CAT Exam Pattern 2025 – The CAT 2025 exam notification has been released.
The CAT 2025 exam will be conducted on November 30, 2025. The exam will be conducted in THREE sessions.
The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025 will be conducted in a computer-based mode. The duration of the exam will be 120 minutes with a sectional time limit of 40 minutes for each of the three sections – VARC, DILR, and QA. The CAT question paper will include 68 questions; MCQs and TITA-type questions will be asked. Application form of CAT 2025 is open from August 1 – Sep 13, 2025.
The candidate is urged to carefully consult the CAT 2025 exam pattern to prepare for the CAT 2025 exam.
Also, refer to the CAT 2025 exam syllabus to check what topics to prepare.
Latest Updates:
Table of Contents
CAT Exam Pattern 2025 – Highlights
As per the updated exam pattern, the CAT exam will now include 68 questions carrying a total of 204 marks. The detailed exam pattern for CAT 2025 is given below.
| Particulars | Description |
| Mode of CAT exam | Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| CAT exam slots | The exam in be conducted in THREE sessions: Morning: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM Afternoon: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM Evening: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM |
| Duration of exam | 120 minutes 40 minutes will be allotted for each of the three sections. You are not allowed to switch from one section to another while answering questions in a section. A mock exam to understand the format of the test will be available on the CAT website. |
| Sections | The CAT 2025 question paper will have three sections: Section I: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Section II: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Section III: Quantitative Ability |
| Number of questions | 68 |
| Number of answer choices | 4 |
| Total marks | 204 |
| Marking scheme | +3 marks for correct answer -1 mark for an incorrect answer No negative marking for TITA |
| Language of question paper | English |
| Question Type | MCQ and non-MCQ |
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CAT Exam Pattern 2025 – Section-wise marking scheme
The updated marking scheme for the CAT 2025 exam is given below.
| CAT Sections | Number of Questions | Marks Per Question | Negative Marking (Only applicable for MCQ) |
| VARC | 24 | 3 | -1 |
| DILR | 22 | 3 | -1 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | 3 | -1 |
CAT Exam Pattern 2025 – Sectional Time Limits
The CAT question paper has THREE sections. The candidate will get 40 minutes to complete each section. PwD candidates will get extra 13 minutes and 20 seconds to complete a section.
| CAT Exam Sections | No. of Questions | Time limit | Time limit for PwD students |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 minutes | 53 minutes and 20 seconds |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 40 minutes | 53 minutes and 20 seconds |
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | 40 minutes | 53 minutes and 20 seconds |
| Total | 68 | 120 minutes | 160 minutes |
CAT Syllabus 2025
The exam pattern will tell the candidate how they need to prepare for the exam. For instance, the CAT exam will include 68 questions that candidates need to complete in 120 minutes. This means speed and accuracy are of great importance.
Also, the question paper will not include long-form questions. So, there is no point preparing for such types of questions.
Meanwhile, the CAT 2025 syllabus will highlight the topics from which questions will be asked in the CAT 2025 exam. The candidate mustn’t waste time on irrelevant topics or topics not included in the syllabus to prepare for the exam.
CAT Syllabus 2025 – Important Topics
| CAT Sections | CAT Syllabus |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | Parajumbles, Sentence-Completion, Reading Comprehension, Para-Summary, Inferences, Odd Sentence |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | Tables, Graphs, Data Caselets, Blood Relation, Venn Diagram, Seating Arrangement and Syllogism |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Percentages, Profit & Loss, Simple Interest-Compound Interest, Time & Distance, Averages-Mixtures-Alligations, Numbers, Mensuration, Logarithms, Functions & Graphs, Indices & Surds, Quadratic Equations, Special Equations, Statistics |