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CAT 2024 analysis - This year, the major change in CAT was increase in number of questions and absence of parajumbles. Shiksha has provided below CAT exam analysis 2024, for slot 1, 2 and 3. The CAT exam analysis 2024 includes in-depth discussion of difficulty level of the sections, weightage of the topics, test pattern, changes if any, number of good attempts and section CAT cut offs. You can check CAT 2024 exam analysis below.Â
Also Read:
CAT 2024 response sheet and answer key PDF
CAT 2024 question paper PDF download slot 1,2,3
CAT 2024 Slot 2 Answer Key PDF question paper analysis
Q: Â How many questions should I solve to score 99 percentile in CAT exam?
Q: Â What are the important topics of CAT syllabus from which maximum questions are asked?
Q: Â What is the sectional time limit in CAT?
Q: Â From where can I download CAT question papers?
CAT 2024 Exam Analysis Highlights
Check below key highlights of CAT 2024 analysis:
- CAT 2024 question paper was moderate. Usually, the question paper of CAT second session is the toughest.Â
- IIM CAT has prepared the CAT 2024 question paper so one can expect it to be slightly easier than previous years.Â
- VARC section is dominated by Reading Comprehension questions.Â
- Quantitative Aptitude section has maximum questions from Arithmetic and Algebra
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning questions are in sets..Â
CAT 2024 Analysis: Sectional Break Up
Maximum questions will be asked in VARC section. Check below sectional break up of the CAT 2024 question paper:
CAT section | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
---|---|---|
VARC | 24 | 72 |
DILR | 20 22 |
60 66 |
Quantitative Aptitude | 22 | 66 |
Total | 66 68 |
198 204 |
Q: Â Which CAT slot has the toughest question paper?
Q: Â 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.
Q: Â What is the structure of CAT question paper?
Explore subject-wise topics asked in CAT
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CAT 2024 Analysis
CAT 2024 analysis is here. As per experts a total of 36-40 attempts will be good enough for a score of 90. This year, there are 22 questions in DILR and that may affect the score calculation. However, since the overall CAT difficulty level is moderate, candidates need not worry.Â
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
Utility & Human Economics, Entertainment/ Netflix, Australian Spices and Craftsmanship. The passages and corresponding questions were easy. Each passage had 4 questions. Parasummary, odd sentence and sentence completion questions too were easy.Â
CAT slot 1 Analysis 2024: DILR
The DILR section of CAT 2024 slot 1, had sets on Candlestick- Shares Based, Games and Tournament, Bar Graph - Blogger Based, Bar Graph - Â Set Theory Based, Caselet - Percentage Based.
CAT slot 1 Analysis 2024: Quantitative Aptitude
Number System, Algebra, Arithmetic, Modern Math featured in this sections. The questions were from Remainder, Indices, Log, Equations, Functions, Maxima-Minima, Sequence & Series, Algebraic Expression, TSD-, T&W-, SI-CI, Percentage, PLD, Mixture, Averages, Ratios, P&C, Circle, Cuboid/Square, Coordinate Geometry.
CAT slot 2 Analysis 2024: VARC
VARC section of CAT 2024 Slot 2 had 4 passages - Spice Trade, Unintended Consequences of Technology, Peer Review of Research, Carnivore-Human Conflict. They were of 400-450 words each and pretty much doable. In VA, there were 2 para summary questions, 2 odd sentence questions and 3 para completion questions.
CAT slot 2 Analysis 2024: DILR
In DILR, there were 5 sets pertaining to Bar Graph - Frequency Distribution/ Average Based, Two Scatter Plot (x/y axis- PAT/ES), Grid Based (Row/Column- Number Arrangement), Roots and Network (Maxima-Minima), Data Arrangement(7 Students, 3 Coaches/ Rating Based). The questions were moderate in terms of difficulty level.Â
CAT slot 2 Analysis 2024: Quantitative Aptitude
In CAT 2024 slot 2 Quantitative Aptitude, the questions were asked from Remainder, Indices, Log, Sequence & Series, Functions, Inequalities, Mod/Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations, TSD, T&W, SI-CI, PLD, Mixture, Averages, Ratios, P&C, Circle, Trapezium, Coordinate Geometry. These were calculation based questions which required time management.Â
CAT slot 3 Analysis 2024: VARC
VARC section of CAT 2024 Slot 3 also had 4 passages - Impact of AI, Languages, Chinese Moutai and Saving outer space and other planets. The RC passages were slightly difficult but doable. In VA, there were 3 para summary questions, 2 odd sentence questions and 3 para completion questions.
