Associate Content Manager | Updated On - Sep 18, 2024
CAT exam analysis 2023 is updated here for each shift. In the slot-wise CAT 2023 analysis provided here, you can find all the details related to the difficulty level, topic-wise weightage, question types, data sets, and good attempts.
CAT 2023 Exam Analysis Slot-wise
| Slot | Analysis |
|---|---|
| CAT 2023 Slot 1 Analysis | Check Here |
| CAT 2023 Slot 2 Analysis | Check Here |
| CAT 2023 Slot 3 Analysis | Check Here |
You can check CAT 2023 expected score vs percentile expert analysis here. As per estimates, 100+ score will be required for a 100 percentile while 80-90 marks would be enough for 99-100 percentile. Check CAT 2023 Score vs Percentile
Was CAT 2023 Tough?
Yes, CAT 2023 is reported to be of moderate to high difficulty by the test takers. Based on experts' opinion, VARC is easier than last year with 16 RC questions and 8 verbal ability. The Quant section, especially the algebra questions are tough to attempt. DILR is reported tough to comprehend and calculation intensive.
If the paper is tough and more than 3.3 lakh candidates appear, the average number of attempts will be lower, thereby the score required to get a higher percentile will likely be lower.
| Difficulty Level | Good Attempts (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Difficult | 26-28 |
| Moderate | 33-35 |
| Easy | 40-42 |
Must Check:
- CAT Score Normalization and Percentile Calculation Method
- What is a Good Score in CAT?
- CAT 2023 Qualifying Cut off for IIM Released
- CAT 2023 Percentile Predictor
CAT 2023 Slot 1 Analysis
As per student reviews, the overall difficulty level of CAT 2023 slot 1 paper was moderate with no changes in the question paper pattern.
- CAT 2023 slot 1 VARC was easier than last year.
- It comprised 16 RC questions across 4 passages, and 8 verbal ability questions (2 parajumbles, 2 para summary, 2 para completion, 2 odd one out).
- CAT 2023 slot 1 DILR was moderate to tough having 4 sets (3 LR and 1 DI) with 5 questions each.
- CAT 2023 slot 1 Quant was moderate to difficult with 10-11 questions easily doable in 40 minutes.
CAT 2023 Slot 2 Analysis
Based on the student reviews received in slot 1 and slot 2, it is clear that slot 2 quant and DILR were tougher than slot 1. Maximum students have reported CAT 2023 slot 2 VARC section to be easy with 16-17 questions doable in 40 minutes.
- There were no direct DI questions from graphs and charts.
- There were 4 DILR sets with 5 questions each. Out of these, the set on games and tournaments was difficult to comprehend.
- Quant was difficult with maximum students able to attempt 8-9 questions on average.
- Algebra questions were of high difficulty level, proving to be the game changer.
- There were only 3 questions from Geometry like slot 1.
- No questions asked from Modern Math in slot 2 Quant paper.
CAT 2023 Slot 3 Analysis
Overall, the slot 3 paper was of similar level difficulty as previous 2 slots. Most candidates could not attempt too many questions in the given time.
- DILR was the toughest in comparison to slot 1 and slot 2
- Quant was moderate with maximum questions from Arithmetic (8)
- Number system had 4 questions in slot 3 and no questions from modern math
- VARC was easy to moderate- 2 RC passages of easy to moderate level and 2 moderate to difficult.
CAT 2023 Question Paper Pattern
CAT 2023 paper will comprise 66 questions divided into VARC, DILR, and QA sections. On the exam day, you can also find CAT 2023 question paper with answer key and solutions on this page.
| Section | Number of Questions | Time Limit | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 40 minutes | 72 |
| DILR | 20 | 40 minutes | 60 |
| Quant | 22 | 40 minutes | 66 |
| Total | 66 | 120 minutes | 198 |
CAT 2023 Expected Score vs Percentile
| Percentile | VARC Scores | DILR Scores | Quant Scores | Overall Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 40-45 | 33-35 | 29-33 | 98-102 |
| 99+ | 39-40 | 23-27 | 25-28 | 80-83 |
| 95+ | 28-32 | 18-20 | 20-22 | 55-57 |
| 90+ | 24-26 | 14-16 | 15-17 | 45-48 |
| 85+ | 20-22 | 12-13 | 13-14 | 40-43 |
| 80+ | 18-20 | 11-13 | 11-13 | 36-39 |
Read Expert Analysis on CAT 2023 score and percentile
You can also find CAT 2022 exam analysis, CAT 2021 exam analysis and more here. In CAT 2022, the VARC section comprised 16 RC questions, 3 para summary questions, and 3 para jumbles in all 3 slots. CAT QA was dominated by algebra and arithmetic while DILR question sets in all 3 slots were tough and time-consuming. Candidates must go through CAT exam analysis of previous years given in this article to get insights into what can be expected in CAT 2023.
| Table of Contents |
CAT Exam Analysis 2022
CAT 2022 was conducted in 3 slots on November 27, 2022. CAT exam 2022 comprised 24 questions in VARC, 20 questions in DILR, and 22 questions in QA.
