CAT Previous Year Papers (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017): Download PDFs
Common Admission Test 2026 ( CAT )
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Practicing CAT question papers shoukd be your focus from October onwards. MBA aspirants can download PDFs of CAT previous year papers 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2022 2019, 2018, 2017 here to practice and get familiar with the pattern, difficulty levels, etc. Use the previous years CAT papers to prepare for CAT 2026.
With CAT 2026 preparation season getting started, aspirants may be looking for the best study material and prep resource Shiksha has collated CAT previous year papers for aspirants to practice and prepare for CAT exam 2026. They can download question papers of CAT 2025, CAT 2024, CAT 2023, CAT 2022, CAT 2021, CAT 2020, CAT 2019, CAT 2018 and CAT 2017, further below on this page. But one must know what is the role of previous years’ CAT question papers in exam preparation.
Previous year CAT question papers provide an overview of the difficulty level, topic wise distribution of questions and types of questions asked over the last few years. CAT exam is conducted in three slots, and each slot has a unique set of questions. Practicing CAT questions of all slots of past few years broadens the candidate’s area of experience. Candidates preparing for CAT 2026 must make sure that they practice CAT previous year question papers of last five years in the last month before the exam.
- CAT Question Paper Pattern and Marking Scheme
- Benefits of Practicing Previous Years' CAT Question Papers
- Download CAT Question Paper PDFs of Last Seven Years
- Previous Years CAT Papers: Check Year Wise Highlights
- When to Start Practicing Previous Year CAT Papers and Sample Papers?
- CAT Mock Test for Practice
CAT Question Paper Pattern and Marking Scheme
Let’s take a look at the latest CAT exam question paper pattern to understand the sectional break up. For each correct answer, three marks are allotted and for each wrong question, one mark is deducted. For unanswered questions and non-MCQs there is no negative marking.
| CAT question paper (sections) |
Number of questions |
Marks allotted |
|---|---|---|
| VARC |
24 |
72 |
| DILR |
22 |
66 |
| QA |
22 |
66 |
| Total |
68 |
204 |
Benefits of Practicing Previous Years' CAT Question Papers
Previous years' CAT question papers are the best guide to the CAT exam syllabus. Listed below are some of the benefits of solving previous years CAT papers.
- Candidates can get to know the trend of types of questions asked in CAT exam
- Candidates will get to know the topic wise weightage which will be helpful in assessing strength and weakness.
- CAT question papers are the best resource of RC passages and parajumble questions.
- Practicimg actual CAT questions will help candidates to figure out how much time will be required to solve which type of questions.
- By solving last year CAT paper, candidates can get a better understanding of CAT exam pattern and marking scheme
- CAT previous year papers practice will improve speed and accuracy in solving questions
- It will help in CAT 2026 preparation by improving time management skills
Download CAT Question Paper PDFs of Last Seven Years
Candidates can download official CAT question paper PDFs of past five years. They can download and practice these CAT exam previous year question papers free.
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Previous Years CAT Papers: Check Year Wise Highlights
CAT question paper is released online in the form of CAT answer key and response sheet. Take a look at the highlights of CAT exam previous year papers to understand the trend of types of questions asked.
CAT Previous Year Paper (2025)
CAT last year paper was moderately difficult. There was no change in the exam pattern and all the three slots were of same difficulty level. This year, Parajumble reappeared in CAT. CAT 2025 DILR and Quants sections had same composition as 2024.
Read more: CAT 2025 question paper PDF with solutions
CAT Previous Year Paper (2024)
CAT last year paper was moderately difficult. The second session of CAT 2024 was toughest of all three. In VARC section, there were no parajumbles and DILR had 22 questions. Both DI and LR had 11 questions each. As always, Quantitative Aptitude was dominated by Arithmetic and Algebra.
Read More: CAT 2024 question paper PDF with solutions
CAT Previous Year Question Paper (2023)
CAT 2023 question paper was overall slightly more difficult than previous years. However, can't be termed as too difficult. The CAT VARC section had more questions on RC than Verbal Ability. The DI and LR questions were of medium difficulty level and there was no surprise element. The Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT 2023 was dominated by Arithmetic as usual.
