Best Time to Start CAT 2024 Preparation: Expert Advice & Month-Wise Time-Table

CAT 2024 will be held on 24.11.2024, so the best time to start CAT preparation is in March-April. Many 99th and 100th percentiles also start their preparation in May. Read what MBA experts recommend aspirants for CAT preparation duration in 2024.

The Common Entrance Test or CAT is known as a tough entrance exam. More than two million candidates appear for the CAT every year so the competition is also high. Because CAT is the gateway to 1300 MBA colleges in India. It is of high difficulty and requires long-term preparation. A long-term plan and proper guidance is required to crack the CAT exam.

Best Time to Start CAT Preparation 2024: What Expert Says?

Kartik Bhageria, 99.99 percentile, CAT 2023

"I started preparing for my CAT in July 2023 or so. Due to my background as an engineering student, I didn't have much time to spend on learning new concepts in the Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning sections. For that reason, I found myself devoting most of my time towards attempting mocks, attempting previous year’s question papers."

Rishi Agrawal, 99.99 percentile, CAT 2022

"I started my preparation in July. Since I had already given the exam last year, I was familiar with the pattern. For the first two months I focused on revising concepts, in the later stages I devoted time to solving mocks. (1 per day on average). Mocks play a vital role in CAT preparation. This will help you determine the best strategy for you."

Chirag Gupta, 100 percentile, CAT 2021

"I started my preparations in March 2021. I mainly focused on taking mock tests and analyzing them. I used to work on my weaknesses by following various CAT preparations. YouTube videos on various topics."

Bir Anmol Singh, 99.94 percentile, CAT 2021

"I started my preparation in April 2021. I solved Arun Sharma Sir's CAT books for VARC, LR, DI and Quant. I attempted as many CAT (Temporary Test) questions as possible on weekends."

Kshitiz Singhal, 99.99 percentile, CAT 2020

Kshitiz Singhal started his preparation in July. He started my preparation by learning CAT exam pattern and syllabus. After he completed the syllabus, he started mock tests though he joined no coaching institute, bought study material and took mock test series from famous institutes for practice

Ekansh Agarwal, 99.98 percentile, CAT 2020

Ekansh Agarwal started CAT preparation about 11 months before CAT 2020 exam. According to him, "exams are the most important part of CAT preparation. Attempt as many CAT mock tests as possible. 40-50 exams are enough. Focus on the areas where you are weak and try to take the mock test accordingly. One mostly I would suggest that if you think you are weak in any section, try to maximize the other two while working on the first one.

Somansh Chordia, 100 percentile, CAT 2019

There are several breaks in his CAT preparation. “I joined TIME in January, but for the first 3-4 months I just did mocks and attended a few classes to understand the CAT exam pattern. In the summer I did an internship, so I could not devote time. Since August, I have started analyzing aspects and working on some of my weaknesses. Finally, in October, I started focusing properly," he said.

Rishi Mittal 100 percentile, CAT 2019

Rishi started CAT preparation in July 2018. “I joined the CAT classes and Qantas IMS online study group. I collected study material from TIME, IMS and Qantas. Then I referred to these study materials for five-six months, understanding the concepts and going through what needs to be done and how I should do my preparations. In March, I started trying out looks and analyzing them. Around May-June 2019, I stopped studying the study material, just solved quizzes and analyzed my performance," he said.

CAT Preparation 2024: Month-Wise Time-Table

Here is a quick timetable for CAT exam preparation. This is a broad breakdown of the CAT preparation schedule into stages. You can change the schedule according to your needs.

Months	Target
March-August	Complete the core CAT syllabus
August-end to mid-September	Experiment with exam strategy, take timed sectional tests, practice question selection & prioritisation, and focus on accuracy-building
Mid-September to mid-October	Start solving full-length mock tests
October onwards	Focus on revision & mock tests

Frequently Asked Questions 

Ques: When is the ideal time to start preparing for CAT 2024?

Ans: Generally, it is advised that one starts around March 2024 which will allow you to have about 9 months for study. This time frame accounts for syllabus coverage, concept development and test-taking.

Ques: Can I start preparing later than March?

Ans: Yes, some people think six months of concentrated preparation are enough. However, earlier starting point allows one to take easier pace and better understanding of concepts particularly in Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VARC).

Ques: I'm a working professional. When should I ideally begin preparation?

Ans: Due to work commitments, working professionals may need an early start. Hence my advice would be as soon as possible even if it entails simply being aware of the syllabus and exam structure then slowly increase your studying hours close to the exams (usually conducted in November).

Ques: What if it's already June 2024? Is it too late to prepare?

Ans: No! Focus on maximizing the remaining time. For this reason, pay more attention to core concepts, take mock tests often and scrutinize your performance so that you can identify areas that need improvement.

Ques: Are there resources available to help me plan my CAT preparation?

Ans: Absolutely! Online services plus offline ones such as coaching centers, books and online communities are among many other resources which you can look upon for guidance. Just find something relevant to them