CAT 2024 analysis - The CAT 2024 paper analysis has sectional difficulty level, topic wise weightage, number of good attempts and expected CAT cut offs for MBA admission. Check out CAT 2024 exam analysis for slot 1, 2, and 3 by Career Launcher and TIME.
CAT 2024 analysis
CAT 2024 analysis by Career Launcher and TIME – The CAT 2024 exam was conducted today at over 400 exam centres in three slots. As per the CAT exam analysis 2024, IIM Calcutta set a moderate paper. The CAT question paper 2024 of first slot was moderately tough, so was the question paper of second slot. The CAT 2024 slot 3 question paper was also moderate. Section-wise, CAT 2024 exam analysis reveals that VARC and DILR questions were easy to moderate whereas CAT Quantitative Aptitude section was slightly tougher n comparison to the other two sections. There were no parajumbles in the VARC section of CAT 2024. DILR had 22 questions in all the slots. In-depth, CAT analysis 2024 has been share here by Career Launcher and TIME.
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There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.Q: What's new in CAT exam?
There has been no change in exam pattern and syllabus of the CAT exam from last year apart from the fee amount which has been increased from INR 2,400 to INR 2,500 for General category candidates and from INR 1,200 to INR 1250 for Reserved category candidates.
Another key change in the latest CAT application form is reduction in the number of test city selection from six to five. The CAT 2024 applicants can only select 5 cities for test centre allotment.
During COVID era,
- Candidates had to mention their COVID-19 vaccination status in the CAT application form.
- Eligibility criteria for CAT was extended for FCAI degree holders. Now, they are also eligible to appear for the CAT.
Q: What is the sectional time limit in CAT?
Q: What is CAT exam pattern 2024?
CAT is a computer based test which is conducted in three shifts. The CAT is conducted for two hours in which candidates have to solve 68 questions.
These 68 questions are divided into three sections Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension VARC Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning DILR and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). The VARC section has 24 questions, the DILR section has 28 questions and QA section has 22 question. Each question carries 3 marks for correct entry and -1 for incorrect entry. There is no negative marking for unanswered question. A unique aspect of CAT is the sectional time limit. Each section has a time limit of 40 minutes (53.20 minutes for PwD candidates).
Candidates have to complete the section within the time limit as the moment the onscreen timer shows 0 minutes left, the screen will automatically move to the next section. There is no option to go back to older questions. Also, candidates have to follow the question paper chronology. They have to first solve the VARC section, then the DILR section and then the QA section.
CAT 2024 Analysis: Key Highlights
Check the key highlights of CAT 2024 exam below. The CAT exam pattern has changed. There were 68 questions in CAT 2024, instead of 66. In VARC, there were no parajumble questions.
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| CAT 2024 Particulars |
Details |
|---|---|
| Number of questions |
68 |
| Difficulty level |
Moderate |
| Sectional break up |
VARC: 24 DILR: 22 QA: 22 |
| Total marks |
204 |
| Good attempt |
98-99 for 99%tile |
Also read:
- CAT 2024 cut offs: college-wise
- CAT 2024 answer key and response sheet
- CAT 2024 result: when and where?
CAT 2024 Exam Analysis by Career Launcher
Read below CAT 2024 paper analysis by Career Launcher. Read to know the key highlights of the exam this year by expert.
| CAT 2024 slot 1 sections | Number of good attempts | Ideal score attempt |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | 14-16 | 40 |
| DILR | 10-11 | 32 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 10 | 35 |
| Total | 36 | 90 |
CAT Slot 1 Analysis 2024: VARC
The RC passages were around 400-450 words each. 2 questions were Non-MCQs or TITA questions. Odd-sentence-out questions and para completion were both included in the section this year.
| Passage Topic/ Area |
No. of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension |
16 |
Easy to Moderate |
| Para summary |
4 |
|
| Para completion |
2 |
|
| Odd one out |
2 |
Check below the break up of RC section of CAT 2024 slot 1:
Q: Does CAT have negative marking?
Q: What is the weightage of the DILR section in CAT?
In CAT exam, there are 20 questions in the Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning section and the total sectional marks is 60 out of 198. In CAT 2020, there were 24 question on DILR and the sectional marks were 72. In CAT 2021 and CAT 2022, there were 20 questions and the sectional marks were 60. The 20 questions are equally divided into both Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. That means, Both Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning have 10 questions each. The questions are mostly in sets. There’s rarely any standalone question in DILR.
