CAT Exam Pattern 2024 [Updated] : Check CAT Paper Pattern, Exam Duration, Total Marks & Marking Scheme

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IIM Calcutta has shared the details for the CAT 2024 exam. The test will be similar to last year’s format. The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the main exam for getting into 21 IIMs and many other top business schools.

The CAT is a computer-based test that lasts for two hours. It has three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability. The CAT 2024 exam is scheduled for November 24, 2024, and will be held in three sessions: Morning, Afternoon, and Evening. The pattern will likely remain the same as last year’s, with 66 questions. IIM Calcutta will be in charge of the exam.

👉 CAT 2024 Notification Out : IIM Calcutta to Begin Registration from August 1; Details Here

CAT Exam Pattern 2024: Overview

The CAT 2024 exam is crucial for MBA admissions at IIMs and other top schools that accept only CAT scores, such as FMS, SPJIMR, MDI, and IITs. The exam includes three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). To get shortlisted by IIMs, you need to score well in each section, as they have cutoffs for each one.

CAT Exam Particulars	Key Details
CAT exam time duration	2 Hours (120 Minutes)
Total Questions in the Exam	66
No. of sections & Questions	Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension: 24 Qs Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning: 20 Qs Quantitative Ability: 22 Qs
Number of Answer Options for MCQs	4
Number of Answer Options for Non-MCQs	No Answer Option; Type In the Answer on Computer screen
Scoring Pattern in CAT exam	+3 Marks for Each Correct Answer -1 Mark for Each Wrong Answer (Only for MCQs) 0 Mark for Each Wrong Answer or Unattempted Question for Non-MCQs
Exam Slots	CAT slot 1 timing: 8:30 am - 10:30 am (Morning Session) CAT slot 2 timing: 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm (Afternoon Session) CAT slot 3 timing: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm (Evening Session)
CAT Sectional Time Limit	40 Minutes for Each of the 3 sections
CAT total marks	198 marks
Facility to Choose Order of Sections	No, Must answer the sections in pre defined order from section 1 to 3
Testing Mode	Computer based exam at test centres but not an online exam

CAT 2024 Paper Pattern: Sections, Number & Type of Questions

CAT 2024 Sectional Pattern as given below is based on CAT 2023 pattern. The table shares the CAT exam sectional order from Section-1 to Section-3, number and type of questions in each section, questions with and without negative marking.

Section	No of Questions	MCQ	NMCQ	Sectional Time Limit (In Minutes)	Scoring Pattern (Negative Marking is only for MCQs)
Section-1: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)	24	21	3	40	+3 for Correct; -1 for Incorrect; 0 for Not Attempted
Section-2: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)	20	14	6	40	+3 for Correct; -1 for Incorrect; 0 for Not Attempted
Section-3: Quantitative Ability (QA)	22	14	8	40	+3 for Correct; -1 for Incorrect; 0 for Not Attempted
Total	66	49	17	120	198

CAT Exam Pattern - Sectional Weightage Percentage-wise

CAT Exam Patterns for the VARC, DILR, and QA Sections

Section	Topics/Types	Description
VARC	Verbal Ability	8 questions: 3 para jumbles, 2 para completions, 3 para summaries.
	Reading Comprehension (RC)	16 questions: 4 passages × 4 questions (MCQs and a few TITA).
DILR	Bar Graph, Missing Data, Arrangements, Puzzles (Games)	4 sets × 5 questions each, 15 marks per set.
Quant	Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry	Questions assess mathematical skills, crucial for scoring.

In total, the CAT exam may have up to 49 MCQs and 17 TITA questions.

CAT Marking Scheme 2024

CAT test pattern 2024 includes the answer to the searched question "Is there negative marking in CAT?" Under the CAT marking scheme, candidates get to know the CAT exam total marks awarded for each correct answer and how many marks will be deducted if the candidate answers the question incorrectly.

For each correct answer, three marks will be awarded.
CAT Negative Marking: For each wrong answer, one mark will be deducted.
For unanswered CAT questions, no marks will be deducted. Also for Non-MCQs, no marks will be deducted.

The following table summarizes the marking scheme for CAT 2024:

CAT exam section name	Number of questions	Marks per question	CAT Negative Marking (Only MCQs)
VARC	24	3	-1
DILR	20	3	-1
Quantitative Aptitude	22	3	-1

CAT Exam Duration

CAT sections have a fixed time limit. The following are the sectional timings and slot-by-slot information for the most recent CAT Exam Pattern:

CAT Exam Sections	CAT Sectional Time	Time limit for PwD students
VARC	40 minutes	53 minutes and 20 seconds
QA	40 minutes	53 minutes and 20 seconds
DILR	40 minutes	53 minutes and 20 seconds
Total	120 minutes	53 minutes and 20 seconds

CAT Exam Slot Timings

CAT Exam Slots	CAT Exam Time
CAT Slot 1	8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
CAT Slot 2	12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
CAT Slot 3	4:30 PM to 6:30 PM

FAQs

Here are the 10 FAQs for the CAT 2024 exam:

Question 1 - What is the CAT 2024 exam date?
Answer 1 - The CAT 2024 exam is scheduled for November 24, 2024. The test will be conducted in three sessions: Morning, Afternoon, and Evening.

Question 2 - What is the duration of the CAT 2024 exam?
Answer 2 - The CAT 2024 exam will last for 2 hours (120 minutes). Each section of the exam has a time limit of 40 minutes.

Question 3 - How many sections are there in the CAT 2024 exam?
Answer 3 - The CAT 2024 exam has three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).

Question 4 - What is the total number of questions in the CAT 2024 exam?
Answer 4 - The CAT 2024 exam will include a total of 66 questions. The breakdown is as follows: 24 questions in VARC, 20 questions in DILR, and 22 questions in QA.

Question 5 - What is the marking scheme for the CAT 2024 exam?
Answer 5 - For each correct answer in the CAT 2024 exam, 3 marks will be awarded. For each incorrect answer, 1 mark will be deducted. No marks will be deducted for unanswered questions or Non-MCQs.

Question 6 - Are there negative markings for Non-MCQs in the CAT 2024 exam?
Answer 6 - No, there is no negative marking for Non-MCQs in the CAT 2024 exam. Only MCQs have negative marking, where 1 mark is deducted for each wrong answer.

Question 7 - Can I choose the order of sections in the CAT 2024 exam?
Answer 7 - No, you cannot choose the order of sections. You must answer the sections in the predefined order: VARC first, followed by DILR, and then QA.

Question 8 - How many questions are there in each section of the CAT 2024 exam?
Answer 8 - The number of questions in each section is as follows: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) - 24 questions, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) - 20 questions, and Quantitative Ability (QA) - 22 questions.

Question 9 - What are the timings for the different CAT 2024 exam slots?
Answer 9 - The CAT 2024 exam will be held in three slots:

Slot 1: 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Slot 2: 12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Slot 3: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Question 10 - How is the CAT 2024 exam conducted?
Answer 10 - The CAT 2024 exam is a computer-based test conducted at designated test centers. It is not an online exam.