CAT 2025: Mock tests, revision, focus; how toppers cracked MBA exam

As a CAT 2025 aspirant, you must be wondering how toppers prepare for the MBA exam and what exactly is their strategy to score above 99 percentile. An analysis of CAT tips and strategies shared by toppers in the previous years reveals a few common guidelines – focusing on the strengths, having an exam-day strategy in mind beforehand, clearing concepts, and practicing extensively through CAT mock tests and previous years’ question papers.

The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode will conduct the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 on November 30, for admission to management programmes in IIMs and participating B-schools. The exam will be held in three sessions, which will be mentioned in the candidates’ admit card. IIMK will issue the CAT admit card 2025 on November 12. CAT 2025 question paper will contain three sections – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).

Be it revisiting CAT 2025 important topics in the last days before exam or rechecking responses during the exam, every CAT exam topper has adopted and suggested solidifying strengths through revision and not letting weakness take over control. Another point for which their minds work in the same way is approaching the exam day with a relaxed mindset. Here’s what last years’ CAT toppers did to ace the exam.

Also read CAT 2025: IIM Ahmedabad demands above 99 percentile for MBA admission; check NIRF top B-school cut-offs

CAT 2025: Toppers’ tips and strategies

CAT 2024 topper Shouvik Chatterjee secured 99.43 percentile and recommended going “full throttle” for your dreams.

Preparation strategy : Unlike many aspirants, he was taking mock tests on the last day and even on the day of exam. Another thing that helped him warm up for the exam day was visualising himself giving the exam with positive thoughts. He stayed away from societal events, maximising his focus. He prepared with the help of essays and took coaching as well.

Exam-day strategy : In the beginning of every section, he took a quick glance at the questions and decided what to attempt in what order.

Also read IIM Ahmedabad raises CAT cut-off 2025, tightens selection criteria for MBA, PGP admissions 2026

CAT 2023 topper Rounak Tikmani, a chemical engineer, obtained 99.90 percentile in the exam.

Preparation strategy : In the last two weeks, he only attempted CAT previous years’ papers and stopped taking mock tests or picking anything new. He only revised the formulas and revisited the concepts in one week before the exam. However, he did start taking mock tests in the same time slot, the exam would be held in, to practice the real-day scenario and manage time. He read newspapers and had an old friend to discuss topics.

Exam-day strategy : For VARC, he followed his instinct, eliminated options, and tried not to overanalyse. He identified the most difficult set of DILR and while answering questions, he used intelligent guesses in view of the limited time. In case of Quant, he followed two steps – analyse the question in minute and decide whether to skip or take.

Also read CAT 2025: Top IIMs maintain higher percentile thresholds for first-stage shortlisting; marks vs percentile

CAT 2022 topper Soumik Banerjee, a working professional, scored 99.95 percentile overall with 98.54 in VARC, 99.55 in DILR, and 99.9 in QA.

Preparation strategy: Being an engineer, he identified his weakness – VARC – and joined an online course. He took a few CAT mock tests and followed a schedule including two to three hours of preparation to make full utilisation of his time. He attempted mock tests almost every week and at least two sectional tests in each section weekly.

Exam strategy: His strategy was to remain calm and know his weaknesses. He didn’t find taking last-minute notes wise and decided to “go with the flow”. Having confidence in the QA section, he focused on scoring topics.