Video summary

How I would prepare for CAT 2026 in 70 days? Is it possible to crack CAT

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main ideas / lessons

  • In the last ~70 days, you must prioritize scoring, not completing the full syllabus.
  • Don’t chase “easy/Level 1” questions as your main strategy—your performance is measured by total marks, so you must build skills to solve CAT-level difficulty.
  • The plan is organized mainly by time blocks (Day 70 → 40 → 20 → 5), with different emphasis each block:
    • Early phase (Day 70–40): study high-yield concepts (especially Quant), build question-solving habits (especially DILR), practice RC heavily (Verbal).
    • Middle phase (Day 40–20): heavy mock/sectional practice + analysis, reduce theory.
    • Late phase (Day 20–5): revision over new learning, reduce workload and rest.
  • Mocks are non-negotiable: even if you finish syllabus, without mock attempts and analysis you won’t score well.
  • If you’re very weak at the start, you may need:
    • A structured crash course, or
    • A narrowed self-study approach focusing only on the highest-yield areas (Quant: Arithmetic + Algebra), then solving CAT PYQs and mocks.

Methodology / preparation structure (detailed bullet instructions)

0) Core principle (applies to everyone)

Start by acknowledging you don’t have time to complete the full syllabus. Aim to maximize CAT marks by training for CAT-level questions.

Build around:

  • Quant: targeted theory + lots of problem solving
  • Verbal: reading comprehension focus
  • DILR: solve CAT-level sets/format, not topic-wise at the beginning

1) First step for Day 70–40: assess the CAT level (diagnostic)

Regardless of your current level:

  • Take a mock test or pick a previous-year CAT paper.
  • Do it as a learning diagnostic, not a timed sprint:
    • Spend an entire day to solve it (not 2 hours).

While reviewing, check ability in each section:

  • Verbal: Can you read and understand passages? Can you detect why options are wrong?
  • DILR: Can you decode the set pattern? Can you start building tables/structures even if you don’t finish?
  • Quant: Can you solve basic arithmetic questions (even if formulas are forgotten)? Determine your real difficulty tolerance and speed.

2) Day 70 → Day 40: syllabus focus + heavy practice (skills building)

2A) Quant (priority topics + how to use time)

  • Do NOT spread too widely. Focus on the highest-yield topics.
  • First, review the CAT Quant syllabus, but strategically prioritize:
    • Arithmetic (most important)
    • Algebra (very important) — especially:
      • Linear equations
      • Quadratic equations
      • Inequalities
      • (Includes maxima/minima under inequalities)
      • Logarithms & functions “to an extent”
    • Geometry (circles/triangles concepts can appear)
    • Number system (factors/end-number-system concepts mentioned)

How to study (time-limited approach):

  • Cover key theory quickly for priority topics.
  • If time is limited, avoid getting stuck in advanced theory.
  • Then: solve a large number of CAT-level questions from those topics (use CAT previous-year questions).

2B) Verbal (RC-first plan)

Instead of “covering the verbal syllabus,” follow question-type emphasis:

  • Reading comprehension is the most important.

Time allocation within Day 70–40 (as suggested):

  • Spend about 45 days on reading comprehension practice.
  • Other question types (non-RC) are limited:
    • 10–15 days max, and ideally not more than 10 days.

Verbal process instructions:

  • Don’t just solve questions immediately if reading is weak.

2C) DILR (CAT-level sets, not topic-wise)

  • Don’t do DILR topic-wise at this stage.
  • Practice using:
    • Previous year CAT DILR sets
    • Mock tests
    • Coaching institute sectionals

Set practice instruction:

  • Solve sets to understand structure/format.
  • Review how sets are arranged and solved (e.g., if a numerical puzzle, follow the approach format).

3) Time split for Day 70–40 (overall execution)

Suggested allocation:

  • 30% theory
  • 60% solving CAT-level problems
  • 10% for sectional/mocks every weekend (or regular cadence)

Weekend/mock instruction:

  • Give one mock or sectional each week (or both as possible).
  • Keep doing this consistently from now until the Day 40 mark.

