CAT PATTERN:

CAT 05 :

The paper had 3 section with each section having 2 sub-section . The three sections were Quantitative, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and English Language ( RC and Verbal ) In each section there were 10 questions of 1 marks each and 20 questions of 2 marks each. Thus each section had 50 marks allocated and the maximum marks for the paper were 150. Negative marking was specified for the first time in CAT and it was 1/3 (33.33%) of the allocated marks for any wrong attempt. There was no sectional time limit , the total time allocated remained 120 minutes.

CAT 2004 : 

The test had 123 questions to be solved in 120 minutes. The test had 3 sections and each section had two sub-sections. For the first time there were questions that were allocated more than 1 marks.

The DI/DS/Reasoning section had 26 questions of 1 marks each and 12 questions of 2 marks each.

The Quantitative problem section had 20 questions of 1 marks each and 15 questions of 2 marks each.

The first sub-section of English Usage  had 5 passage with 21 questions on them and 24 question based on English usage . The second subsection had 5 questions on English usage.

There was negative marking , but the extent of negative marking was not known.

In 2001,2002 and 2003 ( 2003 test was cancelled and re-held after a few months in Feb 2004) there were 50 questions in VA and RC , 50 questions in QA and 35 questions in DI and reasoning.

In 1999 and 2000 there 40 questions in VA, 25 questions in RC , 65 questions in QA and 65 questions in DI and reasoning.

From 1995 to 1998 there were 50 questions each on VA, RC , QA and 35 questions on DI. 

CAT in 1996 and 1997 had  sectional time limit. You were allowed to complete a section within specified time. Since 1997 there is no time limit for the section.

CAT is well known for the element of surprise in it. You can always expect something new in CAT every year . Surprises so far have come in form of a poem for a RC, absence or presence in sectional time limit, change in number of questions in each section, change in difficulty level of the question,  different marks for different questions. God know what will be the surprise next year, so be ready for surprises. There have been no question based on GK/GA/business awareness in CAT so far. The number of sections and the number of questions in the paper is not fixed.  The weightage given to each section also is not fixed and varies. The difficulty level of each section may also vary.  There is negative marking for wrong answers but the extent of negative marking is not made open, most people believe it is 25 %.