Step 1: Understand the CAT Exam Structure Like the Back of Your Hand

Imagine you’re entering an escape room. You’d want to know how many doors you need to unlock, right? It's the same with CAT. You need to understand the following:

• 3 sections: VARC, DILR, and QA
• 2-hour exam with 40 minutes per section
• No backtracking between sections. Time flies, and every second counts.

Pro Tip: Practice full-length mocks in this exact format. Get used to the exam pressure. 

Step 2: Slot Management - Master Your Internal Clock

In CAT, it’s like you’re running three sprints back-to-back. Each sprint needs different energy and pacing. That’s where slot management comes in.

 Slot 1: VARC

Your brain is quite fresh here. You must use this to your advantage. Start with questions you’re confident about—maybe Para Summary or Odd One Out. Don’t jump headfirst into tough RCs unless you're warmed up.

Slot 2: DILR

This is like the middle overs in cricket. Build your innings. Scan the sets in the first 5 minutes. There are two parts to this section: one is the temperament you have, and the second is the amount of practice you have done. Quickly identify 2-3 sets you know you can solve. 

Slot 3: QA

This is your final lap. You’re tired but focused. Start with topics that are your strengths. If Arithmetic is your strong suit, knock those questions down first.

Step 3: Question Selection - It’s a Buffet!

The CAT gives you a buffet of questions, but you don’t have to eat everything! Be picky.

How to Select Questions:

• 5 minutes to each section: SKIM through all the questions.
• Mark the EASY and DOABLE ones. You’ll finish them first.
• Leave the complicated questions for later. If you have time, you can come back.

Imagine you’re in a treasure hunt. Not every chest has gold; some have traps. Your job is to find the gold quickly!

Step 4: Don’t Let One Question Ruin Your Party

One bad set or tricky question can mess with your head. If a question feels like it’s dragging you down, skip it like a bad song on a playlist. You can always come back later if time permits.

Step 5: Practice This Strategy in Mocks 

You can’t execute this plan on D-Day unless you’ve practiced it.

• Give sectional mocks to fine-tune your slot strategy.
• Give full-length mocks to sharpen your question selection skills.

Post-mock analysis is your mirror. Look at what worked and what didn’t. Did you waste time on one DI set? Fix it in the next one.

The CAT isn’t about solving everything; it’s about solving enough questions correctly in the time you have. Your slot management and question selection can be your secret weapons in CAT 2025.

So, start practicing this strategy today. You’ll thank yourself on the exam day!