CAT Exam Pattern 2020: Duration of CAT 2020 exam has been changed, the number of session has been increased. Form correction details has been also announced
CAT Exam Pattern 2020 (Changed) – New Exam Duration and Slots, Section Wise Pattern & Marking Scheme
CAT Exam Pattern 2020 – Indian Institute of Management, Indore has brought about a change in the exam pattern of CAT 2020 wherein now instead of three hours the CAT exam will be of two hours and instead of two sessions it will be held in three slots. According to the new change in CAT exam pattern 2020, applicants will be allotted exactly 40 minutes for answering questions in each section and they will not be permitted to switch from one section to another while answering questions in a section. Previously the CAT exam was of three hours and applicanst were allotted 60 minutes to answer each section.
Applicants who will appear for the exam can check the exam pattern of CAT 2020 which indicates the total number of different sections and the questions that will be asked in each of them. By going through the CAT exam pattern 2020 candidates will also know the marking scheme, the subjects and the topics from which the questions will be asked. Under the exam pattern of CAT 2020 candidates will also know the mode of the exam as well as the duration of the test. CAT will be conducted in computer based in two slots on 29th November 2020.
CAT 2020 Exam Pattern Highlights
Pattern | Detail Information |
---|---|
Total Number of Questions | 100 |
Total Marks | 300 |
Number of Sections | 3 (Verbal & Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Aptitude) |
Duration of Exam | 120 minutes (40 minutes per section) |
Medium of Exam | English |
Number of Answer Choices | 4 |
Mode of Exam | Online |
CAT Marking Scheme | +3 marks for the correct answer -1 mark for an incorrect answer |
Questions with Negative Marking | MCQs-70 to 75 |
Questions without Negative Marking | NON-MCQs- 25 to 30 |
CAT 2020 Exam Pattern Sectional Composition
Section | Total questions | Number of MCQ questions | Number of Non-MCQ questions |
---|---|---|---|
Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 34 (RC-24, VA-10) | 24-27 | 7-10 |
Quantitative Aptitude (Quant) | 34 | 22-24 | 10-12 |
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 32 (DI-16, LR-16) | 24 | 8 |
Total | 100 | 75 | 25 |
CAT 2020 Marking Scheme
CAT will have two types of questions– MCQs and Non-MCQs. Both the type of questions will carry equal marks. Here is the CAT Marking Scheme for your reference:
- Total Questions- 100
- Total Marks- 300
- Marks for Each Correct Answer- +3 marks
- Marks for Each Incorrect Answer- -1 score.
- Negative Marking for Non-MCQs– No
- Questions Left Blank- No mark
The table given below provides a brief of the marking scheme, expected to be followed for CAT 2020.
TYPE OF QUESTION | CORRECT ANSWER | INCORRECT ANSWER | UN-ATTEMPTED QUESTION |
---|---|---|---|
MCQ | +3 | -1 | 0 |
Non-MCQ | +3 | 0 | 0 |
- Candidates get 40 minutes to complete each section.
- Even if candidates complete a section before 60 minutes, they cannot switch/ start with the next section.
- However, candidates can attempt any of the section first and can also answer the questions out of sequence.
CAT 2020 Test Taking Instructions
Detailed instructions are displayed on the screen beforethe exam commences, candidates are advised to follow the same throughout the exam. When candidates login into the sytems provided, aclock starts at the right hand side of the screen. This displays time remianing for each section that is 60 minutes. The moment time duration for a specific section is over candidates are automatically switched to further sections and wont be able to answer any more question from the previous section.
It is important to have a fair idea of the colour panel which is displayed on the computer screen of the candidate. This will guide them in attempting the questions on the basis of priority.
Colour on the Panel | Indication |
---|---|
Red | Question not been answered nor marked for review |
Green | Questions has been answeredbut not marked for review |
Grey | Question neither viewed nor visited |
Violet | Question marked for review but not answered |
Violet with Grey Mark | Question is both answered and marked for review |
CAT 2020 Exam Pattern for Quantitative Aptitude
- This section focuses on numerical problems and will test a candidate’s mathematical knowledge.
- It is a test of speed, accuracy, and precision.
- There are 34 questions in this section.
- They will be further divided into 27 MCQ & 7 Non-MCQs.
