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Admit Card - 5 Nov '25 - 30 Nov '25
It's only 10 days to go for CAT 2022. Are you fully prepared for India's biggest MBA entrance exam? Follow these tips in the remaining days before CAT exam to optimise your performance.
CAT 2022 is scheduled for November 27. With only 10 days to go for the national level MBA entrance test, it is time for the final push to your preparation. The hard work you’ve put in for months may not be entirely fruitful if you overlook some key aspects of exam day preparation ahead of the big day.
This year, the CAT exam will have the same pattern as last year, so those who appeared for the test will be well versed with the format but those who will be attempting the CAT exam may be feeling the jitters. There is no need worry, practice the official mock test at iimcat.ac.in website and gain confidence for the exam day.
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Challenges of CAT 2022
1. Loosen up
In the last few days before CAT 2022, loosen up and stick to revision only. Do no try to overdo anything or put pressure on yourself. Whatever you’ve prepared so far, capitalise on it.
Also Read: Must know formulae for CAT
Q: Is the CAT syllabus difficult?
Q: Why is CAT considered a difficult MBA entrance exam?
A:
The CAT is conducted as a difficult MBA entrance exam because it is the main national level test for MBA Admission in India. Over 2 Lacs candidates appear for it every year. Thus, the competition is high. The question paper is set by the IIM. Even though the score is accepted by over 1300 colleges the top colleges accept above 90 percentile. The Iims have cut offs above 95 percentile. It has been seen that out of the total number of test takers which is usually around 2 Lacs, only about 20 candidates are able to score 99-100 percentile. The difficulty level of CAT is the highest among all the MBA entrance exams in India. It is conducted for 2 hours and has 66 questions in total to solve. However, the difficulty level of all the questions from VARC DILR and Quantitative Aptitude is high. The VARC has tough and long Reading Comprehension passages. The Data Interpretation tables and charts are dense and calculation intensive. Logical Reasoning questions are also on the tougher side. Moreover, there is sectional time limit of 40 minutes for each section. Candidates have to complete a section in the given time limit only.
Q: When should I start preparing for CAT exam?
A:
You should start preparing for CAT exam at least nine months in before the test date. CAT preparation requires long-term planning thus you must start early. The best time to start CAT preparation is in March. Starting early will also help you assess that whether you need to join a coaching institute or not.
2. Stick to revision
For QA, revise all the Mathematics formulae and theorems every day. For DILR, go through the shortcuts and tricks discovered during CAT preparation phase and for VARC, go through all the grammar concepts and examples.
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3. Finalise approach
It is natural to feel nervous before CAT exam, but that’s the challenge you need to overcome. If you are still not sure about your CAT preparation, take a couple of mock tests. Analyse your performance and note down the type of questions that you still find challenging. Skip such questions in the exam.
4. Follow routine
This year, CAT exam timings have changed. There will be three shifts and one will be an early morning shift beginning at 8:30 AM. If you have been allotted that exam slot, you'll have to reach the exam centre by 7:30 AM. Practice a daily routine accordingly so that on November 27 your mind is alert and able to concentrate during the exam.
Q: Can I prepare for CAT within 3 months?
A:
Hi Swaleha,
3 months are not enough for CAT as there many students with brilliant mind applying for CAT, you have to compete with them. So, at least, you have to start preparing for CAT before 6 months of exam. Rest of the information is given below.
Exam preparation tips for CAT:
Rather than focusing on all the topics, students need to try and select those topics with which they are more comfortable. Even on the exam day, with the question sheet in hand, students shouldn't try to solve each and every question and waste their energy, they should rather spend 5 minutes in scanning a section and selecting questions from their area of expertise and skill. In order to ace CAT, students should look at questions from the previous year's CAT paper and understand its syllabus. They should assess whether they are proficient, average or need improvement in each of the areas. The areas that fall in the third category should be focused on first followed by the second and third. CAT aspirants should always start early in preparing for the exams as an early start would benefit them in gaining knowledge about the kind of questions to be asked. Another advantage to it can be spending time in developing extra reading habits and increasing vocabulary. The best way to go on with the CAT preparations is to evaluate oneself in every 10-15 days, which is done by mock tests. But one thing that students should be careful about is to not to repeat the mistakes made by them in either the mock CAT or while practising at home or the whole purpose of taking mock tests would be lost. While preparing for the CAT question paper, one must keep in mind that management schools seek to test understanding of basic concepts that the student possesses. So, students should stop looking for the toughest material to practice and realize that their understanding of concepts is not as good as they think it is. Some things which CAT aspirants must do on an everyday basis are- Minimum 10 hours study everyday, especially before the 6 months of CAT exams. Preparation of minimum 10,000 words to enhance Vocabulary, study of newspapers and editorials for 2 hour's everyday and reading at least two magazines and one novel each week.
Time management is an essential ingredient to crack the CAT exam and make it to your favorite college. Managing one's time includes balancing speed with accuracy, handling the pressure and you.
