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CAT exam pattern is discussed in detail to help candidates understand the pattern before beginning the preparation process. IIM Indore which is the conducting authority introduced a lot of changes in the CAT 2020 exam pattern. Aspiring candidates who are planning to appear for the exam this year will have to be very familiar with the changes in the CAT 2020 exam pattern. Details of the exam pattern like the number of sections, the expected number of questions or the weightage for each section is provided here. The CAT 2020 question paper will have three sections namely VARC, DILR, and QA (in that order). Each section will be of 40 minutes. CAT exam pattern for the year 2020 is discussed in detail below.
The conducting authority, in the CAT exam pattern 2020, has mentioned that Type in the Answer (TITA) type questions will be asked along with the Multiple choice based questions. The CAT 2020 exam pattern specifies the three sections of the exam, which are the Quantitative Aptitude section, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section, and the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) sections. CAT 2019 which was conducted based on the old CAT exam pattern had 34 questions in the VARC section with most of the questions based on Reading Comprehension. DILR section had 32 questions. The final part of the paper is the Quantitative Aptitude section which had 32 questions. The list of changes introduced in the CAT exam pattern 2020 is listed down below.
CAT Exam Pattern Highlights 2020
Online Test: Since 2009, CAT Exam has been conducted only in the online mode as a Computer-based test pattern (CBT).
Duration: Total time allotted for the CAT is reduced to 2 hours (120 minutes), without any breaks in between. The exam duration was 3 hours previously.
CAT Exam Pattern 2020: The new CAT exam pattern 2020 specifies that the paper will consist of only one paper with 100 questions including both Objective type and Non-Objective type questions.
Objective and Non-Objective type: About 70%–75% of questions are Objective type questions (MCQs) and the remaining 25%-30% is the Non-Objective type questions (Non-MCQs)
Sectional Time Limit: The CAT 2020 exam pattern mentions that only 40 minutes will be allotted for each section and candidates should answer questions of that section within 40 minutes. And the candidates will not be able to switch between sections while answering.
| Elements | Details |
| CAT 2020 Exam date | November 29, 2020 |
| Examination Type | Online - Computer-based test pattern (CBT) |
| Number of sections | 3 sections-Verbal & Reading Comprehension,Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude |
| Duration of exam | 120 minutes (40 minutes per section) |
| Number of questions | 100 |
| Medium | Only English |
| Number of answer choices | 4 |
| Marking scheme |
+3 marks for correct answer-1 mark for the incorrect answer (MCQ) +3 marks for correct answer 0 mark for the incorrect answer (Non-MCQ) |
In order to give an idea about the trends in the CAT exam pattern, we have provided a graph below which picturizes the old exam pattern followed in the 2019 Exam.
Note: Students can learn more about effective steps to crack CAT after knowing the CAT Exam Pattern.
Section-wise CAT 2020 Exam Pattern
CAT exam pattern 2020 has three major sections for English and Maths. The three sections are given below. Each section needs a different kind of preparation, depending on the strengths and weaknesses of the student. The difficulty level of CAT varies from medium to hard.
| CAT Subjects | Abbreviation |
Total Number of Questions (Expected) |
Level of Difficulty | Number of MCQ (Expected) | Number of Non-MCQ (Expected) |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | VARC | 34 | Moderate to Difficult | 27 | 7 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | DILR | 32 | Moderate to Difficult | 24 | 8 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | QA | 34 | Moderate to Difficult | 23 | 11 |
| Total | 100 | 73 | 26 |
For every correct answer, 3 marks will be awarded. For every wrong answer, 1 mark will be deducted. You will have 40 minutes for answering questions in each section.
CAT Exam Section-wise Time Duration 2020
Duration of each section: CAT 2020 will be a duration of 2 hours. Each section gets 40 minutes duration. No section can be switched or swapped while writing the exam. The sequence of question paper will be set by the CAT authorities.
Duration in the previous years: According to the old CAT exam pattern the exam was of 180 minutes duration, i.e., 3 hours
PWD and DA Duration: Candidates in the PWD (Persons with Disability) and DA (Differently Abled) category will be given an extra 20 minutes compensatory time to write each section.
CAT Exam Marking Scheme 2020
Types of Questions: CAT 2020 exam Paper will have two types of questions–One is MCQs and Another one is Non-MCQs. Both the type of questions will carry equal marks.
Right answer: For each correct answer, a candidate will be awarded +3 marks.
Negative marking for MCQ: There will be also negative marking for MCQ type questions. Each wrong answer -1 score will be given, i.e., 1 mark will be deducted.
