After completing the CAT syllabus, it is recommended to solve previous year question papers. It helps aspirants understand the type of questions asked, topics to focus on, and more. Apart from learning CAT concepts and taking mocks, attempting questions from the CAT previous papers is equally important.

Students should familiarise themselves with the CAT exam pattern by reviewing previous papers. A clear understanding of the CAT exam pattern is necessary to devise strategies. Based on the earlier years of CAT, it is expected that CAT 2025 may comprise 68 MCQ and TITA-type questions.

When Should You Start Solving CAT Previous Papers?

Ideally, you should start solving CAT previous year papers once you’ve completed the basics of all three sections, VARC, DILR, and QA. This typically occurs around 4 to 6 months before the exam, depending on your pace of preparation. Attempting past papers too early might be discouraging, especially if you are not familiar with the question patterns and have not covered the syllabus. However, once you have conceptual clarity and can solve topic-level questions comfortably, solving previous year papers becomes extremely valuable.

  • A good strategy is to begin with one paper every two weeks, then gradually move to one paper per week in the final 2 to 3 months. After each attempt, spend sufficient time analysing mistakes, revising weak areas, and tracking time management.
  • The CAT exam is also as much about maintaining focus as it is about building concepts. When you solve these papers under timed conditions, you learn to manage the actual exam environment comfortably. Over time, you’ll develop an instinctive understanding of how to approach different question types efficiently.

Additionally, solving previous papers alongside your CAT coaching ensures that you are preparing according to what the exam demands.

How to Use CAT Previous Papers Effectively?

Simply solving CAT previous papers is not enough; The goal should be to try solving these papers as an actual CAT exam, benchmarking where you stand and refining your strategy. Here’s how you can make the most of them:

Attempt in an Actual Exam Environment:

  • Always solve previous papers in a timed setup, ideally in one 2-hour sitting without breaks. This helps you understand your stamina and focus levels, similar to the actual CAT exam.

Analyse Each Attempt Thoroughly

  • Spend at least twice the time you took to attempt the paper in analysing it. Identify where you went wrong – conceptual errors, misinterpretation, or time mismanagement. Track your accuracy section-wise to understand which areas need more attention.

Revisit Weak Areas

  • After every analysis, go back to the concepts or question types that troubled you. Relearn those topics and attempt a few similar questions before moving on to the next paper. This ensures steady progress rather than repeated mistakes.

Balance With Mocks and Sectional Tests

  • Use CAT previous year papers as a complement to your CAT test series. Mocks help you experiment with strategies, while past papers provide insight into actual CAT trends and difficulty levels. Combining both gives you a well-rounded preparation.

How Many CAT Previous Papers Should You Solve?

Some educational platforms suggest on how many CAT previous papers should you solve before you are fully prepared for the final exam. Solve 1 CAT paper from the past year before beginning your preparation to check your basics.

  • After completing your CAT syllabus, attempt 5 previous year papers.
  • During the last 2-3 months, solve nearly 10-15 past 5 years CAT papers to strengthen your concepts and exam skills.
  • On average, students preparing for CAT must attempt at least 15-20 CAT previous papers from the past 5 years before the final examination.

In conclusion, consistent practice with CAT previous papers bridges the gap in your preparation. It helps you build confidence, improve accuracy, and improve time management which is very important for achieving a high percentile in CAT. Treat each paper as a mock, learn from every attempt, and by the time the actual exam arrives, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle it with clarity and composure.