My job involves fieldwork, irregular hours, and travel, so CAT prep was tough initially. What helped was slotting just 90 mins daily on weekdays (early mornings) and using travel time for listening to VARC explanations (I used CATKing’s YouTube for this).I used weekends for mock + analysis + solving QA in-depth. That’s where the real progress came from. I also started early with 2 mocks per month, increasing frequency after month 3.I strongly believe 5–6 months is doable, even with a job. Prioritize smart prep, work on accuracy, not just speed.And yes, burnout can happen, take rest days without guilt and don’t cram too much in one sitting.

Balancing CAT with college wasn’t easy for me either, I had assignments, online classes, and part-time internships. I gave about 2-3 hours daily on weekdays, mostly in the evening. On weekends, I went full throttle with 5-6 hours per day. Burnout is real. I kept it in check by doing things I enjoyed, music, a 30-min walk, or even skipping a day occasionally. The trick is to be consistent without being rigid.With the right strategy, 5 months is enough, especially if you’re regular with mocks from month 2.

I'm a software engineer working 9 to 6, and started my prep in April. Realistically, on weekdays, I manage 2 hours max, usually 1 hour before work (RC or LRDI) and 1 hour after (Quant practice). Weekends are my saviors, I do around 6-7 hours split between a mock, analysis, and revision. I’ve realized it's not about the number of hours but the quality and consistency. To avoid burnout, I take one weekday off prep every 10 days, total detox. I also try to get proper sleep and don’t sacrifice health. You need to stay mentally fresh, especially for mocks. Cracking CAT in 5-6 months is totally possible if you have a disciplined routine. The key is to build momentum early and make weekends count.