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

CAT Exam Pattern 2025 includes three sections - VARC, QA and DIlR. The total duration of CAT exam is 120 minutes. Verbal & reading comprehension (VARC), Quantitative Aptitude (QA), and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) are the three sections of the CAT paper pattern 2025. A total of 66 questions are asked in the CAT exam. 

IIM Lucknow sets the CAT exam format every year. As per the CAT pattern, 40 minutes are given for each section. The overall marks of CAT online exam is 198 marks. Candidates face 66 questions as per the CAT question pattern 2025 in MCQ and subjective format.

For each correct answer, candidates are awarded 3 marks, and 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect response in CAT written exam.

CAT Exam Pattern 2025 Highlights

CAT 2024 slot timings have also been mentioned in the tabular below. Some of the highlights related to the CAT 2025 exam pattern are tabulated below.

Elements	Details
Duration of CAT Exam	2 Hours (120 Minutes)
Name of CAT Section	Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
Section-Wise Duration	40 Minutes for Each Section (VARC, DILR, QA). 53 Minutes 20 Seconds for PwD candidates for each section.
CAT 2024 Slot-Timings	Slot 1: 8:30 am - 10:30 am (Morning Session) Slot 2: 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm (Afternoon Session) Slot 3: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm (Evening Session)
Number of Questions	66 Questions
CAT Exam Total Marks	198 marks
Mode of CAT 2025 Exam	Computer-Based Mode (CBT)
CAT Marking Scheme	For every right answer, +3 will be awarded For every wrong answer in MCQs, -1 will be deducted No negative marks for Non-MCQs

Practice Now: CAT Previous Year Question Paper

CAT 2025 Exam Pattern: Section-Wise

CAT exam pattern 2025 has three sections. For each section candidate gets 40 minutes to complete the section. The section-wise highlights as per the CAT 2025 exam pattern are tabulated below.

Section as per IIM CAT Exam Pattern 2025	Total Questions
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)	22-26
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)	14-18
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	22-26
Total	66

Download: 

• CAT 2023 Question Paper
• CAT 2022 Question Paper
• CAT 2021 Question Paper

CAT Quantitative Aptitude Pattern

Per the CAT exam pattern, the Quantitative Aptitude portion will only include 22-26 numerical-based questions from various Mathematical disciplines.

Below is a full description of the topics as per the CAT paper pattern for the Quantitative Aptitude section.

Topics Under QA	Topics Under QA
Basic Arithmetic	Number System
Algebra	Geometry & Mensuration
Modern Maths

Attempt: Free CAT Mock Tests 2025

CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension Pattern

This year's CAT 2025 will include 26 questions from the VA-RC segment. There will be 8 questions in the CAT Verbal Ability section this year. The key topics covered in the Verbal Ability section as per the CAT exam pattern are as follows:

Topics Under VARC	Topics Under VARC
Sentence Correction	Questions from the reading comprehension
Completion Summary based on paraphrasing	Vocabulary-based questions.

CAT Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation Pattern

There will be 22–24 questions in this section altogether. This year, the Logical Reasoning component of the CAT will contain 18–20 questions. Inequalities, Symbol Operations, Direction Sense Tests, and other topics are included in the problems.

The DI section has a number of perplexing data cases, with graphs given for most of the data visualization.

Did You Know?

CAT was originally administered using pen and paper, but in 2009, it was replaced by a computer-based test or CBT. The American firm 'Prometric' built the software for the first CBT.

The contract with Prometric ran from 2009 to 2013, and the software for the exam has been provided by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) since 2014.

CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Expected Slot Wise Highlights

• VARC sections: 18 MCQs are spread throughout 4 RC sections in the VARC section, and the remaining 8 non-MCQ questions are broken down into context sentences, Paraphrases, and para Jumbles.
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning: 14 Questions, 10 Questions, all in sets of 6 & 4 Questions
• QA: Strong in Arithmetic; average in Geometry, Algebra, Logarithms, Roots, etc.

