CAT Admit Card Date:12 Nov' 25 - 30 Nov' 25
The CAT 2025 exam is around the corner and scheduled to be held on 30 November 2025. If you are left with a month or less, you need to speed up your preparation. It is high time to boost your score with the help of top-quality CAT study materials to secure a place in top B-schools like IIMs.
Amongst all, the CAT previous year question papers PDF is the most important at this stage of preparation. These papers will help you to refine your preparation based on the types of questions asked in recent years. Understanding of the pattern, the difficulty level will help you to know about the topics you should focus on more. Additionally, candidates can attempt the CAT question paper with solutions as a practice resource to aid their preparation. Practicing with previous year question papers helps candidates to develop problem-solving skills for tricky questions that could be asked in the CAT 2025. In this article, we have provided a set of previous year question papers, along with their benefits and other useful resources for CAT 2025. The CAT question paper PDF will be available along with the release of the CAT response sheet.
For CAT 2025 aspirants in the general category, top IIMs maintain high shortlisting standards. Historically, IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta have required at least 85 percentile in each section and an overall 95+ percentile for the first stage of selection. IIM Lucknow and Kozhikode generally shortlist candidates with an overall 90 percentile, while newer IIMs such as Trichy, Udaipur, and Ranchi accept aspirants with 92–94 percentile, highlighting the importance of securing strong sectional scores in VARC, DILR, and QA.
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CAT aspirants can boost their preparation by practicing with the CAT past 10-year question papers from 2015 to 2024. Download this PDF to understand exam trends, difficulty levels, and frequently asked question types in the last decade for CAT.
Download Now to practice Past 10 years CAT Question Papers with Solutions
Additionally, candidates can also use them as a study material for their exam preparation. A complete analysis of these papers also provides insight into how many questions to attempt for the 99 percentile in CAT, helping you plan your preparation effectively.
| Title | Download Now |
|---|---|
| CAT 2024 Official Question Paper with Solutions (Slot 1, 2 and 3) | Download Now |
| CAT 2023 Official Question Paper and Answer Key (Slot 1) | Download Now |
| CAT 2023 Official Question Paper and Answer Key (Slot 2) | Download Now |
| CAT 2023 Official Question Paper and Answer Key (Slot 3) | Download Now |
| CAT 2023 Slot 1 Question Paper (Memory Based) PDF | Download Now |
| CAT 2023 Slot 2 Question paper (Memory-Based) PDF | Download Now |
| CAT 2023 Slot 3 Question Paper (Memory-Based) PDF | Download Now |
| CAT 2022 Question Papers With Solution PDF (Slot 1) | Download Now |
| CAT 2022 Question Paper (Slot 2) with Answer Keys | Download Now |
| CAT 2022 Question Paper (Slot 3) with Answer Keys | Download Now |
| CAT 2021 Question Paper (Slot 1) with Solutions | Download Now |
| CAT 2021 Question Paper (Slot 2) with Solutions | Download Now |
| CAT 2020 Question Paper (Slot 1) with Answers | Download Now |
| CAT 2020 Question Paper (Slot 1) with Answers | Download Now |
| CAT 2020 Question Paper (Slot 3) with Answers | Download Now |
| CAT 2019 (Slot 1) Question Paper with Solution | Download Now |
| CAT 2019 (Slot 2) Question Paper with Solution | Download Now |
| CAT 2018 Question Paper (Slot 1) with Answers | Download Now |
| CAT 2018 Question Paper (Slot 2) with Answers | Download Now |
| CAT 2017 (Slot 1) Question Paper PDF with Solutions | Download Now |
| CAT 2017 (Slot 2) Question Paper PDF with Solutions | Download Now |
Download CAT previous year question papers arranged section-wise to focus on specific sections like VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Aptitude for targeted practice.
