CAT 2022 exam date is November 27, 2022 and the exam will be conducted in three slots of two hours each. The exam pattern for CAT 2022 is completely changed with fewer number of questions by IIM Bangalore which is conducting CAT this year. Some of the features in CAT exam pattern – like number of sections, scoring pattern, sectional and overall time limit are not changed.
Table of Contents
- CAT 2022 Exam Pattern: Key Highlights of Revised Pattern
- CAT 2022 Exam Pattern Vs Last year pattern: Key Changes
- Key Features of CAT 2022 Exam: Not an Online Exam and More
- CAT 2022 Pattern: Sectional Composition
- Detailed Section wise Pattern for CAT 2022: Sections, Sub-sections, Difficulty level
- Eight Key Facts about CAT Exam 2022
- CAT exam Pattern: Last Six Years
- CAT 2022: Computer Based Exam but Not Online Test
- CAT Vs Other Top MBA Entrance Exams: Comparative Analysis
- CAT Exam: Key Trends since Computerization
- Possible Disruptions in CAT 2022 Due to Covid
- FAQs on CAT Exam Pattern
- CAT 2022 Exam Pattern: Key Highlights of Revised Pattern
The CAT 2022 pattern is likely to remain same as was for CAT 2022.
- Same number of 3 CAT exam slots
- Same Time duration of 2 hours
- CAT question paper to remain divided between MCQs and Non MCQs
- Scoring pattern with +3 marks for each correct answer
- Same Negative marking for MCQs with -1 for each wrong answer
- No Negative marking for Non-MCQ
- Same number of 66 questions in CAT exam
- No change in the CAT testing mode
Although, CAT exam pattern keeps on getting revamped at least to some extent after each CAT exam, IIM which will conduct CAT 2022 exam is likely to keep the CAT exam pattern and format on the same lines.
- CAT Pattern 2022: Key Highlights
CAT 2022 Exam is likely to have following structure and pattern
| CAT 2022 Exam Components | CAT 2022 Pattern |
| Test duration | 2 hrs (120 Minutes) |
| Test sessions/Slots | 3 (Morning, Afternoon and Evening) |
| Total questions | 66 |
| Total score | 198 |
| Number of Sections in CAT question paper | 3 (VARC; DILR; QA) |
| Time Allotted for Each Section in CAT exam | 40 Minutes |
| Total questions in VARC Section | 24 |
| Total Questions in DILR section | 20 |
| Total Questions in QA section | 22 |
1.2 CAT 2022 Remains a Computer Based Test
IIMs will conduct CAT 2022 as a computer based test. As per the revised pattern, CAT 2022 will be divided into 3 sections – VARC, DILR and Quant. Each section is timed with the individual time limit. You need to ensure high score in each of the three sections as there is also a sectional score cut off in IIMs for shortlisting. It will be a computer based test of 2 hours duration on the same date.
- CAT 2022 Pattern Vs Last year CAT Pattern: Key Highlights
There were 66 questions in last year CAT exam and IIMs propose to keep the same number of questions in CAT 2022 too.
- Expected Number of Questions in CAT 2022 Vs CAT 2022
| CAT Exam Year | Time limit | Total number of Questions |
| CAT 2021 | 120 Minutes (2 Hours) | 66 |
| CAT 2022 | 120 Minutes (2 Hours) | 66 (Expected) |
All the three CAT exam 2022 testing slots are designed to ensure the safety of all stake holders in the Covid pandemic.
3. Key Features of CAT 2022 Exam Pattern
IIMs will release the CAT 2022 Notification in the last week of July or first week of August 2022 on CAT official website as well as in News papers. Following are the key features of CAT 2022 exam
- CAT 2022 Exam likely date is November 27, 2022
- CAT is a computer based exam, but it is not an online exam.
- Exam is Divided into three sections: VARC; DILR; Quant
- There are two types of questions in CAT 2022 exam – MCQs and Non-MCQs
- MCQs have negative marking for wrong answer and Non-MCQs do not carry penalty of negative marking
- Questions with negative marking (MCQs) are 70% to 75% of total questions
- You need to choose & click on correct answer out of 4 answer options for MCQ type questions
- Questions without negative marking (Non-MCQs) are 25% to 30% of total questions
- Answer must be typed in the given space on computer screen for Non-MCQ.
