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CAT Exam Analysis 2022: No changes have been made in the exam pattern and marking scheme. In all slots, CAT 2022 QA was reported to be the toughest while DILR questions were reported to be lengthy and time-consuming. In CAT 2022 VARC, there were 4 RC passages with 4 questions each, 3 paragraph completion and 3 summary based questions. CAT 2022 analysis will also give you an idea of the expected sectional cut offs for CAT 2022. Check CAT 2022 Cut off
Equal number of questions in CAT 2022 slot 2 QA were asked from Algebra and Arithmetic. No questions were asked from bar graph and pie chart in CAT DILR slot 1. Based on student’s feedback, Quantitative Aptitude section was tougher than last year.
CAT Exam Analysis 2022 Slot-wise
| CAT Exam Slot | CAT Slot Timings | CAT 2022 Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| Slot 1 | 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM | Check Here |
| Slot 2 | 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM | Check Here |
| Slot 3 | 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM | Check Here |
Here you can find the slot-wise CAT 2022 exam analysis covering the details of the difficulty level, section-wise question distribution, changes in paper pattern, number of MCQs and TITA questions, weightage of topics, and good attempts.
CAT Analysis 2022: Question Paper with Solutions PDF
Section-wise CAT 2022 question paper for slot 1, slot 2, slot 3 is provided here along with the solutions and answer keys prepared by subject matter experts.
| CAT 2022 | CAT 2022 Question Paper with Solutions PDF |
|---|---|
| Slot 1 | Check Here |
| Slot 2 | |
| Slot 3 |
CAT 2022 Analysis: Changes in Exam Pattern
CAT question paper pattern was revised last year. CAT 2022 paper is based on the same pattern- 66 questions divided into 3 sections, i.e. 24 questions in VARC, 22 in Quant, and 20 in DILR. Check CAT Exam Pattern 2022
Candidates must go through CAT exam analysis of previous years given in this article to get insights into what can be expected in CAT 2022 exam.
Download CAT Question Papers
CAT Exam Analysis 2022 for VARC, DILR, QA: Weightage, Difficulty Level
| Section | Questions | Slot-wise Difficulty Comparison | Topics With Highest Weightage | CAT Section-wise Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | CAT VARC paper had 4 RC passages, 3 questions from summary, 3 para completion, and 2 para jumble questions | CAT VARC Slot 1 was tougher than slot 2 and slot 3 | RC, Verbal Ability | Check CAT VARC Analysis Here |
| QA | 14 MCQs and 8 TITA questions. 8-9 questions from Arithmetic, 7-8 from Algebra, and 3-4 questions from Geometry | CAT DILR Slot 3 was the toughest followed by slot 1 and slot 2 | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry | Check CAT QA Analysis Here |
| DILR | 14 MCQs and 6 TITA questions. 4 sets with 5 questions each | CAT QA Slot 3 was the most difficult followed by slot 2 and slot 1 | - | Check CAT DILR Analysis Here |
CAT Exam Analysis 2022: Key Highlights
The key points of paper analysis for CAT 2022 are updated here based on the students’ reactions in the table below.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of questions | 66 |
| CAT Total Marks | 198 |
| Overall Difficulty Level of CAT exam | Moderate |
| Difficulty Level of CAT VARC | Easy to Moderate |
| Difficulty Level of CAT QA | Moderate to Difficult |
| Difficulty Level of CAT DILR | Moderate but Time Consuming |
| Most Difficult Slot | Almost equal level of difficulty, however, experts have found slot 2 a little more challenging than others |
| Most Time-consuming Section | QA and DILR |
| Topics with highest weightage in CAT QA | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry |
| Topics with highest weightage in CAT VARC | Reading Comprehension, Para Summary, Para Completion |
| Topics with highest weightage in CAT DILR | Line Graph, Diagram & Network Charts, Games & Tournament |
| Expected Number of Good Attempts | 38-42 |
| What is a good score in CAT exam? | 102+ |
CAT 2022 Slot 1 Analysis
CAT 2022 Analysis for slot 1 VARC, DILR, and QA is now provided below for your convenience.
- The overall difficulty level of CAT 2022 slot 1 was moderate. TITA questions were more difficult to attempt than MCQs.
- DILR was the most time-consuming of the three sections with no questions on pie charts and bar graphs.
- QA section has received mixed responses. Some found it to be the hardest while for some 10-15 questions were easily doable.
- Arithmetic had the highest number of questions while Geometry saw just 3.
- In CAT VARC, there were 4 RC passages.
- No questions were asked in the form of odd one out in CAT Verbal Ability section.
- Candidates found VARC section to be slightly easier than last year while QA tougher than 2021.
| CAT 2022 | CAT 2022 Slot 1 Analysis |
|---|---|
| Slot 1 | Check Here |
CAT 2022 Slot 2 Analysis
CAT Analysis 2022 for slot 2 is now updated below based on the initial reaction of the candidates.
