Thinking about how to begin your CAT 2025 journey and utilize the upcoming events effectively? You are in the right place. This blog walks you through practical strategies, a focused study plan and preparation tips to crack one of the most challenging MBA examinations in the country. Scheduled tentatively for November 30th, 2025, CAT is expected to be conducted by IIM Kozhikode. With just 9 months to go, many working professionals often wonder if they still have a shot- but the truth is yes.
Learn how 9 Months CAT Preparation Plan for Working Professionals will help in scoring well in CAT 2025.
Is it possible to crack CAT 2025 in 9 months
This is one of the most frequently asked questions, especially for those who are juggling commitments or have wrapped up academic responsibilities. The answer is- YES, cracking CAT in 9 months is definitely possible. Many successful candidates have cracked CAT with the right approach and dedication. Even if you are a beginner or at a weaker level, smart learning strategy and consistent effort can help you to score well in the exam.
Before diving into CAT 2025 preparation, it is highly important to understand the exam structure. CAT is divided into three key sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
With eight focused and dedicated months, you have enough time to build fundamental clarity, strengthen problem-solving, and fine-tune your test-taking approach.
In this blog, we will lay out a month-wise study plan tailored for CAT aspirants- with stress free preparation tips and efficient strategies.
9 Months CAT 2025 Preparation Plan
Understanding CAT Preparation Phases
There are two phases of CAT Preparation:
- Capacity Building Phase (March to July)
- Focus on improving ability to answer the questions accurately.
- Cover foundation of VARC, DILR, and QA.
- Identify strong and weak areas to work on.
Define your target percentile
- 99+ percentile– score 95-100 marks in 2 hours- build ability to score 150 marks in unlimited time.
- 99.5+ percentile– Score 110+ marks in 2 hours- build ability to score 160-170 in unlimited time.
2. Focus on improving the ability to solve questions accurately
- Aim to reach the accuracy level of attempting and doing the questions before focusing on just speed.
- Ensure ample time for performing and analysing mocks (aim mocks and time pressure management).
- Aim to answer questions correctly without focusing on speed focusing on speed ( 1st stage of preparation in each section)
While candidates are preparing for CAT 2025, setting a well-defined goal and objective, is the foremost thing to begin with mastering the basics of VARC, DILR, and QA. Regular mocks and analysis is highly important. Stay consistent with continuous revision, and effective time management during both preparation and exam.
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1. Set a clear objective
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Begin by defining a realistic yet a bit challenging role. Estimate the desired CAT score to be achieved and the number of attempts you can make it with high frequency.
For example: aim for 100 marks with 40 attempts- ensuring about 35-37 correct answers. Setting a clear goal keeps preparation focussed and dedicated.
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2. Break down the sectional targets
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Divide your total target score across the three sections: VARC, DILR, and QA. Align these with current strengths and weaknesses.
If you are strong in VARC section, then you can aim for a high target and therefore making up with the remaining weaker sections (if any)
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3. Assess current level (First 15 days)
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In the first two weeks take analysis tests and evaluate where you stand and what areas need improvement. This helps to tailor your preparation and let you know the key focus areas.
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4. Build strong conceptual foundation (1-2 months)
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Spend the first two months focusing on fundamentals of all the three sections. Dedicate 2 hours daily post work and spend more time on weekends. Use this time for topic-wise learning DILR caselets, QA questions, VARC comprehension practice.
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5. Create a time table (Month 1 onwards)
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As a working professional, maintain a study plan. For weekdays: 1.5 hrs (eg., 1 hour practice + 30 min reading), weekends: 4-5 hrs each day including 1 full mock test. Consistency is more important than the intensity.
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6. Start taking sectional tests (Month 3-4)
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Begin with 2 sectional tests per week. Focus on one strong and one weak area per week. Analyse performance in detail, question selection, time spent on one question, speed, and accuracy.
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7. Start full Length mocks & time management (Month 5-6) |
Shift to full length mocks- ones every week. Mimic the actual exam environment. Spend at least 1-2 hours in analysing the performance. Also work on time allocation for each section.
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8. Revise and Fine tune exam strategy (Month 7-9)
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The final stages are for consolidation. Focus on tricky concepts, no mistakes, regular revision. Practice different methods like skipping, managing time, question selection under pressure. Boost reading and comprehension skills, also take mini breaks in between to feel refreshed.
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Also read, CAT EXAM PATTERN 2025
9 Months CAT 2025 Preparation Plan - Key Points
The starting point of preparation lies on one question: What is your current level in each section (current analysis)?
To know this, do not blindly believe on your gut feeling rather take tests.
Tests such as Mini CATS by Mindworkzz have been designed in way like the question papers consists of half of the questions of actual exam.
- MINI CAT Total Questions: 34 Questions (with 40 minutes each section)
- Such tests help you to understand current stand in particular sections and helps you to build gradually.
- Define your target percentile and gradually increase target by 1.6, 1.7.
Quantitative Aptitude
Core topics include:
- Arithmetic (8 chapters)
- Numbers (2 chapters)
- Geometry & Mensuration (3 chapters)
- Algebra (4 chapters)
- Modern Math (3 chapters)
Study Plan
- Aim to complete 1 chapter per week.
