What is the Best Way to Prepare for the CAT Exam? Tips, Guide, and Books

Common Admission Test (CAT)

Exam Date
30th November, 2025

Ridhima Jindal
Ridhima Jindal

Table of Content

The CAT examination is one of the most competitive and difficult exams to crack in India. It can be very stressful for students to prepare for and give this examination. Being thoroughly prepared for the CAT exam is key for students to crack the paper. Cracking the exam can help students get into some of the best business schools for MBA programs in India. This article highlights some of the best strategies students can use to prepare for the CAT 2025 examination.

CAT Exam for MBA → Read here

Students can read more on the preparation for the CAT 2025 examination here.

Best Way to Prepare for CAT 2025

There are several ways students can use to prepare for the CAT 2025 examination. It is very important for students to use any means that they can to prepare for the CAT 2025 examination. The exam is very competitive and difficult to clear, so every resource can play an instrumental role in boosting a student’s overall score on the CAT examination.

Some of the preparation tips for students preparing for the CAT 2025 examination are as follows -

Mock Tests

Mock tests make or break a student’s preparation for the CAT examination. CAT mock tests help students answer questions in a shorter time period and simulate the actual experience of giving the actual CAT exam. Students will also be able to build speed as well as accuracy through mock tests. These are incredibly important skills for students to develop when preparing for a competitive and tricky exam such as CAT. Students can use online resources and reference books to find CAT sample papers. Students can also look up online to find CAT previous years’ exam papers as mock tests for their preparation.

Strengths and Weaknesses

It is very important for students to be able to analyze their strengths and weaknesses when preparing for the CAT examination. Students should revise the concepts that they already know well. Analyzing weaknesses is also an important step of the studying process that students must not ignore. To score higher it is important for students to focus and improve the areas they are weak in. Finding shortcuts, quick tricks and easy explanations for topics that you are weak in can help students improve in difficult areas of the CAT examination. Mock tests are a very effective way for students to find their strengths and weaknesses.

Check the detailed syllabus for CAT exam here

CAT exam pattern available here

Conceptual Understanding

More than just trying to cover as many topics as possible, an effective strategy for preparing for the CAT examination is to thoroughly understand and grasp the concepts of the syllabus. Thoroughly grasping and understanding concepts can allow students for a much deeper and well-thought understanding on topics and sections part of the CAT exam. A focus on concepts can also help make other sections of the examination easier for students to study as well.

Reference Books

Students should have several reference books for their preparation of the CAT examination. Using reference books can be key for students to score high marks on the exam. Ideally, students should have reference books for each subject of the CAT examination. CAT Reference books can not only be useful as study material but also very useful as a resource for sample papers that students can use to practice.

Some popular reference books students can use to prepare for the CAT examination are as follows

Book

Author (s)

High School Grammar and Composition

Wren and Martin

Word Power Made Easy

Norman Lewis

Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations

R.S Agarwal

Quantitative Aptitude for CAT

Nishit Sinha

Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT

Nishit Sinha

Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT

Pearson

Study Groups

Study groups are a very effective way for students to study for the CAT examination. Besides coaching institutions and friends/peers, students can join online groups and forums through sources such as Reddit or Telegram to help prepare for the exam. These groups can lead students to develop a sense of accountability with those that they study with. They can also provide students with free resources needed for the exam. Study groups also help to ensure that students have people that they can count on in case they need any help. Listening to other students discuss the CAT exam can also help students absorb more useful information.

Keeping a Calm and Positive Mindset

While the CAT exam preparation process can be very stressful, worrying about the exam can do more harm than good to students and negatively affect their overall performance. Using methods such as meditation and deep-breathing can be very helpful to remaining calm at the last minute. It is also helpful for students to take breaks, get enough sleep and stay hydrated to maintain a positive and healthy mindset when preparing for the exam.

Taking breaks by doing favorite hobbies is especially recommended for students to avoid burn out and fatigue. Keeping a positive mindset while taking care of themselves especially during the last few days of preparation can significantly boost a student’s confidence before the CAT exam.

Students can read on the ROI of Taking the CAT 2025 examination here.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is CAT 2025?

CAT 2025 is expected to take place in November 2025.

Is CAT harder than JEE?

Yes, the CAT examination is often considered to be more difficult than the JEE examination.

How many months of preparation is needed for CAT 2025?

Around 6 - 12 months are generally required by students who are looking to give the CAT 2025 examination.

Are mock tests helpful for CAT?

Yes, mock tests are very helpful for students looking to give the CAT 2025 examination.

What is the fee for CAT 2025?

The fee for the CAT 2025 examination is INR 2500.

How many hours of study is required for CAT?

Students should spend around 30 hours a week studying when preparing for the CAT 2025 exam.

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