90 Days to CAT Exam: How to Prepare Smartly and Effectively

 The clock is ticking. Only 90 days remain until the CAT exam. For many CAT aspirants, this countdown triggers mixed emotions: panic, self-doubt and stress. But remember, “Hard times create strong men.” These 90 days are a pivotal opportunity to transform your CAT preparation journey. If you are a CAT aspirant reading this, adopt a positive mindset and focus on upskilling yourself. 

Can You Crack CAT in 90 Days? Absolutely Yes! 

90 days are more than enough to secure a good percentile, provided you have the right mindset and a solid plan.
First, avoid slipping into a victim mindset. Stay calm, focused and disciplined.
Maximize your study hours. If you spend an average of 8 hours per day, that’s about 720 hours, which is more than enough to upskill yourself for the CAT exam.
“Hard work in the right direction” is the real key to success.

 90 Day Blueprint for CAT Aspirants 

Step 1: In-depth Study & Topic Mastery 

This foundational step involves gaining a deep understanding of all important topics. For CAT, this includes:

• Quant: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Numbers
• LRDI: Quant-based puzzles, DI and other logical puzzles
• VARC: Reading Comprehension (RC), Critical Reasoning and Verbal Ability (VA)

Step 2: Timer-Based Quality Tests 

This step converts passive learning into active performance. The goal is to train your brain to retrieve and apply information efficiently within the exam’s time constraints.

 Why Are Sectional Tests Crucial?

While full-length mock tests are important for building stamina and   simulating the CAT-like environment, sectional tests are even more          crucial because:

• The strategy you will develop for your exam will start from here.
• Those 40-minute timer-based tests help you gain command over a topic, give you insights into the mistakes you are making (section-wise), and refine your test-taking strategies.

 Quant: 20 Questions Per Day 

Daily breakup: Solve 15 new questions and 5 revision questions. Revision questions should be high-quality ones you might have forgotten or haven’t revisited.
This will lead to solving approximately 2000 Quant questions (1500 new, 500 revised). 

New Question Distribution:

• 400 to 500 from Arithmetic
• 400 to 500 from Algebra
• 200 from Geometry
• 200 from Numbers
• 100 from P&C and Probability

 LRDI: 3 to 4 Puzzles/Sets Per Day 

 Variety is key: Ensure you cover diverse types to avoid “mind rustiness” on exam day. Suggested Distribution:

• 70 to 80 sets of Quant-based puzzles (e.g., matrix, mixed tables)
• 50 to 60 sets of Data Interpretation (DI)
• 50 to 60 sets of Maxima/Minima and Venn diagrams
• 15 to 20 sets of Games & Tournaments
• 50+ sets of Miscellaneous puzzles and tables

Daily practice: Solve 2 to 3 Reading Comprehension (RC) passages and 5 to 6 Verbal Ability (VA) questions daily. If VARC is a weak area, push for 3 to 3.5 RCs daily. 

Diverse Genres: Practice RCs from different genres. If you find certain types (e.g., philosophical RCs) challenging, dedicate 40 to 45 minutes daily to quality reading of articles from those genres. This trains your brain to absorb information quickly.

Sectional Mocks for VARC: These tests are exceptionally impactful. Analyze your answers against solutions to improve your logical thinking and understand the author’s perspective. 

Final Words

Keep pushing, stay consistent and stay motivated. 

Happy Learning
Team RODHA