CAT preparation in 2 months
Two months is enough to cover the basics of all three sections and take a full set of mocks, if you study steadily. It is not enough to go deep on every topic, so you will have to choose. Whether it is enough for a given percentile depends on where you start and on how the paper turns out, and nobody can promise it.
Who this is for
Someone with 8 weeks left who has seen some of the syllabus before, such as school maths or regular reading.
Time needed: 15 to 25 hours a week.
Before you start, read the CAT exam pattern and the CAT syllabus so you know what the paper looks like. Each section has its own guide: VARC, DILR and Quant.
Weeks 1 to 3: cover the basics
Weeks 1 to 3
- Take a diagnostic mock on day one and keep the score as your baseline.
- Quant: arithmetic, algebra, then number systems, geometry and modern maths in that order, with 15 to 20 questions per topic.
- VARC: daily reading of long articles plus 2 to 3 RC passages. Start para summary and odd-sentence-out practice.
- DILR: one set a day. Learn the common set types by solving, not by reading theory.
Weeks 4 to 6: practise by section
Weeks 4 to 6
- Move from topic practice to mixed sectional tests of 40 minutes each.
- Start a full mock every week and keep an error log.
- Go back to previous papers for section-wise practice.
Weeks 7 and 8: mock and refine
Weeks 7 and 8
- Two full mocks a week, each with a full analysis.
- Fix only the errors that repeat. Do not start new topics in the last 10 days.
- Rehearse the exam day: the same slot time, the on-screen calculator, and the rule that sections cannot be switched.
Weekly template
| Day | Task |
|---|---|
| Mon | Quant topic practice, 2 hours |
| Tue | DILR, 2 hours |
| Wed | VARC, 2 hours |
| Thu | Quant plus error-log revision, 2 hours |
| Fri | Sectional test, 40 minutes, then analysis |
| Sat | Full mock, 2 hours |
| Sun | Mock analysis and weak-topic repair, 3 to 4 hours |
Mocks
Take 1 diagnostic, then about 6 to 8 full mocks over the 8 weeks: one a week at first, two a week at the end. After every mock, spend at least as long on analysis as on the test. For each wrong or skipped question, note whether it was a concept gap, a calculation slip, a bad choice of question, or a time problem. Then redo the question without looking at the solution.
Start with our free CAT mock test, which needs no sign-up, then put your score into the CAT percentile predictor to see where it would have landed in recent years.
Exam facts for every plan: three sections of 40 minutes in a fixed order, +3 for a right MCQ, -1 for a wrong MCQ, and no negative marks on typed-in answers.
Common questions
Is 2 months enough for CAT?
It is enough to cover the basics and practise the format if you study regularly. It is not enough to go deep on everything. The result depends on your starting point and the paper on the day, and no plan can guarantee a percentile.
How many hours a day for a 2 month plan?
Plan for about 2 to 4 hours a day, more on weekends. Consistency matters more than a few long days.
Should I learn all topics or pick some?
Cover all of the major ones lightly, then go deeper on the ones your mocks show you can still improve. Skipping a whole section is risky because each of the three sections is scored on its own.
Take free CAT mock 1 (full length)
Other plans
- CAT preparation in 1 month
- CAT preparation in 3 months
- CAT preparation in 6 months
- CAT preparation for working professionals
- CAT preparation for beginners
- CAT preparation without coaching
Sources
Last checked 8 Nov 2026. Found an error? Tell us and it goes on the errata page.