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CAT previous year question papers PDF |
Download Link |
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CAT 2022 VARC Section (slot 1) | |
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CAT 2022 VARC Section (slot 2) | |
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CAT 2022 VARC Section (slot 3) | |
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CAT 2022 DILR (Slot 1) | |
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CAT 2022 DILR (Slot 2) | |
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CAT 2022 DILR (slot 3) | |
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CAT 2022 Quant Section (slot 1) | |
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CAT 2022 Quant Section (slot 2) | |
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CAT 2022 Quant Section (slot 3) |
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CAT previous year question papers PDF |
Download Link |
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CAT 2021 VARC Section (slot 1) | |
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CAT 2021 VARC Section (slot 2) | |
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CAT 2021 VARC Section (slot 3) | |
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CAT 2021 DILR (Slot 1) | |
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CAT 2021 DILR (Slot 2) | |
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CAT 2021 DILR (slot 3) | |
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CAT 2021 Quant Section (slot 1) | |
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CAT 2021 Quant Section (slot 2) | |
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CAT 2021 Quant Section (slot 3) |
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CAT previous year question papers PDF |
Download Link |
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CAT 2020 VARC Section (slot 1) | |
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CAT 2020 VARC Section (slot 2) | |
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CAT 2020 VARC Section (slot 3) | |
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CAT 2020 DILR (Slot 1) | |
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CAT 2020 DILR (Slot 2) | |
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CAT 2020 DILR (slot 3) | |
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CAT 2020 Quant Section (slot 1) | |
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CAT 2020 Quant Section (slot 2) | |
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CAT 2020 Quant Section (slot 3) |
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CAT previous year question papers PDF |
Download Link |
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CAT 2019 VARC Section (slot 1) | |
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CAT 2019 VARC Section (slot 2) | |
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CAT 2019 DILR (Slot 1) | |
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CAT 2019 DILR (Slot 2) | |
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CAT 2019 Quant Section (slot 1) | |
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CAT 2019 Quant Section (slot 2) |
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CAT previous year question papers PDF |
Download Link |
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CAT 2018 VARC Section (slot 1) | |
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CAT 2018 VARC Section (slot 2) | |
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CAT 2018 DILR (Slot 1) | |
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CAT 2018 DILR (Slot 2) | |
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CAT 2018 Quant Section (slot 1) | |
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CAT 2018 Quant Section (slot 2) |
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CAT previous year question papers PDF |
Download Link |
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CAT 2017 VARC Section (slot 1) | |
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CAT 2017 VARC Section (slot 2) | |
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CAT 2017 DILR (Slot 1) | |
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CAT 2017 DILR (Slot 2) | |
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CAT 2017 Quant Section (slot 1) | |
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CAT 2017 Quant Section (slot 2) |
Get detailed CAT 2024 exam analysis slot-wise to understand the difficulty level, question distribution, and section-wise trends. This breakdown will help you plan your preparation strategy smarter and more effectively. Additionally, one can also go through the CAT in-depth video analysis to get a better understanding of the CAT topic wise weightage.
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CAT 2024 Analysis |
Download Link |
CAT In-depth video analysis |
The CAT 2023 exam slot-wise analysis is provided in this section with the number of questions in each section. Candidates must go through the CAT 2023 analysis to understand what kind of questions were asked in different sections in each subject.
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Area |
Set Descriptions |
No. of Qs |
LOD |
Q. Type |
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LR |
(Arrangements) Professors in depart- ments |
5 |
Easy to Medium |
5 MCQs |
|
DI |
(Reasoning-based DI) Gig workers and Restaurants, Mathematical Reasoning Involved Measures of central tendency |
5 |
Medium to Difficult |
1MCQ+4 TITA |
|
LR |
Houses on sale |
5 |
Medium to Difficult |
3MCQ+2 TITA |
|
DI |
Visa Office Special Equation handling |
5 |
Medium to Difficult |
3MCQ+2 TITA |
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Area |
Slot 1 (Total: 22) |
Slot 2 (Total: 22) |
Slot 3 (Total: 14) |
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Arithmetic |
7 |
7 |
8 |
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Algebra |
8 |
8 |
4 |
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Geometry |
4 |
3 |
3 |
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Modern Maths |
2 |
2 |
4 |
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Numbers |
1 |
2 |
3 |
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MCQs |
15 |
14 |
14 |
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TITA |
7 |
8 |
8 |
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Section |
No of Qs. |
Difficulty Level |
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RC-1: Return of wolves' predation in a French region |
4 |
Easy |
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RC-2: Current Economies of North and South Korea |
4 |
Easy |
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RC-3: Indian Ocean Literature |
4 |
Medium |
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RC-4: Modern materialism versus ancient societies |
4 |
Difficult |
Here you can download CAT previous year question papers year-wise in PDF format for free. These papers will help you analyze question trends and improve speed and accuracy.
CAT doesn’t test everything; it tests what matters. Analyzing past year papers reveals a clear pattern of frequently asked topics across QA, VARC and DILR. Here are the most important areas you should master first for a high score in CAT 2025.
