Updated On : May 16, 2023
Summary: The difficulty level of the CAT exam varies yearly, but it is generally considered more challenging than any other entrance exam. Therefore, thorough knowledge of the CAT Exam Pattern 2023 is crucial.
CAT has a high standard of difficulty and requires a good knowledge of the exam pattern and syllabus and the ability to solve complex problems.
The CAT Exam Pattern consists of three sections:
The article elaborately discusses each section of CAT Exam Pattern 2023, along with the weightage and sectional marks.
The highlights of the CAT exam paper pattern are as follows:
CAT Paper Pattern 2023 | |
Mode of CAT exam | Computer Based Test |
Duration of exam | 120 minutes 40 minutes per section |
Number of questions | 66 |
CAT total marks | 198 |
Language of question paper | English |
Number of section | 3 |
Number of answer choices | 4 |
CAT sections | VARC, DI & LR and QA |
Question Type | MCQ and non-MCQ |
CAT exam pattern pdf is not available officially; you can analyse the cat exam pattern and syllabus from previous year's papers.
The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a competitive exam conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission into their MBA programs.
Section-wise CAT exam pattern details are tabulated below.
Sections | Total No. of Questions | MCQs | Non-MCQs | Marks | Duration |
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 21 | 3 | 72 | 40 min |
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI & LR) | 20 | 14 | 6 | 60 | 40 min |
Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | 14 | 8 | 66 | 40 min |
Total | 66 | 49 | 17 | 198 | 120 (2 hours) |
CAT exam duration and pattern are tabulated above.
The exam has a high standard of difficulty and requires you to have a good knowledge of the syllabus and the ability to solve complex problems.
Check: CAT Syllabus 2023
Here is the CAT Exam Pattern 2023 for Quantitative Aptitude Pattern:
The CAT Quantitative Aptitude exam includes only numerical-based questions from various Mathematical concepts.
This year, it is expected that there will be a total of 26 questions in this section.
The quantitative aptitude section's detailed pattern is provided below.
The five primary topics that make up the entire quantitative aptitude section CAT entrance exam pattern:
Check: CAT Exam Preparation Books 2023
The CAT VARC section tests your English language skills and ability to interpret paragraphs and understand the core ideas.
This year's CAT exam will include 26 questions from the VA-RC section.
This year, the CAT Verbal Ability section will include 8 questions.
The following are CAT Exam Pattern 2023 for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension Pattern:
The reading comprehension passages and the verbal ability section each have their own questions.
The CAT Reading Comprehension section has several questions, including title- and vocabulary-based questions.
Check: CAT Eligibility 2023
The logical reasoning and data interpretation component gauge how well you analyse data and comprehend logical premises.
There will be 22–24 questions in this section altogether asked in this section.
CAT MBA entrance exam pattern or CAT Exam Pattern 2023 for Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation Pattern is as follows:
Check: How to prepare for CAT Exam 2023
Before taking the test, it's critical to understand the CAT marking scheme to decide which questions to answer and which to skip.
The CAT exam marks pattern is summarised in the table below:
CAT Sections | Number of Questions | Marks Per Question | CAT Negative Marking (Only MCQ) |
VARC | 24 | 3 | -1 |
DILR | 20 | 3 | -1 |
Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | 3 | -1 |
Total | 66 | 198 | - |
Check: What to do after CAT Exam?
In conclusion, the CAT exam pattern is a comprehensive test that requires considerable preparation and practice. You must understand the exam format and the questions' nature to score well. Familiarise yourself with the exam pattern and structure to maximise your chances of scoring high. With the right preparation and practice, you can ace the CAT exam and achieve your desired score.
Frequently Asked Questions
what is the pattern of CAT exam?
The CAT Exam is a computer-based test (CBT) consisting of three sections: verbal ability and reading comprehension, data interpretation and logical reasoning, and quantitative ability.
How long is the CAT Exam?
The CAT Exam is a two-hour long exam.
How many questions are asked in the CAT Exam?
What is the marking scheme for the CAT Exam?
A negative marking of -1 is considered for every wrong answer.
Is there any sectional time limit for the CAT Exam?