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CAT 2020 Question Paper PDF Download (All Slots)
March 13, 2026
Quick Answer: The CAT 2020 Question Paper is considered one of the most significant CAT previous year papers for exam preparation. Conducted in three slots, the exam included 76 questions to be completed within 120 minutes.
It was divided into three sections: VARC (Verbal & Reading Comprehension), DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning), and QA (Quantitative Ability). While the overall structure remained consistent across slots, the difficulty level varied slightly, with Slot 3 being the most challenging.
Key Takeaways
- The paper pattern was consistent across all three slots: 26 VARC, 24 DILR, and 26 QA questions.
- Non-MCQs (TITA) were included in all sections to test reasoning and conceptual clarity.
- Slot-wise difficulty: Slot 1 – easiest, Slot 2 – moderate, Slot 3 – toughest.
- Expected cutoff: A raw score of 100–108 could fetch a 99%ile depending on the slot.
- Understanding CAT 2020 trends can help effectively plan CAT 2026 preparation.
What You Will Get in This Blog: CAT 2020 question paper PDFs + section-wise detailed analysis + slot-wise comparison + expected cutoffs + tips for CAT 2026 prep
Download CAT 2020 Question Papers PDF
| CAT 2020 Question Paper Slot 1 | |
| CAT 2020 Question Paper Slot 2 | |
| CAT 2020 Question Paper Slot 3 |
Other Important Links
| CAT 2026 Question Paper | CAT 2025 Question Paper | CAT 2024 Question Paper |
| CAT 2023 Question Paper | CAT 2022 Question Paper | CAT Previous Year Question Paper |
Practice Sample CAT 2020 Question Paper with Answers
1. If x² - 5x + 6 = 0, what is the value of x + 1/x?
B) 4
C) 3
D) 6
2. A shopkeeper buys an article for ₹800 and marks it 25% above cost price. If he offers a discount of 10%, what is his profit percentage?
B) 10%
C) 12.5%
D) 15%
3. In how many ways can 5 books be arranged on a shelf?
B) 120
C) 24
D) 720
4. If the sum of the first 10 positive integers is 55, what is the sum of the first 10 even positive integers?
B) 110
C) 120
D) 90
5. The number of students in Class B who passed Maths is 50, which is 80% of the total students. How many students appeared in Class B?
B) 60
C) 62.5
D) 50
6. A puzzle has 6 people standing in a line. If A is immediately left of B, how many distinct arrangements are possible?
B) 240
C) 120
D) 720
7. In a bar graph showing sales, Product X sold 20% more than Product Y, and Y sold 50 units. How many units did X sell?
B) 75
C) 80
D) 85
8. In the sentence “Although he was tired, he continued working,” the phrase “Although he was tired” is an example of:
B) Dependent clause
C) Absolute phrase
D) Appositive
9. In a passage about climate change, if the main idea is that human activity accelerates global warming, a question asking why scientists believe this is testing:
B) Main idea
C) Inference
D) Grammar
10. Arrange the jumbled sentences to form a coherent paragraph:
2) Then he left for the meeting.
3) After getting the invitation, he prepared the documents.
4) He was confident about the presentation.
A) 3‑1‑4‑2
B) 1‑3‑2‑4
C) 3‑4‑1‑2
D) 4‑3‑1‑2
CAT 2020 Question Paper: What Was the Exam Pattern?
Answer: CAT 2020 was conducted in three slots, each lasting 120 minutes and containing 76 questions. The paper had three sections: VARC, DILR, and QA.
- Duration: 120 minutes
- Total Questions: 76
- Sections: 3
|
CAT 2020 Paper Sections |
Questions |
Time (min) |
Type |
|
VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension) |
26 |
40 |
MCQs & Non-MCQs |
|
DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning) |
24 |
40 |
MCQs & Non-MCQs |
|
26 |
40 |
MCQs & Non-MCQs |
Marking Scheme: +3 for correct, -1 for MCQ wrong, 0 for non-MCQ wrong
How Difficult Was the CAT 2020 Question Paper?
Answer: CAT 2020 was slightly tougher than CAT 2019. Slot 3 was the hardest, Slot 2 was moderate, and Slot 1 was relatively easier.