Read more: CAT 2023 question paper PDF with solutions
CAT Previous Year Question Paper (2022)
CAT 2022 question paper was moderately difficult. The CAT VARC section was easy to moderate. The Data Interpretation and Quantitative Aptitude sections were moderate to tough. Arithmetic, Algebra and Reading Comprehension dominated the CAT question paper 2022. There were a few parajumble questions and a few time and distance questions were there in CAT last year question paper.
Read more: CAT 2022 question paper PDF with solutions
CAT Previous Year Question Paper (2021)
The CAT question paper 2021 was of moderate to high difficulty level. The VARC and DILR sections had questions of moderate to high difficulty level with a good number of non-MCQs, where as Quantitative Aptitude section was easy in all the three slots.
Read More: CAT 2021 question paper PDF with solutions
CAT Previous Year Question Paper (2020)
CAT 2020 question paper was of moderate difficulty level. VARC section was dominated by RC questions. QA section had maximum questions from Algebra, Geometry, Mensuration and Modern Maths. DILR section had two DILR sets.
Read More: CAT 2020 question paper PDF with solutions
CAT Previous Year Question Paper (2019)
In CAT 2019, VARC was slightly trickier this year, with two passages on the difficult side. Both DILR and Quant were slightly easier than last year. The DILR section had easy sets. In Quant, There were a lot of questions from Arithmetic and none of them were tough. Overall, the paper was slightly less difficult, as compared to CAT 2018.
Read More: CAT 2019 question paper PDF with solutions
Commonly asked questions
Every candidate must carry a blue/black ball point pen and a few copies of their passport size photo to the exam centre. They must not carry any stationary item other than the pen. Candidates who have diabetes can carry fruits as per medical prescription. No other item will be allowed inside the exam venue. Candidates must not carry bags or valuables as there will be no arrangement for depositing while candidates appear for the exam. Candidates must also not carry notebooks or rough paper to the CAT exam centre. Any candidate found with an unauthorised item will be disqualified.
On CAT exam day, candidates have to follow a number of guidelines like cooperating with the exam centre staff during identification process, etc.:
CAT exam day dos:
- Reach examination centre at the reporting time mentioned on your CAT admit card. 2.
- Carry two copies of the CAT admit card, one photo ID card, passport size photos
- PwD candidates should carry relevant certificates and documents.
- Carry a blue/black ball point pen for signing attendance sheet
- Cooperate with test centre staff and follow instructions
- 7. While entering answers, use only computer mouse.
- Do not touch keyboard as doing so will lead to screen locking.
CAT exam day don'ts:
- Do not carry items such as bags, purses, pencil box, beepers, wrist watch, calculators, mobile phones, electronic devices, scanners, cameras, wireless/Bluetooth transmission or any such communication devices.
- Don't wear closed shoes, jewellery made of metal, jackets, clothes with pockets, mehendi on palms. Socks are allowed inside it.
- Don't wear caps, hoodies or jackets/shirts with pockets
- Don't be late for exam. Entry gates will be closed 15 minutes before the commencement of exam.
- No candidate will be allowed to enter the exam centre after that.
- Don't cheat or indulge in mal practice. You can be disqualified due to any such ACT.
- Don't create a ruckus inside the test lab
- Don't leave your seat until the exam duration gets over and the invigilator announces exit.
CAT Previous Year Question Paper (2018)
CAT 2018 question paper was of moderate difficult. The question paper of both the slots did not see any surprise question. The VARC section of CAT 2018 Slot I was easier than previous year. The DILR section was moderately difficult, while QA was difficult.
Read More: CAT 2018 question paper PDF with solutions
CAT Previous Year Question Paper (2017)
In CAT 2017, the first slot was towards higher difficulty level as compared to the second slot. DILR section was most difficult and time consuming. QA was of easy to moderate, while VARC was of easy to moderate difficulty level.
Read More: CAT 2017 question paper PDF with solutions
When to Start Practicing Previous Year CAT Papers and Sample Papers?
