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How to Crack CAT in 6 Months – A Complete Guide by IIM Alumni
A Month-by-Month Study Plan, Topic-Wise Syllabus, Mock Analysis, and Time Management Blueprint
✨ Can You Crack CAT in 6 Months? Yes, Here’s How
Many aspirants wonder if cracking the CAT 2025 in just 6 months is possible. The answer is a resounding yes — provided you approach your preparation with focus, structure, and consistency. Every year, working professionals, final-year students, and even fresh graduates make it to IIMs, FMS, SPJIMR, and other top B-schools by following a disciplined CAT study plan.
This guide, crafted with insights from IIM alumni and mentors at CATKing, gives you a comprehensive strategy to crack CAT 2025 in 6 months. You'll find an in-depth syllabus breakdown, a month-wise plan, mock test strategy, resources, and expert tips.
Educational Qualification
A candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree from a recognized university or educational institution to appear for CAT 2025.
|
Category |
Minimum Marks Required in Graduation |
|
General / EWS / NC-OBC |
50% (or equivalent CGPA) |
|
SC / ST / PwD |
45% (or equivalent CGPA) |
Final Year Students Are Eligible
If you are currently in the final year of your undergraduate degree, you are eligible to apply for CAT 2025
📝 CAT 2025 Exam Pattern Overview
CAT 2025 is expected to follow the same structure as recent years:
|
Section |
Time Limit |
Questions |
Key Topics |
|
VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension) |
40 mins |
24 |
RC, Para Jumbles, Summary |
|
DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning) |
40 mins |
22 |
Graphs, Caselets, Venns |
|
QA (Quantitative Aptitude) |
40 mins |
22 |
Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry |
|
Total |
120 mins |
68 |
Sectional Time + Mixed MCQ & TITA |
Each section is time-bound and you cannot switch between sections during the exam. The marking scheme includes +3 for correct answers and –1 for wrong MCQs, while TITA questions have no negative marking.
📚 CAT 2025 Syllabus – Complete Section-Wise Breakdown
🔠 VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)
- Reading Comprehension (16 questions): Four passages from diverse areas like philosophy, sociology, economics, science, and fiction.
- Para Jumbles (2–3 TITA questions): Reordering jumbled sentences logically.
- Para Summary (2–3 MCQs): Choosing the best summary for a given paragraph.
- Odd Sentence Out (1–2 TITA): Identifying the sentence that doesn’t fit in a paragraph.
🔍 Focus on building reading speed, identifying author tone, and understanding passage structure.
📊 DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning)
- Data Interpretation: Tables, bar/line/pie charts, caselets, and data sufficiency.
- Logical Reasoning: Venn diagrams, seating arrangements, binary logic, team formations, puzzles, and tournaments.
🔍 Each set contains 4–6 questions. Some questions may be TITA. Practice set selection and time allocation to maximize attempts.
🔢 QA (Quantitative Aptitude)
|
Topic Category |
Subtopics |
Expected Questions |
|
Arithmetic |
Averages, Ratios, TSD, Mixtures, SI/CI, Work, Percentages |
8–10 |
|
Algebra |
Equations, Inequalities, Logs, Functions |
4–5 |
|
Geometry |
Triangles, Circles, Polygons, Mensuration |
2–3 |
|
Number Systems |
Factors, Remainders, LCM-HCF |
2–3 |
|
Modern Math |
P&C, Probability, Set Theory |
1–2 |
🔍 Prioritize Arithmetic first—it forms nearly 40–50% of QA.
📊 CAT Marks vs Percentile – How Much Should You Score?
Understanding the relationship between your raw score and percentile in CAT is essential to set realistic goals during preparation. Since CAT is a scaled and relative exam, your percentile doesn’t just depend on how many questions you get right, but also on how others perform.
Here’s a simplified overview based on recent CAT trends:
🧮 What Is a Percentile in CAT?
A percentile is not the same as a percentage. A 99 percentile means you performed better than 99% of the candidates, not that you scored 99% marks.
With over 2.5 lakh test-takers, even a small difference in score can shift your percentile significantly.
📈 CAT 2024: Raw Score vs Percentile (Approx.)
|
Percentile |
Estimated Raw Score (Out of 198–204) |
|
99.5%ile |
103–108 |
|
99%ile |
95–100 |
|
95%ile |
70–75 |
|
90%ile |
58–60 |
|
85%ile |
50–52 |
|
80%ile |
44–46 |
📌 Note: These are based on CAT 2023–24 data. Actual scores may vary slightly depending on paper difficulty.
🎯 How Many Questions Do You Need to Attempt?
If you're aiming for:
- 99+ percentile: Target 45–50 correct answers out of 66
- 95 percentile: Around 35–38 correct answers
- 90 percentile: Around 28–30 correct answers
The accuracy rate should be at least 85–90%. Guesswork without elimination can significantly pull down your percentile due to negative marking.
📌 Key Takeaways
- Scoring around 47–52% of the total marks can get you 99%ile
- Focus on attempting fewer questions with higher accuracy
- Mocks are your best tool to understand how your raw score translates to a percentile
📅 6-Month CAT 2025 Study Plan – Expanded Month-by-Month Preparation Strategy
Here’s a detailed timeline covering what to study each month, how to balance the three sections, when to take mocks, and how to revise effectively.
📍 Month 1: April – May | Build Your Basics
🔸 Primary Goal: Understand the exam structure and build conceptual clarity.
