Content Curator | Updated On - Sep 18, 2024
The examination is conducted in online CBT mode in the English language. Students are asked MCQ and TITA (or subjective) types of questions. Three sections included in CAT question papers are Verbal & Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude, and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning.
A total 66 questions with 198 marks are asked in the examination. If we consider other exams, SNAP is another MBA test that comes with only 60 questions. In CAT exam, students are marked +3 for attempting a question correctly. For each incorrect answer, a negative marking of -1 implies.
In CAT exam, the maximum number of questions comes from the VARC section with 37% weightage. The weightage of questions asked in QA, and DILR are 33% and 30% respectively. The overall difficulty of previous years’ exam was reported to be on the moderate to difficult side. However, with a proper study plan and preparation strategy, students can ace the examination easily. In this article, we have elaborated the examination pattern section-wise along with proper study planning strategies and previous years’ question papers.
What is the Pattern of CAT Examination 2024?
The examination is conducted in online mode and the medium is set as English. Total 3 sections are there, i.e., Verbal & Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Aptitude, and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. There are also sectional time limits for all three sections as mentioned below:
| Sections | Sectional Time Allotted | Number of Questions Asked |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 40 Minutes | 24 Questions |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 40 Minutes | 22 Questions |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 40 Minutes | 20 Questions |
| Total | 120 Minutes | 66 Questions |
Is Any Extra Time Given for PwD Students?
For all differently abled candidates, 160 minutes are allotted. For all three sections, 53 minutes and 20 seconds are allotted for them.
How Marks are Distributed in CAT Examination?
For every correct answer, +3 marks are awarded and -1 negative marking implies only in MCQ type of questions. Incorrect attempts in TITA questions are marked as zero.
| Sections | Number of Questions | Total Marks | Marking Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 Questions | 72 Marks | +3 marks for correct answering -1 for incorrect answering |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 Questions | 66 Marks | |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 Questions | 60 Marks | |
| Total | 66 Questions | 120 Minutes |
CAT Section wise Weightage and Questions Distribution
The weightage of all three sections with the number of MCQs and TITA questions asked is tabulated below:
| Sections | Number of MCQs | Number of TITAs | Weightage of Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 19 | 5 | 37% |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 14 | 8 | 33% |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 15 | 5 | 30% |
How CAT Exam is Compared to Other Management Entrance Tests?
A detailed analysis of CAT with other management entrance tests accepted widely in different institutions are as follows. Here we have also added institute-based MBA entrance tests.
| Exams | Total Questions Asked | Marks Allotted | Negative Marking Implies? | Time Allotted | Sectional Time Allotted? | Syllabus PDF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT | 66 | 198 | Yes (33.33%) | 2 Hours | Yes | Download Here |
| SNAP | 60 | 60 | Yes (25%) | 1 Hour | No | Download Here |
| CMAT | 100 | 400 | Yes (25%) | 2 Hours | No | Download Here |
| XAT | 102 | 101 | Yes (25%) | 3.5 Hours | Yes | Download Here |
| NMAT | 108 | 360 | No | 2 Hours | Yes | Download Here |
| IBSAT | 140 | 140 | No | 2 Hours | No | Download Here |
| MAT | 200 | 200 | Yes (25%) | 2.5 Hours | No | Download Here |
What Topics are Included in CAT Syllabus?
All core topics included in 3 sections in CAT question paper are as follows:
| Sections | Topics Included |
|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
|
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) |
|
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) |
|
How CAT Exam Pattern Changed Over the Years?
Over the years we saw significant changes in the exam pattern in the year 2020 at first. Till 2020, 100 questions were asked which reduced to 76 questions in the said year. This was again reduced from 76 to 66 questions in 2021. From then no change was introduced in the number of questions.
| Years | Number of Questions | VARC Questions | QA Questions | DILR Questions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 66 | 24 | 22 | 20 |
| 2022 | 66 | 24 | 22 | 20 |
| 2021 | 66 | 24 | 22 | 20 |
| 2020 | 76 | 34 | 26 | 24 |
| 2019 | 100 | 34 | 34 | 32 |
| 2018 | 100 | 34 | 34 | 32 |
| 2017 | 100 | 34 | 34 | 32 |
| 2016 | 100 | 34 | 34 | 32 |
| 2015 | 100 | 34 | 34 | 32 |
| 2014 | 100 | 34 | 34 | 32 |
Is CAT Exam Difficult to Crack?
