CAT 2021 Analysis: Number of Questions Reduced; Check Slot-wise Question Paper Analysis

Common Admission Test 2024 ( CAT )

3 mins read4.8K Views13K Comments
Vipra
Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content
Updated on Nov 28, 2021 13:12 IST

CAT 2021 exam analysis is out. The question paper was of moderate difficulty and had only 66 questions to be solved in 120 minutes. Read here in-depth CAT 2021 exam analysis by experts for slot 1, slot 2 and slot 3. 

CAT 2021 analysis

CAT 2021 exam is being held today in three slots. The first slot fo exam was conducted from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM. The second slot will be held from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM and the third slot will be conducted frm 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Shiksha will bring to you slot-wise CAT exam analysis by experts along with student reactions from the exam centre. Analysis of the first slot of CAT exam is available now. 

Explore colleges based on CAT

Ahmedabad
#1 NIRF
₹12 L - 25 L
In Top 10 %ile by Average Salary of MBA Colleges
Bangalore
#2 NIRF
₹12.5 L - 24.5 L
In Top 10 %ile by Average Salary of MBA Colleges
Kolkata
#5 NIRF
NA
In Top 10 %ile by Average Salary of MBA Colleges
Kozhikode
#3 NIRF
₹20.5 L - 22.5 L
In Top 10 %ile by Average Salary of MBA Colleges

Want better recommendations?

There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.
Delhi
#4 NIRF
₹12 L
In Top 10 %ile by Average Salary of MBA Colleges
Lucknow
#7 NIRF
₹7.6 L - 12.6 L
In Top 10 %ile by Average Salary of MBA Colleges
Mumbai
#6 NIRF
₹14 L
Ranked in the top 10 by NIRF
Indore
#8 NIRF
₹17.25 L - 20 L
In Top 10 %ile by Average Salary of MBA Colleges
Gurgaon
#11 NIRF
₹8.25 L - 26 L
In Top 10 %ile by Average Salary of MBA Colleges
Rohtak
#12 NIRF
₹17.9 L
In Top 10 %ile by Average Salary of MBA Colleges
View allCollections

The CAT 2021 question paper of the first slot was easy with only 66 questions to answer in 120 minutes. Read below in-depth CAT 2021 analysis, which includes section-wise distribution of topics, difficulty levels, number of good attempts, sectional cut off and expected scoring pattern.

Also Read:

CAT 2021 question paper

CAT 2021 analysis by CATKing

CAT 2021 Student reactions and reviews

CAT 2021 Exam Analysis Highlights

Given below is the section-wise difficulty level of the first slot of CAT 2021 exam:

CAT 2021 Sections

Questions

Difficulty Levels

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

24

Easy to Moderate

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning &  (DILR)

20

Moderate

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

22

Moderate to Tough

Total/Overall

66

Moderate

CAT 2021 Analysis: VARC

The VARC section of CAT 2021 was as usual tougher from rest of the sections. Out of 24 questions, 16 were based on Reading Comprehension passages. The passages were inference based and doable. In the Verbal Ability part, the questions were from Parajumbles, Parasummary and Odd Sentence Out.

Explore more MBA exams with upcoming dates

SNAP 2024 session 3

21 Dec '24

MAT 2024 Admit Card Download CBT 2

18 Dec '24 - 22 Dec '24

ATMA 2024 December Session

22 Dec '24

SSU CET 2024 (phase 3)

22 Dec '24

IBSAT 2024 Registration

1 Jul '24 - 23 Dec '24

XGMT registration

26 Aug '24 - 23 Dec '24

CMAT 2025 registration and app...

14 Nov '24 - 25 Dec '24

TISSNET 2024 Mock Test

28 Dec '24

NMAT 2024 Result Declaration

5 Nov '24 - 31 Dec '24

UPESMET 2025 Registrations

14 Oct '24 - 21 Jan '25

Overall, 24-25 score can be considered enough for a 85%ile and 35-38 marks can be considered ideal for a 99%ile.