Also Read: Changes in CAT exam pattern
5. Prepare for exam day
For freshers, CAT exam will be a new experience and that might lead to nervousness. Go through the official CAT mock test and exam-day guide video to understand the exam day flow. It is better to be aware of CAT exam day rules and regulation beforehand as it will save time.
Also Read:
6. Develop stamina for two-hour exam
There will be no bio-break in CAT 2022, until there is a medical emergency or unless a candidate has been granted permission due to certain health condition. Develop strength and endurance for two hours of non-stop problem solving on a computer screen.
7. Focus on mental calculation
One of the main challenges in speed-based tests such as CAT is saving time on calculation. Memorise tables, squares, square roots, cubes and other mathematical values for quick calculation. Mental calculation is key to time management.
8. COVID-19: Don’t worry, be cautious
This year also, CAT exam will be conducted amid COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 related safety guidelines will be followed at every CAT test centre. Go through these guidelines to familiarise yourself with dos and don’ts at the exam centre so that you can focus on the exam better. Also Read: COVID-19 related guidelines for CAT candidates
9. It is time to relax
The days before CAT 2022 should not be spent in worry but in relaxation. By now, you know your preparation level and the numerous mock test attempts have already given you an idea about how much you are likely to score. Do not worry now. It often turns out that one performs better on the exam day than mock tests.
Also Read: CAT 2022 admit card and self-declaration available for download
10. Don’t get exhausted
Do not exhaust yourself with over revision. Spend only about two to three hours in revision daily. This should include revision of concepts, theorems, formulae and short cut tricks. Talk to friends and mentor to stay motivated. After all, CAT is just an exam.
All the Best!
Read More:
- CAT preparation: 10 popular myths busted
- Types of Reading Comprehension questions
- Common Pitfalls to avoid while solving RC questions in CAT
- How many questions to attempt in CAT to score 99+ percentile
Try this CAT Mock Test, Powered by IMS, to assess your preparation level and time-management skill.
Free CAT Mock Test 1Try second CAT Mock Test, Powered by IMS, to assess your preparation level and time-management skill.
Free CAT Mock Test 2Videos you may like
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Anything you would want to ask experts?D
Deepthi
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 2 weeks ago
Candidates who did not appear for the CAT entrance exam can apply St. Xavier's College, Kolkata admissions as it is not a mandatory entrance exam. The candidates who wish to gain admissions into the MBA course of the institute have to appear for the Kolkata University entrance test for St. Xavier's
S
Saurabh Khanduri
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 weeks ago
With a 300 SC category rank in CAT, your chances for NIT Trichy MBA are relatively high. Based on 2025 data, NIT Trichy generally shortlists SC candidates with CAT percentiles around 60-65. To achieve a 300 rank under SC category, you would need about a 65-70 percentile, or a score of roughly 60-65
A
ABHINAV SRIVASTAVA
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 weeks ago
PGCET and CAT serve distinct purposes. The PGCET is primarily conducted for MBA admissions in colleges in the state of Karnataka, specifically for government colleges and private universities with lower fees. CAT is a national level exam for top-ranking B-schools and colleges such as the IIMs that h
A
ABHINAV SRIVASTAVA
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
That's a wonderful goal to push your son toward right at the start. To obtain previous CAT model papers, you can check many available popular exam preparation books in any bookstore or online store. Coaching interest such as TIME, IMS, Career Launcher, etc., usually have mock tests and sample papers
A
ABHINAV SRIVASTAVA
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes, you can get admission to Jaypee Business School (JBS), Noida for MBA even if you don't have CAT. JBS accepts scores from several other exams such as MAT, CMAT, XAT, GMAT, ATMA, and also CUET-PG. Just make sure you have a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks, then apply with any of those va
Vivek Kumar Yadav
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a month ago
I
Ishita B
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a month ago
For candidates pursuing MBA, the eligibility criteria includes merit and entrance based selection. Whereas, for BBA, candidates must qualify Class 12 with a minimum aggregate. JIIT CDOE MBA on the other hand, is offered based on the minimum aggregate of graduation. However, for the final admission,
M
Manisha Shukla
Contributor-Level 8
Answered a month ago
Yes, students can get MBA admission into Galgotia University without CAT. The university accepts other national entrance exams for MBA programme. The university accepts entrance exams such as MAT, CMAT, XAT, SAT, and other. It is mandatory to qualify one of the entrance exams.
K
Kartik Shekhar
Contributor-Level 9
Answered a month ago
Yes, students can get admission in Greater Noida Institute of Technology without CAT. CAT is one of the accepted entrance exams at Greater Noida Institute of Technology. The other accepted entrance exams are MAT, NMAT, XAT, CMAT, and others. If a student's CAT score is not good, worry not other acce
A
Aishwarya Bhatnagar
Contributor-Level 9
Yes, CAT syllabus is difficult to crack if you do not have enough time. There are three subjects in CAT- VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude. Most of the candidates find RC passages tough to crack. In Quants, Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry pose significant challenge during preparation. In DILR, Reasoning questions often turnout to be tricky and confusion.