Short on time? Here's a 4-hour daily study plan for CAT aspirants

Short on time? Here's a 4-hour daily study plan for CAT aspirants

The CAT is one of India's most popular competitive tests that draw thousands of students eyeing a prestigious MBA from the IIMs. Preparation for the CAT involves formulating proper study plans, practicing chapters consistently, and doing regular assessments. Reading a blog on CAT preparation will not help anyone get the 90 percentile mark, but it will help in gearing up for the right CAT prep beginning for CAT 2025 exam.

You know the drill, of course: a serious CAT aspirant and most rank holders will begin prep in January and have their back covered for weakness, pace, and the strategy for the test day attempt.

"How does one prepare for the CAT to obtain an MBA at one of the best universities?" is a frequently asked question. The most important aspect is that it follows a properly organized study plan for CAT 2025, which contains all critical aspects.

For people short on time, giving 4 hours daily for CAT preparation is not bad. Whether that is enough to crack CAT depends not solely on time spent studying but on your strengths, weaknesses, and the quality of your preparation.

Short on time: The daily 4-hour study plan for CAT aspirants would include concise practice, review of concepts, and time management, and would prioritize weak areas and critical high-weight topics.

Morning (or evening, according to the schedule)

• First 30 minutes: Concept Review and Targeted Practice (15 minutes each)
• 15 minutes: Quickly review the formulas and principles from a topic you're struggling with.
• 40 minutes: Solve 12-15 targeted practice questions from the same topic to reinforce understanding.
• Next 60 minutes: Sectional Practice (20 minutes each)
• 30 minutes: Solve 2-3 Reading Comprehension passages or 5-7 questions from the verbal ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC).
• 30 minutes: 2-3 sets (DI & LR) Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning or 5-7 questions from Quantitative Aptitude (QA).
• Closing 15 minutes: Brief Revision and Next Day Plan
• 15 minutes: Go through the solutions of the practice tests and identify the questions for which you need more attention. Formulate a plan for the following day's study according to the insight gathered.

Tips to Prepare for CAT while Working

The working professionals' lives can become very twisted when trying to manage work and the CAT exams. The right strategy can help you crack CAT despite long working hours and studying late.

This is how one can balance work and studies while preparing for CAT:

Online Coaching: Working professionals will find it hard to prepare for the CAT and attend coaching classes regularly. So, night classes and online coaching for CAT are convenient.

Create a study plan: Begin your preparation methodically by creating a study plan that breaks down your goals into manageable chunks. Following a routine will help to keep track and cover the syllabus quickly.

Set priorities: You have limited time because you work the majority of the day. Divide your time based on the urgency of each task. Spend more time on areas that require the most improvement.

Study on holidays and weekends: As a working professional, you will have the most time to prepare for the CAT on weekends and holidays. Take on more intensive topics these days to make up for missed study sessions.

Finding a peer group: Peer groups can help clarify doubts, motivate, and track progress. CAT candidates can discuss and share ideas here.

What should working professionals avoid doing when preparing for the CAT?

Here are a few things to avoid when preparing for the CAT exam as a working professional.

Avoid Delay: Rather than waiting and studying more slowly, begin your CAT preparation early. To cover all the subjects, you must manage your time throughout the day.

Theory is not everything: Don’t depend only on your theoretical knowledge and study materials. You can evaluate your progress and become acquainted with the exam pattern and syllabus by practicing with past year's question papers and mock exams.

Keep up with your work to get ready for CAT: CAT preparation is a top priority that should not interfere with your job. By finishing your tasks during working hours, you can efficiently manage your work and test preparation.

Refrain from evaluating yourself against others: Never judge someone else's pace or degree of preparation. Focus on your progress.

Poor preparation for the test: Determine the distinction between passive and active learning. To prepare for CAT 2025, candidates should not overlook the active learning phase. Chapter-by-chapter exercises and practice questions are essential for clarifying the concepts in each chapter.

Avoid abstract ideas and focus on current affairs and the format of the test: The most crucial thing for prospective candidates to understand is the most recent test structure. Avoid wasting time on abstract concepts because verbal comprehension passages require an understanding of the subjects. Make it a daily habit to read the newspaper.

Make sure your strengths and weaknesses are balanced: It is simple and easy to respond to the questions from the chapters where you have strong conceptual clarity. You must prepare for chapters that require specific long-term goals if you want to do well on the test. Make sure to dedicate time to the chapters that are causing you difficulty.

Conclusion

You must start preparing for the CAT as soon as possible. It is better to first administer a diagnostic test to see if your confidence in your abilities is misplaced, even if you are confident that you can answer the majority of the questions. With CAT 2025 scheduled for November 2025, you have only a few months to get everything figured out.

A gateway to highly regarded MBA programs at IIMs and other top-ranked MBA schools, the CAT is generally regarded as the most prestigious management exam in the nation. You can ace the test with the help of this thorough CAT preparation guide.

Sambhavi Prakash