CAT Marking Scheme 2025: The Common Admission Test (CAT) is conducted for admission into management programs at IIMs and other best B-schools in India. With lakhs of candidates appearing every year, the exam is highly competitive. Aspirants must stay updated with the CAT marking scheme and other exam requirements to perform well. It indicates the marks allocated per question and the penalty applicable for every incorrect answer. They must consider the marking scheme while attempting mock tests to get used to the test format and strengthen their preparation. Read on to learn more about the latest changes in the marking scheme of CAT and other details.
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CAT Marking Scheme 2025
The CAT exam is mainly divided into three sections, i.e. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). Going by the past trends, a total of 68 questions for 204 marks were asked in CAT 2024. The marking scheme is expected to remain the same in CAT 2025. It means that each question will carry 3 marks, and a negative marking of 1 mark will be applicable for every incorrect answer in the MCQ. There shall be no penalty/negative marking for non-MCQ questions. To help, we have compiled below the expected CAT marking scheme along with the previous trends and analysis for the candidate’s reference.
CAT Marking Scheme 2025 Expected
The official CAT exam pattern 2025 and marking scheme will be announced in the coming months. It will help candidates understand the exam requirements and align their preparation accordingly. Till then, aspirants can check the expected CAT marking scheme based on the previous year’s pattern and commence their preparation accordingly. Check the expected CAT section-wise marking scheme 2025 in the table below:
| Section | No. of questions | Marks Per Question | CAT Negative Marking (Only MCQ) |
| Section I: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | + 3 mark | -1 mark |
| Section II: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | + 3 mark | -1 mark |
| Section III: Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | + 3 mark | -1 mark |
CAT Marking Scheme: Past Trend & Analysis
The CAT marking scheme has remained consistent over the past years, typically awarding 3 marks for every correct answer and deducting 1 mark for every wrong answer in MCQs. No penalty or negative marking is imposed on non-MCQs. Reviewing past trends enables candidates to develop an exam-specific strategy that emphasises accuracy rather than relying on random guesses. Check the past CAT marking scheme trends from 2024 to 2014 to understand the changes in the exam over the past years:
| CAT Year | CAT Total Questions | CAT Marking Scheme |
| 2024 | 68 | + 3 marks for every correct answer and -1 mark for every incorrect answer in MCQs. |
| 2023 | 66 | + 3 marks for every correct answer and -1 mark for every incorrect answer in MCQs. |
| 2022 | 66 | + 3 marks for every correct answer and -1 mark for every incorrect answer in MCQs. |
| 2021 | 66 | + 3 marks for every correct answer and -1 mark for every incorrect answer in MCQs. |
| 2020 | 76 | + 3 marks for every correct answer and -1 mark for every incorrect answer in MCQs. |
| 2019 | 100 | + 3 marks for every correct answer and -1 mark for every incorrect answer in MCQs. |
| 2018 | 100 | + 3 marks for every correct answer and -1 mark for every incorrect answer in MCQs. |
| 2017 | 100 | + 3 marks for every correct answer and -1 mark for every incorrect answer in MCQs. |
| 2016 | 100 | + 3 marks for every correct answer and -1 mark for every incorrect answer in MCQs. |
| 2015 | 100 | + 3 marks for every correct answer and -1 mark for every incorrect answer in MCQs. |
| 2014 | 100 | + 3 marks for every correct answer and -1 mark for every incorrect answer in MCQs. |
Negative Marking Scheme in CAT
Understanding the scoring pattern of CAT will allow candidates to align their preparation with the actual exam requirements and format. It indicates the number of marks allocated to every question and the penalty imposed on every incorrect answer. Typically, there is negative marking of 1 mark for every wrong answer in MCQs. However, there is no negative marking for non MCQs. Candidates must carefully attempt the CAT questions to avoid losing marks. Negative marking can affect their overall performance and reduce their chances of scoring high marks. Check the expected CAT negative marking scheme across all the sections below:
CAT Negative Marking
| Section | No. of questions | CAT Negative Marking (Only MCQ) |
| Section I: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | -1 mark |
| Section II: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | -1 mark |
| Section III: Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | -1 mark |
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CAT Marking Scheme 2025 FAQs
As per the CAT marking scheme, 3 marks shall be awarded for every correct answer and 1 mark shall be deducted for each wrong answer in MCQs.
The total marks in the CAT 2024 exam were 204. A total of 68 questions were asked, with the exam duration of 120 minutes (160 minutes for PwD candidates).
Candidates must avoid guesswork, skip time-consuming questions, and focus on attempting questions with accuracy to avoid negative marking in the CAT exam.