No negative marking for Non- MCQ: According to the new CAT exam pattern there will be no negative marking for Non-MCQ type questions.
A table curated with detailed related to the CAT 2020 question paper such as the type of questions marks allotted for the right answer and marks deducted for every wrong answer and questions which are unattended is mentioned below.
| Type of Question | Correct Answer | Incorrect Answer | Non-attempted Questions |
| MCQ | 3 | -1 | 0 |
| Non-MCQ | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Maximum marks: The paper will have a total of 100 questions, thus the maximum marks will be 300 by calculating 3 marks for each question.
Comparision of CAT Exam Pattern with Other Exams
Aspirants of Management courses will be aware of all the competitive exams including the CAT Exam. We thought of comparing the CAT exam pattern 2020 with that of the other Top Management Entrance Exams to help aspiring candidates know about the key points of the exams and the major differences.
CAT Exam Pattern vs NMAT Exam Pattern
The table provided below give a brief insight into the new CAT 2020 exam pattern while it is compared with the exam pattern of NMAT 2020. The table has the components of the exam pattern its details with respect to the CAT exam and the NMAT exam.
| Component | CAT Exam Pattern 2020 |
NMAT Exam Pattern 2020
|
| Answer options for MCQs | 4 | 5 |
| Total number of Questions | 66-70 | 108 |
| Difficulty level | Comparatively high | Moderate |
| Number of sections | 3 | 3 |
| Negative marking | MCQs with 1/3 negative marking; No negative marking for Non-MCQs |
No negative marking
|
| Marks awarded for a correct answer | 3 | 1 |
| Type of questions | MCQs and Non-MCQs | All MCQs |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Number of questions in a section | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension: 22-24 |
Language Skills-36
|
| Number of questions in a section | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning:20-22 |
Logical Reasoning-36
|
| Number of questions in a section | Quantitative Ability: 22-24 |
Quantitative Skills-36
|
| Sectional time limit | 40-minute |
28 minutes to 62 minutes
|
| Choosing the order of sections | Pre-defined sectional order | Candidates can choose the order |
| Top MBA colleges accepting exam score | 20 IIMs, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IMI, IITs, XIMB | NMIMS, VIT, XIMB |
CAT Exam Pattern vs XAT Exam Pattern
The table provided below give a brief insight into the new CAT 2020 exam pattern while it is compared with the exam pattern of XAT 2020. The table has the components of the exam pattern its details with respect to the CAT exam and the XAT exam.
| Component | CAT Exam Pattern 2020 | XAT Exam Pattern 2020 |
| Negative marking |
MCQs with 1/3 negative marking; No negative marking for Non-MCQs |
75 MCQs with 1/4 negative marking;
No negative marking for 25 MCQs on GK
|
| Number of sections | 3 |
3 (Main sections) 1 (GK score not counted)
|
| Type of questions | MCQs, and Non-MCQs | MCQs |
| Exam duration | 2 hours | 3 hours |
| Marks awarded for each correct answer | 3 | 1 |
| Options for each MCQ | 4 | 5 |
| Difficulty level | Comparatively high | High |
| Total Number of Questions | Expected 66-70 | 100 |
| Number of questions in each section | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension 22-24 |
English Language & Logical Reasoning- 26
|
| Number of questions in each section | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning-20-22 |
Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation- 28
|
| Number of questions in each section | Quantitative Ability-22-24 |
Decision Making-21
|
| Sectional time limit | Each section with 40 Minute time limit | No |
| Facility to choose the order of sections | Predefined sectional order |
Any question from any section can be answered
|
| Top MBA colleges accepting exam score | 20 IIMs, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IMI, IITs, XIMB |
XLRI, SPJIMR, IMT, TAPMI, XIMB
|
CAT Exam Pattern vs SNAP Exam Pattern
The table provided below give a brief insight into the new CAT exam pattern while it is compared with the exam pattern of SNAP 2020. The table has the components of the exam pattern its details with respect to the CAT exam and the SNAP exam.
