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CAT Previous Year Papers (2025,2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018): Download PDFs with Solutions

Exam Level: NationalExam Date: --

Last Updated on 10th October 2025

Common Admission Test

CAT Previous Year Papers with Detailed Solutions

The CAT exam past question papers can be found on the official CAT website or through third-party websites. The CAT question papers from 2022 to 2025 consisted of 68 questions with a total of 204 marks. The three sections in the CAT exam question papers include Quantitative Ability, Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning. Each section has a time limit of 40 minutes.

There are two types of questions in the CAT question paper: MCQs and type-in-the-answer questions. Each correct answer is awarded 3 marks, while 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect MCQ.

The CAT 2026 exam is tentatively scheduled to be held on 29 November 2026. Practicing past year question papers is highly recommended, as they provide valuable insights into the exam pattern, difficulty level, and time management strategies.


CAT Exam Past Question Paper: Quick Highlights

The following are the highlights related to the CAT exam past question papers.

Particulars

Details

Total Number of Questions 

68 

Total Marks 

204 

Type of Questions

  • Multiple-choice questions (MCQs)
  • Type-in-the-answer questions (TITA)

Sections in the Question Paper 

  • Quantitative Ability (QA)
  • Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
  • Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

Time Limit for Each Section

40 minutes (fixed)

Total Duration

2 hours


CAT Exam Past Question Papers: Marks Distribution

The marks distribution across different sections in the CAT question paper is given below. 

Section

Number of Questions

Marks (Approx.)

VARC 

24

72

DILR 

22

66

QA

22

66

Total

68

204


CAT Exam Past Question Papers: Marking Scheme

Here is the marking scheme based on the types of responses in the CAT exam.

Types of Response

Marks Awarded/Deducted

Correct Answer

+3

Incorrect MCQ Answer 

-1

Incorrect TITA Answer

0

Unanswered

0

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Download CAT Question Paper PDFs (2019-2025)

Check the table below for the past CAT question papers for VARC, DILR, and QA sections from 2019 to 2024.

Year

VARC Question Paper 

DILR Question Paper 

QA Question Paper 

2024

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

2023

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

2022

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

2021

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

2020

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

2019

Click Here

Click Here

Click Here

2024
2023
Question paper Name
Shift
Question Paper PDF
Solution Paper PDF

FAQS

Practicing past year CAT papers helps candidates understand the exam pattern, sectional difficulty, question types, and time management strategies, making it an essential part of preparation.

Common mistakes include spending too much time on a single question, ignoring sectional time limits, and not reviewing mistakes from previous mocks. Avoiding these ensures better accuracy and maximizes your overall score.

Effective strategies include allocating fixed time per section, starting with questions you are confident about, tracking time for each question, and practicing full-length mock tests under exam conditions. Reviewing mocks afterward helps refine pacing and improves decision-making during the actual exam.

The CAT exam has three sections:

  • Quantitative Ability (QA)
  • Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
  • Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

Each section has a fixed time limit of 40 minutes.

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