Anisha has done MBA in Marketing from NMIMS And Executive Management(PMNO) from Harvard Business School. She has been instrumental in growing CATKing Digital with her experience with Marico and Henkel in the past.
How CAT Toppers prepare for CAT Exam
How CAT Toppers Prepare for the CAT Exam
Every year, thousands of students prepare for CAT, but only a small percentage reach the 99+ percentile. What makes toppers different is not extraordinary intelligence or long study hours. The real difference lies in consistency, clarity of strategy, and smart preparation.
If you look closely at topper journeys over the past few years, a clear pattern emerges. They focus less on collecting resources and more on understanding concepts, analysing performance, and improving gradually.
If you’re preparing for CAT 2026, here’s what toppers actually do differently.
1. They Focus on Concepts, Not Shortcuts
Toppers spend the initial months building strong fundamentals.
Quant
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Strong focus on Arithmetic and Algebra
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Understanding the logic behind formulas
VARC
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Daily reading habit (editorials, long-form articles)
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Focus on comprehension rather than vocabulary lists
DILR
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Regular practice of different set types
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Learning the approach instead of memorising patterns
Instead of rushing through the syllabus, they ensure clarity before moving ahead.
2. They Follow a Consistent Daily Routine
Most toppers don’t study extreme hours. Their strength is consistency.
A typical routine:
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3–4 hours daily in the beginning
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Balanced time across all three sections
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Daily reading for VARC
Consistency over months creates strong improvement.
3. Mock Tests Are Their Main Learning Tool
This is where toppers stand out.
They:
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Start mocks early (after basics are clear)
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Take mocks regularly
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Spend more time analysing than attempting
After every mock, they review:
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Easy questions missed
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Time spent on difficult problems
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Section-wise accuracy
Improvement comes from analysis, not from the number of mocks.
4. They Focus on Accuracy, Not Attempts
In recent CAT trends:
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Difficulty varies across slots
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High accuracy leads to higher percentiles
Toppers:
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Attempt easy and moderate questions first
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Skip time-consuming problems
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Avoid guesswork
Smart selection is a key skill.
5. They Track Their Progress
Instead of worrying about individual scores, toppers monitor:
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Accuracy percentage
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Weak topics
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Section-wise consistency
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Mock trends over time
They focus on steady improvement rather than short-term results.
Common Habits Toppers Avoid
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Switching study materials frequently
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Waiting to finish the syllabus before taking mocks
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Comparing scores constantly with others
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Ignoring weak sections
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Studying irregularly
They keep their preparation simple and structured.
A Practical Timeline Used by Toppers
Phase 1 (Concept Building)
Basics + daily practice
Phase 2 (Practice Phase)
Sectional tests + weak area improvement
Phase 3 (Final Phase)
Full-length mocks + detailed analysis
This structure helps them peak at the right time.
Final Thoughts
CAT toppers don’t do anything extraordinary. They simply follow a disciplined routine, focus on fundamentals, and learn from every mistake. Over time, this consistent effort builds confidence, accuracy, and strong exam performance.
If you want to prepare like a topper, don’t look for shortcuts. Focus on showing up every day, analysing honestly, and improving a little with each mock. That steady progress is what ultimately leads to a high percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many hours do CAT toppers study daily?
Usually 3–5 hours with consistent practice.
2. When do toppers start mock tests?
After basic concepts are clear, usually by June–July.
3. Do toppers attempt all questions in CAT?
No, they focus on accuracy and smart selection.
4. What is the most important part of topper preparation?
Mock analysis and tracking mistakes.
5. Do toppers use multiple study materials?
No, they stick to limited resources and practice deeply.
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