How to Prepare for CAT Exam Without Quitting Your Job

Aspirants should start preparing for CAT exam at least nine months in before the test date. CAT preparation requires long-term planning thus one must start early. The best time to start CAT preparation is in March. Starting early will also help you assess that whether you need to join a coaching institute or not.

Divide your preparation into two phases -

1. Covering the CAT syllabus 
2. Practicing mock tests, sample questions and revision.

The CAT syllabus includes the following topics:

• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension: Parajumbles, Parasummary, Sentence Completion and Inferences, Questions based on passages, para meaning, order of sentences
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning: Tables, Graphs, Pie Charts, Venn Diagram, Blood Relation, Seating Arrangement, Caselets and Syllogism
• Quantitative Aptitude: Geometry, Algebra, Number System, Arithmetic, Mensuration.

You can read the following CAT books for exam preparation:

• CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri
• Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit K Sinha
• Data Interpretation and Data Sufficiency by Ananta Ashisha
• How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma
• How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for CAT by Arun Sharma and Meenakshi Upadhyay
• 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary Mass Market Paperback by Wilfred Funk and Norman Lewis/ Simon and Schuster
• How to Prepare for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension for the CAT by Sharma and Upadhyay
• High School English Grammar and Composition by Wren and Martin
• How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT by Arun Sharma
• Quantitative Aptitude for CAT by Nishit Sinha
• Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT by Sarvesh Sharma
• Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by Abhijit Guha.

Yes, the difficulty level of CAT syllabus is very high as compared to other MBA entrance exams. However, if you prepare well and follow the CAT exam pattern well, you will be able to score well. Besides having an understanding of the CAT syllabus 2025, candidates also need to be well aware of the CAT exam pattern before they start preparing for the exam. The CAT exam pattern was revised in 2021 and the number of questions were reduced from 76 to 66. The structure of CAT 2023 and CAT 2024 was the same. The syllabus is still tougher than other exams.

The most important things to keep in mind are:

1. CAT exam mode is online
2. Each question carries three marks 
3. There is negative marking of minus one mark for wrong attempts

The section-wise distribution of questions and difficulty levels as per the latest CAT exam pattern are listed below:

• Quantitative Ability (QA) - 24 questions, difficulty level - moderate to high 
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) - 20 questions, difficulty level - moderate 
• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) - 22 questions, difficulty level - moderate. to high

CAT is a speed based test which is designed to assess a candidate's 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 advance 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.

Candidates will know their allotted CAT exam centre only from the admit card. There is no way to know the test centre before the release of the CAT admit card. The examination authority allots a test centre to aspirants in the city of their first preference as mentioned in the city. So, candidates can atleast be assured that they will get a test centre in the city they had chosen as first preference in the CAT application form. However, the venue will be mentioned only on the candidate’s admit card. So as soon as the CAT admit card is released, candidates must check the test city and test centre details. In order to avoid any confusion, they must visit the centre at least once before the exam day.

The Common Admission Test (CAT) exam is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) on a rotational basis every year. The CAT exam is an online computer-based test that is used as a primary criterion for admission into various management programs offered by the IIMs as well as other top business schools in India.

The Common Admission Test (CAT) exam syllabus is divided into three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): This section consists of 26 questions, and candidates have 60 minutes to complete it.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): This section consists of 24 questions, and candidates have 60 minutes to complete it.

Quantitative Aptitude (QA): This section consists of 26 questions, and candidates have 60 minutes to complete it.

The total duration of the exam is 180 minutes (3 hours). Each correct answer carries 3 marks, and there is a negative marking of 1 mark for each incorrect answer. However, there is no negative marking for unattempted questions. (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Here is a brief overview of the syllabus and some tips on how to prepare for each section:

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): This section tests your reading comprehension and language skills. The syllabus includes reading comprehension passages, grammar, para jumbles, para completion, sentence correction, and vocabulary. To prepare for VARC, read a lot of books, newspapers, and magazines to improve your reading speed and comprehension skills. Practice grammar and vocabulary exercises regularly to improve your language skills. Also, practice solving previous year CAT papers and mock tests to improve your speed and accuracy.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): This section tests your ability to interpret data and make logical deductions. The syllabus includes bar graphs, line charts, pie charts, tables, Venn diagrams, blood relations, seating arrangements, and puzzles. To prepare for DILR, practice solving a variety of puzzles and logical reasoning questions. Develop a systematic approach to solving questions and focus on improving your speed and accuracy. Practice solving previous year CAT papers and mock tests to identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Quantitative Aptitude (QA): This section tests your mathematical skills. The syllabus includes number systems, geometry, algebra, trigonometry, arithmetic, and modern mathematics. To prepare for QA, start with the basics and gradually move to advanced topics. Practice solving a variety of mathematical problems regularly to improve your speed and accuracy. Memorize important formulas and theorems. Also, practice solving previous year CAT papers and mock tests to identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Each correct answer carries 3 marks.

Each incorrect answer carries a penalty of -1 mark.

There is no negative marking for questions that are left unanswered.

The CAT exam is used as a primary criteria for admission into various management programs offered by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) as well as other top business schools in India. The selection process for CAT typically includes the following stages:

CAT Exam: Candidates who clear the CAT cutoff are shortlisted for the next stage.

Written Ability Test (WAT)/Group Discussion (GD)/Personal Interview (PI): Shortlisted candidates are required to appear for a WAT/GD/PI round, which is conducted by the respective IIMs or business schools.

Final Selection: Candidates are selected based on their CAT score, performance in the WAT/GD/PI round, academic background, work experience, and other relevant factors. The final selection is based on a composite score that considers all these factors.

The weightage given to CAT score and other selection criteria vary from institute to institute. It is important to check the admission criteria of the respective institutes you are applying to.

Overall, the CAT exam is a highly competitive exam, and candidates are advised to prepare well and perform to the best of their abilities.

If you want to prepare you can  download LK ACADEMY learning app for daily free mock test, Current Affairs video lectures, study notes and many more all on your convenient time. The coaching provides comprehensive way to cover the syllabus and make you prepare for preliminary, Mains and interview round.

Good luck!

 Ideally, students start their preparation for CAT and other management entrance tests from the 2nd year onwards. -Starting by understanding the syllabus and the concepts of each section. -Once you are thorough will the syllabus, practice with mock tests, and identify your strengths as well as weak areas. -Be consistent with your stronger portions and keep working on your loose ends too. -If a particular topic is out of your understanding, don't waste much time on that. Rather try to improve the sections you are performing on average. -No student ever tries to attempt the whole exam. Strategies & plan on attempting your test. -Practice as many Mocks as you can, no matter how much score you are getting. Mock tests will help you will time management which is yet another important aspect of giving entrances. -Do keep the backup option of the other entrance tests as well as the syllabus is more or less the same. -Keep yourself updated with the Current Affairs and news, especially business and economics. That will help you with your GD&PI. -Last but not the least, don't pressurize yourself. Just take it easy and give your best. Good Luck :). .