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

What is the best time to start preparing for the CAT exam? The majority of aspirants struggle to find the answer to this simple question. This actually varies from candidate to candidate, depending on their calibre and adaptability. Ideally, the best time to start CAT preparation is somewhere between 9 to 12 months.

CAT 2025 preparation requires a lot of practice. The right time to start preparing for CAT exam 2025 is different for each aspirant. For beginners, it should be around 12 months to have a good hold over the basics, and for retakers, it must be around 6 to 7 months to work on their test-taking strategies.

Just reading the tips and tricks to prepare for the CAT exam 2025 won’t help you score a good percentile; it's your hard work and preparation that will help you get into the best B-schools.

Start Your CAT 2025 Preparation WithCL’s Free CAT Mock Tests

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.

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

  1. Covering the CAT syllabus
  2. Practicing sample questions
  3. Attempting mock tests
  4. 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

Understand the time frame

Well-structured study plan

Practice more

Revision

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Suggested Readings

CAT Online Classes Free resources for CAT preparation  CAT Prep for Non-Engineers CAT Prep for Working Professionals Prepare for CAT 2025 Without Coaching