Hello students, how did the CAT exam go for you? The CAT Exam 2024 was conducted in three shifts yesterday, on 24th November 2024. This year, IIM Calcutta set the examination paper for the students. The paper was somewhere between easy and moderate difficulty level. However, there were some slight changes in the CAT exam pattern in 2024.
The CAT exam slot 1 was conducted between 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM on 24th November 2024. Many coaching centers and teachers came up with the analysis of the first slot of the CAT exam. The major highlights were the changes in exam pattern and the overall difficulty level of the CAT exam. In this blog, we will analyze the CAT Exam Slot 1 on different parameters.
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CAT Exam Slot 1 Analysis: Changes in Exam Pattern
Students were surprised to see the sudden changes in the CAT exam pattern for 2024. There were no parajumble-type questions in the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) section. Also, the total number of questions was reduced to 22 from 24 in the CAT 2023 exam.
The table below represents the major changes in the exam pattern for CAT 2024.
| CAT Section | CAT 2024 Slot 1 Changes | Total Questions (2023) | Total Questions (2024) |
| QUANTS | No major changes | 22 | 22 |
| LRDI | DILR 22 Questions(4-4-4-5-5) | 20 | 22 |
| VARC | No Parajumble Questions | 24 | 22 |
| TOTAL | Changes in DILR and VARC Section | 66 | 66 |
Now the CAT exam has ended! What after CAT Exam? Read the blog to learn the procedures that are followed after the CAT exam.
CAT Exam Slot 1 Analysis: Difficulty Level of the Paper
The overall difficulty level of the exam was said to be moderately difficult throughout the sections. However, the exam was comparatively easier than that of the CAT 2023 exam. For your reference, we have listed down the section-wise difficulty level of the CAT exam 2024.
- VARC: The overall difficulty level of this section was said to be easy to moderate.
- LRDI: The difficulty level of this section was moderate to difficult overall.
- Quants: The quantitative aptitude was somewhere between moderate and difficult level.
Overall, the difficulty level of the CAT Exam Slot 1 was moderate and difficult for the students. However, the paper was easy compared to the previous year’s exam, CAT 2023.
Check out the accepting colleges, detailed exam pattern, and syllabus here on CAT Exam page.
CAT Exam Slot 1 Section-Wise Analysis
This section will take you through the section-wise analysis of the CAT exam slot 1 briefly. This will help you predict the cutoff score vs percentile of the CAT exam.
CAT Exam Slot 1 Analysis—VARC Section
Talking about the VARC section, students countered some noticeable changes in the exam pattern of this section. The overall difficulty level of the VARC section was between easy and moderate. There were 4 sets of RCs, with each set containing 4 questions. They were easy to read and answer.
Following the RCs, there were questions from sentence completion, para summary, and odd one out. There were two questions each from these topics. The students didn’t find questions from Parajumbles this time.
The number of questions also reduced to 22 from last year’s 24 because of the exclusion of the parajumbles. The overall difficulty level was easy to moderate. The expected score vs. percentile is going to be higher this time.
| CAT Score VS Percentile VARC | CAT 2024 Slot 1 (Expected) | CAT 2023 Exam |
| 99%ile | 44 | 39 |
| 95%ile | 32 | 28 |
| 90%ile | 26 | 23 |
| 85%ile | 22 | 20 |
| 80%ile | 18 | 17 |
CAT Exam Slot 1 Analysis—LRDI Section
The students saw an increase in the number of questions as compared to the last year. This time, the number of questions was 22, while last year it was just 20. Students also saw an increase in the number of LRDI sets.
There were 4 LRDI sets in CAT 2023, with each set containing 5 questions. This time, there were 5 sets in the LRDI section, with 3 sets containing 4 questions each and 2 sets containing 5 questions each. The overall difficulty level of this section was between moderate to difficult.
