Last 5 Year Question Papers of CAT Exam; PDF Download
Common Admission Test 2026 ( CAT )
CAT 2026 exam
29 Nov '26
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. Candidates who have appeared for the test are able to access the CAT question paper and answer key. The question paper of every slot is released on the same day along with candidate response sheet and official answer to all question. If any candidate needs previous year CAT question papers for preparation purpose, then they can download them from Shiksha website. We have hosted last five years' CAT question papers for aspirants to download and practice. These official CAT question papers are available for download free. You can download the CAT question paper PDFs at this link: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/cat-exam-question-papers Candidates must check and practice the latest CAT question paper to know the latest exam pattern and difficulty level.
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 8 hours ago
VGIM Cutoff 2025 is not available yet. However, according to the VGIM MBA/PGDM cutoff 2024, the overall MAT percentile required for admission to PGDM course is 70 for the students belonging to the General AI category
I
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
No, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar has not mentioned that it accepts CAT score for MBA admissions on their portals. Candidates are instead required to appear for an in-house entrance exam that is conducted by GNDU itself.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
Yes, IBSAT exam is comparatively easier than CAT in terms of syllabus difficulty level and competition. CAT question paper requires high anlaytical solving skills to score well in exam, whereas IBSAT exam assesses candidate's speed and accuracy. The difficulty level of IBSAT exam is moderate.
N
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 5 days ago
No, to gain admission to the MBA course at this institute, candidates have to appear for the CAT exam and then for the Group Discussion (GD) and/or Personal Interview (PI) rounds.
Students are only shortlisted for the GD and PI rounds based on their performance in the CAT exam. Students who clear bo
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
Srinivas University - Bangalore Campus accepts national or state-level Management entrance exam scores for admission in MBA. Hence, aspirants can apply via CAT scores. They can also appear for SUAT conducted by the university for admission.
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 6 days ago
The registrations for the exam generally start from the month of August and continue till September. The admit cards are released by November. Exam is conducted usually by last week of November. Students can download their results by December.
B
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Yes, COEP, Pune does accept CAT score to admit candidates for MBA admissions. During CAP rounds, if candidates have a valid score in CAT, they will be chosen based on those scores only. Thus, such candidates are not required to reappear for MAH-CET.
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
No, to gain admission to the MBA course at this university, candidates have to either attempt the CAT or other accepted exams (MAT, SUAT, etc.) and then appear in the Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds.
Students are shortlisted for the GD and PI rounds based on their performa
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
IIT Madras CAT cutoff 2025 is generally not released to the public and is instead only visible to students with login credentials.
Based on the previous year's estimated CAT cutoff for the General AI category, the overall CAT percentile was 85.11.
Note: The cutoff data provided is not official. It i
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
No, you cannot get direct admission to the MBA course based on the CAT score. A valid CAT score only gets you eligible to apply for the management course.
To secure your spot for the course, you have to first attain the accepted CAT cutoff and get shortlisted for the multi-stage selection process, wh
N
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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