Free CAT prep · 24 papers
CAT previous year papers 2017–2025
ProCounsel has 24 actual CAT papers from 2017–2025, every slot as a free timed test. Take a whole paper with that year's section timer or one section at a time, get your score with the CAT marking scheme, and see where you stand among ProCounsel students who took the same paper. Questions and answers are inside the free app, not on this page.
By ProCounsel Editorial TeamReviewed by ProCounsel counselling teamLast updated 13 Nov 2026
Which CAT papers can you take?
Every paper by year and slot, with the pattern it is timed and marked by.
CAT 2025
3 slots · 68 questions · 120 min
- Slot 1 · 68 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
- Slot 2 · 68 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
- Slot 3 · 68 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
| Order | Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VARCVerbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 24 | 40 min |
| 2 | DILRData Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 22 | 40 min |
| 3 | QAQuantitative Ability | 22 | 40 min |
Pattern: Media Release for Common Admission Test 2025 (CAT 2025), dated 01.12.2025· last verified 11 Nov 2026Paper: CAT 2025 Slot 1 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)· last verified 13 Nov 2026
CAT 2024
3 slots · 68 questions · 120 min
- Slot 1 · 68 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
- Slot 2 · 68 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
- Slot 3 · 68 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
| Order | Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VARCVerbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 24 | 40 min |
| 2 | DILRData Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 22 | 40 min |
| 3 | QAQuantitative Ability | 22 | 40 min |
Pattern: Media Release for Common Admission Test 2024 (CAT 2024), dated 25.11.2024· last verified 11 Nov 2026Paper: CAT 2024 Slot 1 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)· last verified 13 Nov 2026
CAT 2023
3 slots · 66 questions · 120 min
- Slot 1 · 66 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
- Slot 2 · 66 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
- Slot 3 · 66 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
| Order | Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VARCVerbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 24 | 40 min |
| 2 | DILRData Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 20 | 40 min |
| 3 | QAQuantitative Ability | 22 | 40 min |
Pattern: Media Release for Common Admission Test 2023 (CAT 2023), CAT Centre IIM Lucknow, 27 Nov 2023· last verified 13 Nov 2026Paper: CAT 2023 Slot 1 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)· last verified 13 Nov 2026
CAT 2022
3 slots · 66 questions · 120 min
- Slot 1 · 66 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
- Slot 2 · 66 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
- Slot 3 · 66 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
| Order | Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VARCVerbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 24 | 40 min |
| 2 | DILRData Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 20 | 40 min |
| 3 | QAQuantitative Ability | 22 | 40 min |
Pattern: Media Release for Common Admission Test 2022 (CAT 2022), CAT Centre IIM Bangalore, 21 Dec 2022· last verified 13 Nov 2026Paper: CAT 2022 Slot 1 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)· last verified 13 Nov 2026
CAT 2021
3 slots · 66 questions · 120 min
- Slot 1 · 66 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
- Slot 2 · 66 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
- Slot 3 · 66 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
| Order | Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VARCVerbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 24 | 40 min |
| 2 | DILRData Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 20 | 40 min |
| 3 | QAQuantitative Ability | 22 | 40 min |
Pattern: Media Release for Common Admission Test 2021 (CAT 2021), CAT Centre IIM Ahmedabad, 02 Dec 2021· last verified 13 Nov 2026Paper: CAT 2021 Slot 1 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)· last verified 13 Nov 2026
CAT 2020
3 slots · 76 questions · 120 min
- Slot 1 · 76 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
- Slot 2 · 76 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
- Slot 3 · 76 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
| Order | Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VARCVerbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 26 | 40 min |
| 2 | DILRData Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 24 | 40 min |
| 3 | QAQuantitative Ability | 26 | 40 min |
Pattern: Media Release for CAT 2020 (revised test pattern), IIM Indore, Sep 2020· last verified 13 Nov 2026Paper: CAT 2020 Slot 1 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)· last verified 13 Nov 2026
CAT 2019
2 slots · 100 questions · 180 min
- Slot 1 · 100 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
- Slot 2 · 100 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
| Order | Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VARCVerbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 34 | 60 min |
| 2 | DILRData Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 32 | 60 min |
| 3 | QAQuantitative Ability | 34 | 60 min |
Pattern: Media Release for CAT 2019, IIM Kozhikode, 27 Jul 2019· last verified 13 Nov 2026Paper: CAT 2019 Slot 1 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)· last verified 13 Nov 2026
CAT 2018
2 slots · 100 questions · 180 min
- Slot 1 · 100 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
- Slot 2 · 100 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
| Order | Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VARCVerbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 34 | 60 min |
| 2 | DILRData Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 32 | 60 min |
| 3 | QAQuantitative Ability | 34 | 60 min |
Pattern: Media Release for CAT 2018, IIM Calcutta, 28 Jul 2018· last verified 13 Nov 2026Paper: CAT 2018 Slot 1 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)· last verified 13 Nov 2026
CAT 2017
2 slots · 100 questions · 180 min
- Slot 1 · 100 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
- Slot 2 · 100 questionsFull paper + 3 sectionals
| Order | Section | Questions | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VARCVerbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 34 | 60 min |
| 2 | DILRData Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 32 | 60 min |
| 3 | QAQuantitative Ability | 34 | 60 min |
Pattern: Media Release for CAT 2017, IIM Lucknow, 29 Jul 2017· last verified 13 Nov 2026Paper: CAT 2017 Slot 1 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)· last verified 13 Nov 2026
How has the CAT pattern changed?