| Component | IIMs CAT 2020 | SNAP 2020 |
| Negative Marking | MCQs with 1/3 negative marking; |
25% for all questions
|
| Marks Awarded for each Correct Answer | 3 for All questions | 1 for all questions |
| Number of Sections | 3 | 3 |
| Total Questions | 66-70 | 60 |
| Answer Options for MCQs | 4 | 4 |
|
Overall Time Limit to Attempt the Exam
|
2 hours | 1 hour |
| Difficult | Moderate | |
| Type of Questions | MCQs, non-MCQs | 60 MCQs |
| No negative marking for Non-MCQs | NA | |
| Section-1: Name and Number of Questions | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension: 22-24 |
General English, RC, VR, VA-15
|
| Section-2: Name and Number of Questions | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning:20-22 |
Analytical & Logical Reasoning-25
|
| Section-3: Name and Number of Questions | Quantitative Ability:22-24 |
Quant, DI, Data Sufficiency-20
|
| Facility to Choose Order of Sections | Pre-defined sectional order |
Any question from any section within the overall time limit
|
| Sectional Time Limit | 40 minute | No |
| Top MBA Colleges Accepting Exam Score | 20 IIMs, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IMI, IMT, IITs, TAPMI, XIMB and hundreds of other B-schools. |
SIBM Pune, SCMHRD Pune, SIIB Pune, SIBM Bangalore & all other Symbiosis institutes.
|
CAT Exam Pattern vs MAT Exam Pattern
The table provided below give a brief insight into the new CAT exam pattern while it is compared with the exam pattern of MAT 2020. The table has the components of the exam pattern its details with respect to the CAT exam and the MAT exam.
| Component | CAT Exam Pattern 2020 | MAT Exam Pattern 2020 |
| Number of Sections | 3 | 5 |
| Question Format | MCQs, and Non-MCQs | All MCQs |
| Total Questions | 66-70 | 200 |
| Difficulty Level | Difficult | Easy to Moderate |
| Negative Marking | MCQs with 1/3 negative marking; No negative marking for Non-MCQs | 0.25 mark |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours | 2½ hours |
| Marks Awarded for Each Correct Answer | 3 | 1 |
| Answer Options for MCQs | 4 | 4 |
| Section-1: Name and Number of Questions | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension: 22-24 |
Language Comprehension: 40
|
| Section-2: Name and Number of questions | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning:20-22 |
Intelligence & Critical Reasoning: 40
|
| Section-3: Name and Number of Questions | Quantitative Ability:22-24 |
Data Analysis & Sufficiency: 40
|
| Section-4: Name and Number of Questions | Not Applicable |
Mathematical Skills: 40
|
| Section-5: Name and Number of Questions | Not Applicable |
Indian & Global Environment: 40
|
| Sectional time limit | 40 minutes |
No sectional time limit
|
| Facility to Choose Order of Sections | Predefined sectional order |
Any question from any section can be answered
|
| Top MBA colleges accepting exam score | 20 IIMs, FMS, MDI, NITIE, SPJIMR, IMI, IMT, IITs, TAPMI, XIMB and hundreds of others |
Christ University, NDIM, DSIMS, IPE, IESMCRC, FIIB among 600 MBA colleges
|
Note:
- According to the revised CAT Exam Pattern the Non-MCQs will have to be answered by typing in the virtual keyboard.
- Candidates can understand the new CAT Exam pattern in detail, by taking up the CAT Mock test on the official website.
- Apart from the details about the CAT exam pattern, the conducting body also released a few important instructions to the candidates.
CAT Exam Syllabus 2020
For better preparation of CAT 2020, the candidates can refer to the syllabus of the exam. The exam is divide into 3 sections: Quantitative Apititude, Verbal Ability and Data interpretation. The major topics in these sections are as follows
- Arithematic
- Percentages
- Calculus
- Mensuration
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Reasoning
- Fact, Interference, Judgement
- Tables
- Pie charts
- Venn Diagrams
The list above shows only the major, most essential topics of the CAT syllabus. For the complete information on syllabus, candidates can visit CAT Syllabus.
FAQs on CAT New Exam Pattern
Q. According to the new CAT Exam Pattern what are the questions asked in the VARC Section of CAT?
- Ans: The CAT 2020 exam pattern specifies that the VARC section will have questions from reading comprehension passages and some other like sentence completion, jumbled sentences, and critical reasoning.
Q. How many RC passages will be there in the Verbal section of the CAT Exam Pattern?
- Ans: Verbal section will have a total of 4 to 5 RC passages. It varies every year.
Q. Will the screen calculator be available for the DILR section?
- Ans: According to the CAT 2020 exam pattern, the virtual screen calculator will be available on the test page for QA as well as DILR sections.
Q. What is the total mark of a non-MCQ type question?
- Ans: Each non-MCQ type question of every section carries 3 marks similar to other MCQ questions. But there will not be any negative marking for a non-MCQ based question.
