CAT Exam Pattern | Section wise Pattern | QA, LRDI & VARC
The CAT exam 2024 might be conducted on the last Sunday of November 2024. Based on the rotation policy, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) conducts the CAT exam every year. This national-level test is conducted to evaluate the aptitude and logical reasoning skills of the candidates.
CAT EXAM PATTERN 2024
Due to the pandemic, there have been various changes in the CAT exam pattern. Earlier the CAT exam had 100 questions and the allotted time was 180 minutes. Later in the year 2020, the total number of questions was reduced to 76 for 120 minutes. In 2021, the total number of questions was further reduced to 66 and the same exam pattern was followed in the year 2023. Thus, it is assumed that the CAT exam pattern 2024 might remain the same as CAT 2023.
Read ahead to know the tentative CAT Exam Pattern 2024 which includes sections, topics asked, time, marking scheme, and much more.
CAT 2024 EXAM: Highlights
Although the notification for CAT 2024 exam pattern is expected to be declared by the end of July 2024. Here are some key points to keep in mind regarding the CAT exam pattern.
| POINTS | DESCRIPTION |
| Number of Questions | 66 (tentative) |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours |
| Number of Sections | 3 (VARC, DILR, QA) |
| Time Allotted to each Section | 40 minutes |
| Mode of exam | Computer-based test |
| Slots for exam | 3 |
| Types of Questions | MCQ and TITA |
| CAT Marking Scheme | +3 for every right answer -1 for every wrong answer TITA has no negative marking |
CAT 2024: Exam Pattern
The CAT exam is bifurcated into three sections, and 40 minutes time limit is allocated for each section.
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Ability (QA)
CAT: VARC Exam Pattern
In CAT 2024, the VARC section may comprise:
- Total: 24 questions.
- MCQs: 21
- Non-MCQs: 3
- The section has two main topics:
- Verbal Ability
- 8 questions about verbal ability are asked.
- It includes 3 para jumbles, 2 para completions, and 3 para summaries.
- Reading Comprehension (RC)
- 16 questions of RC include 4 passages of 4 questions each.
- Type of questions: MCQs and a few TITA (Type in the Answer) questions.
CAT: DILR Exam Pattern
In CAT 2024, the DILR will be the second section of the exam. The candidate can attend this section once they submit the VARC section. It may comprise:
- Total: 20
- MCQs: 14
- Non-MCQs: 6
- Questions are asked from topics: Bar Graph, Missing Data, Arrangements, and Puzzles (Games).
- This will have 4 sets that include 5 questions each.
- Each set is of a maximum of 15 marks.
It is advisable to carefully attempt the section as this section has new types of questions every time.
CAT: Quant Exam Pattern
The Quant section of the CAT exam has no sub-sections. In this section, the mathematical skills of the candidate are assessed.
- Total questions asked: 22
- MCQs: 14
- Non-MCQs: 8
- Usually questions of Arithmetic, Algebra, and geometry are asked.
- Candidates can practice for this section very well as this section is crucial in terms of scoring.
Hence, in total 49 MCQs and 17 TITA questions could be asked in the CAT 2024 exam.
CAT: Exam Marking Scheme
The below table gives an overview of the marking scheme for CAT 2024.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) | +3 for a correct answer | -1 for incorrect response |
Type in the Answer (TITA) | +3 for a correct answer | -1 for incorrect response |
CAT 2024: How to mark the answers?
As the CAT 2024 is a computer-based exam, the candidate should input the response into the computer. Out of the multiple options,
- Candidate needs to select one. Then,
- Save it and move to the next one.
- Candidate can delete the selected response.
- When candidates are unsure about any answer, they can mark it for review and can go to the next question.
CAT 2024: Slot-Based Division
CAT Exam is conducted in three shifts in a day. Here are the tentative timings shifts:
Morning: 8:30 am to 10:30 am
Afternoon: 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Evening: 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Candidates need to appear for the test according to the shift timings mentioned on the admit cards.
CAT: Points to Consider
- During the exam, an on-screen calculator is provided to the candidates.
