Five-Year Trend Analysis: How CAT Question Patterns Have Evolved

The CAT 2025 exam is expected to be held on November 30, 2025. The official notification, including registration details, is anticipated to be released by the end of July 2025. IIM Kozhikode is expected to be the conducting body. The registration process will likely begin in the first week of August and conclude in the third week of September. Over the past five years, CAT has seen major shifts in structure, especially in the number of questions. In 2019, the exam featured 100 questions in 180 minutes, while by 2021, the format shrank to just 66 questions in 120 minutes, a change that started due to the pandemic but now seems to be permanent.. Each section, namely VARC, DILR, and QA, has transformed not just in volume but also in difficulty and question type. For example, VARC dropped from 34 to 24 questions, and DILR's set structure shifted significantly, affecting strategy. This five-year trend analysis explains how these evolving patterns impact CAT preparation in 2025 and helps aspirants align their study plans with the latest exam behavior.

Previous Years CAT Trend Analysis

CAT is a computer-based test that, since 2020, has largely retained a 120-minute duration with three sections to be attempted sequentially. Here’s a comparison of the sectional breakdown in terms of the number of questions and MCQ vs non-MCQ format:

Also Check: CAT Total Marks 2025: Marking Scheme, Pattern Trends, Benefits

CAT 2025: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) Trends

The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section of the CAT 2025 Exam has seen several changes in recent years. While the total number of questions has remained around 24 since 2020, there have been adjustments in question types, difficulty level, and structure. Key changes include introducing and removing question types like Sentence Insertion, Odd One Out, and Parajumbles. The table below highlights the year-wise trends in VARC, helping aspirants understand how the section has evolved.

CAT 2025: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) Trends

The Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) section in CAT has gone through pattern and difficulty shifts over the past few years. Since 2020, the number of sets and questions has varied, affecting how students manage time and solve problems. While the difficulty has mostly remained moderate to difficult, changes in set structure and language complexity have made the section more challenging. The table below shows how the DILR section has evolved year by year.

Also Check: How to Prepare for CAT 2025 in 6 Months, Check Toppers’ Advice

CAT 2025: Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Trends

The Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section in CAT has seen steady changes in the number of questions and difficulty level in recent years. While the number of questions has decreased since 2020, the complexity and focus areas have shifted. Topics like algebra and geometry have received more weight, and some questions (PYQs) from previous years have been repeated. The table below gives a year-wise overview of key QA trends to help aspirants prepare better.

Key Takeaways Across CAT 2025 Sections

1. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC): Focus on improving your reading speed and understanding by reading different types of content like articles, essays, and opinion pieces. Practice Reading Comprehension passages regularly to improve accuracy and time management. Work on verbal ability question types such as parajumbles, sentence completion, and summary questions to strengthen language skills.
2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR): Practice various types of DI sets involving tables, pie charts, and caselets to build familiarity with data formats. To improve pattern recognition, solve LR problems related to arrangements, puzzles, and logical sequences. Develop a structured approach to solving sets quickly and accurately under time pressure.
3. Quantitative Aptitude (QA): Strengthen your basics in key areas like Arithmetic and Algebra to solve problems more confidently. Focus on improving calculation speed and accuracy through regular, timed practice. Cover essential topics such as time, speed, distance, percentages, averages, ratios, and mixtures thoroughly.

What to Expect in CAT 2025

CAT 2025 is expected to follow the recent exam format with 68 questions over 120 minutes. While the section structure may remain the same, changes in difficulty, question types, and topic weightage—especially in QA and VARC—could impact overall strategy.

• Likely continuation of 66-question format with 120-minute duration.
• DILR will stay puzzle-driven; candidates must develop reading + interpretation speed.
• QA will maintain its skew toward arithmetic/algebra, but geometry might increase slightly.
• RC passages may remain 4 in number but can include abstract and philosophical texts.
• Higher focus on TITA to discourage guesswork.

CAT Exam Pattern 2025: Key Features

CAT is a computer-based exam conducted at designated test centres. In CAT 2024, the total number of questions was 68, and the same is expected for CAT 2025. The official exam pattern will be released in July 2025, but based on past trends, here are the expected features:

• Sectional Time Limit: 40 minutes per section. The screen automatically moves to the next section after time expires.
• Fixed Section Order: VARC → DILR → QA. No flexibility to switch sections.
• No Toggle Allowed: Candidates cannot return to a previous section once moved forward.
• On-Screen Calculator: Provided for rough work.
• Answer Review Option: Candidates can mark and review questions only within the same section and time limit.
• Negative Marking: -1 mark for every incorrect MCQ response.

Final Words

Understanding how CAT has evolved over the last five years gives aspirants a strategic edge. Rather than just solving past papers, candidates should simulate the evolving structure—fewer questions, tighter time limits, and higher-order reasoning. With practice, insight, and adaptability, cracking CAT 2025 is well within reach.