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CAT Question Papers: Download CAT Previous Year Paper PDFs (1991 - 2023)

CAT Question Papers: Download CAT Previous Year Paper PDFs (1991 - 2023)

Edited By Anusha Bhalotia | Updated on Mar 19, 2024 10:59 AM IST | #CAT
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CAT Question Papers: Candidates willing to appear in the CAT 2024 should solve the CAT question paper as it is the best study source and also helps in effective preparation. There are multiple benefits to solving the previous year CAT question papers, like understanding the types of questions asked, the marking scheme, weightage carried by various sections, and, most importantly, learning how to solve a problem quickly, which will help in the CAT exam. Download the CAT question paper pdf year-wise here.

CAT Question Papers

The CAT question paper will also help candidates understand their strong and weak areas for the CAT 2024 and improve their time management skills significantly. The CAT previous year question papers will have questions from the CAT syllabus like quantitative aptitude, logical reasoning, reading comprehension, and verbal ability.

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To answer CAT questions, one needs critical thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to interpret complex information. CAT question papers are often based on real-life case studies and situational questions to assess a student's business acumen. Practising with CAT past question papers will give students an edge in preparation. However, the CAT 2023 question paper gives an exact insight into the upcoming CAT exam session.

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Also Check: Download CAT question paper sets with solutions

CAT Question Paper with Solution PDF (1991-2023)

CAT 2023 College Predictor
Know your admission chances in IIMs & other top MBA colleges based on your CAT percentile by using CAT 2023 College Predictor.
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CAT Previous Year Paper PDF (2017-2023)

Understanding the CAT exam pattern, topics with high weightage, and the types of difficult CAT questions is possible with the help of the previous year CAT question papers. Download the CAT question papers for the past 6 years (2017 to 2023) slot-wise below on this page. Also, check the official CAT mock test to get an idea of the exam.

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CAT Previous Year Question Paper with Answers- Slot-wise

The CAT exam is divided into three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI-LR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Download section-wise CAT past year papers.

CAT Question Paper 2022 PDF

CAT 2021 Question Paper Section Wise PDF

CAT 2020 Question Paper PDF Section Wise

CAT Previous Year Questions 2019

CAT 2018 Question Paper PDF Section Wise

CAT 2017 Question Paper Section Wise PDF

CAT Previous Year Question Paper PDF Free Download

  • Just click on the CAT question papers pdf links as per the year and slot
  • Download the CAT exam question paper pdf
  • Save and start answering the CAT previous question papers

Solving CAT questions is one of the major success mantras of CAT toppers. For better CAT exam preparation also check out the One Year Study Plan for CAT 2024 and know the Best Study Material for CAT 2024.

CAT Question Paper - Overview

ParticularsDetails of CAT Question Paper
Sections in the CAT question paper
  • VARC (20 questions)
  • DILR (24 questions)
  • QA (22 questions)
CAT 2024 questions (total)66
Duration of CAT paper120 minutes (2 hours)
53 minutes and 20 seconds for PwD candidates
The section time limit in the CAT exam question paper40 minutes
CAT question paper - marking scheme
  • +3 marks for every correct answer
  • -1 for every wrong answer
  • No negative marking for non-MCQs
Total marks in CAT question paper198

To crack CAT 2024, understanding the CAT pattern is crucial. The CAT exam pattern 2024 is given below to aid students to check the same and know what to expect in the exam.

Other relevant articles-

CAT Score vs Percentile 2024 (Expected)

PercentileScore VARCScore DILRScore QAOverall Score
99.542303086
9936252574
9530202252
9024141342
802011935
70189730

CAT Previous Year Paper

Topics covered in the CAT exam include comprehension-based questions, number system-related questions, and puzzles. The CAT paper aims to test the candidate's critical thinking ability, problem-solving skills, and time management skills. It is essential for the candidates to prepare meticulously and practice various mock tests to excel in the exam.

CAT Questions - Official CAT Mock Test Links

CAT Question Papers: Topics for Reading Comprehension

Migration of Northern SealsPiracy in international tradeThe need for economic literacy in the general population
AnarchismInvesting in renewable energy technologiesTravel Writing and Feminism during colonial times
Grammar/VocabularyA study of visualizationAn Analysis of human nature
Currency of the Tang DynastyFreudian models of aggressionScreen time and undercurrents of social class

CAT Question Paper - Important Topics

The CAT paper comprises of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude. CAT questions test the students on their analytical, logical, and comprehension skills. The CAT paper includes a mix of multiple-choice questions and non-multiple-choice questions. Some of the questions are based on case studies, graphs, and data interpretation.

Therefore important topics that have been part of the CAT previous years question papers are useful to get a grip on the preparation and score well. Use CAT 2024 Preparation Material and know how to Score 100 Percentile in CAT 2024.