- The overall difficulty level of CAT 2022 slot 2 was similar to slot 1.
- QA was the most difficult of the three sections with questions on Algebra being tough to attempt in the given time.
- Arithmetic and Algebra had the highest number of questions in the Quant section- 8 each.
- In CAT slot 2 VARC, there were 4 RC passages- 1 based on Octopus, 1 on music, and 1 each related to philosophy and technology.
- Like slot 1 paper, no questions were asked in the form of odd one out in CAT 2022 Slot 2 Verbal Ability section.
- Candidates found VARC section to be more easily doable than the other 2 sections.
- DILR section in slot 2 had 4 sets of questions with 5 questions each.
| CAT 2022 | CAT 2022 Slot 2 Analysis |
|---|---|
| Slot 2 | Check Here |
CAT 2022 Slot 3 Analysis
CAT Exam Analysis 2022 for slot 3 is provided below in detail for your reference.
- The overall difficulty of CAT 2022 slot 3 was also rated moderate.
- VARC was the easiest of the 3 slots.
- CAT 2022 slot 3 VARC had 4 RCs and inference-based & ‘If True’ verbal questions formed a part of the paper.
- CAT DILR was slightly tougher than the other 2 slots
| CAT 2022 | CAT 2022 Slot 3 Analysis |
|---|---|
| Slot 3 | Check Here |
CAT 2022 Exam Analysis: Good Score to get 99+ Percentile
Based on analysis of CAT 2022 paper for the 3 slots, given below is the expected range of score considered good to get a 99+ percentile.
| Slot | Good Score |
|---|---|
| CAT 2022 Slot 1 | 98-100 |
| CAT 2022 Slot 2 | 96-98 |
| CAT 2022 Slot 3 | 94-96 |
What After CAT 2022 Exam on Nov 27?
After the conclusion of CAT 2022 Exam on Nov 27, the unofficial answer keys and solutions will be published by experts and the same will be updated here. IIM Bangalore will release the official CAT 2022 provisional answer key and recorded responses in 8-10 days.
CAT Answer Key 2022
The answer key for CAT 2022 will assist candidates in evaluating their answer and calculating their raw scores. CAT 2022 Answer Key is expected to be released in the first week of December 2022. CAT 2022 authorities will also provide facility to challenge the provisional answer key for 2-3 days at a payment of INR 1200 per answer challenged.
CAT Result 2022
CAT 2022 Result will be available online on the official website- iimcat.ac.in. IIM Bangalore will not send CAT scorecards to the candidates via post. CAT 2022 Result will be released for all test-takers in the first week of January 2023.
CAT 2022 Cut off for IIM
Candidates can find below the qualifying CAT 2022 Cut off for top IIMs. This is the minimum percentile score required in CAT exam to be eligible for admission. The final cut offs are different. CAT 2022 final cut offs will be used for shortlisting the candidates for PI.
| IIM | Overall Qualifying Cut off |
|---|---|
| IIM Bangalore | 85 |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 80 |
| IIM Lucknow | 90 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 80 |
| IIM Calcutta | 85 |
| IIM Indore | 90 |
| IIM Visakhapatnam | 80 |
| IIM Nagpur | 85 |
| IIM Raipur | 93 |
| IIM Rohtak | 95 |
*Based on the analysis of CAT 2022 provided above, candidates can predict their chances of admission to top IIMs. Check CAT 2022 College Predictor
CAT Previous Year Analysis
Candidates appearing for the exam must definitely go through CAT previous year analysis to get valuable insights into the difficulty level and to know what constitutes the maximum marks in the paper. Given below is an expert review and detailed previous year CAT exam analysis of 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and more.
| CAT Previous Year Analysis | CAT Exam Date | Exam Conducting IIM | CAT Paper Review and Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT 2021 Analysis | November 28, 2021 | IIM Ahmedabad | 66 questions, moderately difficult, DILR toughest |
| CAT Analysis 2020 | November 29, 2020 | IIM Indore | 76 questions, moderate to tough, VARC was difficult |
| CAT Analysis 2019 | November 24, 2019 | IIM Kozhikode | 100 questions, moderate difficulty level with VARC being tougher than 2018 |
| CAT Analysis 2018 | November 25, 2018 | IIM Calcutta | 100 questions, moderately difficult, QA toughest in the last 10 years |
| CAT Analysis 2017 | November 26, 2017 | IIM Lucknow | 100 questions, 2 slots, moderate level of difficulty |
CAT 2021 Analysis
CAT 2021 was conducted on November 28, 2021, in three slots. Given below is CAT 2021 analysis for Slot 1, Slot 2, and Slot 3 .
