What Is The Ideal Time To Start Preparation For CAT Entrance Exam?

Best Time To Start CAT Preparation

The best time to start CAT preparation depends on your academic background, the amount of time you dedicate daily, and your strengths. However, early preparation is always the best way to prepare for CAT exam.

The tentative date for CAT 2025 is November 30, 2025. Hence, the best time to start preparing is from March-April 2025. You should start preparing at least 9-12 months before the exam, depending on the calibre of the aspirant. This will help you figure out if you need a coaching institute or not.

CAT Exam Pattern 2025

Sections	Questions	Time (in minutes)
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)	24	40
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)	22	40
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	22	40
Total	68	120

How Much Time Is Required To Prepare For CAT Exam?

The ideal time required to prepare for CAT depends entirely on one’s capabilities. It depends on one’s ability to grasp the fundamental concepts, so there is no such fixed timeline to crack CAT exam if one starts from scratch. Here is the general timeline depending on the type of aspirant.

12+ months: If you're a beginner or come from a non-quantitative background.
6-8 months: If you have an average academic record and some basic knowledge of aptitude tests.
3-4 months: If you're academically strong or have taken the CAT before.

The time frame of 2-3 months is enough to finish the fundamentals of the three sections for aspirants starting from scratch. On average, dedicated CAT preparation takes 8-9 months. If possible, spend two hours on weekdays and six to eight hours on weekends.

CAT 2025 Preparation Guide

Preparing for the CAT 2025 requires a clear plan and dedication. This guide offers practical tips and resources to help you understand the exam format, boost your skills, and build the confidence needed to excel on your D-day.

Elements	Details
Ideal time for CAT preparation	8-9 months
Daily time investment	Minimum 2 hours
Topics covered / week	Minimum 5 to 6 chapters with chapter-wise exercises
Mock tests	Solve 1 mock test per week
Daily routine	Read newspapers Choose important chapters Start by solving simple questions first, and then move towards difficult ones Solve sample papers Revise important concepts and formulas

Four Phases of CAT Exam Preparation

Covering the CAT syllabus
Practicing sample questions
Attempting mock tests
Revising everything

Average Time For College Students To Start CAT Preparation

There are many factors contributing to the average cat exam preparation time. This includes reviewing 10th standard fundamental concepts, demanding schedules, and part-time jobs.

College students encounter various challenges, such as internships, projects, and semester exams, which often leave them with little time to prepare for CAT. If you're planning to take CAT, starting your preparation 9-12 months in advance will allow you to cover all the essential topics. You can break these topics down into smaller, manageable daily or weekly goals, making the process much easier.

Hence, it is important for students to start preparing for CAT exam between March and April so that they can perform well in November.

Average Time For Working Professionals To Start CAT Preparation

Juggling work meetings, deadlines, and personal responsibilities can be tough. For someone who struggles to balance work and CAT prep at the same time, the best approach is to start preparing early and set aside small, regular time slots each day. Having a clear long-term plan keeps you on track without making your schedule feel too busy.

As working professionals have less time, it is very important for them to allocate time each day and plan out personal, professional, and educational things properly. They must start at any point in time (preferably in January) and increase the practice time gradually so that they can be well-prepared for the exam in November.

For such aspirants, we have an exclusive program — CAT Night Classes, curated by CL’s marquee faculty, with flexible sessions starting from 9:30 PM.

How To Prepare For CAT Exam Starting From Scratch?

Starting your preparation for the CAT exam from scratch can be daunting, but with the right approach and resources, it can be a rewarding journey. Here we will walk you through essential steps, helpful strategies, and useful tips to build a strong foundation in all test sections, helping you gain the confidence and skills needed to succeed.

Set realistic goals

Set realistic goals based on your strengths, weaknesses, time, and target B-schools.
Assess your current preparation through mock tests to understand where you stand
Set a target percentile and figure out the areas that you find difficulty in solving.
Setting short-term and long-term goals will keep you motivated.
Track your progress daily.

Understand the time frame

CAT preparation requires several months.
It depends on various circumstances, such as availability of time, personal commitments, and proficiency in the subjects.
However, the recommended time frame is around 7 to 9 months.

Well-structured study plan

A well-structured plan is very important for CAT preparation.
Break down your syllabus into sections and allocate time for each section.
Make sure you consider your study/work commitments, daily routine, and other responsibilities.
Divide the preparation time efficiently to give enough attention to each section.

Practice more

Practice is key to everything.
Keep a portion of your time to solve mock tests and practice questions.
This will help you understand concepts and improve overall speed and accuracy.
Focus on all types of questions to develop a strong understanding of each subject.

Revision

As the exam approaches, it is best to focus on revisions and clear all the concepts rather than learning new things.
Review your notes for formulae, and important concepts to strengthen your understanding

Take mock tests and solve CAT previous year question papers.

Conclusion

CAT is one of the most prestigious exams in the country and a way to top B-Schools. There are a lot of aspects that you need to focus on. Hence, begin your CAT 2025 preparation as soon as possible. Even if you are feeling confident, it is advisable to first give mock tests and check where you stand.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should you start your CAT preparation?

The ideal time to start preparing for the CAT is between 9-12 months for beginners, 6-9 months for students who have the basics in place, and 4-6 months for aspirants who have taken CAT before and just need to work on a better test-taking strategy.

In which year of college should I start preparing for CAT?

The earlier, the better. It always makes sense to start preparing for CAT as early as possible, most probably in the second or final year of graduation. Students in BSc, BCom, and BTech can prepare better as they already have Maths in their curriculum.

Is 1 year enough for CAT preparation?

Yes, 1 year is enough for CAT preparation, especially with a well-structured study plan. 1 year is enough to cover the syllabus, practice repetitively, and improve problem-solving skills.

How to crack CAT for IIM?

Cracking CAT isn’t a cakewalk; it requires dedication, focus and rigorous practise to make your way to the top B-schools in India. Here are a few tips, one can prepare well for CAT 2025, as follows:

Develop a well-structured plan
Regular mock tests
Consistent practice
Develop an understanding of all sections
Analyze your performance

How many months of preparation are enough for CAT?

This is extremely subjective! It totally depends on the calibre of the candidate and their aptitude skills. There are candidates who have scored 99+%ile with only 2 months of preparation, while some have had a rigorous routine and proper study plan of 9-12 months to achieve the same.