Top 10 CAT 2025 Mistakes to Avoid in the Final Months of Preparation

Preparing for the Common Admission Test (CAT 2025) requires meticulous planning, especially in the last two months. To maximize your score and secure that coveted IIM call, here are the 10 most critical CAT 2025 preparation mistakes you must avoid as exam day approaches. 

1. Ignoring Weak Areas While Over-Focusing on Strengths 

A common mistake is focusing only on sections you enjoy while avoiding weaker ones like Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC). Why this hurts your performance:

• If a “difficult” section turns out to be easy on exam day, you won’t score well without preparation.
• Ignoring weaker areas risks missing sectional cutoffs, even with a high overall score.
• Extra practice in strong areas often gives diminishing returns compared to improving weaknesses.

Some aspirants avoid mocks if they score low, while others obsess over percentiles and compare themselves with peers. Both approaches are harmful. 

Key strategy for CAT 2025:

• Take as many full-length mocks (SIMCATs) as possible.
• Treat mocks as practice tools, not verdicts on your ability.
• Focus on attempt strategy and question selection, instead of percentiles.

Simply attempting mocks is not enough. Without proper analysis, mistakes get repeated. 

What to analyze:

• Question Selection: Are you choosing easy/moderate ones first or wasting time on tough ones?
• Approach Validation: Was solving a particular question worth it? Could you solve it faster with another method?

Over-preparation in the final weeks often leads to burnout, anxiety, and lower mock scores. 

Avoid overexertion by:

• Spacing out your mocks—plan October, then first/second/third week of November separately.
• Taking structured breaks. Keep half a day each week free for hobbies or relaxation.
• Remember: over-pushing now is like sprinting at the start of a marathon—you’ll burn out before the finish line.

To avoid surprises, simulate the exact exam environment during practice. Preparation checklist:

• Adjust your body clock: Align sleep, meals, and routine with your exam slot.
• Build exam endurance: Before mocks, sit quietly for 30–45 minutes to mimic CAT check-in time.

CAT isn’t the only MBA entrance test. Focusing solely on IIMs can limit your opportunities. Don’t miss out:

• Apply to other exams like XAT, NMAT, SNAP, CMAT—many deadlines close just before or right after CAT.
• Many successful MBA graduates cracked top B-schools through non-CAT exams.

• Overconfident (98–99%ilers): Don’t relax or get complacent. Maintain consistency.
• Underconfident (50–70%ilers): Don’t panic. Stay disciplined, analyze mistakes, and keep improving.

Many students compromise on sleep, nutrition, and exercise before the exam. This is counterproductive. Why it matters:

• Sleep (6–8 hrs) is essential for focus and memory.
• Healthy meals sustain energy—avoid junk food that leads to crashes.
• Manage your energy, not just time. A perfect schedule fails if you’re too tired to execute it.

The last months bring a flood of content 7random tips on YouTube, endless scrolling on Instagram, and distracting shows. How to stay focused:

• Declutter your feed: Unsubscribe from unhelpful sources.
• Consume mindfully: Choose light, positive content instead of heavy distractions.
• Say no to temptation: Parties and new series will still be there after CAT your exam won’t.

Relying on “mood” or “motivation” to study is one of the biggest mistakes. What works instead:

• Discipline over motivation: Show up every day, even when you don’t feel like it.
• Consistency builds competence: Stick to your plan—whether it’s 20 mocks or all past year papers.

Avoiding these 10 mistakes in CAT 2025 preparation can make the difference between an average score and a life-changing IIM call. Stay disciplined, focus on balance, and trust your preparation process.