CAT 2021 Analysis: DILR

The DILR section of CAT 2021 had 20 questions divided into 4 sets (4+4+6+6). The questions were based on sets: Smoothies- DI, Bar Graph, Arrangement - Researchers, Publishing and Arrangement - Friends, Strangers, Acquaintances. The sectional difficulty level ws moderate to high and score of 27-30 marks can be considered ideal for a 99+ percentile in DILR.

CAT 2021 Analysis: Quantitative Aptitude

Like last year, the Quantitative Aptitude section was dominated by Arithmetic. Sectional difficulty level can be termed as easy as it had only 22 straight forward questions to be solved in 40 minutes. A score of 40-42 will be considered ideal for a 99+ percentile in this sectio of CAT 2021.

Also Read:

Read below CAT 2021 analysis of slot 1, 2 and 3 by various MBA experts:

CAT Experts

CAT 2021 Analysis Page Links

CAT 2021 analysis by CATKing

Available Now

CAT 2021 analysis by Career Launcher 

Available Now

CAT 2021  analysis by IMS India

Available Now

CAT 2021 analysis by T.I.M.E.

Available Now

Read More:

CAT 2021 cut offs

CAT 2021 answer key

CAT 2021 result

Colleges Accepting CAT percentile above 90

Colleges Accepting CAT percentile from 80-90 percentile

Colleges Accepting CAT percentile from 70-80

Colleges Accepting CAT percentile from 60-70

CAT Percentile predictor prepared by Shiksha.com helps students to get their predicted CAT 2021 percentile on the basis of their expected exam score. So, predict your CAT 2021 score by clicking the link below:

CAT Percentile Predicto

Check CAT cut offs and predict calls from IIMs and Non-IIMs accepting CAT score for admission. Check Fees, Placement Reviews, Admission, Shortlist Criteria and Eligibility of all CAT participating colleges by clicking the link below:

Predict CAT Admission Calls
About the Author
author-image
Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content

Vipra is a massive Breaking Bad fan. When not watching crime drama series, she spends time in updating the list of places she wants to visit and people she wants to meet, but she is happiest in the company of dogs. ... Read Full Bio

Download Important Dates for MBA/PGDM Exams

News & Updates

Latest NewsPopular News

Explore Other Exams

5 Jan '25

XAT 2025 Exam

Jan '25

XAT 2025 response sheet releas...

21 Dec '24

SNAP 2024 session 3

8 Jan '25

SNAP 2024 result announcement

5 Nov '24 -

31 Dec '24

NMAT 2024 Result Declaration

6 Nov '24 -

17 Dec '24

NMAT 2024 Retake Registration

17 Oct '24 -

5 Dec '24

IIFT 2025 registration and app...

18 Dec '24 -

22 Dec '24

MAT 2024 Admit Card Download C...

22 Dec '24

MAT 2024 CBT 2

1 Jul '24 -

23 Dec '24

IBSAT 2024 Registration

4 Nov '24 -

29 Dec '24

IBSAT 2024 Exam Slot Booking

14 Nov '24 -

25 Dec '24

CMAT 2025 registration and app...

26 Dec '24 -

27 Dec '24

CMAT 2025 form correction

Jan '25

MAH CET 20245 registration pro...

Mar '25

MAH MBA CET 2025

Jan '25

TANCET Registration Dates

Feb '25

TANCET Admit Card Download

Jan '25

IRMASAT 2025 Last Date of Appl...

Feb '25

IRMASAT Personal Interviews

The list of exams are recommended based on what other exams do the students in your area show interest in
qna

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered Yesterday

Yes, students with 80% and above in CAT are eligible for a waiver of INR 3.50 Lacs at Jaipuria Institute of Management Noida. The total course fee for PGDM is INR 15.75 lakh. After waiver, students have to pay INR 12.25 Lacs as PGDM fee. 

