CAT Exam Pattern 2027: Section-Wise Questions, Duration, TITA & Negative Marking

The CAT exam lasts 120 minutes and includes 68 questions worth 204 marks. It has three sections, with 40 minutes for each. Once a section ends, you cannot go back to it. This is how the CAT Exam is structured.

• VARC: 24 questions | DILR: 22 questions | QA: 22 questions
• Marking: +3 for a correct answer, −1 for a wrong MCQ, and no negative marking for TITA questions.
• Question types: Around 48 MCQs and 20 TITA questions.
• PwBD candidates: Eligible candidates get 160 minutes.

Note: CAT has had 68 questions since 2024, when DILR increased from 20 to 22 questions.

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What You Will Learn in This Blog:  Complete CAT exam pattern 2027 + Section-wise question distribution +Marking scheme + time limits and more!

What is CAT Exam Pattern for 2027?

CAT 2027 is expected to have three sections: VARC, DILR, and QA. The exam will likely be held online in multiple slots, with 120 minutes to complete the paper. The final pattern will be confirmed by the IIMs in the official notification.

CAT 2027 Exam Pattern: Key Highlights

The CAT exam pattern 2027 has not been officially notified yet. However, based on the previous year test structure, CAT 2027 exam pattern is expected to follow the same overall format:

• A 120-minute CBT with a strict 40-minute sectional time limit and 66 questions distributed across VARC (24), DILR (22), and QA (22).
• Any changes announced by the IIMs in the CAT 2027 notification will be updated here.

CAT Exam Pattern and Total Marks: Section-wise Structure

he CAT 2027 exam pattern is expected to be similar to recent years, with three sections: VARC, DILR, and QA. Each section has a separate time limit, and candidates must complete it within the given time.

Expected Sectional Breakdown for CAT 2027

Based on the recent CAT exam pattern, the expected number of questions and marks for CAT 2027 are given below.

Section	Section Name	No. of Questions (Expected)	MCQ Questions (Approx.)	TITA (Non-MCQ) Questions (Approx.)	Sectional Time Limit
I	Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)	24	20–22	2–4	40 minutes
II	Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)	20	12–14	6–8	40 minutes
III	Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	22	14–16	6–8	40 minutes
Total	—	66	46–52	14–20	120 minutes (2 hours)

Note: MCQ vs TITA breakup is indicative and may vary slightly across slots/years.

The exam is highly challenging and requires a solid understanding of the CAT exam syllabus, as well as the ability to solve complex problems.

CAT Exam Pattern 2027: Detailed Section-wise Analysis

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

The VARC section is expected to include 24 questions. Most questions come from Reading Comprehension, along with topics such as Para Jumbles, Para Summary, and Odd One Out. Reading regularly can help you get better at understanding passages and answering questions.

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

The CAT DILR section is expected to have 22 questions. You may get sets based on tables, charts, graphs, or other logical problems. The main task is to understand the information given and find the right answer.

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

The CAT QA section is expected to have 22 questions. It covers topics such as Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, and Modern Mathematics. Knowing the basic formulas and practising different types of questions will help you handle this section.

Official CAT Notification and Updates

The IIMs will release the official CAT 2027 notification with details of the exam pattern. Candidates can check the number of questions, marking scheme, and section-wise time limits on the official CAT website once the notification is available.

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CAT 2027 Exam Pattern for VARC Section

The VARC section of the CAT exam focuses on assessing a candidate’s command of the English language through reading comprehension and verbal reasoning tasks.

Questions generally include comprehension-based passages as well as verbal ability topics like Para Jumbles, Sentence Correction, and Identifying Summaries.

The purpose of this section is to test reading speed, contextual understanding, and analytical interpretation of language. A mix of objective MCQs and TITA (type-in-the-answer) questions are included.

CAT 2027 Exam Sections	No. of Questions	MCQs (Approx.)	Non-MCQs / TITA (Approx.)
VARC	24	22	2

Note: MCQ vs TITA split may vary slightly across slots/years.

CAT 2027 Exam Pattern for DILR Section

The Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) section of the CAT exam assesses a candidate's ability to interpret data and apply logic to solve problems.

This section typically presents data in various formats, such as Tables, Charts, and Graphs, combined with logical reasoning questions.

The key focus is on evaluating how well candidates can analyse information, identify CAT exam pattern 2027, and draw valid conclusions. The DILR section contains a mix of MCQs and TITA questions.

CAT 2027 Exam Sections	No. of Questions	MCQs (Approx.)	Non-MCQs / TITA (Approx.)
DILR	22	12	10

Note: MCQ vs TITA split may vary slightly across slots/years.

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CAT 2027 Exam Pattern for QA Section

The Quantitative Ability (QA) section of the CAT exam tests a candidate's mathematical skills and problem-solving abilities.

The QA section includes topics such as Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, and Modern Mathematics. The questions test how well you understand basic maths concepts and use them to solve problems. You also need to manage your time and get your calculations right.

CAT 2027 Exam Sections	No. of Questions	MCQs (Approx.)	Non-MCQs / TITA (Approx.)
QA	22	14	8

Note: MCQ vs TITA split may vary slightly across slots/years.

Similar to other sections, QA includes both MCQs and TITA questions.

CAT 2027 Slot-Wise Exam Pattern

The CAT exam follows the same basic pattern in all slots. However, the questions and their difficulty level may vary slightly.

1. Number of Questions

The number of questions in each section usually remains the same across all CAT slots.

2. Difficulty Level

Not every slot has questions of exactly the same difficulty. The level may differ across VARC, DILR, and QA.

3. Question Variation

The questions are different in each slot. Candidates may get different Reading Comprehension passages, DILR sets, and Quantitative Aptitude problems.

