CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Total Marks, Marking Scheme, Negative Marks

The CAT Exam Pattern 2025 is designed by NTA. It is very important for you to go through the paper pattern to understand the marking scheme and sectional weightage. It has 66 questions to be attempted in 120 minutes.

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The CAT Exam Pattern includes different sections such as Verbal & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Quantitative Aptitude (QA), and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR). The question paper will have 66 questions in MCQ and non-MCQ formats. The CAT exam duration is 120 minutes, and the CAT sectional time limit is 40 minutes. You must complete each section within the 40-minute duration.

You must also know the CAT marking scheme before proceeding with the CAT exam. You will get +3 marks for each correct answer and -1 penalty for each wrong answer. No marks shall be deducted for unanswered questions. The CAT section-wise weightage and duration have been stated below. There is no change in the CAT 2025 exam pattern.

CAT Exam Pattern Details 2025

The highlights of the CAT exam pattern for MBA have been shared below for your reference. You are advised to note down all the pointers and follow them to prepare for the examination.

Particulars	Details
CAT Exam Date 2025	Nov 30, 2025
CAT Exam Sections	Verbal & reading comprehension (VARC) Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
CAT Exam Mode	Computer-Based Test
CAT Total Questions	66
CAT Total Marks	204
CAT Exam Duration	120 Minutes
CAT Sectional Duration	40 Minutes (53 minutes for PwD candidates)
CAT Slots	Slot 1- 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Slot 2- 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM Slot 3- 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
CAT Marks for Correct Answers	+3
CAT Marks for Incorrect Answers	-1
CAT Marks for Unattempted Answers	Nil

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CAT Sectional Marking and Time Limit 2025

There are three sections in the CAT exam paper, namely

Verbal and Reading comprehension (VARC)
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

The CAT sectional division with the total questions and marks allotted to them is given below for your ease. The CAT VARC section holds the maximum questions and thus you must give more attention to it.

CAT Sections	Type of Questions		Total Questions	Total Marks	Sectional Timing
	MCQs	Non MCQs
CAT VARC	19	5	24	72	40
CAT DILR	16	4	20	60	40
CAT QA	16	6	22	66	40

CAT Topic-wise Weightage 2025

The question format shall be different for all the CAT sections in the exam. You can follow the details shared below to access it.

CAT Sections	CAT Questions	CAT Sectional Weightage
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension	Reading Comprehension Para Jumbles Odd One Out Para Summary Vocabulary Fill in the Blanks	34%
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning	Seating Arrangement Reasoning Logical Venn Diagram and Syllogisms MCQ Games and Tournament Caselets in CAT Tables and Missing Data Maxima-Minima	32%
Quantitative Aptitude	Arithmetic Algebra Topics for Math Number Systems Modern Math Geometry and Mensuration	34%

CAT Section Wise Important Questions

When preparing for CAT Exam 2025, you must also have a list of CT important questions and topics to give more attention to. These are a few topics that gain weightage and are for sure to appear in the exam. Thus noting them down and paying more attention to it will help you score better.

CAT Sections	CAT Section wise Important Questions
CAT VARC	Para-jumbles & para-summary, sentence completion, inferences, RC CAT passages-based questions
CAT DILR	Seating Arrangement, Blood Relation, Syllogism, Tables, Graphs, Data Caselets
CAT QA	Number System, Geometry, Algebra, Mensuration, Time and Work

CAT Section wise Time Limit

There are 3 sections in the CAT exam and each has a certain time limit set against it. You must complete the questions of that particular section in the allotted time or else the section will get closed automatically. Once it is closed, you will not be able to reattempt it even if you save time in any other section.

CAT Exam Section	CAT Total Questions	CAT Section Time Limit for All Candidates	CAT Section Time Limit for PwD Candidates
CAT VARC	24	40 minutes	53 minutes 20 seconds
CAT DILR	20
CAT QA	22

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CAT Exam Marking Scheme 2025

You should be aware of the CAT exam pattern and marks 2025 before appearing for the examination.

+3 marks will be given for each correct answer for MCQ and Non MCQ type questions.
-1 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer in MCQ type question.
No marks shall be deducted for unattempted questions.
No marks shall be deducted for wrong answers in Non MCQ Question type.

Is the CAT 2025 Exam Pattern Changed?

No, the CAT 2025 exam pattern has not been changed yet. Though the exam pattern for every competitive exam is slightly changed after every 5-8 years. The IIMs collectively have designed the CAT exam pattern and any changes done to it shall be notified to you earlier.

Last time the CAT exam pattern 2025 was changed in the year 2020, when the CAT exam duration was reduced from 3 hours to 2 hours, and the sectional time limit was reduced from 60 minutes to 40 minutes.

Did You Know?

CAT Exam Difficulty Level Over the Years

The best way to judge the expected difficulty level of the upcoming CAT exam 2025 is to go through the previous year exam analysis and check the difficulty level. This will guide you well towards each section of CAT exam and what to expect from it. An overall difficulty level of the exam paper has been shared below for your reference.

Exam Year	Difficulty Level
2025	Moderate to Difficult (Expected)
2024	Moderate
2023	Moderate to Difficult
2022	Moderate
2021	Moderate to Difficult
2020	Moderate to Difficult
2019	Moderate to Difficult
2018	Moderate to Difficult
2017	Moderate
2016	Moderate to difficult
2015	Moderate to difficult
2014	Easy to Moderate
2013	Easy to Moderate

Conclusion

The CAT 2025 exam pattern PDF is very important for each of you appearing for the exam. You must prepare for the exam keeping the CAT exam pattern and syllabus 2025 in hand. The details of the sectional division and time limit must be noted to avoid any wastage of time in the exam hall.