CAT 2019 pattern and marking scheme is the same as last year, i.e. three marks will be awarded for each right answer and one mark will be deducted for each wrong answer.
CAT 2019 is scheduled to be held on November 24, 2019. Candidates planning to appear for the exam must ensure that they understand the CAT exam pattern and marking scheme well to utilize their 3 hours to maximize their performance.
CAT 2019 pattern and marking scheme is the same as last year, i.e. three marks will be awarded for each right answer and -1 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. There is no negative marking for non-MCQs or un-attempted questions.
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Each section of CAT 2019 exam will contain 30+ questions in both MCQ and non-MCQ formats. The non-MCQ format questions will require the candidates to type in their answer (TITA) from the virtual keyboard. Given below is the table indicating CAT 2019 marking scheme:
CAT 2019 marking scheme
| Type of Questions |
Correct Answer |
Incorrect Answer |
|---|---|---|
| MCQ |
+3 |
-1 |
| Non-MCQ |
+3 |
0 |
CAT exam pattern and test structure
- CAT 2019 will be conducted online in two slots. First slot will be held from 9 am to 12 pm and second slot will be held from 2 pm to 5 pm.
- CAT 2019 question paper will be divided into three sections - Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA). Also check: CAT syllabus
- There will be sectional time-limit of 60 minutes for each section. The total duration of the exam is 180 minutes.
- The moment 60 minutes of a particular section will get over, the computer screen will move to the next section. The candidates will not have the option to go back to previous section
- The candidates will be required to solve the CAT question paper in the sequence as given, i.e. Section 1: VARC, Section 2: DILR and Section 3: QA
CAT 2019 pattern: Break up of questions and allotment of marks
| Sections |
Number of questions |
Total marks |
|---|---|---|
| VARC |
34 |
102 (34x3) |
| DILR |
32 |
96 (32x3) |
| QA |
34 |
102 (34x3) |
| total |
100 |
300 |
The only major change that is expected in CAT 2019 exam pattern, is the distribution of type of questions in each section. In CAT 2018, there were more TITA-type questions than in CAT 2017. Take a look at the tables below for distribution of questions in each section of both the sessions of CAT 2018.
CAT 2018: First slot
| Sections |
Number of MCQs |
Number of TITA questions |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC |
28 |
7 |
34 |
| DILR |
24 |
8 |
32 |
| QA |
22 |
12 |
34 |
CAT 2018: Second slot
| Sections |
Number of MCQs |
Number of TITA questions |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC |
28 |
7 |
34 |
| DILR |
24 |
8 |
32 |
| QA |
22 |
12 |
34 |
CAT 2019 registrations is currently underway and the last date to apply is September 18, 2019. If you plan to appear for the exam, take a look at some exam preparation articles below:

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Student Forum
Answered 4 days ago
Yes. IIMB does require the CAT exam, but the rest of the top B-schools in Bangalore also take in candidates through the state-level CET, ie, the Karnataka PGCET exam, or through MAT or CMAT.
Top B-schools in Bangalore without CAT | Cutoffs Required |
|---|---|
26690 | |
29592 |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
IIM Calcutta has only mentioned accepting GMAT score for admission into EMBA courses.
However, CAT is commonly accepted by other similar institutes for both MBA and MBAEx courses. Thus, candidates are advised to ask admission desk for confirmation on this question.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
It is not possible to determine a candidate's admission in IIM Calcutta MBA course through CAT score alone. In Stage 1, a score 85% in CAT will be enough for a general category candidate to be selected for PI+WAT admission stage.
Final admission cutoffs are based on many factors other than CAT score.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
No, IIM Calcutta cannot get into MBA courses without appearing CAT first. CAT is a mandatory entrance exam and it is conducted every year for admissions into all MBA courses offered by this institute.
However, candidates who are applying for MBAEx course will be required to appear in GMAT for admissi
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
To get a seat at IFMR Chennai, students have to first appear for any one of the entrance exams accepted by the institute for the MBA/PGDM course admission. CAT, XAT, NMAT, CMAT, Andhra Pradesh ICET, IPAMT and SAT India are the entrance exams accepted by this institute for admission to the management
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
No, you cannot use the CAT score for direct admission to the MBA/PGDM course at this university.
You would need to first appear for the CAT entrance exam, and then get shortlisted for the PI and or GD rounds to be considered for a seat. Since the CAT cutoff is not released publicly, the closest esti
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
The Vishwakarma University CAT cutoff 2025 was released for admission to the MBA/PGDM course for the All India quota.
For the General AI category, the estimated Vishwakarma University MBA cutoff 2025 was 50. Students who gained this percentile are then eligible to enter the second round of admission
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
The National Institute of Bank Management Cutoff 2026 for General AI category in CAT exam is 80.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
No, you cannot use the CAT exam result for direct admission to the MBA/PGDM course at AIMS Institutes, Bangalore.
The college accepts the CAT, XAT and MAT exam results for admission to the management programme. Students have to first attain the qualifying cutoff percentiles and then sit in the select
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Candidates applying for admission in MBA at IIM Raipur should have qualified the CAT exam. Check below the application fee of CAT:
- INR 2,300 for general category students
- INR 1,150 for SC/ST/PwD students
R
Contributor-Level 10

Vipra Shrivastava is MA in English Literature from Delhi University with extensive experience in content writing of over 14 years. She has been handling content for Management, Accounting and Commerce streams for 8
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