The CAT Quantitative Aptitude section in Slot 1 was moderate with a mix of easy, medium, and a few difficult questions. While some questions in arithmetic and algebra were easy, there were tougher questions in geometry and number systems. The CAT Quantitative Aptitude section in Slot 2 was also similar. The CAT Quant section was Arithmetic dominated. There were questions related to Simple Interest, Geometry had 3-4 questions. The Slot 2 Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section included previous year questions from topics like Simple Interest and Compound Interest (SICI) and Time and Work. Students were happy to see two exact same questions from 2023 and 2022.
CAT 2024 Slot 1 Analysis: Check Paper-Wise Difficulty Level, Questions with Answers
While the difficulty level of QA was similar to previous years, this time, questions in Arithmetic seemed more calculation-heavy and less straightforward, making it trickier for candidates to complete within the time limit. There were questions on remainders and numbers. Check below the key highlights of CAT 2024 analysis:
- CAT 2024 question paper was moderate. Usually, the question paper of CAT second session is the toughest.
- IIM CAT has prepared the CAT 2024 question paper so one can expect it to be slightly easier than previous years.
- Quantitative Aptitude section has maximum questions from Arithmetic and Algebra
- CAT slot 2 difficulty level was similar to slot 1.
- Easy to moderate Question Paper
CAT 2024 Slot 2 Question Paper QA: Download PDF with Answer Key and Solutions
CAT Quantitative Aptitude 2024 Exam Analysis Highlights
CAT Quantitative Aptitude was comparatively easier (in terms of level of difficulty) as compared to last year. It was dominated by
- Arithmetic (8 questions)
- Algebra (7 questions)
- 3 questions on Geometry
- 3 questions on Modern Math
- 1 on Numbers.
The topics on which the questions were given in CAT 2024 Slot 1 are:
- In Arithmetic, the questions were on SICI, Time and Work, Time-Speed-Distance, Ratio Proportion, Mixtures & Alligations, Multiple operations, and Profit & Loss.
- In Algebra, the questions were dominated by Quadratic equations, Inequality with Graphics Functions, Identity-based questions, etc.
- In Modern Math, the questions were on Logarithms, Sequences, Permutations etc.
- In Geometry, the questions were on Quadrilaterals, Sphere with cuboids, etc.
| CAT 2024 Slot | CAT 2024 Quant Analysis |
|---|---|
| Quant Slot 1 (Out) | Check Here |
| Quant Slot 2 (Out) | Check Here |
| Quant Slot 3 | TBA |
CAT Slot 1 Analysis 2024: Quantitative Aptitude
CAT Quantitative Aptitude featured mostly Number System, Algebra, Arithmetic, and Modern Math. The questions were from Remainder, Indices, Log, Equations, Functions, Maxima-Minima, Sequence & Series, Algebraic Expression, TSD-, T&W-, SI-CI, Percentage, PLD, Mixture, Averages, Ratios, P&C, Circle, Cuboid/Square, Coordinate Geometry.
| Section No. | Section Name | Duration | MCQs | TITA | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| III | QA | 40 min | 14 | 8 | 22 |
Number of TITA (8 questions) and MCQ (14 questions) in this section.
| Area/Q Type | No of Questions |
|---|---|
| Quantitative Ability | 14 MCQs, 8 TITA Overall LOD: MEDIUM |
| Arithmetic | 8 |
| Algebra | 7 |
| Geometry | 3 |
| Modern Math | 3 |
| Numbers | 1 |
CAT Slot 2 Analysis 2024: Quantitative Aptitude
The second slot of CAT 2024 was moderately challenging, with an easier VARC section, a tougher DILR, and a formula-driven QA section.
| CAT Slot 2 QA Topics | No. of Questions (MCQ/non-MCQ) |
|---|---|
| Number System | To be updated |
| Algebra | 4-5 |
| Arithmetic | To be updated |
| Modern Maths | To be updated |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 2 |
CAT Slot 2 Exam Analysis 2024: Student First Reactions
- Neha Kapoor stated, "The LRDI section was balanced. I managed to attempt all sets confidently, but one of the sets was calculation-heavy and slowed me down. Compared to last year, I found it slightly easier."
- Shirish Bhardwaj mentioned, "The QA section was the toughest for me. While arithmetic questions were manageable, algebra and geometry had some questions that required a lot of thought. I had to skip a couple due to time constraints."