Some of the top MBA entrance exams carrying a high weightage of Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning questions are MAH CET, ATMA, CAT, CMAT, XAT IIFT, to name a few.
Q: What is the marking scheme of CAT?
Q: Is the question type and pattern of CAT and GMAT similar?
The question type and pattern of CAT (Common Admission Test) and GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) are not similar. While both exams are used for admissions to management programs, they have different formats and question types. Here are the key differences between CAT and GMAT.
CAT:
- CAT is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
- It is a computer-based exam consisting of three sections: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI & LR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).
- CAT includes multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and non-MCQs (Type In The Answer) questions.
- The exam pattern may vary from year to year, but generally, CAT has a time limit for each section and a fixed number of questions in each section.
GMAT:
- GMAT is an internationally recognised exam used by business schools worldwide and in India for admission to MBA and MIM programs.
- It is a computer-adaptive test, meaning the difficulty level of questions adjusts based on the test-taker's performance on the GMAT exam.
- GMAT consists of four sections: Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA), Integrated Reasoning (IR), Quantitative Reasoning (QR), and Verbal Reasoning (VR).
- The question types in GMAT include multiple-choice questions, data sufficiency, sentence correction, etc.
- The GMAT 2023 exam pattern remains consistent, with a fixed number of questions and time limits for each section.
In summary, while both CAT and GMAT are entrance exams for management programs, their question types, formats, and sections differ significantly. However, it is possible to prepare for both the exam simultaneously as both are based on a similar theme. In fact, both exams will complement each other’s preparation.
| RC Passages |
Number of questions |
Number of doable questions |
Difficulty level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utility & Human Economics |
4 |
2 |
Moderate |
| Entertainment/ Netflix |
4 |
3 |
Easy |
| Australian Spices |
4 |
4 |
Easy |
| Craftsmanship |
4 |
4 |
Moderate |
Check below the break up of VA section of CAT 2024 slot 1:
| Question type |
Number of questions |
Number of doable questions |
Difficulty level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parasummary |
3 |
3 |
Easy |
| Odd Sentence |
2 |
2 |
Easy |
| Para completion |
3 |
3 |
Easy |
CAT Slot 1 Analysis 2024: DILR
DILR section was comparatively easier, even though there were 2 extra questions from previous years. There were a total of 10 non-MCQs in CAT DILR slot 1.
| Question type |
Number of questions |
Number of doable questions |
Difficulty level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candlestick – Shares based |
4 |
4 |
Easy |
| Games and Tournament |
5 |
4 |
Easy-Moderate |
| Bar Graph- Blogger based |
4 |
2-3 |
Moderate |
| Bar Graph-Set theory based |
4 |
2-3 |
Moderate |
| Caselet- percentage based |
5 |
3-4 |
Moderate |
CAT Slot 1 Analysis 2024: Quantitative Aptitude
The Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT 2024 slot 1 had 8 non-MCQs questions. And as always, Arithmetic dominated the section followed by Algebra.
| Sections |
Units |
Number of questions |
Difficulty level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number System |
Remainder, Indices |
2 |
Moderate- Difficult |
| Algebra |
Log, Equations, Functions, Maxima-Minima, Sequence & Series, Algebraic Expression |
8 |
Moderate |
| Arithmetic |
TSD, T&W, SI-CI, Percentage, PLD, Mixture, Averages, Ratios |
8 |
Easy |
| Modern Math |
P&C |
1 |
Moderate- Difficult |
| Modern Math |
Circle, Cuboid/Square, Coordinate Geometry |
3 |
Moderate |
CAT 2024 Analysis: Slot 2
CAT slot 2 analysis 2024 reveals that the question paper was similar to slot 1 paper, i.e. easier that CAT 2023. There were no parajumbles in CAT 2024 slot 2 as well. A score of 90-92 will be ideal for CAT slot 2 test takers.
