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Pillar Guide

CAT exam day strategy

By Clymber Mentors3 min read

Exam day is not the moment to invent a strategy. It is the moment to run the system you have already tested. The score comes from what you attempt, what you skip, and when you stop spending time on a question that no longer deserves it.

The first task is controlling the clock

A clock plan is more reliable than a confidence plan. 2

Use this checkpoint before adding more unsorted practice or applications.

Section clocks and pass rules mapped across the exam.
CAT 120-minute clock

The 3-pass method reduces damage

The system protects time from one sticky question. 3

Use this checkpoint before adding more unsorted practice or applications.

TITA needs a different risk rule

No negative marking does not mean no cost. 4

Use this checkpoint before adding more unsorted practice or applications.

Question-type risk, time cost, and return rules in one grid.
Exam-day risk matrix

RC and DILR need early abandonment rules

Leaving a bad set is a scored decision. 5

Use this checkpoint before adding more unsorted practice or applications.

Exam-day notes must fit one page

The plan must be short enough to recall. 6

Use this checkpoint before adding more unsorted practice or applications.

Your next action is a full-dress mock

Practice logistics before the actual day. 7

Use this checkpoint before adding more unsorted practice or applications.

FAQs

What is the best CAT exam day strategy?

Use a section-wise clock plan with scan, solve, skip, and return rules.

Should I attempt all TITA questions?

No. TITA has no negative marking cost, but it has time cost.

How many passes should I use in a section?

Use 3 passes: visible, medium, selected return.

When should I leave a DILR set?

Leave if the structure is not visible within your first-read cutoff.

What should I practise before exam day?

Do one full-dress mock with the same slot, food, breaks, and scratchpad routine.

Conclusion

Run CAT exam day with a section-wise clock plan and 3-pass attempt system. Start with the article's numeric anchor today and update it after your next mock or source check.

References

  1. IIM CAT, "Common Admission Test official website," 2025. Available: https://iimcat.ac.in/ ↩
  2. J. Dunlosky et al., "Improving Students’ Learning With Effective Learning Techniques," Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 2013. Available: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1529100612453266 ↩
  3. H. L. Roediger and J. D. Karpicke, "Test-enhanced learning," Psychological Science, 2006. Available: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2006.01693.x ↩
  4. IIM Ahmedabad, "Admission - MBA (Indian), PGP 2026-28 selection process," 2025. Available: https://www.iima.ac.in/academics/mba/admissions/indians ↩
  5. XLRI, "XAT 2026 official website and overview," 2026. Available: https://xatonline.in/ ↩
  6. Symbiosis International University, "SNAP Test official website," 2025. Available: https://www.snaptest.org/ ↩
  7. IIM Bangalore, "PGP admission process," 2026. Available: https://www.iimb.ac.in/programmes/post-graduate-programme-management ↩
  8. IIM Calcutta, "MBA admission policy for domestic candidates," 2026. Available: https://www.iimcal.ac.in/programs/pgp/admission-policy/admission-procedure-for-domestic-candidates ↩