CAT Exam Pattern - Overview
The candidates aspiring to take the CAT 2023 exam must know the CAT exam pattern in order to plan their preparation. Given below is an overview of the CAT exam pattern:
Particulars | CAT 2023 (Expected) | CAT 2022 | CAT 2021 | CAT 2020 | CAT 2019 |
Exam Duration | 2 hours | 2 hours | 2 hours | 2 hours | 3 hour |
Sectional Duration | 40 minutes every section | 40 minutes every section | 40 minutes every section | 40 minutes each section | 60 minutes each section |
Number of Questions in VARC | 24-26 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 34 |
Number of Qs in QA | 22-26 | 22 | 22 | 26 | 34 |
Number of Qs in DILR | 20-24 | 20 | 20 | 24 | 32 |
Total | 66-76 | 66 | 66 | 76 | 100 |
Official Website | |||||
Medium of Exam | Online | ||||
*Note: PWD candidates will get 53 minutes and 20 seconds for each section
Quantitative Ability Section - Overview
Quantitative Ability is one of the important sections of the CAT exam. Earlier the sectional duration of this exam was of 60 minutes but from 2020 onwards the sectional duration has been changed to 40 minutes. In the table below the year-wise comparison of the Quantitative Section of the CAT exam has been discussed:
| Particulars | CAT 2019 | CAT 2020 | CAT 2021 | CAT 2022 |
| Time (in minutes) | 60 | 60 | 40 | 40 |
| No. of Questions | 34 | 26 | 22 | 22 |
| MCQ Questions | 23 | 20 | 14 | 14 |
| Non-MCQ Questions | 11 | 6 | 8 | 8 |
Topic-Wise Breakup
Usually, it has been seen that this section is dominated by Arithmetic followed by Algebra. In CAT 2022 also this trend was followed. Below in the table the topic-wise breakup has been discussed:
Topics | CAT 2022 | CAT 2021 | CAT 2020 | CAT 2019 |
Arithmetic | 8-9 | 7-10 | 10 | 14 |
Algebra | 4-9 | 6-8 | 6-8 | 11-13 |
Geometry & Mensuration | 3-4 | 3-5 | 5-6 | 4-6 |
Number System | 1-3 | 1-2 | 2-3 | 2-3 |
Modern Math | 0-3 | 1 | 0-2 | 0-1 |
Overall | 22 | 22 | 26 | 34 |
CAT Quantitative Ability Syllabus
1. Number System
1. LCM and HCF |
2. Divisibility Rules |
3. Base Change |
4. Finding Units place and tens place of a number |
5. Cyclicity |
6. Remainders |
7. Prime Factorisation |
8. Factorials |
9. Indices and Surds |
2. Arithmetic
1. Time, Distance and Speed |
2. Time and Work, Pipes and Cisterns |
3. Simple Interest and Compound Interest |
4. Ratios, Proportions and Variations |
5. Percentages and Averages |
6. Profit and Loss, Discount |
7. Mixtures and Alligations |
3. Geometry and Mensuration
1. Circles |
2. Triangles |
3. Polygons |
4. Coordinate geometry |
5. Lines and Angles |
6. Trigonometry |
7. Cone |
8. Cylinder |
9. Sphere |
10. Cube/Cuboid |
11. Prism Pyramid |
4. Algebra
1. Inequalities and Modulus |
2. Functions and Groups |
3. Linear and Quadratic Equations |
4. Polynomials |
5. Logarithms |
6. Algebraic Identities |
7. Maxima and Minima |
5. Modern Mathematics
1. Permutations and Combinations |
2. Probability |
3. Set Theory & Venn Diagram |
4. Binomial Theorem |
5. Arithmetic progression, Geometric progression, Harmonic progression |
Arithmetic & Algebra makes up 70% of the Quantitative Ability section
Focus Areas in Quant:
- Quadratic & Linear Equations
- Logarithms
- Sequence & Series
- Polygons & Triangles
- Permutation & Combination
- Time & Work
- Averages
- Percentages
Important Tips To Prepare For The QA Section
Though the questions asked in the CAT exam are of the 10th standard, solving each question step-by-step might result in your failure to attempt maximum questions. Thus, applying short-cuts and short tricks to get to the solution of the question is very essential in such exams. To start preparing for the Quantitative Ability (QA) Section of the CAT exam, one must keep the following things in mind:
- Strong Basics – Having a stronghold of the basics is very important to learn the tips and tricks to solve questions with speed and accuracy. Every one of us has studied the basic concepts in school, however, we tend to forget those. When you are starting to prepare for the QA section, it is very important to revise and memorize the basic concepts that you have already studied in school and then go ahead with learning the short-cut, tricks to solve those questions quickly.
- Identify Your Weaknesses – It is very important to attempt all types of questions so that you have a fair idea of the type of questions you are comfortable with and the type of questions you feel are tough for you. Working on your weak areas is another trick that will help to solve more questions to attempt thus helping you with a chance to score more.
- Work on the Short-Cut Tricks to Solve Questions – Once you are well-versed with the basic concepts of the topics from QA, you must shift your focus towards the short-cut methods and various tricks to solve those questions in less time with accuracy. For having a better understanding and knowledge about tricks to solve such difficult questions, we suggest you follow the faculties from BYJU'S Exam Prep who have years of experience in mentoring candidates for CAT.
Therefore, if you are planning to prepare for the CAT 2023 exam, This is the right time to start your preparations with BYJU'S Exam Prep.
Quantitative Ability - Score Vs Percentile
Percentile | | Marks in | |||
CAT 2022 | CAT 2021 | CAT 2020 | CAT 2019 | CAT 2018 | |
99.5 | 37 | 40 | 50 | 69 | 58 |
99 | 33.5 | 35-36 | 44 | 63 | 51 |
95 | 22.5 | 24 | 30 | 43 | 41 |
90 | 17 | 17 | 23 | 34 | 34 |
80 | 11.5 | 12 | 16 | 23 | 24 |
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