The table below shows a comparison of expected CAT 2024 score vs percentile from the last year.
| CAT Score VS Percentile DILR | CAT 2024 Slot 1 (Expected) | CAT 2023 Exam |
| 99%ile | 32 | 27 |
| 95%ile | 25 | 19 |
| 90%ile | 20 | 15 |
| 85%ile | 17 | 13 |
| 80%ile | 15 | 11 |
CAT Exam Slot 1 Analysis—QA Section
The quantitative aptitude section was almost the same as compared to the last year. However, the difficulty level decreased as compared to the last year. The QA section in CAT 2023 was difficult, while CAT 2024 has moderate to difficult questions.
The questions were basically from number systems, algebra, geometry, and modern mathematics. However, due to the easier number of questions, the expected score vs. percentile graph is expected to rise high.
| CAT Score VS Percentile QA | CAT 2024 Slot 1 (Expected) | CAT 2023 Exam |
| 99%ile | 34 | 28 |
| 95%ile | 24 | 20 |
| 90%ile | 20 | 13 |
| 85%ile | 14 | 10 |
| 80%ile | 12 | 07 |
CAT Exam Slot 1: Score vs Percentile 2024
The overall difficulty level of the exam is moderate to difficult. The exam was easy as compared to the last year. This will result in an expected rise in overall score vs. percentile graph for CAT exam slot 1. The table below compares the overall score vs percentile to the CAT 2023.
| Percentile | CAT Exam Slot 1 (Exp) | CAT 2023 Exam |
| 100%ile | 150 | 143 |
| 99.5%ile | 97 | 84 |
| 99%ile | 91 | 76 |
| 98%ile | 80 | 66 |
| 95%ile | 67 | 55 |
| 90%ile | 55 | 45 |
| 85%ile | 46 | 42 |
| 80%ile | 40 | 41 |
The table above shows the expected graph for CAT exam slot 1 as compared to the last year. You can also learn about the other alternatives to the CAT exam—MBA Entrance Exams! Read to find out more.
CAT Exam Slot 1 Analysis—Final Verdict (Conclusion)
The CAT exam 2024, slot 1, was comparatively easier than the last year. The VARC section and the DILR section were easier from 2023. The QA section remained more or less the same. The students saw a major change in the exam pattern of the CAT 2024 exam. The number of questions decreased from 24 to 22 in the VARC section and increased from 20 to 22 in the LRDI section of CAT 2024 slot 1.
There were no questions from parajaumbles in the VARC section, and there were 5 data sets in the LRDI section of CAT 2024 slot 1. The overall difficulty level of the exam was between moderate and difficult. The students can expect a rise in the sectional cutoff and score vs percentile graph for CAT 2024.
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FAQs
Was CAT 2024 slot 1 easier?
Yes, the CAT 2024 slot 1 exam was easier as compared to last year’s CAT 2023. The overall difficulty level of the CAT 2024 slot 1 was moderate to difficult. However, the exam was easier in comparison to the last year, not in general.
Which slot was the toughest in CAT 2024?
According to the students’ reviews and feedback, CAT 2024 slot 2 was the toughest of all 3 slots. Students found the QA and DILR section of CAT exam slot 2 challenging. However, overall, the CAT exam 2024 was easier as compared to the last year.
Was CAT 2024 tougher than 2023?
No, the CAT 2024 was not tougher than 2023. The difficulty level of the CAT 2024 exam was somewhere between moderate to difficult. However, the CAT 2023 was considered as one of the most difficult exams in CAT history.
What were the changes in CAT 2024 exam slot 1?
There were some major changes in the CAT 2024 exam slot 1. The VARC section experienced 22 questions, 2 questions less than the previous year. The DILR section saw an increase in the number of questions and sets from the last year.
Sushant, an accomplished content writer at iDreamCareer, has dedicated his life to the pursuit of writing since childhood. Having earned his education at the prestigious University of Delhi, he possesses a profound understanding of both arts and science in the field of education. Leveraging his professional experience, Sushant brings a fresh perspective to analyzing emerging trends in the realms of writing and education. His youthful mindset, coupled with a positive outlook, is geared towards enlightening students through the impactful delivery of wisdom and knowledge.
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