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.
Notebooks for CAT Preparation: Updated Guide for CAT 2025 & CAT 2026
Handwritten notebooks remain an essential part of CAT preparation, even in the digital era of online classes, apps, and PDFs. Well-maintained notes help aspirants retain core concepts, track errors, and accelerate revision—especially when preparing for CAT 2025 and CAT 2026.
This updated guide explains the types of notebooks you need, what to record in them, how to organise them effectively, and best practices that align with the latest trends in CAT preparation.
Why Notebooks Still Matter in CAT Preparation
Despite abundant online tools, notebooks provide benefits that digital methods alone cannot fully replace:
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Better memory retention through active writing
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Faster revision compared to re-reading digital content
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Personalised insights tied to your learning style
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Error tracking and analysis
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Strategy documentation for mocks and section goals
Recent CAT preparation trends emphasise that notebooks—especially the error log and mock strategy notebooks—are highly correlated with performance gains.
How Many Notebooks Should You Maintain?
A balanced CAT preparation notebook system usually includes 4 to 6 dedicated books, each serving a specific function. Overloading with too many notebooks can be counterproductive. Focus on quality, not quantity.
1. Concept Notebook (Section-Wise)
What to Include
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Key formulas, principles, and rules
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Condensed summaries from coaching or self-study
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Clarified concepts in your own words
How to Use It
Divide this book into three sections:
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Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
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Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
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Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Separate sections using tabs or colour codes to avoid confusion later. This notebook becomes the foundation for quick revision before mocks and final exams.
2. Mock Test Error Log
This notebook is often the single most valuable resource for aspirants targeting a high percentile.
What to Record
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Mock name and date
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Section and question number
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Type of mistake (conceptual, calculation, time pressure)
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Correct approach with explanation
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Personal notes on decision strategy (attempt or skip logic)
Why This Is Essential
Analysing mock tests deeply rather than just recording scores leads to sustained improvement in performance. Mock analysis has become a cornerstone of CAT strategy for 2025–26 aspirants.
3. QA Formula & Tricks Notebook
While conceptual clarity is crucial, quick revision of formulas, shortcuts, and recurring patterns is equally important.
What to Include
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Arithmetic shortcuts
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Algebraic identities
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Geometry formulas
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Number system tricks
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Probability and permutation guides
Keep the content concise and easy to scan; in the final 60 days of preparation, this notebook becomes your go-to revision resource.
4. DILR Framework & Set Approach Notebook
DILR is one of the most unpredictable sections in CAT. A dedicated notebook helps build structured approaches to diverse problem types.
What to Record
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Set types (tables, pie charts, mixed data, scheduling, games)
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Step-by-step solution flows
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Decision strategies (how to select sets quickly)
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Typical traps and elimination cues
Over time, this notebook turns into a pattern recognition tool that reduces analysis time during the actual exam.
5. VARC Strategy & RC Insights Notebook
Unlike traditional grammar notebooks, your VARC notebook should emphasise reading comprehension mastery and logic patterns.
What to Include
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RC passage types and difficulty markers
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Common inference traps
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Para-jumbles logic
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Summarisation cues
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Reading insights from diverse editorial sources
Note-taking for VARC helps you recognise recurring patterns in passages, which is key to improving speed and accuracy.
6. Strategy & Exam-Day Planning Notebook
This notebook evolves gradually and becomes your exam playbook.
What to Capture
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Mock test strategy summaries
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Section-wise timing preferences
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Attempt range goals
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Slot strategy adjustments (if applicable)
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Final revision checklist
Use this book to capture learnings from mock test cycles and refine your exam-day plan.
Effective Note-Taking Techniques
The way you organise your notes matters. Follow these best practices:
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Structured Layout: Use clear headings and sections for different topics.
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Short Bullets, Not Paragraphs: Makes scanning easier during revisions.
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Summaries in Your Own Words: Writing explanations in your own language helps retention.
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Visual Aids: Use charts, flow diagrams, and mind maps for quick recall.
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Weekly Review: Spend time every week reviewing and updating your notebooks.
Digital Tools vs. Physical Notebooks
Physical Notebooks
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Better long-term memory retention
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Easier on-hand revision
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No screen distractions
Digital Notes
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Searchable content
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Easy to organise and backup
Best Practice (2025–26):
Use physical notebooks for concepts, mocks, and strategy, and digital tools for storing PDFs, videos, and online materials.
Common Notebook Mistakes to Avoid
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Writing overly detailed notes that are hard to review
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Copying text directly from books or slides
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Not updating the mock error log after every test
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Using too many notebooks without clear purpose
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Ignoring periodic revisions
A notebook is only useful if it evolves with your preparation and helps you correct mistakes systematically.
How Often Should You Review Them?
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Concept notebook: Weekly
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Mock error log: After every mock test
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Strategy notebook: Bi-weekly
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Formula & tricks notebook: Daily in the final month
Regular revisions turn notebooks from passive records into active learning tools.
Conclusion
For CAT 2025 and CAT 2026 aspirants, notebooks remain essential for organising thoughts, tracking mistakes, and revising smartly. Whether you are self-studying or learning through a coaching platform like CatKing, an effective notebook strategy—with clear sections for concepts, mocks, decision logic and exam strategy—can make your preparation more efficient and result-oriented.
Maintain your notebooks thoughtfully, update them with insights from mocks and practice tests, and use them to reinforce your strengths while addressing your weaknesses.
Hope this helps!!
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