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How to Prepare for CAT in 9 Months: Starting now, aspirants have around 300 days to prepare for the CAT. 9 months of preparation time is sufficient for the CAT exam for freshers and repeaters both. Most students start their CAT preparation in advance, almost 9 months before the exam. Every year the difficulty level of the CAT exam changes, for example, the CAT 2023 paper was difficult, CAT 2024 was much easier while CAT 2025 was difficult and challenging.
All the previous year's CAT papers will be available on the official website of Cracku. Go to the website, click on previous year papers, then click on the CAT previous papers, you’ll find CAT previous year papers slot wise with easy options to download the PDF or take the test. These papers are available with solutions to help you track your performance. Take the CAT 2024 paper in the test format to assess your current situation before beginning CAT 2026 preparation. Taking a diagnostic test via the CAT 2024 paper, any slot, says Sayali Ma’am, is the best way to begin CAT preparation 2026. It provides a clear idea of your strengths and weaknesses.
Toppers also take a diagnostic test to check their strengths and weaknesses, and not all results are good. Some students get negative marks in different sections of the CAT exam. This does not mean that they should give up or never take mocks again or fear the CAT exam. It means that these are sections which need to be worked upon, in the weaker sections, you must improve your concepts first, then work on speed and lastly solve mock tests.
How to Prepare for CAT in 9 Months?
While taking the diagnostic test, if you were able to solve more than 5 questions correctly in the Quant section, then your Quant is good, but if you were not able to do that, then Quant is a difficult section for you. You’ll have to work on it. In the case of DILR, you simply need to attempt to solve the section; if you were not able to solve even 1 question, it’s not a problem.
DILR is a tricky section which needs proper preparation and strategy, being a master in DILR is not something most students are able to achieve in the early days of their preparation. So, stay relaxed, not being able to score in DILR is normal, but if you are able to solve more than 1 question correctly, you don’t have to prepare extra hard for the section.
After taking the diagnostic test, if you were able to solve 8+ questions correctly, then your VARC is a strong section requiring less hard work, but if you were not able to solve even 8 questions correctly, then VARC is a difficult section for you. You’ll have to work on VARC basics, improve speed of reading, and solve maximum questions through mocks once the learning is complete.
CAT 2026 9-Month Preparation Strategy
As stated before, a simple start with a CAT exam syllabus is not the right approach. Instead, take a diagnostic test first, then move to a detailed study. Whether you are a commerce, engineering or an Arts student, your starting point in the CAT 2026 9-month preparation strategy will always be unique to your level of understanding. Here are a few points you’ll have to incorporate into your life like a habit or routine; without them, your CAT preparation strategy will not fetch your long-term benefits.
- Consistency is more important than your current position in the CAT 2026 preparation journey.
- Being a complete fresher or CAT dropper does not matter as long as you vouch for your daily commitment to learning and revision.
- If you have already developed the habit of reading daily, then you are at a good place to start and maybe ahead of those who are yet to develop a daily reading routine.
- Those who have already prepared for the JEE exam before or have taken the exam but failed are also at a better position compared to beginners, since you already know the CAT exam basics, which are similar to JEE for the most part.
Is 9 Months Enough to Prepare for CAT?
Yes, a simple answer to the question, ‘Is 9 months enough to prepare for CAT?’ is this: as long as you don’t waste all your time and energy on other matters, 9 months is more than sufficient.
The actual problem is not having less time, but wasting more time on passive studying without attempting actual mocks or analysing mock test attempts. Regardless, here are a few basic notions to consider that shed light on the fact that 9 months is enough time to prepare for CAT 2026.
- Take an early diagnostic test to figure out your weak areas.
- In 9 months, you can work on improving your weaker sections by allotting the right amount of time daily.
- CAT is not a theoretical test; it is a skill-based exam for which you’ll have to learn, then practice, then take a test and analyse the results.
- 9 months is enough time to learn that CAT is not an exam where you can mug up a few formulas and you are good to go.
- You need these 9 months to practice for the CAT exam in high volumes. This will help build muscle memory.
- Your final CAT performance will be based on your speed and selection of topics in under 40 minutes per section.
CAT 2026 Month-wise Preparation Plan
Always begin your CAT preparation with a diagnosis and set the base. Next, learn the core concepts and do some heavy practice. It is crucial to strengthen your understanding of key focus topics and slowly expand your study plan. At some point, you’ll have to place importance on mock tests and their analysis. Mock analysis will become central to your study plan by the middle of your 9-month CAT 2026 preparation journey. Once familiar with the basic idea of a mock test, change your strategy to focus on high-intensity mock tests and learn to eliminate errors more often through revision and practice. Lastly, no study plan is perfect without a final round of polishing your techniques and going through all that you have covered lightly over a couple of days.
Month-wise Plan | Key Focus Area | Details |
Month 1 | Diagnose and Set the Base | Take a CAT 2024 zero-prep mock then start building a conceptual base in high-impact high-return areas like Arithmetic, RC, Arrangements, and Puzzles |
Month 2-3 | Cover Core Concepts and Do Heavy Practice | Repeat topics having high-weightage and take topic-wise tests to build speed. |
Month 4-5 | Strengthen Understanding and Expand Study Plan Smartly | Become better in Arithmetic and strengthen your Algebra + Geometry, practice RC a lot, get deep into puzzles/arrangements + tables/charts and add mixed practice to your routine. |
Month 6-7 | Take Mock Tests and Analyse Performance | Start taking mock tests regularly and gradually increase the pace + frequency. Build important CAT exam skills like question or set selection. |
Month 8 | Take High-intensity Mock Tests and Practice Error Elimination | Do deep analysis of mocks and fix your recurring mistakes, fine tune section wise strategies as per your strengths. |
Month 9 | Work on a Final Polish | Use previous year papers + mock tests for revision, set your attempt strategy straight with no further adjustments, remain confident for the exam. |
CAT 2026 Section-wise Preparation Strategy
CAT 2026 is a skill-based test, and learning formulas without much practice will not get you your target score. You need to plan, prepare and execute your exam strategy in such a way that you are able to get at least 80% of your attempts correct. To become such a master, one needs to study every day, set targets, prioritize high-impact topics, learn from past mistakes and so on. Each section has its own pattern and a unique approach to solving when it comes to CAT. Check how to prepare for each CAT 2026 section strategically.
Particulars | Quant | VARC | DILR |
Most Important Topic | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry | Reading Comprehension | Puzzles & Arrangements and |
Set Target | In Arithmetic, do the easiest most doable questions first and if you are good at Geometry target to solve questions faster | RC has most weightage, don’t prioritize VA as it is a smaller section, RC passages are new every time, only consistent practice and knowing when a trap is being set helps clear this section | Prioritize the common and high-return set types like Puzzles and Tables, almost 3-4 sets out of 5 are based on the important topics. Find the right set, |
How to Prepare for CAT in 9 Months: Conclusion
Preparing for CAT in 9 months is completely achievable with the right strategy, consistent effort, and regular mock analysis. A structured CAT 2026 preparation plan helps you identify weak areas, strengthen fundamentals, and improve section-wise performance.
Remember, CAT is a skill-based exam that rewards smart practice and speed. Follow a disciplined month-wise study plan, focus on high-impact topics, and refine your mock strategy to maximise your final CAT score.