- Kunal Mehta said, "Slot 2 was similar to Slot 1 in difficulty. I feel that time management was crucial, especially in QA, where some problems had multiple steps. The LRDI section saved the day for me as it felt less intimidating than last year."
CAT 2024 Analysis Ideal Score
CAT 2024 analysis is here. As per experts, a total of 36-40 attempts will be good enough for a score of 90. This year, there are 22 questions in DILR and that may affect the score calculation. You can check teh Check CAT 2024 Cut off here. However, since the overall CAT difficulty level is moderate, candidates need not worry.
| CAT 2024 sections | Number of good attempts | Ideal score attempt |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | 14-16 | 40 |
| DILR | 10-11 | 32 |
| Quantitative Aptitude | 10 | 35 |
| Total | 36 | 90 |
CAT 2023 Slot 1 Analysis- Question Distribution
| QA Topics | Question Distribution | Difficulty | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | Time, Speed, Distance- 2 questions 1 question each from Time and Work, ratio, SI-CI, Profit & Loss, Mixtures & Alligation, Clocks | Easy to Moderate | 5 |
| Algebra | Sequence & series- 2 questions, Maxima & Minima- 2 questions, Inequalities- 1 question, Logarithm- 1 question, Equations- 1 question | Moderate to Difficult | 4 |
| Modern Math | P&C- 1 question | Easy | 1 |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 1 question each from Rectangles, Circles, and Coordinate Geometry | Moderate | 2 |
| Number System | Factors- 1 question, Divisibility- 1 question | Easy | 1 |
CAT 2023 Slot 2 Analysis- Question Distribution
| QA Topics | Question Distribution | Difficulty | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | Profit & Loss- 2 questions, Ratios- 2 questions, 1 question each from Time and Work, TSD, SI-CI, Mixtures & Alligation, Averages | Easy to Moderate | 5 |
| Algebra | 1 question each from logarithms and surds Equations- 3 questions Sequence & Series (AP/ GP)- 2 questions | Difficult | 3 |
| Modern Math | None | - | - |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 1 question each from Triangles, Quadrilaterals, and Circle + Coordinate Geometry | Moderate | 1 |
| Number System | Rational Numbers- 1 question | Easy | 1 |
CAT 2023 Slot 3 Analysis- Question Distribution
| QA Topics | Question Distribution | Difficulty | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | Time and Work- 2 questions 1 question each from Time Speed Distance, SI-CI, Profit & Loss, Mixtures & Alligation, Averages | Moderate | 4-5 |
| Algebra | 1 question each from logarithms, functions and algebraic expressions, Equations- 2 questions, Sequence & Series- 2 questions | Moderate to Difficult | 3 |
| Modern Math | None | - | 0 |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 1 question each from Triangles, Polygons and Circle | Moderate | 1 |
| Number System | 1 question each from factors, integral values, and indices | Easy to Moderate | 2 |
In 2022, Quant section was moderate to tough. 8 questions were TITA type and 14 were MCQ type in all the slots. CAT 2022 slot 2 algebra questions were the toughest to attempt. Arithmetic accounted for about 45% of the paper followed by Algebra, Geometry, and Number System. Candidates can also go through the detailed CAT Quantitative Aptitude Exam Analysis of previous years (2022-2017) provided below
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Exam Analysis 2022
CAT Quantitative Aptitude Exam Analysis 2022 for slot 1, slot 2, and slot 3 is provided here.
| CAT Exam Slot | CAT Slot Time | CAT 2022 QA Exam Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| Quant Slot 1 | 8:30 to 10:30 AM | Check Here |
| Quant Slot 2 | 12:30 to 2:30 PM | Check Here |
| Quant Slot 3 | 4:30 to 6:30 PM | Check Here |
Slot-wise CAT Analysis 2022 for QA
CAT QA exam analysis for slots 1, 2, and 3 is updated here. The paper comprised of 14 MCQ and 8 TITA-type questions in CAT Quantitative Aptitude section.
| Particulars | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Number of MCQs | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| Number of Non-MCQs | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate to Difficult | Difficult | Moderate to Difficult |
| Topics with Maximum Weightage |
|
|
|
| Good Attempts | 14-15 | 13-14 | 14-15 |
People Also Ask
Ques: What is the difficulty level of CAT Quant?
