CAT 2025 Marking Scheme: Section-wise Marks, Negative Marking & Total Score Explained

CAT 2025 Marking Scheme: Section-wise Marks, Negative Marking & Total Score Explained

Suvam MaitiUpdated on 30 Nov 2025, 09:28 AM IST

The CAT 2025 marking scheme is set to maintain the same trend as in previous years. Every CAT 2025 correct answer will be awarded 3 marks according to the CAT 2025 marking scheme. At the same CAT 2025 applicants will be deducted one mark for each wrong answer, as per the CAT marking scheme 2025. As part of the CAT marking scheme, no marks will be awarded or deducted for the CAT 2025 unattempted answers. The CAT 2025 exam will be conducted in computer-based mode on November 30, 2025. and will comprise three sections of the CAT exam pattern 2025: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). The exam will be conducted for a duration of two hours (120 minutes), with a 40-minute time limit for each section. The total number of questions is expected to be around 66 or 68. The total marks in the CAT exam 2025 are 204. The CAT exam will be conducted by IIM Kozhikode. Keep reading to find more information about the CAT 2025 exam pattern.

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CAT 2025 Marking Scheme: Overview

This Story also Contains

  1. CAT Marking Scheme 2025
  2. CAT Marking Scheme 2025: Total Marks in CAT 2025
  3. CAT Exam Pattern 2025
  4. CAT Paper Pattern and Syllabus
  5. CAT Exam Structure
CAT 2025 Marking Scheme: Section-wise Marks, Negative Marking & Total Score Explained
CAT 2025 Marking Scheme

Correct Answer : 3 marks for each correct answer

  • Incorrect Answer: (-1) for each incorrect answer

  • Unattempted answer: No marks deducted or awarded

  • CAT 2025 Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)

  • Total Questions: 68

  • CAT 2025 Sections

    • VARC: 24 questions

    • DILR: 22 questions

    • QA: 22 questions

  • Total Marks: 204

  • CAT 2025 exam Time duration is 120 minutes (160 minutes for PwD candidates)

  • Score Normalisation: The scores are scaled to account for variations in difficulty across different slots.

  • CAT Marking Scheme 2025

    Candidates wondering about the CAT 2025 marking scheme should learn that for every correct answer, the CAT candidates will be awarded 3 marks according to the CAT marking scheme 2025. On the other hand, candidates will lose 1 mark for each incorrect answer.

    • 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.

    Through the following CAT 2025 marking scheme table, CAT 2025 aspirants will get an idea about how CAT 2025 marks are allotted to the candidates.

    CAT 200 Exam Pattern Section
    Number of CAT questions
    Marks per question
    CAT Negative Marking (Only MCQs)
    VARC
    24
    3
    -1
    DILR
    22
    3
    -1
    Quantitative Aptitude
    22
    3
    -1

    CAT Marking Scheme 2025: Total Marks in CAT 2025

    Looking at the trend of the last year, the CAT total marks would be 204. One can expect that, similar to last year, the total number of CAT questions would be 68. And the CAT full marks for each question are 3 marks. Therefore, the total marks of CAT are 204 in total. However, candidates cannot switch between the CAT exam sections. The onscreen clock will help candidates to keep a check on the time during the CAT exam.

    CAT Qualifying Marks 2025

    CAT 2025 qualifying marks as per the CAT marking scheme will be available with the release of the CAT cutoff for the next academic session. The CAT qualifying marks will be released by the Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) and by other top MBA colleges that accept CAT scores for MBA/ PGDM admissions. To appear for the selection rounds of MBA admission, the first criterion is to satisfy the qualifying CAT marks criteria.

    CAT Exam Pattern 2025

    As per the CAT 2025, given below are the section-wise questions that can be covered in the CAT 2025 test pattern.

    • VARC Section: 4 RC passages with 18 MCQs; VA 8 Non-MCQs are subdivided into Para Summaries and Context Sentences. VA came after RC. There are no Para-jumble questions. Students found questions from odd ones out, summary, fill in the blanks. This year, VARC has 22 questions.

    • DILR: Data Interpretation: 3 Questions, Logical Reasoning: 2 Questions. There are sums based on LR.

