CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Check Marking Scheme & Weightage Distribution Structure

Overview: The CAT exam pattern 2025 is expected to be similar to CAT 2024, consisting of 68 questions. The CAT exam 2025, scheduled for 30 November 2025, will be conducted online by IIM Kozhikode. Read on to learn the CAT exam paper pattern and syllabus structure.

 Download Free Study Materials CAT Exam 2025 By SuperGrads

• The CAT exam format for 2025 is expected to be similar to CAT 2024, consisting of a total of 68 questions. 
• Some surprise elements, like 22 questions instead of 20 in the DILR section, were observed. Also, no para jumble questions were asked in the VARC section.

The CAT 2025 exam pattern has not changed the overall duration, which remains at 2 hours. Each section has a time limit of 40 minutes. Below are the CAT exam pattern and details for 2025:

Read more: CAT Score vs Percentile

What is CAT Exam Pattern 2025?

The CAT exam 2025 will be conducted on 30th November by the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode. The CAT exam structure 2024 had shown some minor changes, which are also expected for the CAT 2025 exam. 

There are three major sections in the CAT 2025 question paper: 

CAT Exam Sections	Number of Questions	Weightage (Marks)
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)	24	72
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)	22	66
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	22	66

Check: CAT Cut Off for IIMs

CAT Percentile Predictor 2024 [Check your Score Here]

CAT Exam Pattern and Details: Changes Over the Years

There have been a lot of changes in the CAT exam paper pattern process in the past years. From 2014 to 2019, the total number of CAT questions was 100, and the overall score for the CAT 2025 exam pattern was 300.

Later, it changed to 76 questions in 2020, 66 from 2021 to 2023 and 68 questions in CAT 2024 question paper. Here is the CAT exam question pattern and details over the years:

CAT Exam Year	Number of Questions in CAT Exam over the Years	CAT Exam Time Duration Over the Years	CAT Sections Over the Years
2024	68	120 minutes	QA, DILR, VARC
2023	66	120 minutes	QA, DILR, VARC
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

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Note* The CAT exam 2024 has 68 questions overall, 22 of which are asked in the DILR section, totalling 204 marks.

Read in Detail: How to fill CAT registration form?

CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Section-Wise Marks Distribution

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a competitive exam conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission into their MBA programs. Below is the CAT exam pattern observed in 2024; the same exam structure is expected in 2025 also, this includes:

CAT Exam Sections	Total No. of Questions	MCQs	TITA Question	Marks	Duration
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)	24	21	2	72	40 min
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI & LR)	22	14	10	66	40 min
Quantitative Ability (QA)	22	14	8	66	40 min
Total	68	49	20	204	120 (2 hours)

The exam is highly difficult and requires a good knowledge of the CAT exam syllabus and the ability to solve complex problems.

Check out | How Many Times CAT Exam is Conducted in a Year?

Check Here| Direct Link to Download CAT 2025 Admit Card

CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Marking Scheme

The CAT exam pattern 2025 consists of 68 questions that need to be completed in 2 hours. Each question carries negative markings, creating a high-stress level on test takes to choose the right option. 

Therefore, the aspirants need to practice mock tests before the main exam to know how to manage the time and speed during the exam. Here are some key points regarding the CAT marking scheme for 2025:

• The total score possible was 204.
• Each question is worth 3 marks.
• A penalty of -1 mark is applied for each incorrect answer.
• Candidates are not required to attempt every question.
• There is no penalty for skipping questions unanswered.
• Some questions are categorised as non-MCQs.
• Non-MCQ questions do not carry negative markings.

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Practising the CAT exam model paper or previous year's papers will be a plus for candidates who want to score in the top percentile in 2025.

CAT Sections	Number of Questions	Marks Per Question	CAT Negative Marking (Only MCQ)
VARC	24	3	-1
DILR	22	3	-1
Quantitative Aptitude	22	3	-1
Total	68	204

Note* It is advised to attempt approximately 2/3rd of the questions in each section to clear the cutoff. To understand better the CAT exam marking scheme, refer to the below-mentioned table:

Also Check: CAT Previous Year Question Papers with Solutions

CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Overall and Sectional Time Limit

The CAT paper pattern consists of three sections: VARC, DILR, and QA. Each section is allotted 40 minutes, so candidates can only attempt it within that time frame. 

Once the time limit is over, the next section will automatically appear on the screen. Also, the CAT exam pattern 2025 follows the same flow of the sections VARC > DILR >> QA. 

Candidates will need to manage their time wisely, as each section requires focused attention and strategic planning. The CAT 2025 paper pattern will play a crucial role in determining the best approach for time management.

Note* You cannot switch over the sections instead you need to follow the sequence laid out in the exam.

Read More | CAT 2025 Maths Syllabus Section-wise

Difference Between the CAT Exam Pattern and other MBA entrance exams?

Although all the MBA entrance exams share some common features, there are still some differences between them, such as XAT, CMAT, MAT, GMAT, NMAT, and SNAP. So, let’s have a look at the differences between the CAT exam pattern and other MBA entrance exams:

Exam Name	Time Duration	No. of Questions	Sections	Overall Score
CAT	120 minutes	68	3	204
XAT	180 minutes	95	4	95
CMAT	180 minutes	100	5	400
MAT	120 minutes	150	5	150
NMAT	120 minutes	108	3	36-360
SNAP	60 minutes	60	3	60

Conclusion

The CAT exam pattern 2025 is expected to be similar to the CAT 2024 exam. To score well, you must understand the exam format and the nature of the questions. 

Familiarize yourself with the CAT 2025 paper pattern and syllabus to maximize your chances of scoring high. 

With the right preparation and practice, you can ace the CAT exam and achieve your desired score. Again, the PDF of the CAT paper pattern has not been released from any official source.

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