When is the Best Time to Start CAT Preparation 2024?

Senior Manager - Content

Updated on Mar 27, 2024 18:34 IST

CAT 2024 will be be held on November 24, 2024 so the best time to start CAT preparation is March/April. Many 99 and 100 percentiler start preparation in May too. Read what MBA experts suggest to aspirants on the duration of CAT preparation 2024.

It is well known that Common Admission Test or CAT is a tough entrance exam. Every year, over two lakh candidates appear for the CAT so the competition is also high. Since, CAT is a gateway to 1,300 MBA colleges in India. It is of high difficulty level and requires dedicated and long-term preparation. To crack the CAT exam, one needs to have a long term plan and correct guidance.

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Among many questions regarding CAT exam, the most common question that trouble MBA aspirants the most is 'when to start CAT preparation'? Some related questions we get from aspirants are:

"What is the best time to start CAT preparation 2024?"
"Is February too early to start CAT preparation?"
"Is it ok to start CAT preparation in June?"

The right time to start preparing for CAT exam depends on each candidate's skills, abilities and the amount of time he/she can devote on daily basis. However, most of the students start quite early, from January-February.

Q: What is the CAT 2024 exam date?

The CAT exam is always conducted on the last Sunday of November every year so the CAT 2024 exam is expected to be conducted on Nov 24, 2024. Official announcement of the CAT 2024 exam date will be made by the convening IIM on Jul 30, 2024. The announcement will be made at the iimcat.ac.in website as well as in all the national dailies across India. We at Shiksha also notify the aspirants through our communication channels. Registrations cum application process for CAT 2024 will begin from the first week of August and end in the third week of September 2024.

Check below CAT exam dates for last five years:

CAT 2023: November 26
CAT 2022: November 27
CAT 2021: November 28
CAT 2020: November 29
CAT 2019: November 24

Q: Will CAT exam 2025 also be conducted in three shifts?

Yes, the CAT 2025 exam will be conducted in three shifts. Until 2019, CAT was conducted in two shifts and the exam duration used to be 180 minutes. However, in 2020, the number of shifts were increased to three and exam duration was reduced to 120 minutes in order to follow the social distancing guidelines for COVID-19. Since the COVID-9 pandemic appropriate behaviour had to be followed at public places and gatherings, the examination authorities increased the number of exam slots to ensure a limited number of candidates can be accommodated at any exam centre in a given exam slot by following social distancing and seating arrangement with gap. Since then, the CAT is conducted in three shifts - morning, afternoon and evening. In CAT 2025 too, there will be three slots which will be allotted to applicants in no particular order. The CAT exam slot timings will be - 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

Q: What are the CAT exam slot timings?

CAT exam is held in three slots for the past three years. Earlier it used to be held in two slots of three hours each, but since 2020 it is held in three slots of two hours each. The three slots are conducted between 8 am to 4 pm. The first slot is held from 8:30 am to 10:30 am, the second slot is held from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm and the third slot is held from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. In these three slots, about 2.22 Lacs candidates are accommodated at over 400 test centres in about 150 plus cities across India. The exam slots are allotted to candidates by the examination authorities as per the receipt of applications and candidates cannot request for change of examination slot. They have to give the test in the slot mentioned on the admit card.

The CAT 2024 exam date is November 24, 2024 and if you plan to appear for CAT 2024 exam then starting CAT preparation in March-April is a good idea. However, if you start preparation even in May-June 2024, you can crack it. f you start studying in July, then you will have to make a short-term plan of four months from August 2024 to November 2024.

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Ideally, CAT preparation should start by March/April. Given below are expert advice and toppers' experience of CAT preparation.

Best Time to Start CAT Preparation 2024: What Expert Says?

According to Parasharan Chari, MBA expert and COO at Endeavour Careers, "Candidates should look at finishing the entire CAT syllabus by August. Do not stretch the course till the very end. In June, July and August – candidates should try and complete the entire core CAT syllabus. The primary sections of CAT syllabus are: Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability and Quantitative Aptitude. Thereafter, candidates can start focusing on speed-building, accuracy building and later on move to full length mock tests," adds Parasharan Chari.

Best Time to Start CAT Preparation: What Toppers Say?

Kartik Bhageria, 99.99 percentile, CAT 2023

"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."

Q: What are the facilities for PwD candidates in CAT exam?

