CAT Exam Pattern 2025 : Complete Guide

Introduction

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is not just another entrance exam – it’s the gateway to the IIMs and top B-schools in India. Every year, lakhs of aspirants appear for CAT, but only a small percentage manage to secure the coveted seats.

Understanding the exam pattern, marking scheme, and section-wise weightage is often the first step toward effective preparation. Many students dive straight into practice without studying the structure of the exam, and that’s where they lose out.

The CAT has evolved over the years – from being a lengthy 3-hour test with 180 questions to a compact 2-hour exam with fewer but more challenging questions. The emphasis has shifted from speed alone to a balance of accuracy, logical thinking, and smart time management.

In this blog, we’ll break down the CAT 2025 exam pattern in detail, highlight the distribution of questions section-wise, discuss the marking scheme, and give you insights into the topic-wise weightage based on the 2024 trend. This will help you prepare in a more focused way, channel your time toward high-priority areas, and approach the exam with a clear strategy.

CAT 2025 Exam Highlights

• Mode of Exam: Computer-based test

• Language: English

• Total Duration: 120 minutes (2 hours)

• Sectional Time Limit: 40 minutes per section

• Exam Slots: Morning, Afternoon, Evening

• Total Questions: 68

• Total Marks: 204

• Question Types: MCQs and Non-MCQs (TITA)

• Options: 4 per MCQ

Section-Wise Exam Structure

Marking Scheme

• Correct Answer (MCQ & Non-MCQ): +3 marks

• Incorrect Answer (MCQ): –1 mark

• Incorrect Answer (Non-MCQ/TITA): No negative marking

• Unattempt Questions: No penalty

MCQ vs Non-MCQ Distribution

• VARC: 22 MCQs + 2 Non-MCQs

• DILR: 12 MCQs + 10 Non-MCQs

• QA: 14 MCQs + 8 Non-MCQs

• Overall: 48 MCQs + 20 Non-MCQs

Section-Wise Weightage & Topics

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

In CAT 2024, QA followed this trend:

• Arithmetic: 8 questions

• Number System: 1–3 questions

• Algebra: 5–7 questions

• Geometry & Mensuration: 3 questions

• Modern Math: 0–3 questions

Slot-Wise QA Distribution (CAT 2024):

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

• Focuses on reading comprehension, para summaries, and sentence rearrangements.

• Notably, CAT 2024 did not feature para-jumble questions.

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

• Involves caselets, bar graphs, puzzles, and logical reasoning-based sets.

• Requires quick analysis and interpretation of data.

Historical Exam Trends

• Question Count: CAT 2024 had 68 questions (slightly higher than 66 in earlier years).

• Sections: VARC, DILR, and QA remain unchanged.

• Duration: Since 2020, the exam duration has been 120 minutes instead of 180.

• Expected in 2025: The same structure is likely to continue.

Conclusion

The CAT 2025 exam is expected to mirror CAT 2024, with 68 questions across three sections and a strict 40-minute limit per section. Understanding the marking scheme and topic-wise weightage can help you allocate your preparation time wisely.

For best results, strengthen your basics in Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry for QA, practice diverse sets for DILR, and build strong comprehension skills for VARC. With the right strategy and focused practice, cracking CAT 2025 is definitely achievable.

FAQs on CAT Exam Pattern 2025

Q1. How many questions should I attempt to score 99 percentile in CAT?
There is no fixed number, but typically 40–45 accurate attempts out of 68 can help you reach around the 99 percentile, depending on the difficulty level of the paper.

Q2. Is there sectional cut-off in CAT?
Yes. Each IIM has sectional cut-offs for VARC, DILR, and QA. Scoring well in just one section will not guarantee a call; you need a balanced performance.

Q3. Are all questions in CAT MCQs?
No. CAT has both MCQs and non-MCQs (TITA). Non-MCQs don’t carry negative marking.

Q4. Which section is the toughest in CAT?
This depends on your background. For engineers, VARC is often considered tougher, while non-engineers may find QA more challenging. DILR usually has the least number of attempts due to its time-consuming nature.

Q5. Has the CAT pattern changed in recent years?
Yes, earlier CAT was a 3-hour test with 180 questions. Since 2020, it has been reduced to 2 hours with 66–68 questions.

Want to Register for CAT 2025 : Click on this Link to know more