CAT slot 3 Analysis 2024: DILR
In DILR section of CAT 2024 slot 3, there were 5 sets pertaining to Bar Graph - Nutrient–Food Grain, GDP, AC Temperature, OTT and ATM Network. The questions were moderate having 4-5 questions. Total questions were 22. Overall, this section was moderate. Â
CAT slot 3 Analysis 2024: Quantitative Aptitude
In CAT 2024 slot 3 Quantitative Aptitude, the questions were asked from Remainder, Indices, Log, Equations, Functions, Sequence & Series, Integer Solution, Maxima Minima, TSD, T&W, SI-CI, Percentage, PLD, Mixture, Averages, Ratios, P&C and Circle, Polygon, Triangle. This section had 8 MCQs.
Also Read:
CAT 2024 analysis by Career Launcher and T.I.M.E
CAT 2024 student reactions and reviews
CAT Score vs Percentile 2024
Aspirants know that MBA admission through CAT is based on percentile and not score. Which means their performance should not only be optimum but should also be better than other test takers. CAT percentile is calculates from the score obtained by the candidate. This table will help you analyse as to how much raw CAT 2024 score converts into how much CAT percentile.
CAT Percentile |
VARC score |
DILR score |
QA score |
Overall score |
---|---|---|---|---|
99.9 %ile |
48 |
36 |
40 |
102 |
99.5 %ile |
44 |
32 |
30 |
89 |
99 %ile |
40 |
28 |
27 |
80 |
98 %ile |
36 |
25 |
23 |
71 |
95 %ile |
30 |
19 |
18 |
57 |
90 %ile |
25 |
16 |
15 |
49 |
85 %ile |
21 |
13 |
12 |
40 |
80 %ile |
19 |
11 |
10 |
36 |
75 %ile |
17 |
10 |
9 |
31 |
70 %ile |
15 |
9 |
8 |
29 |
Also Read:
Q: Â What is the difference between qualifying CAT cut off and final CAT cut off?
Q: Â What is the difference between CAT score and CAT percentile?
CAT score is the total marks a candidate receives out of the maximum marks, calculated by subtracting the marks of incorrect answers from the marks of correct answers. For every correct answer, +3 is given to the candidates, for every incorrect -1 is deducted from the overall score. Apart from this, a candidate's rank is calculated by normalizing the scores of all candidates and placing them on a common scale based on the difficulty and attempts of the candidates. It is important to understand the difference between CAT score and CAT percentile because IIMs and all MBA colleges in India select candidates on the basis of their CAT and other MBA related exam percentiles and not score.
The CAT percentile is referred to as the rank of a candidate against the rest of the test takers. The percentile indicates the total percentage of candidates who scored less than or equal to a particular candidate in CAT.
Suppose,1,000 people take an exam and you bag the top rank, which means 999 candidates scored less than you. Then your CAT percentile will be 999/1000*100 = 99.9.
Q: Â How is the CAT score and percentile calculated?
CAT Exam Analysis 2023
Overall, the CAT 2023 question paper structure and its difficulty level was same as CAT 2022 for all slots. In 2023, the CAT slot 3 was tougher than slot 1 and slot 2. In all the three slots, the Quantitative Aptitude section was tougher than VARC and DILR. IIM Lucknow prepared a tough CAT question paper in comparison to other IIMs. Given the difficulty level of the exam, an overall raw score of 98 to 99 would convert 99%ile. Check the highlights of CAT 2023 below:
CAT sections |
Number of questions |
Break up |
Difficulty level |
---|---|---|---|
VARC |
24 |
4 passages having 4 questions each, 2 parajumble qestions, 2 parasummary questions, 2 paracompletion questions and 2 odd one out questions |
Moderate |
DILR |
20 |
4 sets of 5 questions each |
Moderate to difficult |
Quantitative Aptitude |
22 |
7 Algebra questions,7  Arithmetic questions, 3 Geometry questions, 4 Number System questions, 1 Modern Maths questions  |
Difficult |
Also Read:
- CAT 2023 Student Reactions and Reviews
- CAT 2023 Slot 1 Answer Key and question paper analysis
- CAT 2023 Slot 2 Answer Key and question paper analysis
- CAT 2023 Slot 3 Answer Key and question paper analysis
- CAT 2023 Official Answer Key, Response Sheet PDF DownloadÂ
- CAT 2023 exam analysis by CATKing
- CAT 2023 exam analysis by IMS
- CAT 2023 exam analysis by Career Launcher and T.I.M.E
- CAT answer key and question paper
Q: Â What is the sectional weightage of DILR in CAT?
