Is CAT Exam Tough? Is it really Tough to Crack | Learn How Tough CAT is?
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: September 13th, 2023

Is CAT Exam Tough? if yes, then How tough is CAT Exam? These are the most common questions by every aspirant before they journey to crack the CAT Exam. However, the answer to “Is CAT Exam Tough” depends on the accuracy and understanding of the candidates dreaming of joining IIMs. Common Admission Test, abbreviated as CAT, is a national-level MBA Entrance Test conducted by IIMs for admission into various MBA specializations.
The CAT exam’s competition level is a little more challenging than the other MBA exam, as more than 2 Lakhs (approx) candidates appear yearly for this exam. So, to understand whether the CAT exam is tough or not, the candidates need to understand the difficulty level, exam pattern, and syllabus of this exam. In this article, BYJU’S Exam Prep experts have analyzed a detailed study on “Is CAT Exam Tough” to guide the candidates on the right track.
Table of content
Is CAT Exam Tough?
To determine the difficulty level of CAT, candidates need to get comfortable with the pattern of this exam. The competition level of this exam is high, and this high competition level makes this exam tough. The crucial areas of this exam include the eligibility criteria, question pattern, and CAT Syllabus. But if you are prepared well, then CAT Exam is not too tough to crack. Note the below section to understand the exam structure.
CAT Paper Pattern
The questions of this exam are of 2 types: MCQs and TITA. Additionally, there is a trend of CAT Negative Marking for every wrong answer. The total duration of this exam is 120 Minutes with 40 Minutes of sectional-time division.
The candidates can get questions from the below-mentioned 3 Sections.
- Quantitative Aptitude (QA)
- Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
Note the below table to understand the chapters covered in this exam.
CAT Topics |
||
Quantitative Aptitude (QA) |
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) |
Arithmetic Set Theory Interest Trigonometry Geometry Mensuration |
Reading Comprehension Vocabulary Grammar Sentence Correction Inference Analogies Phrases and Idioms |
Chart (Bar, Pie, Line, Pie) Graphs Venn Diagrams Puzzles Coding and Deciding Arrangement Clocks and Calendar |
☛ See Also: CAT Exam Pattern
Marks Distribution in CAT Exam
The candidates also need to know the marking scheme of the CAT to get an idea of whether Is CAT Exam Tough? Knowing the marks distribution will help the candidates to make the best CAT Preparation strategies. The below table represents the latest CAT Marking Scheme.
Components |
Details |
Number if Section |
3 Sections: QA DILR VARC |
Total Number of Questions |
66 |
Marks Distribution |
+3 for Every Correct Answer in MCQ & TITA -1 for Every Incorrect Answer in MCQ No Negative Marking in TITA |
CAT Time Duration
Some students take time constraints excessively, leading them to believe that the exam is difficult. It’s important to understand that no one attempts all of the questions. You’d have to skip a few time-consuming questions and concentrate on those that take less time and are easier to score in CAT Question Paper.
We should focus on our strengths now that we know we shouldn’t tackle all the questions. Many students focus on their weaknesses; however, this is not an intelligent practice, especially in competitive exams like the CAT; consequently, you must work on your strengths to pass the CAT.
Important Facts That Make CAT Exam Tough
There are essential factors that intensify the difficulty level of this exam. The candidates need to overcome this extra burden to ace the CAT smoothly. Now the question is, Is CAT Exam Tough? Note the below points to overview the criteria that make CAT Exam Tough.
- Difficulty Level of the Questions: As per the CAT Exam Analysis, this exam has been moderately challenging over the past years. Because of the study techniques, the candidates need to study strategically to clear this exam.
- Huge Syllabus: There is no definite syllabus for the CAT Exam, as the authority does not release any official syllabus. So, the candidates must be prepared by curating the previous years’ papers. Additionally, the topics covered in this exam are enormous. Each section needs dedicated study to prepare well.
- Unavoidable Competition: The competition level of this exam is high. Approximately 2 Lakh students appear every year to get various career opportunities, so there is a race to Score 100 percentile in CAT on everyone’s mind. From that viewpoint, CAT is tough.
- High Cutoff for IIMs: Most of the top IIMs want a high CAT Cut Off for shortlisted candidates for final admission. If not prepared well, it will be quite difficult for the candidates to ace this exam with good CAT Result.
Is CAT Exam Tough – Know the Difficulty Level
The toughness of the CAT varies across the years and depends on various parameters. Below is an overview of the difficulty level of CAT Exam over the years. This is as per the student’s feedback and exam analysis.
CAT Exam |
Conducting IIM |
Difficulty Level of CAT Exam |
CAT 2022 |
IIM Bangalore |
Moderately Difficult |
CAT 2021 |
IIM Ahmedabad |
Moderate. VARC was easier |
CAT Exam 2020 |
IIM Indore |
Moderately-Difficult |
CAT 2019 |
IIM Kozhikode |
Moderate Difficult Level, where VARC was slightly more complex. |
CAT 2018 |
IIM Calcutta |
Moderate Difficult |
CAT 2017 |
IIM Lucknow |
DILR was difficult while VARC was easier |
CAT Exam 2016 |
IIM Bangalore |
Difficult; therefore, CAT Cutoff was lower. |
CAT 2015 |
IIM Ahmedabad |
DILR was more difficult than VARC and QA |