10 Last Minute Tips to Crack CAT 2023

Abhinav Chamoli

Updated On: November 26, 2023 07:32 pm IST | CAT

With the exam just around the corner, here are some last-minute tips to crack CAT 2023. Continue reading as we will be unveiling some valuable tips to remain stress-free during the CAT 2023 examination.

10 Last Minute Tips to Crack CAT

CAT 2023 Last-Minute Tips: CAT attracts over 2 lakh management aspirants every year across India. Students from all over the country compete to rank in the highest percentile and secure admission to some of the top MBA colleges in India. Candidates must not slack on their preparation routine till the last minute if they wish to achieve satisfactory results. Since the CAT exam is almost knocking on our doors, candidates must now focus on concluding their preparations with revisions and self-practice. Starting new topics and learning new concepts so close to the exam might be risky. Those appearing for CAT 2023 can catch latest updates on the exam by clicking on the links below:

CAT Question Paper 2023

CAT Answer Key 2023 Unofficial

CAT Slot 1 Question Paper 2023CAT 2023 Question Paper Analysis Slot 1
CAT Slot 1 Answer Key 2023


The CAT 2023 exam has been conducted on November 26, 2023. Candidates must make sure they keep their minds calm and their spirits positive before the exam. One of the most common pieces of advice that experts and CAT toppers give aspirants is that being stress-free and confident when approaching the CAT exam is essential for a great performance. Here are some of the best tips for candidates to follow during their last-minute CAT 2023 preparation. 

Also Read: 

Toppers Tips for CAT 2023

How to Approach CAT 2023 Question Paper?

Latest CAT 2023 Exam Pattern

The CAT exam pattern was majorly revised in 2020. Every candidate must be fully aware of the CAT exam pattern 2023 to make full use of the time and resources available to them. Here is the revised exam pattern for CAT 2023:

Section

No. of Questions

Duration

Marking Scheme

VARC

24

40 minutes

+3 for a correct answer
-1 for an incorrect answer
No negative marking for non-MCQs

DILR

20

40 minutes

QA

22

40 minutes

TOTAL

66

120 minutes

Revised Number of Questions in CAT 2023

CAT 2023 question paper will have a total of 66 questions. There will be 24 questions in VARC, 22 questions in QA, and 20 questions in the DILR section.

Duration for PwD Candidates in CAT 2023

PwD candidates will be given 40 minutes extra over the 120 minutes given to other candidates. Hence, they will have 160 minutes to complete the exam.

Last-Minute Tips for CAT 2023

Here are some of the best tips to keep in mind during the final stages of CAT 2023 preparation and on the CAT 2023 exam day.

Tip #1: Maintain a Proper Schedule

Having a timetable drawn out for your final days of CAT 2023 preparation will help you stay focused and organized. Keeping track of your activities makes you more organized and helps you avoid any waste of time and stress.

Tip #2: Prioritize Your Preparation

Being organized is essential when you are on the brink of exam day. Prepare a list of your strong and weak topics and revise them accordingly. Do not start any new topic in the final days of the exam. Here are some excellent resources to help you get on track to plan your preparation.

CAT 2023 Exam Analysis

CAT Predicted Question Paper 2023

Important Topics for CAT 2023

CAT 2023 Preparation Tips

Tip #3: Practice Solving Questions

Candidates must focus on avoiding panic and stress while attempting to solve the CAT sample papers. Practising questions is the best way during the final few days to revise old concepts. Solving questions is also a great way to memorize formulas and increase your speed and accuracy for the exam. Here are some of the best resources to help you keep the momentum going with your CAT 2023 preparation.

CAT Previous Year Question Paper

CAT Sample Papers

Tip #4: Use Videos to Learn

There are a lot of good videos available on YouTube and the websites of other coaching institutes that provide excellent insights for CAT preparation. Learning from videos is excellent for the final few days of CAT preparation as you can sift through a lot of important information in a short amount of time. Plus, the audio-visual impact also helps your brain retain the information better. Also, check our other best preparation tips for CAT 2023 given below.

Tips to Answer Logical Reasoning Questions in CAT

How to Prepare for CAT Quantitative Ability (QA)

How to Prepare for CAT VARC

50+ Important Formulas for CAT Preparation

Tip #5: Do Not Overwork Yourself

Facing the pressure of the exam, candidates often tend to overdo their preparation in the final few days and tire themselves out. Mental fatigue can have a detrimental effect on your performance and hence it is important to keep it in check. Make sure that you are taking breaks and keeping away from studies for some time. Indulge in leisure activities and take plenty of rest before the exam day.

Tip #6: Take Care of Your Health

Make sure you are taking good care of your health in the final stages of exam preparation. Get good sleep, maintain a good and healthy diet and avoid any activities that may have a bad effect on your health. This is a time for the onset of winter and hence you should also be careful to not be exposed to the cold. Remember, even having a small headache on the exam day can affect your performance so it is best to avoid it and keep in tip-top shape.

Tip #7: Get at Least 7 Hours of Sleep Before the Exam

Students often stay up late into the night studying on the day before the exam. It is important to know when to stop studying and take rest. Get a good 7 hours of rest before the exam day and keep your brain fresh and active in the exam. What works best is to have a cheat sheet of sorts to glance through just before the exam to revise all of the concepts if needed.

Tip #8: Don't Panic

Easy to say, tough to achieve, and yet vital for your success in the exam. Proper planning and preparation such as keeping all of your documents ready for the exam day, reaching the exam centre early and having faith in your preparation will help you avoid any last-minute panic on the exam day. Check the following articles to be best prepared for the CAT exam day.

Tip #9: Start with the Easy Questions

When starting to answer in the exam, it is advisable to first skim through the questions and find the ones in which you are confident or you find easy. Solving a couple of easy ones beforehand will give you a confidence boost and give space for your brain to warm up for the tougher sections. On the contrary, getting stuck on the first question itself must be avoided at all costs.

Tip #10: Only Answer Questions When 100% Sure

There is no candidate who can solve all 100 of the questions in the CAT 2023 exam within the time limit. Hence, it is a good strategy to just skip the questions which are proving to be too tough or time-consuming. Come back to these questions after completing one round of the section. Use the Mark for Review option to highlight such questions. If you are unsure about a question, it is best not to answer it or give yourself some time while solving other questions.

Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT 2023 Scores

Here is a list of the leading B-schools and management institutes that accept CAT scores for admission to their MBA programs.

These were some of the best last-minute tips to succeed in CAT 2023. Keep a cool head and make measured efforts towards achieving your goal to succeed in the exam.

Related Links

Word List for CAT Vocabulary

Executive MBA from IIMs

How to Prepare for Your Business School Interview

How Did the CAT Exam Pattern Change Over the Years?


If you have any questions, ask them on the CollegeDekho QnA Zone. Best of Luck! Stay tuned to CollegeDekho for more updates!

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