BIMTECH PGDM Admissions 2026
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Do questions get repeated in CAT: Many candidates often ask do questions get repeated in the CAT exam. As one of the most competitive management entrance tests, the CAT sees participation from over 2 lakh aspirants every year. While the exact questions may not be repeated, similar types of questions from certain sections and topics do appear frequently. Although the wording or numbers may change, the underlying concept or pattern often remains the same. According to the CAT 2025 exam pattern, the paper will consist of MCQs, but some non-MCQ (TITA) questions may also be included. This article explores the trend of repeated question types in the CAT exam, including examples and frequently recurring topics.
IIM Kozhikode will retain its three-stage admission process for the MBA (PGP) 2026–28 batch, with CAT 2025 scores carrying a final weightage of 35 percent. The minimum overall CAT cut-off for general category candidates remains at 85 percentile, with sectional qualifying scores required in VARC, DILR, and QA. Shortlisting of candidates will be based on CAT performance, academic record, and personal interview rounds.
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Many candidates have questions about whether previous CAT questions are repeated in the actual exam. While exact repetition is rare, there are instances where similar questions reappear. Typically, these questions are not repeated word-for-word but are asked in an indirect or slightly altered manner, testing the same underlying concepts.
For example, A function f(n+2) = f(n+1) - f(n) appears twice in CAT and is represented both times differently.
So, candidates should practice more on previous year CAT question papers to know the difficulty level of the exam and prepare for it.
Candidates preparing for CAT 2025 can expect around 10 to 15 repeated or similar questions in the exam. These questions may not appear in the same form but often follow the same concept, pattern, or application as seen in previous year CAT question papers. Practising these past papers helps candidates become familiar with frequently asked question types and enhances problem-solving speed. Therefore, solving previous year CAT papers is a crucial part of preparation, giving candidates a clear advantage and helping improve their overall CAT 2025 score.
The topics that are most expected to have a repeated set of questions are arithmetic and TITA (type in the answer). Due to the limited number of questionable concepts, the questions formulated for the CAT exam tend to remain mostly similar. Even if the candidates practice the most asked type of questions from these concepts, they can expect to find a few questions to be the same.
CAT 2025 VARC Recommended Ebooks
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CAT VARC: 3000+ Most Important English Words | |
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In the CAT exam, questions are generally of two types: MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) and TITA (Type In The Answer). Among the questions that are repeated or follow similar patterns, TITA-type questions are more frequently observed compared to MCQs. Based on feedback from previous CAT aspirants, both MCQ and TITA questions have shown a tendency to recur in different forms in the upcoming CAT 2025 exam.
A significant portion of these repeated question types is found in the VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension) section. In CAT, every Reading Comprehension (RC) question is linked to a passage that can range from 3 to 7 paragraphs. The VARC section comprises 24 questions, with around 6 passages—most being 3-4 paragraphs long, and one or two slightly longer.
These RC passages in CAT are selected from diverse sources, including biological sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities, business, and general topics, often adapted from academic or non-academic texts and periodicals.
To tackle RC questions effectively, candidates must develop skills like:
Identifying the main idea or summary of a passage
Differentiating between major and minor points
Analysing the structure of the text and how the parts relate
Drawing inferences and conclusions
Evaluating the author’s assumptions and perspective
Interpreting word meanings and sentence implications
Considering alternative explanations and identifying strengths and weaknesses in arguments
These are the key reading comprehension abilities assessed in CAT 2025. Mastering these can significantly enhance performance, especially since repeated RC question types are often built around such critical reading skills.
To plan your CAT 2025 preparation effectively, it’s important to understand the complete CAT 2025 syllabus for all three sections: VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Aptitude. The CAT 2025 syllabus for VARC includes topics such as reading comprehension passages, para jumbles, para summaries, odd-sentence out, and grammar-based questions. The CAT DILR syllabus 2025 focuses on data interpretation through tables, charts, and graphs, as well as logical reasoning topics like seating arrangement, puzzles, blood relations, and syllogisms. The CAT syllabus 2025 for Quantitative Aptitude covers arithmetic (percentages, profit and loss, time and work), algebra, geometry, number systems, and modern math topics like permutations and combinations and probability. Understanding these topics well will help candidates prepare strategically and boost their chances of scoring high.
