Every year, CAT aspirants worry that the exam will be difficult. Many complain that the difficulty level is increasing yearly. While it is partially true, the CAT is genuinely not a difficult exam if you follow the right strategy, practice the right questions, and follow the right map. Before you bombard us with why it is not true. Wait till you hear our point.
First, remember the full form of the exam, it is the Common Admission Test (CAT), not the Toppers Admission Test (TAT). You must keep in mind that even if CAT aspirants are increasing year by year. Yet, examiners are forced to design the exam in such a way that aspirants from different backgrounds could at least attempt some questions and stand fair to their competition. Not everyone is good at VARC, LRDI, or Quants. Hence, the examiner drops easy-to-moderate questions in the exam every year. Your job is to identify and solve within the time.
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More complaints on the difficulty of CAT?
Still, you have complaints about most of the Engineers scoring 99+percentile and non-engineers don’t stand a chance. You are wrong. First, IIMs have selection criteria weightage to non-engineers for diversity and they can receive calls in a lower percentile than engineers if they have a diverse background, degree, education, or atleast good marks in their academics.
Second, most of the engineers lose their hope of top IIMs after they see the CAT syllabus. Remember, first the examiner wants you to fairly prepare for the exam. Second, they want to test your nerves if you are courageous enough to push your boundaries, open to new learnings, handle pressure, and let go of your ego.
Know why the CAT is an unpredictable exam?
Coming back to the original topic, yes CAT is an unpredictable exam. Unpredictable exams don’t mean they will throw at you new topics or concepts. If it does, then it wouldn’t be called a common admission test.
CAT is an unpredictable exam because every year the examiner adds surprise elements like new types of questions that require creative application and the right logic. In CAT 2024, for example, Data Interpretation (DI) sets were thrown into the exam when nobody expected them to appear. Based on past year patterns, aspirants went to the exam preparing only Logical Reasoning (LR) and when they saw DI sets with candlesticks and bubble charts, their minds crashed losing their focus.
Additionally, in CAT 2024 the reading comprehension (RC) word count was increased. Most probably, aspirants who didn’t give much thought to quality reading and comprehension lost their calm. Even the subtle increased size of fonts made it difficult for aspirants to read.
This race also includes the quants section. Why? Because many previous year questions (PYQs) were repeated in the exam and after the initial reaction of ‘CAT 2024 was easy’. Priorities changed. Aspirants mindlessly try to attempt more questions rather than achieving more accuracy.
Aspirants who were even scoring 95+ percentile in their mocks couldn’t handle the exam pressure in that situation.
Finally, the hype of ‘CAT 2024 was easy’ lost its charm after the response sheet was out. Some scored low marks while many scored well.
Yet, those who scored well couldn’t remember that the CAT exam is based on relative performance which is percentile. Seeing the all surprises in CAT 2024, the score was increased in corresponded to a high percentile.Â
Is there a right way to prepare for the CAT 2025?
After all that we have discussed, we hope that you understand the importance of the right preparation for CAT 2025. Besides, we never want you to waste your attempt on the right thing.
Therefore, there are 5 most important things you need to prepare to crack your dream IIM:
1. Practice a lot
Yes, the most important thing in this right preparation is to practice like it’s your last attempt. Practice. Practice. Practice. CAT only happens once a year, you need to take it seriously. If you’re clueless about how to start. Break the process. Start with topics that are basic or carry the most weight. Then, go in a decreasing order.
After learning through all the concepts of the topic. Practice new types of questions. You can prepare it from PYQs at the start of your attempt. CAT PYQs are easily available on the iQuanta website too. The iQuanta Facebook Group is also a good place to post your questions and get instant replies, as well as to solve others’ doubts as well.Â
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2. Cover most of the Syllabus
Many CAT aspirants feel overwhelmed by the vast syllabus and often skip certain topics. However, this approach can be risky. In earlier years, covering selective topics might have worked, but the exam pattern has evolved. Today, unpredictability is a key feature of CAT.
Examiners often switch things up—difficult questions can appear from commonly prepared topics, while relatively easier ones may come from areas students tend to ignore, such as probability, permutations and combinations, or geometry.
A well-rounded preparation strategy is essential. Even if some topics seem less important, they might turn out to be scoring opportunities. With the CAT exam, it’s always best to stay prepared for the unexpected.
Still unsure how to cover the entire syllabus? Check out the iQuanta website! We help students master every topic with regular classes, aiming to complete the syllabus by early June. Plus, if you fall behind, you can catch up with our recorded lectures. Got doubts? Our 24/7 Doubt-Solving Team is always ready to assist you.
3. Solve new types of problems
If you’ve attempted past CAT papers, you’ve probably noticed a shift—questions are no longer just about formulas and shortcuts. Examiners are introducing new patterns that demand creative thinking, logical reasoning, and even an educated guess at times.
Many aspirants fall into time traps, spending 10 minutes on a single tricky question, convinced they can crack it—only to realize later that it cost them other easier marks.
This is where the right approach makes all the difference. At iQuanta, we emphasize application-based learning. In our regular classes, you’ll get 20–25 unique question types for every topic—Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, and Modern Maths. These aren’t just random problems; they’re designed to train your mind to think flexibly, tackle surprises, and avoid common pitfalls.
The key to acing CAT isn’t just hard work—it’s working smart.
4. Attempt Mock Tests+Analysis
Mock tests are the real game-changer. While practice and revision build your foundation, mocks reveal your true preparation level. They simulate the exam experience, highlight your strengths and weaknesses, and help you strategize better.
I’ve seen many aspirants get discouraged by low mock scores, but here’s the truth: Mocks aren’t meant to measure you; they’re meant to shape you. Every attempt is a step closer to your goal—if you know how to analyze it.
That’s why iQuanta created India’s first AI-driven CAT Mock Platform, built in-house with our 99+ percentile faculty. With adaptive difficulty and detailed performance insights, our mocks don’t just test you—they teach you. Plus, our interactive dashboard helps you analyze mistakes, track your progress, and improve faster.
5. Study with your peer group
Joining a CAT preparation group can be a game-changer. In these online communities, you’ll find like-minded aspirants, discuss topics, solve problems, and share resources—all without hesitation.
Such groups are also a hub for connecting with CAT toppers and experienced educators, who often share their tips and strategies for scoring 99+ percentile—all for free.
For a focused and supportive learning space, the iQuanta Facebook Community is a perfect choice. With over 390k members, it’s India’s largest CAT prep group, offering real experiences, expert guidance, and a distraction-free environment to help you reach your dream IIM.
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