CAT Exam Analysis 2022: Detailed Paper Analysis

CAT 2022 entrance exam was conducted on 27 November 2022. The CAT 2022 exam analysis includes question distribution based on topics, difficulty level based on sections, comparison of test slots, and cut-offs.

The exam was held in three slots: 1st slot was from 8:30 am to 10:30 am, 2nd slot was from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm, and 3rd slot was from 4:30 pm till 6:30 pm.The difficulty level of the CAT exam held across three slots was moderate. In all the slots, the QA section was claimed to be the toughest while DILR questions were claimed to be lengthy and time-consuming. 

CAT Exam Analysis 2022

The CAT 2022 exam was conducted by IIM Bangalore on 27 Nov, 2022. Due to the increasing demand for management courses, more than 2 lakh candidates appeared for the examination across 438 exam centres. The total number of questions was 66 and the duration of the exam was 120 minutes (2 hours). The exam was held for a total of 198 marks. The slot-wise analysis of CAT 2022 examination is as follows. 

CAT 2022 Slot 1 Paper Analysis

The following is the analysis of slot 1 question paper of the CAT 2022 examination. 

• The complexity level of slot 1 CAT 2022 examination was moderate. 
• The VARC section had 4 RC passages and summary based questions. 
• The DILR section had no questions on Venn diagrams or bar graphs and pie charts. This section was reported to be time consuming due to the confusing nature of the questions asked. 
• Most of the questions in QA were asked from the topics of Arithmetic (8 questions), Algebra (8 questions) and Geometry (3 questions).
• Candidates found the QA section most difficult and VARC the easiest among the three sections.

CAT 2022 Slot 2 Paper Analysis

The following is the analysis of slot 2 question paper of the CAT 2022 examination.

• The difficulty level of CAT 2022 slot 2 examination was similar to that of slot 1. 
• The VARC section question distribution of topics: Reading Comprehension- 16 questions, Para Completion- 3 questions, Para Jumbles- 2 questions, Para Summary- 3 questions
• The DILR section had 4 sets (revenue/cost; cosmetic item sale; diagram - 4 destinations; salesman and 4 colonies) with 5 questions each. 
• There were 9 questions from Arithmetic, 7 from Algebra and 4 from Geometry in the QA section. 
• Like in slot 1, candidates found QA to be tougher than the other two sections and VARC, the easiest among all. 

CAT 2022 Slot 3 Paper Analysis

The following is the analysis of slot 3 question paper of the CAT 2022 examination.

• The complexity level of slot 3 CAT 2022 was claimed to be moderate. 
• Similar to the first two slots, VARC was the easiest section. However, the DILR section in slot 3 was a little more difficult than the other two slots. 
• The topic-wise question breakdown in VARC section - 4 Reading Comprehension sets with 4 questions each, 3 questions each from Para Summary and Para Jumbles, 2 questions from Para Completion
• The DILR section had 4 sets (COVID cases; computer science ratios; blue and pink - male female graph; games - 4 people) with 5 questions each. 
• The QA section question breakdown of topics - Arithmetic- 9, Algebra- 7, Geometry- 4, Modern Math- 1, and Number System- 1.

CAT Exam Analysis 2021 - Slot 1

CAT slot one exam was conducted on 28 November by IIM Indore Pan India between 8.30 AM and 10.30 AM. COVID guidelines were followed strictly during the examination. Here is detailed information on the difficulty level of DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning), VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension), and QA (Quantitative Ability) sections on the CAT exam slot one here.

120 minutes were given to the students to answer 66 questions, which is 10 questions lesser than last time. The exam went smoothly. For the slot one session, time was essential in order to answer the questions. The pattern was similar to that of the last year's. 

CAT 2021 Exam Paper Pattern and Difficulty Levels for Slot 1

The exam was Moderately-Difficult but it was lengthy. 

• Marking Scheme - There is no negative marking for TITA-based questions, however, for the MCQs, 3 marks are awarded for the right answer, and 1 mark is deducted for the incorrect one.
• GetMyUni Ratings - 7/10 in terms of difficulty. 

