CAT previous year paper PDFs of last 5 years have been provided here for free download. CAT 2026 aspirants must download and practice these question papers as part of their preparation plan.
Download Last 5 Year Question Papers of CAT
Previous year CAT question paper PDFs are the best source of exam preparation. Candidates preparing for CAT 2026, must start with taking a look at a few previous years’ question papers to know what to expect in the exam. That can be the basis of their CAT 2026 preparation plan. Shiksha is providing here last 5 years’ CAT papers with solutions for free download.
CAT 2026 exam will be held on November 29 and IIM Indore is expected to prepare the question paper. While no change in the difficulty level expected, there could be change in topic wise weightage. Irrespective of the convening IIM, CAT question paper has remained tough consistently over the years. So, by referring to older CAT question papers, you will know which topics are likely to dominate CAT exam this year, and who should he the focus of your preparation. Solve CAT previous year papers optimize your preparation and performance in the exam.
- CAT 2026 Question Paper Pattern and Marking Scheme
- CAT previous year paper PDFs of last 5 years
- CAT 2025 Question Paper: No. of Questions and Topics
- CAT 2024 Question Paper: No. of Questions and Topics
- CAT 2023 Question Paper: No. of Questions and Topics
- CAT 2022 Question Paper: No. of Questions and Topics
- CAT 2021 Question Paper: No. of Questions and Topics
- CAT 2026 preparation with Previous Year Question Papers
CAT 2026 Question Paper Pattern and Marking Scheme
For the past two years, the total number of questions in CAT question paper have been 68. CAT 2026 question paper will also have the same number of questions, in most likelihood. Check the sectional break up of CAT question paper below:
| CAT question paper (sections) |
Number of questions |
Marks allotted |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC |
24 |
72 |
Moderate to High |
| DILR |
22 |
66 |
Moderate to High |
| QA |
22 |
66 |
Moderate |
| Total |
100 |
204 |
Moderate to High |
CAT Question Paper: Marking Scheme and Question Type
- Every CAT question will carry 3 marks.
- There will be negative marking of -1 for wrong attempts.
- Every section will have sectional time limit of 40 minutes.
- The format of questions will MCQ.
- A few non-MCQs are expected in QA and DI.
- There will be no negative marking for non-MCQs
Also Read:
CAT previous year paper PDFs of last 5 years
Find below last 5 years’ CAT question papers with solutions for free download. Use these previous year CAT question papers with solutions pdf to practice various types of questions.
| Exam Slot and Year |
PDF Link |
|---|---|
| CAT Question Paper 2025 Slot 1 |
|
| CAT Question Paper 2025 Slot 2 |
|
| CAT Question Paper 2024 Slot 2 |
|
| CAT Question Paper 2024 Slot 3 |
|
| CAT Question Paper 2023 Slot 1 |
|
| CAT Question Paper 2023 Slot 3 |
|
| CAT Question Paper 2022 Slot 1 |
|
| CAT Question Paper 2022 Slot 3 |
|
| CAT Question Paper 2021 Slot 1 |
By practicing these CAT previous year paper PDFs, you can measure the success of your CAT 2026 preparation. You can also figure out the exam strategy based on the topic wise weightage in CAT exam previous year question papers. So, download the CAT exam previous year paper PDFs uploaded above and improve your preparation.
CAT 2025 Question Paper: No. of Questions and Topics
CAT 2025 question paper was prepared by IIM Kozhikode, the exam convening institute for that year. The paper was moderate to tough. Check section wise topics below.
| CAT Sections |
Number of questions |
Topics |
|---|---|---|
| VARC |
24 |
RC passages (16 questions), Paragraph completion, Summary, Odd Sentence Questions |
| DILR |
22 |
DI and LR sets based on Performance rating of 6 employees, Import-Export data of 5 countries, Circular arrangement set involving 4 persons and 7 chairs, Five persons tapping yes and no, Train movement from stations A to E, Pollution Index – Weighted average, Authors and Number of Books (2 Bar Graphs), Scatter Plot (Index calculations of 3 years), Ranking (6 balls and 4 holes), Musicians, 6 friends calling each other, Four friends solving puzzles – chart, Circular Arrangement( 7 students), Currency Exchange – 4 countries, Trade Balance – Import & Export |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
22 |
Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Modern Math, Numbers |
| Total |
68 |
- |
Also Read:
CAT 2024 Question Paper: No. of Questions and Topics
CAT 2024 question paper was prepared by IIM Calcutta, the exam convening institute for that year. The paper was moderate to tough. Check section wise topics below.
