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.
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:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
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Sections
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Total Questions
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Total Time (in minutes)
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MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) based questions
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TITA (Type In The Answer) type questions
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Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
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24
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40
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21
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3
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Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
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22
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40
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14
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6
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Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
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22
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40
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14
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8
|
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Total
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66
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120
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49
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17
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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.
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CAT Exam Pattern 2025
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Mode of CAT exam
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Computer Based Test (CBT) only
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Duration of exam
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120 minutes; 40 minutes per section
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Number of answer choices
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4
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CAT exam slots
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Morning: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
Afternoon: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Evening: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM
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Language of question paper
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English
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CAT 2025 exam date
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November 30, 2025 (expected)
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CAT 2025 eligibility criteria
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Graduation with 50 % aggregate
45 % for SC/ST students
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CAT 2025 marking scheme
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+3 marks for correct answer
-1 mark for an incorrect answer
No Negative marking for TITA
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CAT fees 2025
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INR 2,500 for General category
INR 1,250 for SC/ST/PwD
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CAT 2025 conducting body
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IIM Calcutta
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CAT 2025 official website
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https://iimcat.ac.in
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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.
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Years
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Total Questions in CAT
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Duration of CAT exam
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2025
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66
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2 hrs (120min.)
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2021-2023
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66
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2 hrs (120min.)
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2020
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76
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2 hrs (120min.)
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2015 -2019
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100
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3 hrs (180min.)
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2014
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100
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2 hrs 50 min. (180 min.)
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2011- 2013
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60
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2 hrs 20 min. (140 min.)
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2010
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60
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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.
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CAT Section
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Section Wise Topics
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VARC
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Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Para Summary, Odd Sentence Out, Inferences, One-Word Substitution, Syllogism and Analogies, Verbal Logic, etc.
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DILR
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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.
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QA
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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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- 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-
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Events
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Important dates (Tentative)
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CAT 2025 Notification
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July 2025
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Registration Start Date
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August 2025
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Last Date of Registration
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September 2025
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Exam Date
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November 30, 2025 (expected)
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Result Date
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2nd week of January 2026
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CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Preparation Tips
CAT exam is the gateway to the prestigious 21 IIMs and other top B-schools. Considering the competitive nature of the CAT exam given below are some imortant tips that will help CAT aspirants to create a strategy for the upcoming CAT 2025 exam.
- 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.
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Conclusion
Understanding the CAT exam pattern plays a crucial role in the CAT 2025 exam. So its important for the candidates to fully understand the exam pattern for success. Candidate should create a real exam environment for their CAT preparation. This environment will help them in finding their weaknesses and strengths.
Frequently Asked Question
- How many times can a student take the CAT exam?
There are no restrictions on the number of attempts for the CAT exam and there is no age limit either.
- What is IIM BLACKI?
IIM BLACKI stands for IIM Bangalore, IIM Lucknow, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Calcutta, IIM Kozhikode and IIM Indore
- What is the pattern of the CAT exam?
The CAT exam follows a computer-based format conducted in a single day. It consists of three sections:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) - 24 questions (40 minutes)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) - 22 questions (40 minutes)
- Quantitative Ability (QA) - 22 questions (40 minutes)
- How many total marks are in the CAT exam?
The total marks for the CAT exam are 198.
- How many levels are there in the CAT exam?
Unlike other exams, the CAT doesn't have separate levels. The difficulty level of the questions can range from moderate to high, testing your analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Is the CAT exam very easy?
The CAT exam is known for its challenging nature and competitiveness. It demands a strong foundation in concepts, strategic test-taking approaches, and efficient time management skills.
- What is a good CAT score?
A good CAT score depends on the specific colleges and programs you're targeting. Generally, scoring above the 90th percentile is considered competitive for admission into top MBA programs.
- Does the CAT exam have a negative marking?
Yes, the CAT has negative markings for Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). Each incorrect MCQ answer deducts one mark. There's no penalty for non-MCQs (where you type in the answer) or for leaving a question unattempted.
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