The Common Admission Test (CAT) is not just an aptitude test—it’s a battle of speed, accuracy, and consistency. With CAT 2025 on the horizon, aspirants across India are gearing up with books, coaching, and mock tests. But one common question remains: When should you start taking test series for CAT 2025?

Whether you’re preparing on your own or through a reputed CAT coaching in Jadavpur or a leading CAT institute in Kolkata, understanding the right time to start mock tests can be the game-changer in your preparation strategy.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through a month-by-month plan and help you decide when and how to begin your test series to get the best outcome on exam day.

Why Test Series Matter in CAT Preparation

Test series are more than just practice—they simulate the real exam environment, help you identify weak areas, improve time management, and build the mental stamina required to sit through a 2-hour adaptive test under pressure.

Most toppers credit regular mock tests as one of the biggest contributors to their high percentiles.

Ideal Time to Join a CAT 2025 Test Series

March – April 2025: Foundation Phase

If you’ve just started your CAT prep in early 2025, use this time to:

• Build your conceptual clarity
• Understand the syllabus
• Solve topic-wise and sectional questions

Tip: At this stage, you don’t need full-length mocks. Instead, focus on sectional tests for VARC, DILR, and QA. Students enrolled in top CAT coaching in Jadavpur often begin their test journey with weekly sectionals around this time.

May – June 2025: Begin Full-Length Mocks (Low Frequency)

This is when you should start taking 1 full-length mock every 2 weeks. Even if your syllabus isn’t fully complete, these mocks help build familiarity with the CAT pattern and highlight early problem areas.

Use the insights to rework your study strategy.

July – September 2025: Peak Learning & Analysis Phase

This is the most crucial phase. Your mock test frequency should now increase to one mock per week.

Key actions during this period:

• Solve previous years’ CAT papers
• Analyze each mock in depth
• Track improvement in percentile
• Work on time allocation strategies

Students from a leading CAT institute in Kolkata often find this period perfect for intensive mentoring, performance tracking, and test-specific workshops.

October – November 2025: Final Revision & Simulation Phase

You should now be in the habit of writing 2 full-length mocks per week. Focus should be on:

• Simulating exact CAT conditions (timing, breaks, OMR/online interface)
• Boosting your accuracy and reducing negative marking
• Revising short tricks and formulae
• Practicing high-weightage question types in each section

Enrolling in a mock-specific crash course at a reputed CAT coaching centre in Jadavpur can provide that final push and clear last-minute doubts.

How to Choose the Right Test Series

When selecting a test series, ensure:

• The mocks match the latest CAT pattern
• Quality of questions is similar to actual CAT difficulty
• Detailed performance analytics and solutions are provided
• You have access to percentile benchmarking (national comparison)

Top CAT institutes in Kolkata often provide test series that include both proctored (invigilated) and home-based tests, which replicate the real exam conditions effectively.

Final Thoughts

To crack CAT 2025 with a 99+ percentile, timing is everything—not just in the exam, but in your preparation as well. Starting your test series too late limits your ability to identify mistakes and adapt your strategy. Starting too early without concepts in place can be demotivating.

The sweet spot? Begin full-length test series by May–June 2025, ramp up frequency in July, and go all-in by October.

Whether you’re preparing solo or with expert guidance from a trusted CAT coaching centre in Jadavpur or a renowned CAT institute in Kolkata, planning your mock test schedule smartly will be your biggest edge.