Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 will be held on November 30, 2025, across three sessions in nearly 170 cities. CAT registration has started on August 1, 2025, and will close on September 13, 2025. The application fee is INR 2,600 for General/EWS/OBC-NCL candidates and INR 1,300 for SC/ST/PwD candidates.
Every year, over 3 lakh aspirants compete for around 5,000 IIM seats, with only the top 2–3% crossing the 99 percentile mark. Given this level of competition, structured preparation—whether over six months, three months, or even in the final 30 days—is crucial.
CAT 2025 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
CAT 2024 provides the best benchmark for the upcoming paper. It was a two-hour exam with 68 questions, divided into three sections with 40 minutes each.
CAT exam awards +3 marks for each correct answer, deducts 1 mark for incorrect MCQs, and has no negative marking for TITA questions.
CAT 2024 paper analysis showed that a score of 80–85 marks translated to 99 percentile, while 58–62 marks corresponded to 95 percentile—useful benchmarks when tracking progress through mocks.
How to Prepare for CAT 2025 in 6 Months
Six months offers enough time for a full syllabus build-up and extensive practice. With 24 weeks, preparation should balance concept clarity, problem practice, and mock test analysis. Coaching data indicates that aspirants who take 20+ mocks with 70%+ accuracy consistently cross the 95 percentile mark.
By the end of six months, consistent mock scores of 60+ marks (95 percentile) should be the target.
How to Prepare for CAT 2025 in 3 Months
Three months of preparation is best suited for repeat takers or students with a strong academic background. The focus must be accuracy, high-weightage topics, and mock practice. Data shows many aspirants reach 98 percentile within 12 weeks if they combine rigorous practice with disciplined mock analysis.
By the end of three months, the goal should be 45–50 attempts with 75–80% accuracy, translating to 65–70 marks (98 percentile).
How to Prepare for CAT 2025 in the Last 30 Days
The last month is about stability, accuracy, and stamina. Analysis from past years shows aspirants often improve scores by 10–15 marks in the final 4 weeks simply by refining strategy and reducing errors.
In the final week, the aim should be revision, light practice, and mental calmness, rather than cramming new content.
Read More: CAT Exam Preparation
Section-Wise Strategy for CAT 2025
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
CAT 2024 had 16 RC questions and 8 VA questions. RC dominated with 70% weightage. RC accuracy averaged 65%, higher than VA’s 50%.
- Prioritize two easier RC passages for full attempts.
- For VA, follow a fixed sequence (para summary → odd-one-out → completion) to avoid time loss.
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
The section had 22 questions across 5 sets (2×5, 3×4). High scorers typically solved 3 full sets with 80% accuracy.
- Spend the first 2 minutes scanning sets.
- Attempt the 3 most approachable sets fully before moving on.
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
Arithmetic (8 Qs) and Algebra (7 Qs) together made up 70% of QA in 2024.
- Solve Arithmetic & Algebra “sitters” in the first 15 minutes.
- Attempt Geometry/Modern Math only if time permits.
Final Takeaways
- 6 months prep: Cover the full syllabus, attempt 20+ mocks, target 95+ percentile.
- 3 months prep: Revise core topics, take 12–15 mocks, aim for 95–98 percentile.
- 30 days prep: Focus on mocks, revision, and stamina building to maximize scores.
Success in CAT is less about covering every chapter and more about selective preparation, consistent mocks, and disciplined accuracy. Tracking progress against 95 and 99 percentile score benchmarks will give the clearest picture of exam readiness.
