Abhishek
Abhishek Dhawan
Assistant Manager – Editorial Content
Updated on Nov 29, 2024 12:27 IST

IIM Calcutta conducted the CAT exam in three slots on November 24. CAT 2024 question paper PDF along with official answer key and candidate response sheet is out for Slot 1, 2 and 3.

CAT 2024 Question Paper PDF Download

CAT 2024 Question Paper PDF Download for Slot 1, 2 and 3

CAT 2024 Question Paper PDF: IIM Calcutta conducted the CAT 2024 exam in three slots on November 24. Candidates can download the CAT 2024 question paper PDF to know the sectional weightage and difficulty level. IIM Calcutta has released CAT question paper PDF officially along with the official answer key and response sheet on the exam website, iimcat.ac.in.

CAT 2024 question paper has been designed with a total of 66 questions divided across three different sections. Three sections of CAT question paper include Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA). Candidates can use CAT question paper PDF along with the answer key and response sheet to evaluate their probable score.

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CAT 2024 Official Question Papers

IIM Calcutta releases the answer key, response sheet along with the CAT question paper PDF 4-5 days after the exam date. The table below mentions the CAT question paper PDF for slot 1, 2 and 3.

CAT Exam Slots Question Paper PDF Download*
CAT 2024 slot 1 question paper Download PDF Here
CAT 2024 slot 2 question paper Download PDF Here
CAT 2024 slot 3 question paper Download PDF Here

*NOTE: CAT question paper PDF links in the table above will be updated as soon as IIM Calcutta releases the same.

Q:   Which CAT slot has the toughest question paper?

A:
There is no pattern to which CAT question paper can be the toughest. The CAT question paper of every slot has unique questions. The examination body strives to maintain the same difficulty level of the paper across all slots but it may happen that a question can be more difficult from another. It is seen that, to keep the uniqueness of the question paper intact, the examination authority also changes the topic wise weightage a little bit across the exam slots. In most of the previous years, it is seen that the morning slot of the CAT exam is tougher than the rest two. However, candidates must not worry about the difficulty level of the slots as, the scores of all the candidates are normalised on a common scale to root out the possibility of advantage or disadvantage to any student due to difference in difficulty level. To know how the CAT scores are normalised, read this article: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/understanding-cat-normalization-process-blogId-9386.

Q:   What is the structure of CAT question paper?

A:
The CAT question paper structure has remained unchanged since 2014 when there were only two sections. Quantitative Aptitude was clubbed with Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning was clubbed with Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension. In 2015, the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning were clubbed together and Quantitative Aptitude and Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension made two individual sections. Since 2015, the sectional segregation has remained the same but the number of questions have come down from 100 to 66. The exam duration has also been reduced. Until 2019, the CAT exam was of 180 minutes and the total number of questions were 100. However, in 2020, the question paper structure was revised due to COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, the total number of questions came down to 76. In 2021 and 2022, the number of questions were further lowered to 66. For the last two years, CAT is conducted for 2 hours, and the number of questions is 66. The latest CAT question paper structure is: Total questions: 66 Number of sections: 3 Order of sections - 1. VARC 2. DILR 3. Quantitative Aptitude Sectional time limit: 40 minutes VARC questions: 24 DILR questions: 20 Quantitative Aptitude questions: 22.

Q:   From where can I download CAT question papers?

A:
CAT question papers are released within a week of the exam in the form of a PDF as a response sheet and answer key. Candidates who have appeared for the test are able to access the CAT question paper and answer key. The question paper of every slot is released on the same day along with candidate response sheet and official answer to all question. If any candidate needs previous year CAT question papers for preparation purpose, then they can download them from Shiksha website. We have hosted last five years' CAT question papers for aspirants to download and practice. These official CAT question papers are available for download free. You can download the CAT question paper PDFs at this link: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/cat-exam-question-papers Candidates must check and practice the latest CAT question paper to know the latest exam pattern and difficulty level.

