CAT Exam Pattern for 2022, Syllabus, Question Paper, Marks

CAT Exam Pattern for 2022, Syllabus, Question Paper, Marks

CAT Exam Pattern 2022: As per IIM Bangalore, the CAT 2022 exam pattern till now is the same as last year. The exam pattern of CAT 2022 helps candidates to understand the structure of the CAT question paper and marking scheme which will also help in better CAT exam preparation. Since the CAT application process has now started, candidates must pay proper attention to the CAT exam pattern to ace this exam. According to the exam schedule, CAT 2022 will be conducted in online mode on November 27.

CAT Exam Pattern 2022: Major Highlights

CAT test pattern has undergone major changes in the last two years which can be owed to the covid-19 pandemic. Read the article to know in detail all about CAT 2022 exam pattern, including exam structure, sectional time limit in CAT exam, marking scheme, and more.

Before going to appear for the CAT 2022 exam, one should know what is the pattern of the CAT exam. The CAT exam pattern and the test procedure have been announced along with the CAT 2022 exam dates and the notification. Candidates planning to opt for CAT 2022 must familiarize themselves with the latest CAT exam pattern and syllabus 2022.

As per the CAT test pattern, the exam will be held in three slots, that is in the morning, afternoon, and evening on the same day, as the computer-based test (CBT).

CAT 2022 Test Pattern

Particulars

Details

Duration of the CAT Exam

2 Hours (120 Minutes)

Name of the Section

  • Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

  • Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

  • Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

Section-wise Duration

  • 40 Minutes for Each Section (VARC, DILR, QA).
  • 53 Minutes 20 Seconds for PwD candidates for each section.

Slot-wise Session

  • Slot 1: 8:30 am - 10:30 am (Morning Session)

  • Slot 2: 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm (Afternoon Session)

  • Slot 3: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm (Evening Session)

Number of Questions

66 Questions

CAT exam total marks

198 marks

Mode of the CAT 2022 exam

Computer-Based Mode (CBT)

CAT Marking Scheme

  • For every right answer, +3 will be awarded

  • For every wrong answer in MCQs, -1 will be deducted

  • No negative marks for Non-MCQs

CAT Test Pattern 2022- Important points

  • Candidates can use an on-screen calculator for computation during CAT 2022 exam
  • By using an on-screen clock candidates can check the time
  • Sheets will be provided to candidates for rough work, which has to be submitted after the conclusion of the CAT exam for MBA.
  • Candidates will not be allowed to switch from one section to another while answering questions in one section.
  • The CAT official mock test will be released on the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in. It generally reveals the overall and section-wise IIM CAT 2022 exam pattern. The three sessions in which CAT 2022 will be conducted are:
    • Morning session (8:30 am - 10:30 pm)
    • Afternoon session (12:30 pm - 2:30 pm)
    • Evening session (4:30 pm - 6:30 pm).

Check out the CAT 2022 notification video by CareersToday-

Click here to download the CAT exam pattern pdf

Browse Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Score: Location-Wise

MBA College in Delhi Accepting CAT ScoreMBA College in Delhi NCR Accepting CAT Score
MBA College in Bangalore Accepting CAT ScoreMBA College in Mumbai Accepting CAT Score
MBA College in Pune Accepting CAT ScoreMBA College in Hyderabad Accepting CAT Score
MBA College in Chennai Accepting CAT ScoreMBA College in Ahmedabad Accepting CAT Score
MBA College in Kolkata Accepting CAT Score
MBA College in India Accepting CAT Score

Section-wise CAT Exam Pattern 2022

Section as per IIM CAT Exam Pattern 2022

Total Questions

Allotted TimeAllotted Time for PwD Students

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

24

40 Minutes53 minutes and 20 seconds

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

20

40 Minutes53 minutes and 20 seconds

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

20

40 Minutes53 minutes and 20 seconds

Total

66

120 Minutes160 minutes

Read more-

  • Best Study Material for CAT 2022
  • CAT 2022 Preparation Material

Slot Wise Highlights in MBA CAT Exam Pattern 2022 (Expected)

  • VARC Section: 4 RC passages with 18 MCQs; VA 8 Non-MCQs are subdivided into Para Summaries, Para Jumbles, and Context Sentences.

  • DILR: Data Interpretation: 14 Questions, Logical Reasoning: 10 Questions, All in Sets of 6 & 4 Questions

  • QA: High on Arithmetic, Other on Geometry, Log, Algebra, Roots, etc.

Time Distribution

Know more;

  • Part-Time MBA in India

  • Selecting The Right B-school

CAT Marking Scheme 2022

CAT exam pattern includes the marking scheme under which the candidates get to know the total marks awarded for each correct answer and how many marks will be deducted if the candidate answers the question incorrectly.

  • For each correct answer, three marks will be awarded.

  • For each wrong answer, one mark will be deducted.

  • For unanswered questions, no marks will be deducted. Also for Non-MCQs, no marks will be deducted.

The following table summarizes the marking scheme for CAT 2022:

Type of QuestionsCorrect AnswerIncorrect Answer
MCQ+3-1
Non-MCQ+30

Other Relevant Topics:

CAT Participating Institutes 2022CAT Cutoff 2022
CAT Result 2022How to fill CAT application form 2022
CAT notificationCAT quantitative aptitude syllabus

How has the CAT Exam pattern evolved over the years?

