r/CATStudyRoom

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I’m an IIM Calcutta (2021) graduate, and I run a free daily vocab newsletter for CAT aspirants.

This is mainly for:

First-time CAT exam takers

For those who struggle to improve their VARC score

The free newsletter focuses on:

* vocab + idioms

* practical usage examples

* fill in the blanks

* Real Exam-style RC

* Odd man out & Para-Jumble

Takes just 8-10 minutes, but helps you stay consistent with VARC prep.

Just steady improvement.

If you’re interested, comment “interested” or DM me or Drop your email —

My main problem is that I often don't understand the passage itself. Sometimes I don't know the meaning of the words, and even when I do, I still struggle to understand what the author is trying to say.

What should I focus on, vocabulary, sentence structure, or something else? Or should I just keep practising RCs and will it improve naturally over time?

Would really appreciate any advice from people who started at the same level.

I'm looking to join a crash course for cat 26 prep.. I'm in a tier 3 city, couldn't find any offline classes only there's a TIME just started operating a few months ago went there for a demo class and they didn't have any kind of "crash course" they just put me in the regular weekend classes and made me sit through trigonometry

Also they dont have any schedules for crash course they just follow the regular one

Now I have turned to online options and found crackuu's crash course appealing.. are there any other suggestions?

Or should just settle for this one?

Hi my profile is 997 male and i had just started practicing for cat and have taken cl mock test only.

Had done btech in ee from 3rd gen iit .

I just want a partner to share and ask about the strategies and daily reports so that I can be in check, so that there will be no room for backlogs.

We can ask doubts and try to get a good percentile, there will be no personal discussions .

I have priority for the females ( as I was very quite introvert person and didn't have much interaction with opposite gender , so i would appreciate if anyone can help )

And if you want to be partner please provide a rating like out of 10 how much you are serious for cat . -1 point for every distraction or the time you will give to any other activities Like for me it's 7-8 ( 1- for fitness and 1- for mtech classes ( i had joined just for having a environment (i can't study at home without distractions )) 1- for like I will be joining new course so in starting there will be some distraction (but I will try to make them minimal ))

Thankyou for reading this post.

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Hey everyone,

I’m hitting one of the lowest phases of my life right now and honestly need some perspective. I have a solid academic background, but UPSC preparation has left me at a crossroads, and I need to fix my life.

My Profile & Timeline:

Background: Graduated from an NIT in 2022. Skipped campus placements entirely to pursue UPSC.

UPSC Journey: 4 attempts down. In the 2026 Prelims, I'm scoring around 72–76 marks, which means I’m not making the cut. Note: I love the prep and I do not want to give up on UPSC entirely, but I absolutely need financial/career security now.

Backup Attempts So Far:

CAT 2022: Scored 96 percentile with minimal effort. Got calls from new IIMs but skipped the interviews for UPSC.

SSC CGL 2024: Scored 117 marks without a single day of dedicated preparation.

Lost state PCS Group 1 by 20 marks in mains.

Defense: Made it to the SSB interview last year but was unfortunately merit-outed/not in the final list.

The Dilemma:

I know I have the potential to clear alternative exams, but I am paralyzed by conflicting choices:

1. The SSC CGL Route

The Pro: I know I have the aptitude to crack it if I actually study for it. It gives a stable government job quickly.

The Doubt: People around me keep saying it’s "just a clerical job" and that I’ll face a lack of job satisfaction later in life. Is SSC CGL worth the hype, or will an NIT grad feel underutilized and stagnant there?

2. The MBA / CAT Route

The Pro: I can realistically score 96–98+ percentile again if I focus. A Tier-1/2 MBA could give me the high-growth corporate life, corporate leverage, and financial freedom I want.

The Doubt: I have 4 consecutive gap years (2022–2026) completely blank on paper due to UPSC. Will these gap years completely destroy my chances of getting shortlists at top IIMs or during final MBA placements?

What I need advice on:

Is a post-MBA career really as great as it's hyped to be, or is the corporate grind with a 4-year gap a recipe for misery?

Is the "clerical" stigma of SSC CGL real, or are top-tier CGL posts (like Income Tax Inspector, ASO, MEA) actually satisfying and a good base to continue UPSC preparation from?

And is CGL top posts (ITI,GSTI,AAO...) better than MBA

If you were in my shoes—26 years old, NIT degree, high aptitude but zero work ex—how would you play your cards right now to secure your life

Hi everyone,

I'm a GEM with a 7/5/7 profile (10th/12th/B.Tech). I passed Maharashtra HSC in 2022 and graduated with B.Tech in 2026.

I'm targeting CAT and IIMs, and I'm concerned that my Class 12 marks may hurt my chances. I'm thinking about appearing for NIOS Class 12 now to improve my percentage and currently I am doing an job

Starting CAT prep after 1st year of B.Com. I'll be self-preparing and haven't studied Maths since 10th standard.

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What are the best resources you would recommend for:

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Quant

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VARC

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LRDI

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Mock tests

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Looking for free or affordable resources, YouTube channels, books, websites, and any study plans that worked for you.

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Would love to hear from people who prepared without coaching.

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