CAT 2022 Slot 1 Exam Analysis
CAT 2022 slot 1 was conducted from 8:30 am to 10:30 am. The overall difficulty level was moderate with no surprise elements. [Source: TIME CAT 2022 Analysis]
CAT 2022 Slot 1 VARC Analysis
There were 4 RC passages in the VARC section. Each comprised 4 questions. 2 passages were relatively easier than the others. The topics of the passages were:
- Undeads or Ghosts- Moderate
- Emotions, Stoicism and Epicureanism- Easy to Moderate
- Chinese/ Eastern Art and Philosophy- Easy to Moderate (passage was easy to understand and the choice elimination technique was easy to arrive at the correct answer)
- Human Rights and Technology- Most difficult of all the sets.
The remaining 8 questions were from Verbal Ability:
- Para Summary- 3 questions of easy level
- Para Jumbles- 1 was easy and 2 were moderate
- Para Completion- 2 easy to moderate level questions
Ideal Attempt: 13-15 questions or a score of 38-40 was enough to get a 99+ percentile in CAT 2022 Slot 1 VARC.
CAT 2022 Slot 1 DILR Analysis
The DILR section consisted of 4 sets of 5 questions each. The questions were mostly LR-based requiring analytical thinking and interpretation. There were no direct DI questions from charts and graphs. CAT 2022 Slot 1 DILR was the most time consuming section with 2 sets doable in the given time of 40 minutes.
| DILR Set Slot 1 | Topic/ Type of Data Set | No of Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Token Funding | LR Puzzle | 5 | Difficult (very less data given) |
| Goals | Games & Tournament | 5 | Moderate |
| Boys and Girls | Venn Diagram | 5 | Very Difficult |
| Metro Lines | Networks and Routes | 5 | Moderate (mainly observation and calculation intensive) |
Ideal Attempt: 12-13 questions or a score of 36-38 was enough to get a 99+ percentile in CAT 2022 Slot 1 DILR.
CAT 2022 Slot 1 Quant Analysis
CAT 2022 slot 1 quant comprised 8 TITA questions. The MCQs were comparatively easier than the TITA questions. There were 9 questions from Arithmetic, 7 from Algebra topics. Surprisingly, there was no question on time and work from arithmetic.
- Arithmetic- 9 questions of easy to moderate level (2 from averages and ratios, 2 from P&L, 3 from Averages, Mixtures & Alligation, and 1 each from SI/CI and Time, Speed & Distance)
- Algebra- 1 from quadratic equations, 2 from series and progressions, and 2 from inequalities and modulus, 2 from surds & indices
- Geometry- only 3 questions (1 from coordinate geometry)
- Modern Mathematics- 2 difficult questions (set theory and P&C)
- Number System- 1 question of moderate difficulty level
Ideal Attempt: 9-10 questions or a score of 28-30 was enough to get a 99+ percentile in CAT 2022 Slot 1 QA.
CAT 2022 Slot 2 Exam Analysis
CAT 2022 slot 2 was conducted from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm. The overall difficulty and paper pattern was similar to the slot 1 paper. [Source: Career Launcher CAT 2022 Analysis]
CAT 2022 Slot 2 VARC Analysis
The reading comprehension passages in CAT 2022 slot 2 were a bit difficult to understand and interpret. The 4 RC passage topics asked included:
- Octopus
- Music
- Philosophy
- Technology
Out of the 3 para summary questions, 1 was difficult to answer. Apart from this, there were 3 parajumbles and 2 para completion questions of easy to moderate level difficulty.
Ideal Attempt: 12-14 questions or a score of 40-42 was enough to get a 99+ percentile in CAT 2022 Slot 2 VARC.
CAT 2022 Slot 2 DILR Analysis
Overall, CAT 2022 DILR slot 2 was difficult. There were 14 MCQs and 6 TITA questions in the section. You could attempt 2 sets of questions in the given time with ease.
| DILR Set Slot 2 | Topic/ Type of Data Set | No of Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue / cost | Scatter Chart | 5 | Easy to Moderate |
| Cosmetic item sales | Venn Diagram | 5 | Moderate |
| Warehouses- 4 destination | Routes and Network | 5 | Easy to Moderate |
| Salesman & four colonies | Quant Based Logical Reasoning | 5 | Difficult |
Ideal Attempt: 10-11 questions or a score of 30-32 was enough to get a 99+ percentile in CAT 2022 Slot 2 DILR.
