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CAT DILR section has 22 questions and it can be tough to manage all of them in merely 40 minutes. Confusing DI tables and unfamiliar LR patterns can seem daunting in the given time limit. Check out last week tips to ace CAT DILR section.
It's only a week left for the CAT 2025 exam. Candidates who have been studying for months, need to know the answers to the following questions:
- What to study in the last week of CAT exam?
- How to study in the last week of CAT 2025?
- What to revise in the last week of CAT preparation?
CAT 2025 will be of moderate to high difficulty level, as always. There is no change in exam pattern or number of questions. The CAT question paper will consist of MCQs but solving them would require time. In the DILR section, there will be 11 DI questions and 11 LR questions. Most of the questions will be in sets. Needless to say, it is important to prepare for every section in the best possible manner.
In the last week CAT preparation series, we have provided last week preparation tips for VARC and last week preparation tips for QA. In this article, we shall unveil the secret to score more in the CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) 2025.
CAT 2025: Last week preparation tips for DILR
Focus more on increasing calculation speed
It isn't enough to only know how to solve DILR questions. Having quick calculation speed should be your prime focus. In the CAT DILR section, the questions will be based on data in tables, charts, graphs, diagrams, case studies, logical games, calendars, clocks, cubes, seating arrangements, blood relations, etc. Taking all this into account, it is very important to improve your speed in calculation, so that you finish the section within 40 minutes. Use the last week to improve DILR calculation speed. Do not depend on calculators - focus on mental calculations, use vedic mathematics, memorize all the root formulas, squares, cubes roots, percentage formulas, etc. for CAT 2025 preparation. Practice mental maths.
Focus on arrangements and puzzles
The last week of CAT preparation 2025 is the time to focus more on solving questions related to arrangements, puzzles, games, averages, sets, cubes, games, variations. It is extremely important to have a good knowledge about finding logics, identifying links and key attributes.
Manage your time efficiently
For each section of CAT, 40 minutes is allotted. Manage your time efficiently. In DILR, you cannot divide 40 minutes into 20-20 minutes each. Allot time to both DI and LR separately according to your capability viz. both. In the last week of CAT preparation 2025, focus on time management. Dedicate a particular time slot to every section and practice sectional CAT mock test. This prepares you well in time management in CAT 2025 exam.
Do not start any new DILR topic in the last week
Do not start any fresh topic in the last week before CAT - this could only lead to confusion in concepts. Confusion can ruin your prior preparation, thus it is recommended to revise the already completed DILR topics. Also, since CAT has negative marking, it is always a better idea to strengthen what you have already prepared instead of starting a new topic. Also read: CAT 2025 exam pattern
Focus on question selection
In the last week of CAT 2025 preparation, start evaluating which type of questions you can solve accurately in the DILR section. Mark only such questions for attempting in the exam. Selection of the questions plays a decisive role in the CAT exam. Read the questions carefully and make a wise choice across each section - this will help in maximizing possibility of high score. When practicing CAT mock tests in the last week, concentrate more on question selection so that when appearing for the exam you have a fair idea of which questions to attempt and which ones to skip.
Keep accuracy in mind
Along with time management in CAT DILR, it is extremely important to focus on accuracy as wrong answers carry negative marking in CAT. Candidates must keep in mind that it is not important to answer maximum number of questions; it is important to answer maximum number of questions accurately. If you attempt less questions, but with accuracy rather than more questions incorrectly, you will still score well. Aim for the same. Ideally, an attempt of 15-17 correct questions is considered good in CAT DILR.
Solve easy questions first
One mistake many candidates make is that they start with difficult questions, keeping aside the easy ones for later. The wise things to do is finish all the easy questions first. At the same time, keep in mind that some DILR questions may look easy but they are not. Read questions carefully. Also, do not spend more than the decided time on each question otherwise you might miss solving both easy and difficult questions. It is not mandatory to solve all the questions, but it is necessary to solve the questions correctly.
