Is it too late to start your CAT 2025 prep, or can you still turn the game around?
It’s never too late to start your CAT journey. What matters most is how smartly and consistently you prepare! Ideally, CAT preparation takes around 11 to 12 months, giving you enough time to build strong concepts, master time management, and take plenty of mock tests. But don’t worry if you’re starting late. If you already know that a certain section is your weak point, be it Quant, DILR, or VARC, now is the perfect time to begin focused self-study. Strengthen your basics, solve beginner-level questions, and build confidence. Then, from January onwards, you can join a coaching institute or online program to take your prep to the next level. Remember, many toppers start late,but finish strong!
Don’t just keep solving random questions. Focus on your weak areas, take mock tests regularly, and analyze your performance. Use a timer to simulate the actual exam environment. Even 2 hours of smart daily practice can make a big difference.
In CAT, wrong answers mean negative marking. So, don’t guess blindly. Instead, focus on solving questions you're confident about. Accuracy can give you a much better score than random speed.
CAT gives equal weightage to all three sections, but most students struggle with at least one (usually VARC or DILR).
Unlike some exams like the GMAT, CAT is not adaptive, but it's still cleverly designed. Every year, IIMs slightly tweak the difficulty, pattern, or question framing to test how well candidates can adjust.
So, your prep shouldn't just be rigid,it should be flexible. Practicing with varied mock tests (easy, moderate, tough) trains your brain to adapt quickly, no matter what surprise CAT throws at you.
How to get IIM colleges :
Even if your overall percentile is 99 , you may not get IIM calls if you miss sectional cutoffs.
Scoring high in the CAT exam is undeniably important, but it is only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to securing a seat at the prestigious IIMs especially the top-tier institutes like IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta. These institutions adopt a holistic selection process, giving considerable weightage to academic history, work experience, and personal background.Your performance in Class 10, Class 12, and graduation plays a vital role, often forming a significant portion of the selection score. Candidates with consistent academic records tend to hold an advantage.
Similarly, having relevant work experience, especially more than 12 months can enrich your profile, reflecting maturity and real-world exposure that B-schools value.
Moreover, many IIMs have introduced diversity factors to ensure a richer learning environment. Non-engineering candidates such as those from commerce, humanities, or science backgrounds may receive additional points during the selection process to balance the otherwise engineer-heavy applicant pool.
In the same spirit, some institutes offer a gender diversity boost, granting extra marks to female candidates or those from underrepresented gender identities.
Therefore, if you are aspiring to a particular IIM, it is wise to thoroughly review its latest admission policy. Understanding these finer details will not only help you set a realistic CAT percentile goal, but also enable you to plan strategically highlighting your strengths and compensating for potential gaps in your profile.