CAT 2026 Preparation - Coaching vs Self Study: Which is better?
Common Admission Test 2026 ( CAT )
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if you are planning to appear for CAT 2026, but can't decide between coaching and self study, here's our guide on which preparation method should you choose for CAT 2026 preparation.
Now is the time to start CAT 2026 preparation. If you are confused as to how to start CAT preparation- Should you take up coaching or opt for self-study?', then you need to first understand your capabilities and requirements.
There have been many debates on ‘which is better-coaching vs self-study?’ The fact is both have pros and cons. What is important is that which method of CAT exam preparation suits you. While we have met many CAT toppers who say coaching is necessary, some also say self-study is enough, that too in 6-months. So, the important thing is to know your strengths and weaknesses before choosing a preparation mode.
Swapnil Suman who scored 100 percentile in CAT, said “I did not join any coaching institute except for mocks. If someone is weak with the basics, coaching can help up to some extent. But at the end of the day, CAT tests speed and aptitude more than knowledge which can only be developed by practicing a lot.”
Somansh Chordia, 100 percentiler in CAT, on the other hand, felt that faculty at coaching institutes guides you through the pattern and some tried and tested methods. “Coaching for competitive exams basically helps in the initial phase as the experienced faculty guides you through the pattern and some tried and tested methods. So, this makes it easier to discover the best strategy that suites you. Other than this, having some friends to compete with helps in keeping yourself motivated, and this can be easily ensured through a coaching institute. Other than this, mocks and its basic analysis is probably the most crucial thing that a coaching provides,” Somansh says.
CAT topper Chirag Gupta focused mainly on giving mock tests and analysing them. He used to work on his weaknesses by watching various CAT preparation YouTube videos on various topics.
| VARC Preparation Tips | DILR Preparation Tips | Quantitative Aptitude Preparation Tips |
- Coaching vs Self Study: How to Choose?
- CAT Preparation 2026: Coaching vs Self Study
- CAT Preparation by Coaching
- CAT Preparation by Self Study
- CAT Preparation by Coaching vs Self Study: How to Decide?
- CAT 2026 Preparation: Topper Tips
Coaching vs Self Study: How to Choose?
When preparing for CAT 2026, keep in mind your hold on VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude topics. Also, that how much time you have for exam preparation.
Most of the coaching institutes begin their batches at least a year before the CAT exam. They also offer crash courses of short duration, which you can join at a later stage of CAT preparation, if you feel the need.
The biggest drawback of coaching institutes is exhaustion. Students have to attend classes of six to eight hours daily and then take mock tests on weekends. For some, it can be too taxing. However, the grestest benefit of coaching is that you're supported in studying in a streamlined, disciplined and focussed manner. Let’s take a look at pros and cons of coaching and self-study and then discuss which is better for CAT 2026 aspirants.
CAT Preparation 2026: Coaching vs Self Study
CAT exam preparation without coaching is very much possible, but coaching usually has an edge over it.Given below are a few key aspects of CAT preparation by coaching and self study:
| CAT Coaching |
CAT Self-Study |
|---|---|
| Fixed study hours |
Flexible study hours |
| Special attention to tough topics |
No expert guidance on tough topics |
| Study material and mock tests provided |
Study material and mock tests easily available |
| Classroom discussions |
Can join online forums and study groups |
| Channelizing of energy in the right direction |
Can adjust resources according to time and need |
| Helps in developing analytical ability |
Helps in developing analytical ability |
| Competitive environment brings out the best in students |
No peer pressure |
| Motivation level is high at all times |
Need to stay self motivated at all times |
| Common problems and achievements instill confidence |
Chances of getting complacent higher |
Also Read:
- CAT syllabus 2026
- CAT exam pattern 2026
- CAT books and study material 2026
- CAT question papers PDF
- CAT mock tests for practice
| Free VARC Questions with Answers for Practice | Free DILR Questions with Answers for Practice | Free Quantitative Aptitude Questions with Answers for Practice |
CAT Preparation by Coaching
Let’s have a look at pros and cons of MBA Coaching Classes for CAT preparation. These are general observations and students must take a decision regarding their mode of preparation keeping in mind their own ability and situation.
