How to Prepare for CAT 2026 in 6 Months: Tips and Tricks
Common Admission Test 2026 ( CAT )
Registration - To be notified
CAT 2026 preparation can be done in 6 months. Those who have not appeared for the CAT exam before must ensure that the six-month preparation plan for CAT 2026 must include monthly, weekly and daily plan to syllabus end-to-end. Do keep in mind your strengths and weaknesses while making the six-month CAT preparation plan because you have limited time.
CAT exam 2026 preparation plan should have detailed strategy of how, what and when to do. If you have appeared for CAT before, start from where you think you need improvement. If you are appearing for the CAT for the first time, get hold of the syllabus, look at the topics, make a list of what you know and what you don't and then start with basics of Maths and English. CAT is a speed based exam so the ultimate target of CAT preparation plan should be to have complete control on all types of questions for quick and accurate solutions.
CAT 2026 will be held on November 29, 2026. So, start exam preparation latest by June 2026. The six-month strategy for CAT exam must include a monthly plan, a weekly plan and a daily plan. Do keep in mind your strength and weaknesses vs the CAT syllabus while making the plan. The CAT 2026 exam syllabus includes – Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA). You may find one section more difficult than the other. So you need to start with your weak areas. Read below, how to prepare for CAT in 6 months.
Also Read: What is the Best Time to Start CAT 2026 Preparation?
- CAT Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme 2026
- How to Prepare for CAT in 6 Months: Plan for June-August 2026
- How to Prepare for CAT in 6 Months: Plan for September-October 2026
- How to Prepare for CAT in 6 months: Plan for November 2026
- Take CAT Mock Test by Shiksha
- Best Books for CAT 2026 Preparation
CAT Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme 2026
Before making a study plan, understand the CAT syllabus, pattern and marking scheme. The best source to understand these are the CAT question papers. You can check the question papers of CAT 2025, CAT 2024, CAT 2023, CAT 2022, CAT 2021 and previous years (click here to download CAT question papers) to know the past years' trends such as dominant topics, types of questions, difficulty level and sectional composition. The CAT question paper tells you five things:
| CAT Exam Highlights | |
|---|---|
| Types of questions | Moderate to difficult |
| Section wise number of questions | VARC - 24 DILR - 22 QA - 22 |
| Topic-wise weightage of questions | Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry dominate QA RC dominates VARC DI dominates DILR |
| Types of questions | MCQs and non-MCQs |
| Marking scheme (CAT includes negative marking) | 3 for correct attempt, -1 for incorrect attempt |
Once you are familiar with the latest CAT exam pattern and syllabus, make the monthly CAT 2026 preparation plan.
How to Prepare for CAT in 6 Months: Plan for June-August 2026
Complete the syllabus, understand concepts and fundamentals: If you are a fresher, start with solving Maths of Class 9 and 10. It will help you build the base for Quantitative Aptitude. Dedicate June, July and August in completing the CAT syllabus, understanding the topics and concepts, decoding formulae, memorizing theorems, etc. Practice sample questions to understand correct application of formulae, theorems on different types of questions from same topics. Take help from CAT books and study material. You can also download online courses and mobile phone apps to understand concepts and solving questions. Once your fundamentals are clear, start solving questions to understand application of those concepts.
Also Read:
- CAT 2026 Preparation Road Map: Month wine plan
- CAT Preparation Plan for Verbal Ability
- CAT Preparation Plan for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
- CAT Preparation Plan for Quantitative Aptitude
How to Prepare for CAT in 6 Months: Plan for September-October 2026
Mock tests and sample papers: Get on to solving CAT mock tests, sample papers and previous year question papers once you have completed the syllabus. In these two months, rigorously practice mock tests and question papers. But do keep in mind that quantity must not compromise quality, i.e. make sure you only solve a variety of mock papers (easy, medium, tough). You have to be well prepared for surprise questions in CAT exam 2026.
