CAT 2024 Exam Analysis and Cut-off: Key Insights & Trends

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Our expert analysis of CAT 2024 offers clear insights into candidates’ performance and the difficulty across different sections. Conducted by IIM Calcutta in three slots, CAT 2024 presented varied challenges—our section-wise breakdown explains the types of questions, topics covered, and key takeaways. Read the full article for a comprehensive overview of the exam.

The CAT 2024 exam retained its overall structure from previous years but introduced some notable changes. While the Verbal Ability and Quantitative Ability sections had the same number of questions, the Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning section saw a slight increase from 20 to 22 questions. This minor adjustment brought significant relief to aspirants due to an increase in the number of sets. Additionally, the Verbal section featured new question types, and the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section had more sets, shaking things up for test-takers.

CAT Overall Analysis 2024

The CAT 2024 exam was generally considered easier than previous years. Several changes surprised test-takers, including an increase of two questions in the Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) section. This section, which has historically been a challenge for many, was notably easier this year, with students reporting that they were able to solve 2-3 sets, a significant increase from previous years. The Verbal Ability section maintained a similar difficulty level to the past, while the Quantitative Aptitude section, despite some variations in Slot 2, was also found to be easier overall compared to the previous year.

CAT Section Wise Analysis 2024

CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension Section 2024

The verbal section in CAT 2024 ranged from moderate to difficult, marking a departure from the generally easier trend of recent years. With tricky Reading Comprehension (RC) sets, accuracy played a crucial role. The section featured four medium-length RC passages, each containing four questions. Topics included Behavioral Economics, the extinction of an Australian species, Craftsmanship vs. Materialism, and cultural changes driven by OTT platforms—spanning areas like Psychology, Social Studies, and Economics. Overall, two passages were relatively straightforward, while the other two were more challenging, featuring inference-based questions. Although the passages themselves were easy to read, the questions demanded careful interpretation.

CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning 2024

The DILR section in the morning slot of this year's CAT exam was a positive development for many aspirants. The increase in both the total number of questions and the number of sets provided more opportunities for students to select and solve sets effectively. Candidates who strategically chose the right sets would have likely seen a rise in both their number of attempts and their accuracy.

This year, the DILR section featured five sets: three with four questions each and two with five questions each. Two of the four-question sets were of a moderate difficulty and were good candidates for attempts. As anticipated, the two five-question sets were difficult to understand and would have been risky to attempt. The "Candle-Stick Pattern of Stocks" set, while visually intimidating, contained some of the easiest questions in the section and was a good choice for those who looked past its appearance. The "Star Ratings of Bloggers" set, while requiring some logical deduction, was also solvable with persistence. In contrast, the "Countries Visited" and "Elections" sets were lengthy and could have proven problematic, while the "Tournament" set was particularly complex and challenging even for top-tier candidates.

CAT Quantitative Aptitude(QA) 2024

The Quantitative Aptitude section of this year's CAT exam was easier than in the previous year, featuring a good number of straightforward questions. The Arithmetic portion was particularly prominent, with more than 10 questions covering topics like Ratios, Profit & Loss, Time, Speed, and Distance (TSD), Averages, and Simple & Compound Interest. These questions were considered clearly doable.

As a result of the lower difficulty level, the overall number of attempts in this section has increased compared to last year. Candidates who maintained high accuracy on these questions will be at a significant advantage.

Last Eight years CAT Exam Analysis

CAT CUT-OFF 2025

Candidates whose names will be listed in the merit list according to their exam results receive their CAT results from IIM. Students who pass the entrance test will be given a separate merit list. The websites of the respective IIMs will make the list of candidates shortlisted for the next level of selection available. The shortlisted candidates will receive calls for interviews directly from each IIM. The standards for shortlisting differ between IIM institutions.