How to Tackle TITA Questions in CAT 2025: Tips & Strategies

What are the TITA Questions in the CAT 2025 Exam?

TITA stands for Type In The Answer questions in the CAT 2025 Exam. These are non-MCQ questions where no options are provided; candidates must type the exact answer. TITA questions appear in all three sections, VARC, DILR, and Quantitative Aptitude. A good CAT TITA strategy 2025 includes careful reading, strong conceptual clarity, and avoiding guesswork. Unlike CAT MCQs, TITA questions do not carry negative marking, so it’s important to attempt them wisely to maximise marks.

CAT Exam TITA vs MCQ

The CAT exam features two main types of questions, TITA and MCQ. While both aim to test core concepts across sections like VARC, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning, and QA, the way they’re answered and evaluated differs greatly. TITA questions require you to calculate and type in the final answer without any options. In contrast, MCQs give you four choices, and you select the correct one.

Answer Method

TITA questions require you to solve the problem and type the exact answer without guidance. There are no hints through options. In CAT MCQs, you can often use elimination, estimation, or logic to reach the right answer even if your concept is slightly shaky.

Negative Marking

CAT TITA questions carry no penalty for wrong answers, making them safer to attempt. MCQs, however, come with negative marking for incorrect responses. A wrong guess here can reduce your score, so caution is needed.

Role of Options

In MCQs, options often guide your thinking and can even help confirm your solution. In TITA, you rely solely on your understanding and calculations. There's no support from answer choices, which makes them more concept-driven.

Risk and Reward Strategy:

CAT TITA questions offer a chance to score without the fear of penalty, encouraging attempts even in uncertain cases. MCQs demand a more calculated risk, and wrong guessing leads to a mark deduction.

Time Management:

CAT TITA questions might take longer because you must work out the exact answer with no shortcuts. In MCQs, you might save time using quick tricks or option-based logic. However, MCQs can also tempt you into overthinking, especially with close options.

How to Tackle TITA Questions in CAT 2025?

TITA was introduced in 2015. In TITA, candidates will have to answer them directly by typing on the screen. Candidates must perform excellently in the TITA questions to score well and secure a place at their desired IIM. The Common Admission Test 2025 is considered the most challenging exam due to its sectional time limit and the level of questions asked. Candidates should keep the time in mind while solving Non-MCQ or TITA questions, as there is limited time for each section.

TITA Questions - In Numbers

Based on the CAT exam pattern 2025, there will be two types of questions: Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) and Type-in-the-Answer (TITA) questions. In TITA, candidates will have options to choose from. Additionally, this will require more time to write answers, so candidates should focus on only those questions with which they are confident. Check the table below to understand the trends of CAT TITA questions that will be asked in the CAT 2025, tentatively scheduled for November 2025.

The Number of TITA Questions Throughout the Years

Understanding the number of TITA questions asked each year can provide candidates with valuable insight into the weightage of CAT TITA questions. Below is the breakdown of the non-MCQ questions in CAT for the past three years, helping candidates strategise their preparation and approach CAT TITA questions more effectively. This information will also help in developing a focused TITA strategy for CAT, ensuring that candidates are well-prepared for this section.

(This data includes questions from all three slots in the corresponding year)

Overview of CAT TITA-Type Questions

Tips on How to Solve TITA Questions in CAT:

1. Be Careful With Time Management While Dealing with TITA Questions

2. Clear your concepts

3. Avoid Guesswork

CAT TITA Strategy 2025

TITA questions in CAT 2025 demand precise solving without the support of options. These questions test your ability to apply concepts directly, making them different from MCQs. A well-planned CAT TITA strategy 2025 can improve both speed and accuracy.

1. Focus on Conceptual Strength
A strong conceptual foundation is the key to solving TITA questions with confidence. These questions do not offer answer choices, so you must rely entirely on your understanding of the topic. Whether it’s solving equations in Quant, analysing sets in DILR, or interpreting passages in VARC, only solid concepts will help you arrive at the correct answer. Therefore, you must adhere to the CAT exam books.

Candidates should strive to clarify their concepts from a basic level. Start with easy examples and gradually move to standard-level questions. Rushing into complex problems without mastering the basics often leads to avoidable mistakes in TITA formats.

