What’s the 80/20 Rule?

It’s simple: 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts. Apply it to your CAT prep, it means this: not all topics are of equal importance, not all mock scores will decide your CAT percentile, and not all strategies are equally useful. Some matters, way more than others. And if you figure out which 20% to prioritize, you can stop feeling like you're drowning in prep material. Let’s break it down, section by section.

VARC: Focus on Reading Quality, Not Quantity

You don’t need to read every article on the internet. And you need to read it smart, not just more. Instead of 10 RCs a day, spend time analyzing 2 deeply. Why did you fall for the trap? Was it vocabulary? Inference? Focus more on diverse reading (economics, psychology, science editorials) and question patterns, not cramming obscure words. 

Your 20%: Reading consistently + reviewing RC mistakes = 80% of your VARC improvement.

Quant: You Don’t Need to Master All 27 Topics

Let’s be honest. Some Quant chapters show up way more often than others. And you probably already know which ones. Arithmetic and Algebra form a major chunk of QA year after year. Focus on the application of concepts, not just mugging formulas. If Geometry or Time & Distance is eating your soul and barely shows up, maybe it’s time to let go. 

Your 20%: Strong grip on Arithmetic + Algebra + question selection = 80% of your QA performance.

DILR: It’s Not About Solving All Sets

DILR isn’t about speed. It’s about spotting the set you can crack, and not wasting 15 minutes on the one you can’t. Practice set selection during mocks. That’s the game. Build a mental library of patterns: tables, puzzles, and conditional setups. Revisit sets you've bombed and ask, “What made this hard to spot?” 

Your 20%: Smart set selection + comfort with common patterns = 80% of your DILR breakthroughs.

Mocks & Analysis: The Goldmine You’re Ignoring

You know what separates a 95 %iler from a 99.5% iler? It’s not that they solve more questions. It’s that they analyse every mistake like a detective. After every mock, track:

1. What did I do well?

2. What drained my time?

3. What should I have skipped?

Create a “Mistake Journal.” You'll be shocked at how often you repeat the same 5 silly errors. Your 20%: Taking fewer mocks + deeper analysis = 80% of your growth curve.

Don’t be a Completionist. Be a Strategist.

You’re not preparing for a board exam. CAT doesn’t care if you studied 100 topics. It rewards those who can solve 14–18 questions per section smartly and calmly. So, stop grinding every topic just because it’s there. Start asking: Will this move the needle?

Study Less. Study Smart.

There’s a reason the 80/20 rule is used in businesses. It works because it filters noise from impact. You don’t have to do it all. You just have to do what works. 

So today, ditch the guilt. Drop the busywork. And lean into the few things that will actually push you forward.

Because in CAT prep, and in life, less is often more.