Vipra
Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content
Updated on May 26, 2025 17:34 IST

As the CAT prepartion season kicks in, MBA aspirants are busy making CAT strategies and plans that give them the best results. While preparing for CAT 2025 exam, aspirants must pay attention to certain daily habits which can impact their studies positively. Take a look at some lifestyle aspects which are crucial for CAT preparation 2025.

CAT 2023 prep

Preparation for CAT exam is rigorous and requires time. There is no doubt that with back-to-back coaching classes and hours and hours of revisions, self-study and mock tests, aspirants leave no stone unturned in CAT preparation. Aspirants have to devote a minimum of 8-10 hours daily to CAT preparation, which can sometimes make one feel like giving up. Let not pressure of CAT preparation wear you down. It is important to stay motivated and dedicated through the journey and in that physical well being is very important. 

CAT aspirants tend to overlook certain important things that affect their performance in a significant manner. Your daily routine can play a huge supporting role in your CAT preparation 2025 and eventually in your exam performance. CAT 2025 will be a high difficulty level test so you need to prepare it well without risking your physical and mental health. As you start your CAT 2025 journey, here we have listed a few things you need to pay attention to during CAT exam preparation.

Simple Tips to Optimize CAT Preparation 2025

A Good Night’s Sleep

A good night’s sleep is essential for everybody. More so for CAT aspirants as they need to have deep focus, sharp memory and alertness. Experts say, it is important to sleep for a minimum of eight hours in the night to be fully energized, alert and attentive in the daytime. To ensure there is no daytime fatigue, you must fix a time to sleep. Sleep and wake up at the same time every day. This routine will fix your body clock and optimize the quality of your sleep. The better your sleep the better you will be able to concentrate on CAT preparation. There are confusing theorems and concepts in CAT syllabus that will require a lot of mind work. So, there’s no point in burning the midnight oil if you can’t recall in the morning what you studied at night.

Explore colleges based on CAT

Ahmedabad
#1 NIRF
₹12.00 L
Bangalore
#95 Business Today
₹12.05 L
Bangalore
#97 Business Today
₹9.25 L
Greater Noida
101-125 NIRF
₹1.80 L

Want better recommendations?

There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.
Bangalore
#2 NIRF
₹20.00 L
Mumbai
#20 NIRF
₹9.50 L
Hyderabad
#22 Business Today
₹16.21 L
Bangalore
#26 Business Today
₹10.00 L
Bangalore
#57 NIRF
₹6.20 L
Kolkata
#7 NIRF
₹27.00 L
Confused about which college or exam to opt for?assitentRcpRhsImage
  • Chat with our counselor
  • Get your personalised list of colleges & exams matching your preferences
View allCollections

Healthy Diet

To be able to optimize your CAT 2025 exam preparation you have to be physically fit. Along with sleep, you need to watch your diet. Avoid fried and fatty food as they tend to induce lethargy. Add fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet for protein, vitamins and other important minerals. Dark leafy vegetables, fish, berries, walnuts and food rich in omega-3 fatty acids are good for the brain. Also, avoid eating out to prevent upset stomach or any sort of illness that may hamper your studies. You need to study daily for 6-8 hours. If you skip a day, you will have to work extra on CAT topics the next day.

Explore more MBA exams with upcoming dates

CMAT 2026 registration and app...

17 Oct '25 - 18 Nov '25

SNAP 2025 Registration Process

1 Aug '25 - 20 Nov '25

MICAT (I) Registrations

30 Sep '25 - 20 Nov '25

XAT 2026 mock test 3

19 Nov '25 - 20 Nov '25

MAT PBT Registration 2025 (Dec )

23 Oct '25 - 7 Dec '25

XGMT registration

30 Sep '25 - 10 Dec '25

NMAT 2025 Rescheduling Window

1 Aug '25 - 16 Dec '25

IBSAT 2025 Registration

1 Jul '25 - 19 Dec '25

SRCC GBO Registration 2026

21 Dec '25

BMAT 2026 Application Release

31 Dec '25

Recreational Activities

While there is no argument about the fact that you should dedicate your maximum time towards studies, we would like to emphasize that ‘all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.’ Too many hours of solving CAT DILR puzzles and wracking your brain over CAT Quant problems can slow you down. Take a break and engage in some recreational activity. Listen to music or watch your favourite TV show or take an hour off to play any outdoor game to rejuvenate yourself. Take some time off daily and do whatever energises you and refreshes your mind and then get back to studies with renewed vigour. It is also important for you to practice some kind of physical exercise to prevent laziness and lethargy. You can also opt for Yoga and meditation for a calm and uncluttered mind. 

