CAT Exam Analysis 2024 Live - Check CAT Difficulty Level, Expected Cutoffs, No. of Good Attempts

CAT Exam Cutoff 2024 (Expected)

CAT cutoff is an indication of the minimum percentile score that a candidate is expected to achieve to get shortlisted by the participating institutes. While top B-schools are known to have a higher CAT cutoff range, the minimum cutoff varies from institute to institute.

CAT cutoff generally depends on certain factors like the difficulty level of the exam, number of test-takers, number of seats, etc.

Further, it is worth noting that there are two stages to qualify for the admission procedure of CAT:

Stage I → It includes the profile score and the test score (CAT/XAT/NMAT, etc), out of which the profile score may include your academic performance, work experience, and academic and gender diversity, which may vary based on the Institute.
(Remember, the CAT percentile is just the first step towards receiving a call. The only thing you can work on is your test score and how to maximize it.)
Stage II → It includes the WAT-GD-PI rounds, which are again something in your control, and you can work on them to gain admission to your dream B-school.

Find below the tabulated CAT cutoff 2024 of top-tier IIMs based on the previous year’s cutoff:

List of IIMs	CAT Cutoff 2024 (Expected Percentile)	CAT Cutoff 2024 (Expected Score)
IIM Ahmedabad	99.5%ile+	80
IIM Bangalore	99.5%ile+	85
IIM Calcutta	99.5%ile+	85
IIM Lucknow	99%ile+	90
IIM Kozhikode	98.5%ile +	85
IIM Indore	98%ile +	90
IIM Mumbai	97%ile+	85
IIM Shillong	97%ile+	75
IIM Ranchi	97 %ile+	94
IIM Udaipur	96%ile+	94
IIM Raipur	96%ile+	94
IIM Rohtak	96%ile+	95
IIM Trichy	96%ile+	94
IIM Kashipur	96%ile+	94
IIM Sirmaur	96%ile+	94
IIM Visakhapatnam	96%ile+	80
IIM Amritsar	96%ile+	88
IIM Nagpur	96%ile+	94
IIM Sambalpur	96%ile+	94
IIM Jammu	93%ile+	94
IIM Bodhgaya	93%ile+	94

*Mark that the above-mentioned percentile are just the indicative numbers as per CAT 2023.

For Example: There might be candidates who do not receive calls from the respective institute at the mentioned percentile, regardless of achieving the required CAT percentile, because the selections are purely based on profiles.

The CAT cutoff serves as a benchmark for the minimum percentile score required for the colleges listed below. This criterion is typically influenced by factors such as the exam's difficulty level, the number of test-takers, available seats, and other considerations. The table below provides information for distinct categories.

Institute Name	General	OBC	SC	ST	EWS
IIM A	99.68 %ile	97.71 %ile	78.95 %ile	72.79 %ile	97.71 %ile
IIM B	99.89 %ile	96.08 %ile	83.38 %ile	78.93 %ile	95.48 %ile
IIM C	99.71 %ile	97.87 %ile	91.44 %ile	77.90 %ile	99.03 %ile

** For all the above variants, Gender/10th/12th/Grad is considered as Male/90%/85%/80% (Engineer) with a work experience of 12 months.

** These are indicative numbers as per CAT 2023. For Example, there might be someone who did not get calls at the mentioned percentile from the respective institute.

CAT 2024 Exam Analysis - Key Highlights

The CAT exam has undergone various changes in the past few years, which have had a crucial impact on the admission process and exam pattern. Get a gist of the key highlights of the CAT 2024 exam:

The CAT 2024 question paper is expected to have a moderate to high level of difficulty. Typically, slot 2 of the CAT exam is known to be the toughest slot.
Since IIM Calcutta is responsible for preparing the CAT 2024 question paper, it might be on the lower edge as compared to CAT 2023; however, the difficulty level would remain the same.
In the VARC section, you can expect 4-5 Reading Comprehension passages, with the passages being over 600 words long.
The Quantitative Aptitude section will likely have the most questions related to Arithmetic and Algebra.
For the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section, questions will be presented in sets, with 2 for data interpretation based on ratios, averages, percentages, etc., and 2 sets that will be of logical reasoning.

CAT Exam Pattern 2024 (Expected)

The CAT Exam is a computer-based test (CBT) conducted in 3 slots on the same day. The CAT 2024 exam pattern will follow the same lines as that of CAT 2023.

The exam will have a total time of 120 minutes with 66 questions.
40 minutes are allocated for each section.
The order of sections is also expected to remain the same: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA).
The use of a basic on-screen calculator for computations is allowed.
Every correct answer will be awarded 3 marks while a wrong answer will lead to the deduction of 1 mark. Thus, the marking scheme is +3/-1.

