The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the gateway to the IIMs and most top MBA programmes in India, and the surest way to build exam temperament is to solve full-length sample papers under the real clock. CAT 2026 keeps its three-section structure with a strict 40-minute sectional limit, so practising section by section is exactly how you should train. On this page you get free CAT sample papers and previous year style practice sets for every section, with clean PDFs you can download and solve offline.

Official website: iimcat.ac.in

CAT Subject-wise Sample Papers 2026 - Download PDF

CAT Quantitative Aptitude Sample Paper

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CAT DILR Sample Paper

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Pick the section you want to train and download its sample paper set. Each set follows the real CAT structure for that section, so the question style, count and timing match what you will face on test day. Start with full sets, then move to timed single-section drills as the exam gets closer.

You can download these papers here on Collegedunia, and you can also cross-check the official structure and any latest updates on the official website iimcat.ac.in before you begin a mock.

  • Exam conducted by: The Indian Institutes of Management (the hosting IIM rotates each year), usually held on a Sunday in late November.
  • Paper format: 68 questions across three sections - VARC (24), DILR (22) and Quantitative Aptitude (22), for a total of 204 marks.
  • Marking scheme: +3 for every correct answer and -1 for a wrong MCQ; the type-in-the-answer (TITA) questions carry no negative marking.
  • Mode and duration: Computer-based test of 120 minutes, with a fixed 40-minute time limit per section and no switching between sections.
  • Section choice: All three sections are compulsory and are attempted in a fixed order set by the system.
  • Syllabus base: School-level Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Modern Maths for QA, plus reading comprehension and reasoning sets for the other two sections.

CAT Sample PaperCAT Exam Pattern and Marks Distribution 2026

The CAT pattern has stayed stable for the last few years, and knowing the marks distribution helps you decide how many questions to attempt in each section without losing marks to negative marking.

  • Total questions: 68, split as VARC 24, DILR 22 and Quantitative Aptitude 22.
  • Total marks: 204, since every question carries 3 marks.
  • Marking: +3 for a correct answer, -1 for a wrong MCQ, and no penalty on TITA questions.
  • Duration: 120 minutes total, with a 40-minute limit on each section that cannot be carried forward.
  • Mode: Computer-based test with an on-screen timer and a basic on-screen calculator.

Key advice: With about 40 minutes for 22 questions in QA, you have under two minutes per question, so the smart move is to solve the easy and medium questions cleanly and leave the traps for the last few minutes.

CAT Sample Papers - Why Recent Papers Matter Most

CAT does not release an official syllabus, so the exam itself is the syllabus. Recent papers tell you exactly which topics are being tested heavily and which question types are fading out, which is why your practice should lean on the latest patterns.

  • The last three years show Arithmetic and Algebra dominating QA, so newer papers train you on the topics that actually appear most.
  • The share of TITA questions changes slightly each year, and recent sets help you judge how many no-negative questions to expect.
  • Reading comprehension passages and DILR sets have become shorter and trickier, so fresh practice keeps your speed calibrated to the current style.

CAT Subject Wise Weightage - High Scoring Areas to Focus in Sample Papers

Each section carries the same number of marks, but the internal mix tells you where the easy points sit. Use this table to plan how much time to spend on each area while solving sample papers.

Section Questions Difficulty What to Watch For
Quantitative Aptitude 22 Moderate to High Arithmetic and Algebra carry most of the marks, so lock these first before geometry and numbers.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning 22 High Set selection decides your score; spend the first few minutes choosing the two easiest sets.
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension 24 Moderate Reading comprehension is the bulk; build reading speed and accuracy on inference questions.

Note: Do not ignore the smaller buckets like Number System and Modern Maths in QA, since one or two of these questions are often direct and give you easy marks if you have practised them.

CAT Sample Paper Video Solutions 2026 - Watch Before You Start Solving

Before you sit down with a full paper, it helps to watch how a top scorer reads a question, picks an approach and avoids long calculations. A good walkthrough shows you the shortcuts that save the seconds which add up over 22 questions.

The video below is a full CAT Quantitative Aptitude course that starts from the basics and builds up to exam-level questions across Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Modern Maths, so you can use it to revise any weak topic before attempting a sample paper.

Watch:

Source: Free CAT Quants full course by Ravi Prakash (Rodha), covering core Quantitative Aptitude topics such as Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Modern Maths from basics to exam level (YouTube)

How to Use CAT Sample Papers to Clear in First Attempt

Solving papers without a method wastes them. Treat every sample paper as a real attempt and review it harder than you solve it, and your score will climb faster than from passive study.

  • Set a 40-minute timer for each section and stop the moment it ends, exactly like the real test.
  • Mark every question you guessed, even the ones you got right, so you can fix shaky concepts.
  • After each paper, list the topics that ate your time and revise those before the next attempt.
  • Track your attempt count and accuracy, since CAT rewards a high strike rate more than a high attempt count.
  • Reattempt the questions you skipped without a timer to learn the method, not just the answer.
  • Keep a running error log so the same mistake never costs you marks twice.

CAT Negative Marking and Time Management Strategy

CAT punishes blind guessing through the -1 penalty on MCQs, so your scoring strategy has to balance attempts against accuracy. The TITA questions are your safe zone because a wrong answer there costs nothing.

  • Always attempt TITA questions when you have a workable answer, since there is no negative marking on them.
  • On MCQs, guess only when you can eliminate at least two options, which tilts the odds in your favour.
  • Do two passes per section: clear the easy questions first, then return to the heavier ones with the time left.
  • Never let one stubborn question eat three minutes; flag it, move on, and come back if time allows.

CAT 4 Week Preparation Plan Using Sample Papers

  • Week 1: Revise Arithmetic and Algebra concepts and solve topic-wise drills, then attempt one QA sample paper at the end of the week.
  • Week 2: Add Geometry, Mensuration and Modern Maths, and start attempting full timed QA and DILR sections on alternate days.
  • Week 3: Move to full three-section mocks twice this week, and spend more time on review than on solving new sets.
  • Week 4: Take two final full mocks early in the week, then keep the last two days for light revision of formulas and your error log only.

FAQs on CAT Sample Papers 2026

Ques.How many questions are there in the CAT Quantitative Aptitude section in 2026?

Ans.The Quantitative Aptitude section has 22 questions to be solved in a 40-minute sectional time limit, and it carries 66 marks since each question is worth 3 marks.

Ques.Is there negative marking in CAT sample papers and the real exam?

Ans.Yes, the MCQ questions carry a -1 penalty for a wrong answer, while the TITA type-in-the-answer questions have no negative marking, so practise both styles in your sample papers.

Ques.Are these CAT sample papers free to download?

Ans.Yes, all the CAT sample papers listed on this page are free to download as PDFs, and you can solve them offline and review them as many times as you need.

Ques.Which section should I practise first in CAT?

Ans.Most students start with Quantitative Aptitude or VARC depending on their strength, but since CAT fixes the section order on test day, you should practise all three in the standard sequence as the exam nears.

Ques.How many CAT sample papers should I solve before the exam?

Ans.Aim for at least 15 to 20 full mocks along with extra topic-wise sample papers, and make sure you review every one of them rather than just chasing the count.

Ques.Do CAT sample papers match the actual difficulty level?

Ans.Good sample papers are built to the latest CAT pattern and difficulty, so they prepare you well, but always finish with a few official previous year papers to calibrate your final timing.