Solving previous years' CAT question papers, analyzing errors, and marking the areas that need improvement can help CAT aspirants score well in the actual exam.
For all serious CAT 2025 aspirants looking to test themselves with actual CAT previous year papers, we are offering a separate section-wise questions and solutions for CAT 2017, CAT 2018, CAT 2019, CAT 2020, CAT 2021, CAT 2022, CAT 2023 & CAT 2024.
Below are the CAT previous year question papers with detailed solutions from CAT 2017-2024 for your practice.
Prior to 2009, CAT was held as a paper-based test and established itself as one of the toughest exams in the country. Since CAT 2010, it has moved into the computer-based test mode. In terms of the exam pattern, CAT has shifted from having 2 sections (CAT 2011 to 2014) to 3 sections. Here are the key changes that have been observed in CAT previous year papers:
In terms of the exam pattern, CAT has shifted from having 2 sections from CAT 2011 to CAT 2014 to 3 sections. Here are the key changes that have been observed in CAT:
It's extremely important to keep in mind that the questions that come in the actual CAT papers are often different from those seen in the majority of CAT mock tests. Mock questions can be either too difficult or too easy, whereas CAT questions tend to be more logical. Thus, CAT previous year papers can give you a good sense of what can be asked in the actual paper that you need to prepare for and what areas you lack. Since there is no fixed syllabus for CAT released by any supreme authority, the only reliable source left for students is CAT previous year question papers to have an understanding of what the CAT exam demands from them.
Practising previous years' CAT question papers can significantly contribute to your preparation for CAT 2024 and improve your test-taking strategy. Here are some pointers on how solving these CAT previous year papers can help you ace the exam:
The competition is tough, and it will be all the more difficult for you to emerge on the winning side without attempting the CAT exam previous year question papers.
CAT previous year papers help students understand the difficulty level of the exam, allowing them to manage their time effectively. By analyzing these papers, students can learn how much time each question might require; and become familiar with the types of questions asked each year. This way, they can allocate their time wisely across the different sections.
While the CAT syllabus covers a wide range of topics, these CAT previous year papers provide students with an idea of specific exam patterns and the types of recurring or common questions. Familiarity with the CAT previous year question papers also enables students to focus on the essential topics, avoid unnecessary distractions, reduce anxiety, and develop a relevant strategy without hassles. It also helps them identify their strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to allocate the right amount of time to work on their weak points.
Candidates are advised to practise at least past 10 years’ CAT question papers, which will definitely help them increase their speed and accuracy, enabling them to attempt more questions within the stimulated time and optimize their performance in CAT.
For an exam as competitive as CAT, it is best to know where you stand in the competition of over 3 lakh aspirants. Improve your readiness for the CAT exam and take your preparation to the next level with Career Launcher's free CAT mock tests.
Take your free mock test today!!
We have collected all the CAT previous year question papers, from CAT 2017 to CAT 2024, on our website. Starting your preparation with these papers is a great way to gain insight into what can be asked in the exam. These CAT question papers are easily accessible on this page, and you can refer to them for practice as well as download the PDF with detailed solutions.
Yes, attempting CAT previous year papers is beneficial for aspirants and is actually a crucial part of preparation for the following reasons:
The IIM that is responsible for the conduct and execution of CAT for the respective year is in charge of preparing the CAT question paper.
Yes, the major benefit of attempting previous years’ CAT papers is that it helps you identify the main topics from which questions can be asked in the exam. However, it is important to note that the difficulty level and paper pattern of CAT change every year; so, it does not guarantee that these are the specific questions that will be asked. Nevertheless, it gives you a preview of the types of questions asked.
No, they are not enough for your CAT preparation, but they are very important as they will give you an idea of what the actual exam will look like and what it will demand from you.
One should practice questions from the CAT previous year papers or attempt these papers as a full-fledged mock test of at least the past 10 years of CAT papers to have a good understanding of the paper and strategize accordingly.
Yes, definitely. Practising CAT previous year question papers can boost your confidence and improve your sectional scores significantly, as they will familiarize you with the types of questions asked in the exam and their difficulty levels.
Yes, it has been observed that the CAT exam contains 1-2 repeated questions exactly the same or in a similar pattern, especially for the QA and DILR sections from the CAT previous year papers, and thus it is extremely important to practice them.