- If candidates complete 1 week per chapter, then by 20 weeks QA syllabus can be covered.
- Get through the theory of all the chapters.
- Focus on theory, school-level concepts, practice problems.
- Use multiple rounds of practice to reinforce concepts.
- Second round of solving to identify weak areas.
- By the third round, try not to repeat the mistakes, and attempt resolving
- Get at least 3 rounds of revision (with basics and the moving to advanced level)
- Preparation should not get wind up with only 1 round of revision, it should extend upto 3 rounds for complete thorough clarity.
- In final two months, dedicate time in solving past year CAT papers by topic.
- Make sure to attempt at least 40 mock tests with time-to-time analysis.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
- DI and LR both must be treated differently.
- Build both DI and LR differently.
- In CAT exam, the questions are prepared by merging both DI and LR concepts.
- DI Set tests: Data Analysis or Data Reading Element
- LR Set includes: Logical or a puzzle
Key Strategy: Practice! Practice! Practice!
Three crucial tracking numbers:
- Assisted Problem-solving sets
- Self-attempted sets
- Successfully solved sets
Ideal Practice Plan
- 15 DI sets & 15 LR sets per week (20-25 minimum, 30 minutes on every set at max)
- Target 250-300 sets for each before moving to the next phase
- Attempt solving sets individually before seeking external help.
- Day 1: pick up 5 sets and solve
- Day 2: Up sets and solve them and gradually move on to the days ahead
- Train yourself through situations of Data Interpretation puzzles and logical reason puzzles.
- Semi-Mature CAT aspirant: between 25 to 50 sets; 100 sets, solved 70 sets
- Mature-CAT Aspirant: 100-150 sets assisted problem solving; 50-300 sets on his own
- Like QA, DILR begins with mix of guided practice and self-practice.
- Start practicing easier sets first and then move towards difficult ones and attempt 100-150 sets.
- In final months, prioritising solving past year papers and full-length mock DILR sections regularly.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
There are two aspects to improve:
- Language Development: Expand vocabulary, phrasal verbs, idioms, and comprehensive skills.
- Solving skills: Learn effective ways for answering questions correctly.
VARC Building Aspects and Go to approaches
- Focus on understanding how to read long sentences.
- Developing verbal means developing vocab, but it does not revolve around it only. It should also include phrasal words, idioms etc.
- Begin with assessing your comfort level with English.
- If you have a strong foundation and good accuracy, focus on speed and practice more.
- Use the breakdown technique or mapping of sentences which is a technique needed to be learnt.
- Focus on the core areas:
- Vocabulary Building
- Sentence Comprehension-understanding complex sentence structures
- Paragraph mapping-helps to track flow of ideas within a passage.
The SCALE UP Course by Mindworkzz:
- SCALE UP QA
- SCALE UP DILR
- Scale UP VARC
Are designed in such a way to improve the school-level first, then moving towards Core-level, gradually towards Advanced level, Learning from CAT, and finally towards Exam Preparation.
The course is designed to fix the students school level first by clearing all the major basic concepts from NCERT and then moving towards advanced level of CAT through intensive practice sessions, live classes, and pre-recorded videos as well.
9 Month CAT Study Plan and Timetable (CAT 2025)
Balancing CAT preparation with a full-time job can be bit challenging, but right approach and strategy can lead to fruitful execution and absolutely achievable. This plan is divided into four phases:
- Foundation
- Strengthening Concepts
- Intensive Practice
- Final Revision
The key is to maximise productivity even in less time. This can make a huge difference.
(Month 1 & 2) FOUNDATION PHASE-STRENGTHEN THE BASICS OF ALL THE 3 SECTIONS
Objective:
Build a strong conceptual understanding across all the three sections.
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
- Cover fundamental concepts: Number System, Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry
- Focus on key chapters: Profit-Loss, Time & Work, Averages, Percentages
- Solve 15-20 targeted questions per day, based on topic-wise understanding.
- Weekend Focus- Revision and deep diving into the topics
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning 9DILR)
- Practice easy level sets involving barographs arrangements, puzzles, tables pie charts etc.
- Solve 2-3 DI/LR sets daily
- Work on mental maths calculations and approximation skills.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Read an article or an editorial daily (The Hindu/Indian Express/Economist)
- Practice 2-3 RC passages + odd one out + Para jumbles every day.
- Try to improve your vocabulary and comprehension skills.
Also, whether its about mastering QA from basics with SCALE QA course, improving VARC from scratch by SCALE UP VARC or turning DILR into your strength from beginning with Arun Sharma’s SCALE UP DILR-every course by Mindwokrzz is deigned to target weak areas and concert them into strengths.
PRO TIP: Set aside a 90 minute study session daily (morning/evening) and short 20–30-minute revision during breaks.
(Month 3 & 4) CONCEPT STRENGTHENING PHASE -SPEED AND ACCURACY BUILDING
Objective:
Move beyond basics and start working on intermediate to advance level problems with a focus on improving speed.
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
- Cover advance topics: Probability, Logarithms, Trigonometry, Permutation & Combination
- Solve chapter-wise practice sets from past year papers and mock questions.