| CAT Sections |
Number of questions |
Marks |
|---|---|---|
| VARC |
24 |
Reading Comprehension (16 questions), Paragraph completion, Summary, Odd Sentence Questions |
| DILR |
22 |
DI and LR sets based on Stock price set, 3 people visiting countries tournament of 6 teams split into two groups, group matches, Web surfer, election contest |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
22 |
Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Modern Math, Numbers |
| Total |
68 |
- |
Also Read:
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CAT 2023 Question Paper: No. of Questions and Topics
CAT 2023 question paper was prepared by IIM Lucknow, the exam convening institute for that year. The papers of all three slots were moderate to tough. Check section wise topics below.
| CAT Sections |
Number of questions |
Topics |
|---|---|---|
| VARC |
24 |
Reading Comprehension (16 questions), Odd One Out, Parasummary, Parajumbles, Paracompletion |
| DILR |
20 |
DI and LR sets on Professors and Departments, VISA Office, Routes, Statistics, Arrangement - Scores - two days average, Missing Values Based Table - Company Starting/ Closing Years, Rides & Timings, Grid Based - two 3*3 tables (Mean, Median, Mode), Routes and Network, Contradictory Conditions, 12 Months Students Subscribed, Grouping, Students, Project Scores, and Test Scores |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
22 |
Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry & Mensuration, Number System, Modern Math |
| Total |
66 |
- |
Also Read:
- CAT Total Marks and Number of Questions
- CAT VARC: Strategy to Improve VARC Accuracy
- How Many CAT Mock Tests to Take and When to Start
CAT 2022 Question Paper: No. of Questions and Topics
CAT 2022 question paper was prepared by IIM Bangalore, the exam convening institute for that year. All the three sets of the question paper were moderate to tough. Check section wise topics below.
| CAT Sections |
Number of questions |
Topics |
|---|---|---|
| VARC |
24 |
RC passages (12 questions), Para Jumble, Odd Sentence Out, Para Completion, Para Summary |
| DILR |
20 |
DI and LR sets on Token, University Team, 15 Girls Get Together, Metrolines, Revenue / cost, Cosmetic item sales, Diagram- 4 destination, Salesman & four colonies, Bar graph of death calculation, Reasoning city - 5 days COVID cases, Games tournaments, Scheduling |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
22 |
Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry & Mensuration, Number System, Modern Math |
| Total |
66 |
- |
Commonly asked questions
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.
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 has 68 questions. Each question carries three marks. There is negative marking of minus one for incorrect attempts. There is no deduction of marks for unanswered questions. Total marks in 204.
In CAT exam, each candidate gets 120 minutes to solve the paper. There are three sections in CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude. For each section 40 minutes are allotted as sectional time limit. For PwD candidates, the sectional time limit is 53.20 minutes per section. Candidates have to complete each section within the given time limit. Since the CAT is an online mode exam, the test screen will move from first section to the next section automatically as soon as the time limit gets over. Thus candidates have to be mindful of the on-screen timer and pre-decide the number of questions to solve in each section. The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section of CAT has 24 questions, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section has 22 questions and Quantitative Aptitude section has 22 questions. It is not mandatory to solve all the questions in CAT so candidates can devise a strategy to use 40 minutes per section as per their strength and weakness.
