CAT Mock Test

A free CAT mock test at SarkariExam.Center gives you 68 questions, 3 timed sections, and 120 minutes of real exam practice, instantly, with no login and no payment. So start your CAT mock test now and feel the exact pressure, timing, and interface of the real Common Admission Test conducted by the IIMs.

Because every minute you delay is a minute less of the practice that actually builds your IIM dream score.

CAT Mock Test Pattern: Sections, Questions and Marks

The CAT mock test follows the exact CBT (Computer Based Test) structure of the real CAT exam. So each section runs for exactly 40 minutes. When the timer ends, the screen switches to the next section automatically and you cannot go back.

Section	Full Name	Questions	Total Marks	Time Limit
VARC	Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension	24	72	40 Minutes
DILR	Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning	22	66	40 Minutes
QA	Quantitative Aptitude	22	66	40 Minutes
Total		68	204	120 Minutes

CAT Marking Scheme You Must Know Before You Start

• Plus 3 marks for every correct MCQ answer
• Minus 1 mark deducted for every wrong MCQ answer
• Zero marks deducted for questions you leave unattempted
• No negative marking at all for TITA (Type In The Answer) questions

So on every TITA question, always attempt it. The worst outcome is zero, not minus one.

CAT Mock Test Question Types: MCQ and TITA Explained

Each CAT mock test contains two types of questions. MCQ questions show 4 options and carry negative marking for wrong answers. TITA (Type In The Answer) questions ask you to type the exact numerical answer with no options and no penalty for wrong answers. So always attempt TITA questions, even with partial confidence.

CAT Mock Test Latest Pattern: What Changed and Why It Matters

The latest CAT exam pattern has two key updates that most free mock tests still do not reflect. So practising on an outdated pattern trains you for an exam that no longer exists. Here is exactly what changed:

VARC Section: Latest Update

Para jumble questions were removed from the VARC section in the latest CAT pattern. Para summary and para insertion questions each gained one additional question in their place. So VARC now consists of 4 to 5 Reading Comprehension passages plus verbal ability questions covering para summary, odd sentence out, and para insertion only.

VARC Topics in the CAT Mock Test

• Reading Comprehension passages from philosophy, economics, science and social theory (4 to 5 passages, 400 to 600 words each)
• Para summary: select the best 1-sentence summary from 4 options
• Para insertion: find the correct position for a given sentence in a paragraph
• Odd sentence out: identify which sentence does not logically belong in the paragraph

DILR Section: Latest Update

The DILR section increased from 20 to 22 questions in the latest CAT pattern. The set structure also changed. Before, DILR had 4 sets of 5 questions each. Now DILR has 2 sets of 5 questions and 3 sets of 4 questions. So set selection strategy becomes even more important because choosing one wrong set can waste up to 10 minutes with zero marks earned.

DILR Topics in the CAT Mock Test

• Data Interpretation sets: tables, bar graphs, pie charts, line graphs and mixed charts
• Logical Reasoning sets: seating arrangements, scheduling, tournaments and team formations
• Grid based puzzles, routes, connected datasets and conditional logic sets
• Sets requiring you to read 2 or more data tables together to solve questions

QA Section: Topic Weightage

Quantitative Aptitude tests Class 10 level math under competitive time pressure. Arithmetic accounts for roughly 40 to 50 percent of all QA questions. An on screen calculator is available during the actual CAT exam. But using it for every question slows you down by 15 to 20 seconds per question.

QA Topics in the CAT Mock Test by Priority

• Arithmetic: percentages, profit and loss, time and speed, ratio and proportion, work and time
• Algebra: linear equations, quadratic equations, functions and progressions
• Geometry and Mensuration: triangles, circles, coordinate geometry and solid geometry
• Number System: divisibility, HCF, LCM, remainders and unit digits
• Modern Mathematics: permutations, combinations and probability

3 Types of CAT Mock Tests: Which One Should You Attempt Now?

Not all CAT practice tests are the same type. So knowing the difference helps you use each type at the right stage of preparation.

Type	Focus	Best For	Duration
Topic Test	Single topic like Geometry or RC	Early preparation stage	20 to 30 minutes
Sectional Mock Test	One full section: VARC, DILR or QA	Mid preparation stage	40 minutes
Full Length CAT Mock Test	All 3 sections, 68 questions	Mid to final preparation stage	120 minutes

So start with topic tests when you are still learning. Move to sectional tests as your concepts get clearer. And take full length CAT mock tests regularly from the mid stage onwards.

