Almost for all of us, preparing for the Common Admission Test (CAT) is a journey filled with various strategies, a never-ending perseverance and of course, plenty of practice. While many aspirants focus on improving speed and accuracy, one of the often-overlooked aspects which plays a major role in CAT performance of any individual is the sectional time limit. It is not just about solving questions correctly but it is about solving the right questions at the right time. In this article, we will explore the understanding of Sectional Time Limit in CAT, why it matters, and how you can work with it (instead of against it) to boost your overall performance, leading your way to a good B-school. Whether you are a first-time test-taker or retaking CAT with more focus this time around, understanding this very concept can really change the way you prepare and perform on the D-day.
What is the Sectional Time Limit in CAT?
To begin with, let us understand what the term actually sectional limit even means.
The CAT exam is divided into three key sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Ability (QA)
Each of these sections is timed individually and candidates need to perform well in all of those. As per the current format (which has been in place since 2020), the total duration of the CAT exam is 120 minutes, and each section is allocated with 40 minutes. Once the time for a section is over, you cannot go back to it, and you cannot skip ahead to the next one early, even if you finish before time (a very rare chance though).
Yes, CAT has this sort of rigidity in their format, making it a bit difficult for all the aspirants out there. Irrespective of your strength or weakness, you will get only 40 minutes for every section and you cannot go back after the timer runs out. Therefore, one need to be very cautious with the time, maintaining their accuracy. In other words, you get 40 minutes for each section and those 40 minutes are locked in.
Why Does CAT Have Sectional Time Limits?
The most probable idea behind the sectional time limit is to ensure a level playing field for aspirants coming from different academic or professional backgrounds. If these limits were not introduced, some candidates will surely spend more time on their strong areas and rush through the remaining sections where they are weak. While this might seem like a smart tactic, it did not always reflect a well-rounded skill set which a management professional should possess.
Management schools want candidates who are balanced performers. People who can manage verbal reasoning just as well as number crunching or data interpretation, which are essential for all client facing roles. These skills are independent of whatever specialisation you pick in your B-school. Sectional time limits force candidates to be consistent across all three sections, making the selection process fairer and more holistic. This ensures that they get the best of the best students in their cohort.
Impact of Sectional Timing on CAT Strategy
Now, here is where it gets interesting and crucial for all the students. The sectional time limit is not just a technical detail which you need to know. Rather, it directly impacts how you prepare, how you take mock tests, your strategies and finally, how you perform on D-day. Let us now go through the crucial impacts of this sectional time limit.
1. Time Management Within Sections
Since you only get 40 minutes per section, you need to be very sharp with how you spend your time within those 40 minutes in every section. For instance, in the VARC section, you might want to divide your time between Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability questions smartly, based on your comfort level. Similarly, in DILR, choosing the right sets becomes very crucial. One bad choice and you could end up wasting precious time and even fail to clear the sectional cutoffs for a lot of B-schools. If you are not able to manage things well, try looking out for a coaching to help you strategize well. iQuanta with its structured timetable can be extremely valuable in your overall preparation, leading to a better score in CAT 2025.
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2. No Switching Sections
Unlike a few exams where you can jump between different sections, CAT restricts you to just one section at a time and that too in a pre-decided order. This means your brain has to reset its focus every 40 minutes based on the section which is in front of you. You go from reading comprehension to solving puzzles to doing math, all back-to-back, without any break. This can be mentally very exhausting and only practice can help you build this kind of endurance and hence the need of adequate mock tests.
3. Sectional Cut-offs
Most IIMs and top B-schools have sectional cut-offs, that is the minimum required scores in each section to be eligible for admission. So, even if you score brilliantly overall, scoring poorly in just any one of the sections can bring your entire application down and make you ineligible for these premier institutes. That is why sectional time limits are so important to understand and to plan for. They make sure you know your weak areas well and dedicate time accordingly to avoid any mess-ups on the D-day.
How to Prepare for Sectional Time Limits for CAT 2025
The good news for you all is that with the right strategy and mindset, you can turn sectional time limit consideration into your strength rather than a limitation. Here is how you can do so:
1. Practice Sectional Mocks
Taking full-length mock tests is obviously suggested and are important, but sectional mocks are just as valuable and make you adept in your weaker areas. These mock tests are designed to simulate the 40-minute limit of each section and have varying difficulty of the questions. Practicing them well helps you get comfortable with the pressure and pace required you to score a high percentile. Try to solve a VARC section in 40 minutes, then take a break initially and do a DILR section. You can repeat this cycle during your prep, so your brain gets used to switching modes efficiently and quickly too. You can check out the curated mock test series presented by iQuanta. It is said to be at par with the CAT level, giving you a flavour of the actual exam.
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2. Master the Art of Selection
In CAT, you do not need to solve all questions to score a high percentile. You need to solve the right ones in the given time. Spend the first few minutes of any section scanning through the questions or sets to be fully aware. Pick the ones you are confident about, and leave the tricky ones for later and attempt if time permits. This strategy can drastically improve your score across sections. Especially in DILR, where sets can vary in difficulty, choosing the wrong set first can cost you 10–15 minutes and sets a wrong precedence. This is a huge setback in a 40-minute section and might make you feel uncomfortable.
3. Build Mental Endurance
As mentioned earlier, the exam requires you to switch between different skill sets every 40 minutes. This can cause mental fatigue, especially if you are not used to it. The best way to build this level of endurance is through regular practice of full-length mocks and other timed practice sessions. Try to simulate the actual test environment as closely as possible and you will definitely see the changes within a span of a few weeks.
4. Time Tracking and Analysis
After each mock test or practice session, go back and analyze the mock well. Also check how you spent your time, both section-wise as well as topic-wise within each section. Did you spend too long on a few difficult questions which should have been avoid. You had to rush through the last part of a section because you did not browse through all the questions. Did you manage to attempt enough questions to score a 99 percentile or not. This kind of reflection will help you to understand your time patterns and fix them in your next mock, much ahead of D-day.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
While the concept of sectional time limits is simple, it often leads to some of the avoidable mistakes. Let us now take a look at a few of them and how those can be prevented:
Spending Too Long on One Question
This is probably the most common pitfall where students get stuck. If a question is taking more than 2–3 minutes and you are not making any progress, it is better to move on. CAT rewards smart choices more than your rigid ego, remember that!!
Ignoring Weak Sections
Some candidates over-prepare their stronger areas and avoid their weaker ones. This may help you achieve a good overall score but that won’t do any good in your admission. Try to balance scores across all the sections.
Not Practicing with a Timer
Solving practice questions correctly without timing yourself might make you feel confident, but it does not prepare you for the actual pressure of CAT. Ideally, you should not be spending over 2 minutes in a question of QA. Similarly, 8-10 minutes maximum for an RC in the VARC section or an LRDI set. You can time like this which will help you prepare the best.
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