For PwD candidates, facilities in CAT exam include, relaxation of marks in graduation. The minimum score required by PwD candidate in graduation for appearing in CAT exam is 45 per cent aggregate. Apart from that, such candidates are provided scribe service at the exam centre. To avail the service such candidates have to fill the relevant form during registration process. The CAT exam authorities follow government rule viz. PwD candidate which is, 'Person with Benchmark Disability' means a person with not less than forty percent of a specified disability where the specified disability has not been defined in measurable terms and includes a person with disability where the specified disability has been defined in measurable terms, as certified by the certifying authority, as defined in The Rights of Persons with Disabilities ACT 2016 (RPwD ACT 2016). The categories of disability are, blindness and low vision, deaf and hard of hearing, locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy, autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness, multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (a) to (d), f) other 'specified disabilities' mentioned in 'The Schedule' of the RPwD ACT 2016.

Q: What are the items to carry on the CAT exam day?

Every candidate must carry a blue/black ball point pen and a few copies of their passport size photo to the exam centre. They must not carry any stationary item other than the pen. Ever since the COVID-19 outbreak, CAT candidates are required to carry drinking water, hand sanitizer, face mask and gloves along with them. Candidates have to carry drinking water in a transparent bottle and a 100 ml bottle of hand sanitizer. The hand sanitizer bottle should also be transparent. Candidates who have diabetes can carry fruits as per medical prescription. No other item will be allowed inside the exam venue. Candidates must not carry bags or valuables as there will be no arrangement for depositing while candidates appear for the exam. Candidates must also not carry notebooks or rough paper to the CAT exam centre. Any candidate found with an unauthorised item will be disqualified.

Q: What are the dos and don'ts for CAT exam day?

On the CAT exam day, candidates have to follow a number of guidelines which include cooperating with the exam centre staff during identification process, following instructions given be the invigilator and following the test navigation for solving the questions. There are some key dos and don'ts that candidates should follow on the CAT exam day, which have been listed below: CAT exam day dos: 1. Reach the examination centre at the reporting time mentioned on your CAT admit card. 2. Carry two copies of the CAT admit card, one photo ID card, passport size photos and duly filled COVID-19 declaration form 3. PwD candidates should carry the relevant certificates and documents as prescribed by the examination authorities. 4. Carry a blue/black ball point pen for signing the attendance sheet 5. Carry personal drinking water, hand sanitizer, face masks and gloves 6. Cooperate with the test centre staff and follow the instructions 7. While entering the answers, use only the computer mouse. Do not touch the keyboard as doing so will lead to screen locking. CAT exam day don'ts: 1. Do not carry prohibited items such as bags, purses, pencil box, beepers, wrist watch, calculators, mobile phones, electronic devices, scanners, cameras, wireless/Bluetooth transmission or any such communication devices. 2. Don't wear closed shoes, jewellery made of metal, jackets, clothes with pockets, mehendi on palms. Socks are allowed inside it. 3. Don't wear caps, hoodies or jackets/shirts with pockets 4. Don't be late for the exam. The entry gates will be closed 15 minutes before the commencement of exam. No candidate will be allowed to enter the exam centre after that. 5. Don't cheat or indulge in mal practice. You can be disqualified due to any such ACT. 6. Don't create a ruckus inside the test lab 7. Don't leave your seat until the exam duration gets over and the invigilator announces exit.

Q: Which IIM will conduct CAT 2024 exam?

The top 6 Indian Institute of Management are given the responsibility to conduct the Common Admission Test exam. Each of the top Indian Institutes of Management conducts the exam rotation-wise after a gap of five years. The responsibility to conduct the CAT 2023 was given to IIM Lucknow. Professor Sanjeet Singh had been appointed as the CAT convener. For CAT 2024, IIM Calcutta will be the exam convening institute. IIM Calcutta will be responsible for preparation and conduct of the exam without glitches, in collaboration with TCS for test labs and centres. The institute will design the question papers, exam pattern and guidelines, as well as manage the conduct of exam and preparation of admit card, answer key and result.

CAT Conducting Indian Institute of Management Over the Years:

2023: IIM Lucknow
2022: IIM Bangalore
2021: IIM Ahmedabad
2020: IIM Indore
2019: IIM Kozhikode
2018: IIM Calcutta
2017: IIM Lucknow
2016: IIM Bangalore
2015: IIM Ahmedabad
2014: IIM Indore
2013: IIM Indore
2012: IIM Kozhikode
2011: IIM Calcutta
2010: IIM Lucknow
2009: IIM Ahmedabad

For more information, you may visit the Shiksha Common Admission Test page. (https://www.shiksha.com/mba/cat-exam). I hope this will help you.