| Particulars | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Difficulty Level | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate | Moderate |
| CAT VARC Difficulty | Moderate to Difficult | Easy to Moderate | Moderate |
| CAT QA Difficulty | Easy to Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Easy but tricky |
| CAT DILR Difficulty | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate | Moderate Difficult |
| Total Number of Questions | 66- 24 in VARC, 22 in QA, 20 in DILR | 66- 24 in VARC, 22 in QA, 20 in DILR | 66- 24 in VARC, 22 in QA, 20 in DILR |
| Number of TITA Questions | 18- 5 in VARC, 8 in QA, and 5 in DILR | 18- 5 in VARC, 8 in QA, and 5 in DILR | 18- 5 in VARC, 8 in QA, and 5 in DILR |
| Number of MCQs | 48- 19 in VARC, 14 in QA, and 15 in DILR | 48- 19 in VARC, 14 in QA, and 15 in DILR | 48- 19 in VARC, 14 in QA, and 15 in DILR |
| VARC Topics with Maximum Weightage | RC with 4 Sets of 4 questions each, Para Jumble, Para Summary, Odd one out | RC with 4 Sets of 4 questions each, Para Jumble, Para Summary, Odd one out | RC with 4 Sets of 4 questions each, Para Jumble, Para Summary, Odd one out |
| QA Topics with Maximum Weightage | Algebra & Arithmetic | Algebra, Geometry, and Arithmetic | Algebra & Arithmetic |
| DILR Topics with Maximum Weightage | 2 DI sets and 2 LR sets with 4 and 6 questions each respectively | 2 DI sets and 2 LR sets with 4 and 6 questions each respectively | 2 DI sets and 2 LR sets with 4 and 6 questions each respectively |
CAT 2021 Slot 1 Analysis
The questions in Slot 1 were lengthy and time consuming. Overall, the test takers rated CAT 2021 slot 1 to be tougher than the other 2 slots. Given below is the section-wise question breakup of CAT 2021 slot 1 paper.
CAT 2021 VARC Analysis: Slot 1 Question Distribution
CAT VARC section was moderately difficulty with Reading Comprehension having the maximum weightage followed by para jumbles and summary-based questions.
| Topics | Number of questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 16 (4*4) | Moderate to Tough | 10-12 |
| Verbal Ability – Parajumbles | 3 | Moderate to Tough | 1-2 |
| Verbal Ability - Summary | 3 | Moderate | 2-3 |
| Verbal Ability – Odd-sentence out | 2 | Moderate | 1-2 |
CAT 2021 DILR Analysis: Slot 1 Question Distribution
CAT DILR analysis states that this section was time consuming and involved critical thinking & calculation abilities.
| DILR Topics | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| DI- Bar Graph | 4 | Moderate | 2-3 |
| DI- Smoothies | 4 | Moderate | 2-3 |
| LR- Researchers and Publishing | 6 | Moderate to difficult | 3-4 |
| LR- Friends, Strangers, and Acquaintances | 6 | Easy to Moderate | 4-5 |
CAT 2021 QA Analysis: Slot 1 Question Distribution
CAT QA section was easy to moderate with more than 70% questions from just two topics- Arithmetic and Algebra.
| Topic | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algebra | 5 | Moderate | 3-4 |
| Arithmetic | 11 | Moderate | 6-7 |
| Number System | 2 | Moderate | 1-2 |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 3 | Moderate | 1-2 |
| Modern Maths | 1 | Moderate | 1 |
CAT 2021 Slot 2 Analysis
CAT 2021 Slot 2 was conducted from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm. Comparing it with the other slots, slot 2 of CAT 2021 was rated to be the easiest. Section-wise CAT exam analysis 2021 slot 2 is provided below for your reference.
CAT 2021 VARC Slot 2 Analysis: Question Distribution
CAT VARC section had 4 RC passages of easy to moderate difficulty level. Each RC passage had 4 questions to answer. From CAT Verbal Ability section, there were 8 questions in the 2021 exam.
| Topics | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 16 | Easy to Moderate | 12-14 |
| Verbal Ability- Para Jumbles | 3 | Moderate | 2 |
| Verbal Ability- Summary | 3 | Moderate | 1-2 |
| Verbal Ability- Odd Sentence Out | 2 | Moderate | 1-2 |
CAT 2021 DILR Slot 2 Analysis: Question Distribution
The overall difficulty level of CAT DILR 2021 slot 2 paper was moderate. CAT DILR had 20 questions comprising graphs, charts, and caselets.
| DILR Topics | Number of Questions | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|
| DI- Horizontally stacked column graph (product, shipment days) | 4 | 13-15 |
| LR- Games and tournament based data set | 6 | |
| LR- Online food delivery rating parameters | 6 | |
| DI- Graph-based- easy to solve | 4 |
CAT 2021 QA Slot 2 Analysis: Question Distribution
| Topic | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Numbers | 2 | Moderate | 1 |
| Arithmetic | 11 | Easy to Moderate | 8-9 |
| Algebra | 5 | Moderate | 2-3 |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 3 | Moderate | 2 |
| Modern Maths | 1 | Easy to Moderate | 0-1 |
CAT 2021 Slot 3 Analysis
CAT 2021 Slot 3 was conducted by IIM Ahmedabad from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm of Nov 28, 2022. The overall difficulty level of this slot was similar to that of slot 2 with DILR being a little tougher. The detailed sectional CAT exam analysis of 2021 slot 3 is provided here.