Details: Slot-wise Difficulty:
|
CAT 2020 Slots |
Difficulty Level |
|
CAT 2020 Slot 1 |
Slightly easier than the previous year |
|
CAT 2020 Slot 2 |
Moderate, tougher than Slot 1 |
|
CAT 2020 Slot 3 |
Most challenging, especially DILR & VARC |
Section Observations:
- VARC: Tricky RC passages and critical reasoning questions
- DILR: Tough sets, time-consuming puzzles
- QA: Moderate to difficult; arithmetic, algebra, geometry tested
What Was the Section-wise Analysis of CAT 2020 Exam Paper?
Answer: CAT 2020 had 26 VARC, 24 DILR, and 26 QA questions, with some Non-MCQs in each section. Difficulty varied by section and slot.
|
Section |
Total Qs |
Non-MCQs |
Topics |
Ideal Attempt for 99+ Percentile |
|
VARC |
26 |
5 |
RC, Critical Reasoning, Vocabulary |
18–20 |
|
DILR |
24 |
6 |
DI Sets, Logic Puzzles, Venn Diagrams |
9–11 |
|
QA |
26 |
6 |
Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration |
17–19 |
CAT 2020 Question Paper: VARC (26 Questions, 40 mins)
- 5 Non-MCQs included
- RC passages: 450–500 words each
- Questions: Critical reasoning, inference, vocabulary
- Ideal attempt for 99+ percentile: 18–20 correct
CAT 2020 Question Paper: DILR (24 Questions, 40 mins)
- 6 Non-MCQs included
- 5 sets: HI-LO, People & Area, Venn Diagram, Orders
- Ideal attempt for 99+ percentile: 9–11 correct
CAT 2020 Question Paper: QA (26 Questions, 40 mins)
- 6 Non-MCQs included
- Topics: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Coordinate Geometry
- Ideal attempt for 99+ percentile: 17–19 correct
CAT + OMETs Mock Test to Boost Your Prep
| Free CAT Mock Test -01 | |
| Free CAT Mock Test- 02 | |
| Free CAT Mock Test- 03 |
How Did CAT 2020 Slots Differ From Each Other?
Answer: Slot 1 was the easiest, Slot 2 was slightly tougher, and Slot 3 was the most challenging. All slots followed the same pattern.
Slot-wise Observations:
|
Slot |
Difficulty |
Key Highlights |
|
Slot 1 |
Easier |
More manageable DILR sets |
|
Slot 2 |
Moderate |
Slightly tougher VARC passages |
|
Slot 3 |
Hardest |
Tricky DILR sets & complex QA questions |
Percentile vs Raw Score for 99%ile (Approx.):
|
Slot |
99%ile Score Range |
|
Slot 1 |
105–108 |
|
Slot 2 |
100–102 |
|
Slot 3 |
100–102 |
How Can the CAT 2020 Paper Help in 2026 Preparation?
Answer: Analyzing CAT 2020 helps understand exam patterns, difficulty levels, and question types, allowing aspirants to strategise better for CAT 2026.
Key Benefits of Analyzing CAT 2020 for CAT 2026 Prep:
1. Understand Exam Pattern
- Three sections (VARC, DILR, QA) with similar question distribution
- MCQs and Non-MCQs test both speed and conceptual clarity
2. Identify High-Yield Topics
- VARC: RC passages, critical reasoning, vocabulary
- DILR: HI-LO, Venn diagrams, orders, people & area sets
- QA: Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration, Coordinate Geometry
3. Learn Slot-wise Difficulty Trends
- Slot 1: Easier questions for confidence-building
- Slot 2: Moderate difficulty for strategy refinement
- Slot 3: Tough questions to enhance problem-solving speed
4. Set Realistic Targets
- Ideal attempts per section and accuracy requirements for 99+ percentile can guide preparation
5. Improve Time Management & Strategy
- Prioritize easier questions first
- Maintain high accuracy in non-MCQs
- Plan sectional time allocation based on CAT 2020 trends
Conclusion
Analyzing the CAT 2020 question paper provides aspirants with valuable insights into exam pattern, difficulty levels, and section-wise trends.
Understanding the slot-wise variations, expected cutoffs, and ideal attempts per section can help students plan their preparation and strategy for CAT 2026 effectively.
By practicing CAT 2020 thoroughly, aspirants can improve time management, accuracy, and question selection skills, ensuring a higher chance of achieving 99+ percentile in future attempts.
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Lalita Vishwakarma
Content Writer
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