IIM Calcutta conducted the CAT exam in three slots on November 24. CAT 2024 question paper PDF along with official answer key and candidate response sheet is out for Slot 1, 2 and 3.
CAT 2024 Question Paper PDF Download for Slot 1, 2 and 3
CAT 2024 Question Paper PDF: IIM Calcutta conducted the CAT 2024 exam in three slots. CAT 2024 slot wise question papers are available here. Candidates can download the CAT 2024 question paper PDF to know the sectional weightage and difficulty level. IIM Calcutta has released CAT question paper PDF officially along with the official answer key and response sheet on the exam website, iimcat.ac.in.
CAT 2024 question paper was designed with a total of 66 questions divided across three different sections. Three sections of CAT question paper include Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA). Candidates can use CAT question paper PDF along with the answer key and response sheet to evaluate their probable score.
Also Check:
- CAT 2024 Official Question Papers
- CAT Question Paper PDF 2024 (Memory Based)
- Steps to Download CAT 2024 Question Paper PDF
- How to use CAT 2024 Question Paper?
- CAT 2024 Question Paper Pattern
- CAT Answer Key 2024
- Previous Year’s CAT Question Papers
- CAT 2024 Analysis by Experts
CAT 2024 Official Question Papers
IIM Calcutta releases the answer key, response sheet along with the CAT question paper PDF 4-5 days after the exam date. The table below mentions the CAT question paper PDF for slot 1, 2 and 3.
| CAT Exam Slots | Question Paper PDF Download* |
|---|---|
| CAT 2024 slot 1 question paper | Download PDF Here |
| CAT 2024 slot 2 question paper | CAT 2024 Slot 2 Question Paper |
| CAT 2024 slot 3 question paper | CAT 2024 Slot 3 Question Paper |
*NOTE: CAT question paper PDF links in the table above will be updated as soon as IIM Calcutta releases the same.
Commonly asked questions
Difficulty level in CAT exam is not specific to any of the three slots. The difficulty level across slots may vary every year. Know how the CAT scores are normalised: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/understanding-cat-normalization-process-blogId-9386.
CAT question papers are released within a week of the exam in the form of a PDF as a response sheet and answer key. Response sheet hosts CAT exam questions and answers.
The CAT VARC section is dominated by RC questions. Out of 24 questions about 14-16 are based on Reading Comprehension passages and the rest of them are based on parajumbles, para completion, etc.
CAT has about 12-16 RC question. Since, it is not mandatory to solve all the questions, candidates can maximize their scores by leaving out the questions related to the passage they find the toughest. There is negative marking in CAT so candidates must ensure that they mark only the correct options or do not mark any option at all.
The key change in CAT question paper 2024 was increase in number of questions in DLIR section. Till 2023, the DILR section used to have 20 questions. In 2024, it had 22 questions. The time limit for it was the same and no other section had less questions. Which means, in CAT 2024, candidates had to attempt 68 questions instead of 66 to solve in the same time (120 minutes). DILR sectional time limit was 40 minutes as in previous years. There was no other change in CAT 2024, the difficulty level was same as previous years.
CAT Question Paper PDF 2024 (Memory Based)
The table below mentions the direct links to access the CAT 2024 memory based questions, answer keys, and exam analysis:
| CAT 2024 Slots |
CAT Answer Key, Question Paper, & Exam Analysis |
|---|---|
| CAT 2024 Slot 1 answer key, question paper, and exam analysis |
|
| CAT 2024 Slot 2 answer key, question paper, and exam analysis |
|
| CAT 2024 Slot 3 answer key, question paper, and exam analysis |
Steps to Download CAT 2024 Question Paper PDF
IIM does not release the CAT question paper separately. Candidates get to access the CAT questions while checking the response sheet and the CAT 2024 answer key. The space below mentions the steps to check the CAT question papers, answer key and response sheet:
- Visit the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in
- Click on the login button available on the homepage.
- Enter CAT login credentials, including the registration number and password.
- Navigate to the relevant link for CAT 2024 response sheet and answer key.
- Download the response sheet and check all the questions in CAT and the responses recorded on the exam day.
Commonly asked questions
No, it is not mandatory to attempt all the questions in CAT. Candidates can choose to attempt questions as per their preparation. It is not possible also to attempt all the questions due to time limitation and difficulty level. Reading dense RC passages often take up a lot of time. In DILR and QA too, some questions are time taking and calculation intensive due to which not much time is left in hand to attempt all questions. The aim of every test taker should be to attempt about 2/3rd of the total questions in all the sections of CAT.
