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CAT EXAM PATTERN 2025: EXAM DURATION, MARKING SCHEME

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The CAT exam is a computer-based test (CBT) comprising of reading and verbal ability, data interpretation and logical reasoning section and Quantitative aptitude to test and analyse the candidates mathematical, reasoning and language skills. 

CAT EXAM PATTERN, EXAM DURATION, MARKING SCHEME

CAT 2025 exam pattern can be estimated from the past year paper and trends and is expected to be conducted on the last Sunday of November, 30th November 2025 with the official notice to be released by the end of July 2025.
This article will provide insights on the CAT 2025 exam pattern, exam duration and marking scheme for MBA candidates.

CAT 2025 EXAM PATTERN- Overall

The exam pattern of CAT 2025 includes 66 objective type questions, comprising of MCQs and non-MCQs that is TITA questions (Type in the answer) to be completed in 120 minutes. The CAT includes 3 sections VARC, DILR and QA with 40 minutes allotted to each section.

The main highlights of CAT 2025 exam pattern are provided below:

CAT 2025 EXAM PATTERN KEY POINTS
Total Number of Sections
3
Total Number of Questions
66
Types of Questions
MCQs and non-MCQs (TITA)
Exam Duration
120 Minutes (Total exam), 40 Minutes (each section)
Exam Slots/ Shifts
3
Marking Scheme
198 (Total Marks) +3 for correct and -1 for wrong answers

CAT EXAM PATTERN 2025 - Detailed

The IIMs have not released any official syllabus. The exam paper has been set according to the past paper trends. Candidates can go through and analyse the previous papers to understand the exam pattern.

The CAT 2025 exam has been divided into 3 main sections:

  • Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability
  • Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation
  • Quantitative Aptitude

The table below provides the important insights about the CAT 2025 exam pattern:

SECTIONS NO. OF QUESTIONS TIME DURATION
VARC
24
40
DILR
20
40
QA
22
40
TOTAL
66
120

CAT 2025 EXAM DURATION

The CAT exam is of 120 minutes (2 hours) with each section allotted time being 40 minutes. The candidates are expected to answer all the questions in each section within the allotted time of 40 minutes.

  • The candidates are expected to attend all the questions in the specific order and sequence.
  • Candidates are expected to answer the questions of each section in the required time.
  • Ones the time is over for a particular section, candidates cannot make any corrections or changes for that section.
SECTIONS TIME LIMIT TIME LIMIT FOR PwD CANDIDATES
VARC
40 Minutes
53 Minutes 20 Seconds
DILR
40 Minutes
53 Minutes 20 Seconds
QA
40 Minutes
53 Minutes 20 Seconds
TOTAL
120 Minutes
160 Minutes

CAT 2025 EXAM STRUCTURE

  • CAT 2025 is a computer-based test.
  • The CAT 2025 exam structure comprises of 3 sections (VARC, DILR, and QUANTS).
  • Each section of CAT 2025 includes 22 to 24 questions, with 68 questions total in exam.
  • CAT 2025 exam duration is 2 hours (40 Minutes for each section).
  • Candidates are expected to answer the questions of each section in the required time.
  • Ones the time is over for a particular section, candidates cannot make any corrections or changes for that section.
  • CAT 2025 exam consists of MCQs and non-MCQs (TITA questions).
  • The number of questions (MCQs and non-MCQs) vary each year.
  • Students are advised to practice mock to get know about the latest pattern trends.

CAT 2025 TEST PATTERN

CAT 2025 is a Computer Based Test 2 hours test in which the candidates need to mark the correct answer by selecting the most appropriate answer with the help of mouse.

  • For all the MCQ type questions candidates need to click the right option with mouse.
  • For all the non-MCQ / TITA type candidates need to type in the answer with on-screen keyboard.

For each CAT question you need to select the correct answer, candidates need to click on the following options to move to the next question.