Risshi Agrawal, 99.99 percentile, CAT 2022

"I started preparing in the month of July. Since I had already taken the exam last year, I was familiar with the pattern. For the first two months I focused on revising the concepts while in the later stages I devoted my time towards solving mocks (average of 1 per day)....Mocks play a crucial role while preparing for CAT. It helps you determine the strategy which suits you the best."

Chirag Gupta, 100 percentile, CAT 2021

“I started preparing in March 2021. I focused mainly on giving mock tests and analysing them. I used to work on my weaknesses by watching various CAT preparation YouTube videos on various topics.”

Bir Anmol Singh, 99.94 percentile, CAT 2021

“I started preparing in April 2021. I solved Arun Sharma sir's CAT books for VARC, LR, DI and Quant. I attempted as many past year CAT questions papers (timed attempt) that I could attempt, on weekends.”

Kshitiz Singhal, 99.99 percentile, CAT 2020

Kshitiz Singhal started preparing in July. He started my preparation by knowing about the CAT exam pattern and syllabus. Once he completed the syllabus, he started taking mock tests. Although he did not enroll into any coaching institute, I bought study materials and took a mock test series from noted institutes for practice purpose.

Ekansh Agarwal, 99.98 percentile, CAT 2020

Ekansh Agarwal started his CAT preparations approximately 11 months before the CAT 2020 exam. According to him," mock tests are the most important part of CAT preparation. Attempt as many CAT mock tests as possible. 40-50 mock tests are good enough. Focus on the areas you are weak at and accordingly attempt the mock tests. Another piece of advice would be, if you think that you are weak in any section, then try maximizing the other two whilst working on the first."

Somansh Chordia, 100 percentile, CAT 2019

His CAT preparation witnesses multiple breaks. “I had joined TIME in January but for the initial 3-4 months I just gave mocks and attended a few classes to understand CAT exam pattern. During summers, I was busy in my internship, so could not devote any time. From August onwards, I began analysing the mocks and worked upon some of my weak areas. Finally in October, I began focusing properly”, he said.

Rishi Mittal 100 percentile, CAT 2019

Rishi began preparing for CAT in July 2018. “I joined IMS classes for CAT and online study group iQuanta. I gathered the study material of TIME, IMS and iQuanta. Then for five to six months I was referring to these study materials and understanding concepts and going through what all needs to be done and how should I go about my preparations. In March, I started attempting mocks and analyzing them. Around May or June of 2019, I stopped studying from the study material, I was only solving mock tests and analyzing my performance, ”he said.

Rounak Majumdar, 100 percentile, CAT 2018

Rounak started CAT preparation a year before. “My entire preparation was based on taking mock tests. I attempted two mock tests every week and around 40 mock tests in a year. I used to do practice tests on the weekends and analyse my results during the week. Analysing mock tests are more important than actually appearing for them; it helped me understand my shortfalls and device a test strategy,” he said.

Madhur Gupta, 100 percentile, CAT 2017

Madhur started preparing in January but paced up this preparation in August. “I started preparing for CAT 2017 from January and joined TIME for coaching. I ramped up my preparation only in August after quitting my job at Amazon, as Operations Manager. I joined a small start-up alongside CAT preparation from August onwards. In the last-three to four months I gave over 70 mock tests, of different mock series, he said.

Avidipto Chakraborty, 100 percentile, CAT 2016

Avidipto started preparing in mid-May 2016. "In May-June I had summer vacation which I utilized in revising the basic concepts. Once my internship began, I changed my strategy. I would study for four and half hours (9:30 pm to 2 am) on weekdays and dedicated Saturdays and Sundays to mock tests," he said.

Every aspirant has their own strengths and weaknesses. Some candidates take longer than others to grasp basic concepts and then move on to mock tests.

Akshay Mehndiratta, 100 percentile, CAT 2016

Akshay started preparation in June. "I never used to get time during the weekdays. I used to put in 5-6 hours on Saturday for preparation, and a mock test, followed by detailed analysis on Sundays. I started following this schedule rigorously from June onwards," he said. I guess a period of 5-6 months, with concentrated effort for 2-3 days in a week works fine, he added.

According to Rajesh Balasubramanian, who topped CAT 2011, CAT 2012 and CAT 2014, "Candidates with engineering background need about three-and-a-half months to prepare. Three months is still doable. Anything lesser than that and the time pressure adds up. There are too many things moving around and you don’t have enough time to do your Mock CATs. Three-and-a-half months is a good time-frame. You can still cover everything and get a lot of practice for Mocks." Balasubramanian is an MBA coaching expert.

