CAT 2025: ‘Stay calm, revise smartly’ – What toppers did in the last 3 days before the exam
As CAT 2025 draws near, aspirants often enter the most stressful phase of preparation. But toppers from previous years consistently highlight one mantra for the final 72 hours: stay calm and revise smartly. These last three days can significantly impact performance if used correctly. Rather than attempting to learn new concepts, toppers focused on refining strengths, sharpening accuracy, and improving test temperament.
This guide compiles insights shared by previous CAT toppers on how they approached the final days, creating a practical blueprint for aspirants.
1. No new topics – only revision of mastered ones
Toppers agree on this: the final 3 days are not for new learning. They concentrated on:
Re-reading formulas and shortcuts
Revising key concepts from QA and DILR
Solving a few familiar reading passages from VARC
Going through solved examples instead of heavy practice
This prevents cognitive overload and keeps the brain fresh for exam day.
2. One mock per day – but with full analysis
Instead of solving multiple mocks, toppers attempted one mock per day and spent more time on analysis.
What they focused on:
Identifying which sections to attempt first
Understanding time wastage areas
Recognizing question patterns that matched their strengths
Avoiding traps in VARC and DILR sets
The goal was to strengthen exam strategy rather than attempt high-volume practice.
3. Accuracy over attempts
In the final 72 hours, toppers prioritised accuracy. Even a few wrong answers can drastically affect percentile.
They ensured:
Controlled attempt rates
Careful reading of questions to avoid silly mistakes
Strategic skipping of confusing items
A calm and precise approach brings higher scores than aggressive attempts.
4. Managing stress and maintaining a clear mind
Many toppers highlighted the impact of mental composure. They followed:
Light revision instead of heavy problem-solving
Short meditation or breathing sessions
Limited screen time
Adequate sleep
A fresh mind on exam day boosts performance more than last-minute cramming.
5. Section-wise 3-day revision strategy from toppers
VARC
Revise note-taking strategy for RC
Practise 2–3 passages from previous mocks
Review para-jumbles / para-summary methods
DILR
Revisit your top scoring puzzle types
Practise one moderate and one tough set per day
Understand set selection approach
QA
Review formulas from arithmetic, algebra, geometry
Solve 20–25 mixed-level questions daily
Maintain speed through timed sectional tests
6. Exam-day simulation and body clock alignment
Toppers made sure to take mocks at the same time slot as their actual CAT exam.
This helped in adjusting:
Energy levels
Concentration cycles
Decision-making rhythm
Training the body and mind for the exam slot gives a real advantage.
7. What NOT to do in the last 3 days
No new topics
No excessive mock tests
No late-night studying
No comparing scores with others
No social media distractions
Avoiding these mistakes helped toppers stay composed and confident.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How should I revise in the last 3 days before CAT 2025?
Focus on revising known topics, solving a daily mock, analysing mistakes, and avoiding new concepts.
2. Should I solve many mocks before the exam?
No. One mock per day with deep analysis is the preferred strategy by toppers.
3. How can I stay calm before CAT?
Practise breathing, take adequate rest, limit social media, and avoid heavy study.
4. What should I do on the exam day?
Stay composed, follow your pre-decided strategy, manage time well, and avoid getting stuck on tough questions.
5. Can the last 3 days really improve my CAT score?
Yes. Refining accuracy, set selection, mental calmness, and time strategy can significantly boost performance.
Published on : 26th November
Published by : Selvi
Credit:Mridusmita Deka
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