You can pick up puzzles, word games and mind games as leisure activity. This will serve dual purpose of CAT Logical Reasoning practice and recreation.

Besides these three main lifestyle activities, you also need to pay attention to other small details like your study environment, study table, lighting system in your study room and place and the time of studying.

Q:   Is the CAT syllabus difficult?
A:

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.

Q:   Is it difficult for non-English medium students to crack CAT?
A:

It is difficult but not impossible. If you give yourself a good enough time to improve English comprehension, grammar and vocabulary, you will be able to do it. Yes, a non- English medium student will require longer time for CAT preparation as they will have to start reading and improving English comprehension. So, may be they need to start English preparation for CAT in the second year of graduation, instead of final year (much earlier than English medium students). They may also need two attempts to crack CAT with high percentile. But that's not true for all. If you work hard and study smartly, you will be able to crack it. 

Q:   What are the factors to keep in mind to cover CAT syllabus timely?
A:

CAT syllabus is vast. It has numerous topics from Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation. Covering the CAT syllabus also includes practicing a variety of sample questions on the topics included. Thus, it requires a lot of time. Candidates must given themselves atleast 3-4 months to cover CAT syllabus and keep in mind the following:

·      Check the previous years' CAT papers to know topics which carry more weightage so that you can focus on those topics more.

·      List down topicsin order of easy, moderate and tough and allot time to them accordingly.

·      Make sure to study about 6-8 hours per day to complete the syllabus 2-3 months before the exam.

·      After studying every topic, practice sample questions. Balance theory with practical.

 

Study Desk

Make sure your study table and chair are at the right height, which supports your posture as wrong posture can lead to discomfort which can affect your concentration. You also need to ensure that your seating arrangement is not causing back pain to you. Don’t study for CAT exam continuously for long hours. Take small breaks of 5-10 minutes in between. This way you will be able to give rest to your eyes and brain too.

Also Read:

Lighting System

Tiredness of eyes is common to all of us. Long hours of study during CAT 2025 preparation can severely affect your eyes. That is why your study area should be well lit. It should be neither too bright nor dim. Try to study in natural light as much as possible. It provides a soothing effect which is absent in artificial lights. Keep the screen light of your laptop/desktop at comformtable limit.

Q:   What is the best preparation strategy for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension?
A:

To prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, stick to the traditional path of concepts first and practice later. Study English grammar and Verbal Ability first to understand the concept. Then practice a number of sample questions of different kinds to gain confidence, speed and accuracy. For RC passages, develop the habit of reading from early stages. Read books from all walks of life.

Practicing sample Reading Comprehension passages and questions in a crucial part of VARC preparation. This will help you understand the types of questions and RC passages asked in various entrance exams.

As an aspirant, you will be appearing for more than one entrance exam, thus you need to have the practice of different types of RC passages.

Q:   What to keep in mind for CAT Quantitative Aptitude preparation?
A:

CAT Quantitative Aptitude has the potential of 100 percentile if you prepare well. The Quantitative Aptitude topics of CAT are advance level Mathematic topics from Class 9 and 10. So, for any candidate, the foundation is already there, they only need to work on it further.

The important topics of CAT Quantitative Aptitude include Geometry,  Ratios and Proportion, Inequalities, Trigonometry, In-equations, Quadratic and Linear Equations, Work and Time, Algebra, Surds and Indices, Percentages, Mensuration, Time-Speed-Distance,  Logarithms, Partnership (Accounts), Number System, Square Root and Cube Root, Profit & Loss, Geometric Progression, Probability, Mean-Mode-Median, Binomial theorem, Simple interest and compound interest.

Maximum questions are asked from Arithmetic and Geometry so keep the main focus on these two topic. Understand and memorise the formulas and theorems well, and practice enough questions to be thorough with their application.

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.

Time and Place of Study

Since studying is going to be your main occupation for the next few months, you need to create the right environment for it. The one which is free from noise and disturbances. Set up your study area away from your living room where family members watch TV, listen to music or converse with each other. Don’t study in a room which invites noise from outside.

You also need to set a time table for CAT preparation 2025. Experts say, early morning is the best time to study new concepts and solving problems as the mind is fresh after sleep. Post-dinner study time is good for revision and studying relatively lighter topics.

Stay Away from Phone

Last but not the least, stay away from your smartphone, IPad and other gadgets that have the potential to distract you.

Implement these few things in your preparation plan and see the result. All the best for CAT 2025!

