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    Know CAT Evolution Over the Years: Changes in CAT Exam Pattern in Past 10 Years

    Know CAT Evolution Over the Years: Changes in CAT Exam Pattern in Past 10 Years

    Team Careers360Updated on 23 Aug 2024, 06:08 PM IST

    CAT evolution over the years in terms of mode of examination, number of questions, registered students, exam pattern, etc., can be seen. CAT is a widely accepted MBA entrance exam for admission to top B-schools and 1000+ colleges in India. Some of the prominent CAT changes over the years are, the number of exam slots increased from two to three and the questions were decreased to 66 from 76.

    This Story also Contains

    1. CAT Test Taking Window Over the Years
    2. CAT Registration trends over the past 13 years
    3. CAT Evolution Over the Years
    Know CAT Evolution Over the Years: Changes in CAT Exam Pattern in Past 10 Years
    CAT Evolution Over the Years

    With different IIMs conducting CAT exam, there were major changes in the CAT pattern and difficulty levels as well. The distribution of questions in each section was different. It has been observed that IIMs over the past few years have introduced several changes, therefore Careers360 brings to you the CAT evolution over the years to keep candidates on track with the changes and changes that might appear in coming years. Let’s take a closer look.
    Read more-

    CAT Test Taking Window Over the Years

    The table below states the number of slots and windows in which the CAT was held over the past few years. Since 2015, the CAT exam pattern has been upheld to a great extent. The exam is also now held in a single day in three slots i.e. Morning, noon and evening. Let us see what CAT now unveils.

    Past Year Test Taking Window

    Year

    Test-taking window

    Slots

    20231 day3 slots
    20221 day3 slots
    2021
    1 day
    3 slots
    20201 day3 slots

    2019

    1 day

    2 slots

    2018

    1 day

    2 slots

    2017

    1 day

    2 slots

    2016

    1 day

    2 slots

    2015

    1 day

    2 slots

    2014

    2 days

    4 slot

    2009-13

    20 days window

    40 slots

    CAT Registration trends over the past 13 years

    Over the past 13 years, the year 2023 saw the highest number of registrations. Check the complete list of the total number of registrations every year in the table below:

    Number of registrations over the years

    Year

    No. of Applications Registered

    No. Of Applicants Appeared

    20233.5 lakh2.88 lakh
    20222.55 lakh2.22 lakh
    20212.30 lakhs1,91,660
    20202.3 Lakh (Approx)1.90 lakh

    2019

    2,44,169

    2,09,926

    2018

    2,40,338

    2,09,405

    2017

    2,31,000

    1,99,632

    2016

    2,32,434

    1,95,000

    2015

    2,18,664

    1,79,602

    2014

    1,96,988

    1,67,829

    2013

    1,94,516

    1,73,714

    2012

    2,14,000

    1,95,000

    2011

    2,05,000

    1,86,000

    2010

    2,04,000

    1,85,000

    2009

    2,41,000

    2,30,000

    2008

    2,90,000

    2,76,000

    2007

    2,50,000

    2,30,000

    CAT Evolution Over the Years

    2009

    • Change from paper-based test to computer-based test

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    It was in 2009 that for the first time, the CAT was held in computer-based mode or online mode. Getting acquainted with the online test, it was the biggest challenge for the test takers. Before 2009 the exam used to be conducted in a paper-based mode, wherein the students used to mark their answers on the OMR sheet.

    • Exam Duration

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    Due to the shift in the examination mode, the exam duration also increased to 2 hours and 15 minutes. With the shift in the mode of exam and duration, the test takers witnessed many technical glitches which led to a re-test of CAT.

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    2011

    • Reduction in the number of sections

    In 2011, IIM Calcutta conducted CAT. The authorities deducted the number of sections in CAT from three to only two sections. The two sections were a combination of 2 subjects each:

    • Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation

    • Logical Reasoning and Verbal Ability.

    However, the number of questions remained the same that is 60. Each section consisted of 30 questions.

    • Sectional Time Limit

    With the reduction in the number of sections, authorities imposed the section-time limit to attempt a particular section. The students welcomed this change as it helped them in effective decision-making and reduced the chances of wasting time on a particular question.

    2014

    • Increase in the number of questions

    This year saw a drastic change by the increase in the number of questions. Earlier there used to be 30 questions in each section, however, in 2014 it was increased by 20 questions each. Therefore, making it to 50 questions in each section.

    2015

    • Introduction to on-screen calculators

    With the introduction of on-screen calculators, it came as a relief to the candidates of CAT in solving Mathematical problems.

    • Change in the exam pattern

    This year again saw a change in the completion of the exam pattern of CAT in the following ways:

    • The number of the section was again increased to three as it was till 2010.

    • Non-MCQ questions were introduced from 2015 onwards, wherein candidates have to type the answer in one-liners.

    • The duration of the exam was increased from 170 minutes to 180 minutes.

    2016

    • Change in Schedule

    CAT is usually held in the last week of November. However, in 2016 it was for the first time that CAT was held in the first week of December that is on December 4 in two slots.

    2019

    • Application Form

    In 2019 several changes were introduced in the application process of CAT:

    • The registration fee increased by Rs. 100, from Rs. 1800 to Rs. 1900 for general/NC-OBC categories. Also, it increased by Rs. 50 for SC/ST/PwD categories from Rs. 900 to Rs. 950.

