The Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section is where CAT is often won or lost, and the best way to get comfortable with its set-based puzzles is to solve full DILR papers under the 40-minute clock. On this page you get free CAT DILR sample papers built to the latest pattern, each with detailed solutions so you can practise set selection and reasoning logic the way the real exam tests them.

Official website: iimcat.ac.in

CAT DILR Sample Papers 2026

CAT DILR Sample Paper 1

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CAT DILR Sample Paper 2

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CAT DILR Sample Paper 3

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Download any of the sample papers above and solve it in a single 40-minute sitting to build real exam stamina. Each paper carries 22 questions arranged as CAT-style sets in the exact mix of MCQ and TITA, with full step-by-step solutions so you can review the logic behind every set after you finish.

You can download these papers here on Collegedunia, and you should also check the official website iimcat.ac.in for the latest exam notification and slot timings before you plan your mocks.

  • Section questions: 22 questions in DILR, carrying 66 marks at 3 marks each.
  • Time limit: A fixed 40-minute sectional window, which works out to under two minutes per question.
  • Marking scheme: +3 for a correct answer and -1 for a wrong MCQ; the TITA questions carry no negative marking.
  • Set structure: Four to five sets of four to six questions each, with roughly half the questions being TITA in recent years.
  • Mode: Computer-based test with an on-screen basic calculator and timer.
  • Syllabus base: No fixed syllabus; tables, charts, caselets, arrangements, puzzles, games and Venn diagram based reasoning.

CAT DILR Sample PaperCAT DILR Exam Pattern and Marks Distribution 2026

Knowing the DILR pattern helps you set a target set count before you open a paper. With negative marking on MCQs and unpredictable set difficulty, your first job is to pick the right sets, not to attempt everything.

  • Questions: 22 in total, grouped into four to five sets of four to six questions each.
  • Marks: 66 for the section, with each question worth 3 marks.
  • Marking: +3 correct, -1 for a wrong MCQ, and zero penalty on TITA questions.
  • Time: 40 minutes for the section, with no extra time carried from other sections.
  • Calculator: Only the on-screen basic calculator is allowed, so keep your rough work clean and organised.

Key advice: A realistic strong attempt in DILR is around 2 to 3 full sets solved accurately, which is usually enough to cross the 90-plus percentile mark in this section.

CAT DILR Sample Papers - Why Recent Papers Matter Most

CAT has no fixed syllabus, so recent papers are your best guide to what DILR actually throws at you. The section has moved away from routine bar and pie charts towards logic-heavy sets, and fresh practice keeps you aimed at the current style.

  • Logical Reasoning now dominates many slots, so newer papers give you more of the arrangement, grouping and games sets that appear most.
  • Pure calculation-heavy Data Interpretation has reduced, while caselet-based DI mixed with reasoning has grown.
  • The TITA count has risen to nearly half the section, so fresh sets train you to spot the no-negative questions and bank them safely.

CAT DILR Chapter Wise Weightage - High Scoring Topics to Focus in Sample Papers

This breakdown shows where the questions sit inside DILR so you can decide which set types to master first. Use it to plan your practice and to set time targets while solving the sample papers.

Chapter Questions Difficulty What to Watch For
Data Interpretation (tables, bar, line, pie charts, caselets) 8-10 Moderate The most predictable block; master fast approximation and percentage reading to grab quick marks.
Arrangements and Seating (linear, circular, matrix) 4-6 Moderate to High Build the grid carefully; one wrong placement early breaks the whole set.
Puzzles, Grouping and Distribution 4-6 High List all conditions first; watch for the single clue that fixes the entire arrangement.
Games, Tournaments and Networks 3-5 High Scoring or route-based logic; practise so you spot the winning path quickly.
Venn Diagrams and Data Sufficiency 2-3 Moderate Often one direct set worth grabbing; keep the three-region formula ready.