CAT Preparation 2024: Month-Wise Time-Table

Here's a quick time-line of CAT exam preparation. This is a broad distribution of CAT preparation time frame into phases. You can alter the time-table according to your need.

Months	Target
March-August	Complete core CAT syllabus
August-end to mid-September	Experiment with exam strategy, take timed sectional tests, practice question selection & prioritisation, focus on accuracy building
Mid-September to mid-October	Start solving full-length mock tests
October onwards	Focus on revision & mock tests

CAT Preparation FAQs

Q: When will CAT 2024 will be conducted?

A: CAT 2024 will be held on November 24 as the exam is always conducted on the last Sunday of November. The official announcement of CAT 2024 exam date will be made on July 31, 2024. CAT registration process will take place from first week of August to third week of September 2024. The exam will be held in three slots on the same day.

Q: In how many months can I prepare for CAT 2024 exam?

A: The time required to prepare for the CAT exam depends on every candidate’s personal capacity. While, many past year toppers have cracked CAT by studying for a year, some toppers have cracked it with 99.99 or 100 percentile by preparing for three to four months. However, it is advised that an average student must dedicate at least six months to CAT exam preparation.

Q: Can I prepare for CAT by self-study?

A: Yes, one can prepare for CAT by self-study, but that requires self-discipline and hard work. The key to successful CAT preparation by self study is dedication and planning. Join an online study group where you can discuss your problems and get guidance in solving tough questions. Also, buy online mock tests and study material for practice.

Q: Which is the toughest section of CAT exam?

A: The overall difficulty level of CAT exam is moderate to high, thus one can’t pin point one section as the toughest. Sometimes Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension section turns out to be tricky, while sometimes Quantitative Aptitude turns out to be a toughie and sometimes Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning has surprise questions.

Q: Is coaching mandatory for CAT preparation?

A: No, coaching is not mandatory for CAT exam preparation. Many candidates in the past have scored 99 percentile in CAT by self-study. However, to join a coaching school or not is an individual decision to be made keeping in mind personal capability and availability of time for CAT preparation. If you are preparing for CAT 2024, make this decision before the month of March.

Q: How many questions are there in CAT question paper?

A: The CAT question paper has 66 questions in total. The Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension section has 24 questions, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning has 20 questions and Quantitative Aptitude section has 22 questions. Till 2019, there used to be 100 questions in CAT. The number of questions was reduced from 100 to 76 in 2020 and further to 66 in 2021.

Q: Will marks be deducted for wrong answers in CAT exam?

A: Yes, there is negative marking of -1 for every wrong MCQ entry. If you choose an option which turns out to be incorrect at the time of score calculation, you will be marked -1 on it. However, there is no negative marking for TITA questions and unattempted questions. Thus, candidates must make selection of questions in the exam very carefully.

Q: Is practicing sample questions enough to cover DILR section of CAT preparation?

A: DILR is a logic-based section so it is important to understand the pattern of each question and how to solve it. The more sample questions you will practice, the better you’ll get at solving visual and logical reasoning questions. However, only practicing the sample papers is not enough. You need to understand the types of questions asked, their pattern, series, etc. and how to deduce the right answer.

Q: How can I master VARC section of CAT exam?

A: To fare well in CAT VARC section, start reading English novels and books of all genres from the very beginning to strengthen your vocabulary, grammar and reading comprehension skill. Maximum questions in this section are from Reading Comprehension, so the candidates must have a good control on reading and comprehension of the language. The Reading Comprehension passages of the CAT are also dense and inference based so, one needs to have a good grip on it.

Q: What is the best way to master DILR section of CAT?

A: To crack Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning section of the CAT, first familiarise yourself with various types of questions asked in the exam. Start attempting one DILR set daily and assess your understanding, application, performance and progress. Take a sectional mock test every week and time yourself to solve all 20 questions within 40 minutes and with high accuracy.

Q: Do PwD candidates get extra time in CAT exam 2024?

A: Yes, PwD candidates will get about 13 extra minutes for each section in CAT 2024 exam. To avail this benefit the PwD candidates have to upload supporting documents at the time of CAT 2024 application submission and carry a copy of the same to the test centre on CAT exam day. They will also get scribe assistance to write their exam.

About the Author

Vipra Shrivastava

Senior Manager - Content

Vipra is a massive Breaking Bad fan. When not watching crime drama series, she spends time in updating the list of places she wants to visit and people she wants to meet, but she is happiest in the company of dogs. ... Read Full Bio

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