Do Questions Get Repeated in the CAT: Previous Year Question Paper PDF

Do Questions Get Repeated in the CAT: Previous Year Question Paper PDF

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CAT Application Date:01 Aug' 25 - 20 Sep' 25

Team Careers360Updated on 02 Jul 2025, 04:57 PM IST

Do questions get repeated in CAT: Many candidates often wonder whether questions are 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.

This Story also Contains

  1. Do Questions Get Repeated in the CAT Exam?
  2. Topics With Repeated Questions in the CAT
  3. Type of Repeated Questions in the CAT 2025 VARC
  4. CAT Previous Year Question Paper with Solution PDF (2010-2024)
  5. Benefits of Practising Previous Year CAT Question Papers
Do Questions Get Repeated in the CAT: Previous Year Question Paper PDF
Do Questions Get Repeated in the CAT

Do Questions Get Repeated in the CAT Exam?

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 differently both times.

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So, candidates should practice more on previous year CAT question papers to know the difficulty level of the exam and prepare for it.

How Many Questions Get Repeated in the CAT?

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 exact 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.

Topics With Repeated Questions in the CAT

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.

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Type of Repeated Questions in the CAT 2025 VARC

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

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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.

Check the CAT 2025 Subject-wise Syllabus

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.

CAT Previous Year Question Paper with Solution PDF (2010-2024)

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.

CAT Syllabus: Subjects & Chapters
Select your preferred subject to view the chapters

Benefits of Practising Previous Year CAT Question Papers

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)

Q: How many questions in CAT 2025 are likely to be similar to previous years?
A:

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.

Q: Which topics usually have repeated or similar questions in the CAT exam?
A:

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.

Q: Are the same questions repeated in the CAT exam every year?
A:

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.

Q: How many questions in CAT 2025 are likely to be similar to previous years?
A:

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.

Q: Which topics usually have repeated or similar questions in the CAT exam?
A:

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.

Q: Are the same questions repeated in the CAT exam every year?
A:

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.

Q: Can we switch between questions in CAT?
A:

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.

Q: What is a good score in CAT?
A:

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.

Q: How many marks are deducted in CAT for wrong questions?
A:

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.

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Questions related to CAT

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Hello Aspirant,

Since your payment status shows "S" , it means your payment is successful. The "payment unsuccessful" message on the form is likely a temporary system error or a delay in updating.

Do not make another payment.

Making a second payment could cause a double debit, which is difficult to get a refund for. You should:

  1. Wait 24-48 hours for the status to update automatically.

  2. Download and save a copy of your form and a screenshot of the "S" payment status as proof.

  3. Check your bank statement to confirm the money has been debited.

  4. If the issue is not fixed after 48 hours, contact the official CAT helpdesk immediately with your transaction details.

Hello

The CAT 2025 exam is a national-level MBA entrance test for IIMs and top B-schools in India. It will be held on 30th November 2025 in computer-based mode across ~170 cities.
The registration is open from 1st August to 13th September 2025 on iimcat.ac.in .
Admit cards will be available from 5th November 2025 onward.
Graduates with at least 50 marks (45 for SC/ST/PwD) are eligible to apply.
The exam tests English, Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude in three timed sections.

Yes, you can pursue an MBA at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow, through the CAT exam.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Educational Qualification: A bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD candidates) from a recognized university.

  • Entrance Exam: A valid CAT score is required for admission.

Admission Process:

  1. Application: Register online through the BBAU admission portal.

  2. Entrance Exam: Appear for the CAT exam and obtain a valid score.

  3. Counseling: Shortlisted candidates will be called for counseling based on their CAT scores.

  4. Document Verification: Submit necessary documents for verification.

  5. Fee Payment: Complete the fee payment to confirm admission.

Course Details:

  • Duration: 2 years (full-time).

  • Specializations: Finance, Marketing, Human Resource Management, among others.

Placement Opportunities:
BBAU has a strong placement record, with top companies recruiting MBA graduates.

For more details and to apply, visit the  official BBAU MBA admission page

Hello Amgothu

With 305 marks in ICAR PG and being from ST category, your chances of getting an AIEEA (CAT) seat is good, especially in plant sciences and less competitive subjects