CAT Section-Wise Exam Pattern

The CAT 2024 sectional exam pattern is provided in the table below for your reference:

Section	MCQs	TITA	Total Questions	Total Marks	Time Allotted
VARC	21	3	24	72	40 minutes
DILR	14	6	20	60	40 minutes
QA	14	8	22	66	40 minutes
Total	49	17	66	198	120 minutes

Note: As per the CAT 2024 sample paper released on the official website, there might be some changes in the DILR section. These changes could involve different patterns, such as one set with 2 questions, two sets with 4 questions each, and two sets with 6 questions, or possibly four sets with 5 questions each and one set with 2 questions. It's also important to keep in mind that the CAT 2024 exam pattern might not change at all. So, be mentally prepared for either case.

CAT 2024 Score Calculator By Career Launcher

The CAT exam is something that becomes an immense part of the life of every CAT aspirant as it draws closer. A natural consequence of this is that it takes up a huge amount of mental space for the aspirant until the day of the exam.

A natural question that comes to the mind of every serious aspirant after they attempt the CAT exam is, "How have I done?" or "What percentile will I get?" or "Will it be enough to get a call from my dream college?" or "Is there any tool that can help me know my CAT score?"

CL has been answering these questions and predicting the estimated CAT scores based on the raw data of minimum and maximum correct and incorrect intake in CAT 2024 provided by students. Every year, our CAT Score Calculator 2024 has benefited from the vast amounts of historical data at our disposal.

Career Launcher's AI-Driven CAT 2024 Percentile Predictor

Our CAT percentile predictor has been able to make remarkably good predictions when patterns have changed drastically (number of sections, number of questions, etc.). Our students have often marveled at the accuracy of our CAT percentile calculator. It is not unusual for us to hear terms like 'surreal' or even 'amazed' when we get some predictions right to the second decimal!

Here are some points to be noted about the CL's CAT 2024 Percentile Predictor, as follows:

At present, our CAT percentile calculator is able to do normalization across slots (using the scaling formula provided by conducting authorities of CAT).
CL CAT Percentile Predictor tends to give the most accurate results at the higher percentiles.
At the lower percentiles, errors tend to happen since we have less data at those levels (e.g., < 70 percentile); however, we are continuously trying to be better.
The more data we get, the better our percentile predictor performs.

What Do Students Feel About

Career Launcher's Predictions

Great prediction model most accurate amongst all predictors I used.

- Student
(Actual 99.98 %tile predicted : 99.96 %tile)

Closest prediction out of all the available predictors super impressed!

- Student
(Actual 96.72%ile Predicted 96.80%ile)

Spot on!

- Student
(Actual 92%ile Predicted 92.07%ile)

CAT 2024 Selection Process

The IIM admission process differs according to various participating institutes:

Preliminary Round: The one uniform feature among all institutes is the preliminary round selection, where candidates are shortlisted based on the CAT cutoff.
Second Round: Then, the candidates will have to appear for the Group Discussion (GD) or Writing Ability Test (WAT) or both and Personal Interview (PI) The new IIMs have, in fact, started to conduct the Common Admission Process (CAP), where the shortlisted candidates from all participating IIMs appear for WAT and PI rounds jointly.

After the CAT selection procedure ends, each IIM releases its separate merit lists. The final selection process of B-schools or the CAT selection procedure of participating B-schools is based on multiple criteria, such as performance in CAT and GD/WAT and PI rounds and past academic records and/or work experience. The CAT eligibility criteria or parameters vary from institute to institute. IIMs release their detailed admission criteria every year after the CAT notification.

CAT Score vs Percentile 2024 (Expected)

Aspirants should understand that MBA admissions through the CAT exam rely on percentiles rather than raw scores. This means that not only do they need to perform well, but they must also outperform other test takers.

The CAT percentile is determined based on the score a candidate achieves. Out of the 66 questions in CAT 2024, attempting around 45 questions with 85-90% accuracy can get you a 100 percentile. The table below reflects the estimated CAT score vs percentile for your reference:

CAT Percentile	VARC Score	DILR Score	QA Score	Overall Score
99.9%ile	48	36	48	106
99.5%ile	44	32	32	89
99%ile	40	28	28	80
98%ile	36	25	24	71
95%ile	30	19	19	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

CAT Exam Scores: Past Year Analysis (2023)

It is very important to look at past trends before proceeding with your preparation for CAT 2024. By doing so, you can adopt a better exam-taking strategy and learn smart tips and tricks to score better.

One frequently asked question among CAT aspirants is, What CAT score is required to reach the top percentiles, which are essential for meeting the cutoffs of B-schools?

Given below are the CAT scores and the net questions candidates can aim for according to CAT 2023:

CAT 2023 Score	Percentile Rank	Net Qs
84.5	99.5	28
76	99	25
62	97	20
55	95	18
44.5	90	14
38	85	12
34	80	11
30	75	10
27	70	9
22	60	7
17	50	5

CAT Exam Analysis 2023 - CAT 2023 Difficulty Level

The overall difficulty of CAT 2023 was higher than that of CAT 2022. The exam followed the exam pattern of CAT 2022, with 66 questions to be answered in 120 minutes. The distribution of questions across the sections also remained the same, with 24 questions in VARC, 20 questions in DILR, and 22 questions in QA. Each section had to be attempted in 40 minutes.

