CAT Preparation With NMAT SNAP And XAT: With less than 60 days to go for the CAT exam 2025, the pressure to score high must be piling up. Along with CAT, a lot of candidates prepare for other MBA entrance exams such as NMAT, SNAP and XAT, which fall within the 30-40 days after the CAT exam. Thus, it is significant to design a strategy and a study plan to guide you through the preparation for CAT along with NMAT, SNAP and XAT.
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Important Dates For The MBA Entrance Exams
First and foremost, the candidates need to decide their exam-taking window. The dates of all the exams are:
CAT – 30th November 2025
NMAT – 5th November 2025 to 19th December 2025
SNAP – 6th December 2025, 14th December 2025 and 20th December 2025
XAT – 4th January 2026
Also Read – Top MBA Entrance Exams
Exam Attempting Strategy For CAT, NMAT, SNAP and XAT
Aspirants need to develop an exam preparation strategy that will help them streamline their studies.
| Exam Name | Attempts |
| NMAT | 1–2 attempts, ideally before 15th Nov or after CAT |
| CAT | Once, the most crucial exam |
| SNAP | At least 2 attempts for safety |
| XAT | 1 Attempt |
Also Read: NMAT Syllabus | SNAP Syllabus | XAT Syllabus
CAT Preparation With NMAT SNAP And XAT
While the most important exam for MBA is CAT because most IIMs fall under it, aspirants must realise that it is not the only exam that they need to prepare for. Every opportunity must be utilised to the full extent.
Our MBA expert suggests and advises candidates on certain strategies that will help students to prepare for other MBA entrances, along with CAT
- Target scores vary (85, 95, 97.5, 99+ percentile), so the preparation strategy should align with your personal percentile goal.
- Focus on comfort with topics first: arithmetic, algebra, geometry, numbers, and modern math.
- Follow the question selection approach
- Easy questions from comfortable areas
- Easy but not comfortable: attempt if simple
- Comfortable but moderate: attempt if confident
- Strategy depends on the level of difficulty (LOD) and area of comfort, plotted mentally to decide which questions to attempt first.
- Set a target for yourself so that you are less likely to invest time in the exam
- Easy questions: roughly 7–9 questions
- Moderate questions: roughly 5–7 questions
- Total attemptable in QA: 12–14 questions
- Aim for around 80% accuracy on selected questions to maximise scoring potential.
- Aspirants need to develop an exam preparation strategy that will help them streamline their studies.
- For the 40–45 days post-CAT, plan roughly 10 days per exam to cover NMAT, SNAP, ZAT, and new sections like TM (in XAT).
- Avoid distractions 15 days before CAT, especially from other exams, to maximise performance.
- Prioritise CAT, then NMAT, SNAP, ZAT, CMAT, plan attempts and mocks smartly to optimise scores across all exams.
- Previous year questions are the best guide to know the exam pattern and to pick out strengths and weaknesses.
- Use mocks that emulate 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 CAT patterns.
- Preconceived notions of difficulty can mislead; be prepared for anything.
- DILR Approach:
- Combine sniper (focused) and machine-gun (broad) strategy.
- Prioritise straightforward sets first; tackle complex sets later.
- Aim to attempt 3–5 sets in mocks, depending on difficulty.
- It is significant to focus on both practice and adaptive strategy rather than over-stressing about one exam.
- Practice as many mocks as possible. Attempting mocks teaches candidates time management skills and helps them analyse their position. Allocate 15 hours/day smartly across sections and mocks.
- For weak sections (e.g., DILR only 1 set), attempt standalone questions from other sets to convert 4–5 question attempts into 6–7.
Also Read – Top MBA Colleges to Apply After XAT
Preparation Tips For CAT, NMAT, SNAP and XAT: Mock Prep Strategy from October To December
CAT: Since CAT is the most important exam of all, candidates are expected to attempt at least 22–24 mocks.
Career Launcher is conducting an All India Mock – Open CDC-4 on 16 November 2025, which can be used as a dress rehearsal for CAT because the mock exam has dedicated test centres, slots and admit card generation and analytics post exam.
NMAT: For NMAT, 5 mocks before/after CAT, depending on exam date.
SNAP: Students need to target 2-3 mocks before each attempt for the SNAP exam
ZAT: After CAT, XAT is considered a tricky exam. So candidates need to attempt at least 10 mocks, spaced from early Dec → Jan 1.
Overall: 42–44 mocks over 90 days → 1 mock every 2 days.
Also Read: NMAT Preparation Tips | SNAP Preparation Tips | XAT Preparation Tips
Key Takeaways For CAT, NMAT, SNAP And XAT Preparation
- Solving mocks would give students exposure to a large number of questions. This helps in the reduction of surprise elements in NMAT, SNAP and XAT.
- Decision-making, logical reasoning, and GK are differentiators.
- Engage in non-CAT sessions, revision courses, and mock series for maximum readiness.
- Don’t leave NMAT, SNAP, and ZAT prep for after the CAT exam. Instead, make a schedule and follow it religiously because overlapping exams require intense and regular preparation.
- Plan 1 mock every 2 days, maintain accuracy and time management.
Conclusion
Preparing for CAT alongside NMAT, SNAP, and XAT might seem overwhelming at first, but with a well-structured plan, it becomes your biggest advantage. Since these exams test overlapping concepts with varying difficulty levels and patterns, a smart, integrated approach, focused on concept clarity, mock analysis, and most importantly, the previous year’s questions, can help you ace all of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I prepare for CAT, NMAT, SNAP, and XAT together?
A: Yes, you can. The core syllabus of all four exams, Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability, and Logical Reasoning, overlaps significantly. With a structured plan, you can easily prepare for all of them together.
Q: What is the main difference between CAT, NMAT, SNAP, and XAT?
A: CAT focuses more on data interpretation and reasoning, NMAT is speed-based, SNAP is known for its short duration and tricky questions, while XAT includes Decision Making and Essay Writing sections.
Q: When should I start preparing for CAT and other MBA entrance exams?
A: Ideally, you should start your preparation 10–12 months before CAT. This gives you enough time to build concepts, take mocks, and adapt for other exams like NMAT, SNAP, and XAT post-CAT.
Q: How can I manage CAT and other exams with different patterns?
A: Build a common foundation first. After CAT, dedicate 2–3 weeks to understanding and practising the unique sections of NMAT (adaptive nature), SNAP (speed), and XAT (decision making & essay).
Q: Do I need separate mock tests for NMAT, SNAP, and XAT?
A: Yes. While your CAT mocks strengthen fundamentals, each of the other exams has unique question styles and timing. Taking their specific mocks helps adjust your test-taking strategy.
