Registration opens August, exam is 29 November. A realistic month-by-month plan, not a generic "study hard" checklist.
Four months is a well-established, realistic prep window for CAT if the plan moves through three phases in order: fundamentals and concept-building first, timed sectional practice next, then full mocks with serious review in the final stretch. Most successful candidates take 15-25 full-length mocks in the last 8-10 weeks — the review after each mock matters more than the raw count.
Concept-building across VARC, DILR, QA. Identify your natural weak section early — this determines where the rest of your time goes.
Timed, section-wise practice sets. Start tracking accuracy and speed separately — they need different fixes.
Weekly full-length mocks under real exam conditions. Review each one within 48 hours while the mistakes are still fresh.
Peak mock frequency mid-month, then taper in the final week — the last few days are for review and rest, not new material.
Taking 25 mocks without reviewing mistakes teaches your brain to repeat the same errors under time pressure. A smaller number of mocks with genuine post-mock analysis — categorizing exactly where marks were lost and why — moves your score more than volume alone.
Preparation is only half the decision — see CAT percentile vs college: what score gets you where for how to translate a mock or actual percentile into a realistic college shortlist.
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