Cracking CAT 2025: It's Not About Math, It's About Decision Making

Every year, engineers with 99% in math fail to crack CAT, while arts graduates make it to IIM Ahmedabad. Why? Because CAT is not a test of your ability to solve difficult problems; it's a test of your ability to pick the solvable ones.

1. VARC: Reading is Breathing

The Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension section is the nemesis of many engineers. The passages are dense, philosophical, and abstract.

• Diverse Reading: Don't just read news. Read Aeon Essays, The Guardian, and philosophy blogs. You need to be comfortable reading about topics you hate.
• Elimination Technique: In CAT, you don't look for the right answer; you eliminate the three wrong ones.

2. DILR: The Make or Break Section

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning has become the toughest section in recent years. You don't need to solve all sets.

• Selection is Key: In the 40 minutes, if you can solve just 2-3 sets (out of 4-5) with 100% accuracy, you are likely in the 99th percentile.
• Don't have an Ego: If a set looks easy but you're stuck for 5 minutes, drop it. Move on.

3. QA: Arithmetic is King

You don't need to be a wizard in Higher Math. 40-50% of the Quant section is usually Arithmetic (Percentages, Ratios, Time & Work).

• Master the Basics: If you master Arithmetic and Algebra, you cover 70% of the paper. Geometry and Number Systems are secondary.

4. The Mock Test Marathon

Start taking mocks from June. Aim for at least 30-40 full-length mocks before November.

• Analyze Patterns: Are you getting tired in the last section? Is your accuracy dropping in Geometry? Use data to fix your strategy.

5. Profile Building

IIMs don't just look at CAT scores. They look at your 10th, 12th, graduation marks, and work experience.

• Diversity Points: Non-engineers and females often get extra points.
• Work Ex: 2-3 years of work experience is the sweet spot for many IIMs.

The Golden Rule: CAT is a mental game. The person who stays calm when they see a tough question paper wins.