The CAT exam pattern has been changed multiple times. By referring to the below table the candidates will be able to know a clear idea about how the exam pattern of CAT evolved over the years.

The CAT contains three sections such as,

  • Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

  • Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

  • Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

There is no difference in the sections for each year. Also, there is no difference in the CAT exam pattern marking scheme.

Year

Number of Question

Difficulty Level

Duration

Conducting body

2021

66

Moderate to High (Expected)

2 hours

IIM Ahmedabad

2020

76

Moderate to High

2 hours

IIM Indore

2019

100

Moderate to High

3 hours

IIM Kozhikode

2018

100

Moderate to High

3 hours

IIM Calcutta

2017

100

Moderate

3 hours

IIM Lucknow

2016

100

Moderate to difficult

3 hours

IIM Bangalore

2015

100

Moderate to difficult

3 hours

IIM Ahmedabad

2014

100

Moderate to Easy

2.50 hours

IIM Indore

2013

60

Moderate to Easy

2:20 hours

IIM Indore

2012

60

Moderate to Easy

2.20 hours

IIM Indore

2011

60

Moderate

2.20 hours

IIM Calcutta

Also Read: How to Prepare for CAT 2022

CAT Exam Syllabus 2022

IIM Bangalore does not announce the CAT exam syllabus 2022. However, based on last year’s CAT question papers, candidates can check the topics on which the questions are asked.

Section-Wise CAT Syllabus 2022

Section

Topics

Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

  • Verbal Ability

  • English Usage or Grammar

  • Close Passage

  • Synonyms Antonyms

  • Facts-inferences-judgments

  • Jumbled Paragraph

  • Reading Comprehension

  • Verbal Reasoning

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

  • Caselets

  • Blood Relations

  • Calendars

  • Bar Graphs

  • Column Graphs

  • Tables

  • Cubes

  • Clocks

  • Binary Logic

  • Line Charts

  • Combination of two or more types linked to each other

  • Syllogism

  • Venn Diagrams

  • Pie Chart

  • Number and Letter Series

  • Seating Arrangement

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

  • Algebra

  • Higher Maths

  • Geometry

  • Trigonometry

  • Mensuration

  • Arithmetic

CAT Mock Test 2022

The candidates who are all going to appear in the CAT 2022, can take the official CAT Mock Test 2022. IIM Bangalore will release the CAT 2022 mock test tentatively in the third week of October. It will help to face the main CAT exam without any fear and also help to attend to the questions within the given time. By appearing in the mock test, the aspirants can get an idea of how to move between different sections. Before appearing in the CAT 2022 mock test, students must know the CAT exam pattern 2022 and they must also go through the CAT exam sample papers.

How to move between sections when responding to CAT 2022?

Candidates should follow the instructions given on the computer screen while answering the questions in CAT 2022. According to the IIM CAT exam pattern 2022, the important points that candidates should keep in mind while answering the questions are as follows:

The moment the candidate logs in and starts answering questions, the timer clock on the upper right corner will start beating. After 40 minutes, the section will be locked and candidates will not be able to answer further questions.

How to answer the questions in CAT 2022?

Before going to start the CAT examination, the students should have to know how to answer questions. Candidates should use the following options when answering questions:

  • Save and Next: Candidates should select the answer, save it, and move on to the next one.

  • Clear Response: Candidates will have the option to delete the answer to the question they answered.

  • Mark for Review and Next: If the candidate is unsure about the answer, in such a case they have the option to mark it as a review, then answer it, and then move on to the next question.

NOTE: When answering questions, one should use the mouse provided. Using the system keyboard will lock the computer screen.

What does each color on the panel represent?

Panel Colour

What it Indicates

Red

The question was not answered and is not marked for review.

Green

The question was answered and not reviewed.

Grey

Question not viewed or visited.

Violet

The question is marked for review and not yet answered.

Violet with Green tick

The question was marked and answered for review.

Also Read;

  • Top B-schools in India - Know the Seats and Fee

  • Is MBA Worth It?

CAT Exam Analysis of Previous Years

CAT 2021 Analysis

The CAT 2021 paper was moderate to tough in terms of difficulty level but the VARC section was tough in all three slots. DILR and QA sections were easy as compared to VARC. QA section of the third slot was slightly tougher than slot 1 and 2. Check below question wise break up of the CAT 2021 paper:

Sections

Number of Questions

Type

Difficulty Level

VARC

24

16 RC questions, 8 VA questions

Tough

DILR

20

Two DI sets ( 4 and 6 questions)

Two LR set ( 4 and 6 questions)

Moderate to Tough

QA

22

Dominated by Arithmetic (11 questions) and Algebra (5 questions)

Moderate

CAT 2020 Exam Analysis

The CAT 2020 paper was moderate overall in terms of difficulty, but the VARC section was difficult in all three shifts. The DILR and QA sections were easier compared to VARC.

SectionsNumber of MCQsNumber of Non-MCQs
VARC277
DILR248
QA2311

Also Read:

  • CAT Exam Analysis
  • How to Score 100 Percentile in CAT 2022?
  • One Year Study Plan for CAT 2022