CAT & XAT in 3 Months: A Combined Preparation Strategy

Introduction

Preparing for just one MBA entrance exam is daunting, but what if you need to prepare for CAT and XAT together in just 90 days? Many aspirants face this exact challenge every year. Both exams are gateways to India’s top B-schools — IIMs through CAT and institutes like XLRI, XIMB, SPJIMR, and IMT Ghaziabad through XAT.

Here’s the catch: while CAT focuses heavily on speed, accuracy, and logic, XAT brings additional layers like Decision-Making, General Knowledge, and Essay Writing. Trying to balance them can feel like spinning two plates at once.

But here’s some good news: with a smart, well-structured 90-day study plan, it’s absolutely possible to excel in both. This guide gives you a strategic preparation roadmap with section-wise strategies, phase-wise timelines, and mock test insights.

So, is 90 days enough to crack CAT and XAT together? The short answer: yes. The long answer? It requires balance, focus, and the right plan — which we’re about to walk through step by step.

Key Challenge: Preparing for CAT and XAT Together

While CAT and XAT share overlaps in Quantitative Aptitude, Reading Comprehension, and Data Interpretation/Logical Reasoning, their unique differences make dual preparation tricky.

• CAT:

• • • 66 questions
    • 2 hours duration
    • Focuses purely on QA, DILR, and VARC
    • Speed and accuracy are critical
    • For more details [Click here]

• XAT:

• • 95 questions (including GK and DM)
  • 3 hours duration
  • Has Decision-Making, General Knowledge, and Essay in addition to core sections
  • Tests stamina, managerial judgment, and abstract thinking
  • For more details [Click here]

The real challenge is not just learning content but balancing time and prioritization. Students often prepare deeply for CAT but neglect XAT-specific topics until the last minute, which hurts their chances at XLRI or XIMB. This 90-day prep framework is designed to prevent exactly that.

90-Day Balanced Prep Framework

Phase1 (Day 1–30): Conceptual Clarity

First, focus on building a strong academic foundation. This stage is about setting the stage for both exams by revising concepts and clearing basics.

Study Routine Example:

• 2 hours: Quant (focus on Arithmetic & Algebra basics)
• 1 hour: VARC (Reading + Grammar drills)
• 1 hour: DILR (basic set practice)
• 2–3 days/week: Introduction to Decision-Making via simple caselets

Tips:

• Use NCERT basics for Quant if rusty.
• Read editorials daily to build comprehension variety.
• Practice easier CAT LR sets before moving to complex XAT-style puzzles.

Phase2 (Day 31–60): Practice and Exam Conditioning

Now that the basics are in place, shift gears into exam conditioning. This is where your CAT prep gives you momentum, and you weave in XAT-specific skills.

Routine Example:

• CAT-focused sectional tests: 1–2 every 3 days
• XAT Decision-Making: 3–4 sets weekly (start with previous year’s questions)
• Essay Practice: Once per week (~300 words, 30 mins)

Why this matters:
CAT sectional tests help with speed. But starting DM practice early ensures you don’t panic in the final weeks.

Case Example: A student focusing only on CAT LRDI realized in December that DM needs a totally different mindset — managerial, not mathematical. Placing DM practice in Month 2 avoids this mistake.

Phase3 (Day 61–90): Exam Simulation & Refinement

The final 30 days should resemble exam reality. Think of it as the “rehearsal period.”

Routine Example:

• Mocks: 2 CAT full-length + 1 XAT full-length every week
• Error log revision: Revise mistakes and weak areas repeatedly
• Essay Writing: 2 per week in the last 4 weeks
• GK prep: 20 minutes daily (news digests, budget highlights, current affairs PDFs)

Focus:

• Stamina building for XAT’s 3.5 hours
• Adapting speed vs analysis for two very different exam styles
• Ensuring accuracy improvement curve from mocks

Section-Wise Strategy Breakdown

Quantitative Aptitude

• Overlap topics: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number Systems, Modern Math
• CAT demands speed across moderate-difficulty Qs.
• XAT introduces tougher problem-solving with deeper application.