4. Normalisation

The IIMs use normalisation to account for differences in difficulty between slots. This helps make scores comparable for candidates who took different versions of the exam.

5. Sectional Order and Timings

Candidates get the same amount of time for each section in all slots. Once the timer ends, they must move on to the next section.

CAT 2027 Exam Pattern: Section-wise Question Distribution

Now that you know the section-wise breakup, let’s understand the overall and sectional time limits in CAT 2027.

Section	Section Name	No. of Questions (Expected)	MCQ Questions (Approx.)	TITA (Non-MCQ) Questions (Approx.)	Sectional Time Limit
I	Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)	24	20–22	2–4	40 minutes
II	Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)	20	12–14	6–8	40 minutes
III	Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	22	14–16	6–8	40 minutes
Total	—	66	46–52	14–20	120 minutes (2 hours)

Note: The CAT exam pattern may have a different mix of MCQs and TITA questions across slots and years. Based on recent papers, there are around 48 MCQs and 20 TITA questions. These numbers are only a guide, as the exact distribution may change. The total number of questions should be checked against the official exam pattern for the relevant year.

CAT Exam Pattern: Understanding the Marking Scheme 2027

The CAT exam marking scheme is expected to remain the same as recent years.

Each correct answer usually carries +3 marks. MCQs generally have -1 negative marking for incorrect answers, while TITA (non-MCQs) usually have no negative marking.

Question Type	Correct Answer	Wrong Answer	Un attempted
MCQ	+3	-1	0
TITA (Non-MCQ)	+3	0	0

Note: If any change is announced in the official CAT 2027 notification, it will be updated here.

What is the CAT marking scheme for MCQ and TITA questions?

Each correct answer usually carries +3 marks. For MCQs, there is generally a -1 negative mark for every wrong answer, while TITA (Type In The Answer) questions normally have no negative marking. This makes TITA questions important scoring opportunities with lower risk.

CAT Exam Pattern 2027: Overall and Sectional Time Limit

CAT 2027 is expected to have three sections: VARC, DILR, and QA. Candidates will get 40 minutes to complete each section.

Once the time limit is over, the next section will automatically appear on the screen. Additionally, the CAT 2027 exam pattern follows the same sequence of sections: VARC > DILR> QA.

The CAT exam pattern 2027 is expected to have a total duration of 120 minutes, with a strict 40-minute sectional time limit for each section (VARC, DILR, and QA).

• You must attempt each section within its allotted 40 minutes.
• Once a section’s time ends, the next section opens automatically.
• You cannot move back to a previous section or switch sections in between.

Section order (as followed in recent CAT papers): VARC → DILR → QA.

Is there sectional time limit in CAT? Can I switch sections?

Yes, CAT normally has sectional time limits of 40 minutes per section for the standard paper. You cannot switch freely between sections during the test; the system automatically moves you to the next section after time ends. This makes time management within each section very important.

Important Changes in CAT Exam Pattern Over the Years

These changes in previous years explain why the current CAT exam pattern 2027 is expected to continue with around 66 questions and a 2-hour duration.

Earlier, CAT had 100 questions; the pattern changed to 76 questions in CAT 2020, 66 questions from CAT 2021 to CAT 2023, and 66 questions in the CAT 2024 and CAT 2025 papers.

Here is the CAT exam question pattern and its evolution over the years:

CAT Exam Year	Number of Questions	Exam Duration	Sections
2025	66	120 minutes	QA, DILR, VARC
2024	66	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

Difference Between CAT Exam Pattern 2027 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 Papers and other MBA entrance exams:

Exam Name	Time Duration	No. of Questions	Sections	Overall Score
CAT	120 minutes	66	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

Download Now: Previous Year Papers (2025-2018) for CAT 2027 

Does CAT have an on-screen calculator? Are rough sheets provided?

Yes, CAT has a basic calculator on the computer screen that you can use during the exam. Candidates are also given rough sheets or writing pads to work out answers, which must be returned after the test. Try using both while taking mock tests so you know how to use them during the actual exam.

CAT Exam Pattern 2027 and Preparation Strategy

To make the most of the CAT exam pattern 2027, you need a preparation strategy that matches the time limits, question distribution and marking scheme.

Understand the CAT 2027 Exam Pattern

Before you start preparing, get familiar with the exam pattern, including the sections, time limits, question types, and marking scheme.

Prepare for Each Section

Divide your study time between VARC, DILR, and QA. Spend more time on topics you find difficult while keeping up with the ones you are good at.

Work on Your Basics

Make sure your concepts are clear before moving on to tougher questions.

• VARC: Read regularly to improve comprehension and reading speed.
• DILR: Solve different types of data interpretation and logical reasoning sets.
• QA: Practise topics such as Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry.

Practise Every Day

Regular practice helps you solve questions faster and avoid mistakes. Try questions from different topics to get used to different question types. Learn how to balance speed and accuracy.

Take Mock Tests

Attempt CAT mock tests to practise within the actual exam time limits. After each test, check your mistakes and see which topics need more work. This will also help you manage your time better during the exam.

Time Management

Develop effective time management strategies for each section. Learn to allocate time to different types of questions and avoid spending too much time on any single question.

Analyze Previous Year Papers

Solving previous years' CAT question papers can provide valuable insights into the CAT 2027 exam pattern, difficulty level, and types of questions asked.

Conclusion

The CAT 2027 exam pattern is expected to be broadly similar to the recent CAT papers, especially CAT 2024 and CAT 2025.

You can safely assume a 2-hour computer-based test with 3 sections, around 66 questions, and a mix of MCQ and TITA questions until the IIMs officially announce any changes.

If you clearly understand the CAT exam pattern 2027, it becomes much easier to plan your preparation, set realistic attempt targets, and build a strong mock test strategy.