CAT Preparation for Beginners 2026 Section-Wise Tips & Strategy

Week

VARC (Verbal Ability & RC)

DILR (Data Interpretation & LR)

Quantitative Aptitude

Week 1

• Read 1 editorial / long article daily

• Write a 3–4 line summary in your own words

• Note 5–7 new words each day with meaning & usage

• 3 easy LR puzzles (arrangements, ranking, direction)

• 2 simple DI sets (tables/bar graphs)

• Practice Sudoku Daily

• Revise basic arithmetic: integers, fractions, decimals

• Practice 10-15 Ques/Day (Easy)

• Make notes for every topic

Week 2

• Practice 1 Editorial daily + make summary

• Start 1 short RC passage every alternate day

• 10 parajumble / odd sentence questions over the week

• 3 LR sets (seating, grouping)

• 2 DI sets using percentage/ratio data (Easy Level)

• Practice Sudoku Daily

• Percentages basics: % to fraction, increase/decrease

• Practice 10-20 questions/day

• End the week with a 15-question mini quiz on basics

Week 3

• Practice 1 Editorial daily + make summary

• 1 RC passage (easy) every other day

• 10–15 parajumble questions

• Maintain a small notebook of common RC mistakes

• 4 mixed sets (2 DI + 2 LR)

• Try one timed block: 2 sets in 35–40 minutes

• Note where you spent unnecessary time

• Practice Sudoku Daily

• Ratios & Proportions, Averages

• 50–60 questions spread across the week

• Revisit 10 earlier questions you got wrong

Week 4

• Practice 1 Editorial daily + make summary 

2 RC sets this week under a timer (10–12 min each)

• 15 questions of para summary / main idea

• Re-solve 1 previous RC and compare the improvement

• 4 sets total – some from earlier topics

• Try at least 1 “slightly uncomfortable” puzzle

• Write down a standard approach for arrangements

• Profit & Loss, Discount basics

• 50–60 questions

• Weekend: 25-question mixed Arithmetic drill (Percentages + Ratios + Averages + P&L)

Week

VARC

DILR

Quant

Week 5

• Practice 1 Editorial daily + make summary

• 2 RC sets (economy/business themes)

• 10 inference questions

• Keep tracking question types you often miss

• 4 LR sets: distribution, selection, team formation

• 1 DI set with slightly heavier calculations

• Try to draw tables/diagrams neatly

• Simple & Compound Interest basics

• 50–60 questions

• Revise Percentages + Ratios once this week

Week 6

• Practice 2 Editorial daily + make summary

• 3 RC sets from science/tech topics

• 10 para summary questions

• Start noticing the author’s tone (positive/negative/neutral)

• 4 DI sets: tables + bar/line graphs

• 1 LR set from older mocks/PYQs (easy level)

• After each set, write “what I should have spotted early”

• Time, Speed & Distance (including relative speed)

• 50–60 questions

• 10 examples of train/boat-type questions

Week 7

• Daily 30–40 min reading (magazines/blogs/books)

• 2 RC sets + 10 VA questions (mix types)

• Maintain a list of confusing option patterns

• 3 LR sets (family tree, puzzles)

• 2 DI sets from caselets (paragraph DI)

• Do at least 1 timed 2-set block (35–40 min)

• Time & Work, Pipes & Cisterns

• 50–60 questions

• Weekend: 20-question test combining TSD + T&W

Week 8

• 3 RC sets, moderate difficulty

• 10 questions on “title / central idea”

• Re-attempt 1 older RC without seeing answers

• 4 mixed sets (2 DI + 2 LR), moderate level

• Try to finish each set under 20–22 minutes

• Mark sets that felt “comfortable”

• Percentages + Ratios revision (faster now)

• Introduction to Mixtures & Alligations

• 50–60 questions total

Week 9

• 3 RC sets from humanities/philosophy topics

• 10–15 parajumble questions

• Note 5–7 new words from each RC

• 4 LR sets with multi-condition constraints

• 1 DI set focusing on approximation skills

• Re-solve 1 tough puzzle slowly

• Algebra – linear equations, basic inequalities

• 50–60 questions

• 10 conceptual examples in your notes

Week 10

• 3 RC sets, focus on dense language

• 10 para summary questions

• Try one 30-min mini-section (2 RCs + 5 VA)

• 3 DI sets on percentage change, growth rates

• 2 LR sets: seating + selection

• After each set, rate difficulty (Easy/Med/Hard)