Note: Do not skip the smaller buckets like Venn Diagrams and Data Sufficiency, since they usually hide one easy set that gives you three or four safe marks in a few minutes.

CAT DILR Sample Paper Video Solutions 2026 - Watch Before You Start Solving

Watching a strong solver work through DILR sets teaches you how to read a set, spot the entry clue and decide within a minute whether it is worth attempting. The goal is to learn set selection and approach, not just the final answer, so you can copy the method on your own papers.

The video below is a complete LRDI one-shot for CAT that covers the full Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning syllabus, from chart reading and caselets to arrangements, puzzles and games, making it a useful revision before you attempt any of the sample papers on this page.

Watch:

Source: LRDI One Shot for CAT 2025 preparation, covering core Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning topics such as tables, charts, caselets, arrangements, puzzles and games from basics to exam level (YouTube)

How to Use CAT DILR Sample Papers to Clear in First Attempt

A sample paper only helps if you treat it like the real test and review it harder than you solve it. Build a fixed routine around each paper so every attempt sharpens your set selection.

  • Solve each paper in one strict 40-minute block with no breaks, just like the live section.
  • Spend the first three minutes scanning all sets and ranking them from easiest to hardest before you start solving.
  • Commit to a set once you start it, and abandon it only if you are stuck with no progress after four minutes.
  • After each paper, note which sets you should have picked and which you wasted time on, then fix your selection instinct.
  • Re-solve the sets you skipped without a timer to learn the cleanest entry point.
  • Keep a log of set types that trap you so the same mistake never repeats.

CAT DILR Set Selection and Negative Marking Strategy

DILR rewards smart set selection over raw effort, because a single bad set can eat 15 minutes and return nothing. The TITA questions are your safe attempts since a wrong answer there costs nothing, so protect your score with a clear plan.

  • Read every set fully in the first pass and start only with the one whose logic is clearest to you.
  • Always attempt TITA questions once you reach a definite value, because they carry no negative marking.
  • Guess an MCQ only after your set logic is fully solved and you are choosing between two close options.
  • If two sets look equally doable, pick the one with more questions so your solving time earns more marks.

CAT DILR 4 Week Preparation Plan Using Sample Papers

  • Week 1: Revise Data Interpretation basics like charts, caselets and approximation, then attempt your first sample paper at the end of the week.
  • Week 2: Cover arrangements, seating and grouping puzzles, and solve a couple of the sample papers under the 40-minute clock.
  • Week 3: Work through the remaining sample papers, focusing on set selection, and spend more time reviewing errors than solving new sets.
  • Week 4: Re-solve your weakest paper, then keep the last two days for light revision of set approaches and your error log only.

FAQs on CAT DILR Sample Papers 2026

Ques.How many questions are in the CAT DILR section in 2026?

Ans.The DILR section has 22 questions worth 66 marks, to be solved within a fixed 40-minute sectional time limit, arranged in four to five sets with a mix of MCQ and TITA questions.

Ques.Is there negative marking in CAT DILR?

Ans.Yes, each wrong MCQ costs you -1 mark, while the TITA type-in-the-answer questions carry no negative marking, so they are the safest attempts once your set logic is solved.

Ques.Are these CAT DILR sample papers free with solutions?

Ans.Yes, all the sample papers on this page are free to download as PDFs and come with detailed step-by-step solutions for every set.

Ques.Which DILR set types are most important for CAT?

Ans.Data Interpretation caselets along with arrangement, grouping and games based logical reasoning make up most of the section, so these are the highest value set types to practise.

Ques.How many DILR sample papers should I solve before CAT?

Ans.Solve all the papers here at least twice, alongside full mocks and a few official previous year DILR sections, and review your set selection after each attempt.

Ques.How many sets should I aim to solve in CAT DILR?

Ans.Aim to solve two to three full sets accurately in the 40 minutes, since clean accuracy on the right sets scores far better than rushing through every set.