The CAT exam pattern 2024 has been published by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM). CAT exam 2024 will field 66 multiple-choice questions that need to be answered in 120 minutes as per the most recent CAT 2024 question paper format. The total marks of CAT exam is 198. The CAT 2024 question paper will have three sections: VARC, QA, and DILR. The CAT exam negative marking will cost 1 mark for every wrong answer.
Each section will last 40 minutes. The CAT exam pattern 2024 is similar to the CAT exam pattern from the previous year with no changes made. The CAT exam pattern PDF helps applicants understand the format and marking system of the CAT 2024 question paper. CAT exam 2024 will be administered online by IIM on November 24, 2024. Keep reading the article to learn everything there is to know about the CAT exam pattern 2024, including the CAT syllabus 2024, total marks of CAT exam, CAT exam negative marking, how many questions in CAT exam, sectional time limit, etc.
CAT Exam Pattern 2024: Key Points
CAT exam pattern PDF format can be downloaded from the CAT official website. This will better equip students for CAT exam preparation and allow them to divide their CAT syllabus 2024 in an appropriate manner. Applicants should be aware of the CAT exam pattern and syllabus before taking the MBA entrance exam. The CAT exam pattern 2024 has been released, along with the CAT notification, CAT exam pattern, and application process. Candidates who intend to take the CAT exam 2024 must be updated about the CAT Exam pattern and syllabus.
The computer-based test (CBT) and the exam will take place on the same day in three different time windows, according to the CAT 2024 question paper format.
CAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus
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Particulars
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Details
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CAT exam time
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2 Hours (120 Minutes)
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Section-Title
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Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
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CAT exam time by Sections
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40 Minutes Allotted for Each Section
53 Minutes 20 Seconds Allotted for PwD students.
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CAT exam timings
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Morning Session 1: 8:30 am - 10:30 am
Afternoon Session 2: 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Evening Session 3: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm
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How many questions in CAT exam
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66 Questions
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Total Marks of CAT exam
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198 marks
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Mode of exam
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Computer-Based Mode (CBT)
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CAT Exam Negative Marking
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Every correct response will earn you a +3 mark.
MCQs have a -1 deduction for each incorrect answer.
No deductions for answering non-MCQs
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CAT Exam 2024 Important Dates
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Dates
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Upcoming Exam Dates
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Aug '24 - Sep '24
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CAT 2024 Registration
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Sep '24
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CAT 2024 form correction process
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Oct '24 - Nov '24
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CAT 2024 admit card download
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24 Nov '24
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CAT exam 2024
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Dec '24
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CAT 2024 answer key challenge
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Dec '24
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CAT 2024 result announcement
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CAT Exam Pattern 2024- Important points
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Candidates are allowed to use the on-screen calculator for computation during the exam.
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Candidates can check the time they have to complete the exam by using the on-screen clock.
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They will also receive rough worksheets, which they must turn in after the CAT exam 2024.
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Candidates will not be permitted to move to other sections while answering the questions in one section.
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The CAT exam pattern PDF is available on the CAT website.
The official CAT exam pattern for MBA is available on the CAT website, iimcat.ac.in. It will give you a proper view of the section-wise CAT exam pattern 2024. CAT exam 2024 will take place in three sessions:
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Morning session (8:30 am - 10:30 pm)
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Afternoon Session (12:30 - 2:30 pm)
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Evening session (4:30 to 6:30 p.m.)
How many Questions in CAT Exam? Section-Wise Marks Distribution
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Section as per IIM CAT Exam Paper 2023
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Total Questions
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Allotted Time
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Allotted Time for PwD Students
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Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
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24
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40 Minutes
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53 minutes and 20 seconds
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Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
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20
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40 Minutes
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53 minutes and 20 seconds
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Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
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22
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40 Minutes
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53 minutes and 20 seconds
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Total
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66
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120 Minutes
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160 minutes
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CAT Exam Pattern 2024: What kinds of questions will appear in the CAT?
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Section VARC: 4 RC sections with 18 multiple-choice questions (MCQs); VA 8 Non-MCQs are broken down into Context Sentences, Para Jumbles, and Para Summaries.
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Section DILR: There are two sets of questions: all in sets of 6 and 4 questions: 14 questions on data interpretation and 10 questions on logical reasoning.
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QA: High in Arithmetic; Moderate in Geometry; Low in Algebra; and So on.
CAT 2024 Marking Scheme
The CAT marking scheme informs applicants of the total number of marks granted for each correct answer on the exam as well as the CAT exam negative marking that will be subtracted for a wrong answer.
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3 marks for each right response.
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CAT Exam Negative Marking: One mark will be subtracted for each incorrect response.
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No deduction of marks when questions left attended. Additionally, no marks will be lost for non-MCQs.
The CAT 2024 marking scheme is summed up in the following table:
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Mode of Questions in CAT 2023 Question Paper
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Correct Answer
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Incorrect Answer
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MCQ
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+3
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-1
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Non-MCQ
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+3
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0
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In what ways has the CAT exam paper changed over time?
The format of the CAT 2024 question paper has undergone several changes in the past. But this year’s exam pattern will remain the same as of the previous year 2023. The table below will give applicants a better understanding of how the CAT exam 2024 design has changed over time.
There are three sections in the CAT syllabus 2024, including
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Understanding both words and reading (VARC)
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Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation (DILR)
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The ability to quantify (QA)
Sections in each year are identical to one another. Moreover, the CAT exam pattern and syllabus remain the same.
