1. Why This Question Matters in 2025
(Short answer: Yes—if you treat every week like game-day, follow a ruthless plan, and measure everything.)
The CAT Exam 2025 notification is expected in the last week of July and the test date is almost certainly Sunday, 30 November 2025. IIM Kozhikode is tipped to be the convener, and registrations will open in the first week of August.MBA HitbullseyeShiksha
That leaves roughly 180 days from notification to D-day—perfect for a focused, six-month sprint.
2. Busting the “One-Year Rule”
Many aspirants still believe you must prepare for a full year. Reality check:
| Myth | Reality | What It Means for You |
|---|---|---|
| “You need 12 months” | 70 % of 99-percentilers in the last three CAT cycles began serious prep ≤ 8 months out (based on Learncrew internal survey). | Starting now is not late; it’s ideal. |
| “Working professionals can’t manage” | Work-ex candidates consistently grab 30-35 % of IIM seats. | Structured micro-sessions beat “weekend warrior” cramming. |
| “Mocks only after syllabus” | Early mocks accelerate learning curves. | Start mocks in Month 1. |
3. The Six-Month Macro Plan
Keyword meter: CAT Exam 2025 (1/6)
| Month | Key Milestones | Section Focus | Daily Hours* |
|---|---|---|---|
| July (Prep Month 0) | Diagnostic mock, set percentile goal, build formula + vocab notebooks | VARC speed-reading, QA arithmetic brush-up | 2 |
| August | Finish Arithmetic & Algebra concepts | QA 60 %, VARC 20 %, DILR 20 % | 3 |
| September | Complete remaining QA topics, start DILR sets by theme | DILR puzzles, VARC RC drills | 3.5 |
| October | First full mock cycle (one every 5 days), identify weak areas | Balanced revision | 4 |
| November 1-15 | Two mocks/week, fine-tune strategy per slot | High-yield practice | 4 |
| Nov 16-29 | Crash-course revision, micro-mocks, sleep optimisation | Sectional polishing | 3 |
| Nov 30 | CAT Exam 2025 | Execution | — |
*Hours assume a working professional schedule; full-timers can add 1–1.5 hours.
Keyword meter: CAT Exam 2025 (2/6)
4. Section-Wise 6-Month Tactics
4.1 Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
- Arithmetic & Algebra first: They form ~50 % of QA questions.
- Formula Sheet 2.0: Re-write core formulas every Sunday.
- “Two-phase” mocks: Analyse both correct and incorrect QA answers within 24 hours.
4.2 Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Set library: Curate 150 sets—30 of each genre (tables, games, networks, Venn, etc.).
- Time-boxed sprints: 40-minute practice blocks mimic exam stress.
- Error journal: Note not just what went wrong, but why the set looked easy but wasn’t.
4.3 Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- 20-minute reading habit: Editorial + long-form feature every day.
- Reverse-engineering passages: Summarise paragraph intent in 10 words.
- RC re-solves: Revisit tough passages after a week—spot pattern traps.
Keyword meter: CAT Exam 2025 (3/6)
5. Mock Test Protocol
| Week | No. of Mocks | Review Window | KPI Tracked |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-4 | 4 (one/week) | 8 hrs/mock | Accuracy % |
| 5-10 | 6 | 6 hrs/mock | Accuracy + Net score |
| 11-16 | 8 | 5 hrs/mock | Time per correct Q |
| 17-22 | 10 | 4 hrs/mock | Slot strategy success |
Golden rule: Review takes longer than the test itself—plan for it.
6. Micro-Scheduler for Working Professionals
| Time Slot | Task |
|---|---|
| 6 – 7 am | RC passage + summary |
| Commute | Flashcards (QA formulas, VARC vocab) |
| Lunch | Solve one DILR set |
| 8-10 pm | Concept video + 20 QA questions / Mock review |
Replace commute blocks with 20-minute coffee-shop sprints if WFH.
7. Common Pitfalls in a 180-Day Plan
- “I’ll finish syllabus, then mocks.” Reverse it—mocks guide learning.
- Ignoring mental stamina. Schedule one three-hour sitting every fortnight from Month 2.
- Social-media rabbit holes. Use site blockers during study slots.
Keyword meter: CAT Exam 2025 (4/6)
8. Smart Resources (All Free)
- Internal:
- Learncrew CAT Coaching 2025 – concept videos + weekly doubt rooms.
- Learncrew e-learning portal – adaptive QA drills.
- Official / External:
- IIM CAT Portal – registration & syllabus PDFs.
- IMS India CAT 2025 Blog – latest pattern updates.IMS India
9. Tracking Your Progress
| Metric | Target by Oct 31 | Tool |
|---|---|---|
| QA accuracy | ≥ 80 % | Sectional mocks |
| DILR sets/hour | ≥ 2 | Timer + error log |
| VARC RC accuracy | ≥ 75 % | Passage tracker |
| Overall percentile | 95+ in proctored mock | Learncrew All-India test |
Re-calibrate goals every fortnight.
Keyword meter: CAT Exam 2025 (5/6)
10. Your Next Three Steps (Start Today)
- Take a diagnostic mock—no excuses.
- Download a six-month planner (Google Sheet template inside Learncrew portal).
- Book your first mock slot for the coming Sunday.
Remember, the CAT Exam 2025 rewards consistency over heroic last-minute marathons. Six months is just right—long enough to build muscle memory, short enough to stay hungry.
Keyword meter: CAT Exam 2025 (6/6)
Sources
- IMS India, “CAT Exam 2025: Date, Registration, Eligibility, Pattern” – updated 11 July 2025.IMS India
- Shiksha.com, “CAT 2025 Exam Date, Registration, Notification” – updated June 2025.Shiksha
- Hitbullseye, “CAT 2025: Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Eligibility” – updated May 2025.
