Negative Marking in CAT 2025 – Tips to Avoid Negative Marking

Still, many aspirants struggle to qualify for the CAT with a negative mark in CAT 2025. Do you plan to appear in CAT 2025? Don’t you know how to maximize the number of good attempts in the paper? Know the tips to handle the pressure of negative marking. Be motivated and alert on attempting the questions asked in CAT. Qualifying this exam could be a turning point in your career. It can help you get admission to India’s top management colleges like IIMs, IITs, FMS, UBS, and many more. 

As per the latest CAT Exam Pattern PDF, the test includes three sections VARC, DILR, and QA and the CAT Exam Time Duration is 120 minutes. To secure admission in premier institutes like IIMs, candidates must also meet the cut off marks for CAT exam, which differ for each category and institution.

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Negative Marking in CAT 2025 Overview

IIM Kozhikode is the exam conducting authority of CAT 2025. Candidates who wish to appear in the exam should know the marking scheme of CAT. There are three sections DILR, Quantitative Aptitude, and VARC. The total number of questions asked in CAT including MCQ and Non-MCQ-based questions is 68 and the CAT Exam Time Duration is 120 minutes.

The candidate gets 3 marks for every correct answer for MCQ and Non-MCQ questions. Negative Marking is for only MCQ questions. Candidates can follow the table to get an overview of negative CAT Marking Scheme 2025. No negative marking is for Non-MCQ-based questions asked in the paper.

CAT Exam Pattern 2025

Candidates can take a look at CAT Exam Pattern 2025. It is helpful to know that the CAT exam consists of three sections VARC, Quantitative Aptitude, and DILR. MCQ and Non-MCQ-based questions are asked in the paper. You get 120 minutes to attempt the questions in the computer-based paper. 

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What is a Negative Marking in CAT 2025?

CAT Negative Marking means if you attempt any question asked in the paper. The answer is incorrect. You will be penalized for the wrong answer. CAT is considered one of the highly competitive management entrances conducted by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) authorities every year. To keep the competitive spirit alive among the aspirants. The CAT total marks and exam structure are important for every aspirant preparing for the MBA entrance test

The authorities started with a negative mark in CAT 2025. Candidates can lose one mark in the negative mark in the CAT exam. There is no negative marking for non-MCQ-type questions asked in CAT. The main purpose of introducing negative markings in the paper is to avoid any guesswork.

Tips To Avoid Negative Marking in CAT 2025

The CAT total questions and marks vary slightly each year, but usually, the paper consists of around 66 questions carrying CAT total marks 2025 of 198. Candidates may feel confused about handling negative markings in CAT 2025. Here are some tips that can help avoid negative markings in CAT. 

• Solve CAT Mock Tests

CAT aspirants you know that the mock test is the mimic of the real exam. Track your performance in CAT mock tests regularly to check your negative marked attempts. It can lower your negative mark in CAT 2025 to get good attempts in the actual exam. 

• Accuracy

IIM authorities constantly bring changes in the difficulty level of the CAT exam to test the knowledge of candidates. Therefore, you can stand out in the competition only by practice and revision during CAT preparations. It can happen with the regular practice. Solve the previous year's questions to know the trends and question patterns asked in the last years of CAT. 

• Read Questions Properly

Many candidates make the common mistake of not reading the questions properly. It can happen out of pressure or overconfidence. Try to be calm and motivated in the paper. Give yourself time to go through the questions properly. You know which questions to solve on a priority basis to get the Sureshot marks in the paper. Any guesswork can cause you to lose your preciously earned marks in the CAT exam. 

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• Attempt Easy Questions Fast

When you are done with reading the questions. Plan your CAT attempt strategy and divide your time accordingly for VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Aptitude sections. Follow the tip to attempt the easy questions in these three sections. 

• Apply The Elimination Technique

Students started their CAT 2025 preparations. The focus is on covering DILR, VARC, and Quantitative Aptitude topics. At times, you may get stuck in particular options provided in MCQs. Give your best attempt in applying the elimination method to get the possible correct answer for that question. 

Understanding CAT marks vs percentile helps candidates estimate their score and target a higher percentile for top B-schools. We provide detailed information about negative markings in CAT 2025. Keep a note about the negative marking scheme securing good attempts in the exam. 

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