CAT Exam 2021: Date, slots, syllabus, pattern, admit Card; all you need to know

With only two days left for the CAT exam, here is everything you need to know about the entrance exam for MBA/ PGDM regarding the CAT exam syllabus, exam pattern, etc.

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All about CAT Exam 2021 (Source: Shutterstock)All about CAT Exam 2021 (Source: Shutterstock)

Sundararajan | November 26, 2021 | 11:47 AM IST

NEW DELHI: Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad is all set to conduct CAT exam 2021 on November 28, Sunday. CAT 2021 will be held in computer-based mode at over 425 CAT test centres in 159 cities across India. According to the official notification released by CAT 2021 conducting institute, IIMA, a total of 2.31 lakh students have registered to appear for the CAT exam from across the country.
Also Read | CAT 2021 exam day guidelines for students

The IIM CAT exam 2021 will be held in three slots: the first slots will begin at 8:30 am, the second at 12:30 pm and the last slots will start at 4:30 pm. Apart from IIMs like FMS, IIT Delhi, SPJIMR, IIT Bombay, MDI Gurgaon, other top B-schools in India also consider CAT scores mandatory for admission in their MBA/ PGDM programs.

CAT 2021 exam date

  • Last date to download CAT admit card 2021: November 28, 2021

  • CAT exam date: November 28, 2021, Sunday

  • CAT exam timing: Slot 1 (8:30 AM to 10:30 AM), Slot 2 (12:30 PM to 2:30 PM), Slot 3 (4:30 PM to 6:30 PM)

  • Release of CAT answer key: Second week of December 2021

  • Declaration of CAT 2021 result: First week of January 2022

Also check: Tips to overcome CAT exam stress and anxiety

CAT exam pattern 2021

MP Ram Mohan, Convener CAT 2021, said this year the number of questions from the three sections of VARC, QA, and DILR in the CAT 2021 exam will reduce. According to CAT experts, only 3 to 4 questions per section are expected to be reduced.

CAT Particulars

Expected CAT 2021 pattern

Name of the section in the CAT 2021

  • Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

  • Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

  • Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

Duration of the CAT exam 2021

2 hours (120 minutes)

CAT test slots

3 slots

Number of Questions in CAT 2021

64-66 questions

CAT exam total marks

192-198* marks

No. of questions in VARC section

22-23 questions

No. of questions in DILR section

20-21 questions

No. of questions in QA section

22-23 questions

CAT 2021 marking scheme

  • For every right answer, +3 will be awarded

  • For every wrong answer in MCQs, -1 will be deducted

  • No negative marks for Non-MCQs

* Total marks: 228 (Total marks will vary based on reduced questions)

CAT exam syllabus 2021

The questions asked in the CAT paper are mostly based on middle school math, i.e. 9th and 10th grade and English topics, the difference being the difficulty level (maximum) varies.

CAT sections

CAT important topics

CAT sectional duration

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)

  • Para-jumbles

  • Sentence completion

  • Inferences

  • Questions based on reading comprehension and etc

  • For General: 40 Minutes for each section


  • For PwD: 53 Minutes 20 Seconds for each section


Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)

  • Graphs

  • Tables

  • Seating Arrangement

  • Syllogism

  • Blood Relation

  • Data Caselets and etc

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

  • Time and Work

  • Geometry

  • Algebra

  • Mensuration

  • Number System

Know about: Top MBA colleges accepting low CAT exam score

CAT admit card 2021

  • On the day of the IIM CAT entrance examination for MBA, students should carry their CAT admit card 2021 for seeking entry and other verification purposes.

  • Be sure to print two copies of the CAT admit card in A4 size paper in color/ black and white.

  • The CAT 2021 admit card is valid only if the student’s photo and signature are clearly printed.

  • Students are advised not to pre-sign the hall ticket for the CAT exam. The hall ticket must be signed in front of the Superintendent inside the examination room.

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