Explore the past 15 years of CAT question papers in the table below. Click on the PDF links provided for each year and slot to download the CAT exam question paper PDFs. Save these CAT previous year papers and begin practising to strengthen your preparation.
Previous Year CAT Question Paper PDF | |
Do questions get repeated in the CAT exam after being asked once? While exact repetition is rare, similar question types often reappear. This is why solving the CAT previous year question papers is a key part of effective preparation. Practising past year CAT papers offers multiple benefits that can enhance a candidate’s performance in CAT 2025. Here are the key advantages:
Boosts confidence by familiarising candidates with the CAT exam pattern and question types
Aids in performance analysis, helping identify strengths and weaknesses
Improves speed and time management through regular timed practice
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By working through previous year CAT papers, candidates gain a clear understanding of the difficulty level, question formats, and commonly tested concepts, ultimately giving them a competitive edge in the exam.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A candidate having a score of 37 in the CAT exam is considered to be decent. With this score, the candidate will land in the 80-85 percentile range.
Candidates can expect around 10 to 15 questions in CAT 2025 to be similar in concept or pattern to questions from previous years. These are often found in topics like Arithmetic and TITA-type questions.
Topics like Arithmetic, Algebra, and Reading Comprehension (RC) frequently have repeated or familiar question types. TITA (Type In The Answer) questions also tend to follow common patterns.
According to the latest marking scheme of the CAT exam, 1 mark is deducted for the questions that are marked incorrectly by the candidate. The CAT exam involves negative markings. For the right answer, 3 marks are awarded.
Candidates can switch between questions for one section at a time only. Switching between sections of the CAT exam is not allowed. The candidates are given 40 minutes to attempt each section. Once the given time limit has passed the system will automatically switch to the next section.
A good score in CAT can vary as per the exa goals of a candidate. For a candidate aiming to get into an IIM, a good CAT score would be between 98-99.9 percentile (it may vary depending on the category). For candidates wishing to go for non-IIMs, a good CAT score would be anything above the 90 percentile.
Not exactly. The CAT exam rarely repeats questions word-for-word, but similar types and concepts often reappear. The language and numbers may change, but the core idea of the question can remain the same.
Candidates can expect around 10 to 15 questions in CAT 2025 to be similar in concept or pattern to questions from previous years. These are often found in topics like Arithmetic and TITA-type questions.
Topics like Arithmetic, Algebra, and Reading Comprehension (RC) frequently have repeated or familiar question types. TITA (Type In The Answer) questions also tend to follow common patterns.
Not exactly. The CAT exam rarely repeats questions word-for-word, but similar types and concepts often reappear. The language and numbers may change, but the core idea of the question can remain the same.
On Question asked by student community
Hello
Scoring 94.3 percentile in CAT is really good, so you should feel proud of yourself. With this percentile, the top old IIMs are tough, but you still have a realistic chance in new and baby IIMs like Raipur, Trichy, Kashipur, Nagpur, Bodh Gaya, Vizag, etc. Your chances will also depend on sectional percentiles, category, academics, and work experience. Do apply widely and prepare well for WAT–PI, because a strong interview can really help.
You can click on the link I am attaching below for more details.
With a CAT 2025 percentile of 86.5, BBA graduation score of 67%, and 10th marks of 76%, you meet most of the basic academic requirements for MBA admission at Nirma University. However, Class 12 marks are an important factor to consider in your case.
Nirma University’s Institute of Management usually specifies a minimum eligibility of 50% aggregate in Class 10, Class 12, and graduation for general category candidates (45% for reserved categories). Since you have scored 48% in Class 12, you are slightly below the usual minimum requirement. This means that, strictly speaking, you may face eligibility issues at the application or shortlisting stage.