The ideal time to start practicing previous year CAT question papers and CAT mock tests is September onwards, as it will give you three full months of practicing these before the CAT exam. Many toppers have shared that they start solving sample questions from the early stages of CAT preparation as they want to assess their grip on Mathematics and DI topics. However, it is recommended not to start solving full length CAT mock tests and sample papers until one has completed the CAT syllabus. After that, they should dedicate the last month to solving previous years CAT papers to gauge the upcoming exam. One can solve previous year question paper for CAT earlier too, but they must make it a point to practice last 5 years' CAT question papers in the last few days before the exam. This is to have fresh memory of type of questions asked, so that you can quickly identify questions of your strength area in the CAT 2025 exam.
CAT Questions for Practice with Solutions
Check out CAT questions for practice with solutions for VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude.
CAT Mock Test for Practice
Shiksha has prepared free CAT mock tests for candidates to practice and prepare for the exam. These mock tests are free and based on actual previous year CAT question papers.
| CAT_Mock_Test_1 | CAT_Mock_Test_1_Solutions |
| CAT_Mock_Test_2 | CAT_Mock_Test_2_Solutions |
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Apart from referring above study material, candidates can check the following links for CAT questions for practice along with solution and process. Candidates will get CAT DILR questions, CAT VARC questions as well as logical reasoning questions for CAT.
Commonly asked questions
Yes, CAT 2025 exam will be conducted in three shifts. The exam was earlier conducted in 2 shifts, but since 2020, the CAT is conducted in three shifts - morning, afternoon and evening. In CAT 2025 too, there will be three slots which will be allotted to applicants in no particular order.
CAT exam slot timings will be -
- First shift: 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM,
- Second shift: 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and
- Third shift: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Scribe facility is available for PwD candidates in the CAT exam. They are given 13 minutes extra per section to complete the test.
Yes, CAT 2026 exam will be conducted in three shifts. Exam timing of each slot will be:
- First shift: 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
- Second shift: 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and
- Third shift: 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
For further CAT preparation, candidates can refer to the following articles:
| CAT Preparation Plan for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning |
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 19 hours ago
Yes, students can get admission in KG Reddy College of Engineering and Technology MBA without CAT. The college instead accepts TSICET scores. Students do not have to appear for CAT or other management exams.
M
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
No, CAT is not a compulsory entrance exam in order to apply for BITSoM Mumbai MBA admission. Other than CAT, candidates also have the option of applying through a valid score of GMAT, GMAT-GRE or GRE for MBA at BITSoM Mumbai.
Appearing for one of the aforementioned entrance exams is a mandatory requi
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
GIBS Business School's PGDM cutoff is moderate and generally does not reach the high levels of an IIM. The main factors impacting cutoff are your entrance test scores and other criteria.
Cutoff Recent Data:
- CAT: 60-70 Percentile approximately
- XAT: 60-70 Percentile approximately
- MAT: 60-65 Percentile ap
M
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 3 days ago
The minimum marks or CAT cut off to appear for IIM selection round is different for every institute. Tier 1 colleges select candidates with CAT score above 95 percentile, Tier 2 colleges select candidates with score between 80-90 percentile and Tier 2 colleges select candidates with score lower than
P
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
There is no CAT PI shortlist for IIMs. Candidates have to simply login with their CAT credentials and fill the PI shortlist form.
S
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
There is no minimum qualifying marks for CAT. Anybody scoring above 0 in the exam is eligible for admission, however the B-Schools select candidates on the basis of cut offs which are 60 and above percentile.
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
The final CAT cutoff are not released publically. However, candidates can check qualifying cut offs in the admission criteria document released by IIMs and other institute before the exam.
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
CAT cut off is prepared by all accepting colleges individually. There is no one authorized body to do so. Even the IIMs determine their admission cut offs separately.
J
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 4 days ago
If we're talking about GIBS Business School Bangalore, they don't have some super high CAT cutoff. In simple words, you don't need to be in the 99+ percentile to get considered.
- They look for a decent CAT score, usually around 70–80 percentile as a safe benchmark
- Scores are important, but they also ca
P
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 5 days ago
Not CAT necessarily, but still, you need to take a national-level entrance exam required for MBA admissions.
J
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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