Since the last 2 years, the overall difficulty of CAT’s question paper was reported to be moderate. VARC and QA sections reported to be on the moderate to difficulty in 2023’s exam.
| Sections | Number of Good Attempts | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| VARC |
| Moderate to Difficult |
| QA |
| Moderate to Difficult |
| DILR |
| Moderate |
| Overall | 35-49 | Moderate |
How Much Time is Required for Completing CAT Syllabus?
There is a beautiful and meaningful quote saying “Work Smarter, Not Harder”. It also applies in preparation for the examination. Firstly, students should ask themselves, how much time they can spend to complete the syllabus. Next, they should figure out their strong and weak points. Students can wrap up the syllabus within 3-4 months by following the aforementioned points.
- In the VARC section, students should not skip any chapters. However, they should also focus on para jumbles, para completion, para summary, and reading comprehension.
- For the DILR section, practicing different sorts of questions is mandatory for increasing time management skills.
- In the QA section, focus more on the Arithmetic section followed by the Algebra portions.
Note: Students can practice new live quiz sections added to our free CAT mock test to ace their preparation.
Are CAT Previous Year’s Question Papers Available?
To understand the weightage and trends of questions, solving previous year’s question papers is of utmost importance. Here we have provided the question papers of 2023 year with answer keys PDF:
| Slots | Sections | Question Papers with Answer Keys PDF |
|---|---|---|
| Slot 1 | VARC | Download Here |
| QA | Download Here | |
| DILR | Download Here | |
| Slot 2 | VARC | Download Here |
| QA | Download Here | |
| DILR | Download Here | |
| Slot 3 | VARC | Download Here |
| QA | Download Here | |
| DILR | Download Here |
CAT 2022 Question Papers and Answer Keys PDF
| Slots | Sections | Question Papers with Answer Keys PDF |
|---|---|---|
| Slot 1 | VARC | Download Here |
| QA | Download Here | |
| DILR | Download Here | |
| Slot 2 | VARC | Download Here |
| QA | Download Here | |
| DILR | Download Here | |
| Slot 3 | VARC | Download Here |
| QA | Download Here | |
| DILR | Download Here |
CAT 2021 Question Papers and Answer Keys PDF
| Slots | Sections | Question Papers with Answer Keys PDF |
|---|---|---|
| Slot 1 | VARC | Download Here |
| QA | Download Here | |
| DILR | Download Here | |
| Slot 2 | VARC | Download Here |
| QA | Download Here | |
| DILR | Download Here | |
| Slot 3 | VARC | Download Here |
| QA | Download Here | |
| DILR | Download Here |
CAT 2020 Question Papers and Answer Keys PDF
| Slots | Sections | Question Papers with Answer Keys PDF |
|---|---|---|
| Slot 1 | VARC | Download Here |
| QA | Download Here | |
| DILR | Download Here | |
| Slot 2 | VARC | Download Here |
| QA | Download Here | |
| DILR | Download Here | |
| Slot 3 | VARC | Download Here |
| QA | Download Here | |
| DILR | Download Here |
Quick Links:
Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. Was CAT previously an online CBT test also?
Ans. Prior to the year 2009, the exam was conducted in offline pen and paper format. The new online CBT mode has been introduced after that.
Ques. Can I appear in slot 1 and 3 in the same year?
Ans. Students can appear in only one slot in a single year. If he/she wishes to re-appear for the test, they can do so in the next year.
Ques. Does negative marking imply in TITA type of questions?
Ans. The -1 negative marking implies only for the type of questions. Zero mark is awarded for incorrect answers in MCQs.
Ques. How many questions are there in CAT 2024?
Ans. In CAT 2024 exam, there will be a total of 66 questions. In VARC, QA, and DILR total of 24, 22, and 20 questions are asked respectively.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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