Free CAT Mock Tests by Shiksha

CAT_Mock_Test_1 CAT_Mock_Test_1_Solutions
CAT_Mock_Test_2 CAT_Mock_Test_2_Solutions

Read More:

CAT 2025: Preparation Plan for Verbal Ability

CAT 2025: Preparation Plan for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

Best books for CAT exam preparation 2025

CAT 2025: Preparation Plan for Quantitative Aptitude

How to prepare for CAT 2025: Expert Tips

Must know formulae for CAT 2025

How to prepare for CAT 2025: Topper Tips

How to prepare for CAT without quitting your job

 
VARC Questions with Answers for Practice DILR Questions with Answers for Practice Quantitative Aptitude Questions with Answers for Practice

Read More:

CAT Application Form 2025

CAT Syllabus 2025

CAT Question Papers

CAT Admit Card 2025

CAT Result 2025

CAT Exam Pattern 2025

CAT Percentile Predictor

IIM and Non-IIM Call Predictor

CAT Exam Analysis

Videos you may like
About the Author
author-image
Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content
Vipra is a massive Breaking Bad fan. When not watching crime drama series, she spends time in updating the list of places she wants to visit and people she wants to meet, but she is happiest in the company of dogs. Read Full Bio
Download Important Dates for MBA/PGDM Exams

News & Updates

Latest NewsPopular News

Explore Other Exams

10 Jul '25 -

5 Dec '25

XAT 2026 Exam registration

19 Nov '25 -

20 Nov '25

XAT 2026 mock test 3

1 Aug '25 -

20 Nov '25

SNAP 2025 Registration Process

28 Nov '25 -

6 Dec '25

SNAP 2025 admit card session 1...

28 Oct '25 -

16 Dec '25

NMAT 2025 Admit Card Issuance

1 Aug '25 -

16 Dec '25

NMAT 2025 Rescheduling Window

17 Oct '24 -

5 Dec '24

IIFT 2025 registration and app...

23 Oct '25 -

7 Dec '25

MAT PBT Registration 2025 (Dec...

23 Oct '25 -

15 Dec '25

MAT CBT Registration 2025 (Dec...

1 Jul '25 -

19 Dec '25

IBSAT 2025 Registration

5 Nov '25 -

27 Dec '25

IBSAT Slot Booking 2025

17 Oct '25 -

18 Nov '25

CMAT 2026 registration and app...

Dec '25

MAH MBA CET 2026 registration ...

2 Sep '25 -

4 Sep '25

MAH MBA CAP 2025: Reporting to...

Jan '26

Publication of TANCET notifica...

Jan '26

TANCET registration window

Mar '25

IRMASAT 2025 Final Result Anno...

Feb '25

IRMASAT Personal Interviews

The list of exams are recommended based on what other exams do the students in your area show interest in
qna

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered Yesterday

At GIBS, the faculty-to-student ratio is around 1:15, which honestly makes learning a lot easier. Since the classes aren't overcrowded, the faculty actually get time to focus on each student.

You can easily ask your doubts, get personal guidance, and have open discussions. It feels more like a mentor

...Read more

A

Ahmedbasha

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 days ago

The online application for GIBS Business School is very well-organized and student-friendly for its MBA, PGDM, and BBA programs.

Application Procedure Step 1: Access the Admissions Portal

Go to the official website of GIBS Business School, and click on "Apply Online", which can be found under the sect

...Read more

A

Amrita D jaiswal

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 3 days ago

GIBS Business School considers the overall CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, ATMA, and GMAT scores for the admission of candidates in the PGDM and MBA programs. Rather than using solely high cut-offs, the entrance test scores are used to judge the aptitude of a candidate in terms of analysis, quant, and verbal f

...Read more

A

Amrita D jaiswal

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 10 hours ago

At GIBS, they keep the entrance exam part really simple. For PGDM or MBA, they accept almost all the common exams like CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, ATMA, and GMAT. Even state-level or institute-level scores are considered.

Honestly, GIBS doesn't stress too much about “only one specific exam.” As long as you

...Read more

A

Ahmedbasha

Contributor-Level 7

Answered a week ago

GIBS Business School, Bangalore, has a strong and dynamic Placement Cell that helps in securing excellent career opportunities for the students. Every year, more than 260 reputed companies have visited the campus for recruitment, offering versatile jobs in sectors like BFSI, IT, consulting, manufact

...Read more

A

Amrita D jaiswal

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 weeks ago

Getting into the MBA programme of NIT Trichy with a 300 SC CAT rank is somewhat uncertain. As the recent data sets suggest, NIT Trichy's CAT cutoff for SC category admission stands around 65th percentile. A 300 SC rank could be borderline depending on how many SC candidates apply and the quality of

...Read more

A

Amrita D jaiswal

Contributor-Level 7

Answered a month 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

...Read more

S

Saurabh Khanduri

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a month 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

...Read more

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

...Read more

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

...Read more

84547914
Vivek Kumar Yadav

Contributor-Level 9