Practicing CAT mock tests will also help you in discovering shortcuts and tricks to solve questions in least time. In this period, you should ideally solve two mock test series and seven topic wise tests per week. The purpose of practicing mock tests is to evaluate your growth. Analyse each mock test viz. your accuracy, time taken and assess areas of improvement. Don't aim to get 90+ percentile in the first mock. You'll not score that much anyway. Set targets - 70 percentile, then 80 percentile, after that 90 percentile and then 99.99 percentile. Move ahead steadily.
Take help from mentors, friends and online study groups to clear your doubts. Do not move on to a new test until your doubt has not been cleared. Also, don’t get demoralized if you score low in mock tests initially. This happens to everyone. The key is to move from point A to point B. Continue the hard work, your performance will improve.
CHECK OUT:
- CAT Preparation: Data Interpretation (DI) solved questions for practice
- CAT Preparation: Data Interpretation (DI) solved questions for practice- Part 2
- CAT Preparation: Logical Reasoning (LR) solved questions for practice
- CAT Preparation: Quantitative Aptitude (QA) solved questions for practice
- CAT Preparation: VARC Solved Questions for practice
CAT Practice Questions - VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude
How to Prepare for CAT in 6 months: Plan for November 2026
Speed up practice and revision: Solve high difficulty-level mock tests in the final leg of exam preparation. You’ll see your performance improve with each passing day. The last few days are crucial for the hard work of past months to bear fruits. In the last 15 days, dedicate time to revision of concepts and topics. Memorise all the theorems and formulae again. In the last one month, focus more on improving mock scores and revision. However, make sure you don't over do it. If you have reached the desired score in CAT mocks, slow down. Spend more time solving previous years' CAT question papers instead.
Take CAT Mock Test by Shiksha
Check below Shiksha'a original CAT mock test for practice. The Shiksha CAT mock test is free and can be accessed with a simple click.
| CAT Mock Test 1 | CAT Mock Test 1 Solutions |
| CAT Mock Test 2 | CAT Mock Test 2 Solutions |
Download:
- CAT 2025 Question Paper: Download Free PDF
- CAT 2024 Question Paper: Download Free PDF
- CAT 2023 Question Paper: Download Free PDF
- CAT 2022 Question Paper: Download Free PDF
- CAT 2021 Question Paper: Download Free PDF
- CAT 2020 Question Paper: Download Free PDF
- CAT 2019 Question Paper: Download Free PDF
- CAT 2018 Question Paper: Download Free PDF
- CAT 2017 Question Paper: Download Free PDF
Best Books for CAT 2026 Preparation
Selection of the right study material is very crucial for CAT exam preparation. Check the table below for the list of best books for CAT 2026.
| CAT Books |
Name of the Author |
|---|---|
| CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning |
Gautam Puri |
| Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT |
Nishit K. Sinha |
| Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency |
Ananta Ashisha |
| How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT |
Arun Sharma |
| How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT |
Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay/Arihant |
| 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary Mass Market Paperback |
Wilfred Funk & Norman Lewis/ Simon & Schuster |
| How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT |
Sharma and Upadhyay |
| PSC for VA for CAT |
Nishit Sinha |
| High School English Grammar & Composition |
Wren & Martin |
| NCERT Mathematics Books (Class 6 to 10) |
NCERT |
| How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT |
Arun Sharma |
| Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT |
Sarvesh Sharma |
| Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations |
Abhijit Guha |
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CAT syllabus is vast. It has numerous topics from Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation. Covering the CAT syllabus also includes practicing a variety of sample questions on the topics included. Thus, it requires a lot of time. Candidates must given themselves atleast 3-4 months to cover CAT syllabus and keep in mind the following:
· Check the previous years' CAT papers to know topics which carry more weightage so that you can focus on those topics more.
· List down topicsin order of easy, moderate and tough and allot time to them accordingly.
· Make sure to study about 6-8 hours per day to complete the syllabus 2-3 months before the exam.
· After studying every topic, practice sample questions. Balance theory with practical.
It is difficult but not impossible. If you give yourself a good enough time to improve English comprehension, grammar and vocabulary, you will be able to do it. Yes, a non- English medium student will require longer time for CAT preparation as they will have to start reading and improving English comprehension. So, may be they need to start English preparation for CAT in the second year of graduation, instead of final year (much earlier than English medium students). They may also need two attempts to crack CAT with high percentile. But that's not true for all. If you work hard and study smartly, you will be able to crack it.
