Thinking what is the best time to begin CAT 2022 preparation? MBA aspirants seeking admission into IIMs and top management colleges in India can read below to know how much time is required to prepare for CAT 2022.

Exactly how much time is required to prepare for CAT? If you Google this question, then you will find that you definitely need more time than you think. CAT is considered to be one of the toughest exams to crack and one of the things that help the most in cracking the exam is time. Time plays the most important role in CAT 2022 preparation and can take you from zero to hero. CAT is a hurdle that every management aspirant has to cross in order to get into the most prestigious IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Calcutta, IIM Kashipur, IIM Raipur, etc. CAT is considered not only for IIM admissions but some top B-Schools also accept CAT scores for selecting students.
Based on your Common Admission Test (CAT) score, you can take admission into various MBA courses in India in specializations like - Human Resources Management, Finance Management, Marketing Management, Hotel Management, Hospitality Management, etc. Many business schools also offer courses like Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management (PGDBM), Executive MBA, etc. The CAT scores are also important for admission to the top MBA colleges in India like SP Jain - Mumbai, Narsee Monjee - Mumbai, FMS - Delhi University, etc.
Traditionally, a Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS) course best augments your MBA aspirations, but a student with a background in any other stream can also prepare for CAT & other management entrance exams in India. Some of the popular regions where MBA colleges are in huge demand include Assam, Calicut, Mysore, Vadodara, Kerala & Karnataka. Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mysore, Ahmedabad, etc. are other popular destinations from where you can complete your MBA or PGDM courses.
While people may argue that 6-10 months of dedicated preparations will help you sail through, if you ask the CAT toppers of previous years, they will tell you that they have spent a dedicated 1 - 1.5 years to crack the CAT exam. And that too, not aimlessly. They had chartered a timetable with designated slots to crack each section of the CAT paper - Verbal, Quantitative, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning. Plus, continuous brush up on news & happenings around the world, which will help you in the GDPI process.
So, here are some tips that can help you make your CAT 2022 preparation process a lot easier & streamlined.
Is CAT Coaching Necessary?
This is one of the most asked questions and the answer is - it really depends on you. Coaching classes provide an organized way to success and are the best way to get in touch with people who know more about CAT than you do. Coaching does not make you great, it just helps you in your way to prepare and clear the CAT exam. It gives you a schedule that you have to follow, notes that will be most helpful, and customized mock papers.
So, it just leaves us with the answer that if you are organized and dedicated enough then you probably do not need coaching because coaching is just one of the things, not THE thing. Preparing by yourself is also an amazing idea and this way you will be able to give more time to your studies and will be able to practice a lot.
Also Read:Step-by-Step Guide to Crack CAT Without Coaching
Understand the CAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus
CAT 2022 will have the following sections and each section requires the same level of preparation.
- Quantitative Ability
- Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
- Verbal Ability
CAT Sections | Total Questions | Time Allotted |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 40 minutes |
Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | 40 minutes |
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 minutes |
Total | 66 | 120 minutes |
The syllabus of CAT is pretty simple and you can easily understand the exam pattern of CAT 2022 by going through past year’s question papers.
Do You Need to Quit Your Job?
It is very important that you figure out whether you need to quit your job in order to prepare for CAT or not. You must weigh all the advantages and disadvantages of quitting your job for the preparation of CAT as it is a huge decision. Most of the top MBA colleges also give points for work experience, so keep in mind that a gap in your resume can be a disadvantage. Make sure that you can explain that gap during your interview for selections before deciding to quit. Figure out how much time you need and then make your decision.
Also Read: CAT Preparation Tips for Working Professionals - Check Study Plan & Time Table
Action Plan
Now that you are done deciding whether you want to join a coaching or prepare by yourself and now you also understand the syllabus of the exam, it is the ideal time to make the ‘Action Plan.' You need to make a timetable and stick to it because the organization is the key. You need to take each section one by one and complete it and then you can check your progress through mock tests because it is the easiest way.
It is time to enroll in coaching institutes and attend classes regularly and subsequently, practically analyze your progress and ask yourself the question - are you really CAT 2022 ready?
CAT 2022: How to Prepare
The difficulty level of the CAT examination is very high. You should study hard in order to get a good percentile in the CAT entrance exam. You can either prepare a combined strategy for all the sections of CAT or you can follow a separate preparation plan for all sections. The articles provided below will help you to know some preparation strategies for the CAT examination.
Preparation Tips for CAT 2022
Here are some preparation tips for CAT entrance exams. These preparation tips will surely help you score well in the CAT exam.
Go through the syllabus of the CAT exam.
Check the CAT 2022 exam pattern to know what type of questions can be asked in the exam.
Practice a maximum number of CAT 2022 mock test papers.
Try to solve all CAT previous year's question papers of CAT.
Prepare a preparation schedule
Make notes alongside your CAT preparation
If you are not good in Quantitative Ability, practice at least 2-3 questions of each type.
Besides this, you can also refer to the articles provided below to know more about the preparation tips for the CAT exam.
If you have any other doubts regarding CAT preparation, you can ask them in the Collegedekho QnA zone. For admission-related assistance, call on our toll-free number 1800-572-9877, or fill out our Common Application Form
All the best for your CAT 2022 exam!
Similar Articles
BHU MBA Admission 2023: Dates (Out), Fees, Eligibility, Application Process (Closed), Selection Criteria, Cutoff
MBA from IITs 2023 - Registrations, Seats, Courses, Admission Process, Personal Interviews, Fees, Cut-off and Placements
XIMB MBA Admission 2023: Dates, Criteria, Cut-offs, Fee, Seats
Top MBA Colleges Accepting XAT 2023 Scores and Cut-Off
What is a Good Score in XAT 2023?
XAT Score vs Percentile Analysis 2023