CAT Previous Year Question Papers – From this page candidates can download CAT previous year question papers with answers. The previous year question papers are a great source of preparation for the upcoming exam. Common Admission Test (CAT) is a computer-based test. In the question paper of CAT questions are included from 3 sections that are Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Ability. Check CAT previous year question papers with answers from this page.
CAT Previous Year Question Papers
CAT is being held as a computer-based test form 2009, before that the exam was held as a pen and paper-based test. The paper pattern evolved in many ways from the mode of the exam to the number of questions and more. The CAT previous year question papers can help understand the evolution of the exam and also be prepared for the future CAT exams.
Download CAT previous year question papers with answers PDFs from the table below:
| Year | CAT previous year question papers with answers |
| 2019 | Download PDF |
| 2018 | Download PDF |
| 2017 | Download PDF |
| 2012 | Download PDF |
| 2011 | Download PDF |
| 2010 | Download PDF |
| 2009 | Download PDF |
How To Use CAT Previous Year Question Papers Effectively for Preparation
To use the CAT Previous Year Question Papers, candidates must strategically use them for preparation. Below are some tips to do so:
Set a goal: Set a goal of solving at least one previous year question paper a day. Make it a habit and also combine the solving of offline papers with mock tests, since CAT is an online exam.
Calculate and make a plan: Know how much time you can spend on each question asked in the exam. The total number of questions in the exam is 100 and the total time of the test is 3 hours or 180 minutes. This means candidates can afford to spend not more than 1.8 minutes per question. Thus while practicing the CAT previous year question papers make sure each question is solved in less than 1.8 minutes. This will increase your speed for the test day.
Maintain accuracy: While solving the past year question papers, make sure you take care of the accuracy too. Solve every question with utmost care and try to make less mistakes. Check the answers using the answers of the question available.
CAT Mock Test
To practice for the computer-based test of CAT, here is a free mock test. Access using the direct links below:
Evolution of CAT Exam Over the Years
Looking at the past year papers of CAT, the evolution of the exam can be described as follows:
Changes in number of questions asked:
- From 2010 to 2013: The total number of question asked in CAT were 60.
- From 104 to till date: The number of questions has remained 100.
Changes in number of section in the question paper:
- In 2010 the number of sections were 3 – QA, DI & LR and VA
- From 2011 to 2014, the number of sections was reduced to 2 – QA & DI and LR & VA
- from 2015 to till date, the number of sections has been made again – QA, DI & LR and VA
Change in marking scheme of the exam:
The marking scheme has stayed the same which is +3 for correct answer and -1 for the wrong ones. No negative marking for non-MCQ questions.
CAT Current Question Paper Pattern
The current paper pattern of CAT is given below:
The exam pattern of CAT 2020 is given below:
Duration: The entire test is held for a duration of 3 hours
Mode: CAT 2020 is a computer based test (CBT)
Language: It is held in English language only.
Total Number of Questions: There are a total of 100 questions in the exam.
Marking Scheme: Each question is of 3 marks and for selecting an incorrect answer, negative marking of 1 mark is done.
Type of questions: CAT has 2 type of questions – MCQs and TITA
- MCQs: Multiple choice type, in which candidates have to choose 1 answer options multiple choices.
- TITA: Type in the answers type questions. Here, the candidates have to type the answer using the virtual keyboard.
Sections: There are 3 sections in CAT, these sections are –
- VARC: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension.
- DILR: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning.
- QA: Quantitative Ability.
The distribution of the questions among the sections vary each year, last year the distribution of the question was as follows:
| Section Name | Total No. of Ques. | No. of MCQs | No. of TITA |
| VARC | 34 | 27 | 7 |
| DILR | 32 | 24 | 8 |
| QA | 34 | 23 | 11 |
| TOTAL | 100 | 74 | 26 |
CAT – Common Admission Test
Common Admission Test is a national level entrance test that is conducted by one of the IIMs to offer admission into MBA / PGP courses. CAT is a computer-based test. It consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and Type in the answer type questions (TITA). More than 200+ Business schools offer admission to students in MBA course. It has questions from topics like Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), Verbal Ability, and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Quantitative Aptitude.
Apart from the computer-based test, the candidates need to appear for Personal Interview (PI), Group Discussion (GD), Written Ability Test (WAT). These 3 constituent parts of the admission process decide the final admission of the candidates.
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