Is it possible to crack both CAT and GMAT together by studying common topics first?

Question

Divakshi Arora · Accepted Answer

Yes, it's possible to prepare for both CAT and GMAT at the same time by starting with common topics ,  especially in Quant and Reading Comprehension. Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry are tested in both, so the concept-building phase can overlap for the first 4&ndash;6 weeks.
But after that, it&rsquo;s better to separate the prep. GMAT requires focused practice in Data Sufficiency, which has no equivalent in CAT. And GMAT Verbal only includes RC and Critical Reasoning, while CAT includes para jumbles, odd-sentence-out, and summary questions. These don&rsquo;t overlap and need different strategies.
If someone&rsquo;s short on time, they can first finish Quant concepts common to both, then shift GMAT prep earlier (since GMAT has rolling dates and earlier deadlines), and reserve the final months for CAT-specific practice. Trying to stretch the &ldquo;common ground&rdquo; too far usually leads to burnout or confusion later.

Shruti T · Answer

It can work, but only if the prep is staged properly. Common topics help in the beginning, but cracking both needs clarity on where they start to differ.
&bull; Start with Quant basics ,  Arithmetic, Algebra, and Numbers. Solid for both exams. &bull; RC prep helps across both, but the style is different &mdash; GMAT passages are tighter, CAT ones are vaguer and test inference more. &bull; Stop trying to overlap after 5&ndash;6 weeks. GMAT needs Data Sufficiency and Critical Reasoning practice. CAT needs para-based VA. &bull; Give separate mocks early. GMAT is section-adaptive, CAT is fixed &mdash; the pacing and mindset are totally different. &bull; Use CAT as your base for Quant and RC. Layer on GMAT-specific question types separately without mixing formats in a single session.
Prep together, but don&rsquo;t prep the same. Once the basics are done, treat them like two different exams , because that&rsquo;s what they are.