When to Start Giving CAT 2025 Mock Tests?

The optimal time to begin your preparation for the CAT exam will depend on your capabilities, skills, and available time for preparation on a daily basis. Therefore, if you start your preparation for the CAT exam in January or February, you may find yourself in a position to take a mock test as early as April. 

If you have started your CAT preparation 2025 in June or July, then you should primarily focus on first understanding concepts and completing your syllabus. Once you are familiar with a good variety of topics, you can start embedding sectional mock examinations to understand the sections better and how to manage your time. After about 4 months, you can then start taking full-length mocks, one in each week, to get comfortable in terms of overall structure.

Also Read: Which IIM is Conducting CAT 2025?

Best Time to Start Taking CAT 2025 Mock Tests

CAT 2025 mock tests should be started after the core syllabus is completed. The ideal time to start mocks should be between May and September as this allows enough time to understand performance, evaluate strategies, and adapt to the CAT exam pattern of different sections.

As the exam approaches, you can increase your frequency to 2-3 full-length mocks each week, spending enough time evaluating each test to identify areas of improvement and change your strategy accordingly. Daily tests should be applied as a form of maintenance for your skillsets and to develop a consistent habit of study.

In the last few weeks, you should schedule time to do full-length mock exams just like you would have to on the day of the exam to allow your body and mind to adjust to the timing, but more importantly, to focus on your revision and stress management to ensure that you are in the best frame of mind and confident on the big day.

1. Early Phase: Where building concepts have the emphasis

• Topic-Based Mock Tests: Start to do topic-based mock tests to cement your understanding of the individual concepts. This part of the preparation is vital to understanding the fundamentals of Verbal Ability, Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation, and Logical Reasoning.
• Sectional Tests: When you have a strong understanding across several areas, you can start doing sectional mock tests. Sectional mock tests will start to get you to understand the dynamics in each section and how you would pace yourself within it.

2. Mid-Phase: Transition to full-length mocks

• Full-length mock tests: You can request to complete full-length assessments so you can get a taste of the overall reality of the structure and timing of the real CAT exam. To start off, aim to complete approximately 1 full-length mock per week.
• Sectional testing: You can continue to do sectional tests to help you hone your skills in each area.

3. Final Phase: Focus on intensive practice and strategy refinement.

• Increase the number of full-length mocks to at least 2-3 times a week. This will develop your exam stamina and improve your test-taking strategy.
• Analyse Performance: Make certain you spend ample time analysing each fake test you do. Know what areas need to be improved upon and where your strategy needs to change, if at all.
• Daily tests: include daily examinations to stimulate your abilities and keep a regular study schedule.

Related Links:

• What is a good Quant score in CAT? Tips to Score Better
• Which IIM is best for CAT 2025 Aspirants?

Conclusion

Start taking CAT 2025 mock tests at least 3-4 months before the exam. Early mock tests will help identify weak areas for improvement, which is important for quicker response times and developing the temperament for the real exam. You can use one mock a month to start with, then each month increase the number to give yourself enough time for regular analysis, which is key to improving your overall.