Updated on 30th September 2025 | 4:34 pm | #CATExamPattern2025
CAT Exam Pattern 2025: There is no fixed paper pattern for CAT exam. Usually, the conducting body for CAT sets up the CAT exam pattern according to the comfort of the test takers. No major changes are expected to take place this year in the CAT paper pattern.
This year, the CAT exam paper pattern is split into three sections, each with an individual time limit of 40 minutes.
A strong understanding of the CAT 2025 exam pattern will allow candidates to identify the important and key areas of the CAT syllabus and help them plan their preparation effectively and formulate the best exam strategies.
The CAT exam pattern 2025 is expected to be similar to the CAT 2024. Thus, it is the perfect time for all the CAT 2025 aspirants to kickstart their CAT 2025 preparation if they want to land in their dream B-schools. Some of the major points to keep in mind concerning the CAT 2025 paper pattern are:
|
Key Components |
Details |
|
Exam Conducting Body |
IIMs (on a rotational basis) |
|
Official website |
iimcat.ac.in |
|
Exam Mode |
Computer-Based Test |
|
No. of Questions |
68 |
|
Number of Sections |
3 |
|
Total Sections |
VARC, DILR and QA |
|
Total Marks |
204 |
|
CAT 2025 Exam Duration |
2 hours |
|
CAT 2025 Sectional Time Limit |
40 minutes |
|
CAT Exam Slots 2025 |
|
|
Medium of Instruction |
English |
|
Difficulty Level |
Moderate To High |
|
Exam Frequency |
Once a year |
|
Test Cities |
150+ across India |
|
Types of Questions |
MCQ and TITA |
|
CAT Marking Scheme |
+3 for every right answer -1 for every wrong answer TITA has no negative marking |
Also Check: CAT Eligibility
CAT exam pattern helps candidates understand the CAT exam syllabus and prepare a strategy.
CAT exam pattern 2025 provides plenty of details, helping candidates analyse and prepare accordingly.
We have shared below the CAT exam pattern and sectional weightage based on the CAT exam pattern of last year.
CAT Exam Sections: There are 3 key sections in the CAT exam, VARC, DILR and QA
Total Number Of Questions: There are a total of 68 questions divided into 3 sections.
Number of questions in Each Section: 24 questions in VARC, 22 questions in DILR, 22 questions in QA
Total Marks: CAT exam is worth a total of 204 Marks.
Sectional weightage: 72 marks in VARC, 66 marks in DILR and 66 marks in QA.
If you are a CAT 2025 aspirant, then it's time for you to buckle up with your CAT preparation. You can boost your preparation with our CAT previous year papers and free CAT mocks.
The CAT Exam is held as a computer-based test (CBT) with a duration of 2 hours. Each section has an individual time limit of 40 minutes. The CAT 2025 Exam Pattern is given below:
|
CAT 2025 Exam Sections |
No of questions |
MCQs |
Non - MCQs |
Important Topics |
|
VARC |
24 |
20 |
4 |
Reading Comprehension 16 Questions: 4 passages of 4 questions Verbal Ability 8 Questions: para jumbles, para completions, para summary and odd sentence out |
|
DILR |
22 |
14 |
6 |
Data Interpretation - 2/3 sets Logical Reasoning - 2/3 sets Total 5 sets of 4-5 questions each with areas questioned on Bar Graph, Arrangements, Missing Data and Puzzles (Games) |
|
QA |
22 |
15 |
7 |
There are 5 major areas, including arithmetic, algebra, geometry, numbers, and modern maths, which is further dominated by the majority of questions from arithmetic and algebra. |
|
Total |
68 |
49 |
17 |
It is very crucial to have a basic understanding of the CAT paper pattern and syllabus before you approach the exam. This approach will boost your confidence for the actual exam and provide you with effective strategies, as well as smart tips and tricks to ace your CAT 2025.
Here is the breakdown of the CAT test pattern 2025 for all the sections separately to give candidates a better idea of what is expected to be asked of them.
The VARC section in CAT comprises 24 questions in total. This section covers 34% of the total CAT exam. In the verbal section, the CAT exam pattern of the past years indicates that the section consists of two primary components, i.e. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension.
Reading Comprehension:
Verbal Ability:
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning is the second section of the CAT Exam. Candidates will be able to attempt it only after they submit the VARC section in the CAT Exam.
It is the most dynamic section in CAT, and new types of questions are introduced almost every year. It is advisable to be very careful when selecting the questions, as your choice can make or break your overall percentile.
Based on the CAT test pattern for DILR, here are the changes as per CAT 2024:
This is the section that most candidates prepare extensively. This is because the CAT exam pattern and syllabus for this section are the most fleshed out among all the other sections. It is the section that can make or break the exam for most candidates.