- Score awarded for each correct answer: + 3 marks
- Negative marking (Applicable for wrong answers in MCQs): -1 mark
- Fixed order of sections to move beginning from section-1: VARC, followed by DILR and QA
- Each section is individually timed. Your time to attempt each section is 40 minutes. You cannot move to other section till individual time of one section is over.
- Attempt CAT Mock Tests, CAT Sample Papers, Previous CAT Test Papers prepared by MBAUniverse.com to check pattern of CAT Exam 2022 and to check your preparation level
- IIMs will release tutorial to understand the format of CAT 20221 Test and question pattern on the CAT 2022 website in mid October, 2022
- CAT 2022 exam will be held in 155+ test cities across the country
4. CAT 2022 Pattern: Sectional Composition
CAT exam is changed to 2 hours exam. Earlier it was of 3 hours duration. Key details are shared below
- CAT 2022 Exam is of 2 Hours duration like last year.
- CAT 2022 exam slots are Morning, Afternoon and Evening sessions
- CAT 2022 Exam to have 66 Questions divided into MCQs and Non-MCQ type questions
The table below shares the CAT exam sectional order from Section-1 to Section-3, number and type of questions in each section, questions with and without negative marking and total maximum marks available for each section for the CAT exam 2022
4.1 CAT 2022 pattern: Sectional composition
CAT 2022 will have the pattern as shown below in the table which shares the CAT exam sectional order from Section-1 to Section-3, number and type of questions in each section, questions with and without negative marking and total maximum marks available for each section
| CAT 2022 exam components | Total questions | Total MCQs (With negative marking) | Total Non-MCQs (Without negative marking) | Highlights |
| Section-1: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 19 | 5 | 4 RC Passages with MCQs; VA Non MCQs divided into Para jumbles, Para Summary, and Out of Context Sentences |
| Section-2: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 15 | 5 | LR – 10 Ques DI – 10 Ques All in Sets of 3 & 4 Qs |
| Section-3: Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | 14 | 8 | High on Arithmetic. Other on Log, Geometry, Roots, Algebra |
| Total | 66 | 48 | 18 | — |
5. Detailed Section wise Pattern for CAT 2022: Sections, Sub-sections, Difficulty level
CAT exam was totally revamped by IIM Ahmedabad in 2015 and since then CAT has followed the same pattern for all the 3 sections. The section wise key features of CAT 2022 sectional exam pattern are:
5.1 Section-1: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Total questions: 24
- RC passages: 4-5
- Share of RC Based Questions: 70%
- Type of RC Based questions: All MCQs with 1/3 negative marking
- VA questions: 5-6
- Type of VA Questions: Non-MCQs without negative marking
- LOD: Moderate to Very difficult
- Section Highlights:
- No Grammar or vocabulary based questions
- Verbal Ability questions confines to 3 topics – Jumbled paragraph; Para summary; picking the odd sentence out of the jumbled sentences
5.2 Section-2: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Total questions: 20
- Share of DI questions: 10
- Share of LR questions: 10
- Type of Questions: MCQs: 75%; Non-MCQs: 25%
- LoD: Moderate to difficult
- Section Highlights:
- Questions appear in set of 4
- Time crunch is faced by test takers as questions are more time consuming
5.3 Section-3: Quantitative Ability (QA)
- Total questions: 22
- Type of Questions: MCQs: 14; Non-MCQs: 8
- LoD: Moderate to difficult
- Section Highlights:
- More questions are on Arithmetic – Percentage, Profit & Loss, Time & speed, Work/days, Compound interest
5.4 Sub-Sections in CAT Exam
There are sub sections within the 3 sections in revised pattern for CAT exam 2022. For example, the revamped VARC section in CAT consists of Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension sub sections; DILR contains questions on Data Interpretation and Logical reasoning.
6. Eight Key Facts about CAT Exam 2022
- CAT Test takers cannot leave their seats during the exam.
- There may not be any answer choices for some of the Non-MCQs in revised pattern of CAT 2022
- Each correct answer in CAT exam will be awarded 3 marks whether it is MCQ or Non-MCQ
- CAT remains on the lines of CAT official Mock test released by IIMs a month before the CAT exam.
- A few days before CAT 2022 exam date, IIMs release CAT exam day guide, key features of CAT exam, CAT exam navigation guide to answer MCQ and Non-MCQ questions with important instructions
- CAT Test Day Workflow for Candidates for slot-1, slot-2 and slot-3 (If any) of CAT exam is published on official CAT website by IIMs
- IIMs also release the CAT exam day important Do’s and Don’ts. It includes how to get ready for CAT exam day, and how to go through the key activities from the time of entering the CAT exam centre to leaving the testing hall.
