CAT 2024 Slot 1 Exam Analysis: The CAT 2024 exam was conducted by IIM Calcutta on November 24, 2024. The exam took place throughout the day in three different shifts. The first shift of CAT 2024 concluded at 10:30 AM.
As expected, changes have been observed in the CAT paper pattern. The paper comprised 68 questions to be attempted in 120 minutes. Additionally, major changes have been noted in the CAT 2024 DILR and VARC sections, with two additional questions in the DILR section and no questions on para jumbles present in the VARC section.
The difficulty level of CAT 2024 - Slot 1 was comparatively easier than CAT 2023 paper. The section-wise level of difficulty was as follows:
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CAT 2024 Exam Analysis - Slot 3The overall breakup of CAT 2024 - Slot 1 paper with section-wise marking scheme and difficulty level of the exam has been tabulated below.
CAT Exam Sections |
Number of Questions |
Questions |
MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) |
TITA (Type in The Answer) |
Difficulty Level |
Good Attempt |
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
24 |
4 Passages of 4 Questions each, 3 Para summary, 3 Para completion, 2 Odd one out |
22 |
2 |
Easy |
14-16 |
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) |
22 |
2 Sets of 5 Questions 3 Sets of 4 Questions |
12 |
10 |
Easy-Moderate |
10-11 |
Quantitative Ability (QA) |
22 |
Algebra - 5-6, Arithmetic- 10-11, Geometry- 3, Number System- 2, Modern Maths- 1 |
14 |
8 |
Moderate |
10 |
TOTAL |
68 |
48 |
20 |
Moderate |
The marking scheme of CAT 2024 was as follows:
This year, the overall paper pattern and difficulty level have taken a toll in favour of the CAT aspirants. Get a gist of the difficulty level of the CAT Slot 1 paper as follows:
The VARC section was more straightforward and easier than the last year, and it had a moderate level of difficulty. There were a total of 24 questions to be attempted in 40 minutes.
Passage Number |
Passage Topic/ Area |
No. of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
Number of Doable Questions |
1 |
Utility & Human Economics |
4 |
Moderate |
2 |
2 |
Entertainment/ Netflix |
4 |
Easy |
3 |
3 |
Australian Spices |
4 |
Easy |
4 |
4 |
Craftsmanship |
4 |
Moderate |
4 |
Total |
|
16 |
Easy - Moderate |
|
Question Type |
Easy |
Moderate |
Difficult |
Total |
Para Summary |
1 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
Odd Sentence |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
Para Completion |
2 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
Total |
|
|
|
8 |
CAT 2024 DILR was significantly easier as compared to the CAT 2023 DILR section in terms of difficulty. The DILR section had 22 questions distributed across 5 sets with 4-5 questions each. Have a look at the breakup of CAT DILR section as follows:
Set Number |
Topic |
No of Questions |
Non-MCQ Questions |
Difficulty Level |
Description/ Doable |
1 |
Candlestick- Shares Based |
4 |
1 |
Easy |
4 |
2 |
Games and Tournament |
5 |
4 |
Easy-Moderate |
4 |
3 |
Bar Graph - Blogger Based |
4 |
2 |
Moderate |
2-3 |
4 |
Bar Graph - Set Theory Based |
4 |
3 |
Moderate |
2-3 |
5 |
Caselet - Percentage Based |
5 |
0 |
Moderate |
3-4 |
Total |
|
22 |
10 |
Moderate - Difficult |
10-11 |
Surprisingly the QA section of CAT 2024 was on the easier end as compared to last year’s paper in terms of the level of difficulty.
Set Sub-section/ Module |
Description |
No of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
Number System |
Remainder-1, Indices -1 |
2 |
Moderate- Difficult |
Algebra |
Log-1, Equations- 2, Functions-1, Maxima-Minima -1 Sequence & Series-2, Algebraic Expression-1 |
8 |
Moderate |
Arithmetic |
TSD-1, T&W-1, SI CI-1, Percentage-1, PLD-1, Mixture-1, Averages - 1, Ratios- 1 |
8 |
Easy |
Modern Math |
P&C -1 |
1 |
Moderate- Difficult |
Modern Math |
Circle- 1, Cuboid/Square-1 Coordinate Geo - 1 |
3 |
Moderate |
Total |
|
22 |
|
| Section | No. of Questions | No. of non-MCQ questions | Time (in minutes) | Difficulty Level CAT 2024 | Difficulty Level CAT 2023 | Ideal Score (Attempts) for
CAT 2024 |
Ideal Score for CAT 2023 | Ideal Score for CAT 2022 | Ideal Score for CAT 2021 |
| VARC | 24 | 2 | 40 | Easy | Moderate | 40 | 37 | 39 | 45 |
| DILR | 22 | 10 | 40 | Easy -Moderate | Moderate- Difficult | 32 | 27 | 29 | 34 |
| QA | 22 | 8 | 40 | Moderate | Difficult | 32 | 26 | 33 | 34 |
| Total | 68 | 20 | 120 | Moderate | Moderate- Difficult | 92 | 76 | 84 | 97 |
*Ideal Score refers to Score corresponding to 99 %ile
*The given data is based on inputs provided by our CAT gurus and students. These numbers just serve as indicators and in no means reflect the actual scores and percentiles.
