IIMs don’t publish the official previous-year CAT papers on their websites. The official CAT papers are only available on the CAT website (iimcat.ac.in) for students who have appeared for the exam in the previous cycle.

  • Candidates can access it by logging in with their User ID and Password used during the registration process. These are not available for upcoming exam aspirants.
  • For CAT 2026 aspirants who need free practice material, Collegedunia offers year-wise CAT previous year papers (2021 to 2025) with solutions, available for direct download.
  • Reddit discussions recommend prioritizing papers from 2020 onwards, as they match the current exam format most closely.
  • Practising CAT PYQs helps candidates identify frequently tested topics, improve accuracy, and develop effective time-management strategies.

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Official CAT Previous Year Papers IIM Website Download

Key Summary

  • Official CAT previous-year papers are available only on the CAT website for past test-takers, while aspirants can use downloadable PDFs with practice solutions.
  • Recent CAT papers (2020 onwards) best reflect the current exam pattern, difficulty level, and question trends, making them the most relevant practice resource.
  • A structured approach to solving PYQs, from topic-wise practice to full-length mocks and revision, helps improve concept clarity, speed, accuracy, and exam temperament.

How to Download Official CAT Previous Years' Papers?

CAT previous-year papers can be downloaded from the CAT Website rather than the IIM Website. IIMs don’t publish the previous year's papers, even if they have conducted the exam for a specific year.

  • The official CAT website provides previous year question papers only to candidates who have attempted the exam.
  • Candidates can access these papers by logging in with their registered User ID and Password.
  • Access is available only for the respective CAT exam cycle and is not retained permanently.
  • The official CAT previous year papers download links are available below for free.
CAT Year-Wise Question Paper Download
CAT 2025 Question Paper CAT 2024 Question Paper
CAT 2023 Question Paper CAT 2022 Question Paper
CAT 2021 Question Paper CAT 2020 Question Paper

Ques. Which year was the toughest CAT paper?

Ans. Among recent editions, CAT 2023 had a higher difficulty level, mainly because of the Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section. As a result, the score needed to achieve the 99th percentile was lower than in most previous years.

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CAT Previous Year Paper Trends (2021-2025)

Across the years, the following are the trends seen in the CAT exam:

  • CAT maintained 66 questions (198 marks) from 2021 to 2023. From 2024 onwards, the paper expanded to 68 questions (204 marks) with two additional DILR questions.
  • DILR was identified as the toughest section in CAT 2022 and CAT 2024, while CAT 2023 was challenging in both QA and DILR.
  • In CAT 2025, Quantitative Aptitude (QA) was considered the toughest section due to its highly calculative nature. It suggests a shift towards more demanding arithmetic and algebra problem-solving.
CAT Exam Year Total Questions Total Marks Toughest Section
CAT 2025 68 204 Quantitative Aptitude (QA) – Highly calculative
CAT 2024 68 204 Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
CAT 2023 66 198 QA and DILR
CAT 2022 66 198 DILR
CAT 2021 66 198 Balanced

Ques. Are CAT PYQs repeated?

Ans. In CAT exams, exact questions are never repeated. The core concepts, logic, and question formulas repeat every year.

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How to Effectively Use the CAT Previous Year Papers?

Students should complete at least one round of the CAT syllabus before attempting thorough previous year question papers to avoid foundational errors. Students can also practise topic-wise questions before moving on to full-length PYQs.

How to Effectively Use the CAT Previous Year Papers?

Below is the effective way to include PYQs in your CAT preparation:

Stage Method Focus
Stage 1: Topic-wise Solve questions topic/sub-topic wise Concept clarity & variety
Stage 2: Sectional Timed sectional tests (40 minutes each) Speed and accuracy per section
Stage 3: Full Mock Solve the complete paper in exact exam conditions Exam temperament & time management
Stage 4: Revision Re-solve wrong/marked questions multiple times Retention

Ques. Which section is the toughest in the CAT exam?

Ans. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) is considered to be the toughest section. Unlike Quantitative Aptitude, it lacks fixed formulas, requiring candidates to solve complex, unfamiliar question sets under strict time limits.

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Which CAT Previous Year Papers Should You Prioritise-Reddit Discussion

As per the Reddit discussion thread r/CATpreparation, students recommend the following PYQs to practice:

  • Prioritise CAT papers from 2020 onwards, as they closely resemble the current exam format and difficulty level after the pattern change.
  • If time permits, solve papers from 2017–2019 as additional practice, while papers before 2017 can be used selectively for concept building rather than exam-level benchmarking.
Which CAT Previous Year Papers Should You Prioritise-Reddit Discussion

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Ques. How many CAT previous year papers should I solve?

Ans. Solve at least 8 to 10 years of past papers (2017 to 2025), as CAT changed its pattern in 2017. Papers before 2017 are too old and less relevant. Each previous year exam has 3 slots, making a total of about 27 test papers.

Ques. Are CAT PYQs enough for 99 percentile?

Ans. No, they are not enough on their own, as PYQs teach you the concepts and the types of questions IIMs usually ask. To get a 99 percentile, you need to adapt to new, unseen questions under time pressure. Thus, one should combine PYQs with 20 to 30 high-quality mock tests.

Ques. Which CAT paper is closest to CAT 2026?

Ans. CAT 2024 and CAT 2025 are closest to CAT 2026, as these papers have the same question count (68 questions) and mark distribution that the students will face in 2026. Pay extra attention to the Quantitative Aptitude section of 2024 and 2025 because the math difficulty has increased significantly.

Ques. How many times should I revise CAT PYQs?

Ans. CAT PYQs should be revised at least 2 times. In the first round, solve them topic-by-topic while learning concepts to understand the basics. For the second round, solve them as timed sectional tests closer to the exam to master speed and question selection.