As promised by CAT 2012 Convenor, Professor SSS Kumar, CAT 2012 pattern remains more or less like CAT 2011. The format for CAT 2012 is as follows:

CAT 2012 will have only two sections:

The first section is Quantitative Ability & Data Interpretation;
the second section is Verbal Ability & Logical Reasoning.

These two sections will be implemented sequentially with separate time limits. The test duration of CAT 2012 will be 140 minutes (2 hours 20 minutes).

Candidates will have 70 minutes to answer 30 questions within each section which will have an on-screen countdown timer. Within the 70 min provided for the section, candidates can review the answers. Once the time ends for the first section, they will move to the second section and will no longer be able to go back.


A 15-minute tutorial will be provided before the start of the test, and candidates are advised to go through that carefully before starting the main examination. Thus,the total duration of CAT 2012 will be 2 hours and 35 minutes including the tutorial.

Click here to acceess the practice test to provide candidates with a feel of the timed sections, as well as navigation and functionality of the actual test. Once again candidates are advised to go though them carefully to familiarise themselves with the screens, layout, and navigation.


At the CAT 2012 test venue:

Each candidate will be seated at a desk with a computer terminal and he/she will be provided with a scratch paper for calculations. After the test, candidate must leave the scratch paper at the desk. Rough work cannot be done on any other paper/sheet, as nothing will be allowed inside the testing room. No breaks will be given during the test.

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