QA Topics from Past CAT Question Papers

HCF LCMFactorsFactorialsRemaindersDigits
Percents, Profit Loss, SICIRatio, Mixtures: AveragesLogarithms & ExponentsSpeed Time DistancePipes Cisterns, Work Time
GeometrySet TheoryMensurationCo-GeoPipes Trigonometry
FunctionsLinear & QuadraticPolynomialsInequalitiesProgression and Permutation Probability

VARC Topics from CAT Previous Question Papers

Sentence CorrectionPara JumbleParagraph CompletionSentence EliminationReading Comprehension
Word UsageCritical ReasoningText CompletionPara Summary

DILR Important Topics Based on CAT Question Papers

Pie ChartsBar GraphsWord ProblemsMultiple GraphsLine Graphs
Grid PuzzlesSequencingVisualizationMath PuzzlesOther Patterns

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What are the advantages of CAT Previous Years Papers

Is it important to solve the past CAT question papers? The answer is a big yes. Candidates will benefit much from solving CAT previous year question papers during their preparation and before the actual CAT exam. The benefits of solving CAT question papers are:

  • Time management
  • Speed and accuracy in answering
  • Segregation of topics with weightage
  • Easy problem-solving techniques
  • Common formulae to solve CAT questions

Also Read:

When to Start Practicing CAT Question Papers?

Solving CAT previous year question papers allows candidates to find out which section they have prepared well for and which section they need to work on. If a candidate is starting everything from scratch, it is recommended to have a look at the CAT previous year paper. This is in order to get familiar with the CAT exam pattern. But one should not start solving them prior to preparation as it won’t prove fruitful.

After a good look at the CAT 2024 syllabus and topics, candidates can start their preparation. With the completion of each chapter and topic, it is vital to test the level of preparedness by solving CAT questions. The mock tests and CAT previous question papers are the right tools for this.

CAT toppers and CAT mentors recommend solving at least 30-40 mock tests during CAT preparation. Some toppers attempt even up to 80 mock tests.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

1. What is the sequence of sections in the CAT question paper and what are the 3 sections in CAT exam?

The sequence of the CAT exam question paper and  the three sections are as follows:

  • Section 1: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
  • Section 2: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
  • Section 3: Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
2. Is CAT a tough exam?

Going by past year trends, the CAT entrance test is usually at a moderate level. The toughness level of CAT depends on the candidate's preparation level. 

3. Where can I find previous year CAT papers?

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.

4. How to download previous year's CAT question papers?

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.

5. What questions come in CAT Exam?

Questions in the CAT exam are asked from Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) section, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section.

6. When CAT 2024 is going to be held?

CAT 2024 is scheduled to be held on November 24.

7. What all questions are asked in CAT exam?

As per the CAT paper analysis, there will be 66 questions from the sections of VARC (24 questions), DILR (20 questions) and QA (22 questions). 

8. Is CAT tougher than IIT?

CAT exam is seemingly tough only because of the many applicants and limited IIM seats. The entrance exam to IIT admissions for MBA is through CAT while engineering admissions are through JEE Advanced which is a tough as it requires subject knowledge. A comparison between the two would be futile because of the lack of similarities in course or admissions.

9. Which type of questions are asked in CAT?

There are basically questions from three major sections in CAT exam paper:

  • Section 1: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
  • Section 2: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
  • Section 3: Quantitative Aptitude (QA)


10. Is CAT written or MCQ?

CAT is having questions that are MCQs along with subjective type questions.  

11. Which IIM makes toughest paper?

As per experts and students, IIM Bangalore prepares tougher CAT question papers in comparison to other IIMs.

12. Which year CAT was tough?

As per students, CAT 2012 conducted by IIM Kozhikode was the toughest in terms of difficulty level.

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Questions related to CAT

Have a question related to CAT ?

The Common Admission Test, is a computer based standardized test conducted in India. It is one of the most prestigious and competitive entrance exams for admission into postgraduate management programs, Including MBA, in various Indian Institutes of Management and other top business schools across the country.

To know more about CAT 2024 like exam date, eligibility, syllabus and more, click on the below link.

https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/cat-2024


Both GMAT and CAT exams are considered to be highly competitive. Therefore, it is difficult to measure which one is harder than the other as it depends on the individual strengths ,weaknesses, and personal preferences.

GMAT quant section is often considered to be easier, however, its verbal section is tougher for non-native English speakers. Whereas, CAT quant section is considered to be trickier in comparison to the verbal section. Therefore, students are advised to analyse both CAT and GMAT exam pattern carefully before opting for one.

Hello

Generally admissions are given based on your rank. So based on your overall percentile in JEE your rank could be between 56470 - 63480 approximately.

Unfortunately, Based on the marks you scored, it will be difficult to get admitted into NIT Trichy under OBC category. However there is also a second chance for you to attend for JEE, so I recommend you to take that chance and score better.

