CAT Exam Pattern 2025 - Topic Wise, Marking Scheme, Duration, Type of Questions, and Syllabus

Ans. In the CAT 2025, you can expect around 20 non-MCQ (TITA) questions overall and from as pe the sections:

From VARC, you can expect around 2 non-MCQ questions, around 10 in the DILR section, and 8 in QA section.

That is roughly 30% of the paper, which means you can attempt 30% of the CAT exam safely, as non-MCQs carry no negative marking, so you should try to attempt all of them.

Ans. Yes, it is partially optimal to skip some MCQs, especially the risky ones, and focus on non-MCQs to avoid negative marking. But skipping “many MCQs” can cost you the potential marks.

In CAT 2024, there were a total of around 46 MCQs and 20 non-MCQs, so if you attempt only non-MCQs correctly (say all 20 correctly), that will give you 20 × 3 = 60 marks, which is not sufficient to secure the IIMs.

So, completely skipping the MCQs is insufficient for top percentiles. Rather than skipping the MCQs to avoid negative marking, you can focus on the MCQs that are comparatively easier by practicing the mock tests and analysing your weak areas.

Ans. Yes, sectional difficulty is expected to vary across slots, and that variation can affect how raw scores translate to percentiles/ranks.

For CAT 2024, the cutoff for the top percentile varied slightly across the slots: 99.9 percentile raw marks:

To score 99%ile, the raw score requirement differs by slot: 91 in Slot 1, 85 in Slot 2, and 88 in Slot 3, along with the sectional cutoff for CAT 2024

• VARC: 99%ile ~ 41
• DILR: 99%ile ~ 38
• QA: 99%ile ~ 33

Ans. The total number of questions is expected to change from 66 to 68, with an increase of 2 questions in DILR sections, making a total of 22 questions.

Ans. Yes, there is a possibility that questions in CAT will be a mix of MCQ vs non-MCQ (TITA) could change. In the CAT 2025 expected exam pattern, there can be 48 MCQs with 20 non-MCQs (around 70/30 split).

According to the mock tests and analysis, the CAT 2025 will have a similar section-wise MCQ / non-MCQ splits (e.g., VARC: 22 MCQ + 2 TITA, DILR: 12 MCQ + 10 TITA, QA: 14 MCQ + 8 TITA) in their expected pattern.

Ans. No, not all questions in the CAT 2025 will have negative marking, as per the marking scheme of the CAT 2025:

MCQs: Each correct answer awards +3 marks, -1 mark for each incorrect answer.

TITA Questions: These questions require candidates to type in their answers without provided options. For TITA questions:

• No negative marking for incorrect answers.
• No marks deducted for unanswered questions.
• +3 marks for correct answers.

Ans. Yes, Para Jumbles / Grammar / New question types can return in the CAT 2025, especially in the VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension) section.

As the latest CAT exam pattern has not been released yet, the VARC section in CAT 2025 is anticipated to consist of 24 questions, distributed as follows:

Reading Comprehension (RC): 16 questions (4 passages × 4 questions each)

Verbal Ability (VA): 8 questions, including:

• Para Summary: 3 questions
• Para Insertion: 3 questions
• Odd Sentence Out: 2 questions

Ans. Improving your performance in the Quantitative Ability (QA) section of the CAT exam requires a strategic approach and building a strong foundation by practicing the questions daily while managing the time efficiently.

• Understand the QA syllabus thoroughly: Arithmetic, Algebra, Number Systems, Geometry, and Modern Math.
• Focus on high-weightage topics, Arithmetic (Time & Work, Percentages, Profit & Loss), Algebra (Linear & Quadratic Equations), and Geometry basics.
• You should solve a variety of problems daily from each topic and take timed mock tests to simulate the exam conditions.

Ans. In the CAT 2025 exam the fixed order of sections will be as follows:

• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
• Quantitative Ability (QA)

There each section will be an allotted time of 40 minutes, and candidates will not be allowed to switch between the sections during the CAT 2025.

Ans. The CAT 2025 exam is expected to have a total of 68 questions and a maximum score of 204 marks, where 3 marks will be awarded for each correct answer, -1 for each incorrect MCQ, and TITA questions will have no negative marking.

So, the CAT 2025 section-wise marks distribution will be:

• The VARC will have a total of 24 questions with 72 total marks.
• DILR and QA will have 22 questions each, making a total of 66 marks for each section.

Ans. A score of 70 marks in the CAT exam is considered above average, which translates to a 95th percentile, while top IIMs will require even higher marks, but the other esteemed institutes like IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, SPJIMR, and MDI Gurgaon are expected to accept candidates with scores around 70.

Ans. As per the CAT 2024 exam, the Quantitative Ability (QA) section was considered as the easiest among the 3 sections.