Section-Wise Breakdown Of The CAT 2021 Slot 1 Exam

Below is a breakdown of the number of questions asked with respect to the time given for the three sections of CAT slot 1 exam 2021. 

Note - The total time given to answer was 40 minutes per section.

Section Wise CAT Exam Analysis 2021 for Slot 1

Difficulty levels of the different sections in the CAT Examination are given below.

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) Analysis

The candidates reported that it was moderate to solve. However, if a student had a good grasp of reading, vocabulary, and verbal ability, he/she could score decent marks. 

Types of questions and topics asked

MCQ Type - It included Summary and Reading Comprehension based questions. 4 Reading Comprehension (RC) Passages were asked which were the MCQ type. All 4 passages in the RCs had 4 questions. Hence, the total number of questions asked from the RCs was 16 out of 24. RC passages were around 470 to 500 words each.

TITA type questions - It included questions on Verbal Ability. These included Out of Context Sentences, Para Jumbled Statements, Para Summaries, and more on these lines. The section was lengthy. Verbal Ability comprised of 5 non-MCQs out of 24.

Verbal Ability

This section included 8 questions.

• Para Formation - 3 questions - Moderate to Difficult
• Para Summary - 3 questions - Easy to Moderate
• Odd One Out - 2 questions - Moderate

Required Marks - The approximate marks a candidate needs to score in the VARC section are between 37-39 in order to get the 99 percentile.

Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Analysis

Although the most feared sections on the CAT exam, in 2021, the QA section was easy similar to CAT 2018 and 2020. In fact, candidates reported it to be the easiest out of the three sections.

Types of questions and topics asked

The sections which had the maximum number of questions were based on Algebra and Arithmetic. Other sections included topics such as Roots, Geometry, Log, and more. 2-3 questions were taken from the Number System. 8 Type in the Answer (TITA) questions were asked and the remaining 14 questions were MCQ type.

Breakdown of the QA subjects

• Arithmetic - 11 Questions
• Algebra - 5 Questions
• Number System - 2 Questions
• Geometry - 3 Questions
• Modern Math - 1 Question

Required Marks - The marks required in the QA section are 40-42 in order to get a 99 percentile.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) Analysis

This section was moderate in terms of difficulty. Time was a crucial factor to understand DI&LR, however, it was doable. Some questions were difficult.

Types of questions and topics asked

The total questions asked from LR is 14 and from DI is 6. This section had 4 sets. Out of 4 sets, two had 4 questions and two had 6 questions, but only 2 of these 4 sets were manageable.

Breakdown of the DI&LR topics

• Bar Graph - 4 Questions - 3-4 Ideal Attempts
• Arrangement - Researchers, Publishing - 6 Questions - 2-3 Ideal Attempts
• Smoothies- DI - 4 Questions - 1-2 Ideal Attempts
• Arrangement - Friends, Strangers, Acquaintances - 6 Questions - 2-3 Ideal Attempts

Required Marks - The marks required for the DI&LR section are around 27-30 in order to get you in the top percentile.

CAT 2021 Good Attempts and Required Score - Slot 1

The ideal expected score a candidate must get is between 96-99 according to our CAT Exam Analysis 2021. This score will allow a person to get admitted into the IIMs and other top-rated Business Schools in India and a few abroad. 

CAT Exam Analysis 2021 - Slot 2

The CAT exam slot two was conducted between 12:30 PM to 2.30 PM. Below is all information from experts and students on the type of questions, difficulty level, changes in the paper pattern, ideal attempts, and more.

Candidates have to note that they cannot switch between sessions; hence answers should be marked carefully. Each right answer carries three marks, whereas one wrong answer will be marked by -1. TITA (Type in the Answer) section will not be holding any negative scoring.

120 minutes were given to the students to answer 66 questions, which is 10 questions lesser than last time. The exam went smoothly. For the slot two sessions, time was essential in order to answer the questions. The pattern was similar to that of the last year's. 

CAT 2021 Exam Paper Pattern and Difficulty Levels for Slot 2

The candidates reported that the Slot 2 CAT exam was 'Moderately Difficult', but easier than 2020. The paper was lengthy and difficulty levels were different in three sections as compared to slot 1.

