CAT 2024 Exam Pattern: Total Marks, Marking Scheme, Chapter Wise Weightage, Duration

CAT Exam Pattern 2024

The CAT exam pattern 2024 is same as the last year as no change has been introduced by IIM Calcutta. The exam will have 66 questions (MCQs & TITA) from three sections, Quantitative Aptitude (QA), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC). The QA section will have 22 questions, VARC will have 24 questions, and DILR will comprise 20 questions. The overall duration of the CAT 2024 exam will be 120 minutes, with each section having a time limit of 40 minutes.

For every correct answer, you will be awarded 3 marks and for every incorrect MCQ, 1 mark will be deducted. There will be no penalty for the unattempted questions. The CAT 2024 exam will be held on November 24, 2024, in three shifts in computer-based test (CBT) mode. If you are preparing for the exam, you must understand the CAT 2024 exam pattern to familiarize yourself with the question format, marking scheme, time allocation, and weightage of topics in each section. Check the detailed section-wise CAT exam pattern 2024 and all other important details on this page.

CAT 2024 Exam Pattern Highlights

Take a look at the highlights of the CAT exam pattern 2024 provided in the table below.

Related Questions

Ques: How has the CAT exam pattern changed since the pandemic?

Ans: Since the pandemic, the CAT exam pattern has changed in terms of duration and number of questions. In 2020, the number of questions was reduced to 76 from 100 and the exam duration was decreased to 120 minutes from 180 minutes. In 2021, the number of questions was reduced to 66. The CAT exam pattern has been the same since 2021.

Ques: Do IIMs surprise candidates by changing the CAT paper pattern on the exam day?

Ans: IIMs generally don't surprise students by changing the CAT paper pattern on the exam day. If any changes are introduced in the exam pattern, IIMs notify them beforehand. The types of questions and the topics of weightage may sometimes catch them by surprise. 

Section-wise CAT 2024 Exam Pattern

Check out the section-wise CAT exam pattern 2024 provided below.

Also Read: CAT Weightage Chart 2024

CAT 2024 VARC Paper Pattern

The VARC section of CAT evaluates your English language proficiency and the ability to comprehend and extract core ideas from given passages. Here's the CAT 2024 VARC exam pattern.

CAT 2024 DILR Paper Pattern

CAT's Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section tests your ability to interpret data and understand logical assumptions. Questions for the DI LR section are not fixed in the CAT exam pattern. Check below to get an idea about the expected questions from the DI LR section.

CAT 2024 QA Paper Pattern

The Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT covers topics such as Basic Arithmetic, Algebra, Number System, Geometry & Mensuration, and Modern Maths. Check the expected topic distribution in the CAT 2024 QA section here.

CAT 2024 Marking Scheme

If you are appearing for the exam, you must be aware of the CAT 2024 marking scheme so that you can make better judgements while attempting each question.

Types of Questions in CAT 2024

The following types of questions will be asked in CAT 2024 exam.

Related Questions

Ques: What are the significant changes in CAT exam pattern over the last decade?

Ans: In the past decade, there have been significant changes in the CAT exam pattern. The exam was conducted over a 2-day test window in 2013, with only two sections. The duration of the exam was 140 minutes, and the number of questions was 60. In 2014, the duration was 170 minutes, and 100 questions were asked. The number of questions was reduced to 76, and the duration was decreased to 2 hours in 2020. IIM Ahmedabad reduced the questions to 66 in 2021, and since then, the pattern has not been changed.

Ques: How is CAT paper pattern different from other MBA entrance exams like XAT and CMAT?

Ans: The CAT paper pattern differs from other MBA entrance exams in terms of sections, number of questions, marking scheme, and more. XAT has 95 questions from Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making, Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation,  and General Knowledge sections and the duration is 180 minutes. CMAT has 100 questions on Language Comprehension, Quantitative Techniques & Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship sections and the exam duration is 180 minutes.

