CAT 2020 Analysis by Career Launcher: Slot 1, 2 and 3

CAT 2020 was conducted on Nov 29 in three slots. Read CAT 2020 analysis of all the three slots by Career Launcher experts.

CAT 2020 Analysis by Career Launcher – CAT exam was conducted today in three slots. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, special safety arrangements were made at every CAT exam centre. As per reports, the candidates faced no difficulty at the centres and the exam went smoothly. The analysis of CAT 2020 question papers of all three slots suggest that the exam was moderately difficult. The total number of questions were less than last year but there was no change in marking scheme. Each correct attempt will fetch three marks while wrong attempt wll invite negative marking of one mark. 

According to CAT 2020 analysis by Career Launcher, the overall difficulty level was moderate. VARC was lengthy and tricky, while QA was easy. Check detailed CAT 2020 paper analysis by experts of Career Launcher. 

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CAT 2020 Analysis: Highlights

CAT 2020 Sections	Questions	Allotted Time (minutes)	Score for 99 percentile
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	26	40	40-42
Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI)	24	40	32-34
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)	26	40	46-48
Total	76	120 minutes	105-110

CAT 2020 Analysis: Slot 1

As predicted by Career Launcher, the total number of questions was around 75. The CAT 2020 question paper consisted of 76 questions to be solved in 120 minutes. Section-wise distribution of the question was as follows:

• CAT 2020 VARC: 26 questions
• CAT 2020 DILR:24 questions
• CAT 2020 QA:26 questions

The marking scheme remained the same: plus three for right attempt and minus one for wrong attempt for MCQs. There was no negative marking for non-MCQs. The overall level of difficulty for CAT 2020 slot 1 was slightly higher than that of CAT 2019. In terms of section wise difficulty level, VARC was lengthy and slightly tricky. DILR went back to CAT 2016 – 18 levels after a short breather in CAT 2018. QA was slightly easier than CAT 2019.

An overall raw score of around 105-110 should fetch a 99 percentile in CAT 2020.

CAT 2020 Slot 1: VARC Analysis

The VARC section continued to be tricky in terms of the questions asked, making it similar to CAT 2019. Contrary to expectations, VARC section was lengthy. There were 26 questions to be attempted in 40 minutes.

Six questions were Non-MCQs (all in Verbal). The RC passages were around 450-500 words each. They were easy to read. Questions were moderate with tricky options.

Since there were four passages, three would have been an ideal attempt. Fourth would have been a risk.

Verbal Ability was moderate, as usual. Para Summary had short answers but the options were tricky. Summary questions had very close options. Para Jumbles were of a higher level of difficulty.

Overall, an attempt of 20-22 with 75 per cent accuracy, leading to a score of 40-42, can be considered enough for scoring 99 percentile in this section.

VARC topic-wise break-up

Topic	No. of Questions	Ideal Attempt
Reading Comprehension	18 (5+5+4+4)	14-16
Verbal Ability - Parajumbles	3	3
Verbal Ability - Summary	3	3
Verbal Ability - Parajumbles (Odd-sentence out)	2	2

CAT 2020 Slot 1: DILR Analysis

The DILR section of CAT 2020 slot 1 had 24 questions distributed across five sets. DILR went back to CAT 2016-18 levels, after a breather, in terms of LOD, in CAT 2019. Again, the number of non-MCQs was six. Three sets were manageable. Venn diagram and the set on cab driver was easy. Table set was somewhat difficult. There were two sets with six questions, and three sets with four questions each.

An attempt of 12-13 with 90 per cent accuracy or a score of 30-32, can be considered ideal for scoring 99 percentile in DILR.

DILR topic wise break-up

Subject	Topic	No. of Questions	Ideal Attempt
Data Interpretation	Drivers and Ratings	4	4
	Students and Exams	6	3
	Set on Patients	4	3
Logical Reasoning	Institutes  Vendors	6	3
	Set on Musicians	4	4

CAT 2020 Slot 1: QA Analysis

As expected, the QA section of CAT 2020 was similar to that of CAT 2019, in terms of LOD. It had 26 short questions to be attempted in 40 minutes. The section had 20 MCQs and six non-MCQs.

Surprisingly, the focus on Numbers was higher than that on Geometry this year. An attempt of 18-19 questions, with 80-85 per cent accuracy, would be ideal for 99+ percentile in this section.

QA topic wise break-up

Topic	No. of Questions	Ideal Attempt
Number System	5	3-4
Algebra	8	5-6
Arithmetic	10	7-8
Geometry & Mensuration	3	1-2

CAT 2020 Analysis: Slot 2

There were no surprises in CAT 2020 slot 2 paper as compared to slot 1. The total number of questions, sectional weightage, time duration and marking scheme were same as slot 1. An overall raw score of around 100-102 in slot 2 should fetch 99 percentile in CAT 2020.

CAT 2020 Slot 2: VARC Analysis

Following the CAT 2020 slot 1 trend, VARC continued to be a slightly lengthy section, with close options and tricky questions. VARC of slot 2 was of moderate LOD. Out of 26 questions, five questions were non-MCQs (all in Verbal). The RC passages were around 450-500 words each and easy to read.