CAT 2021 Analysis for VARC Slot 3
CAT 2021 difficulty level of VARC slot 3 was moderate to difficult with Reading Comprehension questions making up more than 60% of the section.
| VARC Topics | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 16 (4*4) | Moderate | 11-13 |
| Verbal Ability – Para Jumbles | 3 | Moderate | 2-3 |
| Verbal Ability - Summary based questions | 3 | Easy to Moderate | 2 |
| Verbal Ability – Odd Sentence Out | 2 | Easy to Moderate | 2 |
CAT 2021 Analysis for DILR Slot 3
CAT DILR slot 2 exam was rated moderate by maximum candidates. Like the previous slots, CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) of slot 3 had 2 DI sets and 2 LR with 4 and 6 questions each respectively.
| DILR Topics | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bar Graph | 4 | Moderate | 11-13 |
| Pure and Impure Solutions | 4 | Moderate | |
| Javelin Tournament | 6 | Moderate to difficult | |
| Review of Academic Questions | 6 | Moderate |
CAT 2021 Quant Analysis Slot 3
CAT Quantitative Aptitude was easy but quite tricky, making it a bit more time-consuming than that in the other 2 slots.
| QA Topics | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algebra | 6 | Moderate | 4 |
| Arithmetic | 11 | Easy-Moderate | 7-9 |
| Geometry | 4 | Moderate and Tricky | 2-3 |
| Modern Maths | 1 | Difficult | 1 |
CAT Score Vs Percentile 2021
| CAT Percentile | Score in VARC | Score in DILR | Score in QA | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80%ile | 20 | 17 | 19 | 56-60 |
| 90%ile | 28 | 20 | 22 | 60-70 |
| 95%ile | 32 | 22 | 30 | 71-84 |
| 95%ile to 98%ile | 34 | 23 | 32 | 85-94 |
| 98%ile | 36 | 26 | 35 | 95-97 |
| 99%ile | 42 | 31 | 39 | 105-110 |
| 99.5%ile | 45 | 32 | 43 | 115-125 |
Quick Links:
CAT Exam Analysis 2020
CAT 2020 Slot 1 Analysis
CAT 2020 slot 1 exam was conducted from 8:30-10:30 AM on Nov 29, 2020.
- Overall difficulty level was moderate as confirmed by students.
- VARC section was most difficult while Quant and DILR was easy.
- Question distribution was 26, 24, 26 from QA, DILR, and VARC respectively.
| Sections | Difficulty Level | Number of Questions | Topics with Most Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | Difficult | 26 | Reading Comprehension, Para Summary, Odd Sentence, Para jumbles |
| DILR | Easy | 24 | Drivers and Ratings, Students and Exams, |
| QA | Slightly Above Average | 26 | Arithmetic, Algebra, Logarithms, Number System, Functions, Geometry and Mensuration |
CAT 2020 Slot 1 VARC
| Topic | No. of Questions (MCQ/non-MCQ) | Ideal Attempts |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 18 (5+5+4+4) | 14-16 |
| Verbal Ability - Parajumbles | 3 | 3 |
| Verbal Ability - Summary | 3 | 3 |
| Verbal Ability - Parajumbles (Odd-sentence out) | 2 | 2 |
CAT 2020 Slot 1 DILR
| Subject | Topic | No of Questions | Ideal Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Interpretation | Drivers and Ratings | 4 | 4 |
| Students and Exams | 6 | 3 | |
| Set on P atients | 4 | 3 | |
| Logical Reasoning | Institutes Vendors | 6 | 3 |
| Set on M usicians | 4 | 4 |
CAT 2020 Slot 1 QA
| Topic | No of Questions (MCQ/non-MCQ) | Ideal Attempts |
|---|---|---|
| Number System | 5 | 3-4 |
| Algebra | 8 | 5-6 |
| Arithmetic | 10 | 7-8 |
| Modern Math | - | - |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 3 | 1-2 |
CAT 2020 Slot 2 Analysis
The second slot of CAT 2020 concluded at 2:30 PM.
- Overall difficulty level was moderate this time too.
- VARC was the easiest section followed by QA and DILR.