- No candidate is allowed to wear jackets, jewellery, shoes, watch or carry the mobile phone, bag, wallets, electronic gadgets, stationary items inside the CAT testing hall.
7. CAT exam Pattern: Last Six Years
From 2015 to 2019 IIM-CAT remained a three hour exam and was conducted in two slots on the same day. Following CAT pattern was followed from 2015 to 2019
| Section as per CAT exam Pattern | Total questions | Total MCQs (With negative marking) | Total Non-MCQs (Without negative marking) | Total maximum marks |
| Section-1: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 34 | 24 to 27 | 7 to 10 | 102 |
| Section-2: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 32 | 24 | 8 | 96 |
| Section-3: Quantitative Ability (QA) | 34 | 23 to 27 | 7 to 11 | 102 |
8. CAT 2022: Computer Based Exam but Not Online Test
Is the CAT online test? Responding to this query IIMs respond that CAT paper pattern is computer based but CAT is NOT online test. Regarding the exam pattern of CAT, IIMs clarify “CAT is not an online exam. It is a digital or Computer Based Test (CBT); not an Internet-Based Test (IBT); that is, a candidate will not take the exam on an internet site. Instead of reading the questions in a paper booklet and darkening the ovals on the answer-sheet, a candidate will read the questions on a computer terminal and choose an answer by clicking on the correct option.”
So, the CAT exam pattern 2022, despite being a computer based exam, is not an online exam. Sharing the key difference and USPs of CAT exam pattern, IIMs further elaborate “In the computer-based format, the candidate reads a question on a computer terminal and clicks on the correct answer. Additionally, the timer on the computer screen tells you the remaining time to complete the current section.”
After the major transformation of going green in 2009, CAT exam structure and pattern has been revised number of times in terms of number of sections, number of questions, time duration, difficulty level, type of questions, scoring pattern and testing window. IIM Ahmedabad which conducted Common Admission Test (CAT) in 2015, brought about number of changes in CAT exam pattern increasing the number of CAT sections from 2 to 3; introducing Non-MCQs. After that CAT exam pattern has stabilized to a great extent. The exam is also now held in a single day as against a long testing window of 30-40 days.
9. CAT Vs Other Top MBA Entrance Exams: Comparative Analysis
In view of prevailing Covid pandemic situation, CAT exam pattern 2022 Vs other exams is shared as under
9.1 CAT 2022 Vs XAT 2022
IIM CAT 2022 and XAT 2022 have many similarities which give the opportunity to the candidates to synchronise their sectional and overall exam preparation. A comparative analysis between both the exams is shared below
| Component | IIM CAT 2022 | XLRI – XAT |
| Total questions | 66 | 100 |
| Overall time limit to attempt the exam | 2 hours | 3 hours |
| Type of questions | MCQs, and Non-MCQs | MCQs |
| Answer options for each MCQ | 4 | 5 |
| Marks awarded for each correct answer | 3 | 1 |
| Negative marking | MCQs with 1/3 negative marking; No negative marking for Non-MCQs | 75 MCQs with 1/4 negative marking; No negative marking for 25 MCQs on GK |
| Exam difficulty level | Comparatively high | High |
| Number of sections | 3 | 3 (Main sections) 1 (GK score not counted) |
| Name of section-1 with number of questions | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension -24 | English Language & Logical Reasoning- 26 |
| Name of Section-2 with number of questions | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning-20 | Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation- 28 |
| Name of Section-3 with number of questions | Quantitative Ability-22 | Decision Making-21 |
| Facility to choose order of sections | No, has to follow pre defined sectional order | Any question from any section within overall time limit |
| Individual Sectional time limit | Each section with 40 Minute time limit | No |
| Top MBA colleges accepting exam score | 20 IIMs, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IMI, IITs, XIMB | XLRI, SPJIMR, IMT, TAPMI, XIMB |
9.2 CAT 2022 Vs NMAT 2022
IIM CAT 2022 and NMAT by GMAC have many similarities which give the opportunity to the candidates to synchronise their sectional and overall exam preparation. A comparative analysis between both the exams is shared below:
| Component | IIM CAT 2022 | NMAT Exam Pattern 2022 |
| Total questions | 66 | 108 |
| Overall time limit to attempt the exam | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Type of questions | MCQs and Non-MCQs | All MCQs |
| Answer options for MCQs | 4 | 5 |
| Marks awarded for each correct answer | 3 | 1 |
| Negative marking | MCQs with 1/3 negative marking; No negative marking for Non-MCQs | No negative marking |