CAT 2022 Slot 2 Quant Analysis
CAT 2022 slot 2 quantitative aptitude was of similar level as slot 1. The algebra questions were more difficult than the other questions. Attempting 14-15 questions in 40 minutes was manageable if you prepared well. The topic-wise breakup of questions is provided below:
- Arithmetic- 9 questions
- Algebra- 7 questions
- Geometry- 4 questions
- Modern Mathematics and Number System- 1 question each
Ideal Attempt: 14-15 questions (at least 12 correct) or a score of 32-36 was enough to get a 99+ percentile in CAT 2022 Slot 2 QA.
CAT 2022 Slot 3 Exam Analysis
CAT 2022 slot 3 was conducted from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. The overall difficulty and paper pattern was similar to the slot 1 paper. [Source: TIME CAT 2022 Analysis]
CAT 2022 Slot 3 VARC Analysis
The distribution of questions was similar to the first 2 slots. There were 4 RC passages (4 questions each) with mostly application based questions including inference & judgements, contradicting views, negative connotation.
One passage on Automation was easy to read and comprehend. The RC passage on Orientalism and Interpretation of India’s past was the most difficult. Candidates should have skipped this and focused on the other 3 instead.
| RC Passages | Readability and Understanding | Difficulty Level of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Orientalism and Interpretation of India’s past | Difficult | Moderate-Difficult |
| Automation | Easy | Moderate-Easy |
| Biology & Technology | Moderate | Moderate |
| Social Disorganization | Moderate | Moderate |
In the Verbal Ability part, the 3 questions on para summary were doable. The 3 questions on para jumbles were non-MCQs and were slightly difficult to answer.
Ideal Attempt: 13-14 questions or a score of 38-40 was enough to get a 99+ percentile in CAT 2022 Slot 3 VARC. A score of 25-26 was enough to get 85 percentile and above.
CAT 2022 Slot 3 DILR Analysis
In CAT 2022 slot 3 DILR, only 1 set of bar graphs was easy while the other 3 sets were difficult. The selection of the right question sets was the key to scoring high in this section. Attempting 2 sets including the easy one was enough to get a 99 percentile given the high difficulty level.
| DILR Set Slot 3 | Topic/ Type of Data Set | No. of Questions | Difficulty level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortality Rates | Bar Graph | 5 | Easy to Moderate |
| Diseases | Distribution | 5 | Difficult (arriving at a unique solution required time) |
| Students- Computer Science and Non-Computer Science | Quant Based Reasoning | 5 | Very Difficult (involved a lot of ratios making it extremely time consuming) |
| Rounds and Bets | Games and Tournaments | 5 | Difficult (exploring the multiple cases was difficult) |
Ideal Attempt: A score of 14-16 was enough to get a 85+ percentile in CAT 2022 Slot 3 DILR. For 99+ percentile, a score of 25-28 (attempt of 8-10 questions) was enough.
CAT 2022 Slot 3 Quant Analysis
CAT 2022 slot 3 quant paper was comparatively easier than the other 2 slots. The easy questions however were not direct formula based and required a good understanding of the question’s approach.
- Arithmetic accounted for 8 questions- 3 from AMA (Averages, Mixtures and Alligation), 2 each from Time Speed & Distance and Time and Work, 1 from SI/ CI.
- Algebra was dominated by quadratic equations with 4 questions. Apart from this, there was 1 question each from special equations, logarithm & indices, progressions, and functions.
- Geometry comprised 4 questions while there was only 1 question each from numbers and modern math (permutation & combination).
Ideal Attempt: 14-16 questions or a score of 40-42 was enough to get a 99+ percentile in CAT 2022 Slot 3 QA.
Download CAT 2022 Question Paper
Must Read:
CAT Exam Analysis 2021
CAT 2021 was conducted in 3 slots on November 28, 2021. Surprisingly, IIM reduced the number of questions from 76 to 66 in CAT 2021 exam. VARC comprised 24 questions, DILR 20 questions, and QA 22 questions. [Source: TIME CAT Coaching Institute]
CAT 2021 Slot 1 Analysis
Overall, the difficulty level of CAT 2021 slot 1 was slightly higher than the 2020 paper.
