Solving previous years' CAT question papers, analyzing errors, and marking the areas that need improvement can help CAT aspirants score well in the actual exam.
Guidance from mentors through online coaching/free resources or peers can also help serious CAT takers level up their CAT preparation.
Below are the CAT previous year question papers with detailed solutions from CAT 2019-2023 for your practice.
Prior to 2009, CAT was held as a paper-based test and established itself as one of the toughest exams in the country. Since CAT 2010, it has moved into the computer-based test mode. In terms of the exam pattern, CAT has shifted from having 2 sections (CAT 2011 to 2014) to 3 sections. Here are the key changes that have been observed in CAT previous year papers:
In terms of the exam pattern, CAT has shifted from having 2 sections from CAT 2011 to CAT 2014 to 3 sections. Here are the key changes that have been observed in CAT:
Practising previous years' CAT question papers can significantly contribute to your preparation for CAT 2024 and improve your test-taking strategy. Here are some pointers on how solving these CAT previous year papers can help you ace the exam:
The competition is tough, and it will be all the more difficult for you to emerge on the winning side without attempting the CAT exam previous year question papers.
CAT previous year papers help students understand the difficulty level of the exam, allowing them to manage their time effectively. By analyzing these papers, students can learn how much time each question might require; and become familiar with the types of questions asked each year. This way, they can allocate their time wisely across the different sections.
While the CAT syllabus covers a wide range of topics, these CAT previous year papers provide students with an idea of specific exam patterns and the types of recurring or common questions. Familiarity with the CAT previous year question papers also enables students to focus on the essential topics, avoid unnecessary distractions, reduce anxiety, and develop a relevant strategy without hassles. It also helps them identify their strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to allocate the right amount of time to work on their weak points.
Candidates are advised to practise at least past 10 years’ CAT question papers, which will definitely help them increase their speed and accuracy, enabling them to attempt more questions within the stimulated time and optimize their performance in CAT.
We have collected all the CAT previous year question papers, from CAT 2019 to CAT 2023 on our website. These question papers are easily accessible. You can refer to them for practice and even download the PDF with answers and solutions.
Yes, doing the previous years’ papers is beneficial for the following reasons:
The IIM that conducts the CAT for the respective year is in charge of preparing the question paper.
Yes, the major benefit of attempting previous years’ CAT papers is that it helps you identify the main topics from which questions can be asked in the exam. However, it is important to note that the difficulty level and paper pattern of CAT change every year; so, it does not guarantee that these are the specific questions that will be asked. Nevertheless, it gives you a preview of the types of questions asked.
