CAT 2021 Analysis IMS Slot 1, 2 and 3 (OUT) - Check Section wise Review, Expected Cut off

Sherin Tressa Tomy

Updated: Sep 19, 2022 08:00 IST

According to expert opinion, 15 or 16 attempted questions with high accuracy (85-90%) will be a good performance in VARC. 

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

The DI-LR section underwent a slight change in CAT-2021 with a total of 4 sets, out of which two sets had 6 questions while the remaining two had 4 questions each. Out of the two sets with 4 questions, one set had all 4 MCQ questions while the other set had 2 MCQ and 2 TITA. Out of the two sets with 6 questions, one set had 3 TITA questions, while the other set had 1 TITA question. Unlike the last few years, there were no Venn-diagram-based sets.

There were two DI sets and two LR sets. Overall this section was comparable to slot-2 of CAT-2020. 

Candidates attempting 8 to 10 questions with high accuracy (85-90%) will be a good performance.

Quantitative Analysis

This section was medium in terms of Level of difficulty and was dominated by Arithmetic (10 questions), followed by 4 questions each on Algebra and Modern Maths. There were 3 questions on Geometry and 1 question on Numbers. Students, in general, found questions on Algebra to be difficult. 

There were 6 TITA Qs this year. Selecting the right questions to attempt was the key. Students should have been able to attempt about 10-11 questions in the given time with 85-90% accuracy.

CAT 2021 Slot 2 Analysis

CAT 2021 Exam Pattern for Slot 1 and 2

According to the feedback given by the students who appeared in the CAT 2021 Second slot exams below is the initial estimate of the scores and percentile.

CAT 2021 Slot 2 Sectional Analysis

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

As per the students who took the CAT exams in Slot 2, the VA-RC section consisted of 16 Reading Comprehension questions and 8 Verbal Ability questions. The passages were difficult except for the one on Decline of Languages. The passages on Knowledge & Skepticism and On Nationalism & Colonialism in India were difficult. The other passage on the Relationship between Power and Truth was at best medium. Overall Comprehension was more difficult than the VA questions. 

Passages were 500 to 600 words each as in the first slot. 11 or 12 questions could be attempted with high accuracy. VA questions were as expected – 3 paragraph jumbles, 2 Odd sentence questions in TITA format, and 3 summary questions as MCQs. VA was overall of medium difficulty. Summary questions were of medium difficulty level. In VA, 4 attempts with high accuracy were possible. Overall, the difficulty level was largely comparable to the first slot though slightly more difficult.

According to experts at IMS an attempt of 15 or 16 questions with high accuracy (85-90%) will be a good performance in VARC.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

The DI-LR section in CAT-2021 saw a slight change with a total of 4 sets, out of which two sets had 6 questions while the remaining two had 4 questions each. Out of the two sets with 4 questions, both had 3 MCQ and 1 TITA. Out of the two sets with 6 questions, both had 4 MCQ questions and 2 TITA questions. Unlike the last few years, there were no Venn-diagram-based sets.

There were two DI sets and two LR sets. Overall, this section was easier compared to last year’s DILR section of Slot1 and slightly tougher compared to Slot 2 and Slot 3.

Experts at IMS suggest an attempt of 10 to 12 questions with high accuracy (85-90%) will be a good performance.

Quantitative Ability

The QA section according to students was medium in terms of Level of difficulty and consisted mainly of Arithmetic (9 questions), followed by Algebra (5 questions). There were 3 questions on Modern Maths, 3 questions on Geometry, and 2 questions. In Arithmetic, the questions involved Percentages, Partnership, Time-Speed-Distance, Time and Work, Averages, and Mixtures & Alligations.

There were 8 TITA Qs this year. Selecting the right questions to attempt was the key. Students should have been able to attempt about 13-14 questions in the given time with 85-90% accuracy.

CAT 2021 Slot 1 Analysis IMS

The CAT 2021 Slot 1 examinations were conducted from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM across the various exam centres. As per the expert analysis from IMS, this year the number of questions asked was reduced from 76 to 66 considering the reduced duration of the examination. The marking scheme for CAT 2021 will be as prescribed with 3 marks for every correct answer and a negative marking of -1 for every incorrect answer. 

As per the feedback received from students who appeared for the exam the IMS Slot 1 Analysis initial estimate of the scores and percentiles is as given below. Revised estimates will be issued soon.

CAT 2021 Slot 1 Analysis IMS - Sectional Review

Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

According to experts from IMS, the VA-RC section consisted of 16 Reading Comprehension questions and 8 Verbal Ability questions. The passages were difficult as per opinion except for the one on The Thirst Empire - Chinese tea. The passage on Utopia and Dystopia has been termed as difficult while the other two passages on Marshmallow Theory - self-control and on the idea of personhood according to Classic Mayan civilization was at best medium. 

Overall Comprehension has been labeled as more difficult than the VA questions.  As per experts, 10 to 12 questions could be attempted with high accuracy. 

VA questions included 3 paragraph jumbles, 2 Odd sentence questions in TITA format, and 3 summary questions as MCQs. Students have termed the summary questions as medium in difficulty level. 

As per experts, the overall difficulty level is comparable to the first slot of CAT 2020. An attempt of 15 to 17 questions with high accuracy (85-90%) will be a good performance in VARC.

 Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

According to the analysis provided, the DILR section has seen changes this year with a total of 4 sets, out of which two sets had 6 questions while the remaining two had 4 questions each. From two sets with 4 questions, both had 3 MCQ and 1 TITA and the other two sets had 6 questions. Both had 4 MCQ questions and 2 TITA questions. Unlike the last few years, there were no Venn-diagram-based sets. There were two DI sets and two LR sets. Overall, this section was easier compared to last year’s DILR section of Slot1 and slightly tougher compared to Slot 2 and Slot 3.

As per experts an overall attempt of 10 to 12 questions with high accuracy (85-90%) will be a good performance.

Quantitative Ability

The QA section has been labeled as medium in terms of Level of difficulty and was dominated by Arithmetic (10 questions), followed by Algebra (5 questions). There were 4 questions on Modern Maths and 3 questions on Geometry. In Arithmetic, the questions were dominated by Time-Speed-Distance, Time and Work, Averages and Mixtures & Allegations. There were 6 TITA Qs this year. Selecting the right questions to attempt was the key. According to experts at IMS students should have been able to attempt about 14 questions in the given time with 85-90% accuracy.

Use CAT Percentile Predictor 2021 to know your estimated CAT cut-offs and predict calls from IIMs and Non-IIMs accepting CAT scores for admission.