VARC: RC passages were lengthy. Out of the 4 passages, 2 were comparatively easier to read and understand.
| RC Passage | Readability and Understanding | Difficulty Level of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Mayan Civilisation | Difficult | Difficult |
| Utopia and Dystopia | Difficult | Very Difficult |
| Marshmallow experiment | Moderate | Difficult |
| Evolution of Tea as a drink | Moderate | Moderate |
In the VA section, Parajumbles were easy to comprehend while in para summary questions, the answer choices were tricky. There were 5 TITA questions- 3 para jumbles and 2 odd sentence out.
DILR: The overall difficulty level was similar to 2020 with the major challenge being 4 sets instead of 5 (limited choice of set selection). The paper had 2 sets of 6 questions each and 2 sets of 4 questions each. Only the DI question set on the bar graph was easy while the other 3 were difficult to attempt in the given time frame.
| DILR Sets Slot 1 | No. of Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| DI- Bar graph on sales | 4 | Easy to Moderate |
| LR- Friends & Acquaintances | 6 | Difficult (analyze an 8x8 grid and identify additional cases) |
| DI- Smoothies | 4 | Difficult (2 questions were less challenging) |
| LR- Journals | 6 | Very Difficult (complex information, time consuming) |
Quantitative Aptitude: Maximum questions from arithmetic followed by algebra and geometry. The questions that seemed easy were actually a tough nut to crack.
- Maximum questions in arithmetic were from ratios & proportions (3), averages, mixtures & alligation (2), percentage & profit/ loss (2), time & work (2), SI/ CI (1), time speed and distance (1). Overall, these questions were easy and doable with moderate effort.
- There were 2 questions each from quadratic equations and progressions. The 3 questions of algebra from inequalities, functions and logs & indices were not easy to solve.
- 3 questions made up geometry and only 1 question from numbers was asked.
CAT 2021 Slot 2 Analysis
CAT 2022 slot 2 exam was on similar lines as slot 1. There were no surprise elements from the previous slot.
VARC: RC passages were lengthy and difficult to interpret. The questions were also twisted with most of them asking students to choose the options except and some were to weaken the argument type.
| RC Passage | Readability and Understanding | Difficulty Level of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Why Fiction Trumps Truth | Moderate | Moderate |
| Colonialism and Nationalism | Moderate to Difficult | Difficult |
| Language and Indigenous People | Difficult | Difficult |
| Knowledge and problems in philosophy | Very Difficult | Very Difficult |
VA comprised 8 questions- 3 para jumbles, 3 para summary, and 2 odd sentence out. The Para Summary and Para Jumble questions were doable with only a few tricky ones in terms of linking the sentences to arrive at the answer.
DILR: The difficulty level was not more than last year’s papers. There were 4 sets of questions out of which the one on bar graph was easier while the other three were difficult to choose from. Selection of the sets was the game changer in getting a higher percentile in CAT DILR section.
| DILR Sets | Number of Questions | Difficulty level |
|---|---|---|
| DI- Bar graph on Delivery times | 4 | Easy (direct questions dealing with mainly averages of the values given) |
| LR- Games & Tournaments/Distribution | 4 | Moderate to Difficult (tedious to interpret the information) |
| LR- Pizza delivery ratings | 6 | Difficult (challenging due to high number of parameters to address) |
| DI- Objects, Bundles & Values | 6 | Very Difficult (data in a 5x10 table) |
Quantitative Aptitude: Overall, CAT 2021 slot 2 quant section was not very difficult as expected. The difficulty level was cleverly balanced with about 6 easy, 4 easy to moderate, 6 moderate and 6 tough questions.
- Arithmetic: 9 questions in total. There were 3 questions each from averages mixtures & alligations (easy) and percentages, profit & loss (moderate). 2 questions from time speed and distance were surprisingly easy to attempt.
- Algebra: The questions were scattered across different topics. There was 1 question each from quadratic equations, logarithms, inequalities, special equations, indices, and functions & graphs.
- Geometry and Mensuration made up only 3 questions of moderate level difficulty.
CAT 2021 Slot 3 Analysis
CAT 2021 slot 3 followed a similar pattern as the other 2 slots. The Quant section was tougher than the other 2 slots while the VARC and DILR sections were comparatively easier.
VARC: Like the previous 2 slots, the distribution of questions was similar. Out of the 4 RC passages, the one on psychoanalysis was the most difficult to read and interpret.
| RC Passage | Readability and Understanding | Difficulty Level of Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Nanotechnology | Moderate | Easy to Moderate |
| Language Instinct | Moderate | Moderate |
| Time Accuracy Entropy | Moderate | Difficult |
| Psychoanalysis | Difficult | Very Difficult |
The VA section of CAT exam 2021 slot 3 was comparatively easier than the reading comprehension passages. The 3 para jumbles were easy to answer while the 3 para summary questions required a little extra effort to arrive at the correct answer.
