CAT Exam Analysis 2024: Slot 1, 2 & 3, Check Previous Questions Pattern

What is CAT Exam Analysis? CAT Exam Analysis provides valuable insights into the exam’s difficulty level, section-wise distribution, and other important aspects. Candidates preparing for the upcoming exams can benefit from the CAT Exam Analysis to understand the exam pattern and recent changes.

Our experts have provided a comprehensive overview of the CAT Exam Analysis from previous years in this article to aid your preparation. Explore the sections below to understand the exam and kick-start your preparation.

The CAT exam analysis 2024 for slots 1, 2, and 3 papers has been released based on the students’ reactions. Slot 1 was moderately difficult, while slots 2 & 3 were moderate. In this post, we have explained the CAT question paper analysis for 2024 in detail.

CAT Exam Analysis 2024

Consistent Exam Pattern

The CAT 2023 Exam Pattern remained unchanged compared to CAT 2022, with 66 questions like the previous year. However, there were changes in the composition of MCQs and Non-MCQs within each section. Increased Difficulty: Experts have rated the CAT 2023 Exam more challenging than last year. Details are provided below.

Expected Lower Cut-Offs

Due to the heightened difficulty level, cut-offs for admission to IIMs are anticipated to decrease. Further information is outlined below.
Summarizing the CAT 2023 exam, Mr. Arun Sharma, a leading CAT expert in India, remarked:
While the overall exam pattern remained consistent with last year, the Quantitative section in the CAT 2023 exam paper presented the toughest questions seen in the past five years!
Below is his assessment of the difficulty level for each section of CAT 2023 on a scale of 1-10:
Sections CAT 2022 Difficulty Level CAT 2023 Difficulty Level
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) 7 6
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) 7 8
Quantitative Ability (QA) 6 8-9
Overall 7 8-9

CAT 2023 Score Vs Percentile: Prediction by Leading Experts

CAT 2023 Percentile IMS Learning (IMS) Career Launcher (CL) Arun Sharma
99 percentile 77-81 78-80 79-80
95 percentile 56-59 57-58 55-56
90 percentile 48-50 46-48 47-48
85 percentile 39-41 40-41 38-39
80 percentile 35-36 36-37 34-35

CAT 2023 Slot 1 Exam Analysis

Slot-1 of the CAT 2023 exam:

  • Exam Timing: Held from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM.
  • Total Questions: 66 questions in total.
  • MCQs: There were 47 Multiple Choice Questions.
  • Non-MCQs: 19 questions were Non-Multiple Choice Questions.
  • Marks: +3 marks for each correct answer.
  • Negative Marking (MCQs): -1 mark for each wrong answer.
  • Negative Marking (TITA): No negative marking for Type-In-The-Answer questions.
  • Difficulty Level: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) was moderate, while Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA) were difficult.
  • Overall Difficulty: The overall difficulty level of the exam was considered difficult.
  • Expected cut-off for 99th percentile: Estimated to be between 80-82 marks.
Sections Total Questions MCQs Non-MCQs
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension 24 20 4
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning 20 12 8
Quantitative Ability 22 15 7
Total 66 47 19

2. CAT 2023 Score Vs Percentile Predictions

CAT 2023 Percentile IMS Learning (IMS) Career Launcher (CL) Arun Sharma
99 %ile 77-81 78-80 79-80
95 %ile 56-59 57-58 55-56
90 %ile 48-50 46-48 47-48
85 %ile 39-41 40-41 38-39
80 %ile 35-36 36-37 34-35

3. Slot-Wise Analysis

3.1 CAT 2023 Slot 1 Exam Analysis

General Overview:
  • Total Questions: 66
  • MCQs: 47, Non-MCQs: 19
  • Difficulty Level: VARC Moderate, DILR & Quant Difficult
  • Expected cut off for 99%ile: 80-82
Sectional Composition:
  • VARC: 24 Questions (20 MCQs, 4 Non-MCQs)
  • DILR: 20 Questions (12 MCQs, 8 Non-MCQs)
  • QA: 22 Questions (15 MCQs, 7 Non-MCQs)
Detailed Analysis:
  • VARC had 4 RC passages and Verbal Ability questions.
  • DILR had 4 sets rated difficult.
  • Algebra and Arithmetic dominate QA, rated a bit more difficult.

3.2 CAT 2023 Slot 2 Exam Analysis

General Overview:

  • Total Questions: 66
  • MCQs: 46, Non-MCQs: 20
  • Difficulty Level: VARC Moderate, DILR & Quant Difficult
  • Expected cut off for 99%ile: 81-83

Sectional Composition:

  • VARC: 24 Questions (20 MCQs, 4 Non-MCQs)
  • DILR: 20 Questions (12 MCQs, 8 Non-MCQs)
  • QA: 22 Questions (14 MCQs, 8 Non-MCQs)

Detailed Analysis:

  • VARC had easy to moderate RC passages.
  • DILR followed the same pattern with a medium to difficult level.
  • QA was tougher with a focus on Algebra.

3.3 CAT 2023 Slot 3 Exam Analysis

General Overview:
  • Total Questions: 66
  • MCQs: 46, Non-MCQs: 20
  • Difficulty Level: VARC Moderate, DILR & Quant Difficult
  • Expected cut off for 99%ile: 80-81
Sectional Composition:
  • VARC: 24 Questions (20 MCQs, 4 Non-MCQs)
  • DILR: 20 Questions (12 MCQs, 8 Non-MCQs)
  • QA: 22 Questions (14 MCQs, 8 Non-MCQs)
Detailed Analysis:
  • VARC lacked direct Grammar or Vocabulary questions.
  • DILR maintained a difficult level.
  • QA was more challenging, dominated by Arithmetic.

The CAT exam 2024 was conducted in November 2023 in three different slots. Here is the exam analysis for slots 1, 2, and 3.

CAT Analysis – Question Paper Pattern

Year Conducting Institute Exam Duration Sections Exam Date(s)
CAT 2014 IIM Indore 170 Minutes 2 Sections: November 16 & November 22, 2014
1. Quantitative Ability
2. Data Interpretation
CAT 2015 IIM Ahmedabad 180 minutes 3 Sections: November 29, 2015
1. Quantitative Ability
2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
3. Verbal and Reading Comprehension
CAT 2016 IIM-Bangalore 180 minutes 3 Sections: December 4, 2016
1. Quantitative Ability
2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
3. Verbal and Reading Comprehension
CAT 2017 IIM Ahmedabad 180 minutes 3 Sections: November 26, 2017
1. Quantitative Ability
2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
3. Verbal and Reading Comprehension
CAT 2018 IIM Calcutta 180 minutes 3 Sections: November 25, 2018
1. Quantitative Ability
2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
3. Verbal and Reading Comprehension
CAT 2019 IIM Kozhikode 180 minutes 3 Sections: November 24, 2019
1. Quantitative Ability
2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
3. Verbal and Reading Comprehension
CAT 2020 IIM Indore 120 minutes 3 Sections: November 29, 2020
1. Quantitative Ability
2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
3. Verbal and Reading Comprehension
CAT 2021 IIM Ahmedabad 120 minutes 3 Sections: November 28, 2021
1. Quantitative Ability
2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
3. Verbal and Reading Comprehension
CAT 2022 IIM Bangalore 120 minutes 3 Sections: November 27, 2022
1. Quantitative Ability
2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning
3. Verbal and Reading Comprehension

Conclusion

Based on the students ‘ reactions, the CAT exam analysis 2024 for slots 1, 2, and 3 papers has been released. Before you start preparing for the exam, it is recommended that you check the previous year’s paper analysis.

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