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Updated By Aarushi Jain on 28 Jul, 2025 16:13
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Predict My CollegeAfter the CAT 2024 exam held on November 24, 2024, IIM Calcutta did not release a separate CAT 2024 question paper. Instead, candidates could review the questions while going through their response sheets and the official answer key. If you appeared for CAT 2024 or plan to take CAT 2025, studying the previous year’s paper is a smart move. It helps you understand the changes in exam patterns and highlights the kinds of questions that top scorers focus on.
A notable change in CAT 2024 was the increase in total questions—from 66 to 68—mainly due to adjustments in the Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) section. Unlike before, where there were four sets of five questions each, CAT 2024 featured three sets with four questions and two sets with five questions. Also, the exam’s difficulty varied by slot: Slot 1 ranged from very easy to moderate, Slot 2 was moderately challenging, and Slot 3 was generally easier to moderate. Overall, CAT 2024 was considered slightly less tough, especially in the DILR and Quantitative Ability sections, compared to CAT 2023.
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Attempt nowCAT 2024 featured 68 questions across three sections—VARC, DILR, and QA. Each section lasted 40 minutes with no switching allowed. The exam balanced moderate difficulty and included both MCQs and TITA questions. TITA had no negative marking, while MCQs followed standard scoring rules.
Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
CAT 2024 Exam Mode | Computer Based Test |
Exam duration | 2 hours or 120 minutes, divided equally across sections |
CAT 2024 Exam Slots | 3 exam slots:
|
Total Number of Questions | 68 |
CAT 2024 Sections | 3 sections:
|
Total Marks | 204 |
Medium of CAT 2024 Question Paper | English |
Type of Questions | MCQs and TITA (Type in The Answer) questions |
Marking Scheme |
|
The Slot 1 exam, conducted from 8:30 to 10:30 AM, was a bit easier than last year’s Slot 1. There were five DILR sets instead of four, and para jumbles were not included in the VARC section. The Quantitative Ability part felt more approachable, with straightforward questions on Arithmetic, Algebra, and Geometry. Instead of para jumbles, the exam featured three questions each on para summaries and para completion, making the overall paper smoother and more manageable.
Particulars | Download Link |
|---|---|
Full CAT 2024 Slot 1 Question Paper | Click Here |
Section | No. of Questions | Difficulty | Good Attempts | Type of Questions | Key Observations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VARC | 24 | Moderate | 17–18 |
| No para jumbles, lengthy RCs, high accuracy possible in 12 RC & 5 VA |
DILR | 22 | Moderate | 10–12 | 5 sets – with 3 sets of 4 questions each and 2 sets of 5 questions each The four sets were:
| 5 sets instead of 4, calculation-based but doable |
QA | 22 | Easier | 12–14 |
| Arithmetic-focused, Algebra a bit time-consuming |
Overall | 68 | Moderate | 39–44 | - | TITA questions are slightly more difficult |
The Slot 2 exam took place from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM and followed a similar format to Slot 1. However, many found it a bit tougher, particularly the DILR section. In the LRDI part, there were five sets: two containing five questions each and three with four questions each, with difficulty varying from moderate to challenging. The VARC section was notably lengthy, requiring careful time management. Overall, Slot 2 tested both speed and accuracy more intensely than the earlier slot.
Particulars | Download Link |
|---|---|
Full CAT 2024 Slot 2 Question Paper | Click Here |
Section | No. of Questions | Difficulty | Good Attempts | Type of Questions | Key Observations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VARC | 24 | Moderate | 16–17 |
| 4 RCs (Spice Trade, Tech Effects, Peer Review, Carnivore Conflict), no para jumbles |
DILR | 22 | Most Difficult | 10–12 | 5 sets – with 3 sets of 4 questions each and 2 sets of 5 questions each The four sets were:
| 5 sets, mix of moderate and tough, some sets were calculation-heavy |
QA | 22 | Easy to Moderate | 13–15 |
| Dominated by Arithmetic (8), followed by Algebra (5), and others |
Overall | 68 | Moderately Difficult | 42–50 | - | Slot 2 was longer and more tricky than Slot 1 |
Slot 3 took place from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM, featuring a tough Quantitative Ability (QA) section, while Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) were more straightforward. Success relied heavily on effective time management and precise answers. The difficulty level ranged from easy to moderate, with a mix of question types including 3 Data Interpretations, 2 Logical Reasoning, around 7-8 Arithmetic problems, 6-7 Algebra questions, and 8 Verbal Ability items.