DILR: This section was a game changer in slot 3. Unlike the previous slots, there were 2 sets of easy to moderate level in CAT 2021 slot 3 DILR section. Choosing these 2 slots first was the winning strategy for the slot 3 candidates.
| DILR Sets | Number of Questions | Difficulty level |
|---|---|---|
| DI- Employee Schedules (Bar Graph) | 4 | Easy to Moderate |
| LR- Purity of Solutions | 4 | Easy to Moderate |
| LR- Javelin Throw | 6 | Very Difficult |
| DI- Questions Evaluation | 6 | Moderate-Difficult |
Quantitative Aptitude: The questions were not only difficult but also lengthier than the other 2 slots. Geometry had 4 questions unlike 3 in slot 1 and slot 2. Similarly there were 4 questions from ERPV (Equations, Ratios and Proportions). There was no question from profit & loss and functions & graphs.
Given the high difficulty level of the quant section, a score of 22-25 was enough to get a 95+ percentile. For 85 percentile and above, a score of 18-19 would suffice.
Previous Year CAT Exam Analysis (2020-2018)
You can also find the detailed expert analysis of CAT 2020, CAT 2019, and CAT 2018 using the links given below. [Source: TIME CAT exam analysis]
| Year | Analysis |
|---|---|
| CAT exam analysis 2020 | Check Here |
| CAT exam analysis 2019 | Check Here |
| CAT exam analysis 2018 | Check Here |
What is the Cut off for CAT 2023?
IIMs release the qualifying CAT cut off percentile on their respective websites. Tabulated below is the cut off for CAT 2023 for IIM:
| IIM | Overall Qualifying Cut off |
|---|---|
| IIM Bangalore | 85 |
| IIM Ahmedabad | 80 |
| IIM Lucknow | 90 |
| IIM Mumbai | 85 |
| IIM Kozhikode | 80 |
| IIM Calcutta | 85 |
| IIM Indore | 90 |
| IIM Visakhapatnam | 80 |
| IIM Nagpur | 85 |
| IIM Raipur | 93 |
| IIM Rohtak | 95 |
*Based on the analysis of CAT provided here, candidates can predict their chances of admission to top IIMs. Check CAT 2023 Call Predictor
Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. Which slot in CAT is easy?
Ans. We can't surely say which CAT slot is easy. Each slot is a mix of easy, moderate and difficult questions. One year slot 3 might be more difficult, the other year slot 1 or 2 might be more difficult. Overall, the difficulty level remains moderate to tough across shifts with only variations in section-wise difficulty.
Ques. How do you analyze a CAT score?
Ans. To analyze your CAT score, it is essential you know the analysis of CAT score vs percentile. This is beneficial in predicting the percentile you may get based on your scores. Then you must check the cut off percentiles for IIMs and other top colleges accepting your range of percentile.
Ques. Is CAT tougher than IIT?
Ans. Both CAT and IIT JEE are tough in their respective streams. CAT is one of the toughest MBA entrance exams in India while IIT JEE is the toughest engineering entrance test. The syllabus of CAT and JEE is completely different making it impossible to compare these at a common base. It is however noteworthy that those who appear for IIT JEE likely have an advantage in terms of calculation speed and methods than those from a non-engineering background.
Ques. Is slot 3 difficult in CAT?
Ans. Yes, CAT is a tough exam to score high in. The questions can be very challenging requiring great analytical skills. All slots are moderate to difficult. It's not definitive as to slot 3 is more difficult than the other 2 slots.
Ques. Which year CAT was toughest?
Ans. The answer to this may vary from person to person. Many reported CAT 2023 retest held in Feb 2024 to be one of the hardest to solve. Also, the quantitative aptitude section of exams conducted by IIM Calcutta is reported to be the toughest in years.
Ques. What is a 70 percentile in CAT score?
Ans. 70 percentile in CAT is equivalent to a score of about 35-40. So, breaking this section-wise, a score of 15-16 in VARC, 10-14 in DILR, and 12-13 in Quantitative Aptitude is needed to get the desired scores and percentile.
Ques. Which subject is hardest in CAT exam?
Ans. Based on CAT exam analysis of the past 2 years, DILR sets are very difficult while QA is moderately difficult. In VARC, the reading comprehension passages are not very easy to understand. However, the para jumbles and para summary questions are doable and not very difficult.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
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