CAT/XAT/SNAP Prep in 90 Days: Daily Study Plan & Strategy

Introduction

Every year, thousands of MBA aspirants start preparing for CAT, XAT, or SNAP just three months before the exam—and many still end up in the 95–99 percentile bracket. Surprising? Not really. Contrary to popular belief, cracking these entrance exams does not always require a year of preparation. What truly matters is consistency, smart strategy, and structured practice.

So, if you have exactly 90 days left for your MBA entrance prep, this blog is your ultimate roadmap. We will break down the daily plan, show how each exam demands a slightly different approach, provide success-driven strategies, and highlight common mistakes to avoid. By the end, you’ll have a focused 3-month blueprint to maximize every single day.

Why 90 Days Is Enough for MBA Exams

You don’t need 12 months to succeed if you study strategically. Many toppers have admitted to starting late but working with discipline.

• The secret is consistency > long hours. Studying 3–4 hours daily with focus beats 10 hours of random cramming.
• The last 3 months are crucial because CAT, XAT, and SNAP are pattern-driven exams, not syllabus completion exams.
• Real examples: Several 99-percentilers have confessed in interviews that their preparation was 2–4 months of intense focused practice.

The takeaway? 90 days isn’t a setback—it can be your advantage if you structure it right.

Understanding the Exams (CAT vs XAT vs SNAP)

Before making a study plan, you must know what you’re preparing for. While all three are MBA entrances, their patterns and difficulty levels vary.

CAT Highlights

• 3 Sections: VARC, DILR, Quant.
• Time-bound and sectional, no switching.
• Emphasis on RC comprehension and LRDI puzzle-solving speed.
• For detailed information[Click here]

XAT Highlights

• Sections: Decision Making, Quant & DI, VARC, GK, and Essay.
• Known for tougher Quant and the unique Decision Making section.
• Essay matters in final shortlisting.
• For detailed information[Click here]

SNAP Highlights

• 60 questions in 60 minutes (speed game).
• Sections: General English, Quant/DI/DS, Analytical & Logical Reasoning.
• Requires rapid-fire solving + accuracy.
• For detailed information[Click here]

Comparative Snapshot Table

This clarity helps tailor your 90-day plan to match exam expectations.

The 90-Day Preparation Framework

The strategy is best broken into 3 phases: Foundation, Practice, Exam Readiness.

Phase1: Foundation (Day 1–30)

• Goal: Build fundamentals in Quant, DI, and Verbal.
• Plan:
  • 2 hrs Quant basics (Arithmetic & Algebra daily)
  • 1 hr LR/DI sets (start with easier caselets)
  • 1 hr Reading & CR practice (The Hindu editorials, Aeon essays, past RCs)
• Add 1 mock test per week just for benchmarking.

Phase2: Practice (Day 31–60)

• Goal: Strengthen problem-solving and accuracy.
• Plan:
  • 2 small Quant topic tests daily.
  • 1 advanced RC + parajumbles daily.
  • 2 LRDI sets timed (30–40 minutes).
  • Weekly revision notebook updates.
• Move mock frequency to 2 per week with post-analysis.

Phase3: Exam Readiness (Day 61–90)

• • Goal: Simulate exam conditions and refine test strategy.

• Plan:

• • Full-length mocks 3 times a week.
  • Sectional drills with stopwatch for timing.
  • For CAT: intense LRDI puzzle practice.
  • For XAT: decision-making sets + weekly essay writing.
  • For SNAP: short timed sectional quizzes for speed.

A Daily Study Timetable (Sample Plan)

Here’s a sample weekday schedule for focused preparation:

• Morning (7 – 8 am): Reading comprehension + vocabulary.
• Midday (12 – 1 pm): Quant concepts (pick a subtopic daily).
• Evening (6 – 8 pm): 2 LRDI sets timed practice.
• Night (9 – 10 pm): Review mistakes, update error log.
• Mock Test Days: Replace evening slot with full mock + 2 hrs analysis.

Tip: Working professionals can adapt by splitting weekdays into 2 hrs and stacking 5–6 hrs on weekends.

Special Exam-Wise Strategies

CAT in 90 Days

• Focus areas: RC practice daily, LRDI puzzle-solving.
• Mock analysis is key—don’t just give mocks, live inside your solutions to know what’s causing errors.

XAT in 90 Days

• Practice Decision Making with past 10 years’ sets.
• GK: dedicate 20 minutes a day with current affairs + static capsules.
• Write essays on trending issues—review them critically.

SNAP in 90 Days

• Practice solving 60-question sets within 60 minutes 2–3 times weekly.
• GK preparation alongside CAT/XAT VARC adds value.
• Focus on shortcuts in Quant—speed is everything here.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Blindly giving mocks without note-taking & analysis.
• Over-investing in strong areas while ignoring weak sections.
• Ditching exam-specific needs (e.g., not practicing DM for XAT).
• Studying in bursts instead of a steady daily routine.
• Ignoring health, sleep, and burnout in the last 30 days.

How Career Plan B Helps?

At Career Plan B, we recognize that many aspirants come to us with only 3 months left. Here’s how we make those 90 days count:

• Personalized Career Counselling: We assess your strengths, weaknesses, and available time to create a realistic success roadmap.
• Psycheintel and Career Assessment Tests: Identify your aptitude match and set percentile targets aligned with your profile.
• Admission and Academic Profile Guidance: We help you connect preparation performance with your admissions strategy—choosing the right CAT/XAT/SNAP cutoffs to target.
• Career Roadmapping: Tailor-made 90-day crash prep schedules for students and working professionals, ensuring disciplined, result-oriented efforts.

We work not just on cracking the exam but also ensuring it aligns with your career aspirations.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I crack CAT/XAT/SNAP in 3 months without coaching?
   Yes. Many toppers have done it with discipline, daily mocks, and structured self-study.
2. How many hours per day are required in a 90-day plan?
   Ideally 3–5 hours per day, but consistency matters more than clocking in 8+ hours randomly.
3. Is one preparation strategy enough for all three exams?
   The basics overlap, but SNAP needs speed prep, XAT requires Decision Making practice, while CAT demands LRDI mastery.
4. Should I attempt mocks daily in the last 30 days?
   No. 3–4 mocks weekly with detailed analysis is optimal. Daily mocks without analysis lead to burnout.
5. How do working professionals adapt this plan?
   Break weekdays into shorter focused sessions (2 hrs daily) and leverage weekends for longer study + mocks.

Conclusion

Ninety days is not a limitation—it’s an opportunity to prepare smarter. By dividing your time into phases, prioritizing consistent daily study, and tailoring strategies to CAT, XAT, and SNAP, you can maximize efficiency and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with year-long preparers.

The key takeaway? It doesn’t matter how much time you have—it matters how well you use it. Create discipline, analyze your progress, and walk into the exam hall with confidence.

If you’re looking for a structured and personalized roadmap to make these 90 days count, Career Plan B is here to guide you every step of the way.