CAT Preparation 2024: Challenges of Data Interpretation and solutions

CAT Data Interpretation can been seen as a part of Quantitative Aptitude as it involves mathematical calculations. It is not a part of CAT Quantitative Aptitude section though. One can prepare for it alongside as a typical CAT question paper has approximately 8-10 questions of DI. Brush up your DI with these key CAT 2024 preparation tips. Also get some CAT DI practice questions for a better perspective. 

By Ankur Agarwal

Data Interpretation (DI) section of CAT has changed over last few years. From having questions on organised data to unorganised data and going back to organised data, the DI section has seen various changes but one thing has remained the same – calculation and understanding. The Data Interpretation section of CAT has always been calculation intensive, requiring the candidates to read various types of data heavy bar graphs and charts. In the current scenario, a typical CAT question paper has approximately 8-10 questions of Data Interpretation within the DILR section which is spread across three to four sets of two to three questions each. This has resulted in two things:

1. Not much time can be devoted to understanding the set as the overall time allocation is low.
2. Difficulty level of CAT exam has moved from understanding the set to solving the set or calculation.

The challenge with CAT exam is that all questions are tough and require deep understanding. In DI section too, one needs to spend time in readind the table/graph and questions related to it. But problem is that, the time is too short. So, the best way to handle CAT DI questions is be having enough practice of understanding and solving questions quickly. Let us try and understand the questions which are more common in the current scenario and prepare for the DI challenges of CAT 2024.

Also Read:

• CAT 2024 syllabus
• CAT 2024 pattern
• CAT preparation 2024

CAT DI Question for practice

Directions: A leading Pharmaceutical company in the country has the following financial performance. Study the table and answer the questions that follow. All figures in Rs Lakhs.

1. Consumption of raw material as a percentage of total income has been the lowest in 
   (a)  1997-98                 (b) 1996-97             (c) 1995 – 96           (d) 1994-95
2. Growth rate of total income from the previous year has been the highest in (use the information from the table)
   (a)  1995-96                 (b) 1994-95             (c) 1996-97              (d) None of the above
3. Taxes as a percentage of profit before tax in the year 1996-97 were
   (a)  16%                      (b) 13.8%               (c) 15%                  (d) None of the above

Solutions:

1. Here we have to compare the data of Raw material and Total Income, but mental calculation would be important. For 1997-98 it is slightly more than 1/4^th, 1996-97 is less than 1/4^th, 1995-96 is around 1/3^rd and 1994-95 is again around 1/3^rd. Hence, 1996-97 looks to be the least.

2. From the figure, 1995-96 is more than thrice whereas the others are not even double. Hence, 1995-96 is the obvious answer. 

3. Pure calculation, 137/(854+137)=13.7% (approx.)

Directions: Read the graphs below and answer the questions on the basis of it.

Market for Indian Software Industry

1. Ratio of size of software industry in 1991-92 to that in 1990-91 was:
(a) 1.33                       (b) 1.25                  (c) 1.40                  (d) 1.28

2. Express software exports to USA in 1991-92 as a percentage of the Computer industry size in 1991-92:
(a) 13.5%                    (b) 14%                  (c) 11.22%              (d) 10%

3. If from 1988-89 to 1989-90, domestic software grows at the same rate as exports, what will be value of domestic market in 1989-90?
(a) 1400 cr.                  (b) 1500 cr.             (c) 1300 cr.             (d) 1600 cr.

Solution:

1. Simple calculation type question wherein the ratio is (580+750)/(570+430) = 1330:1000 è 1.33

2. USA as a part of exports: 51%
   Exports as a part of software industry: (750)/(750+580)= 57%
   Software as a part of computer industry: 39%
   USA as a prt of computer industry: 51% x 57% x 39% = 11.3% approximately 11.22% 

3. Exports grew from 40 to 300 which is 7.5 times hence domestic would have been 7.5 x 200 = 1500 cr

CAT DI Question

Directions: Read the following case and answer the questions that follow.