Q: Â What is the sectional weightage of VARC in CAT?
Q: Â What is the sectional weightage of Quantitative Aptitude in CAT?
Previous Years' CAT Paper Analysis
CAT exam has been on the tougher side over the years. The pattern has changed multiple times but not the difficulty level. Given below are CAT analyses of past few years for candidates to read and understand the past trends of CAT exam:Â
- CAT 2022 exam analysis
- CAT 2021 exam analysis
- CAT 2020 exam analysis
- CAT 2019 exam analysis
- CAT 2018 exam analysis
- CAT 2017 exam analysis
- CAT 2016 exam analysis
- CAT 2015 exam analysis
FAQs on CAT Exam Analysis
Check below Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to CAT exam analysis:
Q: Â Which MBA colleges are available with 80 percentile in CAT?
Q: Â What makes CAT tougher than other MBA entrance exams?
Q: Â How many hours should I study to prepare for CAT?
Q: Â Which MBA colleges are available with 70 percentile in CAT?
Q: Â Which MBA colleges are available with 60 percentile in CAT?
News & Updates
Get prep tips, practice papers, exam details and important updates
CAT Exam
Student Forum
Answered 21 hours ago
Yes, you can get admission to the MBA/PGDM programme at H.K. Institute of Management Studies and Research (HKIMSR) without CAT scores. The institute also accepts other entrance exam scores like MAT, CMAT, or MAH-CET for admission. As long as you have a valid score from any of these recognised exams,
Answered 23 hours ago
Yes, getting admission at VVISM for a PG Diploma (General Management) without a CAT score is possible. This is because CAT is not the only accepted entrance exam for PG Diploma admission at the institute. In addition to CAT, VVISM accepts the exam scores of MAT/ATMA/XAT/CMAT/GMAT/ICET or any other e
H
Contributor-Level 10
Answered Yesterday
With a 50-60 percentile in CAT, you may not be eligible for top IIMs or highly ranked B-schools, but there are several good options:
- Tier 2 B-Schools like IMT Nagpur, Welingkar Mumbai, ITM Navi Mumbai, and SIES Mumbai may consider you depending on the category and other criteria.
- State Universities li
Answered Yesterday
It is not mandatory for Maharashtra students to appear in MAH CET if they have a valid CAT score. To apply for JBIMS through CAT, you must register for the DTE Maharashtra CAP process, submit your CAT details, verify documents, and select JBIMS as your preference. Admission is based on your merit ra
Answered Yesterday
Top MBA colleges offering average CTCs above 12 LPA, with ST out-of-state reservations and accepting CMAT or XAT scores, include XLRI Jamshedpur (32 LPA, XAT), XIM Bhubaneswar (20 LPA, XAT), Great Lakes Institute of Management (15–17 LPA, CMAT/XAT), Goa Institute of Management (14–15 LPA, CMAT/XAT),
Answered 2 days ago
The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2024 introduced several notable changes compared to previous years. Here are the key changes:
1. Increased Number of Questions:
- Â The total number of questions was increased from 66 to 68.
- Â This increase was specifically in the DILR section, which now had 22 questions in
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 days ago
The CAT exam doesn't have a fixed score. Instead, your performance is measured in terms of percentile. This means your score is compared to all other test-takers, and you're given a percentile ranking. For example, a 99 percentile means you scored better than 99% of the other test-takers.
The actual
S
Contributor-Level 6
Answered 2 days ago
Admission to the MBA/PGDM programs offered at SIES College of Management Studies, commonly abbreviated as SIESCOMS, is based on a candidate's performance in the CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, or MAHCET examinations. The CAT 2024 registration usually ends in September, and the exam takes place in Novembe
K
Contributor-Level 8
Answered 2 days ago
The CAT cutoff for H.K. Institute of Management Studies and Research (HKIMSR) varies each year based on the performance of candidates and the number of seats available. For the year 2023, Â the CAT cutoff for the General category was 25 percentile. This means that candidates needed to score at least
A
Contributor-Level 7
Answered 3 days ago
CAT is one of the accepting exams for admission to Gnanam School of Business MBA. However, aspirants with a valid score in MAT, CMAT, ATMA or XAT can also apply for admission. Besides entrance exam, aspirants should also complete graduation with a minimum of 50% aggregate for admission to MBA progra
N
Contributor-Level 10
1616 Institutes accepting CAT
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Can I get admission to H.K. Institute of Management Studies and Research MBA/PGDM course without CAT?