CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Duration, Marking Scheme, Section-wise Marks

CAT Exam Pattern 2025 involves a computer-based test which is conducted at designated centres. The duration of the exam is 120 minutes, where 40 minutes will be allotted to each section. The question paper of CAT 2025 will consist of three major sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. This test assesses students’ basic knowledge of English, including grammar and vocabulary. On the other hand, the other two sections focus on interpreting and analysing data from various sources, and problem-solving skills through word problems, graphs, etc. 

CAT 2025 Exam Dates are yet to be released. The official notification for CAT 2025 is set to be released by 30th July, 2025. Based on previous years’ trends, it is expected that the CAT exam 2025 will take place in the first week of November 2025. In the meantime, aspirants should thoroughly review the CAT 2025 Exam Pattern for a structured and well-planned preparation. 

CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Overview

The CAT Exam Pattern for MBA 2025 comprises both multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and Type in the Answer questions (TITA). Altogether, there are 66 questions, which is to be completed within 2 hours. For more details, refer to the table presented below:

CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Section-Wise Weightage and Marks Distribution

The CAT 2025 paper will have a total of 68 questions, and these questions will be divided into three major segments: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). The VARC section holds the highest weightage among all the other sections. Evidently, the VARC has the highest marks distribution, i.e., 72 marks out of 204. Students can find out the detailed section-wise weightage and marks distribution mentioned below:

CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Marking Scheme

Students who are willing to appear for CAT 2025 must be aware of the CAT marking system, which also involves negative marking. The CAT Question Paper 2025 will contain a total of 68 questions, including both MCQs and TITA questions. For each correct answer, students will be awarded +3 marks, and -1 mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer. However, there will be no negative marking for the non-MCQs. To avoid negative marking, candidates are advised not to attempt all the questions if they are not sure of any. To gain a passable score, answering at least two-thirds of the total questions is necessary. Find out the marking system for CAT 2025 in the table shown below:

CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Time Duration

CAT 2025 follows a strict time limit for each section. The total duration of the exam paper is 120 minutes, where 40 minutes is allotted for each section. Students are required to attempt the test in a predefined order. This means that they are not permitted to choose from any section to start with, or jump between sections. The time limit for each section is 40 minutes. Once the first section is completed, the system will automatically take the students to another section. The order of the sections is: VARC, DILR, and QA. However, the time limit for Pwd students is slightly longer than that of other students. Tabulated below are the complete time durations of CAT 2025:

Read: CAT Eligibility Criteria 2025

CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Ratio of MCQs and Non-MCQs

The CAT question paper for 2025 will include both Multiple-choice questions and type-in-the-answer questions. In case of TITA questions, candidates are required ot type their answers using the keyboard, instead of choosing the right option. Both the MCQs and TITA questions will come from the VARC, DILR, and QA sections. Mentioned below are the ratios of MCQs and non-MCQs that students might have to solve in CAT 2025:

CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Changes in Question Pattern

Over the years, there have been a lot of changes in the CAT paper. Initially, Data Interpretation was combined with Quantitative Ability. Later, these two sections were separated, and DI was combined with Logical Reasoning. Also, before 2019, the CAT paper was of a 3-hour duration. Check out more details about CAT Exam Pattern 2025, and the changes that have been made:

• The total number of questions went up from 66 to 68. 
• Since 2020, the CAT exam has started being held for 2 hours, in three shifts: Morning, Afternoon and Evening. 
• As per the 2024 exam analysis, the overall difficulty level of the CAT paper for 2024 was comparatively lower than that of 2023.
• The number of DILR questions increased from 20 to 22, and the Total Marks of CAT Exam 2025 for this section rose from 60 to 66.

Candidates can check out the changes that have been observed in CAT exam papers since 2010, in the table given below:

CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Important Topics 

IIMs will prescribe the CAT Syllabus 2025. However, the syllabus for CAT 2025 is yet to be declared. Based on the previous years’ trends, the CAT question will consist of the VARC, DILR, and QA sections. Students who are preparing for CAT 2025 should carefully examine the syllabus to know the important topics that might come in the exam. Given below are the important topics from the CAT syllabus:

What is the Difference Between CAT Exam Pattern and Other MBA Entrances?

The exam pattern of all the MBA entrance exams is more or less similar, but has some noticeable differences. CAT exam paper is considered the most student-friendly, where students have to solve only 68 questions, whereas for exams like XAT or MAT, there are 95 and 150 questions, respectively. Knowing these differences will help students develop effective study plans and understand the basic differences between CAT and other MBA entrance exams:

Read More: CAT Application Process 2025

CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Important Points About CAT Test Process

There are certain important points that students should take into account when appearing for CAT 2025, and they are as follows:

• Students will be allowed to use an onscreen calculator for calculations required while solving CAT exam paper.
• There will be an onscreen clock helping students to keep track of time.
• When 40 minutes are over, students will automatically be taken to another section. Once the window is moved, candidates cannot return to the previous one. 
• If students are not sure of an answer and wish to revisit the previous questions, they can choose ‘Save for Later’. However, candidates must ensure that they revisit the previous questions within the time limit. 
• All the instructions related to the exam will be provided on the first page. Before starting the exam, students are strongly advised to read the instructions carefully. 
• Students will be provided with a writing pad and a pen to do their rough work. Before leaving the examination room, it must be submitted. 
• Candidates cannot start taking the exam before the time. Only after the invigilator announces will they be allowed to log in. 
• It is important to finish each section 5-10 minutes earlier so that students can review all the answers that they have saved for later. 

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