Common Admission Test (CAT) 2024

Conducted by
Indian Institute of Management Calcutta

An exclusive Guide by
CAT 2024 Pattern Visit on Shiksha
CAT exam pattern 2024 has been prescribed by the IIMs. as per the of f icial pattern, CAT 2024 exam will have 66 objective type questions (MCQ and T IT A) to
be solved within 120 minutes. T hese 120 minutes will be divided into 40 minutes each f or the three sections of the exam. T here will be negative marking of -1
f or every MCQ.

Earlier, the CAT exam used to be of 180 minutes with 100 questions but in 2020, both exam duration and number of questions were reduced to 76 and 120
minutes. In 2021, the number of question was f urther reduced to 66. Since then, it has remained the same. Read below all about CAT exam pattern 2024:

CAT exam pattern is designed to test candidate's ability to solve mathematical and reasoning problems accurately in least amount of time. T he test is all
about using aptitude skills and logical reasoning. Candidates planning to appear f or CAT 2024, must f amiliarise themselves with the latest CAT exam
pattern. It will help them in understanding the structure of CAT question paper and marking scheme.

T here were three sections in the CAT question paper 2024:

1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

3. Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

CAT VARC section will have 24 questions and a weightage of 72 marks

CAT DILR section will have 20 questions and a weightage of 60 marks

CAT Quantitative Aptitude section will have 22 questions and a weightage of 66 marks

CAT Pat t ern 2024

IIM Lucknow, the exam convening institute f or this year will release the CAT tutorial f or candidates a week bef ore the exam to held the candidates in
f amiliarising themselves with CAT exam process. T he CAT tutorial will explain the latest exam pattern and test structure. You can check below some key
points of the expected CAT paper pattern and marking scheme in the below table:

CAT Paper Pat t ern 2024

Mode of CAT exam Computer Based Test
120 minutes
Duration of exam
40 minutes per section

Morning: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM

CAT exam slots Afternoon: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM

Evening: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM

Number of questions 66
CAT total marks 198
Language of question paper English
Number of answer choices 4
Question Type MCQ and non-MCQ
Also Read:

CAT 2024 preparation plan: T ips and T ricks

CAT exam pattern has seen several changes in the past f ew years. T here has been change in the structure as well as duration. Until 2019, it was a 3-hour
exam, held in 2 shif ts. From 2020 onward, it is conducted f or 2 hours in 3 shif ts. 10 years ago, DI was clubbed with QA. It was later on clubbed with LR and QA
became an independent section. Given below is a table indicating changes in CAT exam pattern since 2014:

CAT Year Number of Quest ions CAT Exam Time Durat ion CAT Sect ions
2023 66 120 minutes QA, DILR, VARC

Disclaim e r: This PDF is auto -generated based o n the info rmatio n available o n Shiksha as o n 20 -Apr-20 24.
 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
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CAT 2023 questions and answer keys

CAT 2023 Slot 1 Answer Key PDF and question paper analysis

CAT marking scheme includes negative marking f or MCQs. Check below key points:

T otal marks of CAT 2024 will be 198

Each question will carry 3 marks

T here will be negative marking of -1 f or every wrong answer

T here will be no deduction of marks f or skipping questions

Some questions in the QA section will be non-MCQ.

T here will be no negative marking f or non-MCQ questions

T he f ollowing table summarises the CAT marking scheme. While making the CAT 2024 exam day plan, candidates must keep in mind the marking scheme f or
choice of question.

CAT Negat ive Marking (Only

CAT Sect ions Number of Quest ions Marks Per Quest ion
MCQ)
VARC 24 3 -1
DILR 20 3 -1
Quantitative Aptitude 22 3 -1
CAT Exam Total Marks 66 198 -
CAT exam has sectional time-limit. Which means that candidates will have to solve the paper in a pre-def ined order and in the given time duration. T hey will
not be allowed to choose any section to start with or switch f rom one section to another. T hey will have to solve the CAT question paper chronologically. T he
chronology of the sections will be:

Section 1: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

Section 2: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

Section 3: Quantitative Aptitude

Disclaim e r: This PDF is auto -generated based o n the info rmatio n available o n Shiksha as o n 20 -Apr-20 24.
CAT Exam Time Durat ion

As per the of f icial CAT exam pattern, aspirants have to complete each section within the specif ied time limit and as soon as the time is over, the screen will
automatically move to the next section. No changes, corrections or submissions will be allowed af ter that. Section-wise number of CAT questions and time
limit are summarized in the table below:

No. of Time limit f or PwD

CAT Exam Sect ions Time limit
Quest ions st udent s
53 minutes and 20
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) 24 40 minutes
seconds
53 minutes and 20
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) 20 40 minutes
seconds
53 minutes and 20
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) 22 40 minutes
seconds
Total 66 120 minutes 160 minutes

CAT exam pattern - sectional weightage

Import ant Point s About CAT Test Process

Use of onscreen calculator will be allowed f or computation during the CAT 2024 exam.