- An on-screen clock is also provided that helps the candidate know the time.
- The proper order of the exam section is VARC, DILR, and then Quant. Please note that the candidates need to finish the test in chronological order as they cannot pace back and forth between the sections until the time gets over for the current section.
- Two types of questions are asked in the CAT exam- MCQ (Multiple Choice Question)-based and TITA (Type in the Answer).
- For MCQ Questions, 4 options are given out of which 1 should be marked by the candidate whereas for TITA, the answer must be typed.
- The TITA questions have no negative marking for the wrong answer whereas, for MCQ type, 1 mark is deducted.
- A sheet is provided to the candidates for the rough work which should be submitted upon the completion of the exam.
CAT Exam Pattern: Previous Years Analysis
Launched in 2009, this computer-based test was earlier conducted in pen-paper mode. After COVID-19 there have been some variations in the CAT exam pattern and few things remain the same.
Similarities:
Type of questions: Both MCQ and TITA are asked in the CAT exam
Sections: VARC, DILR, and QA have been there for years
CAT Marking Scheme:
- +3 Marks for every correct answer
- -1 Mark for every wrong MCQ
- No Negative marking for Non-MCQs
- No Marks for unattempted answers
Differences:
YEAR | Number of Questions | Total Time Duration | Total Marks | Number of Shifts | CAT Conducting IIM |
2019 | 100 | 180 Minutes | 300 | 2 Shifts | IIM Kozhikode |
2020 | 76 | 120 Minutes | 228 | 3 Shifts | IIM Indore |
2021 | 66 | 120 Minutes | 198 | 3 Shifts | IIM Ahmedabad |
2022 | 66 | 120 Minutes | 198 | 3 Shifts | IIM Bangalore |
NOTE: 53 minutes and 20 seconds are allotted for each section to the PwD candidates.
Comparing the CAT Exam Pattern with Other MBA Exams
When applying for the MBA entrance exam, candidates need to understand the difference between the CAT exam pattern and other MBA exams. Below is the table to show the difference between the CAT exam pattern and other MBA entrance exams.
MBA EXAM | SUBJECTS | NUMBER OF QUESTIONS | MARKING SCHEME | EXAM DURATION |
CAT | VARC, DILR, Quant | 66 | +3 for the correct answer; -1 for incorrect MCQ | 2 Hours |
IIFT | DILR, VARC, Quant, General Awareness (GA) | 110 (Variable) | +0.5 to 1 for the correct answer; -1/3 of the marks for the correct answer | 2 Hours |
XAT | Verbal and Logical Ability, Quant, Decision Making, GA | 105+1 Essay | +1 for each correct answer; -0.25 for the incorrect | 3 Hours 10 minutes |
GMAT | Verbal Ability, Quant, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment, | 80 | GMAT has variable scoring scales for different sections as it uses computer adaptive testing | 3 Hours and 30 minutes |
CONCLUSION
Hopefully, the CAT exam pattern is clear and you might have understood the changes that occur each year, it is essential for candidates to carefully prepare for each topic in the syllabus leaving no stone unturned.
FAQs
No, candidates are not allowed to carry a calculator inside the examination hall. However, an on-screen calculator is provided during the exam. Also, candidates should learn the basic equations and formulae for the test.
No exact CAT exam pattern or syllabus is provided by the IIMs as it changes each year. So it is difficult to know the exact number of questions asked from a particular topic. But based on previous year’s CAT exam papers, it is assumed that three topics namely Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry are frequently asked topics.
Yes, it is. 40 minutes are allotted for each section chronologically:
- VARC: 40 minutes
- DILR: 40 minutes
- QA: 40 minutes
According to exam authorization, the CAT exam paper is set by conducting IIM. For the year 2022, IIM Bangalore had set the paper whereas for 2021, IIM Ahmedabad had done.
Based on the previous year’s CAT exam pattern, both MCQs and TITA questions are asked. The Total exam mark is 198 which has 66 questions in total that has to be completed in 120 minutes with a sectional time-limit of 40 minutes.