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Topic |
Important Subtopics |
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Arithmetic | |
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Algebra |
Inequalities |
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Geometry |
Circles Mensuration Coordinate Geometry |
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Number System |
Divisibility Sequences |
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Modern Math |
Set Theory |
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Topic |
Important Subtopics |
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Linear Arrangements | |
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Selection & Distribution |
Group Allocation Team Formation |
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Graphs |
Line Graphs Bar Graphs Mixed Graphs |
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Tables |
Tabular Data Interpretation |
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Quant-Based Reasoning |
Caselet Problems Data + Calculation Sets |
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Topic |
Important Subtopics |
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Reading Comprehension |
Passages Inference Main Idea Tone |
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Para Jumbles |
Sentence Rearrangement Coherence |
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Sentence Correction |
Grammar Syntax Error Detection |
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Vocabulary |
Synonyms Antonyms Word Usage |
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Critical Reasoning |
Assumptions Conclusions Strengthen/Weaken Arguments |
Solving the CAT question paper PDF effectively requires a smart strategy that balances speed, accuracy, and question selection. Practicing with the CAT previous year papers PDF develops problem-solving approaches
Start each mock or CAT previous year paper by attempting the section you are most comfortable with. This boosts confidence and ensures early accuracy. Insights from CAT question papers with solutions show that a strong sectional approach helps maximize attempts in VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Aptitude strategically.
Time is the biggest challenge in the CAT exam. Allocate a fixed time per question and avoid spending more than 2 minutes on a single question. Use timers while solving CAT question paper PDFs to build exam-level stamina and speed. This technique prevents panic and allows better control during sectional time limits.
High accuracy matters more than high attempts in CAT. Begin with questions you can solve quickly and correctly. Analysis of CAT previous year question papers shows that toppers avoid trap questions and focus on high-scoring and moderate-difficulty questions first. Skip difficult questions initially and return only if time permits.
Shortcuts save time only when basics are clear. Use CAT 2025 important formulas, approximation tricks, and percentage shortcuts only after understanding concepts. Regular practice with CAT previous year papers PDF with solutions improves speed and helps identify where shortcuts are most effective.
Reviewing each attempt is more important than just solving more papers. After completing a CAT question paper PDF, analyze:
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Consistent error tracking and revision help improve scores faster for CAT 2025 preparation.
CAT experts recommend solving at least 8–10 previous year CAT question papers along with sectional tests and full-length mocks. Start with recent papers (CAT 2024, 2023, 2022) to understand the current trend and then move to older papers to gain exposure to a variety of question types.
In addition to the CAT previous year papers, aspirants must use standard CAT study materials for conceptual clarity. Books and online resources help strengthen fundamentals while PYQs build exam temperament and strategy.
Avoiding common mistakes while solving CAT question paper PDFs is crucial for improving accuracy and overall exam performance. Identifying these errors early helps CAT 2025 aspirants build a smarter preparation strategy and avoid losing marks due to avoidable pitfalls. Avoid these frequently made mistakes during CAT preparation:
Just solving papers isn’t enough. Without reviewing mistakes, learning remains incomplete. Always analyze incorrect answers to improve accuracy over time.
Ignoring time per question leads to slow attempts and low sectional scores. Always use a timer while solving CAT question papers with solutions.
Comfort-zone practice doesn’t improve percentile. Balance your practice across easy, moderate, and advanced-level questions to match CAT difficulty.
CAT papers often include high-frequency topics such as Arithmetic (Quant), Reading Comprehension (VARC), and Logical Puzzles (DILR). Focus on these for faster score improvement.
Shortcut tricks without concept clarity fail in CAT due to tricky variations. Focus on concept clarity + application practice for consistent improvement.
Solving previous year CAT papers matters more than relying solely on CAT mocks because it exposes aspirants to real question patterns, difficulty levels, and examiner trends.
CAT previous year papers show the exact questions that have been asked in the examination. Unlike CAT mocks, these questions help you to also analyze the difficulty level. These papers also highlight the level of difficulty that one could expect in CAT 2025 and are beneficial for cracking the logic behind the tricky questions.
Solving the CAT question paper PDF is a great way to know the actual difficulty level in the exam. These papers are real ones that IIMs draft for a particular session. Thus, it is the gold standard for CAT study material. Candidates can attempt these and also understand where they stand in terms of their CAT 2025 exam preparation. They can easily mark strong and weak zones and work on them accordingly before the exam.
A proper analysis of the CAT question paper with solutions for the last ten years helps to get a strong hold of the repeated CAT questions. Although, CAT exam does not repeat questions however sometimes there is a similarity in the pattern or the logic. It is beneficial for the Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning sections as these sections account for the maximum tricky questions in the exam.
CAT 2025 preparation resources help the candidates’ preparation by providing them with the right study material. These resources include sample papers, mock tests, books, and practice papers. Candidates who use these resources along with the CAT previous year question papers are found to have a competitive edge in the exam. Read on to know more about the preparation resources for the CAT 2025 exam below.
