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CAT 2025 Exam Pattern, Section Wise Total Marks, Download PDF

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Last Updated on March 6, 2025

The CAT Exam Pattern 2025 will be released by the IIM along with the information bulletin and notification at the official website. It is expected that it will be similar to the CAT 2024 Format with the total questions asked being 68. The CAT Exam 2025 consists of three sections - VARC, DILR, and QA, conducted in a duration of 2 hours in three shifts. In this article, candidates who are preparing or planning for CAT 2025 can check the latest exam pattern, syllabus, section wise weightage, and total marks.

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CAT 2025 Exam Pattern

The CAT 2025 Exam Paper consists of 68 questions from section - VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension), DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning) and QA (Quantitative Ability). There are lots of changes has been made to the CAT Exam Pattern (in 5 years). Now, the CAT 2025 Total Marks will be 204 instead of 198. Candidates appearing for CAT 2025 must make themselves familiar with the current exam pattern before starting to prepare for the exam. Understanding the question paper and marking scheme is an important factor for the CAT. Here are some essential highlights pertaining to the CAT Exam Pattern 2025.  

  • Total Duration: 2 Hours (120 Minutes)
  • Sections are Time-bound: Each section has a 40-minute limit.
  • Negative Marking: -1 for incorrect MCQs, No negative marking for TITA questions.
  • MCQs & TITA: Some questions require typed answers (TITA), and others are multiple-choice (MCQ).

Continue reading the article to know the CAT exam pattern in detail, and make yourself exam-ready. Moreover, candidates can visit the official website of IIMCAT to stay updated regarding important information.  

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CAT Paper Pattern 2025

Go through the below table to know the CAT Exam Pattern 2025, and start preparing for the exam. 

CAT Exam Pattern 2025
Exam Name CAT exam
Conducting Body Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)
Mode of Exam Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Total Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
Number of Sections 3 (VARC, DILR, QA)
Total Questions 68
Total Marks 204
Question Type MCQs & TITA (Type In The Answer)
Marking Scheme 3 for correct, -1 for MCQs, No negative for Non MCQ
Sectional Time Limit 40 minutes per section
Negative Marking Applicable for MCQs only (-1 for wrong answer)

CAT 2025 Section Wise Exam Pattern

Check the latest CAT 2025 Exam Pattern along with the section wise weightage and marks distribution in the table below.

CAT Exam Sections Total Questions MCQs TITA (Non-MCQs) Marks per Correct Answer Negative Marking (MCQs) Total Marks Duration
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) 24 21 3 +3 -1 72 40 min
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) 22 14 8 +3 -1 66 40 min
Quantitative Ability (QA) 22 14 8 +3 -1 66 40 min
Total 68 49 19 +3 -1 204 120 min (2 hours)

CAT Exam Pattern - Year Wise Changes

Since 2020, CAT follows a 120-minute format with 66-76 questions. Earlier, it had 100 questions in 180 minutes. In 2015, three sections (QA, DILR, VARC) replaced the previous two-section pattern. Check the Year Wise Changes made in the CAT Exam Pattern in table below.

CAT Year Number of Questions Exam Duration Sections
2024 68 120 minutes QA, DILR, VARC
2023 66 120 minutes QA, DILR, VARC
2022 66 120 minutes QA, DILR, VARC
2021 66 120 minutes QA, DILR, VARC
2020 76 120 minutes QA, DILR, VARC
2019 100 180 minutes QA, DILR, VARC
2018 100 180 minutes QA, DILR, VARC
2017 100 180 minutes QA, DILR, VARC
2016 100 180 minutes QA, DILR, VARC
2015 100 180 minutes QA, DILR, VARC
2014 100 170 minutes QA & DI, LR & VARC
2013 60 140 minutes QA & DI, LR & VARC
2012 60 140 minutes QA & DI, LR & VARC
2011 60 140 minutes QA & DI, LR & VARC
2010 60 150 minutes QA, DILR, VARC

What Does Each Color on the Panel Indicate?

Below is a table that shows what each colour on the panel indicates when candidates are appearing for the exam.There will be 5 colours that indicate whether the candidate has answered the question or not, reviewed it or not, etc. Candidates must be aware of the answer marking pattern before so that they donโ€™t panic at the time of the examination.

Colour on the panel

What it indicates

Red

The question has not been answered nor marked for review

Green

The question has been answered and not marked for review

Grey

The question has not been viewed or visited

Violet

The question has been marked for review and not been answered

Violet with a green tick

The question has been marked for review and answered

If you are preparing for the exam then you can download CAT Exam Previous Year Papers here!

Going through this article candidates must have got to know the CAT exam pattern 2024 and also the new changes made last year. As the exams are coming close candidates must start revising, for that download our Testbook App. This App will provide the applicants to practice with various mock tests, previous year papers, practice series, and much more.

CAT Exam Pattern 2025 FAQ

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