How Many Questions in CAT Exam 2025?

CAT is considered one of the most important exams for management aspirants. A good score in this exam can open the gateway to top-tier business schools. And if you’re planning to appear for the CAT exam in 2025, one of the first things you need to understand is the structure of the test, starting with how many questions in CAT exam you’ll be expected to answer. Knowing the number of questions, along with the time limits and section-wise breakdown, is crucial to strategizing your preparation effectively.

In this blog, we’ll give you a clear overview of the total number of questions in CAT 2025, how they’re distributed across sections like VARC, DILR, and QA, and what that means for your prep strategy. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or revisiting your plan, this guide will help you stay focused and confident.

Let’s dive in.

CAT Exam: What Is It?

If you’re reading this blog, you’ve probably already checked the fundamentals of the CAT exam. However, here’s an overview of CAT and some important facts about it.

CAT Full Form	Common Admission Test
Administered by	IIMs
Definition	It is a computer-based admission test held in India for postgraduate management programs, particularly at Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other prestigious business institutions. The test evaluates students’ quantitative and verbal abilities, reading comprehension, data interpretation, and logical thinking.
Exam Sections	Three ●        Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) ●        Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI & LR) ●        Quantitative Ability (QA)
Exam Duration	2 hours
Number of Times Taken in a Year	Once a year, in November or December
Mode	Online
Question Types	MCQs and Non-MCQs (TITA)

CAT Exam 2025: Highlights (Expected)

The CAT exam paper is designed in such a way that it assesses students’ ability to accurately solve problems within the time limit. The CAT exam pattern 2025, which is scheduled to be held on November 30, 2025 (Sunday), is likely to be conducted by IIM Kozhikode and is predicted to have the following details:

CAT Exam 2025 Pattern: Highlights
Duration	120 min or 2 hours
How Many Questions are there in CAT Exam	68
Total Marks	204
Sections	Three ●        Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) ●        Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI & LR) ●        Quantitative Ability (QA)
No. of Questions in Each Section	●        VARC – 24 ●        DI & LR – 22 ●        QA – 22
Weightage of Each Section	●        VARC – 72 ●        DI & LR – 66 ●        QA – 66
Marking Scheme	●        +3 for every right answer ●        -1 for each wrong answer ●        No negative marking for TITA (Type in the Answer) questions
Medium of Instruction	English
Mode	Online
Exam Slot	3 ●        Morning: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM ●        Afternoon: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM ●        Evening: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM

CAT Exam Pattern 2025 – Total Questions and Sections

A key technique to effective CAT preparation is to devote time to each section separately. This requires a thorough awareness of the overall CAT exam pattern, including how many questions are asked in the CAT exam section-wise and overall.

So, here is a section-wise CAT 2025 question distribution.

How Many Questions in the CAT Exam Are Asked in the VARC Section 2025?

There are 24 questions in the VARC section.

The VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension) section of the CAT exam typically allocates about 66% of its focus to reading comprehension passages. These passages are usually around 600 words long and are followed by 4 to 5 related questions. The remaining 34% of the section consists of verbal ability questions, which commonly include para jumbles, paragraph summaries, and identifying the odd sentence out.

If the pattern of the past exams is to be taken, then it will show that in this section, there are primarily two components, i.e., Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension.

Reading Comprehension

Reading Passage Type	Weightage
Abstract Passages	Less
Analytical Passages	Most
Argumentative Passages	Most
Descriptive Passages	Less
Narrative Passages	Less

• Types of RC Questions:

Main Idea

• Inference-based
• Specific Details Questions
• Logical Structure
• Tone, Style, and Source
• Application Questions

Verbal Ability

• Total number of questions: 8
• Question Format: 2 para jumbles, 2 para completions, 2 para summaries, and 2 odd sentences out (as of CAT 2024)

How Many Questions are in CAT DI & LR Section 2025?

There are 22 questions in the CAT DI & LR section.

This part is the most dynamic one, based on previous CAT exam patterns, because new question types are added every year. Candidates cannot undertake the DI & LR test until they have finished the VARC section. One’s CAT percentile can be made or broken by this section.