Similar to slot 1, three out of four passages would have been an ideal attempt. Fourth would have been a risk.

In VA, Para Summary questions were in non-MCQ format; and had short answers. Summary questions had very close options. Para Jumbles were of a higher level of difficulty, and were of non-MCQ format.

Overall, an attempt of 18-20 with 75 per cent accuracy, leading to a score of 40-42, can be considered good for getting 99 percentile.

VARC topic wise break-up:

Topic	No. of Questions	Ideal Attempt
Reading Comprehension	18 (5+5+4+4)	13-15
Verbal Ability - Parajumbles	3	3
Verbal Ability - Summary	3	3
Verbal Ability - Parajumbles (Odd-sentence out)	2	2

CAT 2020 Slot 2: DILR Analysis

Slot 2's DILR section was tougher than that of slot 1, in terms of LOD. There were 24 questions distributed across five sets (6+6+4+4+4). Difficulty level was like that of DILR of CAT 2016-18. Number of non-MCQs was six.

An attempt of 10-12 with 90 per cent accuracy, leading to a score of 28-30, can be considered ideal for getting 99+ percentile in DILR.

DILR topic wise break-up:

Subject	Topic	No. of Questions	Ideal Attempt
Data Interpretation	Voters	6	4
	Revenue & Cost	4	2
	Parking Caselet	4	2-3
Logical Reasoning	Grid-Based Filling	4	Best left alone
	Arrangement	6	4

CAT 2020 Slot 2: QA Analysis

As expected, the QA section of CAT 2020 slot 2 paper was dominated by Arithmetic and Algebra. In contrast to CAT Slot 1 QA, which had no questions from Modern Maths, Slot 2 had two such questions. Most QA questions could be solved by elimination of options.

An attempt of 16-18 questions, with 80-85 per cent accuracy, would be ideal for getting 99+ percentile in the QA section of CAT 2020 Slot 2.

QA topic wise break-up:

Topic	No. of Questions	Ideal Attempt
Number System	3	2
Algebra	7	4
Arithmetic	10	6-7
Modern Math	2	1
Geometry & Mensuration	4	2-3

CAT 2020 Analysis: Slot 3

The CAT 2020 question paper of slot 3 was slightly more difficult than slot 1 and slot 2.  An overall raw score of around 100-102 in slot 3 should fetch 99 percentile in CAT 2020, as compared to a raw score of 100-102 in slot 2 and 105-108 in slot 1.

CAT 2020 Slot 3: VARC Analysis

Following the CAT 2020 slot 1 and slot 2 trend, VARC continued to be a slightly lengthy, with close options and tricky questions asked. The difficulty level of VARC of slot 3 was moderate.

Five questions were non-MCQs (all in Verbal). The RC passages were of around 450-500 words each and easy to read. Questions were moderately difficult, with tricky options.

Similar to slot 1 and 2, out of four passages, three would have been an ideal attempt and fourth would have been a risk.

VA was fine, as usual. Para Summary questions were in non-MCQ format; and had short answers. Summary questions had very close options. Para Jumbles were of a higher level of difficulty, and were of non-MCQ format.

Overall, an attempt of 18-20 with 75 per cent accuracy, leading to a score of 40-42, can be considered good for fetching 99+ percentile.

VARC topic wise break-up:

Topic	No. of Questions	Ideal Attempt
Reading Comprehension	18 (5+5+4+4)	14-15
Verbal Ability - Parajumbles	3	3
Verbal Ability - Summary	3	3
Verbal Ability - Parajumbles (Odd-sentence out)	2	2

CAT 2020 Slot 3: DILR Analysis

In terms of level of difficulty, DILR section of CAT slot 3 question paper was tougher than slot 1 and slot 2. There were 24 questions distributed across five sets (6+6+4+4+4). The total umber of non-MCQs in DILR section of slot 3 was six.

In the given duration of 40 minutes, an attempt of 9-11 with 90 per percent accuracy, leading to a score of 26-28, can be considered ideal for fetching 99+ percentile in DILR.

DILR topic wise break-up:

Subject	Topic	No. of Questions	Level of Difficulty
Data Interpretation Logical Reasoning	HI-LO	6	Difficult
	People & Area	6	Difficult
	Venn Diagram	4	Easy-Moderate
	Vials & People	4	Moderate
	Orders	4	Moderate

CAT 2020 Slot 3: QA Analysis

The QA section of slot 3 of CAT 2020 was similar to that of slot 2 n terms of level of difficulty. The section had a total of six non-MCQs. As expected, Arithmetic and Algebra were the dominant topics but in contrast to slot 1 and 2, there were questions from Co-ordinate Geometry. Many QA questions could be solved by elimination of options.

An attempt of 17-19 questions, with 80-85 per cent accuracy, leading to a score of 40-42, would be ideal for getting 99+ percentile in this section

QA topic wise break up:

Topic	No. of Questions (MCQ/non-MCQ)	Ideal Attempt
Number System	3	2
Algebra	5	3
Arithmetic	10	6-7
Geometry & Mensuration	5	2-3
Co-ordinate Geometry	3	2

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