You can check the colleges you are eligible for using the below link.

https://engineering.careers360.com/jee-main-college-predictor?utm_source=qna&utm_medium=jee_cp


Hello Aspirant

Congratulations on your score, There are many good B schools at 80-85%ile in CAT and XAT
1)Great Lakes, Chennai
2)IRMA
3) Goa Institute of Management
4) NIBM
5) TAPMI
Do your research about these colleges as to what is their average package, the roles offered.

Colleges like NIBM specialize in Finance, and IRMA has a lot of sales marketing Roles. So ultimately the choice is yours which specialization you want to pursue.

View All

1-radian measures 600. (True/False)

Option: 1

True


Option: 2

False


$111111^2$ = 

Option: 1

123456654321


Option: 2

123454321


Option: 3

123454321


Option: 4

12345654321


1111112 =___________ 

Option: 1

 123456654321


Option: 2

1234554321


Option: 3

123454321


Option: 4

12345654321


159702 is divisible by

Option: 1

7


Option: 2

9


Option: 3

11


Option: 4

6


1600 satellites were sent up by a country for several purposes. The purposes are classified as broadcasting (B), communication (C), surveillance (S), and others (O). A satellite can serve multiple purposes; however a satellite serving either B, or C, or S does not serve O. 

The following facts are known about the satellites: 

1. The numbers of satellites serving B, C, and S (though may be not exclusively) are in the ratio 2: 1:1. 

2. The number of satellites serving all three of B, C, and S is 100. 

3. The number of satellites exclusively serving C is the same as the number of satellites exclusively serving S. This number is 30% of the number of satellites exclusively serving B. 

4. The number of satellites serving O is the same as the number of satellites serving both C and S but not B. 

Question:

What best can be said about the number of satellites serving C? 

Option: 1

Must be between 450 and 725 

 


Option: 2

Cannot be more than 800 
 


Option: 3

Must be between 400 and 800 

 


Option: 4

Must be at least 100 


1600 satellites were sent up by a country for several purposes. The purposes are classified as broadcasting (B), communication (C), surveillance (S), and others (O). A satellite can serve multiple purposes; however a satellite serving either B, or C, or S does not serve O. 

The following facts are known about the satellites: 

1. The numbers of satellites serving B, C, and S (though may be not exclusively) are in the ratio 2: 1:1. 

2. The number of satellites serving all three of B, C, and S is 100. 

3. The number of satellites exclusively serving C is the same as the number of satellites exclusively serving S. This number is 30% of the number of satellites exclusively serving B. 

4. The number of satellites serving O is the same as the number of satellites serving both C and S but not B. 

Question:

What is the minimum possible number of satellites serving B exclusively? 

Option: 1

100


Option: 2

200


Option: 3

500


Option: 4

250


1600 satellites were sent up by a country for several purposes. The purposes are classified as broadcasting (B), communication (C), surveillance (S), and others (O). A satellite can serve multiple purposes; however a satellite serving either B, or C, or S does not serve O. 

The following facts are known about the satellites: 

1. The numbers of satellites serving B, C, and S (though may be not exclusively) are in the ratio 2: 1:1. 

2. The number of satellites serving all three of B, C, and S is 100. 

3. The number of satellites exclusively serving C is the same as the number of satellites exclusively serving S. This number is 30% of the number of satellites exclusively serving B. 

4. The number of satellites serving O is the same as the number of satellites serving both C and S but not B. 

Question:

If at least 100 of the 1600 satellites were serving O, what can be said about the number of satellites serving S? 

Option: 1

At most 475 

 


Option: 2

Exactly 475 
 


Option: 3

At least 475 

 


Option: 4

No conclusion is possible based on the given information 


1600 satellites were sent up by a country for several purposes. The purposes are classified as broadcasting (B), communication (C), surveillance (S), and others (O). A satellite can serve multiple purposes; however a satellite serving either B, or C, or S does not serve O. 

The following facts are known about the satellites: 

1. The numbers of satellites serving B, C, and S (though may be not exclusively) are in the ratio 2: 1:1. 

2. The number of satellites serving all three of B, C, and S is 100. 

3. The number of satellites exclusively serving C is the same as the number of satellites exclusively serving S. This number is 30% of the number of satellites exclusively serving B. 

4. The number of satellites serving O is the same as the number of satellites serving both C and S but not B. 

Question:

 If the number of satellites serving at least two among B, C, and S is 1200, which of the following MUST be FALSE? 

Option: 1

The number of satellites serving C cannot be uniquely determined 

 


Option: 2

The number of satellites serving B is more than 1000 
 


Option: 3

All 1600 satellites serve B or C or S 

 


Option: 4

The number of satellites serving B exclusively is exactly 250 


2839155 is divisible by

Option: 1

2


Option: 2

7


Option: 3

55


Option: 4

None of the above


'a' for which x^{2}-ax+9= 0 can be written as square of a linear factor is

Option: 1

6


Option: 2

-6,6


Option: 3

\left ( 6,\infty \right )


Option: 4

\left ( -\infty,-6 \right )


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