Smart Shortcuts and Tricks to Solve CAT 2025 DILR Questions Faster

The most effective way to solve CAT DILR questions is to skim through all the sets and choose 2 to 3 sets that are familiar to you. Once you choose the set, take note of the important data that are given and solve the questions systematically.

Table of Contents

CAT DILR Tricks
Effective Way to Solve DILR Questions
How to Decide which Set to Solve First?
Faqs

Quick Shortcuts and Tricks to Solve CAT DILR Questions Faster

In the CAT exam, DILR questions are usually time consuming and at the same time if you are familiar it is scoring in nature. The foremost advice that every academician, tutor gives while attempting DILR questions is to skim the questions for at least 3 to 4 minutes. Once going through the questions, the sets that are more or less familiar to you must be answered first. Moreover, many toppers also recommend that if any set looks long and uncommon it is better to leave to save your time. At the same time, it is equally important to opt for sets / questions having structured data over problems that are quite complex. For example, if you look into CAT 2021 paper for slot 2 you will find a question on project deadlines based on DI set more approachable rather than LR question on puzzles. Therefore, before talking about tricks to solve CAT DILR questions, we recommend you to first analyse what questions are easy to solve and would assist you to save some time in the exam.

Also Read: Caselets vs Graphs in CAT 2025 DILR

CAT DILR Tricks

Check how you can solve DILR questions for CAT correctly from the below table.

Particulars	Details
Tables & Grids are Your Best Friend	Convert data into tables, grids, or matrices immediately. Helps in arrangement, scheduling, seating and set-based puzzles.
Use Elimination Instead of Solving Fully	Instead of solving the entire set, check which options are impossible. Saves time in DI calculation-based MCQs.
Approximation in DI	Don’t calculate exact values if ratios/percentages are enough. Use rounding (e.g., 498 ≈ 500) to speed up.
Block Approach in Puzzles	Break seating/arrangement into blocks or groups instead of individual placement. Eg: “A always sits next to B” → treat them as one unit.
Ratio Method for Pie / Bar Graphs	Use ratio comparison rather than full calculation. Eg: “Which city has more growth?” → Compare ratios instead of actual % change.
Backsolving & Options Check	For numerical DI, plug options into the condition instead of long calculations. Saves time especially in percentage/average-based sets.
Constraints First in LR	In arrangement/puzzle sets, place the most restrictive conditions first. Example: “C cannot sit at ends” → Fix C before others.
Smart Skipping	If after 3–4 minutes you don’t crack the structure, move to next set. Maximize accuracy, not ego satisfaction.
Visualization for Games & Tournaments	For matches, ranking, or knockout tournaments: Draw simple brackets/tables. Use W-L notation instead of writing full names.
Calculation Hacks	Memorize fraction–percentage equivalents (1/6 = 16.67%). Use Vedic Math / digit sums for speed in multiplications and checks.

Also Read: How to Improve Accuracy in CAT Quant Section in 2025

Effective Way to Solve DILR Questions

You can follow the points below to solve the questions.

First skim through the sets for around 3 to 4 minutes
Choose the set that have very familiar sets
Choose wisely which set is doable
Do not go for sets that have unstructured data. Sets with structured data are easily solvable.
Do not waste time on questions that are not doable or time consuming.
Aim for at least 95% accuracy

How to Decide which Set to Solve First?

The foremost requirement before proceeding to solve the DILR question is to decide which one to attempt first. Know how to decide which set you will attempt.

Look for sets that are familiar to you or the ones which you have solved during the preparation phase.
Whenever you are attempting questions go for charts, graphs or even LR problems that have structured data
Before attempting the question try to get an inference that the question require direct calculation or logical reasoning

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FAQs

What’s the ultimate time-saving trick in DILR?

Practice mental calculation + visualization daily. With habit, you’ll recognize recurring patterns (circular seating, family tree, Venn diagrams, etc.) and directly apply known templates instead of solving from scratch.

What shortcut helps in games & tournaments (LR sets)?

Use points table logic: Wins = 2 points, Draw = 1, Loss = 0 (or given scoring system).
For round-robin tournaments, total matches = n(n−1)/2.

How can I quickly solve DI sets with charts and graphs?

Look for trends and ratios instead of exact numbers.
For bar/line graphs, use difference method instead of recalculating totals.
For pie charts, remember common fraction-percent equivalents.

What’s the best way to simplify arrangement and puzzle questions?

Use tabular or grid-based representation. Writing in a structured format avoids confusion and saves time compared to narrative reading.

Why are shortcuts important in CAT DILR?

Shortcuts save time by reducing lengthy calculations and help you focus on logic. Since CAT DILR is time-bound, efficient methods can make the difference between solving 2 sets or 4 sets.

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