• Marking scheme - The marking scheme remains the same as Slot 1.
• GetMyUni Ratings for Slot 2 - 7.5/10 in terms of difficulty.

Section-Wise Breakdown Of The CAT 2021 Slot 2 Exam

Below is a breakdown of the number of questions asked with respect to the time given for the three sections of CAT slot 2 exams 2021. 

Note - The total time given to answer was 40 minutes per section.

Section Wise CAT Exam Analysis 2021 for Slot 2

Difficulty levels of the different sections in the CAT Examination are given below.

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) Analysis

The candidates reported that it was a slightly tricky section. If a student had a good grasp of reading, vocabulary, and verbal ability, he/she could score decent marks. The question pattern was the same as that of Slot 1.

Types of questions and topics asked

The types of questions were again similar to that of Slot 1. 

RC consisted of 4 passages. Each of these passages had 4 questions each - Attempting 2 would have been ideal and 4 would have been risky. The ideal Score would be 12 with 8 to 9 attempts.

Verbal Ability

It included 8 questions. The non-MCQ type included 3 Para Jumbles and 2 Odd Sentence Para jumbles. The MCQ type included 3 Para Summary Questions. The TIFA questions were a little more tricky as compared to the MCQ type. Hence, the total number of questions in VA was 8 out of 24.

3 Questions (Moderate - Difficult) - Para Jumbles

2 Questions (Moderate - Difficult) - Odd One Out

3 Questions (Easy - Moderate) Para Summary 

Required Marks - The approximate marks a candidate needs to score in the VARC section are between 37-39 in order to get the 99 percentile.

Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Analysis

The QA section was slightly more difficult than Slot 1. The pattern was similar to Slot 1 as Algebra and Arithmetic dominated the paper.

Types of questions and topics asked

The maximum number of questions were asked from Arithmetic and Algebra, numbering 16 out of 24 questions asked in QA.

Breakdown of the QA subjects

Maximum questions - Algebra, Time and Distance, Work, Speed, Arithmetic, and Geography. The level was moderate.

Number System - 2 questions of Moderate Difficulty

Modern Math - 1 question

Required Marks - The marks required in the QA section are 39-42 in order to get a 99 percentile. 

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) Analysis

This section was moderate to difficult in terms of difficulty, much similar to Slot 1. Maximum questions were asked again from Logical Reasoning and the pattern was also similar to Slot 1.

Types of questions and topics asked

There were 6 questions in 2 sets and 4 questions in the other 2 sets. Hence, there were a total of 4 sets with 20 questions. The number of Non-MCQ was 5 out of 20 and the MCQ-based questions numbered 15 out of 20.

Breakdown of the DI&LR topics

• Assignment (Value perception of different products) - 6 Questions - Ideal Attempt: 3-4
• Games & Tournament - 4 Questions - Ideal Attempt: 4
• Ravi the delivery man - 6 Questions - Ideal Attempt: 3-4
• Bar Chart (DI) - 4 Questions - Ideal Attempt: 4

Required Marks - The marks required for the DI&LR section are around 29-32 in order to get you in the top percentile.

CAT 2021 Good Attempts and Required Score - Slot 2

The ideal expected score a candidate must get is between 96-99 according to our CAT Exam Analysis 2021. Attempting around 42-45 questions should help to get into the top Business Schools.

CAT Exam Analysis 2021 - Slot 3

The third session of the exam was conducted from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. The exam was for 2 hours. It is important to check our slot three paper analysis to estimate how well the aspirants have appeared in CAT 2021 examination and gauge the score beforehand. The time limit for answering the questions per section wise remains the same, i.ei 40 minutes. The total number of questions is also the same as slots 1 and 2, i.e., 66 questions, which is 10 questions lesser than last time.

CAT 2021 Exam Paper Pattern and Difficulty Levels for Slot 3

With the end of the third session, the CAT Exam for 2021 officially comes to an end. Many candidates reported that the Slot 3 CAT exam was 'Moderately Difficult'. The question paper was a bit lengthy, a few questions were tricky but the pattern remained similar to that of slots 1 and 2. DILR seemed the easier out of the three sections. VARC was moderate and the QA section was moderate.

