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

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Last Updated on 10th October 2025

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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

Question paper Name	Shift	Question Paper PDF	Solution Paper PDF

FAQS

Why is practicing past CAT question papers important for preparation?

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.

What are some common mistakes to avoid while solving CAT question papers?

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.

What are some time management strategies for solving CAT mock papers?

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.

What are the sections in the CAT exam question papers, and what is the time limit for each?

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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Conducting BodyOther

Mode and TypeOnline (Computer Based Test (CBT))

Application ModeOnline

Frequency-

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Duration-

Total Marks-

Marking Scheme-

Application Fee-

Websitehttps://iimcat.ac.in

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