    • New CAT exam centres were added.

    • New payment partners were added:

      • PayU

      • BillDesk

      • Paytm

    CAT 2020

    • The total number of questions was reduced to 76 from 100
    • The test slots were three instead of two
    • The test started with the Verbal Section (26 Qs - 18 RC and 8 VA.) The second section was the DI-LR with 24 Qs ( DI 18 + LR 6 questions). The third section was Quantitative Ability (26 Qs.) Each section was timed for 40 minutes. One could not go back and forth between sections. The marking scheme was +3 for every correct and -1 for incorrect. There was no negative marking for TITA Questions.

    CAT 2021

    • The total number of questions was reduced to 66 from 76
    • The test slots were three instead of two

    CAT 2022

    • The CAT exam fees increased this year.
    • The CAT test cities changed to 151.

    CAT Pattern changes over the years

    Year

    Number of Questions

    Sections

    Marking Scheme

    Duration

    Conducting Body

    Other Element

    2023Total 66 questions (24 in VARC, 20 in DILR, 22 in QA)

    Verbal & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude


    3 positive marks for each correct answer and minus 1 mark for each wrong answer


    2 hours
    IIM Lucknow-
    2022Total 66 questions (24 in VARC, 20 in DILR, 22 in QA)

    Verbal & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude


    3 positive marks for each correct answer and minus 1 mark for each wrong answer


    2 hoursIIM Bangalore-
    2021Total 66 questions (24 in VARC, 20 in DILR, 22 in QA)

    Verbal & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude


    3 positive marks for each correct answer and minus 1 mark for each wrong answer


    120 minutesIIM Ahmedabad-
    2020

    Total 76 questions (24 in one section and 26 in the other two sections)

    Verbal & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude

    3 positive marks for each correct answer and minus 1 mark for each wrong answer

    120 Minutes


    IIM Indore

    2019

    Total 100 questions (32 in one section and 34 in the other two sections)

    Verbal & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude

    3 positive marks for each correct answer and minus 1 mark for each wrong answer

    180 Minutes

    IIM Kozhikode

    -

    2018

    There were a total of 100 questions (32 in one section and 34 in the other two sections)

    Quantitative Ability, Verbal and Reading Comprehension and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

    + 3 Marks for every correct answer and -1 for every incorrect answer (No negative marking for non-MCQs questions)

    180 Minutes

    IIM Calcutta

    -

    2017

    Total number of questions were 100 (32 in one section and 34 in the other two sections)

    Quantitative Ability (QA), Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VRC) and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DI & LR)

    + 3 Marks for every correct answer and -1 for every incorrect answer (No negative marking for non-MCQs questions)

    180 Minutes

    IIM Lucknow

    -

    2016

    The number of questions was 100 divided into three sections (32 in one section and 34 in the other two sections)

    Quantitative Ability, Verbal and Reading Comprehension and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

    3 Marks for each correct answer and 1 mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer (No negative marking for non-MCQs questions)

    180 Minutes

    IIM Bangalore


    2015

    Total number of questions were 100 (32 in one section and 34 in the other two sections)

    Quantitative Ability, Verbal and Reading Comprehension and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

    + 3 Marks for every correct answer and -1 for every incorrect answer (No negative marking for non-MCQs questions)

    180 Minutes

    IIM Ahmedabad

    Introduce On-Screen Calculator/ Induction of Non-MCQ

    2014

    Total 100 Questions (50 per sections)

    Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation, Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning (Not in order)

    + 3 Marks for every correct answer and -1 for every incorrect answer

    170 Minutes

    IIM Indore

    The test was divided into two sections

    2013

    Total 60 Questions (30 per section)

    Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI), Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning

    3 Marks for each correct answer and 1 mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer

    140 Minutes

    IIM Indore

    -

    2012

    Total 60 Questions (30 per section)

    Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI), Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning

    3 Marks for each correct answer and 1 mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer

    140 Minutes

    IIM Kozhikode

    -

    2011

    Total 60 Questions (30 per section)

    Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation (QA & DI), Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning

    + 3 Marks for every correct answer and -1 for every incorrect answer

    140 Minutes

    IIM Calcutta

    -

    2007Total 75 questions (25 per section)

    Quantitative Ability (QA), Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VRC) and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DI & LR)

    3 Marks for every correct answer and -1 for every incorrect answer150 minutes--
    2006Total 75 questions (25 per section)

    Quantitative Ability (QA), Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VRC) and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DI & LR)

    3 Marks for every correct answer and -1 for every incorrect answer150 minutes--
    2005Total 75 questions (25 per section)

    Quantitative Ability (QA), Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VRC) and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DI & LR)

    3 Marks for every correct answer and -1 for every incorrect answer150 minutes--

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    Questions related to CAT

    On Question asked by student community

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    FMS Udaipur admission for 2026 is not open. The MBA 2026 admission will likely commence in May 2026. You can keep checking the official website of FMS.

    Hi admission to the courses offered at CUSAT is based on the CUSAT CAT results, relative performnace of the students and the number of applications for each course. Please check CUSAT CAT cutoff 2025 to know in detail about the cutoff score for Electrical and Electronic branch in previous years.

    Yes, it is possible. If you have received a PI call from IIM Sambalpur with a 75 percentile in CAT, you have a chance to convert the call. However, the final selection will depend on multiple factors such as your personal interview performance, academic record, and overall profile.

    All the