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The Common Admission Test (CAT) is a respected examination across India for attaining admission to MBA programs. Over the years, the CAT exam pattern has undergone significant changes, especially in the number of exam slots and the quantity of questions. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CAT exam pattern was changed after six years. From 2014 to 2019, the CAT exam structure remained relatively stable, although there were certain adjustments in the sorts of questions and their distribution. The number of exam slots grew from two to three, and the questions were decreased from 76 to 66. The CAT exam pattern has continually developed, containing alterations in the method of examination, question quantity, registered students, and different aspects.
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Major Changes in CAT Exam Pattern in the Past 5 Years
Since the past few years, the way the CAT exam is done has transformed a lot, making it harder and more competitive. Below are the major transformations that are done in the CAT exam over the past five years:
- In 2020, because of COVID-19, the exam time was decreased from 180 to 120 minutes. Each section became more straightforward, now 40 minutes rather than 60, and there were more time slots for the exam, going from two to three.
- In 2021, the number of questions dropped from 76 to 66, and the exam was divided into three sections rather than two.
- From 2014 to 2019, the CAT exam did not change much. There were some small adjustments in the kinds of questions, but in general, it remained the same.
- The number of times the exam was held grew from two to three during this time.
- There were important differences in the CAT exam pattern in 2015, 2020, and 2021, making the exam more difficult for students.
Must Reads on CAT Exam Archives
CAT 2023 Exam Pattern & Marking Scheme
The CAT (Common Admission Test) is a favourably competitive MBA entrance exam in India. Candidates preparing for this exam need to comprehend the CAT exam pattern and marking system thoroughly. While the overall pattern has remained fairly consistent in recent years, with some little changes in question types and distribution, there were no alterations in 2021 and 2022. The exam includes three sections: VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension), DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning), and QA (Quantitative Ability). There are 66 questions in total, with a maximum of 198 marks. The exam duration is two hours, and it is conducted online.
| CAT Sections | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | Total |
| Number of Questions | 24 | 20 | 22 | 66 |
| Allotted Time | 40 minutes | 40 minutes | 40 minutes | 120 minutes |
Read Also: CAT Syllabus: PDF (Out): A Comprehensive Summary
Changes in CAT Exam Pattern in 2020 Due to Covid-19
In 2020, the CAT exam went through important differences because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The major alterations contained:
- The exam period was shrunken from 180 to 120 minutes.
- Time per section was reduced from 60 to 40 minutes.
- The number of exam slots grew from two to three.
The CAT exam pattern remained the same for the past six years until 2020 due to COVID-19. From 2014 to 2019, there were a few differences in the kinds of questions and their allocation, but overall, it remained constant.
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| Everything You Need to Know About CAT Exam 2024 | How to Crack CAT Exam in First Attempt Without Coaching |
| CAT Application Out (Soon), Exam Dates, Eligibility, Syllabus | What is the Full Form of CAT? |
FAQs
In the past six years, the marking method of the CAT exam has also not changed. For individually correct answers, 3 marks are allocated and for each wrong answer, -1 mark is deducted. There is no deduction of marks for TITA questions and questions left unattempted.
In 2023 CAT was held yesterday, in 3 different slots on November 26th. Candidates who took the paper called it the toughest CAT paper ever. In 2023 CAT paper was set by IIM Lucknow.
The CAT exam pattern 2024 has been defined by the IIMs. As per the official pattern, the 2024 CAT exam will have 66 objective-type questions (MCQ and TITA) to be solved within 120 minutes. These 120 minutes will be split into 40 minutes each for the three sections of the exam.
This was all about the changes in the CAT exam pattern past 5 years. For more informative blogs, check out our Management Exams Section, or you can learn more about us by visiting our Indian exams page of Leverage Edu.