CAT WhatsApp Group
CAT 7 Months Preparation Strategy: Preparing for the CAT in seven months is indeed a tall order; however, systematic work, constant work, and adherence to the plan will definitely get you there.
The best CAT study plan for CAT in 7 months, this plan is divided into breakable little steps for months, sections, and mock tests. Included here are strategies for success in CAT preparation within 7 months for beginners and retakers alike.
Understanding the CAT Exam Pattern
Before diving into preparation, it’s essential to understand the exam structure:
| Section | Duration | Number of Questions | Question Types |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 40 mins | 24 | MCQs and Non-MCQs (RCs, Para-Jumbles, Odd Man Out, Para Completion) |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 40 mins | 22 | MCQs and Non-MCQs (Data Sets, Logic Puzzles, Venn Diagrams) |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 40 mins | 22 | MCQs and Non-MCQs (Arithematic, Algebra, P&C;, Mensuration, Modern Maths) |
Key Points to know about CAT 2025:
- Total time: 2 hours
- Total questions: ~68
- Negative marking: -1 for wrong MCQs; no negative marking for mere non-MCQs
CAT Study Plan for 7 Months: Month-Wise Breakdown
Here’s a month-by-month CAT study plan for 7 months:
| Month | Focus Areas | Key Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1-2 | Build Basics | - Learn the QA basics (Arithmetic, Geometry, Algebra). - Gradually develop the habit of reading (editorials, novels). - Practice some basic DILR sets. |
| Month 3-4 | Strengthen Concepts | - Some of the advanced QA topics will be Probability, Logarithms. - Prepare for inference-based questions and elimination strategies as part of your RC practice. - Solve some intermediate DILR puzzles. Cover both 2D and 3D logical reasoning concepts along with coin picking and truth lie analysis. |
| Month 5 | Complete Syllabus | - Cover remaining topics (Modern Math, Critical Reasoning). - Work on solving sectional tests. Enhance reading speed and comprehension to tackle verbal sections efficiently. - Start solving the past papers. |
| Month 6 | Revision & Practice | - Go through all the topics again. - One full-length mock test should be taken every week. - Strengths and weaknesses undergo analysis after every mock test. |
| Month 7 | Mock Tests & Final Prep | - There would be a mock test every alternate day from now on. - The focus here should be on time management and accuracy. - Revise weak areas. |
CAT 7 Month Section-Wise Preparation Strategy
1. Quantitative Ability (QA)
- Months 1-2: Focus on Arithmetic topics like Percentages, Profit & Loss, Ratios. Because it holds the highest weight in the quant section of the CAT exam.
- Months 3-4: Study Geometry, Algebra, and Number Systems. One can expect 2-5 questions from these topics which makes it very important part of the section.
- Months 5-6: Focus on Probability and Functions. Generally students gets 1-2 questions from these topics. These topics are not very important but if you are aiming for the 99+ percentile you should cover these topics as well.
- Month 7: Only Focus on Formula Revision and Timed Mock Tests. Also, don't underestimate the sectional tests. Utilize them to make strategy and improve in it by giving 40 minutes short tests.
2. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Build reading speed; read at least two CAT daily articles and other websites with similar content. BY reading those articles you will improve your comprehension, which ultimately help in building RC skills.
- Study reading comprehension tricks; find out what the passage is about, tone identification, and inference-type questions.
- Practice questions for para-jumbles, para-summary, and odd-one-out.
- Try to solve at least 2 RCS every day, if you are weak in VARC, try to solve 3-4 RCS per day consistently.
- Again, use your sectional test wisely for VARC. Try out different strategies while attempting the VARC section, and lastly finalise one strategy and stick to it.
- Don't compromise your attempts for the sake of accuracy because, unlike other sections, people are not 100% sure about the answer, so attempting more will increase the chances of increasing scores. But this doesn't mean to attempt those questions even if you're not a little sure about them.
3. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Start with simple arrangement puzzles.
- Move to advanced sets of problems such as games & tournaments or maxima-minima.