The best way to prepare for DILR section is through practice. Before starting the preparation, aspirants should check previous years’ question papers. Since there is not much conceptual understanding required in this section, practice is important.
Some of the most popular books on DILR section that you can refer are How to Prepare for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit Sinha, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning for CAT by Pearson, to name a few.
CAT is a speed-based test of analytical aptitude, logical reasoning skills, data interpretation and English comprehension. Now, it may sound tough, but these are the skills which we are taught in school so there is nothing new to learn. What is required is to learn these subjects at advanced level. If you are an average student but have studied Science or Commerce in Class-12 and graduation, you will find a lot of familiar topics in Data Interpretation, Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning. All you will need is brush up the basics and practice the concepts on advanced-level problems.
However, since the competition is so high in CAT and less than 95 percentile can break your dream of joining a top college like IIM, the preparation for CAT requires a lot of focus, dedication, discipline and diligence. If you can do that, despite being an average student, you can crack the CAT exam.
Hope it was helpful!!!
Vipra Shrivastava is MA in English Literature from Delhi University with extensive experience in content writing of over 14 years. She has been handling content for Management, Accounting and Commerce streams for 8
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 9 hours ago
CAT DILR preparation is completely based on practice papers and mock tests. You should obtain recommended CAT DILR sample papers and mock test series. Make sure to cover all types of question. Also practice DILR questions of past year with the help of CAT question papers.
M
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 9 hours ago
Yes, you can crack CAT through self study but it will require a lot of discipline and consistency on daily basis. You will need the most recommended books, best mock test series and online practice sessions. Join YouTube channels for online tutorial. Give yourself 9 months and study for 8 hours dail
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 9 hours ago
While it is advised to dedicate at least 9 months to CAT preparation, six months of dedicated study can also help you crack the exam. You will need daily, weekly and monthly plan for syllabus coverage. Practice a good number of mock tests and study for about 8 hours daily.
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 9 hours ago
Overall difficulty level of CAT exam has always been moderate to high. CAT is of higher difficulty level than all other MBA entrance exams in India.
P
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 9 hours ago
As per the latest CAT exam pattern, there will be 68 questions. The format will be MCQ and non-MCQ. VARC will have 24 questions, DILR will have 22 questions and QA will have 22 questions. Each question will carry 3 marks and there will be negative marking of -1 for incorrect answer. Sectional time l
J
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 9 hours ago
While it is not mandatory to attempt all sections in CAT, the IIMs and all top B School consider sectional percentiles too for selecting candidates for admission. Thus, you cannot afford to skip a CAT section all together. You can skip some questions though.
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 9 hours ago
CAT books by Arun Sharma, Nishit Sinha, RS Agarwal and Abhijit Guha are good and exhaustive, but you should refer to more study material like sample test papers and mock tests for a complete preparation.
N
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 9 hours ago
Yes, you can crack CAT exam even if you haven't studied Maths in class 12. CAT Quant and DI have Mathematical questions of advance level, from the topics studied in Class 9 and 10. You will only need to brush up the basic and practice advance level questions.
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 12 hours ago
CAT 2026 may be conducted by IIM Indore. The institute had last conducted the exam in 2020, Since the top six IIMs - BLACKI are given the responsibility to convene on rotation basis exam every five year, this year, it could be IIM Indore. Official announcement will be made most likely in May.
A
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 12 hours ago
Yes, CAT 2026 exam will be conducted in three shifts. Exam timing of each slot will be:
- First shift: 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
- Second shift: 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and
- Third shift: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
E
Contributor-Level 6
Yes CAT syllabus is difficult to crack if you do not have enough time. There are three subjects in CAT- VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude. Most of candidates find RC passages tough to crack. In Quants, Arithmetic, Algebra and Geometry pose significant challenge during preparation. In DILR, Reasoning questions often turnout to be tricky and confusion.