Exam On - 30 Nov '25
In CAT, candidates need to attempt 100 questions in 180 minutes. There are a total of three sections (Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, Verbal and Reading Comprehension) and 60 minutes is allotted to each section.
Moreover, Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are now focusing one gender and academic diversity. As a result, quite a few parameters will now come into play while seeking admission to the top MBA colleges of the country.
So what mistakes should a candidate avoid while preparing for CAT? How can they improve CAT exam preparation strategy?
Shiksha.com spoke to a few experts and this what they had to say:
1. Speed and Time Management
Time management is one of the most crucial part of CAT. This time, 100 questions need to be solved in 180 minutes. So, 34 questions in QA and VRC need to be attempted in 60 minutes and 32 questions in DILR to be attempted in 60 minutes.
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So speed is an important part of exam strategy. Candidates should focus on building up speed. Avoid spending too much time on a single question. Maintaining a tempo and being wise with time is vital in CAT.
Sectional time limits in CAT: Good or Bad?
2. Selection of Questions
Selection of right questions will be the game changer in CAT exam. Attempt just 10 questions in a section. But make sure you solve all those questions correctly. Since, a certain time is allotted to each section, candidates can choose to attempt only a few questions to score above the cut-off marks. This strategy is useful for the weaker sections. Never forget about negative marking.
3. Answering Strategy
It’s a good idea to first read all the questions and quickly attempt a few easy questions on the way. “Generally, CAT exam has at least 20% easy questions. This takes care of 20 easy questions and you are left with 80 problems. Mind you, some one-liners look easy but can be quite difficult. Don’t waste your time on it. Quickly move on,” says MBA expert Tarun Malik.
Next, attempt questions with medium difficulty level and finally look at the hard questions. Repeat the process for all the three sections.
“Ultimately, CAT strategy should be based on the candidate’s strengths and weakness. There is no hard-core strategy for everyone. The trick is not to get demoralized during the paper. With stressful mind, it’s hard to attempt difficult questions will affect towards the end,” says Malik.
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Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 3 days 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
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 4 days ago
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
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 5 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
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Contributor-Level 8
Answered 6 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
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Contributor-Level 8
Answered 2 weeks 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
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Contributor-Level 8
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
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Contributor-Level 8
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
S
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
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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
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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
Contributor-Level 9