CAT 2021 Question Paper: No. of Questions and Topics
CAT 2021 question paper was prepared by IIM Ahmedabad, the exam convening institute for that year. The exam was held in three sessions and difficulty level of the . Check section wise topics below.
| CAT Sections |
Number of questions |
Topics |
|---|---|---|
| VARC |
24 |
Reading Comprehension (16 questions), Para Jumble, Odd Sentence Out, Para Summary |
| DILR |
20 |
Bar Graph on Sales (DI), Friends & Acquaintances (LR), Smoothies (DI), Journals (LR), Bar Graph on Delivery Times (DI), Games & Tournaments/Distribution (LR), Pizza Delivery Ratings (LR), Objects, Bundles & Values (DI), Bar Graph on Employee Schedules (DI), Purity of Solutions (LR), Javelin Throw (LR), Question Evaluation (DI) |
| Quantitative Aptitude |
22 |
Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry & Mensuration, Number System, Modern Math |
| Total |
66 |
- |
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CAT 2026 preparation with Previous Year Question Papers
CAT 2026 preparation plan will require a strategic plan that has time bound task completion and review. CAT preparation is project that you need to prepare in parts which combine together to make it a whole. While, CAT syllabus coverage is the prime requirement, you cannot do it without solving practice questions. For focused coverage, practice previous years’ CAT question papers.Candidates should ideally practice CAT question papers of upto 10-15 years. But if you don’t have enough time, but practice of a minimum of previous 5 year.
Commonly asked questions
In CAT 2025, the following changes were seen:
- The fee amount increased from INR 2,500 to INR 2,600 for General category candidates and from INR 1,250 to INR 1300 for Reserved category candidates.
- In DILR section, number of questions increased from 20 to 22.
- Total marks of CAT DILR section increased from 60 to 66.
- Total marks of CAT exam increased from 198 to 204.
- Candidates can select five cities instead of six.
Candidates should practice CAT mock test during the day. Once, CAT admit card is released, they should practice CAT mocks at the same time as their exam slot. This will help them align their mind and body to 2 hours of rigorous test so that they can utilize their time in the CAT exam well. For example, CAT exam starts are early as 8:30 am. So, those who are not used to studying early morning will face difficulty in performing optimally if they get morning slot.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
Yes, DBS Global University accepts valid CAT scores for MBA admissions. If you meet the required eligibility criteria, you can apply using your CAT score without appearing for the university's entrance exam. Depending on the admission process, you may also be invited for an online interview. With it
C
Beginner-Level 5
Answered 3 days ago
No, CAT is not compulsory to get admission in TITE - Templecity Institute of Technology and Engineering. The college accepts entrance exams such as: OJEE/ATMA/CAT/MAT. Candidates wishing to get admission into this programme should have passed graduation with at least 50% marks.
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
No, CAT is not compulsory to get admission in MBA at College of Engineering, Pune. The college consider svalid score of entrance exams such as:
- MAH-CET (The primary state-level exam considered for Maharashtra students)
- CAT
- CMAT
- XAT
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
Yes, personal interview round for MBA admission is mandatory for all candidates regardless of which exam they apply through. Candidates applying through CAT result for PP Savani University can only skip SLMET written test during MBA admission process.
Their final evaluation will be based on combined
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 4 days ago
Xavier Institute of Management and Informatics does accepts CAT scores for admission in MBA programme. However, it is not compulsory. Aspirants can also get admission based on their qualifying exam scores and performance in the PI round.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 5 days ago
Candidates preparing for CAT may not need to prepare for KLMAT Management separately, as the syllabus is the same and the test structure is also similar. However, one should make sure they practice KLMAT sample papers from a month before the exam as the question type and difficulty level will be dif
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
Candidates who want to apply for Sharda University, Greater Noida MBA course must secure a CAT/ XAT percentile of 65% to skip SUAT. For MAT applicants, this score stands at 75% for MBA admissions at Sharda, Greater Noida.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
Yes, you can get scholarship for MBA in Adamas University based on CAT score according to the following criteria:
CAT Score | Scholarship |
|---|---|
80 percentile & above | 50% of the 1st Semester Fee |
70 percentile to 79.99 percentile | 25% of the 1st Semester Fee |
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
No, CAT is not compulsory to get admission in MBA at IILM University Gurgaon. Candidates wishing to get admission in MBA should have passed Graduation with at least 50% marks. The university offer admission based on entrance exam score such as:
- CAT
- XAT
- MAT
- NMAT
- CMAT
- GMAT
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
The CAT 2026 cutoff has not been released yet. However, as per the 2025 cutoff, for admission to PGDM International Business at FORE School of Management, the last round cutoff percentile stood at 75 for the General AI category.
Additionally, the XAT cutoff 2026 for the same course also stood at 75
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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