Similar to the previous year's exam pattern, the marking scheme for the MCQ and TITA questions is different. Here is an overview of the marking scheme for CAT 2025:
|
Type of Question |
Correct Response |
Incorrect Response |
|
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
+3 |
-1 |
|
Type in the Answer (TITA) |
+3 |
0 |
CAT 2025 will be divided across three slots throughout the day. Candidates will have the slot they must appear for, which is mentioned on their admit cards. Here is the slot-based division of the paper:
|
CAT Exam Sections |
CAT Sectional Time Limit |
Time Limit For PwD Students |
|
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
40 minutes |
53 minutes and 20 seconds |
|
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) |
40 minutes |
53 minutes and 20 seconds |
|
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) |
40 minutes |
53 minutes and 20 seconds |
|
Total |
120 minutes |
160 minutes |
The CAT exam pattern has changed over the years. Check out the tabulated major changes in the CAT exam for your better understanding and exam analysis.
|
Year |
Duration |
No. of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
|
2024 |
2 hours |
68 |
Easy to Moderate |
|
2021- 2023 |
2 hours |
66 |
Moderate |
|
2020 |
2 hours |
76 |
Moderate to Difficult |
|
2019 |
3 hours |
100 |
Moderate to Difficult |
|
2018 |
3 hours |
100 |
Moderate to Difficult |
|
2017 |
3 hours |
100 |
Moderate |
|
2016 |
3 hours |
100 |
Moderate to Difficult |
|
2015 |
3 hours |
100 |
Moderate to Difficult |
|
2014 |
2 hours 50 minutes |
100 |
Easy to Moderate |
|
2013 |
2 hours 20 minutes |
60 |
Easy to Moderate |
Get CAT preparation tips 2025 curated by our CAT MBA mentors. Also read, CAT VARC preparation tips | CAT DILR preparation tips | CAT QA preparation tips
CAT 2025 will be conducted in three separate time slots throughout the day. Each candidate will have a specific time slot assigned to them, which will be indicated on their CAT 2025 admit card.
Here’s the breakdown of the CAT exam slots for your reference:
|
CAT Exam Slots |
CAT Exam Time Duration |
|
Morning |
8:30 AM to 10:30 AM |
|
Afternoon |
12:30 PM to 2:30 PM |
|
Evening |
4:30 PM to 6:30 PM |
As mentioned before, the CAT 2025 exam will be computer-based. Therefore, candidates will be required to input their responses into the computer. Candidates will have to select one of the given options when putting in the answers:
The official CAT syllabus for VARC, DILR, and QA hasn't been released by the IIMs. However, by looking at past question papers from the CAT exam, we've been able to identify the key topics that are likely to be included in CAT syllabus 2025. Here are the main topics based on that analysis:
|
CAT Sections |
CAT 2025 Syllabus |
|
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension |
Sentence-Completion, Reading Comprehension, Para-Summary, Inferences |
|
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning |
Tables, Graphs, Data Caselets, Blood Relation, Venn Diagram, Seating Arrangement and Syllogism |
|
Quantitative Aptitude |
Percentages, Profit & Loss, Simple Interest-Compound Interest, Time & Distance, Averages-Mixtures-Alligations, Numbers, Mensuration, Logarithms, Functions & Graphs, Indices & Surds, Quadratic Equations, Special Equations, Statistics |
Also read in detail, CAT VARC Syllabus | CAT DILR Syllabus | CAT QA Syllabus
CAT 2025 is a computer-based test (CBT) that consists of three sections with a total of 68 questions: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). Each section allows 40 minutes for completion. Familiarising oneself with the CAT paper pattern should be the first step toward preparing for CAT 2025, following the CAT 2025 syllabus and preparing accordingly to ensure effective preparation.
The CAT exam pattern is a thorough test meant to assess a candidate's skills in several important areas needed for management studies. The exam is split into three sections:
Each section has a time limit of 40 minutes, and the total duration of the exam is 2 hours.
Since the CAT 2025 exam pattern is similar to that of CAT 2024, there will be 68 questions divided into 24 questions in VARC, 22 questions in DILR and 22 questions in QA with 40 minutes each.
Yes, there is a negative marking for each question that candidates mark wrong. 1 mark is deducted from each MCQ question that is marked wrong.
Understanding CAT exam pattern 2025 is important for candidates to prepare the strategy required to crack the CAT exam. The thorough analysis of the exam pattern 2025 will help aspirants identify their strong and weaker topics.
Candidates can take the CAT exam as many times as they want since there is no limit on the number of attempts as long as they are eligible to appear for the exam.
Yes, CAT exam has both MCQ and TITA types of questions. TITA stands for 'type in the answer', and candidates are supposed to write their answers for TITA questions. There is no negative marking in this type of question.
The IIMs do not provide a CAT exam pattern or syllabus, and it is not possible to define the exact questions that are asked from each section. However, based on the CAT papers from the past few years, it can be deduced that three topics of QA, i.e. arithmetic, algebra, and geometry, dominate the section.
No, neither scientific nor physical calculators are allowed in the CAT exam centre; however, to solve complex problems and save time, candidates will be provided with an onscreen digital calculator. Thus, candidates are advised to develop the habit of using a digital calculator from the beginning of their CAT preparation.