With just 40 days in our hands I want to open with something motivational and encouraging. But I think a better start is this: If your mock scores are stuck right now, you're not alone, and it's not as bad as it feels.
You give mocks after mocks, the percentile doesn't move, and then you start thinking maybe CAT is not your cup of tea, almost every aspirant hits this phase.
So before any strategy, let's get one thing clear: a few bad mocks don't decide your result. But what you do in the next 40 days does.
The Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes:
Most people think more mocks means better scores. So they give 6-7 mocks a week, check the score, feel satisfied or unsatisfied, and immediately start the next one without properly analysing them.
That doesn't work. A mock is not practice. The analysis is the practice.
How to Actually Analyse a Mock:
You don't need some thumb rule or fancy strategy. Just go through every wrong or skipped question and put it in one of these buckets:
- Silly Mistakes: Like you knew the concept but misread the question or calculation error.
- Concept gaps: You genuinely didn't know how to solve it.
- Time Traps: You spent 4 or 5 minutes on it and still got it wrong.
- Good Skips: You rightly left it (don't feel bad about these).
Lets see what you can do to improve your CAT mock test score in the last 45 days:
Don't Just Give Mocks, Learn From Them:
Giving hundreds of mocks won't increase your scores. As giving mocks is not enough if you are not checking your mistakes.
After every mock, sit with it for some time and see what and where things went wrong. Maybe you solved a question incorrectly, maybe you wasted too much time on one question, or maybe you left an easy question.
Check Your Mistakes Properly:
After giving a mock, don't just check your percentile and close it. This is something you should avoid completely.
During CAT Mock Test Analysis, check these things:
- Which questions did you get wrong?
- Which questions took too much time?
- Did you make silly calculation mistakes?
- Did you leave easy questions because you were busy solving difficult ones?
Try to understand why you made the mistakes. If you keep repeating your mistakes in every mock, then obviously you need to work on it.
Give Time to All Three Sections:
As you know CAT has three sections, VARC, DILR and QA. You cannot just study your favorite section and forget about the others.
VARC: Read daily, especially a variety of passages and try to understand what the author is trying to deliver and just don't select the option just because it looks correct.
DILR: Practise different sets and try to find which sets you can solve easily. Sometimes choosing the right set can save a lot of time.
QA: Revision is the key point. Revise your formulas,your shortcuts and practise as much as possible. Don't leave everything for the last few days.
Your CAT 2026 Preparation Strategy should include all three sections, even if you give more time to the section you find difficult.
Learn how to manage time:
One big problem during mocks is that sometimes we get stuck on some questions and waste our time because we really want to solve it. And then suddenly, so much time is gone!
For a better CAT Time Management Strategy, try these things:
- Don't spend too much time on one question.
- If you don't understand a question, move to the next one.
- Try to solve easy questions first.
- Keep practising with the actual exam time limit.
Remember, you don't have to solve every question. Solving questions correctly is more important than just attempting more questions.
Time management inside the exam is also important. As CAT has 40 minutes per section and you can't go back once the time is over.
Here’s what I'd suggest for each section:
- Spend the first 2 to 3 minutes just scanning. Pick the easy and medium questions first.
- If you're stuck on a question for more than 2 minutes, mark it and move on. Your ego will tell you to just finish this one.Don't listen.
- Don't guess blindly. Negative marking hurts more than people think, and one wrong answer can wipe out the gain from a correct one.
- Keep the last 4 to 5 minutes for the questions you marked.
And please practise this in every mock, not only on the exam day. Nobody suddenly becomes good at time management in the real test. It's a habit, and habits need practice.
Make a Simple Plan for the Last 40 Days:
You don't need a fancy or extraordinary timetable that you cannot even follow after two days. Just make a simple plan and try to be consistent.
First 15 days: Give mocks, check your weak areas and revise important topics. Also, check whether you are making the same mistakes again. In the gaps, go back to your error notebook and revise those formulas and concepts.
Next 15 days: Focus more on accuracy, question selection and time management. Try to follow proper strategy while giving mocks. This is where your mind and body get used to sitting for 2 hours and staying sharp. Do the full analysis every time, even when you're tired. Especially when you are tired.
Last 10 days: Revise formulas, important concepts and your previous mistakes. Don't put too much pressure on yourself by trying to study everything at once. Do light revision of your notes. No new books, no new topics. Sleep properly, eat properly, and keep your routine steady. Your brain needs to be fresh, not overworked.
Don't Feel Bad If Your Mock Score Goes Down:
Sometimes you give a mock and get good marks, and in the next mock your score suddenly decreases. Then you start thinking that your preparation is getting worse.
But this is not always true. Some mocks can be more difficult than others, and sometimes you may just make more mistakes.
Instead of getting upset, check what happened in that mock. See what you could have done better and try not to repeat those mistakes in your next test.
Also, don't compare your scores with your friends after every mock. Everyone has a different preparation level and a different learning speed.
Make a Notebook For Your Mistakes:
This is a very simple thing but can help you a lot. Whenever you make a mistake in a mock, don't ignore it, write it down in a notebook.
Write the question or topic, what mistake you made or how you approached that question or solved it and besides that how you can solve it correctly next time.
Before giving your next mock, revise this notebook once. This way, you will remember your previous mistakes and hopefully won't repeat them again and again.
Mistakes I'd Avoid:
- Giving many mocks and not analysing them.
- Comparing your score with friends or toppers (this one is really draining).
- Starting new books or new coaching material in the last month.
- Ignoring sleep and mental health.
- Changing your whole strategy after one bad mock.
Final thoughts:
The last 40 days before CAT can be stressful, especially when your mock scores are not improving. But don't think that everything is over just because your marks are low in a few mocks.
Try to understand your mistakes, practise regularly and revise the topics you already know. Don't waste all your time worrying about your score instead of working on it.
You don't need a perfect score to get a good percentile. You need a clear strategy, steady accuracy and a calm mind on the day of the exam. For the next 40 days, be honest with yourself about your mistakes, fix them one by one, and don't let one mock decide your mood.
If you're feeling stressed right now, that's normal. It means you care. Just keep showing up every day, and trust the work you've put in.
All the best for CAT 2026. You've got this.
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Improve Your CAT Mock Test Score in the Last 40 Days:
1. How many mocks should I give in the last 40 days before CAT 2026?
You can give mocks regularly according to your preparation. But don't just give one mock after another. Take time to check your mistakes too.
2. What should I do if my CAT mock score is not increasing?
First, check where you are making mistakes. It can be because of weak concepts, silly mistakes or poor time management. Work on these problems instead of only giving more mocks.
3. Should I revise the syllabus or give mocks in the last 40 days?
You should do both. Give mocks to check your preparation and revise the topics where you are facing problems.
4. Can I improve my CAT score in 40 days?
Yes, you can improve if you use your time properly. Better accuracy, fewer mistakes and good question selection can help you perform better.
5. Should I solve every question in CAT?
No, you don't have to solve every question. Try to solve the questions you know properly instead of wasting too much time on difficult ones.
