CAT 2026 is scheduled for November 29, 2026, in three sessions across around 170 cities.
The exam has 68 questions across VARC, DILR and Quantitative Ability, with 40 minutes allotted to each section.
With only 120 minutes to attempt the paper, candidates need to manage their time, select questions carefully and maintain accuracy.
Read ahead to know the 5 mistakes you must avoid in CAT 2026 last minute preparation phase.
CAT 2026 Last-Minute Preparation: 5 Mistakes You Must Avoid
During the final stage of preparation, spending hours on new topics may not be the best use of time.
Your focus should be on improving your question selection, revising familiar concepts and practising within the actual exam time limits.
Here are five common mistakes to avoid during CAT 2026 last-minute preparation.
Starting New Topics Instead of Revising Important Concepts
Trying to complete the entire CAT syllabus in the final days can leave you with little time to practise what you already know. A new topic may take several hours to understand, but that effort may not translate into marks if you cannot solve its questions accurately under time pressure.
Focus on topics you have already studied and can improve with revision. In Quantitative Ability, prioritise Arithmetic and Algebra, which have historically accounted for a substantial share of the questions.
Revise concepts related to ratios, averages, percentages, equations and other familiar areas before attempting advanced problems from unfamiliar topics.
For VARC, practise Reading Comprehension, which typically accounts for around 16 of the section’s 24 questions. Also revise Para Jumbles, Summary and Odd One Out questions. In DILR, revisit familiar sets involving tables, charts, arrangements, scheduling and games.
What to do instead:
- Revise formulas, shortcuts and concepts you frequently use.
- Solve selected questions from high-weightage topics.
- Review concepts behind questions you previously answered incorrectly.
- Avoid spending excessive time on a topic that still feels unfamiliar.
- Your aim should be to make your existing preparation more effective.
Taking Mock Tests Without Analysing Your Performance
Attempting mock tests is useful only when you understand what your performance reveals. Completing one mock after another without reviewing mistakes can cause you to repeat the same errors in the actual CAT exam.
After each mock, identify why you lost marks. Did you misunderstand a Reading Comprehension passage? Did you spend too long on a difficult DILR set? Did you make a calculation error in Quantitative Ability? Each problem requires a different solution.
Pay attention to three areas: accuracy, time spent per question and question selection. A low score caused by conceptual gaps requires revision, while a low score caused by poor time management calls for a different practice strategy.
What to do instead:
- Review every incorrect answer and every question you guessed.
- Identify questions you could have solved but skipped because of poor time management.
- Track accuracy separately for VARC, DILR and QA.
- Note recurring mistakes and practise questions that address those weaknesses.
- Do not judge your readiness by your mock score alone.
Ignoring Sectional Time Limits While Practising
CAT 2026 allows 40 minutes for each section. You cannot compensate for poor performance in one section by using its remaining time to solve questions from another. This makes sectional time management an essential part of your preparation.
A common mistake is spending too long on a difficult question because you have already invested several minutes in it. This can leave easier questions unanswered. In DILR, for example, choosing an overly difficult set may consume a large part of the available time without producing any marks.
Similarly, getting stuck on a lengthy Quantitative Ability problem can reduce the time available for straightforward Arithmetic or Algebra questions.
What to do instead:
- Practise each section with a strict 40-minute timer.
- Scan the available questions before deciding where to begin, when the format permits.
- Leave a question when the time spent is no longer justified by its likely benefit.
- In DILR, compare sets and begin with one you can solve confidently.
- Reserve a little time to revisit marked questions within the same section.
- Build this habit during practice.
Attempting Too Many Questions
CAT follows a +3 marking scheme for every correct answer and deducts one mark for an incorrect multiple-choice question (MCQ). This means an attempt is not automatically beneficial simply because you have reached the question.
For example, answering 15 MCQs correctly and getting five MCQs wrong gives you 40 marks from those 20 attempts. The five incorrect answers reduce your score by five marks from the 45 marks earned through correct responses.
This is why accuracy and question selection should guide your attempts. Guessing without eliminating any options can be risky, particularly when you have limited time to assess the question.
However, avoiding every question that appears difficult is not the answer either. Some questions may become manageable after eliminating incorrect options or applying a familiar concept.
What to do instead:
- Prioritise questions you understand and can solve accurately.
- Use option elimination when you have a logical basis for rejecting choices.
- Avoid random guessing in MCQs.
- Remember that CAT’s non-MCQ questions do not carry negative marking under the usual exam pattern, but verify the instructions issued for CAT 2026.
- Evaluate your accuracy alongside your total attempts during mock analysis.
Changing Your Preparation Strategy at the Last Minute
The final days before CAT are not the right time to overhaul a preparation plan that has been working reasonably well. Switching study materials, following unfamiliar shortcuts or copying another candidate’s mock strategy can create confusion and reduce confidence in concepts you already understand.
The same applies to sleep schedules and daily routines. Studying late into the night at the expense of rest can affect concentration and decision-making during a timed test.
What to do instead:
- Follow a short revision plan based on your actual weaknesses.
- Use familiar study material and mock-test analysis.
- Practise selected questions rather than attempting to finish entire new modules.
- Keep your sleep and study timings consistent.
- Check your exam-day arrangements and required documents in advance.
Conclusion
CAT 2026 last-minute preparation should focus on revision, mock analysis, sectional time management, accuracy and a consistent routine.
Avoid trying to finish unfamiliar topics at the cost of practising questions you can already solve. Review your mistakes, strengthen your stronger areas and develop a clear approach to selecting questions in all three sections.
The MBA Karo CAT Online Course can support your final preparation through structured learning, practice questions and mock-test guidance.
Use the remaining preparation time to identify weak areas, revise important concepts and improve your performance through targeted practice. A focused approach can help you make better use of the 120 minutes available in CAT 2026.
