Information CAT Previous year questions paper

The CAT Previous Year Question Paper is the simplest way to get accustomed to an exam pattern. Solving previous-year question papers helps the candidates formulate a strategy that can benefit their exam preparation. Getting familiar with the difficulty level, type of questions, paper pattern, and such details always serves as an upper hand to rank higher in the CAT exam.

Candidates’ problem-solving skills should be top-notch to rank highly among the other candidates. CAT Previous year question papers are a great medium for practice and make a candidate used to solving tough questions. By practicing the previous year’s question paper, the brain starts working with a paced accuracy.

CAT Exam

CAT stands for Common Admission Test, a management aptitude test. It is the main path to admission into MBA courses in India. It is conducted in computer-based mode and has a duration of 2 hours. Over 2 lakh students apply for the CAT exam everywhere.

Due to such high competition, tracking the CAT notification is crucial so you do not miss any opportunity.

CAT Exam Pattern

It includes three sections. These sections are illustrated below:

• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC).
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR).
• Quantitative Ability (QA). 

The exam is expected to have 66 questions, and you will have 120 minutes to complete them. Every correct answer carries +3 marks, and 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer. There are no negative markings for non-MCQ questions. 

Let’s take a quick overview of the CAT exam pattern:

Sections	No. of Questions	Duration	Marks
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)	24	40 minutes	72
Data Interpretations and Logical Reasoning (DILR)	20	40 minutes	60
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	22	40 minutes	66
Total	66	120 minutes	198

CAT Syllabus

Below is detailed information about the three sections. Candidates must review this information to prepare an effective preparation plan.

VARC has two subparts: verbal ability and reading comprehension.

DILR is the second section of the CAT exam and will be attempted after the VARC section. It is further subdivided into two sections: data interpretation and logical reasoning.

Quantitative aptitude is the last section to be attempted in the CAT exam. The aptitude syllabus is the largest among the three sections. Therefore, most of the time is invested in preparing the QA section. 

Take a look at some key points in these sections:

CAT Syllabus: Sections	Topics
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)	Long and Short Passages, Para Jumbles, Para Summary, Odd Sentence Out.
Quantitative Ability (QA)	Modern Math, Number System, Geometry, Mensuration, Algebra, Arithmetic
Data Interpretations and Logical Reasoning (DILR)	Seating Arrangements, Coding-Decoding, Team Formation, Clocks and Calendars, Venn Diagrams, and Bar Graphs

Advantages of the CAT Previous Year Question Paper

Consistent practice of the CAT previous year questions paper clears your concepts. It helps prepare those questions that are asked annually. Previous-year question papers help you build a base for strong conceptual preparation. Availing these previous year’s questions on paper is all that a student needs to do.

These CAT model papers will help you effectively shape your preparation.

1. Improves time management

Students often complain about time management, even after having a proper schedule. Time management is vital for an exam. Solving previous year’s question paper will increase your speed of solving questions, helping with better time management.

2. Creates an exam environment

Solving previous-year CAT exam questions, papers, and mock tests with a running timer can help candidates get accustomed to the exam-like environment, reducing anxiety and the pressure of sitting unprepared for the exam.

3. A Source of New Questions

Creating new questions is a tougher job than solving them. Therefore, these new questions are not included in the study material. Instead, they are used in the CAT previous-year question paper and mock tests. Practising these new questions helps strengthen a candidate’s core concepts.

4. Proficiency in all topics

Previous-year question papers have questions from the entire course. It concentrates on all the exam topics rather than the text questions of each chapter. It provides questions on all the topics, giving the benefit of all-inclusive preparation.

5. Demo of exam papers

These previous papers are curated according to your exams, enhancing your skills in solving papers. It keeps you updated regarding the paper pattern, thus helping you be prepared to answer any questions that could be asked in the exams.

6. Self Assessment

The best part of solving CAT model papers is that you can analyze yourself, helping you to be aware of your weaker sections and mistakes. 

7. Enhances accuracy and speed

Practicing previous year’s question papers helps the candidate solve the actual CAT question paper more swiftly and accurately, as it familiarizes them with different question variations.

8. Helps in Devising a Strategy

After knowing your strengths and weaknesses, you can decide which questions to attempt first and which to take up later. Such minor changes can have a huge impact on your overall scores.

Conclusion

Previous-year question papers are the best medium to prepare for the exam. These papers provide relevant information about the CAT exam and help devise an effective strategy. Candidates must go through these details and practice consistently. Practice is what makes you perfect. Consistent and dedicated practice will be the source of success. Therefore, aspirants need to work hard without taking a day off to reach their target. 

Our website provides exclusive content for CAT preparation. Aspirants can review these details and refer to the material available to prepare effectively.