Do not just glance through. Scan every question
As stated earlier, most CAT Data Interpretation questions will comprise numbers, diagrams and statistics - these might appear scary, but in reality they might be easy to solve. Instead of getting nervous by the questions, act calmly. Scan the question for important data points or key arguments. If you do not scan the question and jump onto the next one after a quick read, you might miss out on solving a question in which you could have scored.
It is no hidden fact that there is no shortcut to hard work, so if you have worked hard for CAT 2025, you are sure to excel. Just keep faith in your abilities and handle the exam smartly. Nevertheless, these last week CAT tips can help you in maximising your efforts and strengthen your chances of scoring 100 percentile.
All the best!
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
Yes, candidates can efficiently prepare using the books recommended for CAT exam preparation or any other MBA entrance exam. The syllabus for these entrance exams is mostly similar, covering Language Skills, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Skills.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 2 days ago
IIM Lucknow MBA cutoff for the general category generally goes upto 90 percentile. Students must aim to score 90 & above to get admission in the institute. For other categories, the cutoff is generally lower and ranges from 60 percentile to 85 percentile. However, this changes every year. Students c
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Students can get admission in IIM Lucknow without CAT score. But only for courses, such as EFPM, FPM, EPGP programmes. Those seeking flagship PGP/ MBA course admission must have valid CAT score. The IIM Lucknow courses for which CAT is not needed are as below:
- IPMX
- PGPX
- FPM
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Candidates who have not appeared in any entrance test should have a Bachelor's Degree with at least 55% marks. They will have to give a written test: same as I-CET. Students have to qualify in Written Test, Group Discussion and Personal Interview for taking admission in MBA at Vignan's Foundation
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
No, there is no mention of CAT scores being accepted to decide MET Institute of Management MMS admissions. The institute only mentions accepting the scores of the MAH-CET to admit candidates for the MMS course.
Thus, candidates with a valid CAT score must appear for MAH-CET to be eligible to apply.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
Major topics under XAT and CAT syllabus are similar. Common sections include Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation, and Verbal Ability. While the sections are same the syllabus is not identical. XAT also includes unique sections, namely Decision Making and General Knowledge.
V
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 4 days ago
Students of GIBS Business School participate in internships and live projects which are cross-functional opportunities to gain practical experience in key functional areas (marketing, sales, finance, HR, business development, and operations). Students engage in internships to gain practical exposure
M
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
No, candidates can no longer appear for the CAT to qualify for Prestige Institute of Global Management PGDM admissions. Candidates who wish to apply for Prestige Institute of Global Management admissions must now wait for CAT 2027 or any other entrance exam to qualify for the Prestige Institute of G
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
Check CUSAT CAT exam pattern below:
Subject | Total Questions | Marks | Duration (Minutes) |
|---|---|---|---|
Mathematics | 90 | 360 | 75 |
Physics | 75 | 300 | 60 |
Chemistry | 60 | 240 | 45 |
Total | 225 | 900 | 180 |
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 5 days ago
The CUSAT CAT question paper will have 225 questions from Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Biology. Candidates will get three marks for every correct answer, while there is a deduction of one mark for every incorrect response.
M
Contributor-Level 7
CAT exam is a national level MBA entrance exam conducted by the IIM. Every year, over 2.3 lakh candidates apply for it. Since the last two years, the competition has increased further with oveer 3 lakh candidates applying for the exam.
The CAT score is accepted by the Iims and all top MBA colleges in India. To select the best candidates from over 3 lakh test takers there is a need for stringent criteria. That's why, the CAT exam is tougher than other MBA entrance exams. Even though the syllabus of CAT is same as that of other MBA entrance exams, the question paper set by the IIM faculty always has tough questions. Moreover, CAT has sectional time limit for each section which is not there in any other exam except XAT. Having a time limit for each section adds pressure on candidates to complete solving adequate number of questions in a section within the time limit. If a student is weak in a particular subject, they can't use the time as per their need. CAT's Reading Comprehension passages are long and dense unlike other MBA exams. This is one more reason why most candidates feel CAT is tougher than any other MBA entrance exam.