The Indian Institute of Management’s CAT test 2022 has been designed in a way that can effectively aid in evaluating aspiring business managers. The CAT pattern is intended to evaluate a candidate’s aptitude for quickly and accurately solving mathematical and reasoning tasks. Candidates must become familiar with the most recent CAT exam format if they intend to take the November 27 CAT 2022 exam. They can better prepare by understanding the CAT question paper’s structure and scoring system.
The CAT format is based on comparable MBA admission tests and consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) that must be answered in a specific amount of time. The CAT test used to last 180 minutes and included 100 questions, but in 2020, due to the COVID-19 epidemic, both the exam’s length and its set of questions were decreased. The exam was condensed to 120 minutes and had seventy-six questions instead of 120. The number of questions further decreased in CAT 2021 to 66, while the exam time remained the same. The overall CAT score was 198.
According to the announcement made on July 30, the exam format for CAT 2022 is the same as it was last year. The CAT exam pattern for 2022 is detailed here, along with information on the test format, sectional time limits, scoring system, and sections.
CAT Exam Schedule 2022 Highlights
Three parts, each with a time restriction, will make up the CAT question exam for 2022.
- 20 questions make up the Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) section, which is worth sixty points.
- 24 questions make up the Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) section, which is worth 72 points.
- 22 questions make up the quantitative aptitude (QA) section, which is worth 66 points.
For applicants to become familiar with the CAT exam process, the examination administrators will issue a tutorial. Below is a summary of further information on the CAT paper format and scoring system.
CAT Paper Pattern 2022
| Mode of CAT examination | It is a Computer Based Examination |
| Duration of exam | 120 mins forty mins/section |
| CAT Test Slots | From 8:30 to 10:30 in the morning From 12:30 to 2:30 in the afternoon In the evening, from 4:30 to 6:30 |
| Number of inquiries | Sixty-Six |
| Total CAT scores | One Ninety-Eight |
| Language used in the test | The mode of paper is English |
| Number of options for answers | four |
| Question Format | Both MCQ and Non- MCQ would be asked in the paper |
What Has the CAT Exam Pattern Changed?
The overall number of questions has changed since last year, which is the sole modification to the CAT exam schedule. IIM Ahmedabad, the organisation in charge of administering the CAT test in 2021, kept the same format as in 2020. However, they decreased the number of questions asked from 76 to 66.
The CAT test had 180 minutes or 3 hours (with a 60-minute sectional time restriction) and 100 questions up to 2019, however, the format was changed in 2020, five years later. The latest CAT examination is two hours long and has a forty-minute section time limit. Before 2020, PwD applicants received an additional 20 minutes for each segment, but after that year they would only receive an additional 13.20 minutes.
Exam Time Limits for Sections and the Overall CAT Exam Pattern 2022
The CAT exam has a time restriction for each segment. This implies that applicants will have to approach the question paper in a certain way. They won’t be able to pick which segment, to begin with or move between sections. They must read the CAT exam papers from part one to part three in order. The components will be in this order:
Part one: Reading comprehension & verbal skills
Part two: Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation
Part three: The Quantitative Aptitude
CAT Exam Length of Time
According to the official CAT examination format, candidates must finish each component within the allotted time, after which the computer will automatically advance to the next section. Revisions or alterations made afterwards won’t be approved. The amount of questions & time allotted for every section of the CAT examination are summarized in table below:
| CAT Exam Sections | No. of Ques. | The CAT examination duration of time | CAT examination time duration for the PwD Students |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 24 | 40 mins | 53 mins and 20 secs |
| The Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation | 20 | 40 mins | 53 mins and 20 secs |
| The Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 22 | 40 mins | 53 mins and 20 secs |
| Total | 66 | 120 mins | 160 mins |
CAT Exam Pattern: Marking Scheme
Before taking the test, it’s critical to understand the CAT marking system so you can decide which topics to answer and which ones to avoid.
- The CAT 2022 paper will have a total score of 198 and each issue will be worth three points.
- If a candidate decides not to try the question, there won’t be any loss of marks; instead, there will be negative marking of -1 for every incorrect response.
- Each part may contain questions that aren’t multiple-choice, in which case the responses must be written on the screen.
The table below provides a summary of the CAT scoring system
| CAT Part | No. of Ques. | Marks/Ques. | CAT Negative Marking system (Only MCQ) |
| VARC | Twenty-four | three | -1 |
| DILR | twenty | three | -1 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | Twenty-two | three | -1 |
| CAT Examination Total Marks | Sixty-six | One ninety-eight | – |
Strategies & Tips for Preparation
CAT Syllabus objectification
The idea is to separate the curriculum and examine the sections in-depth rather than glancing at the CAT curriculum as a whole. The CAT Examination Syllabus many themes & components must be acquainted to you. Create a chart of the complete course curriculum and set it on your desk area so that you can see it at all times. Have a highly organised approach to the curriculum; go over all of the old topics first, then move on to the new ones. Through this, you will build up enough momentum and self-assurance to tackle any new concepts you need to learn from scratch.
Plan the study strategy
Plan out your CAT preparations in detail. Before beginning the preparation, read over the complete syllabus. This helps you organise your time and offers you a general picture of the preparation.
Have the fundamentals at your fingertips
The most important aspect regarding the CAT test that the majority of CAT aspirants ignore is the fact that the whole CAT Syllabus is made up of subjects that you’ve already studied in grades 8, 9, and 10.
Techniques & Strategies for Saving Time
As was previously said, only a select few applicants are accepted into the top B-schools and IIMs. The secret is effective time management. A candidate must typically respond to a question in fewer than 90 seconds. Knowing a few shortcuts, tactics, and procedures always helps a candidate do the task within the allotted time. Additionally, applicants are advised to plan and develop a unique strategy for tackling certain issues to finish related questions more quickly.
The practice exams and past year’s papers
There are never enough opportunities to practise taking the CAT. There are several benefits to passing practice exams, some of which include:
- It significantly reduces exam tension since you are more at ease in the test room because you are already acclimated to the exam format and have already experienced the same situation.
- It raises your self-esteem.
- You may modify your time management plan for better results.
- It aids in SWOT analysis.
Review Yourself
Make sure to provide time for self-analysis of the performance whenever you plan a mock test. Check out which questions received negative grading and which ones were successfully answered.
Every day, learn five new words.
The majority of applicants choose to ignore the CAT Verbal Ability portion. You must mostly recognise inappropriate usage of popular vocabulary terms in the CAT vocabulary portion.
