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Preparation Strategy for CAT 2025

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of the most competitive MBA entrance exams in India. With over 3 lakh aspirants appearing every year, a well-planned CAT 2025 preparation strategy is essential to secure a seat in top IIMs and B-schools. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best strategies, tips, and resources to help you ace CAT 2025

  • Exam date (expected) :- Sunday, 30 Nov 2025
  • Exam sections :- VARC, DILR, QA
  • Marking scheme :- The CAT marking scheme awards +3 marks for each correct answer and deducts -1 mark for each wrong answer. No deduction for unattempted and TITA Questions
  • Duration :- 40 min each section with total 3 sections. Total time : 2 hours.

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) :-

  1. Improving Reading Speed and Comprehension :- This can be achieved by Reading and only Reading. It may sound a bit boring but the within few days after reading your favourite articles or books you will feel increase in your reading speed and understanding of passage.
  2. Practice Active Reading – Instead of passively reading, engage with the text by summarizing key points mentally. Get yourself immersed while reading the passage.
  3. Expand Your Vocabulary – A better vocabulary helps you grasp ideas faster. Use apps like Anki or read editorials from The Hindu or The Economic Times. You could also read articles from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/ or https://aeon.co/
  4. Use a Pointer or Finger – It reduces regression (going back to words unnecessarily) and helps in smooth reading.
  5. Improve Eye Span – Try to read groups of words instead of single words at a time.
  6. Avoid Subvocalization – Don’t “speak” words in your head while reading; it slows you down.
  7. Timed Practice – Read articles from Aeon, The Guardian, or The New York Times within a set time and summarize key points.
  8. Skimming & Scanning – Learn to quickly scan for important details while reading long passages. The meaning of quickly scanning is that you should skip the details in the passage example ; year, added explanation, and many like things which will not impact your overall RC.
  9. Mock Tests & RC Drills – Solve at least 2–3 RC sets daily to improve comprehension and accuracy. If you are preparing from month of march, you should focus on increasing on reading speed. The time when you will get comfortable reading heavy and long passages directly shift towards solving actual Cat RC passages which are listed on our website. This method will solve most of problems regarding VARC subject.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) :-

  • Data Interpretation (DI) Approach:–
  • Read the Questions First – Before analyzing the data, check what is being asked to avoid unnecessary calculations.
  • Identify Key Trends – Look for percentage changes, ratios, or repeating patterns in tables, bar graphs, and pie charts.
  • Simplify Calculations – Use approximation, percentage shortcuts, and fraction-to-decimal conversions to save time.
  • Use Options Smartly – In MCQ-based questions, eliminate impossible options instead of calculating exact values.
  • Prioritize Sets – If a set has too many variables or excessive calculations, leave it for later.
  • Daily DI Practice – Solve 2–3 DI sets daily, focusing on speed and accuracy.
  • Logical Reasoning (LR) Approach:
  • Break Down the Problem – Identify key constraints and relationships in arrangement, seating, or Venn diagram puzzles.
  • Use Diagrams & Tables – Represent information visually using tables or flowcharts for complex puzzles.
  • Start with Definite Information – Focus on statements that give concrete positions or numbers before dealing with uncertain ones.
  • Check for Contradictions – If you reach a contradiction, re-evaluate your assumptions.
  • Develop a Step-by-Step Strategy – Maintain a structured approach instead of randomly trying combinations.
  • Solve a Variety of Sets – Practice different LR types like games & tournaments, conditional puzzles, and selection-based sets.
  • Tips to Improve Accuracy and Speed in DILR
  • Strengthen Mental Math – Learn tables (up to 20), squares (up to 30), cubes (up to 15), and fraction-to-decimal conversions.
  • Develop a Framework – Create a structured way to solve puzzles instead of a trial-and-error approach.
  • Time Yourself – Set a timer while solving sets to simulate exam conditions.
  • Learn Approximation Techniques – Rounding off numbers and using close approximations can save precious seconds.
  • Avoid Fixation – If a set takes too long (more than 10–12 minutes), move on to another one.
  • Analyze Mistakes – After solving, review errors and understand where you went wrong.
  • Best Resources for Practice & Mock Tests
  • Books:
  • Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation for CAT – Nishit K. Sinha
  • How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT – Arun Sharma
  • CAT 2024: DILR Previous Year Papers – Solve past 10 years’ questions
  • Websites & Online Practice:
  • 2IIM & Cracku – Free and paid DILR sets for daily practice
  • Career Launcher & IMS – Sectional mocks and topic-wise quizzes
  • Pagalguy & GMAT Club – Discussion forums for solving tricky sets
  • Mock Tests & Sectional Tests:
  • CAT Official Mocks – Solve previous years’ CAT papers
  • TIME/IMS/CL Test Series – Paid test series for real-time practice
  • Daily DI-LR Challenge (2IIM/InsideIIM) – One set per day for consistency