- Start doing sectional tests every week.
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning 9DILR)
- Attempt moderate to difficult DI/LR sets like games & tournaments, matrix puzzles, caselets.
- Focus on set selection and decision making-identify scoring sets in limited time as per your strengths.
- Take 3-4 sectional mocks monthly for analysing your performance.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Solve 4-7 passages weekly, including tone based and critical reasoning problems.
- Practice error spotting, sentence arrangement, para completion.
- Analyse mock answer to improve inference skills.
Also, Mindworkzz supports vocabulary boosters like “The Ultimate Interview Preparation Masterclass”-Lean 2000 words in 30 days for improving the section and score high.
WEEKEND PRO TIP: Dedicate 3-4 hours in weekends for revising the previous topics and solving one mock.
(Month 5 & 6) INTENSIVE PRACTICE PHASE - MOCK DRIVEN LEARNING
Objective:
- Use mocks tests and performance analysis to stimulate real time exam experience.
- Attempt 1 mock every week initially and then increase the frequency to 2 mocks then to 6 mocks per week.
- Analyse mocks for accuracy & attempt rate, time spent per question, sectional weakness/strengths.
QA, DILR, VARC
Focus on high weightage areas:
- QA: Arithmetic + Algebra
- DILR: Set-based graphs
- VARC: Reading Comprehension
Revisit mistakes from mocks and try not to repeat them further.
Implement shortcuts for QA and LR.
PRO TIP: Maintain a notebook to jot down the key points for regular revision and to track frequent errors.
(Month 7 & 9) FINAL PHASE - REVISION
Objective:
Exam strategy, temperament, revision all things are covered.
Mock Test Focus
- Take 2-3 full length mocks per week.
- Stimulate test-day conditions- strict 3 hours without any break.
- Deep mock test analyses.
- Mocks through The CAT Experience Test series by Arun Sharma by Mindworkzz which replicate actual CAT exam under proper timed conditions and level of question are like CAT exam.
Targeted revision
- Revise formulas, short tricks, grammar rules, common DILR patterns, vocabulary etc.
- Solve past year papers under strict timed conditions.
- Make section wise strategies regarding section order, time management, skipping attempt, and decision making od questions.
FINAL MONTH FOCUS: No new topics + mocks+ strategy refinement
Prepare for CAT 2025 Without Coaching
- Use free resources like YouTube, previous years papers, free mocks.
- Track progress by maintaining any google sheets, handwritten planners etc.
- Stay motivated by joining online CAT coaching like Mindworkzz, peer learning groups, grain mentorship and moral support.
Best books for CAT Exam in 9 Months
| BOOK NAMES FOR CAT | AUTHORS |
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Arun Sharma
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Arun Sharma and Meenakashi Upadhyay |
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Arun Sharma
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Arun Sharma
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Why to choose Mindworkzz for 9-months CAT preparation?
When you are getting ready for CAT 2025 with 9- month of time ahead, the journey isn’t just only about working hard- its about smart work and right guidance. This is where Mindwokrzz, founded by renowned CAT mentor and bestselling author Arun Sharma, become a huge game changer.
Mindworkzz is much more than a normal coaching centre-it’s a complete training centre that combines fundamentals, personalized mentorship, conceptual clarity, time-efficient strategies, and structured learning designed to help students to build them for exam.
Over the course of time, their strategy moves from basics to advanced level of preparation along with mock test mastery.
Best thing about Mindowrkzz is its students-centric and adaptive approach. Whether you are a student’s struggling with QA, DILR, or VARC, the experienced mentors will track your progress. Live interactive session, doubt clearing sessions, mock tests analyses, and focused strategies session/workshops will be helpful throughout the preparation journey.
Key Courses offered:
| SECTION | COURSE | FOCUS AREA |
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QA (Quantitative Aptitude)
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Concept Building + Time efficient solving |
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VARC (Verbal Ability & RC)
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Reading comprehension + Vocabulary + Grammar
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DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning)
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Logic building + pattern recognition
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Add Ons:
- Geometry Mastery– Tackle one of QA’s trickiest sections
- Ultimate Vocab Mastery– Learn 2000+ words in 30 days.
Test Series and Post-CAT Preparation
- The CAT Experience Test Series by Arun Sharma: Get exam-ready with mock tests that stimulate real CAT.
- Post exam support includes GDPI Training and interview preparation by IIM Alumni
With Mindworkzz you are not just preparing, but you are planning with purpose, guided by experts with constant support and have helped thousands of students to convert top-B schools.
FAQs On 9 Months CAT Preparation Plan
Yes, 9 months are enough to start preparing for CAT 2025 from scratch. With right approach and structured study plan, 9 months are more than enough to crack CAT.
Definitely yes, an average student can easily crack CAT 2025 within a span of 9 months. With right study schedule, consistent practice and study, and right approach, it is not a difficult task to crack CAT in 9 months.
Yes, it is possible to aim for 99 percentile with 9 months of consistent study and dedicated preparation, but it requires smart work, and right focus.
Yes, a non-engineer can also crack CAT 2025 in 9 months. All it requires is right focus and strategic approach.
