How to Prepare for CAT in 1 Month – Last Month CAT Preparation

The last 30 days before the CAT exam can feel like a mix of excitement and anxiety and that’s completely normal. As one of the most competitive entrance exams in India, more than 3 lakh students will be sitting for the CAT 2025 exam, fighting for just a few thousand coveted seats in India’s top management colleges. If you are plagued by the question of how to prepare for CAT in 1 month, then you need to follow the strategy shared in this blog.

Whether you’ve been preparing for months or just getting serious now, this is the time to sharpen your focus and maximize your performance. In this guide, we’ll share the tips for last month CAT preparation, from revision techniques and mock test strategies to tips that keep you confident on D-day.

Read More: Link to Download CAT Admit Card

 

Initial Pointers to Prepare for CAT in Last 1 Month

1. Focus on attempting CAT mock tests and analyzing them for last month CAT preparation. 
2. Review the mocks questions you are unable to solve. Focus on concept revision and error analysis in mock tests.
3. Build a section-wise plan and allocate time to different sections.
4. DILR and VARC are comparatively easier to ace than Quant. Thus, you should split the timetable in a way where you cover all the VARC and DILR topics while sticking to your strengths in Quant.
5. Make a study plan for every week.
6. Revise the already covered concepts and avoid new topics.

The goal is to attempt as many mocks as possible daily and weekly for the CAT preparation in last 1 month. Revise what you already learnt, strengthen weak areas, and improve test-taking accuracy.

 

 

How to Prepare for CAT in 1 month | Last Month CAT Preparation

Follow this weekly timetable to prepare for CAT in the last one month:

The First Week – Day 1st to 7th

QUANT

1. The first step is to take a timed sectional mock that covers all the quant topics. Based on your result and its analysis, figure out the types of questions and topics that you’re good at and the ones you’re weak at. While you’re at it, you can also bifurcate the topics further based on how long it took you to solve them.
2. For the first week, we’ll cover critical arithmetic topics since they are largely based on 10th-grade maths.
3. Improve your speed and accuracy with the help of 30-40 questions everyday. Take 2-3 sectional tests weekly to measure consistency.
4. Here are the important Arithmetic topics:

• • Averages | Percentages | Profit and loss | Linear and quadratic equations | Ratio and proportion | Mixtures | Speed, time, and distance | Races | Pipes and cisterns | Simple and compound interest

Follow the ‘Learn-Practice-Test’ strategy. First, study the concepts, do practice questions, and then give a topical test to assess your grasp. Aim for 90% accuracy with decent speed. 

 

DILR

• Make a list of all the DILR topics and segregate them into three categories, i.e., most important sets, tough sets, and most selective sets.
• Focus on the most important topics first. These topics will constitute sequence and series, matrix arrangements (linear and circular)
• Get started with the basics first. Flex your problem-solving psyche.
• After you have covered the important basics, start answering review questions, first priority is to be given to easy and solvable sets.

 

VARC

1. Read 3 passages everyday from editorials, science, and abstract to practice RC. Understand the different types of passages that can come and how to understand each one of them.
2. Inculcate the habit of reading. Read books, editorials, magazines, newspapers, and blogs such as Aeon and Politico. Sign up for newsletters and collect all the new words you encounter in your notebook.
3. Try to finish several reading comprehension passages during practice. Analyse your errors and try to understand why your answer was wrong.
4. In RC, knowing why an answer is wrong is more important than knowing why it is correct.
5. Practice Para Jumbles and Odd-One-Out from previous year sets.
6. Also, start working on the verbal ability questions by the end of this week. Understand the intricacies of sentence correction and sentence rearrangement.
7. Finish the first week with a sectional mock. Analyse it the same way you did with the quant sectional test.

 

The Second Week – Day 8th to 14th

QUANT

1. In this week, tackle modern mathematics and the number system. This is another easy section that can be mastered with a little effort.
2. Take a sectional mock test to see how accurate you are while attempting number system and modern maths questions.
3. Finish at least 20 practice questions per topic and end the week with a sectional test to gauge your progress.
4. Focus primarily on questions related to Algebra, linear equations, quadratic equations, special equations, and surds and indices.
5. Practice as many as 50 quant questions per day. If you feel stuck at any point, do not refer to the solution immediately.
6. Seek advice from your mentors to solve a question you do not understand.
7. Maintain your notebook of formulae and question types.
8. Here are the important topics that you need to cover:

• • Set theory | Binomial theorem | Permutation and combination | Probability | Sequence and series | Factors and multiples | HCF and LCM | Factorials | Base systems | Remainders

 

DILR

1. First, we’ll pick up data interpretation. Give a sectional mock and benchmark your current accuracy. Students don’t usually have any problem-solving DI questions. The challenge lies in maintaining that accuracy while improving speed. 
2. While practicing DI questions, make it a point to time all your practice questions.
3. Learn how to make intelligent guesses to save time. You don’t need to solve the whole question. Most questions can be solved backward by eliminating the answers that don’t seem plausible. The more you practice, the better you’ll be at guessing accurately.
4. Here are the most critical DI topics for you to study:

• • Tables | Bar graphs | Column graphs | Pie charts | Line charts | Venn diagrams

End the week with a sectional test and log your score.