• Algebra – quadratic equations & roots

• 50–60 questions

• Weekend: 20-question test on Algebra 1

Week 11

• 2 RC sets + 15 mixed VA questions

• Re-solve 1 week-5/6 RC to check progress

• Update your “common errors” list

• 4 sets: 2 DI + 2 LR mixed

• Try 1 two-set block in 30 minutes

• Write one learning per set

• Number Systems – factors, multiples, HCF/LCM

• 50–60 questions

• Quick revision of Arithmetic formulas

Week 12

• 3 RC sets, varied topics

• 10 questions each of parajumble and odd sentence

• 1 40-min VARC drill (2 RCs + 10 VA)

• 4 sets, including at least 1 Venn-diagram style set

• Redo 1 earlier set that you found confusing

• Track your accuracy (%) this week

• Number Systems – divisibility, remainders, last digits

• 50–60 questions

• 15 PYQ-style questions mixed in

Week 13

• 3 RC sets with timer (12–14 min each)

• 10 inference/assumption questions

• Analyse every wrong option’s logic

• 4 DI sets (tables + graphs)

• 1 LR set from games/tournaments

• Try to improve your initial “data scan” speed

• Geometry – lines, angles, triangles, quadrilaterals

• 50–60 questions

• Draw accurate figures to understand concepts

Week 14

• 3 RC sets at moderate difficulty

• 10 VA questions focusing on para summary

• Re-attempt an old VA practice set

• 4 LR sets: arrangements, distribution, ranking

• At least 1 set solved twice (second time faster)

• Note typical starting point for each puzzle type

• Geometry – circles & polygons

• Intro to coordinate geometry (distance, midpoint)

• 50–60 questions

Week 15

• 3 RC sets from newspapers/magazines

• 10 questions on tone & attitude

• Maintain “favourite RC themes” list

• 3 DI sets using multiple graphs

• 2 LR sets with nested conditions

• Practise rough work neatly for DILR

• Mensuration – 2D area/perimeter; intro to 3D

• 50–60 questions

• Weekend: 25-question Geo + Mensuration drill

Week 16

• First full VARC sectional (40 min) this cycle

• Deep analysis: question choice, time spent, accuracy

• Note 3 improvement points

• 3–4 mixed DILR sets as a mini-section (50–60 min)

• Decide which types you find quickest

• Plan to prioritise those in later mocks

• Mixed test: Arithmetic + Algebra + Geometry

• 35–40 questions in 60 minutes

• Identify your 3 weakest chapters for the next phase

Week

VARC

DILR

Quant

Week 17

• 3–4 RC sets, at least 2 timed

• 10–15 VA questions of your weakest type

• Re-read explanations of 1 old section

• 4 mixed sets, moderate level

• Aim for 2 sets with 90%+ accuracy

• Keep a list of “must attempt” set patterns

• Focused revision of Arithmetic (all topics)

• 70–80 questions

• Re-solve 15–20 past wrong questions

Week 18

• 3 RC sets from tough topics (philosophy, art)

• 10 para summary/inference questions

• Track accuracy per RC

• 4 LR-heavy sets (puzzles, grids, games)

• Re-do 1 puzzle without a timer to understand the structure

• Start a habit of underlining key conditions

• Algebra revision: linear, quadratic, inequalities

• 60–70 questions

• 15 moderate-level questions from PYQs

Week 19

• 3 RC sets mixing new and old ones

• 10 VA questions (random mix)

• Compare your speed with Week 10

• 4 DI sets using ratio/percentage calculations

• 1 LR set from previous sectional/mocks

• Write down tricks to simplify calculations

• Geometry + Mensuration revision

• 60–70 questions

• One 25-question mini-test (45 min)

Week 20

• 1 full VARC sectional (40 min)

• 2 extra RC sets during the week

• Analyse which RCs you should have skipped

• 4 mixed DILR sets

• 1 two-set timed block (35 min)

• Start thinking about the set selection strategy

• Modern Maths intro – Permutation & Combination basics

• 40–50 questions

• Do simple counting problems first

Week 21

• 3 RC sets (focus on precision, not attempts)

• 10 VA questions focusing on parajumble

• Maintain an accuracy log

• 4 sets, including at least 2 DI caselets

• Time yourself and write the finishing time for each set

• Note which sets gave maximum ROI

• Probability basics, simple events

• 40–50 questions

• One 20-question test on P&C + Probability

Week 22

• 1 VARC sectional + detailed review

• 2 RC sets from themes you fear the most

• Rewrite at least 3 wrong explanations

• 4–5 mixed sets at a moderate level

• Try to keep accuracy ≥ 80% overall

• Shortlist your “comfort” set types

• Mixed QA revision (Arithmetic + Algebra + Geometry)

• 70–80 questions

• Categorise mistakes: concept/calculation/haste

Week 23

• Experiment with attempt order (VA first vs RC first)

