Best Free CAT Mock Tests 2026, Compared Honestly
What each free CAT mock actually gives you: how many there are, whose questions they use, what the screen looks like and when you can take them.
Reviewed by Team ThinkCAT on
What do the free CAT mocks include?
ThinkCAT's free CAT mocks are real past papers, not invented tests: CAT 2024 Slot 1 and Slot 2, all 68 questions each, in a TCS iON-style interface with a 40-minute timer per section in the VARC, DILR, QA order, the five-state question palette, the on-screen calculator and +3/−1 marking (no negative marks on TITA questions). Both are free. The other 18 full CAT papers from 2017 to 2025 come with the CAT Pro Pass (₹499). Solutions are step-by-step text; there are no video solutions yet. The official IIM mock opens on iimcat.ac.in with the admit card (12 November in 2025) and needs a CAT login.
Free CAT mocks compared
| ThinkCAT | Official IIM mock | Cracku | IMS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free full-length mocks | 2 (CAT 2024 Slots 1 and 2) | 1 | 3 | 1 SimCAT (free enrolment) |
| Paid full-length mocks | 18 past CAT papers, CAT Pro Pass ₹499 | None | 25, from ₹1,499 | 40 SimCATs (SimCAT Core, ₹6,450 + GST) |
| Questions | Real CAT papers, 2017–2025 | Sample questions | Original mocks | Original mocks |
| When | Now | From admit-card day (12 Nov in 2025), CAT login needed | Now | Now |
| Solutions | Step-by-step text | — | Video | — |
As checked on 6 October 2026. Sources: Cracku CAT mock test page, IMS SimCAT 2026, Careers360 on the CAT 2025 official mock.
Executive Briefing & Key Takeaways
Official Benchmark & Strategic Decision Snapshot
A past CAT paper is the only mock whose difficulty is exactly CAT’s.
Palette, section locks and the on-screen calculator should feel routine by November.
A mock you do not analyse teaches you very little.
Key Facts & Action Items
Explore CAT 2026 Intelligence Guides & Tools
ThinkCAT HubFrequently Asked Questions
Which free CAT mock is closest to the real exam?
For difficulty, a real past CAT paper, because it is the exam. For the screen, the official IIM mock is the reference; ThinkCAT’s mock copies its TCS iON layout, with 40-minute section timers, the five-state palette and the on-screen calculator.
When is the official CAT mock released?
With the admit card. For CAT 2025 it opened on 12 November and stayed available until exam day; you need your CAT login.
Are ThinkCAT’s free mocks really free?
Yes. CAT 2024 Slots 1 and 2 are free. The other 18 full CAT papers from 2017 to 2025 come with the CAT Pro Pass (₹499).
How many mocks should I take before CAT?
There is no magic number. Take a mock only when you will analyse it properly; from October, one or two a week leaves time for analysis and practice.
Test Your Baseline Under Real Exam Conditions
Take our full-length 2-Hour TCS iON CBT Diagnostic Mock. Experience official 40-min sectional countdown timers, on-screen virtual calculator, and instant percentile prediction curve.