That said, Nirma University follows a composite score–based shortlisting process. CAT score, academic profile, work experience (if any), diversity factors, and performance in PI are all considered together. In some admission cycles, candidates marginally below the Class 12 cutoff have still been allowed to participate in the selection process, especially if their CAT percentile and interview performance were strong.
However, you should be realistic. A low Class 12 score does weaken your profile and cannot be fully “compensated” by CAT score alone. The PI performance can help improve your chances only if you clear the basic eligibility criteria set by the institute for that particular year. Final admission depends on institute-level scrutiny of documents.
What you should do:
Carefully check the latest Nirma MBA admission brochure for the exact Class 12 eligibility clause.
Apply if you meet the minimum eligibility or if the institute allows provisional consideration.
Prepare very well for the PI to justify academic improvement from Class 12 to graduation.
Keep backup MBA colleges that accept 85–90 percentile and have more flexible academic criteria.
In summary, admission to Nirma University is possible but uncertain due to your Class 12 marks. Your CAT score and PI can strengthen your case, but they may not completely override the minimum eligibility requirement.
Hello aspirant,
Here below I am providing you with the name of some of the best CAT coaching in Chandigarh:
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Yes, with an 89 percentile in CAT, your daughter has a good chance of securing admission in several reputed MBA colleges in India, though top IIMs may be difficult unless she has strong academic diversity, category reservation, or exceptional profile factors. At this percentile range, many well-known Tier-2 and upper Tier-3 management institutes consider candidates for their flagship MBA/PGDM programs.
Institutes such as IMI New Delhi, IMT Hyderabad, XIMB HRM, GIM Goa (certain programs), FORE School of Management, LBSIM Delhi, TAPMI Manipal (borderline), IFMR GSB, Great Lakes (PGDM) and several reputed university MBA programs actively shortlist candidates around the 85–90 percentile range. Final selection does not depend on CAT score alone; academic background, work experience, diversity, performance in GD/PI/WAT also play a significant role.
To maximise chances, she should apply to a balanced mix of colleges, prepare well for interviews, and highlight strengths such as internships, certifications, leadership roles, or work experience. If her profile is average and she aims for higher-ranked institutes, she may also consider repeating CAT with focused preparation to push her percentile above 95.
With an overall CAT percentile of around 80 and belonging to the NC-OBC category, you do have a reasonable set of MBA college options in India, including some IITs, though the older IIMs and top IIT MBA programs will be difficult at this score.
Among the IITs, you can realistically look at newer and mid-tier MBA programs. IIT Jodhpur (MBA), IIT Bhilai, IIT Jammu, and IIT Dharwad have historically considered candidates in the 75–85 percentile range under reserved categories like NC-OBC. These institutes usually evaluate candidates on a composite score that includes CAT performance, academic background, work experience (if any), and interview performance. However, IIT Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Kharagpur, Kanpur, and Roorkee typically require much higher CAT percentiles even for reserved categories, so the chances there are quite low at 80 percentile.
Apart from IITs, several good government and semi-government institutions can be strong options. NIT Trichy (DOMS), NIT Warangal (SOM), NIT Calicut (SOM), and NIT Durgapur are worth applying to, as NITs often have relatively lower cutoffs for NC-OBC candidates compared to IIMs. Central universities such as Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University, University of Hyderabad, and Delhi School of Management (DTU) can also be considered, subject to their sectional cutoffs and your academic profile.
In the private B-school space, there are multiple reputed institutes where an 80 percentile with NC-OBC reservation offers a fair chance. These include IMT Nagpur and IMT Hyderabad, GIM Goa (for some programs), TAPMI Manipal, FORE School of Management, K J Somaiya Mumbai, BIMTECH Greater Noida, IRMA Anand (profile dependent), and IFMR GSB at Krea University. At these institutes, interview performance, SOP quality, and overall profile play a major role in final selection.
Overall, it is advisable to apply broadly and not rely on a single institute. Focus on newer IITs, NITs, and well-established private B-schools, and prepare thoroughly for the personal interview and group discussion rounds, as at this percentile level, strong performance beyond CAT can significantly improve your final admission chances.
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