CAT (Common Admission Test (IIM)) — Free Online Mock Test
CAT 2024 pattern: VARC 24 + DILR 22 + QA 22 = 68 total. 2 hours. Sectional time limits 40 min. +3 correct / -1 wrong on MCQ; no negative on TITA. Max marks 204. · Official language: English & Hindi.
CAT exam at a glance
CAT full-length mock tests
Attempt 50 full-length CAT mock tests, each a distinct question set built on the real 68-question, 120-minute pattern — with instant scoring and section-wise analysis. The first 3 are free.
See all 50 CAT mock tests →CAT key facts & eligibility
| Conducting body | The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), on a rotating basis |
|---|---|
| Official website | iimcat.ac.in ↗ |
| Mode | The Common Admission Test (CAT) — a national computer-based aptitude test for admission to MBA and PGP programmes at the IIMs and many other Indian business schools. |
| Frequency | Held once a year. |
| Scoring & marking | The computer-based test has three sequentially timed sections — Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Ability — with 40 minutes per section (about 2 hours total). It has roughly 66–68 questions (the exact count is set each year), with +3 for a correct answer and −1 for a wrong multiple-choice answer, and no negative marking on the type-in-the-answer (TITA) questions. Raw scores are scaled and reported with percentiles. |
| Score validity | The result is valid for one year (the immediately following admission cycle). |
| Language | English. |
Who is eligible for CAT?
A bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD), or in the final year; no age limit and no cap on attempts.
Last verified July 2026 against IIM — CAT. Always confirm current details on the official website before you register.
CAT section breakdown
The CAT mock test on Wrexa Edge replicates the real exam's section structure — same names, same question count per section, same time limits. No inter-section breaks — the timer runs continuously.
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VARC (24 Q · 40 min)
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DILR (22 Q · 40 min)
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QA (22 Q · 40 min)
CAT scoring & marking scheme
Strategy: CAT penalises wrong answers (-1 per mistake). Skip a question if you cannot eliminate at least 2 options — guessing blindly hurts your scaled score more than blanking.
Scale: CAT (out of 204).
How CAT is conducted
- Mode
- Test format
- Backtracking
- Mark for review
CAT time strategy
With 68 questions in 120 minutes, you have about 106 seconds per question on average. Successful candidates aim for the following pacing on each section:
- VARC (24 Q · 40 min)
- DILR (22 Q · 40 min)
- QA (22 Q · 40 min)
Wrexa Edge's analytics show your actual time-per-question after every mock so you can spot which sections you're losing time on.
CAT topics covered
Across the 50 Wrexa Edge variants of CAT, the following topics appear most often (sample distribution from one variant):
VARC (24 Q · 40 min)
- Verbal — Para summary · 8
- Verbal — Para completion · 8
- Reading — Art History · 4
- Reading — Legal History · 4
DILR (22 Q · 40 min)
- Reasoning — Classification · 7
- Reasoning — Coding–Decoding · 7
- Quant — Speed & Distance · 7
- Quant — Interest · 1
QA (22 Q · 40 min)
- CAT 2023 — Quantitative Aptitude · 8
- Quant — Profit & Loss · 8
- Quant — Ratio & Proportion · 5
- Quant — Percentage · 1
CAT difficulty calibration
Advanced tier. Advanced-level: high-stakes exam with rigorous content depth. Expect 4-8 months of structured prep.
CAT 2024 pattern: VARC 24 + DILR 22 + QA 22 = 68 total. 2 hours. Sectional time limits 40 min. +3 correct / -1 wrong on MCQ; no negative on TITA. Max marks 204. · Official language: English & Hindi.
Verified content — Wrexa Edge's CAT bank has been deeply curated with real exam-aligned content (estimated 100% syllabus coverage).
How Wrexa Edge prepares you for CAT
- Real test-day interface
- 50 distinct variants
- Detailed analytics
- Spaced repetition (Notebook)
- Optional proctoring
- Free to start
Expert take: what CAT really tests
The Common Admission Test (CAT), conducted by the IIMs on rotation, is a national computer-based test for MBA admission to the IIMs and other Indian business schools. It has three sequentially timed sections — VARC, DILR and QA — at 40 minutes each (about 2 hours total), with roughly 66–68 questions (the exact count is set each year). Marking is +3 for a correct answer and −1 for a wrong multiple-choice answer, with no negative marking on type-in-the-answer questions, and results are scaled and reported as percentiles valid for one year.
Preparation tips
- Practise section selection — you cannot move between sections.
- Attempt TITA questions freely — they have no negative marking.
- Take full-length mocks to build the 40-min-per-section rhythm.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Guessing carelessly on MCQs under the −1 penalty.
- Assuming a fixed question count — it changes year to year.
