CAT 2025 Exam Day Tips: Key Dos and Don'ts

CAT 2025 is 5 days away. It is time to do the final revision and make the exam day plan. Here are the most important CAT exam day tips that you need for performing well. Read below.

CAT 2025 exam is just five days away and it is time to give your preparation the final touch. So revise notes, concepts, formulae and memorise short cuts and tricks to solve lengthy questions in less time. Go through the official CAT mock test 2025 to check the latest exam pattern. Attempt it at the same time as your exam slot to have real time experience. Understand all the CAT exam rules and regulations so that you don’t make any mistake on the exam day. To help CAT 2025 aspirants, we have listed some CAT exam day tips and dos & don'ts to be kept in mind for the exam day. Read the tips below and prepare for the CAT 2025 exam day. 

Latest: CAT 2025 LIVE updates - slot wise analysis, difficulty level, cut offs

CAT Exam Day Tips

Revise important formulae: On the night before the CAT 2025 exam, revise all the important formulae, concepts and theorems before going to bed. Go through your short notes. Remember, this is not time to start any new topic. Your CAT 2025 preparation must be completed at least a week before the CAT exam so that you can dedicate the last few days to revision. Revise all the concepts and go to bed with a clear and confident mind.

Sleep well the night before: To be able to stay alert during the CAT exam, it is important to sleep well in the night before. Sleep for at least eight hours before the CAT 2025 exam day for a calm and relaxed mind during the test. Having a well-rested mind makes a lot of difference when you are attempting a test that includes heavy calculation and logical reasoning. If you have got the morning slot for CAT, then it is all the more important for you to sleep early. 

Avoid last minute revision: In order to avoid any confusion just before entering the CAT 2025 exam centre, avoid last minute revision. Studying more is not equal to knowing more. So, don’t stretch and don’t stress. For a competitive exam like CAT, it is important that you prepare well throughout the year and not in the last few days or hours. Overall and well-structured exam preparation is the key.

Reach the exam centre before reporting time: CAT 2025 exam will be held in three sessions. The first session will be held from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM, the second session will be held from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM and the third session will be held from 4:30 pm to 6:30 PM. Entry gates of the CAT exam centres will close 15 minutes before the exam time. Reach your test centre on the time mentioned on the admit card for smooth and safe entry to the exam hall.

Carry CAT admit card and ID proof: CAT 2025 admit card is a mandatory document to be carried to the exam centre. No candidate will be allowed entry into the exam centre without the CAT admit card. Digital copy or photocopy of the CAT admit card 2025 is not admissible, so make sure you carry print outs.

Each candidate is supposed to carry two print outs of their respective CAT 2025 admit card to the exam centre. One copy is to be submitted at the exam centre and the second copy is to be retained by the candidate. Paste your passport-size photo on both the print-outs of the admit card. The photo should be same as the one uploaded with the CAT 2025 application form. Also read: Things to carry and not carry on CAT exam day

Important: Do not sign the CAT admit card beforehand. It is to be signed only at the exam centre in presence of the invigilator.

Photo ID to Carry Along with CAT Admit Card 2025

Along with the CAT 2025 admit card, candidates need to carry a photo ID proof. Here's the list of valid photo IDs to carry:

• Aadhaar card
• Voter ID
• Passport
• College/University ID
• Driver's license
• Or any other identity proof issued by the Government of India

Also Read: List of documents and certificates to carry on CAT exam day

Do Not Carry Prohibited Items at CAT Exam Centre

Items such as bags, purses, pencil box, beepers, wrist watch, calculators, mobile phones, electronic devices, scanners, cameras, wireless/Bluetooth transmission or any such communication devices are prohibited inside the CAT 2025 exam centre. Any candidate found with any of these items will be barred from the exam.

Items prohibited at CAT exam centre

Only CAT 2025 admit card and ID proof/relevant certificates will be allowed inside the exam hall. Pen/pencil and paper will be provided by the authorities for rough work.

Follow CAT Dress Code

Shoes, jewellery made of metal, jackets, clothes with pockets, mehendi on palms are not allowed. The candidates will be required to take off their shoes outside the exam hall. Socks are allowed inside it. Women candidates must take care not to wear metal hairclips and jewellery made of metal as they will have to take them off during security check. They must not have henna on their palms for proper biometric attendance.

Read CAT Exam Instructions Carefully

This is one of the most important tips for CAT exam day. To understand the CAT question paper, marking scheme and other rules and regulations, it is imperative to read the exam-related instructions carefully. Missing even a single point is highly risky; it may backfire at any juncture of the exam.

To familiarise oneself with the CAT 2024 exam, one can also take help from the official CAT Mock Test available on the official website IIMCAT. The official CAT mock test will help you familiarise with the actual CAT exam environment and related dos and don’ts.

Follow the CAT Question Paper Sequence

CAT is the only MBA entrance exam in which the candidate is not allowed to choose the section he/she wants to answer first. The CAT question paper consists of three sections in the following chronology:

1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and
3. Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

Candidates will have to complete the first section i.e. VARC and then move to the second section. Time allotted to each section is 40 minutes and the candidates must ensure they complete the section in exactly one hour as the screen will automatically move to the next section as soon as 40 minutes get over. There is no provision to move from one section to another in between. Candidates must note that they can used only the computer mouse for locking answers and not touch the keyboard. If they touch the keyboard, the screen will freeze.

Maintain Speed and Accuracy

CAT exam is all about speed and accuracy. In 120 minutes, a candidate is required to answer 66 question (MCQs and non-MCQs both) which includes complex calculations and reading long paragraphs. Thus, it is important for the candidate to take not more than one minute to solve a question. Moreover, since there is sectional restriction, the candidate needs to keep up with the pace as there is no chance of going back and solve questions which were left out earlier.

Along with speed, 100 per cent accuracy is of critical importance for there is negative marking of minus one mark for each wrong answer.

Also Read: CAT 2025 exam pattern

Keep Calm and Stay Confident

The key to succeed in any exam is writing the test with a calm mind. For CAT, it is all the more important. CAT questions could be tricky, lengthy, difficult or easy - all you need to do is keep calm. If you’ll panic, your performance will suffer. You may lose precious minutes which may affect your CAT 2025 result. Also, if you have attempted enough number of CAT mock tests and sample papers, no question will scare you. Even if you haven’t, stay calm and answer the question you know you can answer correctly. Remember, there is negative marking for wrong answer but no marks will be deducted if you leave a question unanswered.

Follow above mentioned CAT exam day tips & be confident of your abilities and tell yourself you can do it!

Read More:

• Items not allowed inside CAT exam hall
• How to approach CAT questions; tips by toppers
• Mistake to avoid on CAT exam day
• CAT exam tutorial and exam day guide
• Official CAT mock test and guide
• CAT preparation: 10 popular myths busted
• Types of Reading Comprehension questions

• How many questions to attempt in CAT to score 99+ percentile

• Common Pitfalls to avoid while solving RC questions in CAT

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