CAT 2025 Sample Papers give aspirants real practice with the type of questions they encounter in the CAT exam. They help students apply concepts from books and improve problem-solving speed and accuracy. Practicing these sample papers alongside the CAT previous year papers builds familiarity with question patterns. Referring to the CAT question paper PDF resources further strengthens preparation.
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CAT 2025 Sample Paper with Solutions |
CAT Books are essential resources for aspirants preparing for the exam. It covers Quantitative Aptitude, Verbal Ability, Reading Comprehension, and Logical Reasoning. Using these books alongside the CAT previous year papers helps students understand question patterns and practise effectively. Many CAT 2025 books also provide solved examples similar to the CAT question paper PDF format, making it easier to grasp concepts and shortcuts.
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Subject |
CAT Book Name |
Author / Publisher |
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Quantitative Aptitude |
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude |
Arun Sharma |
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Quantitative Aptitude for CAT |
Nishit K. Sinha | |
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Quantum CAT |
Sarvesh K. Verma | |
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Data Interpretation & LR |
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning |
Arun Sharma |
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Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation |
Nishit K. Sinha | |
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Analytical Reasoning |
M.K. Pandey | |
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Verbal Ability & RC |
How to Prepare for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension |
Arun Sharma |
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Word Power Made Easy |
Norman Lewis | |
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High School English Grammar & Composition |
Wren & Martin |
CAT Mock Test 2025 is a full-length practice exam designed to help aspirants assess their preparation under exam-like conditions. It tracks speed, accuracy, and question-solving patterns while highlighting strengths and weak areas. Regular mock tests help refine strategies, manage time effectively, and improve decision-making on different question types. It is different from the CAT question paper PDF, but they both serve the same purpose.
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CAT Mock Test 2025 |
CAT 2025 MCQs are multiple-choice questions in the CAT exam, covering Quantitative Aptitude, VARC, and DILR sections. Each question has four options, with only one correct answer. These CAT questions test understanding, accuracy, and logical thinking. Practising CAT MCQs helps students recognize common patterns, improve problem-solving speed.
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CAT Chapter Wise MCQ for DILR, Quant, VARC |
The CAT Formula Sheet PDF is a revision sheet that includes the Quantitative Aptitude important formulas all in one place. Candidates must use these formulas while solving mock tests and during revision as well. It helps aspirants revise frequently tested concepts like Algebra, Arithmetic, Geometry, and Number System without flipping through multiple books. The high-frequency CAT formulas and shortcuts in one sheet help you boost mental recall and cut down the solution time per question.
The CAT 2025 eBooks help candidates to get conceptual clarity for different subjects. These ebooks are prepared for different topics and subjects. One can use these ebooks along with the CAT previous year question papers to maximise their marks. Go through the table below to get the download links of CAT ebooks 2025.
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CAT eBook Title |
Download Link |
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3000+ Most Important Words - Vocabulary Builder | |
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500+ Most Important Idioms and Phrases | |
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300+ Most Important Phrasal Verbs | |
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Mastering CAT Exam: VARC, DILR, and Quant MCQs & Weightages | |
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CAT 2025 Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) Study Material | |
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Boost your CAT preparation with a comprehensive 60-day study material by Experts | |
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Mastering DILR Questions with Expert Solutions | |
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Ultimate DILR CAT 2025 Guide: Concepts, Practice Sets and Detailed Solutions | |
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CAT 2025 Mastery: Chapter-wise MCQs for Success for VARC, DILR, Quant | |
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CAT 2025 Quantitative Aptitude Questions with Answers | |
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CAT DILR Questions with Solution, Download LRDI Questions for CAT |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The CAT previous question papers with solutions can be found on this page with pdf links. Candidates can download past CAT question papers using the links given therein.
The past ten year's CAT question papers with solutions in pdf format are available on this page By visiting the appropriate link, you can easily download the CAT exam question papers with the answer key.
There are basically questions from three major sections in CAT exam paper:
CAT is having questions that are MCQs along with TITA questions.
As per experts and students, IIM Bangalore prepares tougher CAT question papers in comparison to other IIMs.
As per students, CAT 2012 conducted by IIM Kozhikode was the toughest in terms of difficulty level.
Reviewing multiple previous year papers reveals topics that appear frequently across exams. Focusing on these high-weightage areas ensures efficient preparation and better marks in the CAT 2025.
The CAT exam asks questions from three main sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).
The CAT exam includes questions from Quantitative Aptitude, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension. It features both MCQs and non-MCQs, testing speed, logic, and comprehension.