It was realised by Endeavor Careers, that for creating awareness in the market, newspaper advertising is very effective but it should be done consistently. Times of Bharat (TOB) which claims to have 40% of the total market share brings out a weekly supplement "Education Times" in which the advertising cost for the range 0 to 240 sq.cm for 1-2 insertions with a validity period of 30 days is Rs. 50/cm². For 3-5 insertion with a validity period of 60 days is Rs. 43/cm² and 6 onwards insertions with validity pe­riod of 90 days is Rs. 40/cm². The cost for size of adver­tisement 241+ cm² for 1-2 insertions with validity period 30 days is Rs. 50/cm² and for 3-5 insertions with validity period 60 days is Rs. 40/cm² and for 6 onwards insertion with validity period 90 days is Rs. 35/cm². The expected response generation per insertion in TOB in the size 161-200 cm² is 40 and in the size 200 + cm² is 50. Another great market player is Bharat Times with weekly supplement ‘BT Horizons’ and it claims to have 35% of the total market share and the cost of advertising in it for 1-2 insertions with validity period: No. of insertion + one week is Rs. 40/cm², for 3-6 insertions with validity period; No. of insertions + 2 weeks is Rs. 37/cm² and for 7 inser­tions onwards with validity period: no. of insertions + 3 weeks is Rs. 32/cm². The expected response generation per insertion is 35 for 160-200 cm² and 45 for 200+ cm² size.

Please help Endeavor Careers with the correct decisions on the following plans.

1. If Endeavor looks to generating exactly 95 responses in 2 insertions, which newspaper combination should be selected?
   (a) TOB                       (b) BT           (c) One TOB and one BT       (d) Data inadequate 

2. Endeavor has decided to advertise in TOB but is con­fused on length between 80 cm and 81 cm but is sure about the width, i.e., 3 cm and 3 insertions. What should be the length?
   (a) 80 cm                    (b) 81 cm      (c) either 80 or 81                        (d) Data inadequate 

3. If Endeavor decides to go in for an advertising cam­paign of 10 insertions – which will be the best option (in terms of cost) for a size of 243 cm²?
   (a) BT                                   (b) TOB         (c) either BT or TOB           (d) Data inadequate 

Solution:

1. Exactly 95 response can only be with 50 + 45 which is one TOB and one BT
2. On what basis is the length to be decided. It seems obvious to check the rates but here that should not be taken for granted.
3. In this question the basis of decision is clearly outlined to be cost. Hence in terms of cost TOB is 35 and BT is 32 so BT is the correct option.

 Expert Tips: Steps to Crack Data Interpretation Questions in CAT 2024

1. Plan the time allotment: The age old strategy says that time allotment should be according to the number of questions in the CAT DI set. Hence, knowing the number of questions in each set is the first thing to do. Now, it is obvious that if the set contains three questions then you should be allocating seven minutes for it. Bifurcate these seven minutes further, the first one to two minutes to understand the set/graph or data. In this step, we can decide how to go further. Hence, the decision of selection should not only be on the graph but also on the number of questions. 

2. Read for interpretation: A single misinterpretation of the given text might mean disaster. Let us take a set from a previous year's CAT question paper. The information reads: “The proportion of male students and the proportion of vegetarian students in a school are given below”. The proportion of males and vegetarians are on a common base of total number of students in the respective classes. Hence, we have to make another table which gives us the number of students, male, female and their eating preference before going ahead with the questions to facilitate understanding and ease of answering of questions. In case you take a proportion of vegetarians amongst the males only, then the questions go for a toss.

3. Organise the data and verify if the data is conclusive or there are multiple solutions possible and then eliminate the options: When the given data is in unorganised form (i.e. caselets) or there is a lot of data then it is of utmost importance to simplify the data and/or eliminate the options for easier calculations. In a lot of questions wherein the best possible option is to be desired, we tend to calculate the result for entire set of possibilities. This actually is a wastage of time hence the procedure to be followed during the CAT exam can be to choose the best looking option from the entire list, Take that as a base and then go ahead with comparing it with others during the calculation phase. This would help you in eliminating half the possibilities midway and avoid unnecessary calculations.

4. Go through all questions and look for sitters: Scanning the entire section for easy questions is important as these would take lesser time than allocated and have better chances of being correct. Choosing a set and then solving all the questions again would not be a good strategy. Suppose if there are three easy questions and after attempting them you are stuck on the fourth one, you lose the advantage gained in the earlier questions. Similarly, if there is one easy question amongst two to three in a given set then leaving it completely would not be a good idea.

Check below free PDFs of CAT DI questions and solutions for practice. 

5. Cool head and patience are your best buddies: Hopping from one set of CAT to another without completely understanding one, will surely be curtains for you. The first one to two minutes that one invests in a set to understand the data given, he/she should be able to take a judgment as to whether to attempt the set or not and also how to attempt the set. This decision would be based on two grounds – either the data is tough to understand and the time spent was futile or the set would take more time than allotted to be answered. As in earlier CAT exams, the ones who persisted and patiently solved only two to three sets of DI (even if it consumed 10 minutes per set) along with the data sufficiency questions could easily sail through.

About the author:

Ankur Agarwal heads the IT and Publishing verticals of a leading online Testing portal for CAT Aspirants.

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