• 3 RC sets

• Note which order feels more natural

• 5 sets (3 LR, 2 DI), time-bound

• At least 2 sets chosen from earlier weak areas

• Record which sets you’d skip in a real exam

• Sequence & Series / Progressions basics

• 50–60 questions

• 10 questions revisiting Number Systems

Week 24

• 1 VARC sectional (40 min) + analysis

• 1 extra RC set later in the week

• Focus on reducing silly errors

• First full DILR sectional (60 min)

• Post-test: label sets as Easy/Medium/Hard

• Solve 1 unattempted set slowly

• First full QA sectional (60 min)

• 30–35 questions mixed

• Identify chapters you are avoiding

Week 25

• 3 RC sets (mix of easy and moderate)

• 10 VA questions focusing on your weakest area

• Re-read 1 old RC that you got badly wrong

• 4–5 sets similar to CAT pattern (4–5 questions per set)

• Try to finish 3 sets confidently

• Note starting steps clearly

• Targeted practice on the 2 weakest QA topics

• 60–70 questions across those topics

• 10 questions on your strongest topic for balance

Week 26

• 1 VARC sectional + 1 RC re-attempt day

• For each error, decide: misread / concept/guess

• 4–5 mixed sets (increasing difficulty)

• 1 two-set block under strict time

• Write “set selection rules” for yourself

• 30–40 PYQ-style QA questions

• 40–50 regular practice questions

• Mark all questions that felt “tricky but doable”

Week 27

• 3 RC sets focused on speed

• Track time per passage and try small improvements

• 10 VA questions

• 3 DI + 2 LR sets

• Simulate exam: attempt only those you find comfortable

• Check if your choices were correct

• Two 30-question mixed QA drills this week

• Time each drill (45–50 min)

• Analyse wrong & slow questions separately

Week 28

• First full 3-section mock (VARC+DILR+QA)

• Spend at least 2–3 hours on analysis

• List 5 clear takeaways for VARC

• From mock, pick 2 non-attempted sets and solve

• Identify patterns of sets you misjudged

• Plan DILR set order for next mock

• From mock analysis, list chapters causing the most damage

• Plan a 3-week correction schedule

• Review formula sheet

Week

VARC

DILR

Quant

Week 29

• 1 full mock this week

• 2 RC sets from your weak themes

• Update “RC theme – comfort level” list

• Re-solve 2 DILR sets from the mock (one good, one bad)

• 3 new sets for practice

• Track accuracy per set

• Arithmetic revision cycle (all topics)

• 70–80 questions

• Solve at least 10 wordy, exam-like problems

Week 30

• 1 mock + 1 short VARC drill (2 RCs + 10 VA)

• Try a slightly different RC order and compare

• 4–5 mixed sets at moderate difficulty

• Measure average time per set

• Try to improve by 1–2 minutes overall

• Algebra revision cycle

• 70–80 questions

• 15 PYQs for Algebra

Week 31

• “RC re-attempt day”: 2 old passages without notes

• 2 fresh RC sets later in the week

• 10 VA practice questions

• 1 DILR sectional (60 min)

• 2 extra sets from the tough topic category

• Write down your “DILR exam algorithm”

• Geometry + Mensuration revision cycle

• 70–80 questions

• Pay extra attention to diagrams & visualisation

Week 32

• 1 mock + 1 VARC mini-section

• Focus on reducing random guesses

• After mock, classify each set: Must Do / Maybe / Avoid

• Practise one set of each type

• Observe how you choose sets

• Number Systems + Modern Maths revision

• 70–80 questions

• Re-visit divisibility and remainders thoroughly

Week 33

• 3–4 RC sets from “painful” topics only

• Note how many you get right despite discomfort

• 4–5 sets with multi-step logic

• Set slightly tighter timers

• Check where accuracy starts dropping

• Weekly QA mixed test (35–40 questions)

• Additional 30 practice questions on weak topics

Week 34

• 1 mock; observe if VARC score is stable

• 10 VA questions from previous mocks where you went wrong

• Re-attempt all unattempted sets from the latest mock

• 2 new sets to maintain variety

• Drill on your 2 weakest areas (e.g., Probability / Geo)

• 70–80 questions

• Re-solve 15 earlier wrong questions

Week 35

• “Accuracy week”: fewer attempts, higher precision

• 2 RC sets + 10 VA questions

• Note error % and try to bring it down

• 3–4 sets targeting near-perfect accuracy

• Don’t rush; focus on clean logic and neat tables

• 15–20 minutes of mental calculations on 3 days

• 40–50 QA practice questions with focus on speed

Week 36

• 1–2 mocks across two weeks (depending on schedule)

• After each mock, write a 5-point VARC review

• Fix a DILR attempt strategy and test it in mocks

• 3–4 sets for regular practice

• Start a compact revision notebook (formulas + typical questions)