Generally, the CAT exam does not repeat questions from previous years. The test aims to assess your understanding and application of concepts rather than memorization of specific questions. However, practicing past questions can still be beneficial as they give you a sense of the exam's style and difficulty, which can help you prepare effectively.
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
To get admitted to the Institute of Management Studies (IMS), BHU, for an MBA in 2026, you must clear the CAT entrance exam. For that you need to fill out the application form of the CAT in August 2026, which you can get on the Official CAT website
I hope it will clear your query!!
Hello
You can get all the papers on the Careers360 website. To access the paper and download it for practice, just visit here:
https://design.careers360.com/articles/nift-cat-2024-question-paper-with-solutions
Hope it will help you!!
Hello dear candidate,
Yes, you have a very good chance of getting a BPT seat with 488 out of 600 and TS EAMCET rank of 14,000 under the ST category.
As the cut off of BPT for ST category students are generally between 25,000 to 45,000 ranks, depending upon the college and you have TS EAMCET rank of 14,000.
Thank you.
If you got 802 marks in Telangana Intermediate and belong to the ST category, you have a fair chance to get admission in a BPT course in 2025, but it depends on the college and cut-off. Most BPT colleges in Telangana ask for 12th marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, and some also use the TS EAMCET rank for admission. The cut-off for ST students is usually lower than for general students, but it changes every year. It is better to check the previous year’s cut-offs of the colleges you want to apply to.
Hello, Getting shortlisted for IIM Lucknow or IIT Bombay (SJMSOM) with your profile is challenging, primarily due to your 58% in Class 10th, which significantly impacts the composite score calculation for both institutes. While your 98 percentile CAT score is excellent, and your 24 months of work experience, B.Com (Hons) background (providing academic diversity, especially for IIM-L), and KVS National player status are valuable additions, top IIMs and IITs heavily weigh consistent academic performance. Your 74% in 12th is also on the lower side. IIM Lucknow places substantial weight on 10th and 12th marks, making a call quite difficult despite your strengths. You likely have a relatively better, though still uncertain, chance at IIT Bombay, as their weighting might be slightly less penalizing for past academics compared to IIM-L, and your high CAT score is a major factor. However, the low 10th score remains a significant hurdle for both prestigious institutions.
I hope you found this information helpful and for study related queries you can ask in careers360 app, Have a great day and!
Directions for question :
M/s Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, one of the top four audit and accounting firms in the world with headquarters at London, UK, and with an operational presence in 153 countries, hires Management Trainees (MT) from all the premier management institutes of India thrice every year, in the months of January, May and September.
Each new group of Management Trainees (MT) have to go through a four month rigorous training schedule, after which they have to pass through a test consisting of a written assessment and a case-analysis. The top hundred ranked Management Trainees (MT) based on the performance in the test are confirmed as Management Executives (ME). The rest are given the opportunity of undergoing the training for four months one more time along with the next batch of Management Trainees (MT) and then passing through the subsequent test consisting of the written assessment and case-analysis. The Management Trainee (MT) who fails to get confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) the second time is fired.
The scatter-graph below depicts the number of Management Trainees (MT) at Deloitte taking the tests from January 2020 till May 2022, and the vis-à-vis hired Management Trainees (MT) at Deloitte who were fired :
It is also known that for the month of September 2019 at Deloitte, 96 hired Management Trainees (MT) failed to be confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) the first time, and that 36 hired Management Trainees (MT) were fired.
Question :
In which test did the minimum number of Management Trainees (MT) get confirmed as a Management Executive (ME) in the second attempt ?
September 2020
May 2021
January 2021
January 2022
Directions for question:
The bar-graph given below shows the foreign exchange reserves of Nepal (in million Rupees) from 2014 to 2021. Answer the following questions based on the graph :
Question:
What was the percentage increase (rounded to the nearest integer, if deemed necessary) in the foreign exchange reserves in 2020 over 2016 ?
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Ranked among top 10 B-Schools in India by multiple publications | Top Recruiters-Google, MicKinsey, Amazon, BCG & many more.
Highest Package 27.25 LPA | Top 100 Average package 16.65 LPA | AACSB Accredited | Ranked 52 by QS International
IBSAT 2025-Your gateway to MBA/PGPM @ IBS Hyderabad and 8 other IBS campuses | Scholarships worth 10 CR
Among top 6% B-Schools globally to be accredited by AACSB | 7000+ Alumni Network
Ranked No. 3 Business School in India and no.35 in world by Financial Times MiM 2025 Ranking | Highest CTC: INR 89 LPA