- Sectional distribution of questions were 24 from DILR, 26 from QA and 26 from VARC
| Sections | Difficulty Level | Number of Questions | Topics with Most Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | Easy | 26 | RC, Para Jumble, Para Summar |
| DILR | Moderate to Difficult | 24 | Sales Figures, Scheduling, Parking Slots, Votes polled |
| QA | Moderate (tougher than 2019) | 26 | Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry |
CAT 2020 Slot 2 VARC
| Topic | No. of Questions | Ideal Attempts |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 18 (5+5+4+4) | 13-15 |
| Verbal Ability - Parajumbles | 3 | 3 |
| Verbal Ability - Summary | 3 | 3 |
| Verbal Ability - Parajumbles (Odd-sentence out) | 2 | 2 |
CAT 2020 Slot 2 DILR
| Subject | Topic | No. of Questions | Ideal Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Interpretation | Voters | 6 | 4 |
| Revenue & Cost | 4 | 2 | |
| Parking Caselet | 4 | 2-3 | |
| Logical Reasoning | Grid-Based Filling | 4 | Best left alone |
| Arrangement | 6 | 4 |
CAT 2020 Slot 2 QA
| Topic | No. of Questions (MCQ/non-MCQ) | Ideal Attempt |
|---|---|---|
| Number System | 3 | 2 |
| Algebra | 7 | 4 |
| Arithmetic | 10 | 6-7 |
| Modern Math | 2 | 1 |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 4 | 2-3 |
CAT 2020 Slot 3 Analysis
The third and final slot of CAT 2020 has concluded at 6:30 PM.
- In keeping with the difficulty level of previous slots, this time also the paper was Moderate.
- DIRL section was difficult while Quant was easy and tricky. VARC was moderate to difficult.
| Sections | Difficulty Level | Number of Questions | Topics with Most Weightage |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | Moderate to Difficult | 26 | RC, Para Jumble, Summar, Odd One Out |
| DILR | Difficult | 24 | Venn Diagram, Schedule, Games & Tournament based Set |
| QA | Easy but tricky | 26 | Arithmetic, Algebra |
CAT 2020 Slot 3 VARC
| Topic | No. of Questions | Ideal Attempt |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 18 (5+5+4+4) | 14-15 |
| Verbal Ability - Parajumbles | 3 | 3 |
| Verbal Ability - Summary | 3 | 3 |
| Verbal Ability - Parajumbles (Odd-sentence out) | 2 | 2 |
CAT 2020 Slot 3 DILR
| Subject | Topic | No. of Questions | Level of Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Interpretation Logical Reasoning | HI-LO | 6 | Difficult |
| People & Area | 6 | Difficult | |
| Venn Diagram | 4 | Easy-Moderate | |
| Vials & People | 4 | Moderate | |
| Orders | 4 | Moderate |
CAT 2020 Slot 3 QA
| Topic | No. of Questions (MCQ/non-MCQ) | Ideal Attempt |
|---|---|---|
| Number System | 3 | 2 |
| Algebra | 5 | 3 |
| Arithmetic | 10 | 6-7 |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 5 | 2-3 |
| Co-ordinate Geometry | 3 | 2 |
Must Read:
CAT Exam Analysis 2019
CAT 2019 Slot 2 DILR difficulty level was almost similar to Slot 1 with some additional tricky questions. The Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability section was the toughest of the three sections CAT 2019 Quant section were relatively manageable in the given time frame.
CAT 2019 Slot 1 and Slot 2 Exam Analysis
| Section | Number of Questions | Question Distribution | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT VARC | 34 | 27 MCQs and 7 TITA-type questions:
| Moderate | 24-25 |
| CAT DILR | 32 | 24 MCQs and 8 TITA-type questions
| Moderate to Difficult | 23-26 |
| CAT QA | 34 | 23 MCQs and 11 TITA questions | Moderate | 20-24 |
| Overall | 100 | 74 MCQs and 26 TITA questions | Moderate | 70-81 |
Section-wise CAT 2019 Exam Analysis
CAT Analysis for VARC in 2019
The section for VARC was much harder than the other two sections of the paper as informed by the test-takers.
- There were five passages for Reading in Slot-2 as well.
- Four passages out of the five had five individual problems in each and one of them had four questions.
- One of the RC sections was pretty complex and verbose; which made it really difficult for some of the applicants to even attempt.
CAT 2019 DILR Analysis
The Slot-2 reactions of students were a bit different for the DILR Section as compared to Slot-1.
- The section was reported to throw a few more tricky questions but was still manageable within the 60-minute mark.
- The brevity of this section was comprising of 24 MCQs and eight non-MCQs. There were eight sets each of four questions among which three were DI sets.
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Analysis 2019
As per the students' reactions, Quantitative Ability section was the easiest of the three and even easier as compared to the 2018 CAT.
- A few students reported it to be lengthier and that is aspirants with good time management would have managed more attempts.
- 15+ Questions were quite straightforward based on Arithmetic and were relatively easier as compared to the section that came up in previous year's papers.
