Practicing the CAT previous year papers is crucial for achieving good exam performance. If you’re preparing for CAT 2025, reviewing the CAT previous year question papers can help you identify what topics to focus on and how to approach them. CAT preparation 2025 should not be restricted to only PYQs, but also to managing time and clearing the concepts.
Practicing previous year CAT question papers will give the candidates a clear concept of the exam pattern and the question structure. It will also help them handle the questions more effectively due to familiarity beforehand. The main advantage of solving previous year’s CAT questions is gaining exposure to the latest question types, whether they are tough, easy, lengthy, tricky, or surprising. Starting to solve these papers about a month before the exam allows you to practice and master all question varieties. It is recommended to solve at least the last four years of CAT question papers. Many aspirants consider previous year papers one of the best resources for CAT preparation.
CAT Previous Year Question Papers With Solutions
Check out the previous year CAT question papers for the last 4 years in the tables given below. The CAT PYQs will help you in understanding the question pattern and type of questions.
| CAT PYQs 2024 | Download PDFs |
| CAT 2024 Question Paper (Slot 1) with Answer Keys | Download PDF |
| CAT 2024 Question Paper (Slot 2) with Answer Keys | Download PDF |
| CAT 2024 Question Paper (Slot 3) with Answer Keys | Download PDF |
| CAT PYQs 2023 | Download PDFs |
| CAT 2023 Question Paper (Slot 1) with Answer Keys | Download PDF |
| CAT 2023 Question Paper (Slot 2) with Answer Keys | Download PDF |
| CAT 2023 Question Paper (Slot 3) with Answer Keys | Download PDF |
| CAT PYQs 2022 | Download PDFs |
| CAT 2022 Question Paper (Slot 1) with Answer Keys | Download PDF |
| CAT 2022 Question Paper (Slot 2) with Answer Keys | Download PDF |
| CAT 2022 Question Paper (Slot 3) with Answer Keys | Download PDF |
| CAT PYQs 2021 | Download PDFs |
| CAT 2022 Question Paper (Slot 1) with Answer Keys | Download PDF |
| CAT 2022 Question Paper (Slot 2) with Answer Keys | Download PDF |
| CAT 2022 Question Paper (Slot 3) with Answer Keys | Download PDF |
CAT Previous Year Question Papers: Importance of Practicing
CAT 2025 aspirants should recognize the advantages of practicing the CAT last year’s papers, sample papers, and mock tests during their CAT preparation and exam strategy:
Previous year CAT question papers help in understanding the marking scheme and the current exam pattern. Solving CAT question papers improves speed and accuracy, aiming for 80-85 percent correctness in CAT 2025. Practicing these papers also aids in gauging the time required for different question types, facilitating exam day planning. Additionally, they reveal which sections may be more time-consuming, allowing candidates to adjust their preparation accordingly. Past CAT papers will also help the candidates improve their RC skills by practicing Reading Comprehension under timed conditions.
When to Start Practicing CAT Previous Year Question Papers?
The best time to begin solving the CAT previous year question papers is about a month before the exam. Till then, all the aspirants can understand the syllabus and practice the concepts. Candidates are also advised to attempt enough mocks to understand the exam’s nature. This is when you should practice the actual previous year CAT question papers so your memory remains fresh for CAT 2025.
If you have already taken the CAT once, you can practice questions and sample papers alongside covering the syllabus, as your concepts and fundamentals should already be clear. After completing certain chapters, attempt a CAT sample paper or mock test to check if you’re on track.
Also Check: CAT 2025 Registration Date
How to make the most of the Previous Year CAT Question Papers?
To do this effectively, start by reviewing the basic concepts in each section. After mastering the fundamentals, attempt sectional tests from a reputed institute. While practicing these tests, ensure you tackle questions across all difficulty levels. Past CAT papers have included questions of mixed difficulty, so strengthening your understanding of concepts and your problem-solving skills across different levels will help you confidently approach these previous papers.
Common Mistakes Students Make While Solving CAT PYQs
Check out some of the common mistakes students make while solving the previous year CAT question papers.
Ignoring the Pattern behind the Repeating Ideas: Many students, who practice questions or solve PYQs routinely, miss the pattern, the traps, and the concepts that CAT tests repeatedly.
Relying Completely on Shortcuts: Many students are too reliant on shortcut tricks. This results in disaster when the questions are tricky and the format changes slightly.
Ineffective Use of Time: There are many students who spend an hour on tough PYQs or practice questions, ignoring the easy ones. This results in a complete failure of time management skills, and those skills could be the single most important thing for success on CAT.
Not Simulating Test Conditions: Solving PYQs or practice questions leisurely or not under time, or exam conditions, creates a false sense of students’ absolute readiness.
Not Analyzing Mistakes: Failure to analyze wrong or guessed answers results in lost opportunities to learn what the mistakes were and recognize areas of weakness.
CAT Previous Year Question Papers Book
Candidates can check the table below to check the links to the CAT previous year paper book. The CAT previous year question papers book can be used to solve the questions in Pen-Paper mode.
| Name of the Books | Link to buy CAT Previous Year Question Papers Book |
| Face To Face CAT 30 Years (1993-2022) Section-wise & Topic-wise Solved Paper 2023 by BS Sijwalii and Indu Sijwalii | Click Here |
| CAT 2023 Previous Year Chapter-wise Solved Papers Question Bank for Quant, VARC & DILR by Arun Sharma & Meenakshi Upadhyay | Click Here |
| 12 CAT Previous Year-wise Solved Papers (2022 – 2015) 3rd Edition by Disha Publication | Click Here |
| CAT Mock Test 15 Sample Question Papers by Oswaal Editorial Board | Click Here |
| CAT 25 Years’ Chapter-wise and Topic-wise Solved Papers Question Bank (1990-2008, 2017-2022) by Oswaal Editorial Board | Click Here |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How helpful is attempting previous year papers for CAT?
Attempting previous year papers for CAT is extremely helpful as it familiarizes candidates with the exam pattern, question types, and difficulty level. It aids in identifying important topics, improving time management, and highlighting personal strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, solving CAT PYQs under timed conditions builds exam temperament and boosts confidence, making it a crucial part of effective CAT preparation.
2. Can I use the CAT previous year question papers for offline practice?
Yes, you can download the CAT previous year question papers and practice those by timing yourself. You can print or save the PDFs for offline practice, which helps simulate the exam without distractions.
3. Do the CAT previous year question papers help me in understanding the exam pattern?
Yes, all the CAT previous year question papers will help you in understanding the exam pattern and types of questions that are given frequently in the exam.
4. Are these CAT previous year question papers PDFs free to download?
Yes, all the CAT previous year question papers with solutions PDF provided are completely free to download and use for practice.
5. Why should I solve the CAT previous year question papers?
Solving previous year CAT question papers will help you in understanding the exam patterns and question types. Moreover, it will also help in improving time management and accuracy, identify your strengths and weak areas, and also build exam temperament by simulating the actual test environment.
