CAT Preparation 2025: Get Free Study Material, Prep Strategy & Tips from Toppers

Candidates can either opt for a coaching institute or self study to prepare for CAT 2025. Check below a general CAT exam preparation strategy that can be adopted by any candidate to make an overall study plan for CAT 2025 exam.

1: Understand the CAT syllabus and CAT exam pattern well

2: Obtain CAT books recommended by experts and other study material

3: Join online MBA study groups for guidance

4: Take help from YouTube, Telegram, Quora, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc.

5: Make a monthly time-table, a weekly time-table and a daily time-table

6: Stick to the CAT prep strategy and the time-table for best results. Set short term targets.

7: Record your progress regularly and work on weak areas. 

8: Make sure to do regular practice and revision.

9: Stay motivated and positive throughout your CAT preparation journey.

CAT Preparation Highlights

The most important aspect of CAT preparation is gaining hold on topics included in the CAT syllabus. CAT Quantitative Aptitude includes advance level Mathematics topics studied in Class 9-10. So, if you have strong base in Maths, you will not find it too tough to crack CAT quantitative aptitude. You will only need a good amount of practice. Infact, it is CAT VARC, that candidates from Engineering stream find tough to crack as the RC passages are long, dense and inference based. If you study in a time bound manner, you will be able to cover the CAT syllabus properly, irrespective of your educational background. Practicing sample questions will help you in cracking tough topics. Check important topics of CAT syllabus 2025 in the table below:

CAT Syllabus	CAT Important Topics
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension	Reading Comprehension, Parajumbles, English Grammar, One-word Substitution, Fill in the Blanks, Antonyms-Synonyms, Sentence Correction, Foreign Words, Verbal Ability, etc.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning	Tables, Line Charts, Pie Charts, Bar Charts, Mixed Charts, Series, Coding-Decoding, Data Structures, Blood Relations, Family Tree, Assumptions, etc.
Quantitative Aptitude	Geometry, Trigonometry, Algebra, Mensuration, Partnership (Accounts), Profit & Loss, Ratios and Proportion, In-equations Quadratic and Linear Equations, Surds and Indices, Time-Speed-Distance, Number System, Geometric Progression, Inequalities, Work and Time, Percentages and Logarithms, etc.

Also Read:

• CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus
• Logical Reasoning Topics for CAT

Prepare as per Latest CAT Pattern

To make a sound CAT preparation plan, first understand the exam pattern. It will help you to analyse how much bandwith would you need to cover what part of the CAT syllabus. Given below is the table highlighting key aspects of the latest CAT exam pattern. 

CAT Exam Features	Details
Number of sections	Three - VARC, DILR, QA (to be answered in the same sequence)
Number of questions	66 68
Types of question	MCQ
Examination mode	Online
Sectional time-limit	40 minutes
Total marks	204
Marks per question	3
Negative marking	-1 (no negative marking for TITA and unattempted questions)
Exam duration	120 minutes

Difficulty Level of CAT Exam

While preparing for CAT 2025, you must also know the difficulty level of the question paper so that you are aware of what are you likely to encounter in the exam. Check the table below for CAT exam difficulty level of past six years. You can also read the details by clicking on the links in the third column. 

CAT Year	Difficulty Level	Paper Analysis
CAT 2024	Moderate	Read CAT 2024 exam analysis
CAT 2023	Moderately difficult	Read CAT 2023 exam analysis
CAT 2022	Moderately difficult	Read CAT 2022 exam analysis
CAT 2021	Moderately difficult	Read CAT 2021 exam analysis
CAT 2020	Moderately difficult	Read CAT 2020 exam analysis
CAT 2019	Moderately difficult	Read CAT 2019 exam analysis
CAT 2018	Moderately difficult	Read CAT 2018 exam analysis
CAT 2017	Moderately difficult	Read CAT 2017 exam analysis
CAT 2016	Moderately difficult	Read CAT 2016 exam analysis

Also Read:

• 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

It is recommended that candidates must practice about 40-45 CAT mock tests during the preparation phase. The aim of a CAT mock test is to improve application, accuracy and speed. If you have reached a stage where you're consistently performing well in the mock tests (high difficulty level) you can slow down. It is not mandatory for all candidates to solve 40-45 mock tests. You can be prepared equally well by solving lesser number of mock tests. Judge your capacity.

Aspirants must start practicing CAT mock test after they have completed the syllabus and dedicate the second half of CAT preparation phase to it. The key here is to analyse each mock test result to see where you stand and how much more practice you need. One tip you should follow is to not practice mock tests continuously till the exam day. In the last week of CAT preparation 2025, attempt only one mock test for confidence. Irrespective of the result of that CAT mock test, you will score well in the exam.

CAT Mock Test by Shiksha

IIMCAT releases official CAT mock test a month before the exam to help candidates prepare themselves for the actual exam. The official CAT mock test is replica of the exam and provides an insight of the exam pattern for that year. The official mock test provides a sneak peek of the final CAT exam. Every candidate must attempt the official CAT mock test, which can be accessed online on the official IIMCAT website. 