Why Attempt a Free CAT Mock Test Without Login at SarkariExam.Center?

Zero login means zero friction between you and practice. Most aspirants skip mock tests because platforms demand registration, email OTP, payment, and profile setup before showing the first question. Here, you click once and your CAT mock test begins.

7 Things Only a CAT Mock Test Can Train (Not Theory)

• Speed under the real 40 minute sectional timer that auto locks the section when time runs out
• Set selection skill in DILR: which 4 sets to pick and which to skip in under 2 minutes
• Negative marking control: learning when NOT to attempt an MCQ based on your confidence level
• CBT interface familiarity so the screen, question palette and navigation feel natural on exam day
• 120-minute mental stamina without accuracy dropping in section 3 when fatigue builds
• Section order stamina: VARC runs first and drains verbal energy before QA demands math focus
• Sectional cutoff awareness: scoring 90 percentile overall with 40 percentile in DILR still gets you rejected by top IIMs

CAT Mock Test vs Actual CAT Exam: Direct Comparison

Feature	CAT Mock Test (SarkariExam.Center)	Actual CAT Exam
Total Questions	68	68
Total Marks	204	204
Sections	VARC, DILR, QA	VARC, DILR, QA
Section Order	Fixed: VARC first, DILR second, QA third	Fixed: same order
Time Per Section	40 Minutes (auto lockout on end)	40 Minutes (auto lockout)
Marking Scheme	Plus 3 for MCQ, TITA has no penalty	Plus 3 for MCQ, TITA has no penalty
Question Types	MCQ and TITA both present	MCQ and TITA both present
Login Required	No login required	Required on exam day
Payment Required	Zero payment, completely free	Registration fee applies
Access Speed	Instant, click and start	Scheduled slots only

CAT Raw Score vs Percentile: Real Benchmarks to Track Progress

Your CAT percentile is calculated by comparing your raw score against all test takers across 3 exam slots on the actual exam day. So your mock test raw score tells you exactly where you stand. Use these real benchmarks after every mock:

• Raw score 40 to 50 out of 204: Roughly 90th percentile range
• Raw score 58 to 68 out of 204: Roughly 95th percentile range
• Raw score 100 to 110 out of 204: Roughly 99th percentile range
• Raw score 115 or above out of 204: 99.5th percentile and above

So track your raw score after every CAT mock test and map it to the percentile range your target IIM or B-school requires for shortlisting.

IIM Shortlisting Percentile Cutoffs

• IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta: Typically require 99 percentile and above overall plus strong sectional scores
• Second tier IIMs like IIM Lucknow, Kozhikode, Indore: Generally shortlist from 95 to 98 percentile
• New IIMs and top private B-schools: Often work with 85 to 90 percentile
• Plus sectional cutoff: Missing the sectional cutoff even at 99.5 percentile overall leads to rejection

When to Start CAT Mock Tests: The Mistake 80 Percent of Aspirants Make

Start CAT mock tests from day one of preparation, not after completing the full syllabus. This is the single most damaging mistake aspirants make. Attempting a mock test early shows you exactly which topics drain the most time and where your accuracy collapses. That data shapes your entire study plan for the better.

CAT Mock Test Schedule by Preparation Phase

• Phase 1 (first 3 months): Attempt 1 full length mock every 2 weeks to build a baseline. Also take topic tests after every concept you study
• Phase 2 (months 4 to 6): Increase to 1 full mock per week plus 2 to 3 sectional CAT practice tests per week
• Phase 3 (final 2 months): Take 2 to 3 full length mocks per week. Analyse every error on the same day you attempt

Because CAT toppers who score 99 percentile consistently complete at least 25 to 30 full length CAT mock tests before exam day, not by starting after the syllabus is done.

CAT Mock Test Strategy: Section by Section

VARC Mock Test Strategy

Reading speed is the single biggest factor separating 90 percentile from 99 percentile in VARC. So read 2 editorial articles from quality newspapers daily. Practise reading 500 word passages in under 3 minutes and answer inference questions without re reading. During mocks, always attempt all RC passages before verbal ability questions because RC carries more questions per set.

