Free CAT Mocks 2025: Daily Sectionals!
Retaking CAT 2025: Three Attempts, Three Mindsets
- 2022 – No Pressure, Decent Result
I had minimal prep time, focused only on basic concepts, and entered the exam with zero expectations.
Result? 87.42 %ile. I was surprised but curious: What if I prepared seriously next time? And this is probably going to be the reason of my failed attempt next year.
- 2023 – All-In, All-Anxious
This was my “serious” year. I gave it my all—mocks, practice, strategy. But I attached my entire self-worth to the exam. And that pressure? It backfired. I crumbled under anxiety and landed at 63.9%ile.
- 2024 – Smart Prep, Balanced Mind
By this point, I had made up my mind: This would be my last attempt. So I prepared smartly, not obsessively. Took breaks. Built a life outside CAT. I even pursued the ISO 27001 Lead Auditor Certification to skill up—because if CAT didn’t go well, I still wanted to grow. Result? 99.38 %ile. Not because I studied harder, but because I finally studied right. So, What Changed? “CAT isn’t just a test of aptitude. It’s a test of attitude.” In 2024, I stopped treating CAT like a make-or-break moment. Instead of chasing perfection, I aimed for progress. And that mindset shift made all the difference.
From UPSC To IIM Calcutta
Retaking CAT 2025: 5 Lessons I Learned the Hard Way:
- Repeating the CAT doesn’t guarantee a higher percentile. - Most people assume, “Now that I know the pattern, I’ll do better next time.” That’s what I thought but despite more effort and hours of preparation, I scored lower. Why? Because CAT isn’t about how many months you prepare; it’s about how you show up on that one day. The exam doesn’t care if it’s your first or third attempt. It only rewards clarity, calmness, and control under pressure.
- Mocks measure preparation, not your mental state on D-day. - I had reached a point in 2023 where I could solve most types of LRDI or RC passages during mocks. My scores were decent, and I felt ready.
But come exam day, my brain was clouded with nervous thoughts: What if I mess this up again? What if I can’t make it to a top B-school? What will people say? And that’s when it hit me—mocks can’t prepare you for pressure. Mental conditioning, stress management, and emotional balance are equally important. - Studying 5-6 hours a day is useless if you're burned out. - In my second attempt, I treated every day like a race—more questions, more topics, more revision. But I was constantly tired, irritated, and anxious.
By the time CAT arrived, I had nothing left in the tank. In 2024, I chose consistency over intensity. I took a rest day. I watched a movie guilt-free. I went out without feeling like I was “wasting time.” And guess what? I was fresher, sharper, and more in control on D-Day. Burnout steals your edge. A rested mind performs better than an overworked one.
From Journalism to IIM Kozhikode
4. Skill up alongside CAT. You’ll thank yourself later. - After 2023, I realized that placing all my hopes on one exam was dangerous. I didn’t want to feel stuck again. So while preparing for CAT 2024, I also pursued the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Lead Auditor Certification and worked on other personal growth areas.
This gave me two big advantages:
- I felt more confident because I wasn’t entirely dependent on CAT for my future.
- I had a safety net—skills that could help me grow professionally, even if CAT didn’t work out. Prepare for CAT, yes—but don’t forget to prepare for life, too.
5. Don't let one exam define your self-worth. - This was the hardest pill to swallow.
After my 2023 result, I felt like a failure. I avoided conversations, scrolled past CAT content, and questioned everything about myself. But over time, I realized—one score can’t erase my potential, my efforts, or my dreams. Your CAT percentile is a snapshot, not the whole story. You are more than your performance on one stressful day. You are your grit, your learning, your ability to try again. And that matters so much more.
Final Thoughts
If you’re gearing up for CAT—whether it’s your first or final shot—just know this: Your percentile is a number.
Your growth, grit, and learning? That’s what truly counts. P.S. You can bounce back. Even if your graph dips, your story can still rise.
Trust me—I’ve lived it.
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