 

VARC

1. Be consistent with your reading stamina and stay on the track to read three RCs per day.
2. When you read a passage, observe the tone of the passage and  learn whether it is subjective or objective.
3. Practice at least 25-30 RCs in this week and analyse your results.

 

Last Month CAT Preparation Strategy 2025

Here is a snapshot for your CAT preparation for the last 30 days. It’s divided into 4 weeks strategy for all 3 sections in CAT exam:

 

The Third Week – Day 15th to 21st

QUANT

1. Here’s where things get interesting. Since you only have two weeks left now, we’ll pick one topic between Algebra and Geometry to cover thoroughly. 
2. If you are good at geometry, then pick that. Otherwise, go with algebra. You don’t need to answer every question in CAT to do well. Intelligently choosing the right questions to answer is the way to go, especially when there is a time crunch.
3. Follow the same method for whichever you choose between the two – Learn, practice, test.
4. Begin with a sectional test to understand your grasp of the topic, and the week with another one to see how much you’ve grown.
5. Here are the important topics for both of them:

• • Linear equations | Quadratic equations | Inequalities | Logarithm | Functions | Maxima and minima | Number of integer solutions | Finding out roots | Problems on ages | Higher degree equations | Descartes’ rule of signs | Modifications of graphs | The smallest value in a maximum function | Distance between two lines | Line and circular equation | Quadrant system | Angles and their types and formulas | Theorems | Quadrilaterals | Volume and surface area

This marks the end of your quant prep. Try and give a full quant sectional test to see how well you can recall and apply the concepts you’ve learned. A decent attempt will be to try and get 10-12 correct. This will get you over the sectional cutoff for quant.

 

DILR

1. Take more sectional mocks and know your weaknesses.
2. Practice at least 20 questions per day.
3. Solve various puzzle questions and attempt past year CAT papers to analyse your performance.
4. Also attempt at least 5 DI sets per day and maintain your speed and accuracy.

• • Sequence and series | Cubes | Seating arrangement | Input/output | Syllogism | Calendars | Clocks | Binary logic | Blood relations

Try and practice enough to get a good hold of the shortcuts used to solve these questions. Add the list of shortcuts to your notebook.

 

VARC

1. Focus on polishing off the remaining bits of verbal ability and reading comprehension.
2. Attempt persuasive, scientific, and critical RCs and solve paraphrasing questions during the last week of CAT preparation.
3. Take one CAT sectional test every day for proper practice and solve another 25-30 RCs in this week.
4. In verbal, you need to practise these topics:

• • Jumbled paragraphs | Substitutions | Inferences | Odd sentences | Analogies | Verbal logic

 

 

The Fourth Week – Day 21st to 28th

MOCKS

1. This entire week should be dedicated to mocks. The goal is to give one mock daily, i.e., seven mocks total.
2. Start with a proctored mock from a reputable institute, such as the SimCAT Plus test series offered by IMS. 

This test series consists of 2000+ practice questions, 3 pre-simCATs, 18 simCATs with video solutions, 30 section tests, 80 ADMATS, and the past 3 years’ papers with video solutions. 

1. Spend the first two hours giving the mock and the next four analysing your results. If you’ve invested in test series such as SimCAT Plus by IMS, you’ll have access to a plethora of data to guide your strategy here.

        2. Keep in mind that you don’t need to attempt all the questions. Identify the questions that you usually don’t get right or take too long to attempt. Leave these questions blank. The more mocks you give, the more you’ll be able to hone this strategy.

This blog details the perfect strategy for those looking to answer the question of how to prepare for CAT in one month. Completing your CAT preparation in one month and scoring 90%ile plus is a challenging endeavour. But with the right approach that plays on your strengths, maximises your score by doing well on the easy topics, and skipping the harder questions, can get you there.

 

Prepare for CAT in 1 Month

Quick Tips for Last Month CAT Preparation

This approach will allow you to maximise your overall percentile while ensuring you clear the sectional cutoffs.