CAT Question Paper PDF 2024 (Memory Based)

The table below mentions the direct links to access the CAT 2024 memory based questions, answer keys, and exam analysis:

CAT 2024 Slots

CAT Answer Key, Question Paper, & Exam Analysis

CAT 2024 Slot 1 answer key, question paper, and exam analysis

Check Here

CAT 2024 Slot 2 answer key, question paper, and exam analysis

Check Here

CAT 2024 Slot 3 answer key, question paper, and exam analysis

Check Here

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Steps to Download CAT 2024 Question Paper PDF

IIM does not release the CAT question paper separately. Candidates get to access the CAT questions while checking the response sheet and the CAT 2024 answer key. The space below mentions the steps to check the CAT question papers, answer key and response sheet:

  1. Visit the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in
  2. Click on the login button available on the homepage.
  3. Enter CAT login credentials, including the registration number and password.
  4. Navigate to the relevant link for CAT 2024 response sheet and answer key.
  5. Download the response sheet and check all the questions in CAT and the responses recorded on the exam day.

How to use CAT 2024 Question Paper?

Candidates who took the CAT 2024 exam can use these question papers to evaluate their probable scores before the declaration of results. The marking scheme, answer key, response sheet, and CAT 2024 question paper help candidates calculate their probable scores to reduce the result anxiety.

Q:   What are the benefits of solving CAT question papers?

A:
Solving the CAT question paper is very important from preparation point of view. Since CAT is a speed based test where candidates have to read long passages, tables and charts, do multiple calculations and solve tricky puzzles, one needs to have prior practice of the same. The CAT mock tests serve this purpose. However, to know what type of passages and puzzles are there in the CAT exam, you need to solve previous years' question papers. Some of the benefits of solving previous years' CAT question paper are: 1. With the help of previous year's CAT question paper, you can understand the latest CAT exam pattern and marking scheme 2. Practicing CAT question papers improves speed and accuracy in solving the questions, which is critical to a speed based exam like CAT 3. Practicing CAT question papers improves time management skills as you would get to know which type of questions take how much time. 4. When you practice CAT question papers, you gain confidence that you can solve all types of CAT questions. This confidence helps in performing better in the exam.

Q:   How many RC questions does CAT have?

A:

The CAT VARC section is dominated by RC questions. Out of 24 questions about 14-16 are based on Reading Comprehension passages and the rest of them are based on parajumbles, para completion, etc.

CAT has about 12-16 RC question. In CAT 2022, there were four RC passages each having four questions. The ideal attempt was estimated at 13. Since, it is not mandatory to solve all the questions, candidates can maximize their scores by leaving out the questions related to the passage they find the toughest. There is negative marking in CAT so candidates must ensure that they mark only the correct options or do not mark any option at all.

Q:   What was the key change in CAT question paper 2024?

A:

The key change in CAT question paper 2024 was increase in number of questions in DLIR section. Till 2023, the DILR section used to have 20 questions. In 2024, it had 22 questions. The time limit for it was the same and no other section had less questions. Which means, in CAT 2024, candidates had to attempt 68 questions instead of 66 to solve in the same time (120 minutes). DILR sectional time limit was 40 minutes as in previous years. There was no other change in CAT 2024, the difficulty level was same as previous years. 

Q:   Is it mandatory to attempt all the questions in CAT?

A:

No, it is not mandatory to attempt all the questions in CAT. Candidates can choose to attempt questions as per their preparation. It is not possible also to attempt all the questions due to time limitation and difficulty level. Reading dense RC passages often take up a lot of time. In DILR and QA too, some questions are time taking and calculation intensive due to which not much time is left in hand to attempt all questions. The aim of every test taker should be to attempt about 2/3rd of the total questions in all the sections of CAT. 

