CAT Total Marks 2024: Pattern, Marking Scheme, Time Duration And Eligibility
September 2, 2024
Overview: What are the CAT total marks? The CAT exam will be conducted on 24 November 2024. To learn about the CAT exam pattern and CAT exam total marks, continue reading!
- The CAT exam consists of a total of 66 questions and overall 198 marks.
- The CAT exam 2024 consists of three sections viz VARC, DILR and QA, with each section having a sectional timing of 40 minutes.
- Knowing the CAT exam pattern and CAT marking scheme helps you decode your understanding of the CAT exam 2024.
Read on to get the complete details about CAT exam total marks 2024!
Also Read: How Many Times CAT Exam is Conducted in a Year
CAT Exam 2024: Highlights
The Common Admission Test is a national-level MBA entrance exam conducted by one of the IIMs in India every November.
CAT is a computer-based exam conducted online only. CAT 2024 has three major sections: VARC, DILR, and QA, each with a 40-minute sectional time.
To get a better understanding, have a look at the key highlights of the CAT exam 2024 and CAT total marks:
| Particulars | Details |
| CAT Full Form | Common Admission Test (CAT) |
| Conducting Institute | Indian Institute of Management (IIMs) |
| Exam Level | National |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| CAT Exam Date 2024 | Sunday, November 24, 2024 |
| CAT Exam Timings | To be notified |
| Registration Fees | SC/ST/PwD - INR-1250/- GEN - INR 2500/- |
| Eligibility Criteria | Graduation with 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST students) |
| Number of Applications in the CAT exam | 3.28 lakh (in 2023) |
| Exam Purpose | Admission in IIMs, SPJIMR, FMS, MDI, IMT and over 1,200 B-Schools in India |
| Courses Offered Through CAT Exam | MBA/ PGDM |
| CAT Entrance Exam Sections | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), Quantitative Ability (QA) |
| Mode | Online Computer Based Test (CBT) with MCQs and non-MCQs |
| No. of test cities for the CAT Exam | 150 |
| Website | https://iimcat.ac.in/ |
Also Read: CAT Exam Eligibility Criteria
CAT Total Marks 2024: Exam Pattern (Expected)
CAT exam duration, or the Common Admission Test, is conducted with a standard time limit of 120 minutes or 2 hours with sectional timings, where each section has a time limit of 40 minutes. This allows individuals to develop effective test-taking strategies.
The paper typically consists of 66 questions divided into three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Quantitative Ability (QA), and Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR).
| Section | Number of MCQs | Number of Non-MCQs | Total Questions |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 21 | 3 | 24 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 14 | 6 | 20 |
| Quantitative Ability | 14 | 8 | 22 |
| Total | 49 | 17 | 66 |
Also Read: CAT Exam Preparation Books 2024
CAT Total Marks 2024: Marking Scheme
When considering CAT exam pattern total marks, it is important to understand the marking scheme. This includes awarding marks for correct answers and deducting marks for incorrect ones. To perform well, it is crucial to be thoroughly prepared with the CAT exam syllabus.
The exam consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and non-MCQ-type questions. Here's a detailed breakdown of the CAT exam marking scheme:
| Type of Questions | CAT Marking Scheme | CAT Negative Marking Scheme |
| MCQ | +3 marks will be provided for every correct answer | -1 is deducted for every incorrect answer |
| Non-MCQ (TITA- Type in the answer) | +3 marks will be provided for every correct answer | There is no negative marking for TITA questions |
Also Read: CAT exam pattern 2024
CAT Total Marks 2024: Pattern Over The Years
The CAT exam has undergone changes over the past few years. In 2011, the total marks were 60. This increased to 100 in 2014, then decreased to 76 in 2020, and finally to 66 in 2023 and so on.
The total marks for the CAT exam in 2024 will remain the same as in 2023, and the pattern will also be similar. To better understand the CAT exam paper total marks, here is a simplified version:
| Conducting Body | Year | Number of Question | CAT exam time duration | CAT exam Difficulty Level |
| IIM Bangalore | 2022 | 66 | 2 hours | Moderate |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 2021 | 66 | 2 hours | Moderate to High (Expected) |
| IIM Indore | 2020 | 76 | 2 hours | Moderate to High |
| IIM Kozhikode | 2019 | 100 | 3 hours | Moderate to High |
| IIM Calcutta | 2018 | 100 | 3 hours | Moderate to High |
| IIM Lucknow | 2017 | 100 | 3 hours | Moderate |
| IIM Bangalore | 2016 | 100 | 3 hours | Moderate to difficult |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 2015 | 100 | 3 hours | Moderate to difficult |
| IIM Indore | 2014 | 100 | 2.50 hours | Moderate to Easy |
| IIM Indore | 2013 | 60 | 2:20 hours | Moderate to Easy |
| IIM Indore | 2012 | 60 | 2.20 hours | Moderate to Easy |
| IIM Calcutta | 2011 | 60 | 2.20 hours | Moderate |
Also Read: CAT Exam 2024 Shift Timings
Importance of Understanding CAT Exam Marks 2024
You might be wondering why it is important to understand CAT total marks or CAT 2024 Exam pattern. By pre-understanding CAT total marks, its sectional mark analysis helps you develop an effective exam strategy.
Some more reasons to familiarise yourself with the CAT exam total marks:
- Knowing the total marks, sectional weightage, and scoring pattern helps candidates to allocate their time and resources efficiently.
- Understanding the marking scheme enables aspirants to focus on their strengths and improve their weaknesses.
- A clear understanding of the marking scheme enables aspirants to set realistic targets.
- Knowing the scoring pattern helps aspirants track their progress and identify areas for improvement.
- Understanding the CAT exam marks enables aspirants to make informed decisions about their preparation, such as which sections to focus on and how to allocate their study time.
- By understanding the CAT exam marks, aspirants can prepare better and increase their chances of success in the exam.
Conclusion
As we wrap up, a basic understanding of the CAT total marks is important for developing an effective preparation strategy for CAT 2024. By knowing the total marks, sectional weightage, and scoring pattern, aspirants can allocate their time and resources efficiently, focus on their strengths, and improve their weaknesses.
With a clear understanding of the marking scheme, candidates can set realistic targets, track their progress, and increase their chances of success in the CAT exam.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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