| MBA Coaching Classes |
|
|---|---|
| Pros |
Cons |
| Focused preparation |
High fees |
| Competitive environment |
Long study hours |
| Constant support and guidance of mentors |
Physical exhaustion, no time to relax and unwind |
| Availability of study material |
Risk of complacency |
| Regular feedback on progress |
Peer pressure to always perform |
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CAT Preparation by Self Study
Let’s have a look at pros and cons of Self Study for CAT 2026 preparation. These are general observations and students must take a decision regarding their mode of preparation keeping in mind their own ability and situation.
| CAT Preparation by Self Study |
|
|---|---|
| Pros |
Cons |
| Free to study according to your own time and speed |
Lack of guidance can lead to deviation from focused path |
| No peer pressure of performing well |
Risk of complacency due to lack of competition |
| Better time management |
Students can end up wasting more time during study hours |
| Better development of analytical ability as one finds tricks and shortcuts for solving questions |
Lack of expert guidance on tough topics and doubts can lead to incomplete preparation |
| More opportunities to relax and unwind |
Absence of mentor or peers to talk to about road blocks in preparation can be demoralizing |
- What is the best time to start CAT preparation
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- How many questions to attempt in CAT to score 99+ percentile
- Your love for reading can get you the desired result
- CAT exam: How to prepare without quitting your job
CAT Preparation by Coaching vs Self Study: How to Decide?
To sum it up, both coaching classes and self study have their own significance in CAT exam preparation. Both methods of exam preparation require dedication and discipline (self study requires a tad bit more). Study material and books for CAT preparation are readily available in the market so you don’t have to worry about that. There are onlien study groups that you can join on Facebook, WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. YouTube has become a major source of exam preparation too.
You as an aspirant needs to weigh the two keeping in mind your abilites and personality traits. If you are lazy and lack focus, you need to go for coaching classes, but if you are self-disciplined and resolute, you can do well by self study.
Choose your option for CAT 2026 preparation carefully. All the best!
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CAT 2026 Preparation: Topper Tips
Tips and tricks for CAT 2026 preparation from previous years’ toppers. Know how CAT toppers prepared for the exam.
| CAT Toppers |
CAT Topper Interviews |
|---|---|
| Anmol Gupta CAT 2025, 99.96 percentile |
"My preparation was mainly focused on mocks and analysis. For VARC, I used to read a lot of articles as this has always been my weakest section. Plus, I used to analyze each and every mock that I gave and my aim was to do 3 RCs and all 8 VA Questions." Read Anmol's full interview |
| Amaan Hussain CAT 2025, 99.47 percentile |
"I prepared for CAT for 1.5 years. My strategy was clear as I was weak in quants (71 percentile in CAT 2024) I dedicated 80 per cent of my preparation time to Quants. I was naturally good at VARC. As for DILR I practiced consistently. I believe consistency is the only thing that will get you far in life, not even hard work or smart work." Read Amaan's full interview |
| 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 |
Commonly asked questions
CAT exam is a national level MBA entrance exam conducted by the IIM. Every year, over 2.3 lakh candidates apply for it. Since the last two years, the competition has increased further with oveer 3 lakh candidates applying for the exam.
The CAT score is accepted by the Iims and all top MBA colleges in India. To select the best candidates from over 3 lakh test takers there is a need for stringent criteria. That's why, the CAT exam is tougher than other MBA entrance exams. Even though the syllabus of CAT is same as that of other MBA entrance exams, the question paper set by the IIM faculty always has tough questions. Moreover, CAT has sectional time limit for each section which is not there in any other exam except XAT. Having a time limit for each section adds pressure on candidates to complete solving adequate number of questions in a section within the time limit. If a student is weak in a particular subject, they can't use the time as per their need. CAT's Reading Comprehension passages are long and dense unlike other MBA exams. This is one more reason why most candidates feel CAT is tougher than any other MBA entrance exam.
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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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