a study plan section wise for each day. This allows them to plan smartly.

Step 2: Devising a study plan:

It is essential for learners to give equal importance to all three sections topics. To be able to clear sectional cut off for each section, learners need to focus on all three section with the equal dedication. Learners need to divide their study hours into three parts and focus on each section's topics each day.

Step 3: Keep consistency:

To gain mastery in each section, it is important to practice previous year papers and mock papers on the daily basis. To keep the consistency, aspirants should, take out an hour and practice questions to strengthen their CAT preparations 2025.

Step 4: Analysis of practice papers:

It is essential for learners, to analyze the performance section and topic wise for CAT 2025 question papers. This will instill an awareness of the topics which requires more practice and improvement. While practicing mock papers and previous year papers, set a timer. This will improve learners speed and accuracy for the examination.

Step 5: Stay focused and motivated:

For any entrance examination, it is important for candidates to stay focused on their end goal and keep themselves motivated during preparation time. Scoring low during initial practice papers can be demotivating.

But always remember to be determined and consistent with study schedule, regular revision and practice sessions. This will gradually increase learner’s scores in practice papers and prepare them well for the CAT examination.

Expected Trends: CAT 2025 Question Paper

CAT exam is known for its unpredictability nature. So, analyzing the previous year papers and mock papers provides strong insights into what to be expected trend of CAT 2025 question paper this year.

CAT aspirants need to be aware about the expected important topics and difficulty level of each section. Based on the previous year papers, there are important topics for each section. These topics carry more weightage in this year examination. Therefore, it is wise to first start the preparations with mentioned below topics from each section:

• VARC (Verbal Ability and reading comprehension): VARC section is expected to come moderate to difficult level. Topics like Reading comprehension, para jumbles and para summary will carry more weightage in this year examination.

• DILR (Data Interpretation and logical Reasoning): DILR section is expected to come at difficult level. Topics like Tables and bar graphs questions, Venn diagram questions, and puzzle based sets will carry more weightage in this year examination.

• QA (Quantitative Ability): QA section is expected to come at moderate level. Topics like Arithmetic (profit loss, percentage, and ratios), algebra and geometry will carry more weightage in the examination.

Final Takeaway:

In conclusion, CAT Preparation 2025 is most crucial step to enter into any eminent MBA college. The final tip for CAT preparation 2025 will be to stay consistent and start early. After reviewing the CAT 2025 exam pattern , candidates should now understand the importance to focus on answering question accurately and not aiming to attempt all questions.

In this blog we have discussed about the CAT examination and step by step preparation strategies for the examination, which will guide the aspirants to crack the entrance exam with an outstanding score.

FAQs

Q1.When should a CAT aspirant start their exam preparations?

Ans1. Candidates should start their exam preparation at least 6 months before the exam. This will provide ample time for completion of their syllabus.

Q2.Is it compulsory to daily practice mock papers for CAT preparations?

Ans2. It is advised to practice mock papers daily as it will enhance learners speed and accuracy during CAT examinations.

Q3.Are candidates allowed to use calculator while CAT exam?

Ans3. Physical calculators are not allowed in CAT exams but on screen calculators are provided during examination.