The CAT 2025 is all set to be conducted on November 30. There are about 6 months left for CAT 2025 preparation, and it's the ideal time to start preparing for the same to ace the exam. The CAT 2025 will be conducted by the IIM Kozhikode, and students must strategise a smart study plan as this is one of the highly competitive examinations in India. These 6 months should be dedicated to building a strong foundation, finding strengths & weaknesses, being familiar with the highest weightage topics, finding the most repeated concepts and learning them, etc.
The CAT 6-month study plan must be made carefully and aspirants are advised to break their strategy into weekly, daily formats to achieve the ultimate goal. Aspirants are advised to check the CAT 2025 syllabus carefully and figure out their strongest and weakest areas to work on them accordingly. This will also help students divide their time wisely for each chapter/topic. Refer to the following to go through a detailed and impactful 6-month study plan for CAT 2025.
How to Prepare for CAT in 6 Months?
Refer to the following 6-month plan to prepare for CAT 2025.
1st and 2nd Month Preparation Plan |
Goal: Clear the Basics and Be Familiar with All Topics |
VARC Preparation Tips
- Read newspapers, articles, monologues, and books regularly to enhance your reading skills.
- To enhance reading and understanding skills, solve at least two reading comprehension passages regularly.
- Focus on improving grammar, vocabulary, learning new words, spelling, etc.
DILR Preparation Tips
- Focus on clearing the basics and learn basic Puzzles, graphs and tables.
- To enhance overall basic knowledge, try to solve at least two problems regularly.
QA Preparation Tips
- Refer to NCERT books and learn basic maths including percentage, average, ratio, time/work, statistics and more.
- Students must note that NCERT Books are one of the best resources of learning, however candidates can also use other CAT preparation books to prepare.
3rd and 4th Month Preparation Plan |
Goal: Build Speed and Accuracy |
- Follow the daily routine as per 1st and 2nd month preparation plan for all the sections.
- Start taking online or offline tests to improve speed and accuracy.
- Track your progress and learn about your weak areas to improve them.
- Candidates can join an online or offline coaching to understand the competition level and ask questions.
5th Month Preparation Plan |
Goal: Get Real Exam Experience with Mock Tests |
- Candidates are advised to take full CAT mock tests regularly in month 5.
- After taking mock tests, analyze your performance carefully and learn what questions were challenging to solve.
- Track your time carefully to plan it accordingly for each section.
- Candidates must learn all crucial formulas and theories carefully.
- Manage time wisely and know where you are spending the most time and try to reduce it.
6th Month Preparation Plan |
Goal: Final Revision and More Mock Tests |
- Try to take at least 3 CAT mock tests everyday.
- Candidates must revise all important formulas, topics, chapters and concepts.
- Figure out your weak areas and work on them until you're pro at it.
- Be fully prepared and take a final mock test to gain a better idea of your overall preparation level.
CAT Exam Pattern 2025
The following table contains the complete CAT 2025 exam pattern.
Section | Number of Questions | Time Allotted | Type of Questions | Marking Scheme |
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 minutes | MCQs + Non-MCQs (TITA) | +3 for correct, –1 for wrong MCQs |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 40 minutes | MCQs + Non-MCQs (TITA) | +3 for correct, –1 for wrong MCQs |
Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | 40 minutes | MCQs + Non-MCQs (TITA) | +3 for correct, –1 for wrong MCQs |
Total | 66 | 120 minutes | Sectional time limit applies | No negative marking for TITA |
Best Books for CAT Preparation
CAT Books are very important to begin your CAT preparation and play a vital role in preparing you for the CAT Exam 2025. If you intend to take the CAT exam in 2025 and want to get selected for one of the top MBA colleges in India, then the best time to start preparing is now. Know about the best CAT books for preparation, as these are the best tools that can help you grasp the theory and concepts of CAT.
Book Title | Authors | Features |
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for the CAT | Arun Sharma | Comprehensive coverage of DI topics, self-sufficient for preparation |
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT | Nishit K. Sinha | Strong concept building, practical application of problems, graded difficulty levels |
Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency | Ananta Ashisha | Focuses on the interpretation of data and the sufficiency of information, a practical approach |
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT | Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay | Step-by-step approach to improve verbal ability and comprehension, including practice questions |
30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary | Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis/Simon & Schuster | Enhances vocabulary through practical exercises and learning strategies |
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT | Sharma and Upadhyay | Comprehensive coverage of verbal ability topics, practical exercises, and mock tests |
High School English Grammar and Composition | Wren & Martin | Covers the entire syllabus of English grammar, includes practice exercises, and self-assessment sections |
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT | Arun Sharma | Detailed coverage of quantitative topics includes shortcuts and tips for solving problems |
NCERT Mathematics Books (Class 6 to 10) | NCERT | Fundamental concepts of mathematics, clear explanations, are essential for building a strong foundation in maths |
PSC for VA for CAT | Nishit Sinha | Covers verbal ability topics, a practical approach with practice questions, and previous year papers |
Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT | Sarvesh Sharma | Comprehensive coverage of quantitative topics includes advanced-level problems and solutions |
Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations | Abhijit Guha | Detailed coverage of quantitative topics includes numerous practice questions and solved examples |
CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | Gautam Puri | Practical approach to DI and LR topics, includes practice questions and a mock test. |
Note: Students can easily ace the CAT examination with proper preparation strategies in 6 months. Learning about the basics of each concept is a must and this will help students build a strong foundation. Students must divide their time wisely to prepare for each section wisely including VARC, DILR, and QA.
Also Check: CAT Notification 2025
