CAT Previous Year Papers with Solutions Free PDFs Download (2017-2024)

Q: How many times can I appear for the CAT Exam?

You can appear for the CAT Exam up to three times a year.

Q: What is the syllabus for the CAT Exam?

The syllabus for the CAT Exam is divided into three sections - Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension.

Q: Is the CAT Exam conducted online or offline?

The CAT Exam is conducted in an online format.

Q: How long does the CAT Exam Question Paper last?

The CAT exam question paper is typically 3 hours long.

Q: What is the format of the CAT Exam Question Paper?

The CAT exam paper consists of multiple-choice questions and a writing task.

Q: Where Can I Get CAT Previous Year Papers?

Click on the above PDFs to access and download CAT previous year papers directly.

Q: Where can I find CAT previous year question papers for free?

CAT previous year question papers are available for free on reliable platforms such as the official IIM CAT website, SuperGrads, and other reputable educational websites that offer downloadable PDFs to support exam preparation

Q: How can CAT previous year question papers help in my CAT preparation?

Solving CAT previous year question papers enables aspirants to gain insights into the exam pattern, difficulty level, and types of questions frequently asked. It also helps in identifying personal strengths and weaknesses, allowing for focused preparation and strategic time management during the actual exam.

Q: What is the importance of solving CAT previous year question papers?

The importance lies in their ability to simulate real exam conditions, thereby reducing anxiety and boosting confidence. They offer a practical understanding of the question trends and enhance problem-solving speed and accuracy. Moreover, consistent practice with these papers aids in developing a structured approach to tackling each section effectively.

Q: Are CAT previous year question papers helpful for all sections of the exam?

Yes, CAT previous year question papers are beneficial for all three sections—Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Each section requires distinct skills, and practicing with actual past questions helps in mastering section-specific strategies and improving overall performance

Author : Akanksha

June 4, 2025

Overview: The CAT 2025 exam will be conducted on 30th November 2025 and to ace it in first attempt it is important to solve CAT previous year papers. It will help you analyse the exam pattern, difficulty level and the types of questions asked. Read on to download the CAT PYPs PDF here!

The CAT is a challenging MBA test, and you need to dedicate a significant amount of time to studying to achieve a top score.
Practicing CAT previous year papers helps you better understand the exam and strengthens your study plan.

This guide provides you with old CAT papers and example papers in PDF format, which are very helpful for preparing for the exam.

CAT Previous Year Papers Overview

The CAT exam's previous year question paper is released annually by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and is available online for students to download and practice.
The CAT previous year question papers cover Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, and occasionally General Knowledge and Current Affairs.
The CAT answer key released by the officials can help you identify the correct solutions provided for all questions.
The article below contains questions from previous year CAT question papers with solutions to aid your preparation.

Click Here: Practice with CAT Profit and Loss Questions

CAT Previous Year Papers Download PDF with Solution

Analyze and practice the questions from the CAT exam previous year question papers and CAT exam sample papers listed in the table below:

CAT Exam Previous Year Question Paper with Solution	PDF
CAT 2023 Question Paper
CAT 2022 Question Paper
CAT 2021 Question Paper
CAT 2020 Question Paper