CAT slot 2 analysis 2024: VARC
The RC passages were of 400-450 words. Out of 24 questions, 2 were non-MCQ type. Parajumbles were absent in the second slot of CAT 2024 too. Check details below:
| Passage Topic/ Area |
No. of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension |
16 |
Easy to Moderate |
| Para summary |
4 |
|
| Para completion |
2 |
|
| Odd one out |
2 |
Check below the break up of RC section of CAT 2024 slot 2:
| RC Passages |
Number of questions |
Number of doable questions |
Difficulty level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spices Trade |
4 |
2 |
Moderate |
| Peer Review |
4 |
3 |
Easy |
| Externalities |
4 |
4 |
Easy |
| Carnivore-Human Conflict |
4 |
2 |
Moderate |
Check below the break up of VA section of CAT 2024 slot 2:
| Question type |
Number of questions |
Number of doable questions |
Difficulty level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parasummary |
3 |
3 |
Easy |
| Odd Sentence |
2 |
2 |
Moderate |
| Para completion |
3 |
3 |
Moderate |
CAT Slot 2 Analysis 2024: DILR
CAT 2024 DILR section too had 22 questions. There were 5 sets with 4-5 questions each. Check below the break up of CAT DILR section of slot 2:
| Question type |
Number of questions |
Number of doable questions |
Difficulty level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bar Graph - Frequency Distribution/ Average Based |
5 |
2 |
Moderate-Difficult |
| Two Scatter Plot (x/y axis- PAT/ES) |
5 |
3 |
Easy-Moderate |
| Grid Based (Row/Column- Number Arrangement) |
4 |
2 |
Moderate |
| Roots and Network (Maxima-Minima) |
4 |
2 |
Moderate-Difficult |
| Data Arrangement(7 Students, 3 Coaches/ Rating Based) |
4 |
2 |
Easy-Moderate |
CAT Slot 2 Analysis 2024: Quantitative Aptitude
In the Quantitative Aptitude of CAT 2024 slot 2, there were 22 questions in total, out of which 8 were non-MCQ type. This slot was also dominated by Algebra and Arithmetic.
| Sections |
Units |
Number of questions |
Difficulty level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number System |
Remainder, Indices |
2 |
Moderate- Difficult |
| Algebra |
Log, Sequence & Series, Functions, Inequalities, Mod/Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations |
8 |
Moderate |
| Arithmetic |
TSD, T&W, SI-CI, PLD, Mixture, Averages, Ratios |
8 |
Easy-Moderate |
| Modern Math |
P&C |
1 |
Easy-Moderate |
| Modern Math |
Circle, Trapezium, Coordinate Geometry |
3 |
Easy-Moderate |
CAT 2024 Analysis: Slot 3
CAT slot 3 analysis 2024 suggests that the paper was moderate. There were no parajumbles in CAT 2024 slot 3 as well. A 41-42 correct attempts will be enough in this slot.
CAT Slot 3 Analysis 2024: VARC
In CAT 2024 slot 3 too, there were no parajumbles. There were 2 non-MCQs and the overall difficulty level was moderate. Check below CAT VARC Slot 3 break up.
| Passage Topic/ Area |
No. of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension |
16 |
Easy to Moderate |
| Para summary |
3 |
|
| Para completion |
3 |
|
| Odd one out |
2 |
Check below the break up of RC section of CAT 2024 slot 3:
| RC Passages |
Number of questions |
Number of doable questions |
Difficulty level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impact of AI |
4 |
3 |
Easy-Moderate |
| Languages |
4 |
2 |
Moderate |
| Chinese Moutai |
4 |
3 |
Easy-Moderate |
| Saving outer space and other planets |
4 |
2 |
Moderate |
Check below the break up of VA section of CAT 2024 slot 3:
| Question type |
Number of questions |
Number of doable questions |
Difficulty level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parasummary |
3 |
3 |
Easy |
| Odd Sentence |
2 |
2 |
Easy |
| Para completion |
3 |
3 |
Easy |
CAT Slot 3 Analysis 2024: DILR
DILR section of CAT 2024 slot 3 also had 22 questions. It was slightly more difficult than CAT slot 1 and slot 2. Check the sectional break up and difficulty level below:
| Question type |
Number of questions |
Number of doable questions |
Difficulty level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nutrient –Food Grain (Table based) |
4 |
3-4 |
Easy Moderate |
| GDP (Table based) |
4 |
3-4 |
Easy-Moderate |
| AC Temperature (Line Graph) |
5 |
2-3 |
Moderate-Difficult |
| OTT (Bar Graph) |
4 |
3-4 |
Easy-Moderate |
| ATM Network |
5 |
4-5 |
Easy-Moderate |
CAT Slot 3 Analysis 2024: Quantitative Aptitude
The Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT 2024 slot 3 also had 8 non-MCQs questions. Similar to slot 1 and slot 2, Arithmetic dominated the section followed by Algebra.
| Sections |
Units |
Number of questions |
Difficulty level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number System |
Remainder, Indices |
2 |
Easy-Moderate |
| Algebra |
Log, Equations, Functions, Sequence & Series, Integer Solution, Maxima Minima |
8 |
Moderate |
| Arithmetic |
TSD, T&W, SI-CI, Percentage, PLD, Mixture, Averages, Ratios |
8 |
Easy-Moderate |
| Modern Math |
P&C |
1 |
Easy |
| Modern Math |
Circle, Polygon, Triangle |
3 |
Easy-Moderate |
CAT 2024 Exam Analysis by T.I.M.E
Read below CAT 2024 paper analysis by T.I.M.E. Read to know the key highlights of the exam this year by expert.