Strategy:

• Weekdays: fast-paced CAT-style practice (20–30 Qs/day)
• Weekends: 5–6 tougher XAT-level QA problems

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

• CAT VARC: inference-heavy RCs, para-jumbles, odd-one-out
• XAT VARC: includes tricky vocabulary, abstract or philosophical RCs
• Students preparing only with CAT-style passages struggle with XAT’s abstract tone.

Strategy:

• Mix of sources: The Hindu, Aeon, philosophical essays
• Daily RCs: 2 CAT-style + 1 XAT-style (abstract)

LRDI vs Decision-Making

• CAT LRDI: Puzzle-based, heavily data-driven
• XAT DM: Caselets requiring judgment on business/ethical scenarios
• They test different skills — logic vs ethics.

Strategy:

• Alternate-day prep: one day LR sets, next day DM caselets
• Maintain separate notebooks for LR techniques vs DM reasoning frameworks

General Knowledge & Essay (XAT Only)

• GK can be the silent game-changer in XAT.
• Essay writing improves communication for interviews too.

Strategy:

• 20 mins current awareness daily: government policies, global events, business news
• Practice concise essays: 300–400 words, well-structured with intro-body-conclusion
• Example essay topics: “Is AI a threat to managerial jobs?” or “Ethics vs profits in business”

Mock Test Strategy for CAT and XAT

Number of Mocks in 90 Days:

• CAT: 12–15 mocks
• XAT: 6–7 mocks

Tips for Mock Analysis:

1. Maintain an error log — write down why you got a question wrong.
2. Track time spent per section — are you overspending on LRDI or DM?
3. Identify pattern mistakes (e.g., misreading data in XAT DM or rushing RCs in CAT).

Remember: A mock without analysis is wasted effort.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Leaving Decision Making prep until the last minute
• Assuming XAT is “just CAT + GK/Essay”
• Giving mock tests daily without proper analysis
• Ignoring stamina practice for XAT — CAT trains you for 2 hours, but XAT runs 3.5 hours

How Career Plan B Helps?

At Career Plan B, we’ve guided hundreds of aspirants who needed clarity while juggling multiple entrance exams. Here’s how we can support you in this 90-day journey:

• Personalized Career Counselling: A custom prep plan that balances CAT and XAT based on your strengths.
• Psycheintel and Career Assessment Tools: Identify whether you’re naturally strong in logical problem-solving, abstract reasoning, or decision-making.
• Admission & Profile Guidance: SOP reviews, essay practice, and admission strategy for XLRI, XIMB, and other schools you’re targeting.
• Career Roadmapping: Even post-results, we guide which B-school to choose based on ROI, placements, and your long-term goals.

This means you don’t just prepare harder — you prepare smarter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can I prepare for CAT and XAT in just 3 months?
Yes — if you utilize overlaps, maintain consistency, and dedicate extra time for XAT’s Decision-Making and GK sections.

Q2: How is XAT Decision-Making different from CAT LRDI?
DM requires you to evaluate scenarios ethically and managerially, whereas LRDI is purely logical and mathematical puzzle-solving.

Q3: Should I prepare for CAT first, then XAT separately?
No. Use CAT prep as your base but introduce DM, GK, and essay practice from Month 2 onward.

Q4: How many mocks should I attempt before each exam?
At least 12–15 CAT mocks and 6–7 XAT mocks in the last 90 days.

Q5: How should I balance essay practice with CAT prep?
Start with 1 essay a week in Month 2, then push to 2 per week in the final month.

Conclusion

Preparing for CAT and XAT in 90 days is not about overloading yourself but about playing smart by leveraging overlaps and strategically plugging XAT’s unique requirements. CAT trains you for speed and precision, while XAT demands maturity in decision-making and breadth through GK and essays.

A disciplined 3-phase plan — clearing basics, practicing under timed conditions, and simulating full exams — will position you strongly for both tests.

Remember, it’s not the aspirant who studies the most hours, but the one who studies the right way for both exams who succeeds. If you want added guidance, a personalized action plan, and career counsel for admissions, Career Plan B is here to help you navigate with confidence.