The paper, as per the test-takers who showed up in CAT 2019 slot-1, was according to their desires and investigation is the equivalent by training focuses also. A general score of 155-162 could get 99 percentile in this opening.
CAT Exam Analysis 2018
CAT 2018 was conducted by IIM Calcutta on November 25, 2018. More than two lakhs candidates appeared to take the test.
- The overall difficulty level of the exam was high.
- DILR was difficult and the quant section was intensively calculative.
- RC passages were very lengthy.
- IIM Calcutta maintained its reputation in keeping the difficulty level of Quants section high.
- A score of 154 was enough to get 99 percentile in CAT 2018. While in 2017, a score of 174 was required for the same.
Section-wise CAT 2018 Analysis
The section-wise analysis for CAT 2018 is as follows:
CAT VARC Analysis 2018
- The section had 34 questions.
- There were 27 MCQs and 7 Non-MCQs.
- RC based questions were 24 in number.
- The passages were around 400-600 words, which is shorter in length in comparison to the previous year.
- Slot 2 RC questions were a bit tricky in nature.
- Passages were based on topics like Plastic pollution, World War II, Consumer behavior, etc.
| Segment | Topic | No. of Total Questions |
|---|---|---|
| RC (Reading Comprehension) | Reading Comprehension | 24 |
| VA (Verbal Ability) | Para Jumble | 4 |
| Summary | 3 | |
| Para Jumble (Odd Sentence Out) | 3 |
CAT DILR Analysis 2018
- The difficulty level of DILR section was moderate to high.
- DI sets were a combination of easy, moderate and slightly difficult.
- One of the DI sets was direct and involved basic calculations. Two were moderate in terms of difficulty and rest two were slightly tougher.
- LR section was observed to be of a moderate difficulty level.
- Questions were from Coding, Set Theory, etc.
| Segment | Topic | No. of Total Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Data Interpretation | Pie Chart: Annual/ Half yearly / Quarter Sales | 4 |
| ATM: Denominations of 100, 200, and 500 | 4 | |
| Set Theory: 1600 Rockets were launched | 4 | |
| Logical Reasoning | Matrix: Adjacent Cells | 4 |
| 10 Friends: Scores in DI / WE / GK | 4 | |
| 4 Females, 4 Males: Minor and Major | 4 | |
| 3 Committees: Research / Teaching / Economist | 4 | |
| 1-20 Petrol Pumps | 4 |
CAT QA Analysis 2018
- The section consisted of 34 questions.
- There were 12 Non-MCQs in the QA section.
- A considerable number of questions came from Arithmetic and Algebra.
- The calculations in the section were intensive.
- QA was seen as a difficult section by the candidates
| Segment | Topic | No. of Total Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability | Number System | 2 |
| Algebra | 8 | |
| Arithmetic | 14 | |
| Modern Math | 3 | |
| Geometry and Mensuration | 7 |
Check the table given below to get an idea about the section-wise analysis of CAT 2018 exam.
| Section | Total Number of Question | Non-MCQs | MCQs | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | ||
| VARC | 34 | 34 | 7 | 7 | 27 | 27 | Moderate | Moderate | 28+ |
| DILR | 32 | 32 | 8 | 8 | 24 | 24 | Moderate-Difficult | Difficult | 16+ |
| Quant | 34 | 34 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 22 | Moderate-Difficult | Moderate-Difficult | 15+ |
| Total | 60+ | ||||||||
CAT Exam Analysis 2017
CAT 2017 was conducted on November 26. Approximately 2 lakhs candidates took the test. In CAT 2017,
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning was the toughest section.
- Quantitative Ability was the easiest of three with Arithmetic dominating the section.
- Overall the question papers of both the slots were of the moderate-difficult level.
- For the first time, CAT Answer Key was released by the conducting body for the candidates to refer to.
CAT 2017 Section-wise Analysis
- CAT 2017 was conducted in 2 sessions on the same day.
- Questions from Verbal and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DI & LR) and Quantitative Ability (QA) were asked.
- As per the reactions of the test-takers, the difficulty level of the exam was moderate.
CAT 2017 Slot 1 Analysis
Read below CAT 2017 Analysis for Slot 1:
| Section | Total No. of Questions | No. of MCQs | No. of Non-MCQs | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 34 | 27 | 7 | Easy-moderate | 26-27 |
| DI & LR | 32 | 24 | 8 | Difficult | 12-14 |
| QA | 34 | 23 | 11 | Easy-moderate | 25-26 |
| Total | 100 | 75 | 26 | 3 Hours | 63-67 |
- In VA, there were 7 Non-MCQ & 3 MCQ questions. RC in CAT 2017 had 24 questions. The overall difficulty level of the section was moderate.
- DILR continued to be tough since the questions were reasoning based. There were 8 sets of 4 questions each which were quite indirect and tricky. Four sets were completely MCQ, whereas the remaining four were a combination of TITA and MCQs.
