CAT 2025: Practical Section-Wise Strategy to Improve Your Score

CAT 2025 will reward those who choose well under time pressure. Calm decision-making, steady accuracy and post-mock reflection together lead to a strong score.

Common Admission Test demands not only subject knowledge but precise time discipline. Each section allows just 40 minutes, so students need to be selective about what they attempt and how quickly they decide to move on. From my experience as both a test-taker and faculty member biggest differentiator is not speed, it is decision-making.

Below is a straight-forward approach for three sections, along with habits that help candidates maintain accuracy under pressure.

General Approach for Every Section

Begin with a quick scan of the questions.

Attempt familiar or clearly solvable ones first.

Avoid long struggles in the early phase.

Mark doubtful questions for a revisit if time allows.

Keep a short review window toward end to correct avoidable slips.

After every mock test, reflect on just two points:

1. Where did time get stuck?
2. Which questions did you miss despite knowing the concept?

Consistently fixing these improves scores faster than increasing attempts.

VARC – Read for Structure

Success in this section comes from understanding the argument, not rushing through text.

How to approach:

1. Choose RC passages wisely- avoid abstract content if comprehension feels slow.
2. Do two RCs first and then move to Verbal Ability tasks such as Para Jumbles and Odd sentence Out.

Intent of author

Contrast and transition words

Eliminating answer options that change or stretch meaning

Good benchmark: Two RCs + a few VA questions with strong accuracy is a stable performance.

DILR – Smart Set Selection

Many students lose marks by staying too long with one idea.

Plan:

Spend first two minutes scanning all sets.

Pick ones where the data layout and conditions are immediately clear.

If a set becomes confusing after one minute of work, drop it early.

Writing neatly and organizing data properly often prevents avoidable mistakes.

Realistic target: Two solvable sets + 1–2 individual DI questions attempted with high accuracy.

Quant – Take Simple Gains First

Quant isn’t a race to prove ability on toughest topics.

Sequence that works well:

1. Arithmetic — ratios, percentages, time-work, averages.
2. Algebra — factorisation or substitution before lengthy formulas.
3. Geometry — draw clean diagrams and confirm basic properties.
4. Modern Math — start with small base cases to avoid over-calculation.

If a question looks calculation-heavy or unfamiliar, leave it for later.

Healthy goal: 10–14 accurate attempts are usually enough for a competitive score.

A 4-Week Practice Plan

Week 1: Two full mocks + identify problem areas

Week 2: Focused practice on specific weak topics

Week 3: Mocks under strict timing + pacing discipline

Week 4: Maintain form — moderate testing and deeper review

Good sleep, consistency and routine matter more in final days than increasing study hours dramatically.

Final Word

CAT 2025 will reward those who choose well under time pressure. The goal should not be to attempt everything but to allocate effort where marks are most assured. Calm decision making, steady accuracy and post mock reflection together lead to a strong score.

By- Dr Swapnil Sahoo, Assistant Professor – Strategy, Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon