CAT PATTERN
IIM Ahemdabad has released the CAT 2021 exam pattern and syllabus for the examination. Basically, CAT is a national-level entrance exam conducted for getting into IIMs and other Business schools in India. The CAT exam pattern 2021 is divided into three sections, and the CAT question paper has 76 questions. There are 26 questions each in VARC and QA section and 24 questions in the DILR section.
Here in this post, we have mentioned everything about the CAT examination pattern 2021 in detail.
Table of Contents
- CAT Exam Pattern 2021: Overview
- New Changes In The CAT Exam Pattern
- CAT 2021 Paper Pattern
- Overall and Section Duration of CAT 2021
- Marking Scheme for CAT 2021
- Frequently asked questions
CAT Exam Pattern 2021: Overview
IIM Ahmedabad has released CAT 2021 examination pattern and test procedure along with the CAT notification. If you appear for the CAT examination, you need to be familiar with the CAT 2021 latest exam pattern, which will help you understand the structure for the CAT question paper and CAT marking scheme. This year CAT 2021 will be held in three different slots. Here is a quick overview of the CAT examination.
| Exam duration | 2 hours |
|---|---|
| Section names | Section 1: VARC Section 2: DILR Section 3: QA |
| Total number of questions | 76 |
| Slot wise timings | Slot 1: 8:30 am - 10:30 am Slot 2: 12:30 am - 2:30 pm Slot 3: 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm |
| Section-wise duration | 40 minutes for each section. 53 minutes 20 seconds for PwD students. |
| Total marks for 2021 CAT exam | 228 marks |
| CAT marking scheme 2021 | Three marks for right answer. -1 for every wrong answer and no marks for unattended questions. |
New Changes In The CAT Exam Pattern
| Sectional time limit | The time limit for each section is 40 minutes. White, the sectional time limit, is 53 minutes 20 seconds for PwD students. |
|---|---|
| Exam time duration | The CAT 2021 time duration has been reduced from 180 minutes to 120 minutes. |
| Exam slots | The exam slots have been increased from 2 to 3 (morning, afternoon, and evening). |
| Number of questions | The number of questions has been reduced from 100 to 76. |
CAT 2021 Paper Pattern
Here we have mentioned the total number of MCQ and Non-MCQ questions:
| Sections | Total Questions | MCQs | Non-MCQ | Maximum marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 26 | 18 | 8 | 78 |
| DILR | 24 | 18 | 6 | 72 |
| QA | 26 | 18 | 8 | 78 |
| Total | 76 | 54 | 22 | 228 |
Overall and Section Duration of CAT 2021
| Section | Total number of questions | Duration for all category | Duration for PwD category |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 26 question | 40 minutes | 53 minutes 20 seconds for PwD students. |
| DILR | 24 questions | 40 minutes | 53 minutes 20 seconds for PwD students. |
| QA | 26 questions | 40 minutes | 53 minutes 20 seconds for PwD students. |
The total number of questions in the CAT question paper is 76 and the time duration for all categories of students is 120 minutes, while the time limit is 160 minutes for the PwD candidates.
Marking Scheme for CAT 2021
CAT exam pattern has a marking scheme under which candidates will be awarded marks for the right answer, and marks will be deducted for every wrong answer.
- -1 mark if the answer is wrong.
- Three marks are awarded for right answer.
- No marks will be deducted if you do not answer any questions.
- No marks will be reduced for Non-MCQs.
Frequently asked questions
1. How many marks will be deducted if I skip one question in the CAT question paper?
As mentioned, no marks will be deducted if you miss any questions in the examination. However, if you write a wrong answer, then one mark will be deducted.
2. Can I answer the questions as per my wish?
No, you have to follow the chronology of the CAT examination question paper, which is VARC-DILR-QA. There is no option to solve the questions as per your choice.
3. Can I take the CAT exam as per my choice of test slots?
No, the exam slots are allotted by the exam authorities on a first-come, first-serve basis.
4. Is carrying a calculator to examination hall okay?
Students cannot carry or use a calculator or any other electronic gadget to the examination center.
5. CAT 2021 question paper has how many sections?
There are three sections in the CAT question paper. The first section is Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. Section two is Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. Section three is Quantitative Aptitude.
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