An onscreen clock will help candidates to keep a check on time during the exam.

Sheets of paper will be provided f or rough work, which will have to be submitted bef ore leaving the exam hall.

Candidates will not be allowed to start the test bef ore time. T hey will be allowed to login only af ter the invigilator's announcement.

Disclaim e r: This PDF is auto -generated based o n the info rmatio n available o n Shiksha as o n 20 -Apr-20 24.
 Candidates must be seated at their designated seats throughout the exam. If f ound sitting anywhere else, he/she will be disqualif ied.

Also Read:

CAT Preparation 2024 CAT Syllabus 2024 CAT Books for Preparation
T he document of CAT syllabus f or VARC, DILR and QA is not released of f icially by the IIMs. However, by analyzing CAT previous years' question papers, one
can decipher the major topics of CAT syllabus. Given below are the main topics of CAT syllabus 2024 based on previous years’ trends:

CAT Sect ions CAT Syllabus

Parajumbles, Sentence-Completion, Reading Comprehension, Para-
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension
Summary, Inferences
Tables, Graphs, Data Caselets, Blood Relation, Venn Diagram,
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
Seating Arrangement and Syllogism

Percentages, Profit & Loss, Simple Interest-Compound Interest, Time

& Distance, Averages-Mixtures-Alligations, Numbers, Mensuration,
Quantitative Aptitude
Logarithms, Functions & Graphs, Indices & Surds, Quadratic
Equations, Special Equations, Statistics

CAT Test Pat t ern 2024: How t o Mark Answers?

T he CAT exam is conducted in Computer Based T est mode, which means candidates have to enter their answers on a computer system with the help of the
computer mouse or key board. For each CAT question, there will be f our options. Candidates will have to select an option and click on one of the f ollowing
options to move to next question:

Save and Next

Clear Response

Mark f or Review and Next

Whatever option the candidate selects, it will be represented in the f ollowing colours:

CAT question status

Candidates must note that once they have submitted a question (save and next) they cannot go back to edit it. Incase, they are not sure of the
answer, they should exercise 'mark for review and next' option. At the same time, they need to ensure they go back to the questions marked for review
before the time limt for that section gets over.

Free Quantitative Aptitude Bank with Answer

Free DILR Question Bank with Answer Keys Free VARC Question Bank with Answer Keys
Keys
CAT Study Material:

CAT DILR questions with solutions f or practice PDFs

CAT Quantitative Aptitude questions with solutions f or practice PDFs

CAT VARC questions with solutions f or practice PDFs

Check out Shiksha's exclusive and free CAT Mock T est

CAT_Mock_Test_1 CAT_Mock_Test_1_Solutions
CAT_Mock_Test_2 CAT_Mock_Test_2_Solutions
If you prepare f or the CAT exam, you can crack other MBA entrance exams, by preparing only a little extra. Check below major dif f erences between CAT exam
pattern and other MBA entrance exams such as XAT , CMAT , MAT , IIFT , GMAT , NMAT and SNAP. T his will help you analyse the difficulty level of CAT
exam:

Disclaim e r: This PDF is auto -generated based o n the info rmatio n available o n Shiksha as o n 20 -Apr-20 24.
 Exam Name Time Durat ion No. of Quest ions Sect ions Tot al Marks
CAT 120 minutes 66 3 198
XAT 210 minutes 105 5 105
CMAT 180 minutes 100 5 400
MAT 150 minutes 200 5 200
IIFT 120 minutes 110 4 300
GMAT 187 minutes 70 4 200-800
NMAT 120 minutes 108 3 36-360
SNAP 60 minutes 60 3 60
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Check below Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on CAT exam pattern 2024:

Disclaim e r: This PDF is auto -generated based o n the info rmatio n available o n Shiksha as o n 20 -Apr-20 24.