| Exam difficulty level | Comparatively high | Moderate |
| Number of sections | 3 | 3 |
| Name of section-1 with number of questions | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension: 24 | Language Skills-36 |
| Name of Section-2 with number of questions | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning:20 | Logical Reasoning-36 |
| Name of Section-3 with number of questions | Quantitative Ability: 22 | Quantitative Skills-36 |
| Facility to choose order of sections | No, has to follow pre defined sectional order | Yes, but once chosen has to follow |
| Individual Sectional time limit | Each section with 40 minute time limit | Yes, varying time limit of 28 minutes to 62 minutes |
| Top MBA colleges accepting exam score | 20 IIMs, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IMI, IITs, XIMB | NMIMS, VIT, XIMB |
9.3 CAT 2022 Vs SNAP 2022
CAT 2022 and SNAP have many similarities which give the opportunity to the candidates to synchronise their sectional and overall exam preparation. A comparative analysis between both the exams is shared below
| Component | IIMs CAT 2022 | SNAP 2022 |
| Total Questions | 66 | 60 |
| Overall Time Limit to Attempt the Exam | 2 hours | 1 hour |
| Type of Questions | MCQs, non MCQs | 60 MCQs |
| Answer Options for MCQs | 4 | 4 |
| Marks Awarded for each Correct Answer | 3 for All questions | 1 for all questions |
| Negative Marking | MCQs with 1/3 negative marking; | 25% for all questions |
| No negative marking for Non-MCQs | NA | |
| Exam Difficulty Level | Difficult | Moderate |
| Number of Sections | 3 | 3 |
| Section-1: Name and Number of Questions | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension: 24 | General English, RC,VR,VA-15 |
| Section-2: Name and Number of Questions | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning:20 | Analytical & Logical Reasoning-25 |
| Section-3: Name and Number of Questions | Quantitative Ability:22 | Quant, DI, Data Sufficiency-20 |
| Facility to Choose Order of Sections | No, has to follow pre defined sectional order | Yes, any question from any section within overall time limit |
| Individual Sectional Time Limit | Each section with 40 minute time limit | No |
| Top MBA Colleges Accepting Exam Score | 20 IIMs, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IMI, IMT, IITs, TAPMI, XIMB and hundreds of other B-schools. Read More | SIBM Pune, SCMHRD Pune, SIIB Pune, SIBM Bangalore & all other Symbiosis institutes. Read More |
9.4 IIMs CAT Vs MAT
CAT 2022 and MAT have many similarities which give the opportunity to the candidates to synchronise their sectional and overall exam preparation. A comparative analysis between both the exams is shared below
| Component | IIM CAT 2022 | MAT |
| Total Questions | 66 | 200 |
| Overall Time Limit to Attempt the Exam | 2 hours | 2½ hours |
| Question Format | MCQs, and Non-MCQs | All MCQs |
| Answer Options for MCQs | 4 | 4 |
| Marks Awarded for Each Correct Answer | 3 | 1 |
| Negative Marking | MCQs with 1/3 negative marking; No negative marking for Non-MCQs | 0.25 mark |
| Exam Difficulty Level | Difficult | Easy to Moderate |
| Number of Sections | 3 | 5 |
| Section-1: Name and Number of Questions | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension:24 | Language Comprehension: 40 |
| Section-2: Name and Number of questions | Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning:20 | Intelligence & Critical Reasoning: 40 |
| Section-3: Name and Number of Questions | Quantitative Ability:22 | Data Analysis & Sufficiency: 40 |
| Section-4: Name and Number of Questions | Not Applicable | Mathematical Skills: 40 |
| Section-5: Name and Number of Questions | Not Applicable | Indian & Global Environment: 40 |
| Facility to Choose Order of Sections | No, should follow pre defined sectional order | Yes, any section/question within overall time limit |
| Individual Sectional time limit | Yes, each section with 40 minute time limit | No, Candidate to complete the test in 150 minutes |
| Top MBA colleges accepting exam score | 20 IIMs, FMS, MDI, NITIE, SPJIMR, IMI, IMT, IITs, TAPMI, XIMB and hundreds of others | Christ University, NDIM, DSIMS, IPE, IESMCRC, FIIB among 600 MBA colleges |
10. CAT Exam: Key Trends since Computerization
CAT Exam over the past 12 years, since it was computerised in 2009, has gone for perceptible changes. CAT paper pattern prior to 2009 was paper-pen based. CAT exam format was changed from paper based exam to CAT computer based test in 2009. Even after that CAT paper pattern continued changing from 3 sections to 2 and then CAT exam again switched to 3 sections in 2015. Since then CAT is following similar pattern. CAT exam pattern over the years with changes in test duration, sectional composition and overall number of questions is as under.
