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CAT 2025 Exam Pattern, Section Wise Total Marks, Download PDF
Last Updated on Jun 11, 2025
Download CAT Exam 2025 complete information as PDFIMPORTANT LINKS
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.
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.
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 don’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.
Last updated on Jun 11, 2025
->The Official CAT 2025 Notification will be released on July 30, 2025.
-> The Indian Institutes of Management will conduct a computer-based Common Admission Test 2025 (CAT 2025) on November 30, 2025 in three sessions.
-> All the aspiring candidates can start registering online from first week of August 2025 through the official website @iimcat.ac.in.
-> Aspirants can go through the CAT Exam Previous Year Papers, and also practice through CAT Mock Test (Based on latest exam pattern).
CAT Exam Pattern 2025 FAQ
How many questions will be asked in CAT 2025?
The total of 68 questions will be asked in the CAT 2025 exam.
Can I bring a calculator to the exam center?
Candidates are not allowed to bring calculators. They can use an on-screen calculator.
What is the sectional time limit in the CAT exam?
The sectional timing for general category candidates is 40 minutes and for the PWD category candidate 60 minutes.
How many marks will be deducted for unattempted questions?
There will be no penalty for unattempted questions in the CAT exam.
Can a candidate answer the question as per their choice?
No, candidates cannot answer the question as per their choice. They have to follow the chronology.