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CAT 2024 Slot 1 Exam Analysis: Compared to last year, the questions were a bit tricky this year. Two extra questions were added in the DILR section making it 68 questions up from 66 questions last year, said experts
The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2024, conducted by IIM Calcutta is being held today, November 24, 2024, in three different slots. Compared to last year, the questions were a bit tricky this year. Two extra questions were added in the DILR section making it 68 questions up from 66 questions last year. The time frame of the exam remained 120 minutes with 40 minutes allotted to each section.
The difficulty level of CAT 2024 – Slot 1 was comparatively tricky to the CAT 2023 paper, said Gautam Puri, Co-Founder & MD of Career Launcher. “The overall difficulty level of this year’s exam was higher than that of the first slot of CAT 2023. The section-wise level of difficulty for the VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension) section was easy in difficulty level, the DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning) was between easy to moderate and the QA (Quantitative Ability) was moderate in difficulty level,” he said further adding that the QA section proved to be more challenging this year.
Ramnath Kanakadandi, Senior Course Director, T.I.M.E. said, “The only surprise in the examination was that the number of questions marginally increased to 68 (there were 66 Questions last year). This increase was done by adding two more questions to the DILR section.’
In the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section, the questions were on similar lines as was seen in the last three CAT exams. There were questions on Reading Comprehension, Para odd one out, Para Summary, and sentence placement, Kanakadandi added.
Bhushan Bapat, Head of Academics, CAT Division at Supergrads, Toprankers says slot 1 of the CAT 2024 exam was easier than last year. “The VARC section was moderate, DILR was manageable, and QA was also moderate. Students reacted positively, noting a little surprise in the exam. Overall, the difficulty was moderate, and higher cutoffs are to be expected this year.”
CAT is an entrance exam held for admission into top B-schools, including 21 IIMs.