9 months ago
CAT 2025: Mastering the 40-Minute Sectional Race
The CAT 2025 exam has three parts, and you only have 40 minutes for each part.
You can't go back to a previous part once it's done.
To do well, it's super important to be fast and smart with your time.
First, take two minutes to look over all the questions to see what's easy.
Then, try to answer the easiest questions first, saving the harder ones for later.
It's like a game where you break down each 40-minute part into smaller chunks of time to focus on.
Using tags like 'A' for easy, 'B' for medium, and 'C' for hard helps you decide what to do.
Always read the question carefully before picking an answer to avoid simple mistakes.
Know when to stop struggling with a tough question and move on.
In the last few minutes, make sure all your answers are saved.
Practicing with timed mock tests is key to getting good at this time race.
CAT 2025 exam sections (VARC, DILR, QA) each have a strict 40-minute time limit, with no switching between sections.
Candidates are advised to spend the first two minutes scanning questions and identifying easy ones to attempt.
The strategy involves a two-pass approach: first attempt 'A-grade' questions, then return to 'B-grade' questions.
Breaking the 40 minutes into smaller five to eight-minute blocks with micro-targets can improve pacing.
Effective time management includes using ABC tags to prioritize questions, reviewing work in the final minutes, and practicing timed mock tests.
- Who
- Swapnil Sahoo, Assistant Professor at Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon
- What
- A strategy for mastering the 40-minute time limit for each section of the CAT 2025 exam.
- Where
- Not specified, but in the context of the CAT 2025 exam.
- When
- Two weeks before the CAT 2025 exam, scheduled for November 30.
- Why
- To help candidates manage their time effectively during the exam to improve their chances of success.
Key facts
- Exam Date
- November 30
- Section Duration
- 40 minutes per section
- Total Sections
- 3 (VARC, DILR, QA)
- Key Strategy
- Time management and pacing within each section
- Core Advice
- Scan, prioritize questions (A, B, C tags), and review within time limits
Quotes
Swapnil Sahoo
Author and Assistant Professor at Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon, and former XAT 2011 candidate.
“Target known error zones: copied numbers, look-alike options (0.031 vs 0.013), unit conversions, and “None of the above.””
indianexpress.com
“When I entered XIM Bhubaneswar for my MBA, I saw the same rule outside exams: careers are won by pacing.”
indianexpress.com