- QA was the easiest section to attempt, giving students a sigh of relief. Questions were direct, giving room to a higher CAT Cutoff this year. Questions were easily manageable and were not time-consuming.
CAT 2017 Slot 2 Analysis
- Slot 2 was conducted from 2.30- 5.30 pm.
- The difficulty level of the paper was similar to the first slot, i.e., moderate.
Read below CAT 2017 Analysis for Slot 2:
| Section | No. of Ques. | No. of non-MCQ questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading comprehension | 34 | 7 | Easy-moderate | 25-27 |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 32 | 8 | Difficult | 12-14 |
| Quantitative Ability | 34 | 8 | Easy-Moderate | 25-26 |
| Total | 100 | 23 | (-) | 64-68 |
- DILR was the toughest to attempt, although it was easier than the first slot.
- VARC was of moderate difficulty level. Questions were either direct or inference based. TITA or non-MCQs were from the Verbal Ability or English Usage area.
- QA was the easiest to attempt in both the slots.
CAT Exam Analysis 2016
CAT 2016 did not undergo any changes in its exam pattern. However, the difficulty level went up, which was a little expected. While VARC was easy to attempt, DILR was troublesome for the examinees. The Quants section gave night-mare to all, in terms of the difficulty level and topic distribution. The overall CAT 2016 was of the moderate-difficult level.
Given below is the section-wise CAT 2016 Analysis:
| Section | No. of Ques. | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 34 | Easy | 27-28 | 102 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 32 | Moderate-Difficult | 14-16 | 96 |
| Quantitative Ability | 34 | Moderate-Difficult | 22-25 | 102 |
| - | 100 | - | - | 300 |
CAT Exam Analysis 2015
IIM Ahmedabad conducted CAT 2015. Minor additions were made, such as the introduction of the on-screen calculator and subjective questions. The weightage of each section remained the same as CAT 2014. The sections got shuffled- QA-34, LR+DI-16+16, and VARC-34. Earlier, the sections were- QA & DI was 34+ 16 and VA+ LR was 34 + 16.
Section-wise CAT 2015 Analysis:
| Section | No. of Ques. | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension | 34 | Easy | 27-28 | 102 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning | 32 | Moderate-Difficult | 16 | 96 |
| Quantitative Ability | 34 | Moderate | 25-27 | 102 |
| - | 100 | - | 70+ | 300 |
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CAT Exam Analysis 2014
CAT 2014 Exam was slightly different as compared to CAT 2013 since it underwent a few changes. The time duration went up to 170 minutes, without any sectional limit. Changes in the pattern brought about a drop in its level of difficulty and as a consequence, the scaled down score for a 99 percentile went up to 190+.
| Section | No. of Ques. | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation | 50 (34+16) | Easy | 35+ | 150 |
| Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning | 50 (34+16) | Easy- Moderate | 35+ | 150 |
| (-) | 100 | Easy | 70+ | 300 |
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CAT Exam Analysis 2022 FAQs
Ques. What is CAT difficulty level?
Ans. The overall difficulty level of CAT is moderate to tough. Depending on one's level of preparation one may rate CAT from moderate to difficult. Out of the 3 sections of CAT exam, DILR and VARC are comparatively tougher than QA for majority of the test-takers in terms of time management and accuracy.
Ques. Which slot is easy in CAT?
Ans. There is no predefined norm as to which slot is easier in CAT. In 2021, slot 2 was easier than the other two. In 2020, slots 1 and 3 were comparatively easier than slot 2.
Ques. What is a good score in CAT?
Ans. The pattern of CAT exam has changed in the last year. The question paper has only 66 questions that are asked for a total of 198 marks. Based on CAT score vs percentile analysis of last year, a score above 98 is a good CAT score.
CAT Score Vs Percentile 2022 (Expected)
| CAT 2022 Percentile | VARC Score | DILR Score | QA Score | Overall CAT Score Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99+ | 34-35 | 28-30 | 36-37 | 98-102 |
| 98+ | 32-33 | 27-28 | 30-32 | 90-93 |
| 95+ | 32-34 | 20-21 | 28-30 | 80-82 |
| 90+ | 29-30 | 17-19 | 26-27 | 72-75 |
| 85+ | 24-25 | 14-15 | 20-22 | 59-61 |
| 80+ | 20-22 | 11-13 | 15-16 | 46-48 |
Ques. Is CAT exam a tough exam?
Ans. Yes, CAT is a tough exam to crack due to high level of competition and high difficulty level of questions. CAT is tougher than all the other management exams except XAT. So, to crack CAT exam, one needs a decent amount of preparation.
Ques. What are slots in CAT exam?
Ans. The 3 slots in CAT exam are forenoon, afternoon, and evening. On CAT exam day, the detailed analysis of each of the 3 slots will be provided here. The details of each slot in CAT exam are given below:
Ques. Which slot is difficult in CAT?
