CAT 2026
CAT previous year papers: pattern by year, topic trends and how to use them
Past CAT papers are the best guide to what the exam really asks, but only if you use them well. Here is how the paper changed over the years, which topics recur in each section, and a five-step method for getting the most from every paper you solve.
How the CAT paper changed, year by year
| Year | Duration | Questions | Section split | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 to 2019 | 3 hours (60 minutes per section) | 100 questions | VARC 34, DILR 32, QA 34 (as in 2019) | Longest format, with three sections of 60 minutes. |
| 2020 | 2 hours (40 minutes per section) | 76 questions | VARC 26, DILR 24, QA 26 | First shortened, 2-hour paper. |
| 2021 | 2 hours | 66 questions | VARC 24, DILR 20, QA 22 | Fewer questions per section. |
| 2022 | 2 hours | 66 questions | VARC 24, DILR 20, QA 22 | Same split as 2021. |
| 2023 | 2 hours | 66 questions | VARC 24, DILR 20, QA 22 | Reported with the same split as 2021 and 2022. |
| 2024 and 2025 | 2 hours (40 minutes per section) | 68 questions | VARC 24, DILR 22, QA 22 | The structure our full-length mocks follow. |
Official exam dates, from the IIMs' CAT advertisements: 28 November 2021, 26 November 2023, 24 November 2024 and 30 November 2025. CAT 2026 is scheduled for Sunday 29 November 2026, conducted by IIM Indore. The section splits above are compiled from published exam analyses and checked against each other, and years where sources differed are marked. Marking in recent papers is +3 for a correct answer and −1 for a wrong multiple-choice answer, with no negative marking for type-in-the-answer questions. Always confirm the exact pattern on iimcat.ac.in. Last checked on 2 October 2026.
What past papers tend to test, section by section
VARC
- Reading comprehension passages carry the largest share of marks, usually with a mix of factual, inference and tone questions.
- The verbal ability part has para-jumbles, odd sentence out and para-summary questions, often typed in rather than chosen.
- Passage topics lean towards social science, economics, history of ideas and the arts rather than technical subjects.
DILR
- Four to five sets, mixing data interpretation (tables, charts, caselets) with logical reasoning (arrangements, scheduling, games, puzzles).
- Set selection matters as much as solving: strong scorers skip the one or two messiest sets.
- Sets tend to be long on reading and short on heavy calculation.
QA
- Arithmetic and algebra are the biggest blocks, followed by geometry and mensuration, number system, and modern maths (permutation and combination, probability, sets).
- A fair share of questions are type-in-the-answer, with no negative marking.
- Recent papers reward clean fundamentals over exotic tricks.
How to use a previous year paper
- Pick one paper and block the time. Attempt a whole paper, or at least one full section, in the real time limit and without help. Practice only counts if it is timed.
- Mark what you guessed. While solving, note which answers were guesses. A guessed correct answer is still a gap in your preparation.
- Analyse before you look at the score. For every question you got wrong or guessed, find out whether the cause was a concept gap, a calculation slip or a time problem.
- Group mistakes by topic. Track your errors by topic (for example, time and work, para-jumbles, arrangements). Patterns appear quickly.
- Redo the wrong questions a week later. Re-attempt your errors after about a week without looking at the solution. If you still get them wrong, go back to the concept.
Practise the same pattern here, free
Our tests are original questions, written and checked to match the recent CAT pattern, with a full solution for every question.
- Full-length CAT mock: 3 sections, 68 questions, sectional timing and +3 / −1 marking
- CAT Quant tests, VARC tests and DILR tests for sectional practice
- CAT flashcards for formulas and strategy revision
- Our longer guide to using CAT previous year papers
- How to prepare for CAT 2026, step by step
Frequently asked questions
Are previous year CAT papers available on PrepTest Hub?
We do not host copies of past CAT papers. They are copyrighted by the conducting institutes, and we only publish questions we have written ourselves. Instead, this page gives you the year-by-year pattern, the topic trends and a method for using past papers, and our full-length mock and sectional tests are original questions written to match the recent CAT pattern.
Why should I solve previous year CAT questions at all?
They show the real difficulty level, the style of questions and the topics that recur. They are the best calibration for your preparation, which is why they are worth using alongside timed mocks.
How many years of papers should I solve?
Most aspirants focus on the last four to five years, because the pattern changed in 2020, again in 2021 and again in 2024. Older papers (3-hour, 100-question format) are still useful for topic practice but not for timing.
What is the difference between a previous year paper and a mock test?
A previous year paper is an actual past exam, a mock is a practice paper written to imitate it. Papers tell you what CAT has asked, mocks let you rehearse the exam condition many times. You need both.
Where can I practise questions in the CAT style for free?
On PrepTest Hub, take our free full-length CAT mock (3 sections, 68 questions, sectional timing) and the sectional tests for VARC, DILR and Quant, all with solutions.