CAT Pattern

Mock tests are an essential component of CAT (Common Admission Test) preparation and offer several benefits to aspiring candidates. 

• Mock tests simulate the actual CAT exam environment, including the pattern, structure, and time constraints. By taking mock tests, you become familiar with the exam format, the number of questions in each section, and the overall time available. 
• CAT is a time-bound exam, and efficient time management is crucial to maximize your score. Mock tests enable you to practice managing your time effectively within the given time limits for each section. By regularly taking mock tests, you can develop a strategy to allocate time to different sections and questions, ensuring you complete the paper within the stipulated time.
• Mock tests help you identify your strengths and weaknesses in different sections and topics of the CAT exam. By reviewing your performance in mock tests, you can gauge which areas you excel in and which areas require improvement. 
• Mock tests provide ample practice opportunities to apply your knowledge and skills. By attempting a variety of questions, you can refine your problem-solving techniques, develop shortcuts, and enhance your accuracy and speed. 
• Mock tests offer an objective evaluation of your performance. You can assess your score, analyze your strengths and weaknesses, and identify areas that need improvement.

Solving the CAT question paper is very important from preparation point of view. Since CAT is a speed based test where candidates have to read long passages, tables and charts, do multiple calculations and solve tricky puzzles, one needs to have prior practice of the same. The CAT mock tests serve this purpose. However, to know what type of passages and puzzles are there in the CAT exam, you need to solve previous years' question papers. Some of the benefits of solving previous years' CAT question paper are:

1. With the help of previous year's CAT question paper, you can understand the latest CAT exam pattern and marking scheme
2.  Practicing CAT question papers improves speed and accuracy in solving the questions, which is critical to a speed based exam like CAT
3. Practicing CAT question papers improves time management skills as you would get to know which type of questions take how much time. 
4. When you practice CAT question papers, you gain confidence that you can solve all types of CAT questions. This confidence helps in performing better in the exam.

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.

The Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT is the third and the last section of the question paper. It has 22 questions and the total marks is 66. This section of the CAT exam is usually dominated by Arithmetic and Algebra. Most of the questions out of 22 are asked from these two topics. There are about 7-9 Algebra questions and 7-9 Arithmetic questions (the exact number varied for all three slots). Apart from these two topics, there are questions from Mensuration Modern Math and Number System in the Quantitative Aptitude section CAT. Some of the important sub topics in this section include: Arithmetic topics: Ratio and Proportion, Simple and Compound Interest, Profit and Loss Mixtures and Allegations Averages, Percentages, Mean Median Mode, Time and Work, Time Speed and Distance Algebra topics: Basics Algebraic Formulae, Number of integer solutions, Quadratic Equations, Finding out roots, Maxima and Minimal, Higher Degree Equations, Linear Equations, Problems on ages, Descartes Rule of Signs, Inequalities, Logarithm, Functions, Modifications of Graphs, The smallest Value in a Maximum Function Number System topics: Finding Out Last Two Digits, Number of Trailing Zeroes, Finding out Remainders based on, Basic Divisibility Rules, Binomial Theorem, Simplifying the Dividend (Single and/or Multiple Divisors), Basics of Numbers, Properties of Numbers, Divisibility Rules, Divisibility and Factors, the highest Common Factor and the lowest Common Multiple, Finding Out the Last Digit, Fermat's Theorem, Euler's Theorem, Pattern Recognition and Cyclicity of Remainders, Wilson's Theorem, Base Systems, Conversion of Bases, Addition/Subtraction/ Multiplication in different bases Geometry Topics: Lines and Angles, Triangles Basic Concepts, Area, Angles, Similar Triangles Polygons, Circles, Solids / Mensuration 3D Geometry, Coordinate Geometry, Trigonometry Modern Math topics: Sequence and Series Binomial Theorem, Set Theory, Permutation and Combination, Probability.