CAT Exam Time Duration

The CAT 2024 exam time has been specified by the conducting body. The total CAT exam time duration is 120 minutes or 2 hours. Each segment of the test has a set time limit as per the CAT exam pattern 2025. According to the most recent paper pattern, the CAT exam timing and slot details are listed below.

Sections	CAT Sectional Time
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)	40 Minutes
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	40 Minutes
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)	40 Minutes
Total	120 Minutes

Important:

• CAT DI and LR Syllabus
• CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus

Did You Know?

The 180-minute CAT exam from 2015 and 2016 had 100 questions in total, 34 from the QA section, 34 from the VARC section, and 32 from the DILR section. Beginning with CAT 2020, the exam will take two hours, with 40 minutes allocated to each section.

CAT Marking Scheme 2025

CAT marking scheme is part of the exam pattern. Some important points related to the marking scheme of the CAT exam pattern are listed below.

• A total of 3 marks will be given for each correct response.
• 1 mark will be taken away for each incorrect response.
• No points will be deducted for questions that go unanswered.
• No points will be deducted for non-MCQ questions either.

Is CAT Exam Tough?

How to Crack CAT Exam?

The marking system for CAT 2025 is listed in the following table:

Marking Criteria	MCQ	Non-MCQ
Correct Answer	3	3
Incorrect Answer	-1	0
Non-attempted Questions	0	0

CAT Paper Pattern 2025: Important Points

As per the CAT Exam Pattern 2025, candidates may perform calculations using an on-screen calculator. Candidates can check their time by using an on-screen clock. Candidates will be given rough worksheets, which must be submitted after the CAT exam for the MBA.

Candidates will not be permitted to answer questions in one part and then move on to another. The official CAT mock test will be available on the CAT website, iimcat.ac.in.

Practice Now:

• CAT DI Questions
• CAT Algebra Questions 2024
• CAT Geometry Questions

How CAT Exam Pattern Evolved Over the Years?

The CAT exam pattern has undergone numerous changes. The applicants will be able to have a good understanding of how the CAT exam format changed over time by consulting the table below.

IIMs and  CAT Year		Number of Question	Duration
IIM Bangalore 2022		66	2 hours
IIM Ahmedabad 2021		66	2 hours
IIM Indore 2020		76	2 hours
IIM Kozhikode 2019		100	3 hours
IIM Calcutta 2018		100	3 hours
IIM Lucknow 2017		100	3 hours
IIM Bangalore 2016		100	3 hours
IIM Ahmedabad  2015		100	3 hours
IIM Indore 2014		100	2.50 hours
IIM Indore 2013		60	2:20 hours
IIM Indore 2012		60	2.20 hours
IIM Calcutta 2011		60	2.20 hours

Suggested: 

• When is the Best Time for CAT 2024 Preparation?
• CAT 2024 Topic-wise Weightage for VARC, Quant, and DILR

How to Answer Questions in CAT 2024?

The candidates should be familiar with answering questions before beginning the CAT exam. When responding to questions, candidates should choose from the following options:

• Candidates should choose the response, save it, and then go on to the following question.
• Clear Answer: Candidates can choose to remove their response to a question.
• Mark for Review and Next: If a candidate is unsure about the response, they may mark it as a review, and then give their explanation before moving on to the next question.

Note: Use the provided mouse when responding to questions. The computer screen will be locked if the system keyboard is used.

Also Read: How to Prepare for CAT without Coaching?

CAT Exam Pattern Vs Other MBA Entrance Exams

 See below the key distinctions between the CAT paper pattern and those of other MBA admission tests, like the XAT, CMAT, MAT, IIFT, GMAT, NMAT, and SNAP. This will aid in your analysis of the CAT exam's level of difficulty:

Exam Name	No. of Questions	Total Marks
CAT	66	198
XAT	100	100
CMAT	100	400
MAT	200	200
IIFT	110	300
GMAT	70	200-800
NMAT	108	36-360
SNAP	60	60

Also Read: Advantages of CAT Exam