Ans: The questions in CAT Quant sections is usually moderate to difficult, with Arithmetic and Algebra being the most dominant secion of all. Last year, around 8-9 questions were asked from Arithmatic and 7-8 questions were from Algebra in all the three slots.
Ques: What is the level of maths in CAT?
Ans: Questions from Quant section in CAT exam are based on the level of class 10. But students should prepare the advanced level questions as well.
Ques. Which topics have the maximum weightage in CAT Quant?
Ans. The topics with the maximum weightage in CAT Quant include:
- Arithmetic – around 10-11 questions
- Algebra- around 5-6 questions
- Geometry- around 3-4 questions
- Number System and Modern Maths usually account for 3-4 questions in total.
Based on 2022 analysis, CAT DILR paper is of moderate difficulty and lengthy. CAT VARC paper is of easy to moderate difficulty with 4 RC passages. Must Check:
CAT 2021 Quantitative Aptitude Analysis
CAT 2021 Quantitative Aptitude for slot 1, slot 2, slot 3 has been updated in the table below:
| Particulars | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 22 (Revised) | 22 (Revised) | 22 (Revised) |
| Number of MCQs | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| Number of Non-MCQs | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Easy but Tricky |
| Topics with Maximum Weightage |
|
|
|
| Good Attempts | 16-18 | 16-18 | 16-18 |
Quick Links for Preparation:
CAT 2021 QA Analysis Slot 1
CAT 2021 slot 1 exam has been conducted from 8:30 am to 10:30 am. The detailed analysis of CAT QA Slot 1 has been provided below:
| Topic | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algebra | 5 | Moderate | 3-4 |
| Arithmetic | 11 | Moderate | 6-7 |
| Number System | 2 | Moderate | 1-2 |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 3 | Moderate | 1-2 |
| Modern Maths | 1 | Moderate | 1 |
CAT 2021 QA Analysis Slot 2
CAT 2021 slot 2 exam has been conducted from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm. Check CAT 2021 QA Analysis Slot 2 below:
| Topic | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Numbers | 2 | Moderate | 1 |
| Arithmetic | 11 | Easy-Moderate | 7-8 |
| Algebra | 5 | Easy-Moderate | 3-4 |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 3 | Moderate | 2-3 |
| Modern Maths | 1 | Moderate | 1 |
CAT 2021 QA Analysis Slot 3
CAT 2021 slot 3 exam has been conducted from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. The detailed exam analysis is given below for your reference.
| Topic | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level | Good Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algebra | 6 | Easy-Moderate | 4-5 |
| Arithmetic | 11 | Easy-Moderate | 7-8 |
| Geometry | 4 | Easy-Moderate | 2-3 |
| Modern Maths | 1 | Moderate | 1 |
Must Read: Tricks to Solve QA Questions in 1 Minute
CAT Exam Analysis 2020 for Quantitative Aptitude
Students who appeared for CAT 2020 claim that the QA section was easy as compared to the other 2 sections (VARC and DILR). Sectional time imit was 40 minutes in which 26 questions must be answered.
CAT Exam Analysis 2020 for Slot 1
| Topic | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Numbers | 2 | Medium |
| Algebra | 8 | Medium |
| Arithmetic | 10 | Easy to medium |
| Geometry | 3 | Easy to medium |
| Modern Maths | 3 | Medium |
CAT Exam Analysis 2020 for Slot 2
| Topic | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level |
| Number Systems | 1 | Medium |
| Arithmetic | 9 | Easy to medium |
| Geometry | 5 | Medium |
| Algebra | 7 | Medium to difficult |
| Modern Maths | 4 | Medium |
CAT Exam Analysis 2019 for Quantitative Aptitude
As per experts the section provided ample opportunity to score well if candidates were able to segregate questions as per difficulty and attempt it. Though there were do able questions, there was presence of substantial difficult questions as well.
- QA section in CAT 2019 was observed to be slightly easier in comparison to 2018. This was mainly because the questions were less time consuming.
- Arithmetic aced the section with a total of 14 questions followed by Algebra with 11 questions in both the slots.
- Geometry and Mensuration covered an important part with 6 questions in both the slots.
- A decline was seen in questions from Modern Maths with mere one question from P and C Venn Diagrams ach in slot one and 3 questions in slot 2.