DILR Mock Test Strategy

Spend the first 2 minutes of DILR scanning all sets, not solving any of them. Read the first 2 lines of each set and rate its difficulty before picking which 4 sets to attempt. Because even a partially complete set earns marks but a stuck set earns zero and wastes 8 to 10 minutes. Practise this scanning decision in every single mock until it becomes automatic.

QA Mock Test Strategy

Attempt QA in two passes: easy and medium questions first, hard questions second. Build mental calculation speed: squares up to 30, cubes up to 15, and multiplication tables up to 20. Because this alone cuts on screen calculator dependency and saves 15 to 20 seconds per question over the full section.

CAT Mock Test Analysis: The Step That Actually Improves Your Score

Attempting a CAT mock without analysing your errors changes nothing. So after every mock, spend at least 60 minutes reviewing your performance. Use this exact post mock SWOT analysis framework:

Post Mock Analysis Framework

• Wrong MCQ attempts: Find the concept gap and revise that topic before your next mock
• Skipped solvable questions: Identify questions you could solve in 2 minutes and practise similar ones daily
• Correct guesses: Mark these as risky patterns and stop relying on them for the real exam
• Section accuracy rate: Target above 80 percent accuracy per section before scaling up speed
• Time per question: Track whether any question type consistently consumes more than 3 minutes

Plus, track your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats after each mock. Because top scorers know their weakness at the topic level, such as RC inference questions or circular seating arrangements in DILR.

CAT Mock Test for Beginners vs Repeat Aspirants

First Time CAT Takers

Start with a full length CAT mock test even before studying a single topic. So your first mock score acts as a diagnostic baseline. It tells you exactly where your natural aptitude is strong and where it needs the most work. Most first time takers score 30 to 60 raw marks without any preparation. That is your starting point.

Repeat CAT Aspirants

Repeat aspirants already know their weak section from the previous attempt. So use sectional CAT mock tests to target that weak section specifically for 6 to 8 weeks before switching to full length mocks. Because targeted sectional practice improves your weakest section faster than general full length practice alone.

Working Professionals Preparing for CAT

Working professionals with limited time should prioritise sectional mock tests on weekdays and full length CAT mock tests on weekends. Because 40 minutes of focused sectional practice after work is far more productive than skipping practice entirely. Attempt at least 1 full length mock every weekend without interruptions.

Common CAT Mock Test Pain Points and How to Fix Them

Fear of Running Out of Time

Time anxiety fades after 8 to 10 full length mock tests under real 40-minute sectional timers. Because the first mock always feels impossibly rushed. But by mock 10, you develop automatic pacing instincts that no amount of theory can build for you.

Anxiety About Negative Marking on MCQs

Mocks teach you exactly where your guessing accuracy lies by topic. After 5 mocks, you know whether to attempt a QA geometry question at 50 percent confidence or skip it and protect your score. That self awareness is worth more than any guessing formula you read online.

Poor Set Selection in DILR

DILR set selection improves only through repeated mock practice, not through reading about it. After attempting 15 or more DILR sets in mocks, you start recognising solvable set types by their opening conditions. Because pattern recognition in DILR is a trained skill, not a natural talent.

Inconsistent Section Performance

Scoring well in QA but poorly in VARC means your 120-minute stamina needs work. Full length mocks reveal whether your third section accuracy drops because concentration declines after 80 minutes. So practise VARC last in some mocks to train your brain to perform accurately under fatigue.

CAT Mock Test vs Paid Test Series: What You Actually Need to Crack CAT

A free CAT mock test at SarkariExam.Center gives you the same exam format, question types and time pressure as any paid platform. Paid platforms add value through video solutions, mentored analysis and All India Rank comparison. But for pure exam simulation, CBT interface familiarity and pattern practice, a free mock test without login delivers full value. And getting that practice with zero barriers is the point.

CAT Sectional Cutoff: Why Mocks Must Train More Than Just Overall Score

Top IIMs reject candidates who miss sectional cutoffs even at 99 percentile overall. So every CAT mock test you take must be treated as 3 separate exams within one exam. Track your section wise score after every mock, not just the total. Because a 99 percentile with 40 percentile in DILR still means no IIM call, as one past Cracku student found out despite overall high performance.

Frequently Asked Questions About CAT Mock Test