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.
📚 When Should You Start Preparing for the CAT Exam? A Complete Guide by CATKing
The CAT exam is one of the most competitive management entrance exams in India, opening doors to the prestigious IIMs and over 1200 other B-Schools nationwide. Every year, over two lakh students appear for the CAT exam, making it a fiercely challenging test that requires focused preparation, dedication, and smart strategy.
At CATKing, we often receive one of the most common questions from MBA aspirants:
“When is the right time to start CAT preparation?”
If you’re wondering whether you should start now, wait for a few months, or whether it's too late — this article will help you clear all your doubts.
CAT 2025 Aspirants! CATKing’s New Batch Starts This Monday — Book Your Seat!
📅 Best Time to Start CAT Preparation
The ideal time to start preparing for the CAT exam depends on your personal strengths, academic background, and the amount of time you can dedicate daily. However, if you aim to score 98 percentile and above to secure a seat in the top IIMs, early preparation is always the key.
If you’re targeting CAT 2025 (tentatively in November 2025), the best time to start is from March to April 2025. Starting in these months gives you ample time to understand concepts, practice basics, and gradually move to mocks and advanced-level questions.
But here’s the good news — even if you start now, you’re not too late. With the right plan and consistent effort, a well-structured 4-6 month strategy can also deliver great results.
📊 How Much Time is Enough for CAT Preparation?
The total preparation time required for CAT varies for each aspirant. Based on previous trends and expert recommendations at CATKing, here’s a broad estimate:
12+ months: For beginners or students from non-quantitative backgrounds.
6-8 months: For students with an average academic record and basic familiarity with aptitude tests.
3-4 months: For academically strong candidates or those with prior CAT attempt experience.
CAT 2025 Aspirants! CATKing’s New Batch Starts This Monday — Book Your Seat!
📈 Rising Competition: Why Early Preparation Matters
Every year, competition for MBA seats intensifies. In recent years, only a handful of candidates scored a perfect 100 percentile, while the cutoff for top IIM calls remains above 98 percentile for general category students.
With rising applications and increasing difficulty levels, the earlier you start your CAT preparation with CATKing, the better your chances of getting ahead of the competition.
👨💻 For Working Professionals: Crafting a Smart Study Plan
Balancing work meetings, deadlines, and personal responsibilities can be challenging. The smartest strategy for working professionals is to start early and dedicate small, consistent time slots daily. A structured long-term plan helps maintain momentum without overwhelming your schedule.
Pro Tip: Enroll in CATKing’s online courses and access our night and weekend batches, perfect for working professionals.
🎓 For Students: Managing College & CAT Preparation Together
College students face their own set of challenges — internships, projects, and semester exams leave limited prep time. If you’re a student aiming for CAT, starting a year early will help you comfortably cover all 65+ CAT topics by dividing them into manageable daily or weekly goals.
At CATKing, we recommend allocating an average of 5 days per topic, combining theory, shortcuts, and practice sessions to build strong fundamentals.
📑 CAT 2025 Preparation: Month-by-Month Timeline
Here’s a sample CAT preparation plan you can follow and adjust as per your progress:
| Months | Focus Area |
|---|---|
| March-August | Cover the complete CAT syllabus, and strengthen basics, and topic-wise practice. |
| August - Mid-September | Take sectional tests, work on question selection, and build accuracy. |
| Mid-September - October | Attempt full-length mocks, identify weak areas, and optimize exam strategies. |
| October - November | Focus on revision, mock analysis, and final strategy tweaks. |
📝 Final Thoughts: Start Today, Not Someday!
The CAT exam is not just about aptitude — it’s about attitude, consistency, and planning. Whether you start a year ahead or four months before the exam, what truly matters is having the right guidance and following an effective study plan.
At CATKing, we offer a wide range of resources — including video lectures, shortcut workshops, mock tests, and personalized mentorship from IIM alumni to help you crack CAT, NMAT, and other MBA entrance exams.
CAT 2025 Aspirants! CATKing’s New Batch Starts This Monday — Book Your Seat!