1. You’ll have to dedicate a minimum of 6 hours every day. Any less than that won’t get you the amount of practice required to reach your best score.
2. Don’t forget to get enough sleep during this intense period of preparation. A lack of sleep can hamper your memory retention and performance.
3. The second half of the month will have an unequivocal focus on previous years’ test papers and mock tests. You’ll also spend quite a bit of time analysing the results of your mocks. To complete your CAT preparation in one month, you’ll need to put in a lot of effort.
4. One crucial point – maintain a notebook of your shorthand notes compiling all the critical quant formulae, different types of DILR questions and how to solve them, and vocabulary words. These notes will come in handy during last-minute revision.
5. Your typical day will be divided into two parts – the first half or the first three hours will be dedicated to Quant topics. And the second half will cover VARC, DILR, mock tests, and analyses.

 

CAT Preparation in Last One Month: Mistakes to Avoid

The chances to commit mistakes are much higher in the last 30 days of CAT exam preparation. Even strong candidates mlose marks due to anxiety that leads them to make small errors. Usually, students make following mistakes. Have a look at them and remember not to commit the, in your preparation:

• • Start a new topic in the last month and get stressed about it. Focus entirely on the revision of your concepts.
  • Skip the mock test analysis. It’s the main source of learning and get confident before the D-day.
  • Learn a lot of new material and overburden yourself. Just stay with the basic books, previous years’ questions, and mock tests for the CAT last month preparation.
  • Ignore the rest. Your mind and body needs complete rest otherwise the fatigue will create brain fog and kill your performance.
  • Trying to solve everything during mock tests. Focus on quality over the quantity and try selective solving.

 

 

The Best Strategy for CAT Preparation in One Month or Less

If you’re amid the last month preparation for CAT exam, follow this CAT last month preparation guide. This 30-day CAT preparation timeline is focused on various phases with revision, mock tests, and time-bound practice.

• Mock Test Practice: Practice as many questions and make it a priority. Never pick any new topic to learn at this time. Stick to the practice of the old concepts and question papers. Solve at least 40 sectional mock tests in the last month of CAT preparation.
• Solve Previous Years’ Papers: This is said to be one of the important tasks suggested by the CAT toppers and expert mentors. Gather exam papers for the last 3 or 4 years and solve them with analysis.
• Strengthen Your Concepts: For the first 3 weeks for the last 30 days before CAT exam, strengthen your concepts of all 3 sections.

 

 

FAQs on CAT Preparation in 1 Month

 

Is CAT preparation possible in one month?

CAT preparation in one month is not completely impossible! It requires focus, strategy, and consistency. If you have already covered the CAT syllabus and if your concepts are strong enough, you can boost your CAT preparation in last one month.

In the final 30 days, your goal should be about the smart revision, mock tests analysis, and core concepts building. Prioritize high-weightage topics in Quant, practice 3 RCs per day for VARC, and solve at least one DILR set each day. Take regular full-length mocks and review your mistakes thoroughly. With a disciplined plan and the right mindset, one month is enough to make a real difference in your CAT percentile.

 

Is one month enough to prepare for CAT?

If you’re contemplating about the CAT 2025 preparation in one month so let us tell you that a timeframe for the CAT preparation is very much subjective. Usually, if the candidate has already studied all CAT sections well enough, the last month is sufficient to cover the fundamentals of the three sections.

If you already have a basic understanding of the exam pattern and core concepts. In the last 30 days, the focus should shift from learning new topics to refining accuracy, speed, and strategy. A well-planned study schedule with daily practice, timed mock tests, and consistent revision can help you maximize your performance.

 

How to clear a CAT in 30 days?
You can follow a section-wise strategy for CAT preparation in last 30 days. Here are some tips for last month CAT preparation:

Let’s begin with Quant section which is mainly about speed and accuracy for high scores:

• • Revise your concepts of Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, and Modern Math.
  • Take 2-3 sectional mock tests per week.
  • Solve at least 30-40 questions daily from mixed topics.
  • Maintain a formula notebook for quick recall.
  • Revisit the frequently asked topics in previous years papers.

For DILR:

• • Solve 2-3 sectional mocks per day. Keep increasing the level of difficulty for the test each time.
  • Practice Data Tables, Graphs, and Logical Puzzles.
  • Time for each set. Reduce your solving time gradually.
  • Analyze mistakes from every mock, note down common traps.
  • By the last week, aim to solve sets within 10-15 minutes with at least 80% – 90% accuracy.

For VARC:

• • Maintain consistency and reading stamina for RC passages.
  • Make a habit of reading 3 RCs per day.
  • Practice Para Jumbles.
  • Analyze your accuracy in mock tests.