Quantitative Aptitude (QA) – CAT 2025 Strategy

Important Topics to Focus On

CAT QA is dominated by Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry. Prioritize topics based on their weightage and difficulty:

🔹 High-Priority Topics (Frequently Asked & Scoring)

  1. Arithmetic (40-50% Weightage) – Most important
    • Percentages, Profit & Loss, Simple & Compound Interest
    • Ratio & Proportion, Averages, Mixtures & Alligation
    • Time, Speed & Distance (Boats, Trains, Races)
    • Time & Work (Pipes & Cisterns)
  2. Algebra (20-25% Weightage)
    • Quadratic & Cubic Equations
    • Linear Equations (in two or more variables)
    • Inequalities & Modulus
    • Functions & Graphs
    • Logarithms & Exponents
  3. Geometry & Mensuration (15-20% Weightage)
    • Triangles (Similarity, Pythagoras Theorem, Special Triangles)
    • Circles (Chords, Tangents, Properties)
    • Polygons & Quadrilaterals
    • Coordinate Geometry & Trigonometry

🔹 Moderate-Priority Topics (Appear Occasionally, But Useful)
4. Number System – Factors, Divisibility, Remainders, LCM & HCF
5. Modern Math – Permutations & Combinations, Probability, Set Theory

Time-Saving Tricks & Shortcuts

🔥 Mental Math Techniques

✅ Percentage Conversions

  • 50% = 1/2, 25% = 1/4, 12.5% = 1/8, 6.25% = 1/16
  • Example: To find 62.5% of 160, break it down → (50% + 12.5%) = (80 + 20) = 100

✅ Speed Multiplication

  • Ending with 5: (X5)2=X(X+1)25(X5)^2 = X(X+1)25(X5)2=X(X+1)25
    • Example: 352=3(3+1)25=122535^2 = 3(3+1)25 = 1225352=3(3+1)25=1225
  • Multiplying by 5: Divide by 2 and add 0
    • Example: 46×5=46/2=23→23046 \times 5 = 46/2 = 23 → 23046×5=46/2=23→230

✅ Vedic Math Approximation

  • Multiplying numbers near 100:
    • Example: 97×98=(100−3)×(100−2)=950697 \times 98 = (100 – 3) \times (100 – 2) = 950697×98=(100−3)×(100−2)=9506

🔥 Tricks for Specific Topics

✅ Ratio & Proportion Trick

  • If A:B = 2:3 and B:C = 4:5, then A:C?
    • Multiply cross terms → A:B = 2:3, B:C = 4:5
    • Make B same → A:B = 8:12, B:C = 12:15
    • So, A:C = 8:15

✅ Time & Work Trick (LCM Method)

  • If A finishes work in 10 days, B in 15 days:
    • Take LCM (10,15) = 30 (Total work units)
    • A’s work/day = 30/10 = 3 units, B’s work/day = 30/15 = 2 units
    • Together, A+B’s work = 5 units/day → Time taken = 30/5 = 6 days

✅ Quadratic Equation Shortcut (Product-Sum Method)

  • x² – (sum)x + product = 0
    • Example: x² – 11x + 30 = 0
    • Find two numbers whose sum = 11 and product = 30 → 5 & 6
    • So, factors: (x – 5)(x – 6) = 0, hence x = 5,6

✅ Triangles (Pythagorean Triplets)

  • Common Triplets: (3,4,5), (5,12,13), (7,24,25)
  • Example: If a right-angled triangle has sides 8 & 6, find hypotenuse
    • Check nearest triplet (6,8,10) → Hypotenuse = 10

✅ Last Digit Trick for Exponents

  • Find last digit of 2¹³²
    • Last digits of 2’s powers: 2, 4, 8, 6 (Repeats every 4 cycles)
    • 132mod  4=0132 \mod 4 = 0132mod4=0 → Last digit = 6

Recommended Books & Online Resources

📚 Books

  1. Arun Sharma – Quantitative Aptitude for CAT (High-Level Practice)
  2. Nishit K Sinha – QA for CAT (Conceptual Clarity)
  3. Sarvesh Verma – Quantum CAT (For Tough QA Questions)
  4. NCERT Maths (Class 6–10) – For Basics (If Weak in Maths)

🌐 Online Resources

📌 YouTube Channels:

  • Cracku
  • 2IIM
  • Rodha (Shortcut tricks)
  • Takshzila Shikshak (Conceptual clarity)

📌 Practice Websites:

  • 2IIM & Cracku – Free topic-wise quizzes
  • Career Launcher (CL) & IMS – Best for topic-wise sectional tests
  • Pagalguy & GMAT Club – CAT-level QA discussions

📌 Mock Tests:

  • TIME, IMS, CL – Best full-length mocks
  • CAT Previous Year Papers (2017–2023) – Must solve