The Art of Studying Less But Scoring More: Efficiency Over Hours For Your CAT 2025 Success

The Art of Studying Less But Scoring More: Efficiency Over Hours For Your CAT 2025 Success

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is an entrance exam for various prestigious MBA programs across India. As a result, several aspirants are concerned about how many hours they should devote to studying for the CAT. Experts emphasize putting in 8–10 hours of focused study for CAT preparation weekly. This blog will help you draw a realistic and efficient study schedule.

Furthermore, achieving a higher CAT score with fewer study hours depends on smart practice, time management, and performance analysis through mock tests, where you will identify your strengths and weaknesses while also practicing your shortcut tools.

The following summarizes the intriguing features of strategies:

1. Smart Practice and Focused Learning:

Quality over Quantity:Instead of rote learning, focus on grasping key concepts and practicing with questions and mock tests.

Targeted Practice:Once again identify areas of weakness and spend extra time practicing those specific topics.

Master Basics:Make sure you have a firm footing in the fundamentals of Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation, and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC).

Shortcut Techniques:Get to know the shortcuts and tricks for faster problem-solving.

Improve Accuracy:Work towards improving your accuracy when solving problems, which can be done by practicing old topics rather than learning new ones.

2. Time Management & Exam Strategy:

Time Allocation:Work on answering questions in the allotted time to improve speed and accuracy.

Mock Tests:Do mock tests at regular intervals to create and experience the exam environment, evaluate your progress and performance, and identify areas of improvement.

Analyze Mock Tests:Analyze your performance after every test; identify mistakes, and learn from the mistakes.

Start with easy questions:Start with easy questions as they take less time.

Skip tough questions:Don't waste your time on time-consuming questions; you can come to them if time permits afterward.

Time to Review:Leave at least 10 minutes at the end of each section to review your answers to all the questions.

Consistency is key:Consistency is more important than hours spent. Regular and focused study will help you retain information and build stamina for the exam.

Time Required to Prepare for CAT for Current Level: 40 percentile

If you are at the 40th percentile, you need to put extra effort for improving.

In this case, candidates should go with a systematic approach, following up on the weak areas first. Once they have raised themselves to that level, they can target speed and accuracy. This whole process will require at least 6-8 months of prep.

Time Required to Prepare for CAT for Current Level: 60 percentile

If you find yourself at the 60th percentile, you stand a good chance of making it to one of the top IIMs. But still, you will have to put in a lot of effort to improve your scores.
You need to start by brushing up on the basics of all sections. Study for at least 3-4 hours daily. Learn new techniques that will facilitate your improvement in solving all sections. Revise all types of questions. Attempt at least 15 mocks and work on your errors.

By preparing in this manner, you will need 4-6 months to attain a decent score.

Time Required to Prepare for CAT for Current Level: 80 percentile

If you stand at the 80th percentile, you must focus on some top IIMs. Focus will be measured on time management and accuracy, so solve as many questions as you can within the time limit. This will help you enhance speed and accuracy. Also, keep working on improving your weak areas.

The amount of time required to prepare for the CAT varies depending on whether you are a recent graduate or an experienced professional.

Keep these things in mind when preparing for the CAT

Apart from keeping an eye on the time needed for each section, you should consider a few things during the preparation.

Feedback: Analyze your performance after attempting each mock test and take guidance from someone who can help you out. Such analysis will help you improve after each test.

Consistency: Consistency is the key to success. To achieve results, invest time and energy daily.

Avoid long study time: Burnout comes from studying for hours, so take breaks in between for relaxation. This will keep you focused and motivated.

Be reasonable and realistic about expectations: You cannot expect to score a perfect hundred or perfection by studying hard. Realistic expectations keep one calm and collected on the day of the examination.

Preparation for Setbacks: Setbacks are unavoidable, and there will come a time when one will face a greater setback in his life. Staying positive without getting discouraged is important. Remember, every person at some point in his life goes through a setback. How he responds to it is what matters.

Learn from your mistakes: Underline performance after each mock test. This way, you will improve with every test until you do better.

You can make full use of your time and prepare for the CAT exam by following the above tips.

Conclusion:
By following these tips and making strategic use of resources like CAT past year papers, CAT mock tests, and multiple CAT books, you can achieve more by studying less.

Sambhavi Prakash