• In CAT 2024 slot 1, the QA section was considered the most easy, with many candidates attempting 14–15 questions comfortably.
• In Slots 2 and 3, QA was the easiest among all three slots, with questions being simpler compared to previous years.

Ans. To score 99 percentile in the CAT exam, it is recommended from previous years' exams and experts that you attempt around 50–55 questions correctly out of the total 68, with an accuracy rate of 85% to 90%. And approximately 15–17 correct answers per section.

Ans. There is no limit to the number of attempts for the CAT exam; you are free to appear for the CAT as many times as you want, provided you meet the eligibility criteria each year.

Ans. The CAT is a computer-based test (CBT), conducted online at the designated exam centers across India. You must visit your assigned exam center on the day of the CAT exam, where they will use a computer to answer the questions.

Ans. No, the CAT exam is not fully MCQ-based; the CAT exam includes both Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and Type-in-the-Answer (TITA) questions. The sections will have,

• VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension): 24 questions, with expected 22 MCQs and 2 TITA-type questions.
• DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning): 22 questions, including 12 MCQs and 10 TITA-type questions.
• QA (Quantitative Ability): 22 questions divided into 14 MCQs and 8 TITA-type questions.

Ans. There are a total of 68 questions in CAT 2025, divided into 3 sections: 24 questions from VARC, 22 from DILR, and 22 from QA.

The number of questions has been increased from 66 in CAT 2024 to 68 in CAT 2025, with 2 additional questions in DILR.

Ans. The marking Scheme for CAT 2025 is designed to assess your accuracy and penalize incorrect answers.

• For each Correct answer, +3 marks will be awarded, whether it is an MCQ or a TITA question.
• For each incorrect answer, -1 mark will be deducted only for MCQs; there is no penalty for incorrect TITA answer.
• For unanswered questions, there is no penalty.

Ans. Yes CAT exam has negative marking, but only for MCQs, i.e, -1 for each wrong answer. The TITA type has no penalty for an incorrect answer.

Ans. In CAT 2025, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) will have the most weightage with 24 questions and 72 marks, compared to the Quantitative Aptitude (QA) and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) sections, which both have 22 questions and 66 marks each.

Ans. In CAT exam, the QA is a fully maths- based section, whereas DILR has more Quantitative logic, not pure math, and VARC section is language-based only, which has no maths.

CAT is divided into three sections:

• VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension) – 24 questions
• DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning) – 22 questions
• QA (Quantitative Ability) – 22 questions

QA (The Math Core) - This section is fully math-based, having 22 questions.

• Topics breakdown (CAT 2025 trends):
  • Arithmetic ~8–9 questions
  • Algebra ~5–6 questions
  • Geometry & Mensuration ~3 questions
  • Numbers/Modern Math ~3–4 questions
• Combined, Arithmetic + Algebra account for about 65% of QA

“So, QA is heavy on math fundamentals—especially arithmetic and algebra.”

DILR (A Mix of Quantitative & Logical Reasoning) - This section has 22 questions including data interpretation (charts, tables) and logical puzzles. The major topics are graphs, seating arrangements, puzzles, and data sufficiency.

“While not strictly math, many DILR sets require numeric calculations and quantitative data crunching.”

VARC (Minimal Math) - The VARC section has 24 questions focused entirely on language: RC passages, para summarization, grammar

“No maths here—this section tests reading/comprehension and verbal analysis only.”

Ans.Yes, the CAT exam can be considered a very tough exam for MBA aspirants across India, with the sections, especially QA and DILR, in some years which were very difficult.

CAT is consistently rated as moderate to difficult, with noticeable changes in the difficulty level across years:

• In 2024, the overall difficulty level of CAT exam was considered Moderate
• In 2023 the CAT exam was difficult with the toughest QA and DILR sesctions.
• In the years 2020–2022 the CAT exam had a content difficulty level of Moderate–Difficult

“As per experts like Arun Sharma, the CAT 2023 had the toughest Quant section in the past five years, with DI‑LR also harder than usual, though VARC was on the easier side.”

Ans. Yes, the sectional order of CAT 2025 exam will be fixed, VARC → DILR → QA. The candidates will have no option to switch or revisit sections while taking the CAT exam.

This fixed sectional flow was fixed in 2021.

• VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension) – 40 minutes
• DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning) – 40 minutes
• QA (Quantitative Aptitude) – 40 minutes

Once your 40 minutes for a section are over, the system will automatically move to the next section, and the candidate will not be able to return to the previous section.

Ans. No, the CAT exam is a non-adaptive test. The questions asked in the CAT exam do not depend on the question previously answered. Each question in the CAT exam is independent.

Ans. In CAT 2025, the TITA questions are estimated to be 12–20 questions across the paper. Section-wise breakdown typically:

• VARC: ~5 TITA
• DILR: ~5–8 TITA
• QA: ~7–8 TITA

Estimated Number of TITA Questions (Overall & by Section)