CAT Exam Pattern 2025 (Latest): Sections, Duration & Marking Scheme

CAT Exam pattern for 2025 is expected to remain similar to the previous year's pattern. In the year 2025, the CAT exam is expected to be conducted on the 30th November 2025. It is one of the most prestigious exams held in India and is a gateway to some of the top management institutes like IIMs. The exam is conducted annually by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) for admission into various top postgraduate programs. Every year lakhs of aspirants appear for CAT exam so it is important to know all about the CAT Exam Pattern & Syllabus for 2025.

Table of Contents

• CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Overview
• CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Changes over the years
• What is the section-wise syllabus for CAT 2025?
• • Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
• • Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
• • Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
• CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Important Dates
• CAT 2025 Exam: Important Points
• CAT 2025 Exam Pattern v/s Other MBA Entrance Exam
• CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Preparation Tips
• Conclusion
• FAQs

CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Overview

CAT exam asses candidate's skills in solving Math, English and Logical Reasoning problems and more in a given time frame. If a candidate wants to clear the CAT exam, they should focus on understanding the CAT exam pattern 2025, as it will give clarity regarding the CAT exam. The exam consists of three sections which are given below:

1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
3. Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

Sections	Total Questions	Total Time (in minutes)	MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) based questions	TITA (Type In The Answer) type questions
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)	24	40	21	3
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)	22	40	14	6
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	22	40	14	8
Total	68	120	49	17

The official CAT exam pattern is not available however an aspirant can learn about the latest CAT exam structure and syllabus by referring to CAT Previous Year Question Papers.

CAT Exam Pattern 2025

Given below is mode of exam, duration of exam, slot details, CAT 2025 eligibility criteria and CAT 2025 marking scheme.

CAT Exam Pattern 2025
Mode of CAT exam	Computer Based Test (CBT) only
Duration of exam	120 minutes; 40 minutes per section
Number of answer choices	4
CAT exam slots	Morning: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Afternoon: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM Evening: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
Language of question paper	English
CAT 2025 exam date	November 30, 2025 (expected)
CAT 2025 eligibility criteria	Graduation with 50 % aggregate  45 % for SC/ST students
CAT 2025 marking scheme	+3 marks for correct answer -1 mark for an incorrect answer No Negative marking for TITA
CAT fees 2025	INR 2,500 for General category INR 1,250 for SC/ST/PwD
CAT 2025 conducting body	IIM Calcutta
CAT 2025 official website	https://iimcat.ac.in

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CAT 2025 Marking Scheme

CAT marking scheme has remained consistent over the years. An aspirant must be aware of the marking scheme in order to prepare more efficiently for the CAT exam. The CAT exam has a negative marking for every incorrect answers that makes CAT a very difficult exam to crack. However, in case of TITA (Type in the Answer) type questions have no negative marking.

For every correct answer, the candidate is awarded +3 marks whereas every incorrect answer attracts -1 mark

Key highlights of the exam are given below-

No compulsion to attempt all the questions

CAT 2025 is expected to be of 204 marks as per CAT 2024

A few questions will be in non-MCQ format

Number of questions is expected to be 68

No deduction of marks for skipping questions

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

CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Changes Over the Years

Over the years there have been big changes to the CAT exam pattern. Most recently as a result of the pandemic there were fewer questions and less time. Here is a complete history of how the CAT exam has changed over the years.

Years	Total Questions in CAT	Duration of CAT exam
2024	68	2 hrs (120min.)
2021-2023	66	2 hrs  (120min.)
2020	76	2 hrs  (120min.)
2015 -2019	100	3 hrs  (180min.)
2014	100	2 hrs 50 min.  (180 min.)
2011- 2013	60	2 hrs 20 min. (140 min.)
2010	60	2hrs 30 min. (150 min.)



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What is the Section-wise Syllabus for CAT 2025?

The IIMs do not provide an official syllabus for CAT exam. Aspiring candidates should go for other resources for the CAT exam syllabus. Below is a concise syllabus outline for CAT 2025.

CAT Section	Section Wise  Topics
VARC	Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Para Summary, Odd Sentence Out, Inferences, One-Word Substitution, Syllogism and Analogies, Verbal Logic, etc.
DILR	Charts, Caselets, Blood Relations, Syllogism, Directions, Clocks and Calendars, Tables, Graphs, Charts, Connectives, Logical Sequence, Matching/ Puzzles, Number and Letter Series, Seating Arrangement, Venn Diagrams, Coding-Decoding, Binary Logic, Caselets and Table, etc.
QA	Algebra, Arithmetic, Probability, Number System, Percentages, Profit & Loss, Simple Interest/Compound Interest, Time & Distance, Averages-Mixtures-Alligations, Mensuration, Logarithms, Functions & Graphs, Indices & Surds, Quadratic Equations, Special Equations, Statistics, Geometry, etc.

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Get detailed list of the CAT 2025 syllabus

• Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability are the two main parts of VARC. The reading comprehension part of VARC is very important. It has paragraphs of different lengths and MCQ and TITA questions that go with them. Verbal Ability, on the other hand, includes things like Para Jumbles, Odd Sentences and more.
• Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
QA section of CAT consists of Math which is based on class 10th level. It covers topics like LCM & HCF, Trigonometry, Mensuration, Probability and more.
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
This section covers two areas i.e. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. Data Interpretation deals with analyzing information given in the form of Charts, Graphs, etc, and reaching the correct answer. On the other hand, the Logical Reasoning section has questions from areas like Puzzles, Blood Relations, Seating Arrangements etc. which tests the basic mental ability of a candidate.

CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Important Dates

Mentioned below are the important dates for the CAT 2025 exam-

Events	Important dates (Tentative)
CAT 2025 Notification	July 2025
Registration Start Date	August 2025
Last Date of Registration	September 2025
Exam Date	November 30, 2025 (expected)
Result Date	2nd week of January 2026

Get the Best study material for CAT 2025 exam

CAT 2025 Exam: Important Points

Given below are the points that you must keep in mind about the CAT exam process that will prove very useful on the exam day.

Candidates must read the instructions carefully mentioned on the first page of the exam before beginning to avoid mistakes.

Candidates must take the official CAT mock test and check the official test guide to be best prepared for the CAT 2025 exam.

Candidates must be seated at designated seats throughout the exam. If found sitting anywhere else, he/she will be disqualified.

Candidates will be allowed to begin their exam only after the invigilator's announcement.

The onscreen calculator allows calculations during the CAT 2025 exam.

Sheets would be provided during the exam for rough work which will have to be submitted before leaving the exam hall.

The onscreen clock helps the candidates manage their time more efficiently during the exam.

The screen automatically switches to the next section after the completion of 40 minutes of sectional timing and the students do not have the choice to move back to the previous sections.

Candidates can revisit a question by marking it 'save for later' in case they are not sure of the answer but they can only revisit it within the time limit of the same section. Once the sectional timing is over, they can't revisit it.

Aspirants should aim to complete every section 5-10 minutes before the time so that they can go back to questions saved for review.

The CAT exam will automatically get submitted once the overall time period of 120 minutes is over. Candidates will have to remain seated until the exit process is started.

CAT 2025 Exam Pattern v/s Other MBA Entrance Exam

The exam pattern for the CAT exam is nearly similar to other MBA entrance exams. However, there are a few distinctions like variation in the number of questions, type of questions, sections and other aspects. Given below is a comprehensive analysis of the differences in the exam pattern of the top MBA entrance exams in India.

Exam Name	Time Duration	No. of Questions	Sections	Total Marks
CAT	120 minutes	68	3	204
CMAT	180 minutes	100	5	400
XAT	180 minutes	95	4	95
MAT	120 minutes	150	5	150
SNAP	60 minutes	60	3	60
GMAT	187 minutes	70	4	200-800
NMAT	120 minutes	108	3	36-360

CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Preparation Tips

• Develop a Study Plan: Divide the CAT syllabus into small portions and plan out how you will study each one in the time you have available.
• Prioritize Mock Tests:Make practice tests a regular part of your schedule. These will give you an idea of how well you're prepared and help you figure out where you need to improve. Use the free CAT practice tests that are available to get ready for the real test.

Conclusion

Frequently Asked Question

1. What is the marking scheme for CAT 2025?
For every correct answer in the CAT exam, a student is awarded +3 & -1 is deducted for every incorrect answer. The Type-In-The-Answer (TITA) type questions have no negative marking and no marks are deduactd for unanswered questions.
2. How many non-MCQ (TITA) questions are expected to appear in CAT 2025?
Based on previous CAT exams, CAT 2025 is expected to have atleast 10-12 TITA questions in all three sections. The QA section is likely to have 6-8 questions, DILR 2-4 questions & VARC is expected to have a majority of questions in MCQ-based format.
3. Can we use calculators in CAT 2025?
Yes, the CAT exam allows the use of an on-screen calculator during the Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation sections. However, physical calculators are strictly prohibited.
4. What's the sectional time limit in CAT 2025?
The CAT exam consists of 3 sections and each section has a time limit of 40 minutes. The overall time limit fo the exam is 120 minutes. To perform well in the CAT 2025 exam, it is important to practice a proper time management strategy.
5. Are CAT 2025 questions syllabus-based?
The conducting authorities of the CAT exam do not publish an official syllabus for the exam. Usually, aspirants take an idea of the important topics and syllabus by practicing CAT previous year questions. CAT mocks can also help you in getting an understanding of the syllabus as the mocks are formulated from the most frequent and important topics.
6. How difficult is CAT 2025 expected to be compared to past years?
The CAT exam has built the credibility and reputation of being the most challenging management entrance exam in India and they are expected to maintain the same legacy for the coming CAT 2025 exam as well. So, it is crucial for the students to undergo their preparation expecting the toughest possible question paper.
7. How many attempts are allowed for CAT?
There is no upper limit to the number of times one can take the CAT exam. However, it is mandatory for the students to qualify for the eligibility criteria to take the CAT exam. Aspirants must know that the eligibility criteria may vary for each B-school and therefore they must carefully go through the official notifications of their desired institute.
8. Is there any sectional cutoff in CAT 2025?
Yes, to make it to your dream IIM, an aspirant needs to qualify not only for the overall cutoff but the sectional cutoffs as well. This cutoff may vary for every B-school. It is one of the factors that make CAT one of the most challenging management entrance exams in the country.
9. What's new in the CAT 2025 pattern?
For past few years the CAT exam pattern has more or less remained the same. It consists of 3 sections, ie, VARC, DILR & QA. In CAT 2024, there was a variation in the number of questions for the DILR section which appeared to be 22 instead of 20. Besides this, other factors are expected to remain the same for CAT 2025.
10. How to manage time in CAT 2025?
The best way to practice time management for the CAT exam is to take as many mocks as possible and attempt them within a limited period of time. Practicing in exam-like conditions will help the students in managing questions more efficiently and device an effective strategy for the exam.
11. Where to find official CAT 2025 pattern PDF?
Every year, the official notification regarding the CAT exam is released on its official site. This document contains the exam pattern, registration guidelines and other important policies. These notifications are usually released during July-August every year. So, the CAT aspirants must regularly check the official website for updates.