  • Save and Next
  • Mark for review
  • Mark for review and next 
  • Clear Response

CAT 2025 MARKING SCHEME

  • Total score of CAT 2025 is expected to be 198.
  • The exam comprises of 3 sections.
  • For correct answer, +3 marks will be awarded.
  • For incorrect answer, – 1 will be deducted.
  • You do not need to answer all the questions, try to select the question you can answer confidently with accuracy.
  • No marks will be deducted for skipping any questions.
  • Some questions from non-MCQ or TITA type must be seen in the 3 sections.
  • For each correct TITA, +3 will be awarded.
  • For wrong or unattempt TITA, there will be no negative or deduction of marks.
  • Most important, try to attend at least 2/3 of the questions from each section with accuracy to get an overall good score.
MCQ CAT QUESTIONS MARKING SCHEME
CORRECT ANSWER
Each answer +3
INCORRECT ANSWER
Each answer -1
TITA QUESTIONS
No negative marking or deduction
UNATTEMPTED QUESTIONS
No marks deduction

As per the analysis, the CAT exam includes non-MCQ type questions (TITA), marking scheme has been explained below:

NON MCQ CAT QUESTIONS MARKING SCHEME
CORRECT ANSWER
+3
INCORRECT ANSWER
No negative/ minus marking
UNATTEMPTED QUESTIONS
No marks deduction

CAT 2025 MARKING SCHEME- IMPORTANT POINTS

  • Total score of CAT 2025 is expected to be 198.
  • The exam comprises of 3 sections.
  • For correct answer, +3 marks will be awarded.
  • For incorrect answer, – 1 will be deducted.
  • You do not need to answer all the questions, try to select the question you can answer confidently with accuracy.
  • No marks will be deducted for skipping any questions.
  • Some questions from non-MCQ or TITA type must be seen in the 3 sections.
  • For each correct TITA, +3 will be awarded.
  • For wrong or unattempt TITA, there will be no negative or deduction of marks.
  • Most important, try to attend at least 2/3 of the questions from each section with accuracy to get an overall good score.

CAT 2025 SYLLABUS

The IIMs have not released any official syllabus but according to previous exam patterns and trends following identification of the most important topics have been done.

 The table below provides the CAT 2025 sections and most important topic or syllabus:

CAT SECTIONS TOPICS
VARC
Reading Comprehension, Para Jumbles, Para Summaries, Sentence Completion, Inferences
DILR
Graphs, Data Caselets, Tables, Venn Diagram, Sitting Arrangement, Syllogisms, Blood Relations
QA
Simple Interest, Compound Interest, Percentage, Profit Loss, Time and Distance, Averages- Mixtures-Allegations, Functions and Graphs, Quadratic Equations, Indices and surds, Statistics, Mensuration, Number System, Ratio and Proportion, Logarithms

CAT 2025 EXAM PATTERN FAQs

What is CAT 2025 Exam pattern?

Based on previous trends and exam pattern, CAT exam pattern includes 3 sections: VARC, DILR and QA comprising of 20 to 24 questions in each section and total exam comprising of 66 marks. It is a computer-based test for 2 hours.

What is the time duration of the CAT 2025 exam?

The total time duration of CAT exam is 120 minutes, with 40 minutes allotted for each section. For PwD candidates, the total tome duration is 160 minutes with 53 minutes 20 seconds for each section.

What is the number of questions that will be seen in CAT 2025?

The total number of questions in CAT 2025 is 66 questions. The VARC sections generally comprises of 34 questions. DILR consists of 20 questions and Quants include 22 questions.

What are different types of question in CAT 2025?

As per the past trends, CAT 2025 includes MCQs and non-MCQs (TITA) questions within each section. The MCQs are needed to be marked with mouse. The candidates are required to answer the TITA type questions manually using on-screen keyboard.

What is the marking scheme for CAT 2025?

For every correct answer regardless the type of the question from each section, +3 marks is awarded. For every incorrect answer -1 marks is deducted for MCQ type whereas no negative marking has been done for TITA type. No marls are being deducted for the unattempt questions.

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