The CAT exam will be a total of 204 marks. The CAT examination will consist of two slots of 2 hours each day. The CAT total marks are different across sections. 24 marks are for the Verbal Ability Section, 22 marks for the Data Interpretation Section, and 22 marks for the Quant section respectively.
Candidates are awarded 3 marks for each correct answer and the exam also has a negative marking of 1. So the candidates must be careful while writing the CAT exam to avoid negative markings. In case you are unsure about a question, it is advised that you do not attempt the question. Read the article in detail to know more about the CAT Total Marks.
Must Check: CAT Exam upcoming dates and events
Important Pointers for CAT Total Marks
- The CAT exam will be conducted in three slots of 2 hours each on a single day.
- The total marks of the CAT examination will be 198 marks. However, candidates cannot switch between the sections.
- For each wrong answer, 1 mark will be deducted.
- Rough sheets will be provided for rough work and the candidate needs to submit it too before leaving the exam center once the examination is completed.
- The applicants will not be allowed to begin or log into their test before the test timing. The examination will commence, after the invigilator’s announcement.
People Also Read: CAT Preparation Tips
What is the CAT Exam Pattern 2025?
The CAT exam 2025 will consist of 66 questions in total, which every candidate must complete in the assigned 120 minutes. The paper will include three sections, and 40 minutes will be allotted to complete each selection.
Check More: CAT exam pattern
CAT Paper and Syllabus
Before understanding and evaluating the CAT Total Marks criteria, any aspirant must understand the CAT Paper Pattern and CAT Syllabus. The CAT Paper and Syllabus are mentioned below:
Particulars | CAT Pattern 2025 and CAT Syllabus |
CAT exam time duration | 2 Hours (120 Minutes) |
Name of the Section |
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Section-wise CAT exam duration |
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CAT slot timings |
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How many questions in the CAT exam | 68 Questions |
CAT total marks | 204 marks |
Mode of the CAT 2025 exam | Computer-Based Mode (CBT) |
CAT Marking Scheme |
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CAT Total Marks
Candidates must understand the CAT marking scheme, as it an important for them to calculate an effective exam strategy, doing critically think about the questions to attempt. The CAT total marks will be 204, with each question carrying 3 marks. For every wrong answer, 1 mark will be deducted from the MCQs.
CAT Exam Pattern 2025 - Marking Scheme | |||
|---|---|---|---|
CAT Sections | Number of Questions | Marks Per Correct Question | CAT Negative Marking (Only MCQ) |
DILR | 22 | 3 | -1 |
VARC | 24 | 3 | -1 |
Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | 3 | -1 |
CAT Exam Total Marks | 68 | 204 | – |
CAT Exam Paper Analysis
The Previous year's question paper presented a moderate to high level of difficulty. The question paper consists of three slots, the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section which includes moderately difficult passages and questions. The CAT Exam Paper Analysis for 2022 is mentioned below:
CAT 2022 Sections | Number of Questions | Question Type | Difficulty Level |
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 16 RC questions, 8 VA questions | Easy to Moderate |
Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI) | 22 | 4 sets of 5 questions each | Moderate to Difficult |
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 22 | Dominated by Arithmetic and Algebra questions | Moderate to Difficult |
Total | 68 | — | Moderate to Difficult |
CAT Total Marks vs Percentile
The previous year’s CAT exam was tough, so taking as a reference, the CAT expected score vs percentile 2025 compared with CAT cutoff marks is mentioned below.
CAT Percentile | Score VARC | Score DILR | Score QA | Overall Score |
99.5 | 42 | 30 | 30 | 86 |
99 | 36 | 25 | 25 | 74 |
95 | 30 | 20 | 22 | 52 |
90 | 24 | 14 | 13 | 42 |
80 | 20 | 11 | 9 | 35 |
70 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 30 |
Read in Detail: CAT Score Vs Percentile Analysis
CAT Expected Cutoff 2025
Candidates can check the expected 2025 CAT exam cutoff presented below. Candidates must note that these are based on the past year trends, and may vary in reality.
IIMs | Cut Off (Percentile) |
99-100 | |
99 | |
99 | |
97-98 | |
97-98 | |
97-98 | |
95-96 | |
95-96 | |
95-96 | |
94-95 | |
94-95 | |
94-95 | |
94-95 | |
94-95 | |
92-94 | |
92-94 | |
92-94 | |
90 | |
90 | |
89-90 |
