CAT Preparation in 70 Days – A Complete Strategy to Maximize Your Score

A common question now among CAT aspirants is: “Is 70 days enough to prepare?” That is a reasonable timeframe, offering the opportunity for notable improvement—even for those starting around the median percentile.

There are no shortcuts, no viral “secrets,” just a doable plan and the discipline to not tap out when things get dull. Stick to your plan, power through the rough patches, and you will end up way better if you just keep at it. That’s the real move.

So, while it is unrealistic to expect everyone to enter the 99th percentile in just 10 weeks, a methodical and honest effort will, without doubt, move the needle. 



CAT Preparation in 70 Days: The PDCA Cycle as a Framework

The PDCA (Plan–Do–Check–Act) framework remains one of the most reliable models for structuring CAT preparation, especially when limited to a 70-day window.

• Plan: To begin, conduct a candid self-assessment to identify your current standing, be it the 50th percentile, 80th, or a higher threshold. Make clear, achievable objectives for this timeframe. Dedicate roughly 6–8 hours each day (ideally not exceeding 10, to avoid fatigue), distributing your focus among core material revision, sectional tests, SimCATs, and previous years’ question papers. Diversifying your study activities helps maintain engagement and covers gaps in understanding.

• Do: Implement your plan with consistency. Adherence is critical, yet it is important to anticipate setbacks and allow yourself to recover if a day’s agenda goes unmet. Maintain a record of your daily practice to foster accountability. Involving mentors or peers can further boost motivation and provide an external perspective.

• Check: Evaluate your progress at regular intervals—about every 7–10 days. Systematically review your mock test performances to identify persistent weaknesses or patterns, such as recurring errors in RC inference questions or challenges in quantitative geometry. This enables a targeted approach toward improvement.

• Act: Respond to your findings by going through your study strategies. If specific topics or question types continually hinder progress, adjust your methods and allocate more time accordingly. Consider supplementary resources, whether formal or informal, to strengthen your grasp. This cycle of assessment and adaptation is essential for maximizing effective preparation within a constrained period.

Mistakes are part of the process; your aim should be transforming each one into an opportunity for refinement and growth.

CAT Preparation in 70 Days: Section-Wise Must-Do Essentials

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

• Complete two RC passages each day, making sure to adhere to time constraints. Timing yourself isn’t optional—it’s crucial for building test-day stamina.
• Afterwards, review answer explanations thoroughly; don’t just skim them. Pinpoint exactly where your reasoning went wrong and make a note of that for next time.
• Additionally, broaden your reading habits by incorporating newspapers, non-fiction, or even literary fiction.
• This regular practice will sharpen your comprehension speed and deepen your understanding over time.

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Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

• Aim to complete 2 to 3 sets each day, working toward a cumulative total of at least 400 sets across your entire preparation period.
• Consistently practice with a strict one-hour deadline for each set to mirror the pressure you will experience in the actual test environment.
• Solving logic puzzles like Sudoku, Kakuro, or KenKen can strengthen your reasoning skills, so make sure you concentrate primarily on CAT-style sets, as they are most directly relevant to your exam.

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

• Prioritize arithmetic, algebra, and geometry, with arithmetic serving as the foundational subject.
• Select three areas out of the five core mathematical domains, making certain that arithmetic is included.
• Additionally, maintain a personal formula and concept notebook for efficient and frequent review; this resource will support retention and effective revision of key principles.

Revision & Notes

• Keep an updated concept bank and review it periodically—don’t let it fade away in your materials.
• Aim to add five to ten new formulas or shortcuts each week. There is no need to go overboard, but steady progress adds up.
• Set aside specific time slots for revision every seven to ten days. Consistent review matters more than cramming, even if it feels a bit repetitive sometimes.

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Scheduling and Resource Allocation

• Mocks: Aim to complete around 20 SimCATs, ideally scheduled every other day to allow adequate reflection. It is essential not just to attempt these, but to carefully review each one and understand your mistakes—this analysis is where meaningful improvement occurs.
• Past Papers: You are better off tackling at least 20 previous exam papers, like it’s the real exam—timed, no pausing, no half-efforts. No point in cutting corners here, since the whole purpose is to get yourself used to the pressure and rhythm of that test day panic.
• Sectional Tests: Focus your preparation on the sections where you consistently struggle. Identify those problem areas and dedicate extra practice to them until they no longer pose an obstacle. That’s how meaningful progress happens.
• Masterclasses: Join these advanced classes when you have the basics down pat. Otherwise, you will just end up feeling lost and probably lack motivation. Masterclasses should take you to the next level, not leave you scratching your head in confusion.

Read More: CAT Exam Pattern 

CAT Preparation in 70 Days: Mindset, Conditioning, and Motivation

• Building exam stamina isn’t simply a matter of racking up hours; think of it as mental endurance training. Rather than studying nonstop, structure your sessions into focused blocks of three to four hours, but don’t neglect brief breaks—your concentration will only last so long before it starts to fade.
  
• Effectively managing stress involves deliberate preparation. Simulate actual test conditions by eliminating distractions, timing yourself, and working at a desk rather than in a more relaxed setting. The more closely your practice reflects the environment of the real exam, the less overwhelming the actual experience is likely to be.
• To sidestep burnout, diversify your studying. Rotate practice formats: multiple-choice, short answer, and even a lightning round with flashcards. Sprinkle in occasional low-stakes challenges to keep motivation from flatlining.
• Analyze each mistake and look for recurring blunders. Patterns matter much more than a single result; you learn more from your missteps than your wins.

CAT Preparation in 70 Days: Practical Timeline

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CAT Preparation in 70 Days: Common Questions

Is 30 days enough for CAT prep?  

Honestly, 30 days is not really sufficient. Most people need a good 70 days or so to prepare meaningfully for the CAT. Trying to fit an entire syllabus into a month is basically inviting chaos and leaving outcomes up to luck.

How many SimCATs should I attempt?  

Aim for about 20 mock tests, but pace yourself. The real value is in reviewing what tripped you up and learning from each attempt, not just powering through tests for the sake of it.

How many hours per day?  

A few hours of legit, focused studying will outdo an entire day spent aimlessly flipping through material.

How to avoid monotony?  

Switch things up: Alternate topics, change the kind of practice you do, and never skip breaks. Sticking to one single topic for too long pretty much guarantees your brain will check out. Keep it fresh and your motivation up.

Believe in the Process

The pressure can be immense with 70 days remaining before the CAT exam. It is understandable—this is a significant milestone for many. Yet, rather than succumbing to anxiety, it’s far more productive to embrace a focused and methodical approach to preparation.

Progress should be measured individually: the key achievement is meaningful personal improvement, not outdoing everyone else.

Ditch the “shortcuts” right now. Consistency wins every time. Build your formula cheat sheets, rework those formulas your way. Issues arising? Not the end of the world. That is where you figure out what sticks and what does not, so take them as free lessons, not disasters.

When everything feels impossible, don’t just push through like a robot. Pause, walk outside, go doomscroll—whatever flips the reset switch for you.

At the end of the day, the CAT is not won by panicking or last-second cramming. It is about sticking it out, doing steady work, and trusting all those little habits. Hang in there. If you have put in the grit, your prep will 100% show up for you.

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