2. Break Down Every Step While Practising
Writing each step while solving a TITA question helps minimise careless errors and improves overall accuracy. Since there are no answer options to guide or verify your solution, missing a single step or calculation can lead to an incorrect final response. A structured, step-by-step approach not only improves clarity but also builds consistency, which is essential when using any reliable CAT non-MCQ questions approach.

This habit forms a core part of an effective CAT preparation strategy. Many students try to solve mentally or skip steps to save time, but this often leads to mistakes—especially in TITA questions where the margin for error is very small.

3. Use Timed Practice Sessions
Solving TITA questions within strict time limits helps improve both speed and accuracy. Since these questions don’t offer answer choices, you must rely entirely on your calculations and logic. That’s why practising them under time pressure is essential. It simulates the real exam environment and builds mental stamina for the actual test day.

Suppose you start preparing for the CAT without coaching. In that case, you can still build strong time management habits through self-study. Begin by solving a fixed number of TITA questions every day using a stopwatch or online timer. Allocate time per question based on the actual CAT format. This helps in developing speed without compromising accuracy.

4. Attempt When the Answer is Clear
TITA questions may seem risk-free because they don’t carry negative marking, but guessing randomly is rarely helpful. While there’s no penalty for wrong answers, typing in answers blindly can waste valuable time that could be spent on questions you understand better. A focused and selective approach works far more effectively than attempting everything.

A common question among aspirants is, "How many questions should I attempt in the CAT to get the 99th percentile?" The answer depends on the difficulty level of the slot and your accuracy. However, consistently attempting 55–60% of the questions with high accuracy is usually enough.

How to Solve TITA Questions in CAT 2025?

TITA questions in CAT 2025 test your true understanding, as they require typing the final answer without options. These non-MCQ problems appear in all three sections and demand accuracy, strong concepts, and time management. Knowing how to solve TITA questions in CAT 2025 can improve both your score and confidence.

Attempt Mock Test of CAT

One of the best ways to tackle TITA questions in CAT is through the CAT mock test. Most people believed that solving mock tests helped them understand the paper pattern and gain clarity about concepts.

• Benefits of the mock test of CAT include self-analysis, self-cum-time-management, and accuracy in problem-solving, including TITA questions.

• CAT topper Ronit Banerjea said, “I was also regular with my attendance of scheduled mocks and attempting sectional mocks, which helped boost my performances in all three sections. I had an edge in VARC owing to my general comfort in the language, but a constant fear of the LRDI section ensured I was regular with my practice.”

• Similarly, another CAT topper, Rahul Gupt, said, “Before the exam, somehow I was not able to score very well in the quantitative ability section, and I was not satisfied with my performance. I practised a lot of mock tests, and gradually I started doing well. I practised a lot from sectional and mock tests, as well as the questions in the study material I was preparing. During the weekend, I would dedicate more time to my preparation and take mock tests as well as sectional tests. I used to solve a lot of questions, apart from the mock tests.”

Do not Fall into the Trap of “Non-Negative Marking”

As discussed above, TITA questions are non-MCQs and do not have options like multiple-choice questions (MCQs). Hence, they are more time-consuming and require more time to answer. Although answering TITA questions does not result in losing marks, many candidates fall into the trap and end up wasting their 60 minutes per section. Candidates also face anxiety as they fear losing time while solving TITA questions.

Practice Previous Year CAT Question Papers

To make their preparation strong, candidates are advised to practice from previous years' CAT question papers. Once finished with the syllabus, solve at least one question paper/sample paper daily. PPYQ will improve speed and accuracy, and eventually, no question will appear unfamiliar. By regularly scanning the previous year's question paper, you will be familiar with both types of questions, i.e. MCQs and TITA questions.

Strategy to Attempt TITA Questions

Finally, remember that there is no specific strategy or trick to attempt TITA questions in CAT. To save time while solving the CAT question paper, the best advice for candidates would be first to solve the non-MCQs and then move on to those TITA questions that seem familiar and can be answered easily. This approach helps in efficiently managing time and tackling the TITA section with greater confidence and accuracy.