Check Now | CAT Exam Analysis

Take the Test for Each Slot of the CAT Previous Year Papers

CAT Exam Previous Year Papers	Test Links
Official CAT Exam Previous Year Question Paper Pdf 2023 Slot 01 66 Questions, 120 marks, 120 minutes	Take Test
Official CAT Question Paper PDF 2023 Slot 02 66 Questions, 120 marks, 120 minutes	Take Test
Official CAT Previous Year Paper PDF 2023 Slot 03 66 Questions, 120 marks, 120 minutes	Take Test
Official CAT Question Paper 2022 Slot 01 66 Questions, 120 marks, 120 minutes	Unlock Test
Official CAT Previous Paper Slot 02 66 Questions, 120 marks, 120 minutes	Unlock Test
Official CAT Question Paper 2022 Slot 03 66 Questions, 120 marks, 120 minutes	Unlock Test
Official CAT Previous Year Papers 2021 Slot 01 66 Questions, 120 marks, 120 minutes	Unlock Test
Official CAT Question Paper 2021 Slot 02 66 Questions, 120 marks, 120 minutes	Unlock Test
Official CAT Previous Papers PDF 2021 Slot 03 66 Questions, 120 marks, 120 minutes	Unlock Test
Official CAT Question Paper 2020 Slot 01 76 Questions, 120 marks, 120 minutes	Unlock Test
Official CAT Previous Year Papers 2020 Slot 02 76 Questions, 120 marks, 120 minutes	Unlock Test
Official CAT Previous Paper 2020 Slot 03 76 Questions, 120 marks, 120 minutes	Unlock Test
Official CAT Previous Year Question Papers 2019 Slot 01 100 Questions, 120 marks, 120 minutes	Unlock Test
Official CAT Previous Year Papers PDF 2019 Slot 02 100 Questions, 120 marks, 120 minutes	Unlock Test
Official CAT 2018 Previous Year Question Paper Slot 01 100 Questions, 120 marks, 120 minutes	Unlock Test
Official CAT 2017 Previous Year Question Paper Slot 01 100 Questions, 120 marks, 120 minutes	Unlock Test
Official CAT Previous Year Papers 2017 Slot 02 100 Questions, 120 marks, 120 minutes	Unlock Test

CAT Previous Year Papers Download Sample Questions 2024

You can expect similar questions to appear in the CAT entrance exam. You can easily download the PDFs of the CAT exam sample questions for each section.

Boost your CAT preparation with our Free Previous Year Papers and sample QA questions, tailored for effective practice.
Download now to get insights into the question pattern and improve your problem-solving speed.

Enhance your reading and verbal skills with free CAT previous papers for VARC. Download now to practice real questions and improve your ability to solve them.

Practice real questions and boost your reasoning skills with free CAT previous year papers for DILR. Download now to understand the question types and improve your performance.

Get better at solving speed, time, and distance problems with our free practice questions. Download now to build your basics and improve your speed in the QA section.

Download Free Speed, Time & Distance Practice Questions

Why Solve CAT Previous Year Papers?

Solving previous CAT exam question papers is an important part of exam preparation.
It helps you build your knowledge and understanding of the key topics and develop an effective strategy for tackling the exam.
It also allows you to practice and familiarise yourself with the format and type of questions likely to appear in the actual CAT Exam.
Practising CAT question papers helps you identify your strengths and weaknesses, and also helps you pinpoint areas that require more focused attention.
Finally, by solving previous years' question papers of CAT, you will understand the time management required to complete the exam successfully.

Check: Arithmetic Questions for CAT 2025

Benefits of Using CAT Previous Year Papers

CAT previous year papers are immensely beneficial for aspirants as they provide a clear understanding of the exam pattern, including question types, sectional distribution, and marking scheme.

They help in recognising the frequently tested topics and give an accurate sense of the difficulty level of each section—Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).

Practising with these papers enhances time management skills, builds exam temperament, and enables candidates to self-assess their performance, track progress, and identify areas for improvement. Moreover, solving actual CAT questions from previous years significantly boosts confidence and reduces anxiety.

Read more: Practice CAT DILR Questions

Who Should Use CAT Previous Year Papers?

CAT previous year papers are valuable for a wide range of candidates. First-time aspirants benefit from understanding the nature of the exam, while repeat test-takers can use them to identify past errors and fine-tune their strategies.

Working professionals with limited preparation time can use these papers to practice in a targeted and efficient manner.

Additionally, both coaching students and independent learners should incorporate these papers into their study plans to become familiar with the exam format and improve their performance through consistent practice.

Read More | CAT Exam Preparation 2025

Conclusion

In conclusion, downloading previous years' CAT papers and sample CAT exam papers is an important tool for students to assess their knowledge and understanding of the topics covered in the CAT syllabus.

They allow students to practice their skills and prepare for the exam.

They are also effective ways for students to evaluate their progress in their studies and analyse their strengths and weaknesses in each subject.

Finally, it is essential to remember that the CAT Exam Question Paper should be used as a guide for preparing for the actual CAT Exam.

Check | CAT Registration 2025

Attempt a Free CAT Mock Test Today!

Fill your details

Recently Published

CAT Exam Colleges List 2025: Check Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Score in India