- Utilize sectional tests to practice under time pressure.
- Solve sudoku and kakuro puzzles to enhance your logical reasoning skills.
- Solve at least 2 sets daily and make sure you solve at least 5 years PYQs to know the kind of questions that you need to practice.
CAT 2025 Mock Test Strategy
CAT Mock tests are really important for your success. Here's how you need to go about it:
| Month | Number of Mocks | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Months 1-2 | Take 2-3 mocks per month | Familiarize yourself with the exam pattern. Analyze strengths/weaknesses. |
| Months 3-4 | Take 3-4 mocks per month | Work on time management and identify weak areas for improvement. |
| Months 5-6 | Take weekly mocks | Simulate exam conditions; focus on sectional performance. |
| Month 7 | Take 2-3 mocks to finalize strategy | Sharpen time management skills; focus on improving scores consistently. |
Taking mock tests helps you find out what you're good at and where you need to improve. Focus on building your strengths to boost your overall score, but don’t ignore your weak areas, as they can stop you from getting into your dream MBA colleges. Doing well in all sections is important because top B-schools often have sectional cut-offs.
Just taking CAT mock test isn’t enough. You also need to review them carefully. This helps you track your progress and see how you're improving. Try different strategies in each mock test and pay attention to your speed and accuracy both are key for doing well in the CAT exam.
CAT Preparation Strategy Final Lap
You're in the final stretch of your preparation, and it's completely normal to feel stressed or burned out. A mix of emotions especially after seeing low mock scores or percentiles is something many students go through. But during this phase, it’s crucial to stay motivated and dig into the why behind the numbers.
Often, the drop in marks can be traced to simple, avoidable errors. That’s why analyzing your mocks is even more important than taking them. In fact, you should be spending more time understanding your mistakes and refining your strategy than attempting new mocks. A deep, focused mock analysis can reveal patterns, highlight weaknesses, and help you correct silly mistakes that cost you dearly.
Also, avoid taking mocks on the day before your actual exam use that time to unwind and go easy on yourself. Trust your preparation, stay calm, and believe in your journey.
Effective Strategies for CAT Preparation in 7 Months
- Consistency: This is discipline and continuous effort to and keep the efforts alive for CAT preparation. Try to solve CAT daily targets to be consistent with the practice.
- Time Schedule: at least a study plan of about three hours should be followed during Monday to Friday, whereas Weekend will spend six to eight hours studying. Overall study time for this week should total about 27 hours-reality based preparation.
- It Must atleast be 6 months: Approximately 648 hours ought to be spent over 6 months in ideal preparation for the exam. Make best use of weekends to prepare if you are working professional.
- Work on Weak Areas: Either devote more time for the review of hard sections or topics or allot more time for the review.
- Time Management: Start practicing question sets within a timed limit for speed and accuracy.
Weekly Study Schedule to Crack CAT in 7 Months
Here’s an example of a weekly schedule:
| Day | Activity |
|---|---|
| Monday | Study QA basics + Solve RC passages |
| Tuesday | Practice DILR sets + Revise QA formulas |
| Wednesday | Solve advanced RCs + Work on para-jumbles |
| Thursday | Attempt sectional test for QA |
| Friday | Analyze test performance + Revise weak areas |
| Saturday | Full-length mock test |
| Sunday | Mock test analysis + Revision |
This timetable can certainly be tweaked to suit your personal strengths and weaknesses for even better results.
CAT 7 Months Preparation Strategy: Conclusion
Well, it's definitely possible to prepare for the CAT in seven months if you have the right plan, dedication and focus. Regular practice with the CAT mock test, along with evaluating performance, will help improve your strategies based on what you learn from analysis, which will, in turn, lead to success in CAT.
Join Cracku with its high-quality study material and improve your preparation for CAT 2025. Cracku has everything from an ample storehouse of study materials and sectional tests to full-length mocks with a pattern similar to CAT. It will also analyze your performance in those tests and give insights into your strengths and weaknesses.
Join Cracku now and start off on this path to give yourself the needed edge to crack CAT!