• Marking scheme - The marking scheme remains the same as Slot 1 and Slot 2. +3 for correct answers (both MCQ and Non-MCQ), no negative marking for incorrect answers in the case of TIFA questions but -1 for MCQ type questions if the answer is incorrect. 
• GetMyUni Ratings for Slot 3 - 7.3/10 in terms of difficulty.

Section-Wise Breakdown Of The CAT 2021 Slot 3 Exam

Below is a breakdown of the number of questions asked with respect to the time given for the three sections of CAT Slot 3 Exam 2021. 

Note - The total time given to answer was 40 minutes per section.

Section Wise CAT Exam Analysis 2021 for Slot 3

Difficulty levels of the different sections in the CAT Examination are given below.

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) Analysis

This section was moderate according to the candidates. It was similar to the previous 2 exam slots and the exam pattern also remained the same.

Types of questions and topics asked

The questions which appeared in the third session were similar to that of Slot 1 and Slot 2.

Reading Comprehension (RC) consisted of 4 passages. All 4 of the passages had 4 questions. Hence, the overall questions from RC were 16 out of 24. The difficulty levels of these questions were moderate. Each RC passage was approximately 500 words in length.

Verbal Ability Questions Breakdown - MCQ and TITA Type

It included 8 questions. The non-MCQ type carried 3 Para Jumble questions and 2 Odd Sentence Para Jumbles. The MCQ type included 3 Para Summary Questions. Hence, the total number of questions in VA was 8 out of 26.

3 Questions (Moderate) - Para Jumbles

2 Questions (Moderate-Difficult) - Odd One Out

3 Questions (Easy-Moderate) - Para Summary 

Required Marks - The approximate marks a candidate needs to score in the VARC section are between 36-39  in order to get the 99 percentile.

Quantitative Aptitude (QA) Analysis

The QA section for the third slot was lengthy and time-intensive thus making it difficult. The pattern was similar to the previous slots as Algebra and Arithmetic dominated the paper.

Types of questions and topics asked 

This section once again was dominated by Arithmetic and Algebra questions. However, Algebra was increased in this slot unlike the 1st two. It also had a good number of questions from different topics, making the paper quite diverse and similar to the previous slots.

Breakdown of the QA subjects

• Geometry and Mensuration - 4 Questions - Ideal Attempts: 2
• Modern Math - 1 Question - Ideal Attempts: 1
• Arithmetic - 11 Questions - Ideal Attempts: 7-8
• Algebra - 6 Questions - Ideal Attempts: 2-3

Required Marks - The marks required in the QA section are 34-36 in order to get a 99 percentile. 

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) Analysis

This section was similar to Slot 1 DILR and easier than Slot 2 DILR. The maximum number of questions were asked from LR.

Types of questions and topics asked

The pattern remained the same for this section. There were 6 questions in 2 sets and 4 questions in the other 2 sets. Hence, there were a total of 4 sets with 20 questions. The number of Non-MCQ was 5 out of 20 and the MCQ-based questions numbered 15 out of 20. The TITA questions showed a slight difference as compared to the previous slots.

Breakdown of the DI&LR topics 

Following is the topic-wise breakdown of the questions asked in this section.

• Bar Chart - 4 Questions - Ideal Attempts: 3-4
• Pure & Impure Solutions - 4 Questions - Ideal Attempts: 3-4
• Javelin Tournament - 6 Questions - Ideal Attempts: 2-4
• Review of Academic Qs - 6 Questions - Ideal Attempts: 2-4

Required Marks - The marks required for the DI&LR section are around 30-33 in order to get you in the top percentile.

CAT 2021 Good Attempts and Required Score - Slot 3

The ideal expected score a candidate must get is between 93-97 according to our CAT Exam Analysis 2021. This score will allow a person to get admitted into the IIMs and other top-rated Business Schools in India and a few abroad.

CAT 2021 Slots and Reporting Time

The duration for the examination is two hours and below mentioned are the time slots allocated for students:

Note: PwD Candidates will have an exam duration of 160 minutes (or 2 hours and 40 minutes).

CAT 2021 Exam Results