    • QA: High on Arithmetic and Algebra. 2 questions on Geometry, 1 sets, 1 AP, etc.

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    CAT Paper Pattern and Syllabus

    Particulars

    CAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus

    CAT 2025 Exam DateNovember 30, 2025

    CAT exam time duration

    2 Hours (120 Minutes) & (160 Minutes for PwD)

    Name of the Section

    • Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

    • Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

    • Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

    Section-wise CAT exam time duration

    • 40 Minutes for Each Section (VARC, DILR, QA).

    • 53 Minutes 20 Seconds for PwD candidates for each section.

    CAT 2025 slot timings

    • 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)

    How many questions in CAT exam

    68 Questions

    Total marks of CAT exam

    204 CAT marks

    Mode of the CAT 2025 exam

    Computer-Based Mode (CBT)

    CAT Marking Scheme

    • For every right answer, +3 will be awarded

    • For every wrong answer in MCQs, -1 will be deducted

    • No negative marks for Non-MCQs

    CAT Exam Structure

    The CAT Exam 2025 structure consists of 3 main sections. These sections are Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA). Each section of the CAT exam will have around 20 to 24 questions. The total number of questions in the CAT exam is estimated to be 66 across all sections.

    The CAT 2025 exam will be a 2-hour computer-based exam. All candidates are expected to answer all questions within a time frame of 40 minutes per section. As per the past year trends and question papers, the CAT exam may consist of MCQs and non-MCQs. There is no negative marking in CAT for unattempted questions. Keep in mind that the number of questions in each section might vary each year.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: What is the CAT 2025 marking scheme?
    A:

    According to the CAT 2025 marking scheme, one mark will be awarded for each correct answer, while one mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer. 

    Q: How many marks are in the CAT exam?
    A:

    There are 68 questions in CAT 202,5, and so there will be 204 marks in the CAT exam 2025. 

    Q: What are the total marks of CAT 2025?
    A:

    The total marks for the CAT 2025 are 204. 

    Q: Is there any negative marking in the CAT exam?
    A:

    Yes, there is a negative marking. As per the CAT 225 marking scheme, candidates will be deducted one mark for each incorrect answer. 

    Q: Does CAT allow calculators?
    A:

    CAT allows an on-screen calculator, but it does not allow candidates to bring a personal physical calculator.

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    Questions related to CAT

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to CAT ?

    Hello,

    For a raw score of 56 in CAT 2025 Slot 3, your expected overall percentile is likely to be in the range of the 90th-95th percentile. The exact percentile can vary slightly on the final normalization process and the process and performance of all test-takers. In this article you'll find more about the CAT result.

    I hope it will clear your query!!

    Hello,
    With a projected CAT percentile of 87% but not clearing sectional cutoffs, your chances at top IIMs are limited because they require both overall percentile and sectional minimums. However, you still have a good shot at other reputed management institutes and non-IIM B-schools. Consider colleges like NMIMS, SPJIMR, IMT, TAPMI, Great Lakes, and other well-ranked private or state-level B-schools that accept CAT scores and weigh your profile holistically. Your academic record, BSc in Animation with 80%, and 5 years of work experience at Ubisoft India are strong points and may help in institutes that value work experience in their selection process. Also, explore institutes that accept XAT, MAT, or CMAT, where your profile can be competitive.
    Hope this helps you.

    Good Morning,

    NIT Rourkela CAT cutoff range is between 70-85 percentiles for the general category. 70 is the minimum percentile needed to apply, and 85 is the highest percentile. However, the maximum percentile depends on the particular year competition. It can be changed.

    Thank You.

    If you filled the UGC NET form under EWS but you don’t have a valid EWS certificate, then forget using the EWS category. They won’t accept it. You’ll automatically be treated as General category during document verification.


    And no, this won’t make your form “invalid” or “illegal.” It just means you won’t get the EWS benefit.


    So yes — you can still go for General category posts and Professor recruitment. Just don’t try to submit a fake/invalid certificate; that will get you disqualified.

    Hello,
    If your CAT admit card shows your surname first followed by your first name as entered in the form, it is correct. You do not need to worry about this format as long as it matches the details you provided. Ensure all other information on the admit card is accurate and carry it to the exam along with the required identification documents.
    Hope this helps you.