Ans. Although the conducting IIM tries to maintain a similar level of difficulty in each slot, there always remain varying levels of difficulty. Last year, the difficulty level was higher for slot 1. Based on section-wise CAT exam analysis of last year, DILR was the toughest in slots 1 and 3 while in slot 2, the VARC section was rated the toughest.
Ques. Is CAT paper difficult?
Ans. CAT paper is one of the most difficult MBA entrance exams in the country. Every year more than 2 lakh candidates register for the Common Admission Test making it the toughest to score in. The analysis of previous year exams shows that due to such a high level of competition, getting a percentile above 99 is very difficult in CAT.
Ques. Will CAT patterns change in 2022?
Ans. IIM Bangalore may introduce a few changes in CAT pattern in 2022. For the last 2 years, CAT exam pattern has been changing every year. In 2020, the number of questions were reduced from 100 to 76 and further reduced to 66 in 2021. The details of any change in the paper pattern from last year, if any will be notified soon at iimcat.ac.in.
Ques. Who is the topper of CAT 2022?
Ans. The list of CAT 2022 toppers will be available after the declaration of result in the first week of January 2023.
Ques. Why are there 3 slots in CAT?
Ans. With the growing number of test-takers, it becomes difficult to accommodate candidates in 2 slots. Hence, there are 3 slots in CAT exam to complete the examination process for all the candidates on the same day.
Ques. What is good percentile in CAT?
Ans. 95-99 percentile is good in CAT for admission to top IIMs, FMS Delhi, NITIE Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon. For admission in other popular management schools like IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, GIM Goa, and others, a percentile between 90-95 would be good enough..
Ques. Is slot 1 in CAT easy?
Ans. There is no definite pattern as to which slot in CAT exam is difficult. Last year, slot 1 in CAT 2021 was easier than the other 2. Some sections are more difficult in one slot compared to the other 2 slots.
Ques. Is CAT slot 3 hard?
Ans. CAT slot 3 difficulty level is usually moderate with DILR being the hardest to attempt in the given time frame. As per CAT exam analysis of previous year, Quant is the easiest of the three with VARC being the toughest in terms of question-type and time management.
Ques. What is the pass mark for CAT exam?
Ans. The pass mark for CAT exam is not defined in common for all the institutes. Every institute defines its own pass mark for CAT exam much before the declaration of the result.
Ques: Which year CAT was toughest?
Ans: Based on the analysis of past 10 year question papers of CAT, the Quantitative Aptitude of CAT 2018 was rated to be the toughest. VARC is reported to be the toughest of the three sections by most candidates every year. CAT 2021 paper was of moderate difficulty with DILR being the toughest in slots 1 and 3.
Ques: How many questions should I attempt to get 99+ percentile?
Ans: The total number of questions in CAT are reduced to 66. For each correct answer you will earn +3 and for every wrong answer -1 will be deducted (In case of MCQs not TITAs). Depending upon the difficulty level of CAT question paper over the past few years, we have formulated a table of the number of questions that candidates may attempt to get an overall percentile score of 99 and above.
| Sections | Total Attempts | Net Score |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Analysis | 14-16 out of 22 | 42-48 |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning | 14-15 out of 20 | 42-45 |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension | 18-20 out of 24 | 54-60 |
Ques: What is considered to be a good attempt in CAT?
Ans: CAT score of 85+ is considered good as it may make you land in top private B-schools of the country other than IIMs. So, if you get above 95 percentile, you can get top colleges including some of the new and baby IIMs.
Ques: Which section amongst all is considered the toughest in CAT?
Ans: There is no definite section which is considered tough each year. It completely depends on candidate’s preparation. But depending upon the question papers of last few years, CAT QA and CAT DILR have had moderate-difficult level intensity
Ques: Will there be any repetitions of questions in CAT 2022?
Ans: Usually no exact questions are asked in CAT, but candidates need to understand the pattern/types of questions asked in the exam. Questions with exact data are never asked in the exam but same type of question with different data and different difficulty may be asked.
Ques: Is there any option to switch between the sections while taking CAT 2022?
Ans: Candidates taking the exam can not switch to attempt another section as the sequence and time slot to attempt the test is fixed. Students have to complete one section in 60 minutes to move forward to another section.
Ques: How many questions should I attempt in CAT 2022 to become eligible for admission in IIMs?
Ans: IIMs have their own selection process, individual IIMs releases their cutoff. Candidates who are taking CAT have to reach that cutoff in order to get a call from one of the IIMs. As per the previous year analysis, candidates have to score more than 95 percentile to get admission in IIM.
Ques: Which section of CAT contains toughest questions that need more practice?
Ans: Quantitative Aptitude section is the toughest among all other sections. Students need to be focussed on the same and practice a lot in order to ace the section.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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