NinetynineCAT exam pattern
CAT 2025 had 68 questions in three timed sections of 40 minutes each (120 minutes in all): VARC 24, DILR 22 and QA 22. 34% of questions were TITA. In 2017 the paper was 100 questions in 180 minutes.
Key facts
- CAT 2025 had 68 questions: 24 VARC, 22 DILR and 22 QA, with 40 minutes per section.
- From 2017 to 2019, CAT had 100 questions in 180 minutes; since 2020 it has been 120 minutes.
- 69 of the 204 questions across CAT 2025's 3 slots were TITA (34%).
How many questions and sections are there in CAT?
Three sections, always in the order VARC, DILR, QA, each with its own timer: you can't move between sections. The counts below are from the papers themselves.
| Year | Slots | VARC | DILR | QA | Total | Minutes per section |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 | 34 | 32 | 34 | 100 | 60 |
| 2018 | 2 | 34 | 32 | 34 | 100 | 60 |
| 2019 | 2 | 34 | 32 | 34 | 100 | 60 |
| 2020 | 3 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 76 | 40 |
| 2021 | 3 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 66 | 40 |
| 2022 | 3 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 66 | 40 |
| 2023 | 3 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 66 | 40 |
| 2024 | 3 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 68 | 40 |
| 2025 | 3 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 68 | 40 |
How has the CAT pattern changed?
- 2017: 100 questions (VARC 34, DILR 32, QA 34), 60 minutes per section.
- 2020: 76 questions (VARC 26, DILR 24, QA 26), 40 minutes per section.
- 2021: 66 questions (VARC 24, DILR 20, QA 22), 40 minutes per section.
- 2024: 68 questions (VARC 24, DILR 22, QA 22), 40 minutes per section.
What share of CAT questions are TITA?
| Year | VARC TITA | DILR TITA | QA TITA | All |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 21% | 25% | 32% | 26% |
| 2018 | 21% | 25% | 35% | 27% |
| 2019 | 21% | 25% | 32% | 26% |
| 2020 | 19% | 25% | 31% | 25% |
| 2021 | 21% | 25% | 36% | 27% |
| 2022 | 13% | 30% | 36% | 26% |
| 2023 | 17% | 40% | 36% | 30% |
| 2024 | 7% | 45% | 36% | 29% |
| 2025 | 17% | 50% | 36% | 34% |
More in TITA questions in CAT.
What is the CAT marking scheme?
As stated in the IIMs' official CAT notification for recent years: +3 for a correct answer, −1 for a wrong MCQ answer, and no negative marking for a wrong TITA answer or an unattempted question. Re-check the current year's notification on the official CAT website before the exam, as the IIMs can change the scheme.
Method: counted from all 24 CAT papers 2017–2025 (1,830 questions), each tagged with one topic. Question counts and section timings are read from the papers; the marking scheme is from the IIMs' notification. How the data is built.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are there in CAT?
68 in CAT 2025: VARC 24, DILR 22, QA 22.
How long is the CAT exam?
120 minutes since 2020, 40 per section. It was 180 minutes until 2019.
Is there negative marking in CAT?
Yes for MCQs (−1 for a wrong answer, per the IIMs' notification), no for TITA questions.
Can I switch between sections in CAT?
No. Each section has its own timer and you move to the next only when its time is up.