Each paper is timed by its own year's official pattern.
| Years | Questions | Per section | Total time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024–2025 | 68 | 40 min | 120 min |
| 2021–2023 | 66 | 40 min | 120 min |
| 2020 | 76 | 40 min | 120 min |
| 2017–2019 | 100 | 60 min | 180 min |
What do you get with each paper?
24 actual CAT papers
Every slot we have from 2017–2025, as a full paper or one section at a time.
Timed like that year's exam
Each paper runs with its own year's section order and section timer, and the timer survives a refresh.
Scored with the CAT marking scheme
Results show your score, accuracy and time per section, with negative marking only on multiple-choice questions.
Step-by-step solutions
Every question has a worked solution you can open after you submit.
Your standing among ProCounsel students
Once enough students have taken the same paper, see where your score stands among them. This is not the official CAT percentile.
Free, with a free account
No fee and no trial. Sign in so your attempts, timer and results are saved.
Your standing among ProCounsel students compares your first attempt with other students' first attempts at the same paper. It is not the official CAT percentile, which only the IIMs publish with the result.
Ready to take a past paper?
Sign in for free and pick a year and slot. Want more practice in the same pattern? Try our free CAT mock tests or work out a raw score with the CAT score calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Are these the actual CAT question papers?
Yes. These are the papers from the CAT exams of 2017–2025, one test per slot, put into our test player with each year's timing. Each paper's source is listed on this page. They are not official IIM practice material, and the IIMs do not endorse ProCounsel.
Are the CAT previous year papers free?
Yes. Every paper, its sectional tests and your results are free. You need a free ProCounsel account so your timer and answers can be saved.
Do the papers come with answers and solutions?
Yes. After you submit, you see the answer key and a step-by-step solution for every question. We do not publish answers on this page, so you can attempt each paper fresh.
Will a previous year paper tell me my CAT percentile?
No. Only the IIMs can give a CAT percentile, with the official result, and there is no official table that converts a score into a percentile. After a paper we show where your score stands among ProCounsel students who took the same paper, once at least 20 others have. That is a comparison with our students, not your CAT percentile.
Has the CAT pattern changed over the years?
Yes. CAT 2017 to 2019 had 100 questions with 60 minutes per section; CAT 2020 had 76 questions with 40 minutes per section; CAT 2021 to 2023 had 66 questions with 40 minutes per section; CAT 2024 to 2025 had 68 questions with 40 minutes per section. Each paper here is timed by its own year's pattern, so older papers feel longer.
Which year's paper should I start with?
Start with the most recent papers (CAT 2025): they follow the current pattern most closely. Use older papers for extra practice by section, for example reading comprehension or data sets, rather than as a guide to today's timing.
Should I take the full paper or one section at a time?
Take full papers to practise the section timer and switching between sections, and sectional tests to work on a weak section. Spend at least as long reviewing a paper as taking it.
Talk to an MBA admission counsellor
Get help planning your CAT preparation and choosing where to apply after it. Free call, no login needed. We guide; admission decisions are always the institute's.
Sources
Official documents used on this page, last checked on 13 Nov 2026.
- Media Release for Common Admission Test 2025 (CAT 2025), dated 01.12.2025 (2025)
- Media Release for Common Admission Test 2024 (CAT 2024), dated 25.11.2024 (2024)
- Media Release for Common Admission Test 2023 (CAT 2023), CAT Centre IIM Lucknow, 27 Nov 2023 (2023)
- Media Release for Common Admission Test 2022 (CAT 2022), CAT Centre IIM Bangalore, 21 Dec 2022 (2022)
- Media Release for Common Admission Test 2021 (CAT 2021), CAT Centre IIM Ahmedabad, 02 Dec 2021 (2021)
- Media Release for CAT 2020 (revised test pattern), IIM Indore, Sep 2020 (2020)
- Media Release for CAT 2019, IIM Kozhikode, 27 Jul 2019 (2019)
- Media Release for CAT 2018, IIM Calcutta, 28 Jul 2018 (2018)
- Media Release for CAT 2017, IIM Lucknow, 29 Jul 2017 (2017)
- CAT 2025 Slot 1 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2025 Slot 2 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2025 Slot 3 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2024 Slot 1 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2024 Slot 2 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2024 Slot 3 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2023 Slot 1 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2023 Slot 2 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2023 Slot 3 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2022 Slot 1 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2022 Slot 2 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2022 Slot 3 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2021 Slot 1 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2021 Slot 2 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2021 Slot 3 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2020 Slot 1 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2020 Slot 2 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2020 Slot 3 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2019 Slot 1 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2019 Slot 2 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2018 Slot 1 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2018 Slot 2 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2017 Slot 1 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)
- CAT 2017 Slot 2 question paper (conducted by the IIMs)