Among the 3 slots, there was only a marginal difference in the level of difficulty.

Section (CAT 2023)	Most Difficult	Moderately Difficult	Least Difficult
VARC	Slot 1	Slot 2	Slot 3
DILR	Slot 3	Slot 1	Slot 2
QA	Slot 3	Slot 2	Slot 1

DILR was the most difficult section of CAT 2023, and the easiest was VARC. Ideally, a CAT score of 76 was required to get a 99%ile in CAT 2023.

Our CAT 2023 Achievers Receiving IIM Calls

454

IIM Ahmedabad

792

IIM Bangalore

477

IIM Calcutta

1898

IIM Lucknow

CAT 2024 Exam Analysis

Frequently Asked Questions

What will be the difficulty level of CAT 2024 based on the CAT 2023 paper?

According to the CAT 2023 examination paper, the overall level of difficulty of the exam can be characterized as ranging from moderate to difficult.

Upon closer examination of the individual sections, it can be observed that the Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension section appears to fall within the range of Easy to Moderate difficulty, while the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section is inclined toward the Moderate to Difficult category. Furthermore, the Quantitative Ability section is also assessed as being of moderate difficulty, in line with the overall level of the CAT 2024 examination.

It is important to note that the difficulty level of the examination for CAT 2024 may exhibit variations based on the actual paper.

Which was the most difficult slot in CAT 2023?

In a comparative analysis, it is evident that slot 3 of the CAT 2023 examination can be characterized as the most difficult. This observation is primarily attributed to the higher level of complexity in the Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning as well as the Quantitative Ability sections in slot 3. The easiest slot seemed to be slot 2.

Which IIM conducts the toughest CAT?

For the preceding eight years, the toughest examination was administered by the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM Bangalore) in 2021.

What is a good attempt in CAT 2024?

A good CAT score depends on both accuracy and the number of questions attempted. To attain a 99 percentile in CAT 2024, it was necessary to achieve an overall score of 84 marks by correctly answering at least 27 questions. The sectional scores could exhibit variability contingent upon the number of questions attempted, particularly when accompanied by a higher degree of accuracy. So, a good attempt with moderate to good accuracy will be 33-35 questions.

Where can I get a detailed CAT Exam Analysis 2024?

The detailed CAT 2024 exam analysis for each slot will be conducted by our top CAT experts, including both written and live CAT paper analysis on Career Launcher’s website as well as YouTube, 30 minutes after each slot exam ends.

Will CAT 2024 be tougher than CAT 2023?

Since IIM Calcutta is responsible for the conduction and execution of CAT 2024, the DILR section is expected to be the most challenging. Additionally, based on the CAT 2024 sample released, there may be some changes in that section, making it somewhat harder for candidates. Overall, CAT 2024 is anticipated to be slightly tougher than the CAT 2023 paper. However, the syllabus and paper pattern will remain the same.

Which slot is easy in CAT 2024?

According to the CAT 2023 analysis, Slot 2 was the easiest, implying that the overall score for this slot would scale downwards. Among the CAT 2023 slots, DILR was the most difficult in Slot 1. The QA section of CAT 2023 was more difficult compared to the QA section of CAT 2022. QA in CAT 2023 Slot 3 was more difficult in comparison to Slots 1 and 2.

Based on the CAT 2023 paper, we can expect that the overall difficulty level of the CAT 2024 paper will be moderate to high, and VARC may be the easiest section among all the sections of CAT 2024.

How to analyse CAT 2024 score?

To effectively analyze your score from CAT mock tests, follow these steps:

Step 1: Understand the CAT marking scheme and paper pattern, including marks allotted for each correct answer and deducted for every incorrect attempt.
Step 2: Count your responses as per the CAT marking scheme and keep track of all correct, incorrect, and unattempted responses.
Step 3: Calculate your score as mentioned in the CAT marking scheme.
- For MCQs:
  - Correct Answer: +3 marks for each correct answer.
  - Incorrect Answer: -1 mark for each incorrect answer (for MCQs only).
- For TITA questions:
  - Correct Answer: +3 marks for each correct answer
  - Incorrect Answer: No negative marking, i.e., 0 marks for incorrect attempts.
Step 4: Calculate the total score (section-wise) by summing the marks for answered questions.

In case, any candidates wish to calculate their expected CAT scores manually, they can use the formulas mentioned above. However, we have simplified the entire score calculation process to make your work easy with our CAT score calculator 2024.

CAT Exam Analysis 2024 Live (Slot 1, 2, 3) | CAT Paper Analysis, Difficulty Level & Expected Cutoffs

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