CAT 2024 Analysis: Sectional Breakup
| Section |
Number of Questions |
Sectional Time |
|---|---|---|
| VARC |
24 |
40 Minutes |
| DILR |
22 |
40 Minutes |
| QA |
22 |
40 Minutes |
| Total |
68 |
120 Minutes |
CAT 2024 analysis: VARC
The questions in VARC section of CAT 2024 were similar to last three years. The surprise element was absence of parajumbles. There were 16 RC questions, 3 para summary questions, 2 odd one out questions and 3 from sentence fillers.
CAT 2024 analysis: DILR
There were a total of 22 questions, including 2 sets of 5 questions each and 3 set of 4 questions each. The questions were overall doable.
CAT 2024 analysis: Quantitative Aptitude
There was no change in the Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT 2024. The questions in Quant section were a bit easier than last year’s slot 1. Algebra and Arithmetic dominated this section.
To be updated.
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Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 16 hours ago
Hii, The difficulty of XAT, CAT, or CMAT depends on individual aptitude and preparation, but generally:
- CAT: Considered the toughest, with high competition and emphasis on VARC, DILR, and Quant.
- XAT: Moderate, with an additional Decision-Making section and essay writing, testing analytical thinking.
- CM
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
There is no Minimum CAT cutoff for IMI New Delhi. They look for the holistic profile of the student which consists of your academics, extra curricular and the admission process assessment.
Yes, you can consider getting a Masters degree even if you have more than 3 years of work experience.
You can als
P
Beginner-Level 1
Answered 2 days ago
The eligibility criteria for admission to the MBA course at Sanskriti University required candidates to possess a bachelor's degree from a recognised university with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks. Additionally, the university gives preference for admission to candidates who secured good scores in
I
Beginner-Level 4
Answered 2 days ago
It is common knowledge that the result date of CAT is normally in the first week of January every year for Bharati Vidyapeeth's Institute of Management Studies And Research. Predicted dates for the CAT 2024 exam for the academic year 2024-2025 are November 24, 2024.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Bharati Vidyapeeth's Institute of Management Studies and Research 2024 cutoff was concluded for MMS admission via MAH MBA CET. During the last round, the cutoff score for MMS was 93.44 for the General AI category students. The first-round cutoff score for the same course stood at 94.9.
A
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
No, FMS offers entrance-based admission to all its courses. To get admission to MBA/PGDM, candidates are required to have a valid CAT score. Without CAT score, candidates cannot join FMS Delhi. Further, candidates must also fulfil the basic eligibility criteria i.e. pass graduation degree with 50%
a
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
A score of 94 percentile in CAT 2023 will be your ticket to all premium ranks in admission into the best MBA schools in the country. This will be where you will land at the final: Below are the items that should be done:
1. Category: It may be that you are SC/ST/OBC/EWS taking into account someone's
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
Vidyasagar University admission 2024 is yet to be released for MBA and other courses. Meanwhile, candidates can check the cutoff related information of the previous year. Vidyasagar University cutoff 2023 for the MBA course is 60 percentile in CAT, for the General All India category candidates. Cand
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 5 days ago
Vidyasagar Univeristy MBA cutoff 2024 is yet to be released for MBA amdisison. In 2023, the cutoff percentile to get admission into MBA - PGPBM ( Business Management) was 60, for the General All India category candidates. For admission to Master of Business Administration (MBA), the cutoff percentil
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
The CAT cutoff for entry into PGDM at SIES College of Management Studies, SIESCOMS stands at 50 percentile for all categories. This will go for their general PGDM Biotechnology, and PGDM Pharma Management programs. This is just the minimum cutoff; it just becomes enough for one to be eligible to get
Contributor-Level 7
Which entrance exam is easy among XAT, CAT and CMAT for admission to MBA at Assam University?