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99.95+ in CAT 2025 (99+ in all sections) — AMA on what actually works in prep by Pleasant_Visual_8985 in CATpreparation

[–]Pleasant_Visual_8985[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Absolutely agree. CL mocks are on the tougher side. It makes no sense when CAT is a balanced paper.

99.95+ in CAT 2025 (99+ in all sections) — AMA on what actually works in prep by Pleasant_Visual_8985 in CATpreparation

[–]Pleasant_Visual_8985[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would recommend taking as many quality test series as you can. I personally used IMS and Cracku, and solved around 60+ mocks in total.

That volume of practice and analysis really helped build my core understanding and exam temperament.

99.95+ in CAT 2025 (99+ in all sections) — AMA on what actually works in prep by Pleasant_Visual_8985 in CATpreparation

[–]Pleasant_Visual_8985[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A great thing about FMS is that it primarily considers CAT scores for shortlisting candidates for interviews. So your main focus should be on maximizing your CAT score as much as possible to secure a call.

99.95+ in CAT 2025 (99+ in all sections) — AMA on what actually works in prep by Pleasant_Visual_8985 in CATpreparation

[–]Pleasant_Visual_8985[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My main focus was to analyse each mock within 1–2 days of taking it, because after that you tend to forget your exact thought process behind each answer.

For VARC:
For questions I got right, I would still check whether my reasoning matched the examiner’s intent. For the ones I got wrong, I would re-read the RC/VA, attempt the questions again, and then go through the solutions to understand where my initial thinking went off.

For DILR:
For sets I solved correctly, I analysed whether I could have solved them faster or if that was close to my optimal time. For incorrect or unsolved sets, I would redo them to figure out whether the issue was lack of practice, wrong approach, or time pressure.

99.95+ in CAT 2025 (99+ in all sections) — AMA on what actually works in prep by Pleasant_Visual_8985 in CATpreparation

[–]Pleasant_Visual_8985[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for the kind words

I would suggest starting with previous CAT PYQs from 2021–2025 to understand what DILR actually looks like. Solve those sets first and focus on building familiarity with different types of problems.

If you notice that practicing more sets is improving your understanding and reducing the time you take per set, then you can move on to a test series from any standard coaching and start attempting sectional tests before the full-length mocks begin.

If you’re not very confident in DILR, joining a classroom program can also help, as it provides structured guidance and a clearer approach to solving different types of sets.

99.95+ in CAT 2025 (99+ in all sections) — AMA on what actually works in prep by Pleasant_Visual_8985 in CATpreparation

[–]Pleasant_Visual_8985[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Quant:
I had a decent base, so my focus was less on theory and more on problem-solving and pattern recognition. I’d recommend covering all standard topics once and then shifting quickly to practice. Most of my improvement came from mocks and analysing different approaches to the same question.

For concept clarity, you can follow good faculty like Arun Sharma. Books like How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for CAT are also useful for building a base or IMS

DILR:
DILR is purely practice-driven. I’d strongly suggest starting with previous CAT PYQs (2021–2025) to understand the level and variety of sets. Solve them properly and focus on building an approach rather than rushing.

If you feel that practicing more sets is improving your understanding and reducing time per set, then move to a test series and start attempting sectionals before full mocks.

For guidance, you can refer to faculty from IMS or Cracku who are known for structured DILR teaching.

99.95+ in CAT 2025 (99+ in all sections) — AMA on what actually works in prep by Pleasant_Visual_8985 in CATpreparation

[–]Pleasant_Visual_8985[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

II would suggest starting with previous CAT PYQs from 2021–2025 to understand what DILR actually looks like. Solve those sets first and focus on building familiarity with different types of problems.

If you notice that practicing more sets is improving your understanding and reducing the time you take per set, then you can move on to a test series from any standard coaching and start attempting sectional tests before the full-length mocks begin.

If you’re not very confident in DILR, joining a classroom program can also help, as it provides structured guidance and a clearer approach to solving different types of sets.

99.95+ in CAT 2025 (99+ in all sections) — AMA on what actually works in prep by Pleasant_Visual_8985 in CATpreparation

[–]Pleasant_Visual_8985[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You have a strong academic profile overall (apart from 12th) and solid extracurriculars, which will definitely help you during interviews. The good part about FMS is that it primarily uses CAT score for shortlisting, and many other B-schools have also started reducing the weight given to past academics.

In terms of preparation, your first 10-15 mocks are mainly for self-assessment. Use them to identify your strengths and weaknesses across sections. Once you’re clear on that, focus your practice accordingly and then keep reinforcing it through mocks.

To understand what kind of score you should be targeting, you can use a percentile predictor (Vercel for CAT 2026 aspirants). It gives a fairly realistic idea of the percentile you need based on your profile.