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Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content
Updated on Nov 28, 2021 13:12 IST
CAT 2021 exam analysis is out. The question paper was of moderate difficulty and had only 66 questions to be solved in 120 minutes. Read here in-depth CAT 2021 exam analysis by experts for slot 1, slot 2 and slot 3.

CAT 2021 exam analysis is out. The question paper was of moderate difficulty and had only 66 questions to be solved in 120 minutes. Read here in-depth CAT 2021 exam analysis by experts for slot 1, slot 2 and slot 3. 

CAT 2021 analysis

CAT 2021 exam is being held today in three slots. The first slot fo exam was conducted from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM. The second slot will be held from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM and the third slot will be conducted frm 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Shiksha will bring to you slot-wise CAT exam analysis by experts along with student reactions from the exam centre. Analysis of the first slot of CAT exam is available now. 

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The CAT 2021 question paper of the first slot was easy with only 66 questions to answer in 120 minutes. Read below in-depth CAT 2021 analysis, which includes section-wise distribution of topics, difficulty levels, number of good attempts, sectional cut off and expected scoring pattern.

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Table of contents
  • CAT 2021 Exam Analysis Highlights
  • CAT 2021 Analysis: VARC
  • CAT 2021 Analysis: DILR
  • CAT 2021 Analysis: Quantitative Aptitude

CAT 2021 Exam Analysis Highlights

Given below is the section-wise difficulty level of the first slot of CAT 2021 exam:

CAT 2021 Sections

Questions

Difficulty Levels

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

24

Easy to Moderate

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning &  (DILR)

20

Moderate

Quantitative Aptitude (QA)

22

Moderate to Tough

Total/Overall

66

Moderate

CAT 2021 Analysis: VARC

The VARC section of CAT 2021 was as usual tougher from rest of the sections. Out of 24 questions, 16 were based on Reading Comprehension passages. The passages were inference based and doable. In the Verbal Ability part, the questions were from Parajumbles, Parasummary and Odd Sentence Out.

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Overall, 24-25 score can be considered enough for a 85%ile and 35-38 marks can be considered ideal for a 99%ile.

CAT 2021 Analysis: DILR

The DILR section of CAT 2021 had 20 questions divided into 4 sets (4+4+6+6). The questions were based on sets: Smoothies- DI, Bar Graph, Arrangement - Researchers, Publishing and Arrangement - Friends, Strangers, Acquaintances. The sectional difficulty level ws moderate to high and score of 27-30 marks can be considered ideal for a 99+ percentile in DILR.

CAT 2021 Analysis: Quantitative Aptitude

Like last year, the Quantitative Aptitude section was dominated by Arithmetic. Sectional difficulty level can be termed as easy as it had only 22 straight forward questions to be solved in 40 minutes. A score of 40-42 will be considered ideal for a 99+ percentile in this sectio of CAT 2021.

Also Read:

Read below CAT 2021 analysis of slot 1, 2 and 3 by various MBA experts:

CAT Experts

CAT 2021 Analysis Page Links

CAT 2021 analysis by CATKing

Available Now

CAT 2021 analysis by Career Launcher 

Available Now

CAT 2021  analysis by IMS India

Available Now

CAT 2021 analysis by T.I.M.E.

Available Now

Read More:

CAT 2021 cut offs

CAT 2021 answer key

CAT 2021 result

Colleges Accepting CAT percentile above 90

Colleges Accepting CAT percentile from 80-90 percentile

Colleges Accepting CAT percentile from 70-80

Colleges Accepting CAT percentile from 60-70

CAT Percentile predictor prepared by Shiksha.com helps students to get their predicted CAT 2021 percentile on the basis of their expected exam score. So, predict your CAT 2021 score by clicking the link below:

CAT Percentile Predicto

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Vipra Shrivastava
Senior Manager - Content

Vipra Shrivastava is MA in English Literature from Delhi University with extensive experience in content writing of over 14 years. She has been handling content for Management, Accounting and Commerce streams for 8

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Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered Yesterday

Structured programmes, continuous skill-building and exposure to the "real world" from day one are set up to prepare students for the corporate world. 

Interview Preparation/Career Readiness Training Methodologies
1. Completion of a Dedicated Programme (CPMP)
Over the course of the semester, the course

...Read more

M

Mohammed Maqsood

Beginner-Level 4

Answered Yesterday

The percentile needed for admission would depend on the category you belong to. JAGSoM accepts various entrance examinations for admission to the MBA/PGDM course, like CAT, XAT, MAT, etc.

As per the estimated XAT cutoff in 2026, a percentile of 70 would be good enough to secure a chance at admission

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

No, the Karnataka PGCET exam is not mandatory for admission to ISBR's MBA/ PGDM courses. The institution also accepts various national-level exams, like CAT, XAT, and NMAT.

Students who get valid results in any of the above exams are eligible to apply to ISBR, after they have cleared the eligibility

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

You don't strictly need CAT to get into GIBS Business School. They accept both CAT and MAT scores, but even if you haven't appeared for them, you can still get admission through their direct admission or interview process.

  • CAT → accepted, helps in selection

  • MAT → also accepted, gives another option

  • No

...Read more

P

Prasadsai

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 days ago

Candidates should practice at least past 10 years' CAT question papers to have a good control over the exam. Many times, questions are repeated so prior practice will be helpful. CAT question papers are also best source of RC passages.

N

Nishtha Shukla

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 days ago

Yes, the question papers of all CAT exam slots are different from each other. This is done to ensure that there is no question leak before the next slot, and that second and third slot candidates have no advantage over first slot candidate.

E

Esha Singh

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 2 days ago

XIM University accepts the CAT cutoff for admission to the MBA course. According to the XIM University CAT cutoff 2025, a percentile of 91 (both overall and sectional) would be required to be eligible for XIM University admission

Candides should know that just clearing the final cutoff does not gr

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

Yes, Talent Skillsvarsity admissions are possible without the CAT scores. The below are the Talent Skillsvarsity admission related criteria:

  • PG course: NMAT, MAT, CMAT, CET,  XAT, ATMA, & GMAT.

Selection: Aptitude test, personal interview round & panel interview

V

Vikrant Shekhar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

IBS Mumbai CAT cutoff 2025 was released for admission to the PGPM course for various All India categories. The cutoff was published in the form of percentiles. 

For the General AI category, the overall percentile was 70 and 40 sectional for  to the PGPM programme. Students who attain these percentile

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N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 days ago

To attain admission in Loyola Institute of Business Administration, students who belong to the General category under the All India quota would need to attain a CAT percentile of 80 overall and 50 for the Quants, VA-RC and DI-LR sections. 

Other categories will have different cutoffs accordingly. Gen

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N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10