If you are planning to appear for CAT 2025, one of the biggest questions in your mind is — “What will the CAT exam pattern be in 2025?”

Good news! The overall pattern is expected to remain similar to the last few years, with a few details still based on trends.

CAT Exam Pattern 2025 – Overview (Expected & Verified Details):

The Common Admission Test (CAT 2025) will be conducted on Sunday, 30 November 2025, by IIM Kozhikode.
Like every year, CAT will be held in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode.

Key Highlights of the CAT 2025 Exam Pattern

• Mode: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
• Total Duration: 120 minutes (2 hours)
• Total Sections: 3 (VARC, DILR, QA)
• Sectional Time Limit: Expected 40 minutes per section
• Exam Day Slots: Morning, Afternoon, Evening
• Official Conducting Body: IIM Kozhikode

These points are fully confirmed by official notification sources.

CAT 2025 Question Paper Format (Expected Based on Trends):

Since IIMs do not release the exact structure months before the exam, the following details are based on the last 3 years’ patterns:

Expected Total Questions in CAT 2025

CAT is expected to have 66 to 68 questions in total.
Different reliable sources mention slight variations, but the real range falls between 66–68.

Likely Section-Wise Question Distribution

This structure is not officially confirmed yet, but strongly aligned with recent CAT trends.

CAT 2025 Sections :

1. VARC – Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

• Mostly Reading Comprehension (RC) passages
• Some Verbal Ability questions, like Para Jumbles or Summary
• Mix of MCQs and TITA questions
• No calculator allowed

Expected difficulty: Moderate to high

2. DILR – Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

• Usually 4–5 sets of DI + LR
• Each set has 4–6 questions
• Mix of MCQs and TITA
• No on-screen calculator for LR (only for DI-based calculations)

Expected difficulty: Moderate but time-consuming

3. QA – Quantitative Aptitude

• Covers Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Number System
• Typically has the highest number of TITA questions
• A calculator is allowed for basic operations

Expected difficulty: Moderate, depends on preparation

CAT 2025 Marking Scheme (Expected)

Based on previous years, CAT usually follows this pattern:

• +3 marks for every correct MCQ
• –1 mark for wrong MCQs
• 0 negative marking for TITA questions
• Total expected marks: Around 198–204

Again, this is trend-based, as the full marking scheme for 2025 will be confirmed in the final information bulletin.

CAT 2025 Exam Mode: CBT Format Explained

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CAT is not an online exam where questions change based on your answers.
It is simply a CBT format where:

• Questions appear on the screen
• You select answers using the mouse/keyboard
• Rough sheets are provided
• The timer is visible on the screen

CAT 2025 Difficulty Level (Expected)

CAT never maintains the same difficulty level over the years.
However, the overall level is usually:

• VARC – Moderate
• DILR – Moderate to Difficult
• QA – Moderate

Slot-wise difficulty can vary.

Final Tips for CAT 2025 Preparation

• Practice sectional tests to tackle the fixed time limit
• Focus more on DILR sets and QA basics
• Improve RC skills through daily reading
• Take full-length Computer-Based Mock Tests to build speed

Start Your CAT 2025 Prep Smartly

The CAT exam pattern for 2025 is expected to remain similar to previous years with a 2-hour CBT exam, three sections, and 66–68 questions.
Once the official information bulletin is released, students should confirm final details such as question distribution and marking scheme.

To prepare most smartly:

Take Free & Premium CAT Mock Tests.

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