Particulars | Download Link |
|---|---|
Full CAT 2024 Slot 3 Question Paper | Click Here |
Section | No. of Questions | Difficulty | Good Attempts | Type of Questions | Key Observations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VARC | 24 | Easy to Moderate | 16–18 |
| Mixed RCs, some tricky odd-one-out, and summary questions |
DILR | 22 | Moderate | 11–13 | 5 sets – with 3 sets of 4 questions each and 2 sets of 5 questions each The four sets were:
| Some sets are direct, others logic-heavy |
QA | 22 | Difficult | 9–10 |
| More Arithmetic than Algebra, many TITA questions |
Overall | 68 | Moderate | 40–47 | - | Accuracy is important due to QA’s difficulty |
The CAT 2024 analysis for all three sections have been provided below across Slots 1, 2, and 3.
In RC, there were 4 passages with 4 Questions each. In Verbal Ability, there were 3 Summary questions, 3 Para-completion questions, and 2 questions on Odd One Out.
| Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | Digital rights of content (streaming vs DVD/BluRay) | Spice Trade | The success of Chinese liquor brand Moutai |
| Craftsmanship and creativity | Unintended Consequences of Technology | Contamination of space | |
| Revival of bandicoots in Australia | Peer Review of Research | Languages have become endangered | |
| Medium | Critique of behavioural economics | Carnivore-Human Conflict | The need to regulate AI |
There were 2 sets of 5 questions each and 3 sets of 4 questions each.
| Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | Stock prices | 6 firms profitability | App subscription |
| Web surfers and 30 starts | Ratings of a product | Room temperature | |
| Medium | 3 persons visiting different countries | Rating of 8 gymnasts | Proteins, Carbohydrates in food items |
| Difficult | Tournaments | Lakes in a gated community | GDP of 10 countries |
| Two candidates contesting the election | 10 numbers in a grid | Network of roads and ATMs |
| Area | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Algebra | 7 | 5 | 7 |
| Modern Math | 3 | 3 | |
| Geometry | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Numbers | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Given below are the initial score vs percentile estimates for the CAT exam 2024 across all 3 slots.
Percentile | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
99.9%ile | 120-124 | 118-123 | 118-123 |
99.5%ile | 106-110 | 103-108 | 103-108 |
99%ile | 95-98 | 92-95 | 92-95 |
98%ile | 71-74 | 69-72 | 68-71 |
95%ile | 59-61 | 57-59 | 55-57 |
90%ile | 46-47 | 47-49 | 45-47 |
85%ile | 41-42 | 42-44 | 39-42 |
80%ile | 36-37 | 39-40 | 36-38 |
Want to know more about CAT
First, you must calculate the total number of questions you answered correctly in the CAT 2024 exam. Next, calculate the number of MCQs you got incorrect in the CAT exam. After this, add 3 marks for each correct answer and deduct 1 mark for each incorrect answer. No marks will be deducted for unattempted responses or incorrect TITA responses. The raw score in the CAT exam will be determined by the result of the above calculations.
A total of 68 questions were asked in the CAT 2024 exam from three sections: Quantitative Aptitude (24 questions), Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (22 questions), and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (22 questions). The total marks of the CAT 2024 exam was 204.
The primary change observed in the CAT 2024 question paper was an increase in the number of questions in the DLIR section. Till 2023, there were 20 questions in the DILR section, while in 2024, there were 22 questions. The time limit for the exam was the same, i.e. 2 hours, and no other section had less questions. Which implies, in CAT 2024, there were 68 questions instead of 66 to be solved in the same time i.e. 120 minutes or 2 hours. The time limit for the DILR section was 40 minutes as in previous years.
To download the CAT 2024 question paper, you must first visit the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in. Next, you are required to click on the ‘Login’ button available on the homepage. After this, you should enter CAT login credentials, including the Registration Number and Password. Next, you should navigate throughout the homepage and find the relevant link for CAT 2024 response sheet and answer key. Finally, download the response sheet and check all the questions asked in the CAT 2024 exam and the responses recorded on the exam day.
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