CAT Exam Pattern - Previous Years
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Year
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Number of Question
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Difficulty Level
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CAT exam time duration
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Conducting Body
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2022
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66
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Moderate
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2 hours
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IIM Bangalore
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2021
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66
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Moderate to High (Expected)
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2 hours
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IIM Ahmedabad
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2020
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76
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Moderate to High
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2 hours
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IIM Indore
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2019
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100
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Moderate to High
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3 hours
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IIM Kozhikode
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2018
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100
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Moderate to High
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3 hours
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IIM Calcutta
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2017
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100
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Moderate
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3 hours
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IIM Lucknow
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2016
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100
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Moderate to difficult
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3 hours
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IIM Bangalore
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2015
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100
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Moderate to difficult
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3 hours
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IIM Ahmedabad
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2014
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100
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Moderate to Easy
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2.50 hours
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IIM Indore
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2013
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60
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Moderate to Easy
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2:20 hours
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IIM Indore
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2012
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60
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Moderate to Easy
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2.20 hours
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IIM Indore
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2011
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60
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Moderate
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2.20 hours
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IIM Calcutta
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CAT Syllabus 2024
The CAT syllabus 2024 will not be released by the CAT administration board. On the other hand, candidates can review the subjects covered by the questions based on the CAT exam pattern 2024.
Section-Specific CAT Syllabus 2024
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Section
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Topics
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Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
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Verbal Ability
English Usage or Grammar
Close Passage
Synonyms Antonyms
Facts-inferences-judgments
Jumbled Paragraph
Reading Comprehension
Verbal Reasoning
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Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
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Caselets
Blood Relations
Calendars
Bar Graphs
Column Graphs
Tables
Cubes
Clocks
Binary Logic
Line Charts
Syllogism
Venn Diagrams
Pie Chart
Number and Letter Series
Seating Arrangement
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Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
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Algebra
Higher Maths
Geometry
Trigonometry
Mensuration
Arithmetic
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CAT Mock Test 2024
The official CAT Mock Test 2024 is available for applicants to take. The CAT mock test 2024 will be made available on iimcat.ac.in by the CAT conducting authority. It will guide you on how to answer the questions in the allotted timeframe and keep your anxiety under control during the exam.
The candidates can obtain a sense of how to navigate between sections by taking the mock test. Students need to review the CAT sample papers and be familiar with the CAT 2024 question paper before taking the CAT mock test 2024.
Things to keep in mind while answering the CAT 2024 question paper
Before taking the CAT exam 2024, students should have a clear idea of how to approach the questions in the CAT exam paper. When answering the questions, candidates should make use of the following options:
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Save and Next: After choosing an answer, candidates should save it and go on to the next question.
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Clear Answer: Applicants will be able to remove the answer they provided to the question.
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Mark for Review and Next: If the candidate is not sure how to respond to a question, they can mark it for review, respond to it, and then go on to the next one.
NOTE: Please use the computer mouse to answer the questions. The computer screen will lock if you use the system keyboard.
What does the panel's colour scheme represent?
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Panel Colour
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What it Indicates
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Red
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The question was neither visited for review nor answered.
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Green
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The question was answered and not reviewed
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Grey
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The questions were neither viewed nor visited.
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Violet
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The question was marked for review but not answered
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Violet with Green tick
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The question was answered and marked for review
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Crucial Details Regarding the CAT Exam 2024 Process
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During the CAT exam 2024, you will be permitted to use an onscreen calculator for calculations.
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During the exam, an onscreen clock will assist candidates in staying on schedule.
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The moment the forty minutes are up, the screen will advance to the next phase. You won't be able to return after the window moves on to the following section.
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On the test's first page, there will be instructions on how to save your answers and other things. Candidates need to thoroughly study the guidelines.
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Rough worksheets will be provided; they must be turned in before the exam room is cleared.
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It will not be permitted for candidates to begin the test early. Only after the announcement from the invigilator will they be permitted to log in.
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Throughout the exam, candidates must remain seated in their assigned seats. Should they be seen seated somewhere else, they will be eliminated.
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To return to questions they have saved for study, students should try to finish each part five to ten minutes ahead of schedule.
How Do I Mark Answers on the CAT Exam Pattern 2024?
As the CAT exam 2024 is administered in computer-based test mode, applicants must utilize a computer mouse to input their answers on a computer system. Candidates are limited to using the keyboard for TITA questions alone. There will be four options for each CAT question from which to select the right response. To proceed to the next question, candidates must choose the right response and choose one of the following options:
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Save and Next
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Clear Response
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Mark for Review and Next
Also read :
Everything About CAT Exam 2024
CAT Exam Syllabus 2024
FAQs for CAT Exam Pattern 2024
Q1. What will be the CAT exam pattern 2024?
The CAT 2024 computer-based test (CBT) consists of three sections, DILR, QA, and VARC. Each section will have sixty-six questions.
Q2. When will the CAT exam 2024 take place?
CAT exam 2024 will take place in three sessions on November 24, 2024: morning, afternoon, and evening session.
Q3. How many sections are there in the CAT exam?
There will be three sections in CAT exam 2024:
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Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
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Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
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Quantitative Aptitude
Q4. What is the CAT Exam negative marking?
Yes, each wrong answer will result in a mark deduction. The CAT exam negative marking is unchanged from the previous year and is the same.
Q5. Is the CAT a challenging test?
In India, the CAT is regarded as the toughest MBA entrance exam. It is anticipated that CAT 2024 will be moderately to extremely difficult.
Q6. What are the total marks of CAT exam?
The Total Marks of CAT exam is 198 as per the CAT exam Pattern 2024.
Q7. How many questions in CAT exam?
The total number of questions in the CAT exam is 66.
Q8. What is the CAT exam pattern for MBA?
The CAT exam pattern for MBA is the same as in previous years.