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 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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