How to Manage Time Across CAT 2025: Section-wise Strategy & Tips

Introduction

Ever felt like the CAT clock ticks a little faster than every other exam? If you’ve ever taken a mock test and looked up to find that 20 minutes had vanished while you struggled with one Reading Comprehension passage or a single DILR set, you’re not alone.

The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 is not just a test of knowledge—it’s equally a test of time management under pressure. With 120 minutes total, three sections, and 40 minutes each under strict sectional time limits, the exam demands efficiency more than anything else. What separates a 95 percentile scorer from a 70 percentile one is not necessarily the brilliance of concepts, but the smart use of time.

Why Does Time Management Matter in CAT 2025?

Time is the biggest equalizer in CAT. With the exam designed to challenge candidates’ ability to think fast under pressure, it is not uncommon for even highly prepared students to underperform due to poor pacing.

Here’s the CAT 2025 format:

• VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension): 40 minutes
• DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning): 40 minutes
• QA (Quantitative Ability): 40 minutes

That’s it—no extra time, no shifting between sections. The CAT is therefore like a marathon composed of three short sprints, each requiring a different rhythm.

A simple mistake like spending five extra minutes stuck on a single question can cost you 3–4 questions you could have solved correctly. And in CAT, each additional mark dramatically shifts your percentile. That’s why time management isn’t just an exam tactic—it’s the foundation of success.

Section-Wise Time Management Strategy

How to Manage Time in VARC?

Most candidates underestimate the time VARC consumes. Reading Comprehension (RC) alone accounts for about 70% of the section’s weightage.

Suggested Allocation:

• RC passages: ~28 minutes
• VA questions (para jumbles, odd one out, para summary): ~12 minutes

Tips for managing VARC time:

• Skim the passage first for structure, then dive into details while answering. Don’t reread entire paragraphs unless the question demands it.
• Use elimination as your primary weapon. Usually two options are easy to eliminate, leaving you to decide between two close choices.
• For para jumbles, don’t aim for perfection—look for logical connectors first. Spending 5 minutes on one para jumble is not worth it.
• Daily RC practice builds reading stamina, which saves crucial seconds during the exam.

Think of VARC like a rapid series of small sprints—your goal is not to “understand like a literature student” but to extract context fast and move.

How to Manage Time in DILR?

DILR is famous for being the “make or break” section. The trick is not just solving, but quickly identifying the right sets.

Suggested Allocation:

• Spend 5 minutes at the start skimming all sets.
• Pick 2–3 solvable sets and attempt them fully.

Time-saving strategies:

• Don’t get emotionally attached to a set. If after 8 minutes you’ve made no progress, drop it immediately.
• Practice scanning techniques: Look for sets with clear starting points and structured data.
• Build mental “filters” through timed practice—your brain must start recognizing solvable vs. time traps.

A practical example: In one CAT paper, a DILR set involving “arranging friends’ schedules across multiple conditions” looked doable but had hidden complexity. Many candidates wasted 20 minutes on it and ended up attempting nothing else. Meanwhile, those who skipped it and solved two simpler sets cleared the 95 percentile.

How to Manage Time in QA?

Quantitative Ability (QA) often overwhelms students because it tests both speed and accuracy under strict time.

Suggested Allocation:

• First 20–25 minutes: Focus only on easy-to-moderate questions.
• Last 10–15 minutes: Attempt tougher ones if time permits.

Efficiency tips in QA:

• Use option-based solving: For example, in quadratic equations, plugging in answer choices can beat solving them step by step.
• Approximation methods: In percentage/profit-loss, rough approximations often suffice to reach the answer.
• Time discipline: If a question takes more than 90 seconds, mark and move on. It’s better to attempt 10 easy questions than get stuck in one “ego battle”.

The topper’s mindset in QA is: “I don’t have to prove I can solve everything, I just have to solve what matters, fast.”

Smart Question Selection Is Half the Battle

Ever heard the quote, “Winners don’t do different things, they do things differently”? In CAT 2025, winners are the ones who pick the right battles.

Signs of a time-sink question:

• Long statements without clear structure.
• Questions that involve too many variables.
• RC questions that seem to have two “correct” options.

The 3-Round Strategy for CAT:

1. Round 1 (Easy): Attempt questions you can solve in 60–90 seconds.
2. Round 2 (Moderate): Return to medium-level difficulty once all easy ones are cleared.
3. Round 3 (Hard): Use leftover time to attempt only if you feel close to solving.

Case study: In CAT 2023, one student attempted only 14 questions in QA, but 12 were correct. That alone put them in the 97+ percentile zone. Smart selection > mindless speed.

Time Management Through Mock Tests

Mock tests are your best training ground. You cannot learn pacing on the day of the exam—it has to be built into your preparation.

Mock Test Guidelines:

• Start with 1 mock per week, escalate to 2–3 per week as CAT approaches.
• After each mock, review not only accuracy but also where you lost time:
  • Did you read too long?
  • Did you leave too many sets unchecked?
  • Did QA attempts cluster in tough areas?

Example of improvement:

A student who initially attempted only 40% of the paper steadily raised attempts to 75% within two months, thanks to structured mock reviews. The secret wasn’t learning new topics but learning how to spend time better.

Practical Time-Saving Tips for CAT 2025

• Train your internal clock: Practice without relying on a timer, then check how closely you estimated 40 minutes.
• Build mental math speed: Daily 15-minute drills in percentages and calculations save seconds in QA.
• Reduce reading fatigue: Read editorials daily to boost comprehension speed.
• DILR elimination: Train yourself to recognize and ignore unsolvable sets within 90 seconds.
• Maintain calmness: Stress can cause you to overspend time. Build a meditation or pre-mock breathing routine.

How Career Plan B Helps

Time management doesn’t develop overnight—it comes from structured, personalized guidance. That’s where Career Plan B steps in.

• Personalized Career Counselling: Our experts analyze your study habits and pinpoint where your time is slipping away during prep.
• Psycheintel and Career Assessment Tests: These assessments map your strengths in speed, logical reasoning, and decision-making—critical for time-bound exams like CAT.
• Admission and Academic Profile Guidance: We help you balance CAT prep with building a strong overall profile for top B-schools.
• Career Roadmapping: Structured daily and weekly planning ensures you stay consistent and efficient.

Instead of random practice, you get a roadmap tailored to your unique preparation style.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How many questions should I aim to attempt per section?
A: Quality matters more than quantity. Rough benchmark: 10–15 in VARC, 2–3 DILR sets, 10–12 in QA for a 95+ percentile.

Q2. Should I attempt CAT questions sequentially?
A: No. Always select based on difficulty. Sequential attempts waste time on harder questions.

Q3. Can I improve speed in the last 2 months?
A: Yes. Focus on timed practice, quick calculations, and mock test reviews. Even late improvements can boost percentiles.

Q4. How do I manage RC passages effectively?
A: Skim for structure and tone, then attack questions with elimination. Daily reading practice reduces time waste.

Q5. Is guessing better than leaving a question blank?
A: Only if you can eliminate options. Random guessing risks -1 penalty, which can be costly.

Conclusion

Time in CAT 2025 is not your enemy—it’s your most valuable ally, if you learn to manage it wisely. Effective time management comes down to three pillars: smart section allocation, question selection, and disciplined mock practice.

Remember, no one solves the entire CAT paper. Even 98 percentile scorers leave plenty of questions untouched. The key difference is what they choose to solve, and how quickly they move on from traps.

So, as you train for CAT 2025, don’t just cram formulas—practice the rhythm of the exam. Build your pacing muscles. With the right approach and consistent guidance, you can make every second count.