CAT 2026 Preparation Roadmap: Month-Wise Strategy & Tips

CAT 2026 exam preparation will require focused planning and execution. When you make a strategy, set small and realistic targets. Reach there step by step. Read below CAT 2026 preparation roadmap.

How to prepare for CAT 2026: Tips and Tricks

CAT 2026 preparation should start latest by May so that you have enough time in hand for complete preparation. Many aspirants start preparation from March onwards. Starting early allows you some warm up time, especially if you are attempting the CAT for the first time. However, a minimum of 6 months is a must for CAT preparation.

It is important to cover the CAT syllabus in detail and you will need to give quality time to each topic. Be it Quant formula, LR puzzles, DI tables/charts or reading comprehension, ample practice is the basic requirement. Read below, month wise CAT 2026 preparation strategy and tips.

CAT 2026 Syllabus

The first step into making a CAT preparation road map is knowing the syllabus. You must know what and how much do you have to study. Take a look at the table below for CAT 2026 syllabus. 

CAT 2026 Preparation Strategy: May to August

Start by making a list of topics you are familiar with. Rate them as – familiar, somewhat familiar and unfamiliar. Now, take a week or two revise familiar topics. This will help in building up confidence at the start. Gradually move to tougher topics. Make a daily, weekly and monthly plan to cover the syllabus. You will be required to divide each day into three sections – VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude. Pick up a topic from each of the three to study, learn and practice. An 8-hour time table will have to be followed.

CAT 2026 Preparation Strategy: September to October

By August end complete the CAT 2026 syllabus and start with mock tests series in September. You will need to dedicate two months to practice only. This is the time to work on applying knowledge to Mathematical sums and DILR problems. CAT Reading Comprehension passages will require equal attention in practice. Practice full-length CAT mock tests and sectional tests. On an average, every candidate should practice 30-40 CAT mock tests of easy, medium and tough difficulty level. It is important to analyse performance in each mock and improvise on it. You should not stop practicing CAT mocks until you start scoring 99+ percentile consistently.

CAT 2026 Preparation Strategy: November

The last month of CAT 2026 preparation should be dedicated to exhaustive revision. This is the time for last mile preparation so you should make a list of topics or questions that are still you pain areas. Get together with mentors and peers to clear these roadblocks. While you can continue to practice questions or mock tests, you may need to change the ratio of practice vs revision. In the last week of the exam, practice only on CAT mock test and analyse the result. Make your exam day strategy based on the hits and misses of the mock test result.

CAT Books and Study Material

For CAT exam preparation 2026 candidates will need the right set of books and study material. So, here’s the list of most recommended CAT books.

Apart from these books, CAT aspirants will need to solve a lot of sample practice question sets, mock tests and previous years’ CAT question papers.

Bottomline

This is a suggested plan; you can modify it according to your skill and knowledge. One thing to keep in mind is that, the CAT exam preparation plan should also flexible, so that you can make changes basis requirement, without losing out on time or effort put in before.

Read more:

• CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus
• Logical Reasoning Topics for CAT

• What is The Best Time To Start CAT Preparation

• How to Prepare for CAT in 6 months

• 2 months to CAT exam: These many Mock Tests will optimise your score

• Simple Tips To Optimize CAT Exam Preparation

• Advantages of Giving CAT For Final Year Student

• Important CAT Quant formulas