More than 2.95 lakh candidates register for the CAT exam. This makes it one of the largest MBA entrance exams in India.
Since the CAT exam is conducted in multiple slots with different question sets, practising CAT Previous Year Questions (PYQs) helps you understand the actual exam pattern, question difficulty, and section-wise trends followed by the IIMs.
Read on to access Free CAT PYQs with Solutions from 2017 to 2025 in both PDF and online mock test formats. This improves your familiarity with real exam questions.
CAT Previous Year Question Papers (2017-2025)
CAT is conducted in three slots, and every slot contains a different set of questions. Solving papers across multiple years and slots exposes you to a wider variety of question types.
| Year | Availability | Download Link |
| CAT 2025 | Slot 1, Slot 2 & Slot 3 with PDF and Online Test | Click Here |
| CAT 2024 | All Slots with Solutions | Click Here |
| CAT 2023 | All Slots with Solutions | Click Here |
| CAT 2022 | All Slots with Solutions | Click Here |
| CAT 2021 | All Slots with Solutions | Click Here |
| CAT 2020 | All Slots with Solutions | Click Here |
| CAT 2019 | Previous Year Paper with Solutions | Click Here |
| CAT 2018 | Previous Year Paper with Solutions | Click Here |
| CAT 2017 | Previous Year Paper with Solutions | Click Here |
Free CAT PYQ 2017-2025: Overview
Take a quick look at the overview of the CAT previous year papers for reference:
| Particular | Details |
| Resource | CAT Previous Year Questions with Solutions |
| Years Available | 2017 to 2025 |
| Available Formats | PDF Download and Online Mock Test |
| Sections Covered | VARC, DILR, QA |
| Solutions | Detailed Solutions |
| Best For | CAT 2026 & Future Aspirants |
| Cost | Free |
Free CAT Previous Year Questions with Solutions
CAT Previous Year Questions are the actual questions asked in previous CAT examinations. These papers reflect the level of Logical Reasoning, Data Interpretation, Reading Comprehension, Verbal Ability, and Quantitative Aptitude expected in the examination.
You can access CAT Previous Year Question Papers from 2017 to 2025 in two formats:
- Download the complete CAT PYQ PDF for offline practice.
- Attempt the same paper as a full-length online mock test under exam conditions.
- Practice individual sections such as VARC, DILR, and QA.
- Review detailed solutions after completing the paper.
Why Should You Solve CAT PYQs?
CAT has witnessed multiple pattern changes over the last few years. Practising Previous Year Papers from different years helps you prepare for these variations. Some notable changes include:
| CAT Year | Number of questions | Time duration | Sections |
| 2025 | 68 | 120 minutes | QA, DILR, VARC |
| 2024 | 68 | 120 minutes | QA, DILR, VARC |
| 2023 | 66 | 120 minutes | QA, DILR, VARC |
| 2022 | 66 | 120 minutes | QA, DILR, VARC |
| 2021 | 66 | 120 minutes | QA, DILR, VARC |
| 2020 | 76 | 120 minutes | QA, DILR, VARC |
Here are the benefits of solving CAT Previous Year Papers
- Understand the latest CAT exam pattern.
- Compare question trends across different years.
- Improve section-wise speed and accuracy.
- Learn the difficulty level expected by the IIMs.
- Build familiarity with actual CAT question framing.
CAT Question Paper Pattern
The latest CAT paper consisted of 68 questions divided across three sections.
| Section | Number of Questions | Exam Duration |
| Section I: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 minutes |
| Section II: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 40 minutes |
| Section III: Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | 40 minutes |
| Total | 68 | 120 minutes |
Practising the latest paper helps you understand the current examination trend before moving to older papers.
CAT PYQ PDF vs Online Mock Test
Both formats are useful, but they serve different preparation goals.
| CAT PYQ PDF | CAT Online Mock Test |
| Suitable for concept revision | Suitable for full-length practice |
| Solve at your own pace | Solve under actual time limits |
| Easy to revisit questions | Improves exam temperament |
| Useful for topic-wise analysis | Useful for performance evaluation |
How to Access Free CAT PYQ on MBA KARO?
You can access CAT Previous Year Questions through the MBA KARO Free Library. Follow these steps:
- Visit the MBA KARO website.
- Open the Free Library section.
- Click “CAT Previous Year Questions.“
- Choose your preferred year.
- Download the PDF or attempt the online mock test.
The library includes CAT Previous Year Papers from 2017 to 2025, making it easier to practise questions from multiple exam cycles on a single platform.
How to Analyse CAT Previous Year Questions
Simply solving CAT previous year papers is not enough. After every paper, record your performance using a few parameters.
| Analyse | Why It Matters |
| Questions Attempted | Measures overall speed |
| Correct Answers | Indicates preparation level |
| Incorrect Answers | Highlights weak areas |
| Accuracy Percentage | Shows quality of attempts |
| Time Per Section | Improves time management |
| Topics Missed | Helps plan revision |
CAT PYQ or Mock Tests: Which Should You Solve First?
If you are beginning your preparation, start with CAT Previous Year Questions because they represent the actual examination.
Once you become comfortable with the question level, move to CAT mock tests to improve speed, endurance, and exam strategy.
Here is the practical sequence of solving mocks and PYQs:
- Learn concepts.
- Solve topic-wise questions.
- Attempt CAT Previous Year Papers.
- Analyse mistakes.
- Take full-length mock tests.
- Revise using previous year questions again.
Conclusion
CAT Previous Year Questions remain one of the most reliable resources for understanding the actual exam pattern, difficulty level, and section-wise trends. By solving CAT PYQs from 2017 to 2025, you prepare using real exam questions instead of estimated practice sets.
MBA KARO makes this process more convenient by providing CAT Previous Year Question Papers with detailed solutions, PDF downloads, and online mock tests in one place.
After completing the PYQs, you can further strengthen your preparation through MBA KARO CAT Online Coaching, which combines structured learning, expert mentorship, and mock test practice to help you prepare systematically for CAT.