CAT study plan
A phase-by-phase roadmap from your first concept to test-ready. Stretch or compress each phase to fit the time you have before your attempt.
- VARC reading and grammar
- DILR sets
- QA fundamentals
- Timed set practice
- Selection of questions
- TITA vs MCQ strategy
- Full-length CAT mocks
- 40 min/section pacing
- Percentile analysis
Where CAT can take you
A strong CAT result opens up these careers and higher-study paths:
- MBA admission (IIMs)
- Management careers
Best books & official prep for CAT
- CAT preparation guides (VARC, DILR, QA) — Various
- CAT previous-year papers & mocks — Various
Official practice: Practise all three sections with full-length CAT mocks under the 40-minute-per-section timing, managing MCQ negative marking; scores are scaled and reported as percentiles.
Previous-year papers: The IIMs release past CAT papers; providers supply mocks.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the CAT exam pattern?
- Common Admission Test (IIM) contains 68 questions across 3 sections: VARC (24 Q · 40 min), DILR (22 Q · 40 min), QA (22 Q · 40 min). Total duration is 120 minutes (about 106 seconds per question).
- Does CAT have negative marking?
- Yes — CAT carries negative marking of -1 per wrong answer and 3 per correct answer. Skipping is safer than guessing blindly.
- How is CAT scored?
- Scaled score range: 0 to 204. CAT (out of 204).
- How can I practise CAT online for free?
- Wrexa Edge gives you 3 free full-length CAT mock tests — with instant scoring, detailed explanations and analytics — plus 47 more with Pro. Start practising in under a minute, no card required.
- What is the difficulty level of CAT?
- CAT is rated Advanced difficulty on Wrexa Edge. Advanced-level: high-stakes exam with rigorous content depth. Expect 4-8 months of structured prep. CAT 2024 pattern: VARC 24 + DILR 22 + QA 22 = 68 total. 2 hours. Sectional time limits 40 min. +3 correct / -1 wrong on MCQ; no negative on TITA. Max marks 204. · Official language: English & Hindi.
- How long is the CAT exam?
- CAT runs for 120 minutes total across 3 sections. On Wrexa Edge the timer is enforced exactly as on the real exam — including no inter-section breaks.
- What topics are covered in CAT?
- CAT is split into: VARC (24 Q · 40 min), DILR (22 Q · 40 min), QA (22 Q · 40 min). Each section is timed and weighted separately. CAT 2024 pattern: VARC 24 + DILR 22 + QA 22 = 68 total. 2 hours. Sectional time limits 40 min. +3 correct / -1 wrong on MCQ; no negative on TITA. Max marks 204. · Official language: English & Hindi.
- What tools or aids are allowed during CAT?
- No special tools are required.
- Is the CAT test adaptive?
- No — CAT is a fixed-form (linear) test. Every candidate sees the same number of questions per section.
- How many CAT mock tests does Wrexa Edge offer?
- Wrexa Edge generates 50 distinct CAT variants — each with different question content, not just shuffled options — the first 3 free for everyone and 47 more with Pro. That's 3400 unique practice questions in the real test-day interface.
- Is there a free CAT test series 2026?
- Yes. The Wrexa Edge CAT test series for 2026 gives you 3 free full-length mock tests (50 in total) plus subject-wise and topic-wise tests — instant scoring and detailed analysis, no card required.
- Are CAT previous year question–style papers included?
- Every CAT mock is modelled on the official exam pattern and the style of previous years' papers — the same 68-question structure, sections and marking — so your practice mirrors the real paper you'll sit.
- Which is the best free CAT mock test online?
- Wrexa Edge's CAT mock test replicates the real exam interface, timing and negative marking, with instant score, section-wise analysis and 50 fresh variants — a strong free choice for 2026 preparation.
- Can I take the CAT mock test on mobile?
- Yes. CAT mock tests run in any browser on mobile, tablet or desktop — no app or download needed. Start on your phone and your progress and analytics sync when you sign in.
- What is the CAT syllabus?
- The CAT syllabus maps to its 3 sections: VARC (24 Q · 40 min), DILR (22 Q · 40 min), QA (22 Q · 40 min). Wrexa Edge's mock tests cover the complete syllabus topic by topic — see the topics-covered breakdown above — so you practise every area at real exam difficulty.
- What is the eligibility for CAT?
- A bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD), or in the final year; no age limit and no cap on attempts. Wrexa Edge focuses on realistic CAT practice: 3 free full-length mocks in the exact exam pattern, ready whenever you are.
- When is the CAT exam and how should I prepare?
- Official CAT exam dates are announced by the conducting body for each cycle — check the latest notification for the current schedule. To be ready, follow a phased study plan and take full-length timed mocks; Wrexa Edge gives you 3 free CAT mocks with instant scoring so you can track your readiness week by week.
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