There are no straight forward vocabulary questions in CAT. Out of the total of 24 questions in VARC section, 12-14 questions are Reading Comprehension based and rest of them comprise parajumbles, para completion and odd sentence. CAT is the only MBA entrance exam, which does not have direct vocabulary and grammar questions. However, one needs to have strong vocabulary and grammar to be able to solve RC, parajumble, para completion and odd sentence questions.
Data Interpretation or DI is a sub part of CAT's second section DILR. This section has 20 -22 questions (until 2023, the totla number of DILR questions was 20, and in 2024 the number of questions was 22). Both Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning questions have equal number of questions. Candidates must make sure that they prepare for both topics well as the weightage is equal and if they are ill prepared for either of the two, their score will get affected.
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How to use CAT 2024 Question Paper?
Candidates who took the CAT 2024 exam can use these question papers to evaluate their probable scores before the declaration of results. The marking scheme, answer key, response sheet, and CAT 2024 question paper help candidates calculate their probable scores to reduce the result anxiety.
CAT Score Calculation Process using Question Paper, Answer Key, Response Sheet
Candidates must follow the steps mentioned below to calculate their CAT 2024 raw score using the question paper, answer key and response sheet:
- Calculate the total number of correct responses recorded in the CAT 2024 exam.
- Calculate the number of incorrect MCQ responses recorded in the CAT exam.
- Add 3 marks for each correct response.
- Deduct 1 mark for each incorrect MCQ response recorded.
- No marks will be deducted for unattempted responses or incorrect TITA responses.
- The outcome of the above calculations will provide the raw score in the CAT exam.
Also Check: CAT Score vs Percentile
NOTE: IIM Calcutta will use the CAT normalisation process to equalise the performance of all test takers across three slots. Admissions based on CAT will be done as per the normalised score mentioned in the CAT scorecard.
CAT 2024 Question Paper Pattern
CAT 2024 exam pattern was kept similar to the past exam sessions. The table below mentions the CAT question paper pattern in brief:
| CAT Test Pattern Elements |
CAT Exam Pattern |
|---|---|
| CAT exam mode |
Computer Based Test |
| CAT exam duration |
120 minutes (divided equally across sections) |
| CAT exam slots |
3 exam slots as mentioned below
|
| Total questions in CAT exam |
68 |
| CAT sectional composition |
3 sections with the following composition:
|
| CAT total marks |
204 |
| CAT marking scheme |
|
| Question paper medium |
English |
| Type of questions |
MCQs and TITA (Type in The Answer) questions |
CAT question paper pattern saw a change in 2024 with increase in the number of questions to 24.
CAT Answer Key 2024
Candidates will find the CAT 2024 answer key, response sheet and question papers inside the login dashboard. Answer key for CAT 2024 slot 1, 2 and 3 will be released for candidates who took the exam in that particular slot. Candidates will have to access the CAT login dashboard to access the answer keys. Candidates will be allowed to raise objections against the CAT answer key. IIM Calcutta will draft the CAT final answer key after reviewing challenges against the preliminary answer key.
CAT 2024 answer key for slot 1, 2 and 3 also helps candidates prepare for CAT 2025 exam.
Also Check: CAT 2024 Exam Analysis
Previous Year’s CAT Question Papers
Besides helping the CAT 2024 test takers, candidates can use the CAT 2024 question paper PDF to prepare for the subsequent exam session. Previous year’s CAT question papers help prepare for the exam with a holistic approach as it provides deep understanding of the pattern, syllabus, etc. Candidates can access the CAT previous year’s question paper from the table below:
| CAT Exam Session |
Question Paper PDF Download |
|---|---|
| CAT 2023 Question Paper |
|
| CAT 2022 Question Paper |
|
| CAT 2021 Question Paper |
|
| CAT 2020 Question Paper |
|
| CAT 2019 Question Paper |
|
| CAT 2018 Question Paper |
|
| CAT 2017 Question Paper |
Also Check: Last 5 Year CAT Question Paper PDF Free Download
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CAT 2024 Analysis by Experts
| CAT Experts |
CAT 2024 Analysis Page Links |
|---|---|
| CAT 2024 analysis by CATKing |
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 7 hours 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 10 hours 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 12 hours 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 23 hours 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 23 hours 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 Yesterday
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 Yesterday
The National Institute of Bank Management Cutoff 2026 for General AI category in CAT exam is 80.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
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 2 days 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
Answered 2 days ago
To get a seat in the FLAME University of the MBA/PGDM course, you have to appear for any one of the accepted exams, like CAT, XAT, CMAT, etc. After clearing the exam, you have to get shortlisted for further admission round, which involves PI or GD.
The FLAME University CAT cutoff 2025 was 75 for the
N
Contributor-Level 10
Abhishek is a content writer and editor with 7+ years of experience in education journalism. He completed his graduation from University of Delhi with a BA Degree. At Shiksha.com, he handles content for MBA, BBA, an
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