• 70–80 questions from mixed topics

Week 37

• Practise VARC when slightly tired to mimic exam fatigue

• 2 RC sets + 10 VA questions

• 4 sets that require careful reading of long statements

• Note how you break down blocks of information

• Second full revision of Arithmetic + Algebra

• 80–90 questions

• Mark 20 questions to be re-done near exam

Week 38

• 3 RC sets with very close options

• Go through explanations in detail

• Try to articulate why each wrong option is wrong

• 1 DILR sectional with 5 minutes less than normal time

• Observe how pressure affects your choices

• Second revision of Geometry, Number Systems, Modern maths

• 80–90 questions

Week 39

• Decide your VARC section gameplan: RC first or VA first, target attempts

• 2 RC sets to test that plan

• 4–5 sets focusing on picking the right sets, not all sets

• Treat every practice as a mini-exam

• 1 QA sectional (60 min)

• 30-question mixed drill focusing on earlier error types

Week 40

• 1 mock + light extra RC practice

• Confirm final VARC approach from now on

• From mock, refine DILR “Must Do” and “Avoid” list

• 3 practice sets from “Must Do” zone

• Exam-style questions only (moderate–difficult)

• 60–70 questions

• Keep adding to formula + shortcut sheet

Week

VARC

DILR

Quant

Week 41

• 1–2 mocks depending on comfort

• Re-visit toughest RCs from previous tests

• Note patterns of traps that get you

• Redo 2–3 DILR sets from old mocks you couldn’t solve earlier

• 1–2 new sets just for freshness

• 60–70 mixed QA questions from weak areas

• Re-attempt selected past mistakes

Week 42

• Create a one-pager: “My VARC rules” (what I attempt/skip, time per RC, guess rules)

• Light practice: 2 RCs + 10 VA questions

• Draft your DILR one-pager: set types to start with, when to leave a set, ideal time per set

• 3 practice sets to test it

• Build/clean your formula flashcards

• 15–20 minutes of flashcard revision daily

• 40–50 light practice questions

Week 43

• Focus more on VA (non-RC): 20–25 questions

• 1 RC every alternate day

• 3–4 sets on recent CAT-like patterns

• Try to complete at least 2 with 100% accuracy

• 1 QA sectional

• Analyse whether you’re choosing questions that suit you first

Week 44

• 1 mock at approx. your expected exam time

• Keep rest of the day light but exam-like (meals, breaks)

• Some practice days: DILR immediately after VARC to simulate sequence

• 2–3 sets

• Review QA error log and common traps

• 40–50 practice questions from those themes

Week 45

• 1 mock + 1 short VARC drill (2 RCs + 10 VA)

• Focus more on revising than discovering new patterns

• 2–3 favourite set types for confidence building

• Avoid very exotic / extremely tough sets now

• 40–50 mixed QA questions timed

• Aim to trim unnecessary steps and calculations

Week 46

• Short but sharp sessions: 1 RC + 5–10 VA questions per sitting

• Detailed review of each small drill

• 3 timed sets

• Then re-solve 1 tough set slowly to explore alternate logic

• Only revision – no new theory

• 30-question mixed test; try to minimise unforced errors

Week 47

• 1 mock early in the week

• Later: only light VARC practice (1–2 RCs)

• Follow your fixed DILR approach in every test now

• 2–3 sets to maintain rhythm

• Keep strong chapters sharp with 40–50 questions

• Focus on accuracy more than volume

Week 48

• Re-do 3–4 old RC sets that once felt very tough

• First attempt untimed, then timed

• Redo 3–4 high-yield DILR sets that resemble CAT style

• Focus on pattern recognition

• 1 QA sectional at your actual exam slot time

• Light additional revision of formulas

Week 49

• Reduce volume: 1–2 RCs and 5–10 VA questions every other day

• More time on relaxation & sleep

• 2–3 easy to moderate sets only

• Avoid anything that dents confidence

• 30–40 easy–moderate questions

• Go through the entire revision notebook once

Week 50

• Finalise written VARC exam strategy (attempt order, number of RCs, when to guess/skip)

• Finalise written DILR strategy (which sets to pick first, max time before leaving a set)

• Scan through formula sheet 2–3 times this week

• A few light drills purely for confidence

Week 51

• Very light practice: 1 RC + a few VA questions every alternate day

• Prioritise calm over scores

• 1–2 short sets if you feel like it; otherwise, just visualise your approach

• 20–30 simple mixed questions

• Stick to normal sleep & meal times

Week 52 (Exam Week)

• Only casual reading (newspaper/magazine) for comfort

• Maybe 1 RC mid-week if you really want

• No scores obsession

• Either zero or at most 1 very easy set early in the week

• Mental rehearsal of strategy instead

• Just skim formulas once or twice

• Focus on rest, light food, and staying relaxed for CAT day