4) If you’re at a basic level (extra branching guidance)

4A) Option 1: join a crash course (if you can)

Rationale: structure and time-saving techniques help in limited time.

The crash course provides (as described):

  • Live classes covering the syllabus with focus on important areas
  • Time-saving techniques/shortcuts (Quant)
  • Assignments
  • Topic-wise marathons
  • Revision through ongoing practice
  • App-based “visual book” concept with:
    • Text + video explanations
    • MCQs (5000+ mentioned)
    • Video solutions
    • Doubt marking/asking to ICON team members

Encouragement: people reportedly achieved very high percentiles (99%ile) through crash courses.

4B) Option 2: self-study narrowing approach (if crash course not possible)

For the next 30 days, focus only on:

  • Quant: Arithmetic + Algebra

Forget the rest (temporarily), even if mixed-concept questions appear.

  • Learn through available lectures (including YouTube/free ICON classes).
  • Then:
    • Solve CAT PYQs from those topics.
    • Start attempting mocks.

Crucial rule: don’t compromise on mocks

Example comparison given:

  • Finishing 80% syllabus but no mocks ≠ someone with 40–50% syllabus + 10–15 mocks + analysis

5) Verbal detailed sub-plan inside Day 70–40 (if reading is hard)

Day 70 → Day 50: “reading stamina + comprehension”

For ~next 20 days:

  • Read a passage.
  • Write/produce a summary of each paragraph in your own words.
  • Use dictionaries if needed to understand difficult words.
  • Re-read CAT-type passages; do not focus on difficult essays.

Day 50 → Day 40:

  • Start solving questions as well.
  • Error-analysis instruction:
    • Identify why an option is wrong (pattern recognition).
    • Never focus only on “how to mark the right one.”
    • Keep a notebook of error patterns.

6) DILR detailed sub-plan for “basic level” learners (learning-to-solve ramp)

Day 70 → Day 40 (how to learn the approach first)

When encountering a new DILR set:

  • Don’t try to solve everything yourself immediately.
  • For the first 2 sets of a topic:
    • Look at the solution quickly (e.g., 15–20 min attempt first, then check solution).
    • Understand the suspicion/structure and how the tables are built.

After learning about ~25–30 varieties:

  • Begin solving on your own in full set time (around 40 min to 1 hour).

Solution-review technique:

  • Don’t open the full solution at once.
  • Open step-by-step (“one clue at a time”, “one step at a time”) to train how hints are applied.

Time milestones suggested:

  • First 15 days: learn how sets are solved (understand approaches).
  • Next 15 days: solve sets independently.

7) Day 40 → Day 20: mock/sectional heavy + analysis-driven improvement

Focus shifts to exams:

  • Give at least two mocks every week (or up to three).

Every mock requires deep analysis:

  • After attempting, spend 3–4 hours analysis time.
  • Solve missed/unattempted questions from the mock.

Segregate questions:

  • Easy / Medium / Difficult
  • Leave very difficult ones; focus on medium/easy improvements.

Improvement loop: track:

  • New tricks learned
  • Wrong attempts and why (time wastage, overthinking, slow RC reading)

Suggested time allocation:

  • 50% mocks/sectionals
  • 40% problem solving (post-mock, fixing weaknesses)
  • 10% theory

8) Day 20 → Day 5: revision, reduce new learning, rest

  • Stop learning anything major new:
    • Only revise what you already prepared and what you marked.
  • Focus on:
    • Revisiting medium problems and newly learned concepts/tricks
    • Revising formulas

Time allocation:

  • roughly 50% revision, 50% exam activity (as described)

Last 5 days:

  • Keep workload light:
    • Max 1–2 mocks total
    • If confidence drops after a bad mock, reduce further attempts
  • Do quick revisions of formulas/typical problems.
  • Avoid very difficult problem-solving.

Speakers / sources featured

  • Speaker: The video’s presenter (name not provided in subtitles), giving a structured CAT preparation plan.
  • Source referenced / brand mentioned:
    • ICON / “Again Icon” (crash course and app resources)
    • I Quant (mentioned as a crash course)
  • No other named individuals are clearly identified in the subtitles.

Original video