Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid in the upcoming CAT 2025 Exam for a Higher Scores

The Common Admission Test is one of the most grueling entrance tests in India for an MBA aspirant. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people try their luck to turn up at either IIMs, XLRI, or SPJIMR. This year, the exam is on November 30, 2025. It is divided into three shifts: the morning from 8:30 to 10:30 AM, afternoon between 12:30 and 2:30 PM, plus evening running 4:30 to 6:30 PM. Doing well requires something more than hard work-it requires clever planning too. Staying clear of typical errors might just boost your shot at cracking it.

Plenty of learners end up spending a lot of time on irrelevant areas. The exam tests skills like math, understanding data and reasoning, and reading and verbal tasks. Focus on these aspects so that you put your study time to better use.

The thing that matters most on the CAT is to determine your work speed. If one problem takes ages, others get ignored by default. Full practice runs with tight clocks sharpen both pace and precision.

Practice exams feel like the actual test; don't miss them, or you may then have to face unexpected problems. Doing them frequently will let you spot where you struggle while leveling nerves; it also sharpens how you tackle questions.

Picking lots of problems, but getting them wrong, can hurt your score because mistakes will cost points. Work each one carefully instead of trying to rush through everything.

Many learners obsess over complicated tricks. Yet solid basics in numbers, language rules, or clear thinking let you tackle tough problems without doubt.

Popping quizzes without checking where you went wrong? Super common blunder. Right after each practice run, dig into what tripped you up, how long things took, plus shaky areas-doing this sharpens your game next time around.

Quick tricks may speed things up, but leaning on them too hard risks errors. Mix solid grasp of ideas with faster methods, so you stay sharp and quick at once.

Most learners skip reading altogether-yet this habit is one that matters a lot while dealing with the Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension part. Picking up newspapers now and then helps, just as going through random articles or academic write-ups; these improve how well you comprehend ideas while enhancing word knowledge as part of the process.

Too much pressure, coupled with rushing at the end, can ruin your results. Keep a steady rhythm, pause every now and then, or just lie down for a bit - do this, so you’re wide awake once the exam rolls around.

Even if a few matter more, skipping the uncommon ones loses points. Tackle every section based on what you're good or bad at for a balanced result.

Important CAT 2025 Dates

Exam Date: 30 November 2025 (Multiple sessions)

Result Declaration: First week of January 2026 (tentative)

Doing well in CAT 2025 comes down to how you prepare as much as your game plan. Avoiding errors like mismanaging time, skipping mocks, and being careless might allow candidates to enhance their results while securing seats in leading B-schools. Sticking to regular drills, thinking ahead of acting, and checking your own progress makes hitting a strong score possible.