| Year | Total No of Qs | VA | DI-LR | Quant | Difficulty level | Q break up |
| CAT 2021 | 66 | VARC-24; RC-19 MCQs; Verbal 5 Non-MCQs | DILR-20; DI-10; LR-10 | QA total Qs-22; 14 Non-MCQs; 8 Non-MCQs | Moderate to High | On Last Year pattern; VARC expected bit more difficult, DILR tricky, QA Moderate |
| CAT 2020 | 76 | VARC-26. RC-18, (All MCQs), Verbal-8 (non MCQs) | DILR-24, DI-14, LR-10, MCQs-18, Non-MCQs-6 | QA-Total-26. MCQs 18, Non-MCQs-8 | Moderate to High | CAT 2020 was on last year question pattern. Difficulty level went up in each slot from slot-1 to slot-3 |
| CAT 2019 | 100 | VARC-34. RC-24, (All MCQs), Verbal-10 (non MCQs) | DILR-32, DI-16, LR-16, MCQs-24, Non-MCQs-8 | QA-Total-34. MCQs 23, Non-MCQs-11 | Moderate to High | CAT on last year pattern with changes in number of MCQs & non-MCQs as given section wise |
| CAT 2018 | 100 | VARC-34. RC-24, (All MCQs), Verbal-10 (2 MCQs, 7 non MCQs) | DILR-32, DI-16, LR-16, MCQs-24, Non-MCQs-8 | Total-34. MCQs 22, Non-MCQs-12 | Moderate to High | CAT Pattern in the lines of last year with changes in number of MCQs & non-MCQs in each section |
| CAT 2017 | 100 | VARC-34. RC-24, (All MCQs), Verbal-10 (3 MCQs, 7 non MCQs) | DILR-32, DI-16, LR-16, MCQs-24, Non-MCQs-8 | Total-34. MCQs 23, Non-MCQs-11 | Moderate | CAT Pattern in the lines of last year with changes in non-MCQs in each section |
| CAT 2016 | 100 | VARC-34, RC-24, (All MCQs), Verbal-10 (All non MCQs) | DILR-32, DI-16, LR-16, MCQs-24, Non-MCQs-8 | Quant-34, MCQ-27, Non-MCQs-7 | Moderate to difficult | CAT exam pattern on the same lines as of CAT exam pattern 2015 Non-MCQs in Quant reduced. |
| CAT 2015 | 100 | VARC -34, RC-24 (MCQs), Verbal-10 (Non MCQs) | DILR-32, DI-16, LR-16, MCQs-24, Non-MCQs-8 | Quant-34, MCQs-24, Non-MCQs-10 | Moderate to difficult | Time limit increased to 180 minutes; Sectional time constration of 1 hour re-introduced; Non-MCQs without negative marking penalty for wrong answer No questions on error correction and vocabulary. |
10.1 Will CAT 2022 Structure & Content be Different?
It is likely that CAT exam pattern in terms of content & question topics may carry some minor changes for CAT 2022 exam. The exam has gone with perceptible changes since 2014 not only in CAT structure but also in content.
Going by the tradition in changes in different type of questions in CAT, you cannot rule out a different CAT 2022 Exam pattern. However, despite number of changes brought about during last 6 years in CAT exam, the basics of the CAT exam have not changed. CAT exam pattern since 2015 has remained on the same lines.
CAT 2022 exam pattern was changed due to Covid pandemic and the same CAT pattern continues for CAT 2022 with only change that the number questions may be reduced. It is expected that there could be some minor changes in number of questions and their sectional composition in actual CAT paper. To make sure to bell the CAT 2023 with high score you need to take more Mock tests .
11. Possible Disruptions in CAT 2022 Due to Covid
The Convenor IIM for CAT 2022 has cautioned that the information provided by the CAT website is contingent upon the decisions and directions issued from time to time by the Central & State governments, and IIMs. Candidates are advised to regularly check the CAT website for the latest information.
