CAT 2025 Preparation Guide for Beginners

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a popular and tough exam for getting into top management colleges in India, like the IIMs and other top B-schools. Every year, lakhs of students apply, but only a few get selected. So, it’s important to prepare smartly and regularly. If you’re just starting, it might seem difficult at first. But don’t worry — with the right plan and guidance, preparing for CAT can become much easier.

CAT 2025 Syllabus

CAT mainly checks how well you can think, understand English, and solve maths problems. The paper has three main parts:

• VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension): This section includes short reading passages, putting sentences in the correct order, finding the sentence that doesn’t belong, writing short summaries, and fixing incorrect sentences.
• DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning): Here, you’ll get questions based on tables, graphs, puzzles, and patterns where you need to think logically and understand data.
• QA (Quantitative Aptitude): This part is all about maths. You’ll get questions from topics like arithmetic (basic maths), algebra, geometry, numbers, mensuration (shapes and sizes), and some modern math.

There is no fixed syllabus officially, but every year similar topics come, so preparing these will help you a lot.

CAT 2025 Exam Date

The official notice for the CAT 2025 exam will likely come out in July 2025. The exam will likely be on the last Sunday of November, which is November 30, 2025. To stay updated about important dates like registration, admit card release, and other details, keep checking the official CAT (website: iimcat.ac.in.)

CAT 2025 Exam Pattern

Knowing how the CAT exam is set up can help you plan your preparation better. Here’s a simple breakdown:

• MCQ Questions: These are multiple-choice questions. You get 3 marks for every right answer, but 1 mark is cut for every wrong answer.
• TITA Questions (Type in the Answer): In these, you have to type your answer yourself. You get 3 marks for a correct answer, but there’s no negative marking if you’re wrong.

Each section has a fixed time limit, and you can’t go back to a previous section once it ends. So, managing your time properly is very important.

CAT 2025 Eligibility

Before you start preparing for CAT, make sure you are allowed to apply:

• You must have a Bachelor’s degree (graduation) with at least 50% marks. If you belong to SC/ST or PwD category, then you need only 45% marks.
• If you are in the last year of your college degree, you can still apply for the CAT exam.
• There is no age limit, so anyone meeting the above conditions can give the exam.

Also, make sure all your documents and marksheets are ready and correct. This will help during the registration process.

Step-by-Step CAT 2025 Preparation Plan for Beginners

Starting CAT preparation may feel difficult at first, but don’t worry! This simple instruction can help you to get started.

1. Know the Exam First: Learn what comes in the exam — the syllabus, question pattern, and check some old question papers.
2. Take a Basic Test: Take a practice test to know how much you understand. It might help you in identifying your advantages and areas for improvement.
3. Make a Simple Study Plan: Try to study for 2–3 hours every day. Divide your time between all three sections, and spend more time on your weak topics.
4. Clear Your Basics: In QA (maths), first understand the basic concepts. In VARC, improve your grammar and vocabulary. For DILR, begin with easy puzzles and basic logic questions.
5. Start Reading Daily: Read newspapers like The Hindu or Indian Express, and also editorials or novels. This will help in improving your English and understanding.
6. Practice Weekly Tests: Try section-wise practice tests once a week. This will help you improve each part of the exam.
7. Join Coaching or Mock Tests (Optional): If studying alone is hard, you can join an online or offline class. Also, take full mock tests to improve your speed and accuracy.
8. Keep a Notes Book: Write down important formulas, grammar tips, and short tricks in a notebook. Revise it regularly.

Easy Time Management Tips for CAT 2025

In the CAT exam, how you use your time is very important. You get 40 minutes for each session and just 120 minutes to answer 66 questions. You can’t go back to a previous section once time is over, so managing time smartly is a must. Here’s how to do it:

• Plan for Each Section:
  • In VARC, don’t spend too much time on one reading passage.
  • In DILR, first solve the sets that look easy.
  • In QA, start with the topics you’re best at.
• Practice with a Timer:
  • Always use a stopwatch or timer when practicing.
  • Try to finish 24 VARC questions in 35 minutes, so you have a few extra minutes left.
• Don’t Get Stuck:
  • If a question takes too long, leave it and move on. CAT is about smart choices, not answering everything.
• Pick Questions Wisely:
  • During mock tests, notice which types of questions give you the best results in less time.
  • Focus on those kinds of questions more in the real exam.