How to Navigate Between the CAT 2024 Sections

While attempting the CAT 2024 exam and navigating between the different sections, you must take care of the following things:

• Follow the instructions displayed on the computer screen during the CAT exam.
• Note the timer located in the upper right-hand corner of the screen upon exam commencement.
• Switching between sections during the exam is not permitted.
• Each section has a time limit of 40 minutes.
• Once the 40-minute limit for a section is reached, you cannot answer additional questions from that section.

Also Read:

What Each Colour on the Palette Indicates in CAT 2024?

Check the table provided below to know what colour on the panel indicates in the CAT 2024 exam pattern:

Related Questions

Ques: What is the impact of changes in CAT exam pattern on MBA aspirants?

Ans: The changes in the CAT exam pattern have a significant impact on MBA aspirants. They need to adapt their preparation strategies to align with the new pattern, focusing on different question types and time management. Understanding the updated pattern and practising accordingly becomes crucial for success in the exam.

Ques: Is the exam pattern of CAT mock tests similar to actual exam?

Ans: Yes, the exam pattern of CAT mock tests is simile to the actual exam. The mock tests will also have 66 questions from the QA, VARC, and DILR sections. The duration will be 120 minutes and the marking scheme will be the same.

How to Answer Questions in CAT 2024?

The computer screen of the CAT 2024 exam will be provided with some options which you need to choose while answering the questions. These options are:

• Save and next: This option will allow you to choose the correct answer and skip to the next question.
• Clear response: This option allows you to clear the response to the question that you have answered.
• Mark for review and next: This option allows you to mark the questions for which you are not sure about the response. You can answer the questions marked as "Mark for review" after completing the rest of the questions.

Note: You will not be allowed to use the keyboard while answering the questions in the CAT exam. You can answer the questions using the mouse only.

Also Read: 

CAT Computer Based Test Format

Many aspirants, when planning to appear for the CAT exam, often make the mistake of assuming that the CAT exam is an Online Test. Although there are similarities between an Online Test and a Computer Based Test, the CAT exam falls into the latter category. According to the exam conducting body of CAT the IIMs, “CAT is not an online exam. It is a digital or Computer Based Test (CBT); not an Internet-Based Test (IBT); that is, you will not take the exam on an internet site. Instead of reading the questions in a paper booklet and darkening the ovals on the answer sheet, you will read the questions on a computer terminal and choose an answer by clicking on the correct option.” 

Despite being a computer-based exam, the CAT is not an online test and with the intention of elaborating on the unique characteristics of the CAT exam, the Indian Institutes of Management further mention, “In the computer-based format, the candidate reads a question on a computer terminal and clicks on the correct answer. Additionally, the timer on the computer screen tells you the remaining time to complete the current section.”

After the significant transition to turning green in 2009, the CAT exam structure and pattern underwent numerous revisions in terms of the number of sections, questions per section, time allotted for each part, difficulty level, type of questions, scoring scheme, and testing window.  The 2015 Common Admission Test (CAT) was administered by IIM Ahmedabad, which changed the format of the exam by adding Non-MCQs and increased the number of CAT sections from 2 to 3. After that, the CAT exam pattern significantly stabilized. In addition, instead of a lengthy testing period of 30 to 40 days, the exam is now conducted on a single day in three different sessions.

Related Questions

Ques: Will CAT 2024 exam pattern be the same as the last year?

Ans: Yes, CAT 2024 exam pattern will be the same as the last year as IIM Calcutta has announced no changes during the notification. The question paper will have 66 questions which have to be solved in 120 minutes. The exam will be conducted in computer-based test mode in three slots on November 24, 2024.

Ques: Is the CAT question paper pattern unpredictable every year?

Ans: The CAT question paper used be be unpredictable a few years ago but it has been constant for the last 3 years and is expected to be the same this year too. The variations in the exam pattern earlier used to surprise students and impact their overall performance.

CAT Exam Pattern Previous Year Trends

The CAT exam pattern has undergone several changes over the years. Here are the changes that took place in the CAT paper pattern since 2010.