CAT Question Paper: Download CAT Previous Year Question Paper with Solutions PDF (2022-1990)

Q: What is the difficulty level of CAT question paper?

Based on previous years exam analysis, CAT question paper is of moderate to high difficulty. Usually, the difficulty level varies across slots and this is the reason why IIMs adopt the score normalization process to offset this variation.

Sachin Gupta

Content Writer | Updated On - Nov 5, 2024

CAT Question Paper: Slot-wise CAT Previous Year Papers including CAT 2022 Question Paper, CAT 2021 Question Paper, CAT 2020 Question Paper, CAT 2019 Question Paper and more are available in PDF format along with the solutions. As per the latest CAT Question Paper Pattern, CAT Question Paper includes 3 sections- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Quantitative Aptitude (QA), and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR).

CAT Question Paper 2022	CAT Question Paper 2021	CAT Question Paper 2020
CAT Question Paper 2019	CAT Question Paper 2018	CAT Question Paper 2017

CAT 2022 Question Paper

IIM Banglore conducted CAT 2022 on November 27, 2022. CAT 2022 Question Paper for all three slots is updated here.

CAT 2022 Question Paper Slot 1

Section	CAT 2022 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT Question Paper Slot 1 VARC	Check Here
CAT Question Paper Slot 1 DILR	Check Here
CAT Question Paper Slot 1 QA	Check Here

CAT 2022 Question Paper Slot 2

Section	CAT 2022 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT Question Paper Slot 2 VARC	Check Here
CAT Question Paper Slot 2 DILR	Check Here
CAT Question Paper Slot 2 QA	Check Here

CAT 2022 Question Paper Slot 3

Section	CAT 2022 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT Question Paper Slot 3 VARC	Check Here
CAT Question Paper Slot 3 DILR	Check Here
CAT Question Paper Slot 3 QA	Check Here

NOTE: CAT Exam is popular for changes in the exam pattern every year. This year however, no changes were introduced from 2021. CAT 2022 was conducted for a duration of 120 minutes. Candidates got 40 minutes to solve each section in CAT 2022 Question Paper. Check CAT Exam Pattern 2022

CAT 2021 Question Paper

CAT 2021 Question Paper for Quant, DILR and VARC are available for download. The exam was conducted in three slots for a duration of three hours. Candidates had to answer 66 MCQs and TITA questions carrying a weightage of 70-75% and 25-30% respectively. VARC section in CAT 2021 Question Paper had 24 questions, DILR had 20 questions, and QA had 22 questions. Candidates can download slot-wise CAT 2021 Question Paper with Solution PDF from the links given below.

CAT 2021 Question Paper Slot 1

CAT Section	CAT 2021 Slot 1 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT Slot 1 Question Paper Quant	Check Here
CAT Slot 1 Question Paper DILR	Check Here
CAT Slot 1 Question Paper VARC	Check Here

CAT 2021 Question Paper Slot 2

CAT Section	CAT 2021 Slot 2 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT Slot 2 Question Paper Quant	Check Here
CAT Slot 2 Question Paper DILR	Check Here
CAT Slot 2 Question Paper VARC	Check Here

CAT 2021 Question Paper Slot 3

CAT Section & Slot Number	CAT 2021 Slot 3 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT Slot 3 Question Paper Quant	Check Here
CAT Slot 3 Question Paper DILR	Check Here
CAT Slot 3 Question Paper VARC	Check Here

CAT Previous Year Papers (2020-1990)

CAT Question Paper pattern keeps changing. Additionally, there is no definite CAT exam syllabus. Therefore, the best way to prepare and practice for the exam is to solve CAT previous year papers. The best mock tests to prepare well for the exam are the actual CAT 2022 Question Paper, CAT 2021 Question Paper, CAT 2020 Question Paper, CAT 2019 Question Paper, and more CAT previous year papers. Given below are the PDF links for various mock tests, sample papers, and CAT question paper 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013,….till 1990, etc.

Also Read:

CAT 2020 Question Paper

CAT 2020 Question Paper included 76 questions carrying a total weightage of 228 marks. The VARC and Quant sections included 26 CAT questions each while the rest 24 quesitons were asked in the DILR section. Students had 120 minutes to answer CAT 2020 Question Paper. CAT 2020 Question Paper for slot 1, slot 2, and slot 3 is available here for your reference.

CAT 2020 Question Paper Slot 1

CAT Exam Section	CAT 2020 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT Slot 1 Question Paper Quant	Check Here
CAT Slot 1 Question Paper DILR	Check Here
CAT Slot 1 Question Paper VARC	Check Here

CAT 2020 Question Paper Slot 2

CAT Exam Section	CAT 2020 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT Slot 2 Question Paper Quant	Check Here
CAT Slot 2 Question Paper DILR	Check Here
CAT Slot 2 Question Paper VARC	Check Here

CAT 2020 Question Paper Slot 3

CAT Exam Section	CAT 2020 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT Slot 3 Question Paper Quant	Check Here
CAT Slot 3 Question Paper DILR	Check Here
CAT Slot 3 Question Paper VARC	Check Here

CAT 2019 Question Paper

CAT 2019 Question Paper carried a total weightage of 300 marks. There were a total of 100 questions asked in the exam divided into three sections- VARC (34), DILR (32), and QA (34). Click on the links below to download section-wise CAT 2019 question paper for slot 1 and slot 2.

CAT 2019 Question Paper Slot 1

CAT Exam Section	CAT 2019 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT Question Paper- Quant	Check Here
CAT Question Paper- DILR	Check Here
CAT Question Paper- VARC	Check Here

CAT 2019 Question Paper Slot 2

CAT Exam Section	CAT 2019 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT Question Paper- Quant	Check Here
CAT Question Paper- DILR	Check Here
CAT Question Paper- VARC	Check Here

CAT 2018 Question Paper

CAT 2018 Question Paper for both Slot 1 and Slot 2 is avaiable for download. The exam was conducted by IIM Calcutta on November 25. There were 24 and 26 TITA-type questions in slot 1 and slot 2 CAT 2018 Question Paper respectively. The Quant section in CAT 2018 question paper was said to be the toughest in the last 10 years.

CAT 2018 Question Paper Slot 1

CAT Exam Section	CAT 2018 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT Question Paper- Quant	Check Here
CAT Question Paper- DILR	Check Here
CAT Question Paper- VARC	Check Here

CAT 2018 Question Paper Slot 2

CAT Exam Section	CAT 2018 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT Question Paper- Quant	Check Here
CAT Question Paper- DILR	Check Here
CAT Question Paper- VARC	Check Here

CAT 2017 Question Paper

CAT 2017 Question Paper was released by IIM Lucknow. There were a total of 100 questions (32 in DILR and 34 each in VARC & Quant) carrying 300 marks. The exam was conducted in two slots on November 26. The table below contains the links to download slot-wise CAT 2017 question paper for Quant, DILR, and VARC.

CAT 2017 Question Paper Slot 1

CAT Exam Section	CAT 2017 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT Question Paper- Quant	Check Here
CAT Question Paper- DILR	Check Here
CAT Question Paper- VARC	Check Here

CAT 2017 Question Paper Slot 2

CAT Exam Section	CAT 2017 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT Question Paper- Quant	Check Here
CAT Question Paper- DILR	Check Here
CAT Question Paper- VARC	Check Here

CAT 2016 Question Paper

Download CAT 2016 Question Paper with Solutions from the link given below. CAT 2016 Question Paper PDF comprises 100 questions as per the pattern of that year- 32 in DILR and 34 each in Quant and VARC.

CAT Exam	CAT 2016 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT 2016 Question Paper	Check Here

CAT 2015 Question Paper

CAT Exam Section	CAT 2015 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT Question Paper- VARC	Check Here
CAT Question Paper- DILR	Check Here
CAT Question Paper- Quant	Check Here

CAT 2014 Question Paper

CAT Exam Section	CAT 2014 Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT Quant and DI	Check Here
CAT Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning	Check Here

*CAT 2014 Question Paper had 100 questions divided equally into 2 sections- Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude and Data Interpretation. From 2011-14, CAT question papers had these 2 sections only, however, CAT previous year question papers of 2011, 2012, and 2013 had 60 questions in total.

CAT Previous Question Papers (2013-2009)

CAT Previous Year Question Papers (2013-2009)

Given below are the links to download CAT previous year question papers 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, and 2009.

CAT Exam Year	CAT Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT Question Paper 2013	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 2012	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 2011	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 2010	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 2009	Check Here

CAT Previous Question Papers (2008-1990)

Previous Year CAT Question Paper with Solutions PDF (2008-1990)

To enhance your preparation for the upcoming CAT exams, you must solve as many previous years CAT question papers as possible, So, click on the links provided in the table below to download and solve previous year CAT question papers of 2008-1990.

CAT Exam Year	CAT Question Paper with Solutions PDF
CAT Question Paper 2008	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 2007	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 2006	Check Here
CAT 2005 Question Paper	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 2004	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 2003	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 2002	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 2001	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 2000	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 1999	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 1998	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 1997	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 1996	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 1995	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 1994	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 1993	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 1992	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 1991	Check Here
CAT Question Paper 1990	Check Here

Similar MBA Exam Question Papers:

XAT Question Papers	CMAT Question Papers	MAT Question Papers
IIFT Question Papers	MAH CET Question Papers	NMAT Question Papers

CAT Question Paper Pattern

CAT question paper pattern has undergone a few changes in the past years. The number of questions asked are reduced from 76 in CAT question paper 2020 to 66 in CAT question paper 2021 and CAT question paper 2022. Given below are the major highlights of CAT question paper pattern:

Particulars	Details
CAT Exam Duration	120 Minutes
Type of CAT Questions	MCQs and TITA questions
Total number of questions in CAT paper	66
Total Marks of CAT paper	198
Marks awarded for every correct CAT question	+3 Marks for every correct answer
Negative marking for every incorrect CAT question	-1 for MCQs and no marks deducted for TITA questions
CAT Question Paper medium	English

The section-wise distribution of the number of CAT questions in 2022 is given below:

CAT Quantitative Aptitude: 22 questions from arithmetic, algebra, advanced mathematics, and geometry.
CAT VARC: 24 questions from para jumbles, summary, odd one out, verbal reasoning, and reading comprehension.
CAT DILR: 20 questions based on the topics like geometrical/ arithmetic data, pie charts and bar diagrams, puzzles on words, letters, arrangements, seating, etc.

CAT question paper marking pattern has remained unchanged for the last 6 years. 3 marks awarded for a correct answer, 1 mark is deducted for an incorrect MCQ, and no marks are deducted for unattempted MCQs and TITA questions. It is interesting to note that before 2009, CAT paper was conducted in offline (pen-paper) mode.

CAT Mock Test Free Download

If candidates solve question papers, sample papers, and mock tests, then they can surely improve their performance by going through a variety of questions. Candidates can also access the links of the mock test provided in the table below:

CAT Mock Test	Sections in CAT
CAT Mock Test	CAT Mock Test DILR	CAT Mock Test Quant	CAT Mock Test VARC
CAT Mock Test 1	Download	Download	Download
CAT Mock Test 2	Download	Download	Download
CAT Mock Test 3	Download	Download	Download
CAT Mock Test 4	Download	Download	Download
CAT Mock Test 5	Download	Download	Download

Online CAT Mock Test 2022

CAT Mock Tests 2022 are now available on the official website for free. CAT 2022 Mock Test by IIM comprises questions from CAT previous year papers. Candidates appearing for the upcoming CAT exams are advised to attempt the same. Check CAT Mock Tests

Particulars	CAT 2022 Official Mock Test
CAT 2022 Mock Test	Mock Test Link
CAT 2022 Mock Test - For PwD Candidates (Blindness and Low Vision)	Mock Test Link
CAT 2022 Mock Test - For Other PwD Candidates	Mock Test Link

Also Check:

CAT Quant Question Paper	CAT DILR Question Paper	CAT VARC Question Paper

Online CAT Mock Test 2021

CAT Mock Tests 2021 are available on the official website for free.

Particulars	CAT 2021 Official Mock Test
CAT 2021 Mock Test	Mock Test Link
CAT 2021 Mock Test - For PwD Candidates (Blindness and Low Vision)	Mock Test Link
CAT 2021 Mock Test - For Other PwD Candidates	Mock Test Link

CAT Sample Papers PDF

CAT Sample Papers with Solutions PDF

Apart from solving the previous year question papers, candidates must solve multiple sample papers for better CAT Preparation. CAT Sample Papers are provided below to help candidates practice more questions of varying difficulty and patterns. CAT aspirants can download CAT Sample Papers with Solutions PDF from the table given below:

CAT Sample Papers	Download PDF
CAT Sample Paper 1	Check Here
CAT Sample Paper 2	Check Here
CAT DILR Sample Paper	Check Here
CAT VARC Sample Paper	Check Here
CAT QA Sample Paper 1	Check Here
CAT QA Sample Paper 2	Check Here
CAT QA Sample Paper 3	Check Here
CAT QA Sample Paper 4	Check Here
CAT QA Sample Paper 5	Check Here

Quick Links:

CAT DILR Preparation Strategy	CAT VARC Preparation Strategy	CAT Quant Preparation Strategy

Why Solve CAT Question Papers?

CAT Question Papers provide the most valuable insights into the exam difficulty level, types of questions, and the favorite topics of the examination authority. The major benefits of solving CAT previous year question papers and mock tests are mentioned below:

Although IIMs do not repeat questions in CAT exam, solving previous year CAT question papers is essential to get the idea behind the selection of topics from where most questions are asked. This helps in identifying the important topics and the difficulty level of questions from each topic of CAT syllabus.
Solving CAT question papers of previous years help you in checking your level of preparedness for the exam. Furthermore, you can identify your weak areas and work on them well before the actual CAT exam.
Practice is the key to acing any exam. Hence, you can attempt 500+ questions of varying types & difficulty levels by solving CAT question papers of the past 5-10 years.
Practicing through CAT question papers is the best way to increase calculation speed, achieve 95%+ accuracy, and improve time management skills.

Also Check:

CAT Cut off	CAT Online Coaching	Best Books for CAT Preparation

CAT Question Paper FAQs

Ques. How many questions does CAT paper have?

Ans. Since 2020, the number of questions in CAT paper have been varying every year. CAT 2021 question paper had 66 questions while CAT 2020 question paper had 76 questions. Before 2020, CAT paper had 100 questions. Like 2021, CAT 2022 also had 66 questions divided into 3 sections- DILR, VARC, Quant. To get the details on questions asked in CAT, check the article to download previous years CAT question paper PDFs for the last 20 years.

Ques. Where can I find CAT Question papers?

Ans. CAT Question papers are available after the conclusion of the exam. The conducting IIM does not release the question papers on the official website. However, candidates can find CAT question papers with solution pdfs on collegedunia website. The PDF links are provided above in the article for CAT question papers of previous years.

Ques. Who sets CAT Question Paper?

Ans. CAT question paper is set by the exam conducting IIM every. In 2021, CAT question paper was administered and conducted by IIM Ahmedabad.

Ques. What is the language medium of CAT question papers?

Ans. CAT question papers are in English medium only. CAT exam is not conducted in any other language.

Ques. What is the difficulty level of CAT question paper?

Ans. Based on previous years’ exam analysis, CAT question paper is of moderate to high difficulty. Usually, the difficulty level varies across slots and this is the reason why IIMs adopt the score normalization process to offset this variation.

Ques. Are previous year CAT question papers enough for exam preparation?

Ans. Solving previous year CAT question papers does not guarantee a perfect score in CAT exam. However, these papers help in identifying the important topics of CAT syllabus and thus assist in devising an efficient exam preparation strategy.

Ques. How many CAT question papers should I solve before the exam?

Ans. There is no fixed number of CAT question papers that you should attempt before the exam. Practice as many sample papers and question papers as possible. However, in the last two weeks before the exam date, it is advised to solve at least 2 CAT question papers every day.

Ques. Is it beneficial to solve CAT sample papers and model papers?

Ans. Yes, there are numerous benefits of solving CAT sample papers and model papers that are as per the latest pattern and syllabus. These help in:

Understanding the level of preparation across all sections- QA, VARC, and LRDI.
Identifying the topics that need more practice to perfect.
Improving time management and calculation skills

Ques. How many sections will be there in CAT question paper 2022?

Ans. CAT question paper 2022 comprised 3 sections- LRDI, QA, and VARC. The 2022 question paper was as per the revised pattern and had 66 questions divided into these 3 sections in CAT 2022.

Ques. Is there any sequence of sections in CAT question papers?

Ans. There is no defined pattern as to which section will follow the other in CAT question paper. Based on CAT question papers of previous years, it has been observed that VARC is the first section followed by DILR and QA respectively.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.