The DILR section will see an increase in the number of questions from 20 to 22 in 2025. Unlike the usual format of 4 sets with 5 questions each, CAT 2024 featured a revised structure with 3 sets containing 4 questions and 2 sets comprising 5 questions each. Questions are often expected to come from the following areas: puzzles, missing data, Venn diagrams, bar graphs, tables, and arrangements. In particular, this section’s difficulty level falls between moderate and severe.

How Many Questions Are There in CAT Exam in the QA Section 2025?

The Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section is one of the most crucial and high-scoring parts of the CAT exam. Hence, the pressing question that aspirants mostly ask is how many questions are in CAT exam 2025 in the QA section. So, here is the answer.

The whole QA section has 22 questions from 5 topics:

Topic	Weightage
Number system	5%-7%
Modern math	5%-7%
Geometry	15%
Arithmetic	40%
Algebra	30%

This section’s mark distribution is dynamic, changing yearly. There are 22 questions in all in this section, without any subsections.

How Many Sections in CAT exam: Section-Wise Breakdown

If you are browsing the internet to find out how many sections are there in CAT exam, the answer is three sections, as we have already mentioned. Here’s a detailed overview of each, including expected question counts, difficulty levels, key topics, and more.

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

Expected Number of Questions	22
Level of Difficulty	Moderate to High
Common Topics	●        Basic Arithmetic ●        Algebra ●        Number System ●        Geometry & Mensuration ●        Modern Maths, etc.
Duration	40 mins

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

Expected Number of Questions	24
Level of Difficulty	Easy to Moderate
Common Topics	●        Sentence correction & completion ●        Para Jumbles ●        Summary-based, etc.
Duration	40 mins

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DI&LR)

Expected Number of Questions	22
Level of Difficulty	Moderate to Difficult
Common Topics	●        Tables ●        Graphs ●        Data Caselets ●        Blood Relation ●        Venn Diagram, etc.
Duration	40 mins

CAT Exam Patterns Over the Years

The CAT exam pattern has changed over the years. Hence, to get a good idea of how to prepare well and how to get 99 percentile in the CAT, one should be aware of the past CAT exam patterns.

So, here is the CAT exam pattern across the past 10 years.

How to Prepare Effectively for CAT?

Preparing for the CAT examination can often be tricky. Given that the difficulty level often varies from moderate to severe, meticulous planning is required. A crucial strategy for scoring at least 90 percentile in CAT is to learn time management skills while also carefully preparing for each section.

Here are a few tips to reduce stress during CAT exams and prepare well for them:

• Divide the CAT syllabus into sections: QA, VARC, DI, and LR.
• Begin your preparations with the most challenging section and work your way down to the easier ones.
• Use quality study materials.
• Schedule separate times for each section.
• Conduct mock tests for each part separately and as a whole.
• Conduct a SWOT analysis following each mock test.
• Eventually, lower the amount of time you spend preparing for sections in which you score the highest and have a stronghold.
• Spend additional time on the challenging section(s).
• Make sure the strongest areas are not sliding, and continue to enhance them.

Key Points To Keep In Mind Before Appearing For The CAT 2025

• The tests are computer-based.
• An on-screen calculator will be available to perform calculations during the exam.
• The exam will take place in three separate 2-hour slots on a single day.
• Switching between sections is not allowed during the test, therefore, candidates must plan their preparation accordingly.
• A visible timer will be displayed on the screen to help candidates track time.
• Rough sheets will be provided for calculations and must be returned to the test centre after the exam.
• Candidates can only begin the test once the invigilator permits them to log in.

In A Nutshell

Understanding how many questions in CAT exam 2025 and how they’re distributed across sections is essential for building a focused and effective preparation strategy. As CAT 2025 approaches, keeping these patterns and expectations in mind will help you manage time, reduce stress, and boost your performance on exam day. Whether you’re aiming for IIMs or other top B-schools like Globsyn Business School, mastering the format is the first step toward achieving your MBA dream. So, plan smart, practice consistently, and stay confident.

All the best!