Sub Section | Number of Questions |
---|---|
Arithmetic | 14 questions |
Algebra | 9 questions |
Geometry | 7 questions |
Number System | 2 questions |
Modern Maths | 2 questions |
CAT Syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude
Variation | Time and Work | Time, Speed and Distance |
Linear and Quadratics Equations | Surds and Indices | Inequalities |
Logarithms | Mensuration and Geometry | Tables and Case lets |
Probability/ Profit or Loss | Critical Path | Averages and Partnerships |
Allegations and Mixtures | Algebra | Percentage |
Read CAT 2020 Quants Preparation Tips
Important study material/ books for Quantitative

Book Name | Author Name/Publisher | ISBN Number |
---|---|---|
How to Prepare for Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT | Arun Sharma | 9352602242 |
Quantitative Aptitude Quantum CAT Common Admission Tests for Admission into IIMs | Sarvesh K. Verma | 9311123870 |
Quantitative Aptitude for the CAT | Nishit K. Sinha | 9332570019 |
CAT 2020 Exam Pattern for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
- This section will focus on two aspects- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning.
- Questions from Data Interpretation (DI) focus on a candidate’s ability to derive conclusions from a given set of data.
- Logical Reasoning (LR) section tests a candidate’s logical thinking and its application to everyday problems.
- There will be a total of 32 questions from this section.
- They will be further divided into 24 MCQ & 8 Non-MCQs.
Bar Graph | Case lets |
Line Graph | Combination of Graphs |
Pie Chart | Data Sufficiency |
Tables | Venn Diagram |
Seating Arrangement | Blood Relations |
Syllogism | Venn Diagram |
Propositions | Data Arrangement |
Puzzles | Assumptions |
Statements | Clocks and Calendars |
Sets | – |
CAT Books for Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

Books for CAT Exam | Author Name/Publisher | ISBN Number |
---|---|---|
CAT 2020 Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | Gautam Puri | 9386309475 |
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT | Nishit K. Sinha | 933257121X |
Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency | Ananta Ashisha | 9352039246 |
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT | Arun Sharma | 9352602250 |
CAT Exam Pattern for VARC
- This section will have questions from English language and grammar.
- It tests a candidate’s language and comprehension skills.
- The comprehension questions will test the ability to comprehend the meaning from a given passage.
- Questions about language usage and their rules are also expected to appear in the exam. Testing the understanding of basic grammar is also a part of the exam.
- A total of 34 questions will be asked from this section.
- They will be further divided into 24 MCQ & 10 Non-MCQs.
CAT 2020 Exam Pattern for Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
Sub Section | Number of Questions |
---|---|
Reading Comprehension | 24 |
Sentence Correction | 3 |
Summary | 3 |
Para Jumble | 4 |
Syllabus for Verbal and Reading Comprehension
Sentence Correction | Word usage |
Fill in the blanks | Para Jumble |
Para completion | Fact Inference Judgement |
Analogies | Idioms |
CAT Syllabus 2020
Indian Institute of Management, Indore which conducts the exam does not prescribe the syllabus for CAT 2020. However, based on past years question papers, candidates can check the topics from which the questions are asked.
Section |
Topics |
Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
English Usage or Grammar, Close Passage, Verbal Ability, Jumbled Paragraph, Reading Comprehension,Verbal Reasoning, Synonyms Antonyms, Facts-Inferences-Judgements etc. |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) |
Bar Graphs, Column Graphs, Tables, Caselets, Blood Relations, Calendars, Cubes, Clocks, Number and Letter Series, Seating Arrangement,Binary Logic, Line Charts, Venn Diagrams, Pie Chart, Combination of two or more types linked to each other, Syllogism etc |
Quantitative Ability (QA) |
Trigonometry, Mensuration, Algebra, Arithmetic, Higher Maths, Geometry, etc. |
Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) – CAT Exam Pattern 2020 (Changed)
Question: Are there prospects of the changes in the CAT 2020 exam pattern?
Answer: IIM Indore has changed the duration of the CAT exam to two hours and the sectional time limit has been reduced from 60 minutes each to 40 minutes.
Question: How many questions will be asked in CAT 2020
Answer: If we check the past years question papers, then it is likely that there will be not much change in the total number of questions that are asked. Hence it is likely that 100 questions will be asked in CAT 2020.
Question: Will the CAT syllabus be officially declared?
Answer: Till now the IIMs have not officially announced the syllabus of the Common Admission Test.