CAT 2021 Analysis
This post covers the following topics: CAT 2021 Analysis, CAT 2021 Sectional Review, CAT 2021 Slot Analysis, and CAT 2021 Expected Score/Percentile.
CAT 2021 has been conducted smoothly on 28th November 2021. IIM Ahmedabad has successfully concluded the CAT 2021 Slot-1, Slot-2, and Slot-3 on November 28, 2021.
As predicted, CAT 2021 followed the CAT 2020 exam pattern of reduced time (2 hours) with 40 minutes allotted to each section. However, what remained under speculation was the number of questions in each of the sections.
Based on the expectation and predictions, CAT aspirants had to face 66 questions in 2 hours with the section-wise distribution of questions as follows:
- VARC: 24 questions in 40 minutes
- DILR: 20 questions in 40 minutes
- QA: 22 questions in 40 minutes
The overall difficulty level for CAT 2021 was moderate. An overall raw score of around 97-99 should fetch a 99%ile in CAT 2021.
Check the Video Analysis below for a detailed understanding of CAT 2021 expected scores vs percentile analysis.
CAT Slot – 1, 2 & 3 Overall Analysis 2021
CAT Slot – 1 Overall Analysis 2021
Section-wise Review
Verbal Ability Review: In terms of the level of difficulty, the verbal section can be labeled as moderate to difficult. Accuracy will be the key to a good score. There were Four RC passages of a medium length of 4 questions each. The break-up of other questions was Parajumbles – 3, Para Summary – 3, and odd one out 2. There was a total of 5 TITA questions from odd one and parajumbles. There were no TITA questions in RC. The topics of passages were – 1) Cuttlefish show impressive personality, 2) Book review moral marketing-Utopian and Dystopian, 3) The classic period of Maya and 4) Competing virtue with consumption-Marshmallows. Overall an attempt of 15-20 with high accuracy will fetch 99%ile.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning: As with this section last year, the section was most difficult. There was a total of 4 sets – 2 of 6 questions each and 2 of 4 questions each. One was a Bar Graph set of 4 questions which were calculation intensive but attempted mostly by all students. Another one was missing values from the table i.e. AR set of 6 questions. 2 sets were data reasoning – one of 4 and another of 6 questions. There were a total of 5 TITA questions. A typical AR set was related to persons and journals of different categories with a good number of variables and their logical connections. Very few students could attempt more than 2 sets. An attempt of 8-12 questions with good accuracy will fetch 99%ile.
Quantitative Aptitude Review: The Quant section was moderately easier. The majority of the typical topics like Profit & Loss, TSD, Time & Work, Alligation were fairly represented. Geometry questions were 3 in number with a moderate level of difficulty. Algebra had 5 questions (2 Linear, 2 APGP, and 1 on inequalities. Overall the quant section was doable. However, like last year the questions were time-consuming even though the level of difficulty was not high. The ideal strategy was to skip the questions which seemed difficult at first go. An attempt of 15-19 questions with a good accuracy level, will fetch 99%ile.
CAT Slot – 2 Overall Analysis 2021
The difficulty level of slot 2 was a little higher in comparison to slot – 1. The DILR section was moderately tough, same as slot – 1. The English seems to be a little tricky section than the rest of the two sections.
Following Slot 1 which proved to be a moderate difficulty level, a majority of aspirants for Slot 2 were quite worried about the VARC section, which provided to be an Achilles heel in the first slot. Initial reactions from the test-takers have hinted that Quant was relatively tougher in Slot 2 as compared to the Slot 1 Examination. On the other hand, VARC and DILR were of the same or similar difficulty level in the Afternoon slot. Many candidates noted that 2 sets were doable in DILR while VARC was of the same difficulty level but was slightly lengthy in nature.
| Section | Difficulty Level |
| Reading Comprehension | Moderate |
| DILR | Moderate |
| Quant | Tough |
CAT Slot – 3 Overall Analysis 2021
The final slot of the CAT 2021 Exam was quite easily manageable for those candidates who were well prepared for the exam and had taken some mocks before the exam. In terms of slot-wise analysis, the VARC and DILR were pretty doable, if one were able to select the right RCs and the DILR sets. Quant was Tougher than Slot 1 and 2 but still quite manageable.
VARC Slot 3 – Section Analysis
The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension of CAT 2021 Slot 3 Exam was of moderate difficulty level. However, unlike the previous two slots, it was a slightly lengthy section, which was contrary to expectations. There were a total of 24 questions to be attempted in 40 minutes of which 5 questions were Non-MCQs (all in Verbal). Ideal attempts in VARC Section: 18 Questions
DILR Slot 3 – Section Analysis
The Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section consisted of total 20 questions. The section consisted of two LR Sets of 6 Questions each i.e. 12 LR Questions. On the other hand, the DI component was addressed in two sets of 4 Questions each. An attempt of 13-14 questions targeting 27-30 marks can be considered ideal for a 99+ percentile in DILR.
Quant Slot 3 – Section Analysis
The quantitative aptitude section of CAT 2021 Exam focused on testing the conceptual clarity of the candidates. The section was dominated by questions from arithmetic with total 12 questions based on concepts such as Simple Compound Interest, Time and Work, Profit & Loss, Time Speed Distance, Averages, Percentages. For the rest, 2-3 questions were from Geometry, 2 were log based, 2 were function based and number series based while 1 was series based.