CAT Score Calculation Process using Question Paper, Answer Key, Response Sheet

Candidates must follow the steps mentioned below to calculate their CAT 2024 raw score using the question paper, answer key and response sheet:

  1. Calculate the total number of correct responses recorded in the CAT 2024 exam.
  2. Calculate the number of incorrect MCQ responses recorded in the CAT exam.
  3. Add 3 marks for each correct response.
  4. Deduct 1 mark for each incorrect MCQ response recorded.
  5. No marks will be deducted for unattempted responses or incorrect TITA responses.
  6. The outcome of the above calculations will provide the raw score in the CAT exam.

Also Check: CAT Score vs Percentile

NOTE: IIM Calcutta will use the CAT normalisation process to equalise the performance of all test takers across three slots. Admissions based on CAT will be done as per the normalised score mentioned in the CAT scorecard.

CAT Percentile predictor prepared by Shiksha.com helps students to get their predicted CAT 2024 percentile on the basis of their expected exam score. So, predict your CAT 2024 score by clicking the link below:

CAT Percentile Predictor

CAT 2024 Question Paper Pattern

CAT 2024 exam pattern was kept similar to the past exam sessions. The table below mentions the CAT question paper pattern in brief:

CAT Test Pattern Elements

CAT Exam Pattern

CAT exam mode

Computer Based Test

CAT exam duration

120 minutes (divided equally across sections)

CAT exam slots

3 exam slots as mentioned below

  • Morning: 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM
  • Afternoon: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
  • Evening: 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM

Total questions in CAT exam

68

CAT sectional composition

3 sections with the following composition:

  • Quantitative Aptitude (QA): 24 questions
  • Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI): 22 questions
  • Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): 22 questions

CAT total marks

204

CAT marking scheme

  • +3 marks for each correct response
  • -1 marks for each incorrect response (for MCQs only)
  • No negative marking for incorrect response in TITA type questions
  • No negative marking for unanswered questions

Question paper medium

English

Type of questions

MCQs and TITA (Type in The Answer) questions

CAT question paper pattern saw a change in 2024 with increase in the number of questions to 24.

CAT Answer Key 2024

Candidates will find the CAT 2024 answer key, response sheet and question papers inside the login dashboard. Answer key for CAT 2024 slot 1, 2 and 3 will be released for candidates who took the exam in that particular slot. Candidates will have to access the CAT login dashboard to access the answer keys. Candidates will be allowed to raise objections against the CAT answer key. IIM Calcutta will draft the CAT final answer key after reviewing challenges against the preliminary answer key.

CAT 2024 answer key for slot 1, 2 and 3 also helps candidates prepare for CAT 2025 exam.

Also Check: CAT 2024 Exam Analysis

Previous Year’s CAT Question Papers

Besides helping the CAT 2024 test takers, candidates can use the CAT 2024 question paper PDF to prepare for the subsequent exam session. Previous year’s CAT question papers help prepare for the exam with a holistic approach as it provides deep understanding of the pattern, syllabus, etc. Candidates can access the CAT previous year’s question paper from the table below:

CAT Exam Session

Question Paper PDF Download

CAT 2023 Question Paper

Download PDF Here

CAT 2022 Question Paper

Download PDF Here

CAT 2021 Question Paper

Download PDF Here

CAT 2020 Question Paper

Download PDF Here

CAT 2019 Question Paper

Download PDF Here

CAT 2018 Question Paper

Download PDF Here

CAT 2017 Question Paper

Download PDF Here

Also Check: Last 5 Year CAT Question Paper PDF Free Download

Check CAT cut offs and predict calls from IIMs and Non-IIMs accepting CAT score for admission. Check Fees, Placement Reviews, Admission, Shortlist Criteria and Eligibility of all CAT participating colleges by clicking the link below:

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Candidates whose scores meet the previous year’s CAT cutoff scores are likely to get admission calls.

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About the Author
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Abhishek Dhawan
Assistant Manager – Editorial Content

With a creative soul, Abhishek is inclined towards anything in the creative space be it drawing, painting, craft, or writing. He has been working in the ed-tech industry since he started his career. Besides creative... Read Full Bio

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