🔸 Time Commitment: 2 hours/day on weekdays, 3–4 hours/day on weekends.
What to Focus On:
- QA: Percentages, Averages, Ratios, TSD, Time and Work
- VARC: 1 RC + 1 verbal logic question daily, read one editorial (The Hindu, Aeon Essays)
- DILR: Basic DI tables, bar graphs, pie charts, and simple logical puzzles
Tasks:
- Take one diagnostic mock test (to evaluate your starting level)
- Start a formula notebook for QA and an error log for all sections
- Watch CATKing foundation videos for Quant & DILR
📍 Month 2: June | Strengthen Concepts + Start Sectional Tests
🔸 Primary Goal: Focus on accuracy and practice topic-wise
🔸 Time Commitment: 2.5 hours/day
What to Focus On:
- QA: Algebra basics, ratios and mixtures, logarithms
- VARC: Practice 2 RCs/day, add para summaries and odd sentence out
- DILR: Solve Venn diagrams, binary logic, data sufficiency sets
Tasks:
- Take 1 full-length mock (timed) every 10 days
- Begin 1 sectional test per week per section
- Analyze every mock and sectional in-depth
📍 Month 3: July | Apply Timed Practice + Increase Mock Frequency
🔸 Primary Goal: Simulate real-time pressure and improve question selection
🔸 Time Commitment: 3 hours/day + full-length mocks on weekends
What to Focus On:
- QA: Geometry, modulus, functions
- VARC: Start solving full 40-min VARC sectionals
- DILR: Caselets, puzzles with multiple conditions, combo sets
Tasks:
- Take 1–2 full mocks/week
- Use an Excel tracker to record:
- Section-wise scores
- Accuracy %
- Time per section
- Start pattern recognition (e.g., do you lose time in DILR set 2 every mock?)
📍 Month 4: August | Build Stamina and Strategy
🔸 Primary Goal: Increase mock frequency and revise tough concepts
🔸 Time Commitment: 3–4 hours/day including mocks
What to Focus On:
- Revise all Arithmetic + Algebra concepts
- Revisit incorrect questions from earlier mocks
- Finalize attempt strategies (e.g., attempt 15 questions in VARC aiming for 80% accuracy)
Tasks:
- Take 2–3 full-length mocks per week
- Evaluate which sets and question types are your strengths
- Practice previous year CAT papers
📍 Month 5: September | Maximize Strengths and Minimize Errors
🔸 Primary Goal: Finalize attempt strategy and polish strong areas
🔸 Time Commitment: 3–4 hours/day, mock + analysis every alternate day
Tasks:
- Take 3 mocks/week
- Create and update a “mock score trend” sheet
- Maintain 1-page formula + trick sheet
- Avoid learning new topics unless necessary
📍 Month 6: October – November | Final Gear-Up
🔸 Primary Goal: Reach peak performance under test conditions
🔸 Time Commitment: 2–3 hours/day, 3–4 mocks/week
Tasks:
- Revise from formula sheets, flashcards, and error logs
- Simulate CAT day: take mocks between 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM
- Reduce screen time post-evening, eat healthy, and sleep well
- Begin preparing for WAT/PI if you’re crossing 90 percentile in mocks
🧪 How to Analyze Mocks Effectively
Mock analysis is the single most important aspect of CAT preparation. Here’s how to do it right:
Step-by-Step Mock Analysis Process
- After the Mock:
- Don’t check just the score. Focus on the number of correct attempts per section.
- Break down time per section. Were you rushing or getting stuck?
- Question-Level Review:
- For every question: label it as “Correct,” “Incorrect,” “Guessed,” or “Skipped.”
- Identify why you got a question wrong:
- Conceptual error?
- Silly mistake?
- Ran out of time?
- Section-Wise Strategy Check:
- In VARC: Are you spending too long on one RC? Is para jumbles eating time?
- In DILR: Are you picking the toughest set first? Re-order.
- In QA: Which topics are giving you consistent accuracy? Focus on those in mocks.
- Final Mock Log Table:
|
Mock No |
Total Score |
VARC |
DILR |
QA |
Accuracy % |
Key Mistake |
|
Mock 1 |
72 |
24 |
18 |
30 |
65% |
DILR set wasted 12 mins |
📚 Recommended Resources to Support This Plan
- Quant: Arun Sharma QA, CATKing Concept Notes
- VARC: RC99 practice app, Aeon Essays, CATKing VARC Modules
- DILR: Puzzle sets from CATKing, Previous CAT papers
- Mock Tests: CATKing’s Real CAT Series (25–30 mocks)
- Analytics: Google Sheets or Excel for tracking performance
💬 Mentor Wisdom
“Mocks are your real teachers. Books and videos build your foundation — but analysis teaches you how to play the CAT game.”
— Sumit Sir, CATKing Mentor & SP Jain Alum
🚀 Final Call: Make These 6 Months Count
Cracking CAT 2025 in 6 months is not just a dream — it’s a realistic goal if you stay consistent, analyze every mock, and play to your strengths.
🎯 Join CATKing’s Fast-Track Program designed for working professionals and serious aspirants:
- Live + recorded concept classes
- 1-on-1 mentorship
- 30+ real CAT-level mocks
- GD-PI-WAT prep after CAT
📞 Call: +91 8999-11-8999
🌐 Explore: courses.catking.in
“Six months of focused effort today can give you a lifetime of transformation. Start now — your IIM dream is waiting.”
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