Shiksha has also created CAT mock tests for candidates to practice and strengthen their preparation. Given below are two CAT mock tests you can practice for free.

CAT Mock Test 1	CAT Mock Test 1 Solutions
CAT Mock Test 2	CAT Mock Test 2 Solutions

Also Read:

• CAT Verbal Ability (VA) solved questions
• CAT Logical Reasoning (LR) solved questions
• CAT Data Interpretation (DI) solved questions
• CAT Parajumble questions with solutions 
• CAT Quantitative Aptitude (QA) solved questions

Watch Video:

 

CAT Previous Years Papers 

To further strengthen CAT preparation, candidates must attempt previous years' CAT question papers to understand the latest question type and topic wise weightage. For example, if Arithmetic dominates Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT, which type of Arithmetic questions are there. Practicing actual CAT questions from previous years will boost your confidence. Check here CAT question papers of previous years and download PDF. 

Download CAT Previous Year Papers

Download CAT question papers of last five years from the below table to know the type and difficulty level of questions asked:

CAT 2024 Question Paper Slot 3	CAT 2018 Question Paper PDF
CAT 2023 Question Paper Slot 1	CAT 2023 Question Paper Slot 3
CAT 2022 Question Paper Slot 1	CAT 2022 Question Paper Slot 3
CAT 2021 Question Paper PDF	CAT 2019 Question Paper PDF
CAT 2020 Question Paper PDF	CAT 2017 Question Paper PDF

The CAT VARC section is broadly divided into Reading Comprehension, Verbal Ability, Vocabulary and Grammar. To prepare for this section of CAT exam, candidates need to have a separate approach for each part. For example, preparation of Reading Comprehension should begin in early months of the year as it all about developing and cultivating the habit of reading. CAT Verbal Ability can be tackled by practicing sample questions and can be done in lesser time. Grammar and Vocabulary can be handled alongside. However, the CAT VARC is mostly about RC, parajumbles, odd sentence out and para completion, you need to focus on practice of exercises based on these. By the time exam day approaches, candidates must practice mock RCs and parajumbles.  

Read More:

• CAT Preparation Plan For VARC

• Make These 7 Guys Your Companion For VARC

• CAT Exam Preparation: Your Love For Reading Can Get You Desired Result

• Types of Reading Comprehension questions in CAT
• Common Pitfalls to Avoid in RC Questions in CAT
• CAT Parajumble Questions for Practice (PDFs with solution)

To score well in CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning or DILR, the most important thing is to have clarity of basic concepts. Since the questions in this section are data and logic based, candidates need to develop sharp observation and eye for detail. Also, there are no formulas or theorems in DILR, so your preparation majorly depends on practice of sample questions. Major topics to study for DILR are Tables, Line Charts, Pie Charts, Bar Charts, Mixed Charts. Strengthen your Mathematical calculation ability for DILR. Get hold of CAT study material having a good number of sample questions  on these topics.

Read More:

• CAT Preparation Plan for DILR

• How to Crack Logical Reasoning Section of CAT

• Time Management in QA and DI for CAT

• Challenges of Data Interpretation in CAT

Free Quantitative Aptitude Question Bank with Answer Keys

Free DILR Question Bank with Answer Keys

Free VARC Question Bank with Answer Keys

Quantitative Aptitude section is the last section of CAT exam and the most rigorous one. The CAT QA section includes Mathematics topics such as Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry and Mensuration. The key to excel in this section of CAT exam is having thorough knowledge of all the concepts, formulae and theorems. Having a good command over the fundamentals of Arithmetic and Algebra will help you immensely. Also, mental calculation plays a major role in scoring well in this section. Although an on screen calculator will be provided in the CAT exam, mental calculation saves time. Here are some tips for CAT Quantitative Aptitude preparation:

• Get the CAT exam study material which has a good number of sample questions on these topics.
• Cover the topics end to end. Do not leave out any topic of Arithmetic and Algebra as most of the questions are asked from these two topics. 
• Break down your CAT Quant preparation into phases. Start with concepts, then move to practice questions and then to mock tests.
• Start with easy topics and then move to tough ones. Starting with easy topics will give you confidence.
• Revise important formulae and theorem every day in the last one month. 
• Practice sectional mock tests for Quantitative Aptitude to learn how to handle 40 minutes in the exam.

Read More:

• Important CAT Quant formulas

• CAT Preparation Plan For Quantitative Aptitude

• How To Prepare For Quantitative Aptitude For CAT Exam

• Master The Secret of Acing QA In CAT Exam

• How To Approach Quant Section of CAT Exam

• Six Strategies of CAT Quant Preparation

Shiksha reached out to previous years' CAT toppers to know their CAT preparation journey for the benefit of future aspirants. Click on the links below to know how CAT toppers prepared for the exam and follow the CAT exam day tips that they offer for a brilliant performance.

