August 27, 2025

Every year, about three lakh passionate students dream of joining India's top management colleges by clearing the tough Common Admission Test, or CAT. But CAT is no ordinary exam. It’s a test of your brain and your battle skills—your planning, patience, and power to stay cool under pressure. Wondering how to crack it? Read on for some spicy tips! First, know your enemy! CAT has three spicy sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Many start studying blindly but the wise start by checking old question papers to get the flavor of the exam. Speed matters, but accuracy rules! Now, how to study smart? Don’t just study everything and get tired! Make a study plan that fits your style. If you’re strong in English but weak in numbers, spend more time on math but don’t ignore reading practice. Break your preparation into three yummy layers: first learn concepts, then practice tough questions, and finally take full mock tests. Speaking of mocks, they are the ultimate training battleground. Start taking 1-2 mocks weekly months before the big day. But don’t just see your score; dig deeper. Look closely at what questions trick you or take too much time. This helps you decide which questions to attack and which to skip on exam day. Confidence grows when you know your patterns. Time is the biggest spice in CAT! You get only 120 minutes to solve 68 questions. The golden rule is to solve easy questions first. Don’t get stuck like a deer in headlights. For example, target 7-8 sure-shot questions in DILR instead of wasting time chasing all 22. It’s not about answering everything, it’s about smart selecting and nailing accuracy. Focus on speed but don’t forget accuracy. Negative marking can burn careless guesswork. Practice mental math tricks for Quant, and read daily—newspapers, editorials, or journals—to sharpen your VARC skills. LRDI puzzles become easier when you solve them under timed conditions. Always double-check your steps, avoid wild guesses, and write down key numbers to keep track. Watch out for common traps: don’t rely too much on shortcuts, don’t keep piling up material, and definitely don’t ignore your weak spots. Avoid burnout by sticking to regular, short, powerful study sessions. Comparing your mocks with friends only adds stress, so focus on your own steady progress. When the D-day arrives, be calm! Sleep well, don’t cram last minute, and trust yourself. Follow your plan but stay flexible, adjust to the paper’s twist. Confidence and cool nerves can make all the difference. Remember, cracking CAT isn’t about being a genius. It’s about being disciplined, consistent, and strategic. With the right mix of preparation, patience, and calmness, you’re already a step closer to the grand IIM corridors! (This advice is by Gautam Puri, Vice Chairman & MD at Career Launcher. Views are personal.)

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Tags: Cat exam, Exam strategy, Time management, Mock tests, Iim, Career preparation,