The CAT exam is a gateway to prestigious business schools in India. With around 45 days left, it’s essential to create a high-intensity, structured, and strategic plan to maximize your potential. This article outlines a comprehensive, proven 45-day CAT preparation plan, covering all sections—Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC). Whether you’re just starting or need to refine your strategy, this guide is designed to help you achieve optimal results.
Week 1-2: Foundation Building
Focus: Understand and Strengthen Basics
1. Assess Your Current Level:
- Take a Mock: Before you begin, take a full-length CAT mock test to assess your current standing. This will help identify your strong and weak areas.
- Evaluate Sectional Strengths: Focus on which sections (QA, DILR, VARC) need the most work based on your mock performance.
2. Concept Clarity (Daily Focus):
- Quantitative Aptitude (QA): Spend 2-3 hours daily revising basic concepts like arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and number systems. Go through each chapter’s fundamentals and solve practice questions.
- Verbal Ability (VA): Begin reading articles, editorials, and long-form texts to improve reading speed and comprehension. Start practicing RC passages (2 per day).
- Logical Reasoning (LR) and Data Interpretation (DI): Start solving basic sets for 1.5-2 hours daily. Focus on understanding how to break down LR-DI questions logically.
Study Plan for Weeks 1-2
Daily Structure: Allocate 7-8 hours per day
- QA: 2 hours (covering 1 topic per day)
- DILR: 1.5 hours (1 set each for LR and DI)
- VARC: 2 hours (Reading, Grammar, and 2 RCs)
- Mocks/Analysis: 2 hours (1 full-length or sectional mock every 2 days)
Week 3-4: Focus on Speed and Accuracy
Focus: Intermediate-Level Preparation and Sectional Balance
1. Take Sectional Mocks:
- By now, you should be comfortable with basic concepts. Start taking sectional mocks to build speed and accuracy. The goal here is to complete questions faster while maintaining accuracy.
- Analyze Each Mock: Focus on time management, identifying which questions you spend too much time on, and which areas still need improvement.
2. QA Focus:
- Begin tackling tougher QA topics like permutations and combinations, probability, and advanced algebra. Set daily targets to solve advanced-level problems.
- Use CAT-specific study guides to build shortcut techniques and learn time-saving strategies.
3. DILR Focus:
- Aim to solve 3 sets of DI and 3 sets of LR every day. Focus on mixed sets and complex problem-solving. Work on analyzing patterns in data and logically deducing answers quickly.
4. VARC Focus:
- Increase the difficulty of RC passages by picking denser topics such as economics, sociology, and philosophy. Practice identifying key themes, tones, and inferences.
- Focus on Para jumbles, Para summaries, and Odd sentence out questions by practicing 10-12 of these each day.
Daily Plan for Week 3-4:
- Mocks/Analysis: 3 full mocks per week (or 1 every alternate day)
- QA: 2 hours of practice focusing on advanced topics
- DILR: 2 hours, aiming for 5-6 sets daily
- VARC: 2-3 hours, practicing difficult RCs and verbal questions
- Time Management: Make sure you aren’t spending more than 5-6 minutes on any QA question during mocks.
Week 5: Mock-Intensive Phase
Focus: Fine-tuning Exam Strategy
1. Full-Length Mock Tests
Start taking full-length mocks every other day, ideally alternating between timed and untimed mocks. The untimed mocks will help you focus on understanding the mistakes and improving accuracy.
2. Refine Test-Taking Strategy
Develop a game plan for the exam. Identify which sections or question types to prioritize and which to leave out. Fine-tune your approach in each mock. This phase is about building confidence, so don’t be discouraged by low scores—focus on incremental improvements.
3. Identify Patterns
After each mock, carefully review your mistakes and keep track of recurring issues. Is it a particular topic, section, or type of problem? Prioritize those areas in the coming days.
4. QA Focus
- Revise all formulas, shortcut tricks, and strategies. Focus on time-bound problem-solving.
- Use your weak topics to practice more sectional tests but also spend time revising topics that you are good at to ensure no surprises on exam day.
5. DILR Focus
- Take 4-5 sets of timed DI and LR daily, focusing on mixed difficulty levels.
- Analyze complex cases and figure out strategies to solve them under pressure.
6. VARC Focus:
- Continue solving 3-4 RCs per day. Practice verbal ability questions intensively.
- Focus on reading speed improvement techniques, and try skimming difficult topics effectively.
Plan for Week 5:
- Mocks: Full-length mocks every other day
- QA: 1.5 hours for revision and speed-building
- DILR: 1.5 hours for complex sets
- VARC: 2 hours of intensive reading and question-solving
Week 6: Final Push and Revision
Focus: Review and Consolidation
1. Final Mock Tests
- Take at least 4 full-length mocks during this week, focusing on simulating real CAT exam conditions. Use your last 2 mocks to solidify your strategy for exam day.
- In each mock, experiment with your approach to see what works best for time management, accuracy, and question selection.
2. Sectional Analysis
Continue analyzing your mocks for mistakes, but at this point, focus on revising concepts rather than learning new ones.
3. QA Revision
- Focus on weak topics but ensure you’re confident with strong areas too. Go through error logs from previous mocks to check recurring mistakes.
- Revise all formulas and problem-solving strategies.
4. DILR Revision
- Focus on DI-LR problem-solving accuracy. Practice questions with a timer to enhance your speed in the final days.
- Revise LR concepts, especially those related to grouping, arrangements, and tables.
5. VARC Revision
- Focus on revisiting passages that you found challenging in the mocks.
- Review strategies for para jumbles and reading comprehension.
Plan for Week 6:
- Mocks: 4 full-length mocks (with complete analysis)
- A, DILR, VARC: Spend 2-3 hours revising each section daily
Exam Week: Stay Calm and Focused
1. Light Revision
In the last 5 days, focus on light revision, reviewing notes and strategies rather than diving into intense problem-solving.
2. Relaxation Techniques
Take some time for mental relaxation—meditation or deep breathing can help reduce anxiety and improve focus.
3. Exam Strategy
Ensure you have a clear strategy for the exam, from time management to question prioritization. Stick to the plan that worked best during mocks.
Conclusion
The last 45 days before CAT are crucial for fine-tuning your skills and building confidence. With this structured approach—focusing on concepts, sectional tests, mocks, and revision—you’ll be well-prepared for exam day. The key is consistency, thorough analysis of mistakes, and a calm, composed mindset. Trust the process, and good luck!