CAT Exam Analysis 2019 Slot 1
| Chapter | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 14 | Easy to Moderate |
| Algebra | 11 | Difficult |
| Geometry | 6 | Moderate |
| Modern Maths | 2 | Moderate |
| Numbers | 1 | Difficult |
CAT Exam Analysis 2019 Slot 2
Comparing slot 2 quants with slot 1 there was no difference in difficulty and distribution of questions. Though there was complete absence of Modern Math and questions in Numbers increased to 3.
| Chapter | Number of Questions | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 14 | Easy to Moderate |
| Algebra | 11 | Difficult |
| Geometry | 6 | Moderate |
| Numbers | 3 | Difficult |
CAT Exam Analysis 2018 for QA
CAT 2018 was held on November 25 conducted in two slots-morning and afternoon. Quantitative Ability section consisted of 34 questions in total. The section had a time limit of 60 minutes.
CAT Exam Analysis 2018 Slot 1
- 11 questions were non-MCQ and 23 questions were MCQs.
- The level of questions was easy.
- Arithmetic and Algebra dominated the section with 20-21 questions.
- A good attempt of 25-27 questions with 90% accuracy could fetch 99%ile.
| Topic | Number of Questions | Good Attempt |
|---|---|---|
| Number System | 4 | 4 |
| Algebra | 10-11 | 8-10 |
| Arithmetic | 11 | 7-9 |
| Modern Math | 2 | 2 |
| Geometry and Mensuration | 6-7 | 4-5 |
CAT Exam Analysis 2018 Slot 2
- 8 questions were non-MCQ, and 24 questions were MCQs.
- The level of questions was easy to moderate. There was no question too difficult to solve.
- Arithmetic and Algebra dominated the section with around 22 questions
- A good attempt of 24-28 questions with 90% accuracy could fetch 99% ile.
| Topic | Number of Questions | Good Attempt |
|---|---|---|
| Number System | 4 | 2-3 |
| Algebra | 12 | 9-10 |
| Arithmetic | 12 | 9-10 |
| Modern Math | 2 | 1 |
| Geometry and Mensuration | 4 | 2-3 |
Quick Links:
CAT Exam Analysis 2017 for QA
CAT 2017 was held on November 26 in two slots- morning and afternoon. The Quantitative Ability section consisted of 34 questions in total. The section had a time limit of 60 minutes.
- 7-8 questions were non-MCQ and 23-24 questions were MCQs.
- The level of questions was difficult compared to the previous year’s.
- Algebra questions were on Inequalities and Quadratic equations. Arithmetic questions were from Commercial Math and TSD.
- A good attempt was of 23-26 questions with 90% accuracy to fetch 99%ile.
| Topic | Number of Questions | Good Attempt |
|---|---|---|
| Number System | 4 | 3 |
| Algebra | 10-11 | 8-10 |
| Arithmetic | 10 | 7-9 |
| Modern Math | 2 | 1 |
| Geometry and Mensuration | 7-8 | 4-5 |
Must Read:
CAT Quantitative Ability Exam Analysis FAQs
Ques. What is the best way to score well in CAT Quantitative Ability?
Ans. The best way to score well in CAT Quant is to improve speed and accuracy. Analyze the previous year’s papers and prepare accordingly. Furthermore, be thorough with important formulas and short tricks for solving arithmetic and algebra questions. While attempting the paper, candidates must ensure that they don’t spend more than 90 seconds on any question.
Ques. What will be the sectional cut off for CAT Quantitative Ability 2024?
Ans. The Sectional Cut Off for CAT Quant paper is around 90 percentile for Major IIMs. However for major non-IIM institutes, the sectional cut off will be in the range of 80-90 percentile.
Ques. What is the marking scheme for CAT Quant?
Ans: The marking scheme for CAT quant is as follows:
- +3 for Correct Answer
- -1 for an Incorrect Answer to an MCQ
- No marks deducted for incorrect answer to a TITA question
Ques: What are the important tips to crack CAT QA section?
Ans: CAT does not have any defined syllabus. So, candidates are required to prepare from various topics and more or less rely on previous year question sets of CAT. Thus, to solve this dilemma, they should follow the toppers trick and the expert opinion. Simultaneously a candidate should try to appear in frequent mock tests available online.
*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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