CAT Toppers	CAT Topper Interviews
Vagish Nangia CAT 2024, 100 percentile	“For an aptitude exam like CAT, one should focus on two things, speed and accuracy, both of which come with practice. Speed is important as the exam typically has 66-68 Questions to be attempted within 2 hours with sections like DILR and Quant in particular being fairly time-taking. Accuracy is also important as you need to avoid taking negative marks while looking to maximise your score as much as possible.” Read Vagish’s full interview
Mani Praneeth Chilukuri CAT 2024, 100 percentile	“In terms of preparation, I started just a few weeks before the exam due to my job and other commitments. I prioritised understanding the exam format, syllabus, and structure through YouTube videos. I then solved a few previous years’ question papers to familiarize myself with the patterns.” Read Praneeth’s full interview
Vedant Chandewar CAT 2024, 99.98 percentile	“I began my preparation in August 2024. Being good at mathematics, I found Quantitative Aptitude (QA) and Logical Reasoning (DILR) relatively easy to prepare for. I joined a coaching institute that provided daily practice questions for these sections, which I diligently solved.” Read Vedant’s full interview
Sarthak Jaiswal CAT 2024, 99.97 percentile	“I personally think that for the DILR section, the mock tests do not really help because every question is unique and there is no set pattern. Only practice can help for the DILR section preparation. Attempting mock tests for this section will not harm the preparation but also not give an edge. For QA and VARC, mock tests are very important.” Read Sarthak’s full interview
Kartik Bhageria CAT 2023, 99.99 percentile	"I began my CAT preparation around July 2023. Being an engineering student, I did not spend a lot of time learning new concepts in the Quant and DILR sections. I spent most of my time giving mocks to practice and try to increase my attempted questions with better accuracy in each attempt." Read Kartik's full interview
Riddhi Dugar  CAT 2023, 99.91 percentile	"My overall strategy was to finish the entire syllabus a few months before the CAT. From July, I focused entirely on taking mock tests and sectional tests to maximise my score and have a strategy for D-Day. I completed around 70 mocks from July until the CAT exam day." Read Riddhi's full interview
Rounak Tikmani CAT 2023, 99.90 percentile	I started my preparation properly in May 2023. My preparation strategy was simple build your foundations by having conceptual clarity in the basics of each section. Then It was just mocks every day. I gave around 110 mocks and made sure I spent enough time analyzing them properly. Taking a mock is not as important as analyzing the mocks and improving on your mistakes. Read Rounak's full interview
Nisakar Kumar CAT 2023, 99.83 percentile	"Quant emerged as my strength, whereas DILR presented a challenge. To address my weakness in DILR, I invested considerable time in understanding the question types and engaged in extensive practice until they became more intuitive. Simultaneously, I dedicated time to revising and practising Quant to maintain a solid grasp. I considered myself decent in VARC." Read Nisakar's full interview

CAT Preparation Tips That Will Enhance Your Performance

• Download MBA preparation mobile apps to prepare for CAT exam anywhere and anytime.

• CAT is a speed and accuracy test. Practice as many CAT question papers and mock tests as you can to improve speed and accuracy.

• During CAT exam preparation, measure your performance after each CAT mock test. Analyse strengths and weaknesses and work upon them.

• Solve each CAT practice question at least thrice, because in the first attempt, you will understand it, in the second attempt you will solve it faster, and in the third attempt you may discover a shortcut.

• CAT exam has sectional time limit, which means you need to complete each section within the stipulated time-frame. So practice questions in time bound manner. Opt for CAT sectional mock tests.

• Solve CAT questions of various types and varied difficulty levels. By the CAT 2025 exam day, you should be able to solve easy, moderate as well as tough questions.

• CAT exam has negative marking. For each wrong answer 1 mark is deducted. To avoid this, understand your strong areas and learn how to pick the right question to solve.

• Do not do speed reading in RC. Nor should you go for reverse reading, i.e. reading the questions first and passage later. Read the RC passage and note down important points in the rough sheet. This way you will be able to address the questions easily.

• CAT has sectional cut off limit, so do not ignore any topic. The sectional cut off directly affects the overall CAT percentile and selection in WAT-GD/PI.

• Practice time-bound CAT mock tests as part of your CAT prep strategy. It will help you to develop time management skills.
• Keep your CAT 2025 preparation optimum but do not over do anything. If you have prepared certain topics already. Do not work on them again and again. Focus on topics that are still your pain points.
• Memorise tables up to 20, square, square roots, cubes, cube roots, etc. These will help you in mental calculation during the CAT exam.
• Revise all the concepts of VA and LR and formulae of QA every day for one hour. You should be so well versed with these that on the exam day, you can recall them without wasting a single moment.
• In this last phase of CAT 2025 preparation, focus completely on mock tests and revision. This is the crucial time when you can take your CAT score from 95 to 99 percentile.

Get Here: CAT Questions for Practice with Solutions: Free PDF Download

Also read:

• Changes in CAT exam pattern over the years
• Last week preparation tips for CAT VARC
• Last week preparation tips for CAT DILR
• Last week preparation tips for CAT Quantitative Aptitude
• How many questions to attempt in CAT to score 99+ percentile