N

Nishtha Shukla

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

Jaipuria Noida considers CAT score for scholarship to PGDM Marketing Management students. Below is the criteria and fee after waiver for PGDM:

CourseCriteriaFee After Scholarship
PGDM Marketing Management80% & aboveINR 12.25 lakh
PGDM Marketing Management70% & aboveINR 13.25 lakh

N

Nishtha Shukla

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

Students with 90 percentile and above in CAT are eligible for 50% fee waiver. The total tuition fee for MBA is INR 6.97 lakh. MBA students need to pay INR 3.48 Lacs after waiver for the course. The waiver is offered on the total tuition fee of MBA. 

N

Nishtha Shukla

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

14 candidates have scored 100 percentile in CAT 2024, out of a total of 2.93 Lacs candidates. Out of 14 toppers, 1 is a woman candidate. Check below CAT 2024 result data:

Check the below table for data and statistics of CAT 2024 test takers and toppers. 

CAT ToppersGender and 
Discipline
State
100
percentiles 14 - Nos 
Female - 1
 Male - 13
 Engg – 13
 Non-Engg – 1
Andhra Pradesh 1
Delhi 2
Haryana 1
Kerala 1
Maharashtra 5
Odisha 1
Rajasthan 1
Telangana 2
99.99
percentiles 29 -Nos.
Female - 2
 Male - 27
 Engg – 25
 Non-Engg - 4
Chandigarh 1
Delhi 4
Gujarat 2
Haryana 1
Karnataka 3
Kerala 1
Madhya Pradesh 1
Maharashtra 5
Odisha 1
Punjab 1
Rajasthan 3
Tamil Nadu 1
Telangana 1
Uttar Pradesh1
Uttarakhand 1
West Bengal 2
99.98
percentiles 30-Nos
Female - 1
Male - 29
 Engg – 20
 Non-Engg -10
Bihar 1
Delhi 2
Gujarat 2
Haryana 4
Karnataka 4
Madhya Pradesh 3
Maharashtra 3
Tamil Nadu 2
Telangana 3
Uttar Pradesh 2
West Bengal 4

A

Anyam Kalra

Beginner-Level 1

Answered 2 days ago

The HCL Career Aptitude Test is part of the TechBee programme for students who have completed their Class XII. The test dates are announced every year and the candidates are communicated on the registered email address itself.
The HCL TechBee CAT has been scheduled on November 14 for batch 1 of the y

...more

S

Shejal agrawal

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

The total tuition fee for NIMS University MBA course is INR 4 lakh. Students who have passed CAT get 100% waiver in tuition fee for both years only if they secure 90 percentile and above in the exam. For such students, the tuition fee for each year is not applicable.

N

Nishtha Shukla

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

Students who have secured 90 percentile and above in CAT are eligible for NIMS University scholarship for MBA students. Under this scholarship, students get a 100% waiver on the total tuition fee applicable for two-years. After waiver, student do not have to pay any tuition fee in both the years.

N

Nishtha Shukla

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

Saintgits Institute of Management offers MBA based on valid entrance exam scores. The Institute accepts minimum aggregate of 60% in graduation and valid scores in accepted entrance exams. Saintgits Institute of Management accepts entrance exam scores of CAT/ MAT/ XAT/ CMAT etc. Apart from this, cand

...more

U

Upasana Gupta

Beginner-Level 3

Answered 3 days ago

Yes, Vishwa Vishwani Institute of Systems and Management accepts CAT and various other entrance exam scores for admissions.  The accepted entrance exams are CATMAT/ XAT/ ATMA/ GMAT/ CMAT/ ICET. Candidates willing to get admission to various undergraduate and postgraduate courses must take part in

...more

N

Neha Pradhan

Beginner-Level 4

Answered 4 days ago

A candidate who scores just 20 on the percentile scale in CAT, hence, will find it really difficult to get admission for MBA programs to any top part of the elite business schools, for all these institutes have put a very high cut-off percentage on a general basis in the range of 85 to 99 percentile

...more

U

Udaya Bhaskar rao

Contributor-Level 10