CAT 2021 Question Paper with Solutions: Download Slot 1, 2 and 3 PDFs
Common Admission Test 2025 ( CAT )
Check out CAT 2021 Question paper for all three slots to understand types of questions and difficulty level. Also download PDF format of CAT question paper 2021 - slot 1, 2 and 3. As a CAT 2023 aspirant, you must solve the CAT 2021 question paper to learn key insights of the exam.
CAT 2021 question paper slot 1, 2, 3
CAT 2021 question paper was moderate to high in terms of difficulty level. The exam paper of all three slots had same structure. Pattern of the paper was same as previous years with a few changes in topic-wise weightage. The CAT 2021 question paper consisted of three sections – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) and Quantitative Ability (QA). Total number of questions in CAT 2021 was 66.
The CAT exam usually has lengthy VARC, tough DILR and time consuming Quantitative Aptitude. And CAT 2021 was no different. If you are appearing for CAT 2025 you should attempt previous years' papers once. CAT 2021 question papers of slot 1, slot 2 and slot 3 are available on this page. Check below.
- CAT 2021 Question Paper: Pattern and Structure
- CAT 2021 Question Paper: Marking Scheme
- CAT 2021 Question Paper: VARC
- CAT 2021 Question Paper: DILR
- CAT 2021 Question Paper: PDF Download
- CAT 2021 Question Paper: Quantitative Ability
CAT 2021 Question Paper: Pattern and Structure
Given below is the section wise break-up of CAT question paper 2021 as per the CAT analysis 2021:
| CAT 2021 Sections |
Number of Questions |
Allotted Time-Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) |
24 |
40 minutes |
| Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI) |
20 |
40 minutes |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
22 |
40 minutes |
| Total |
66 |
120 minutes |
CAT 2021 Question Paper: Marking Scheme
Each question of CAT question paper 2021 carried three marks for correct entry and minus one mark for incorrect entry. Unanswered questions and incorrect attempts in non-MCQ carried zero marks.
| CAT 2021 Sections |
Number of Questions |
Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Quantitative Aptitude (QA) |
24 |
72 |
| Logical Reasoning & Data Interpretation (LRDI) |
20 |
60 |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
22 |
66 |
| Total |
76 |
198 |
Also Read:
- CAT 2021 exam analysis
- CAT 2021 analysis by CATKing
- CAT 2021 analysis by Career Launcher
- CAT 2021 analysis by T.I.M.E.
- CAT 2021 analysis by IMS India
- CAT 2021 student reactions and reviews
CAT 2021 Question Paper: VARC
The VARC section of CAT question paper 2021 had more RC questions than VA. This made it a tough section to crack. Given below is the break-up of VARC section of CAT question paper 2021:
| VARC Question Type |
Number of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension (4 passages) |
16 |
Moderate-Difficult |
| Para Jumble Questions |
3 |
Difficult |
| Odd Sentence Out |
2 |
Difficult |
| Para Summary |
3 |
Moderate-Difficult |
Download: CAT 2021 Question Paper–VARC Questions
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Reading Comprehension Passages of CAT Question Paper 2021
Check the table below for topics of the Reading Comprehension passages of CAT question paper 2021. All the passages were inference based.
| CAT 2021 Slot 1 |
CAT 2021 Slot 2 |
CAT 2021 Slot 3 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
CAT 2021 Question Paper: DILR
Like previous years, the DILR section of CAT question paper 2021 had more DI questions. Given below is the break-up of DILR section of CAT question paper 2021:
| DILR Topics |
Number of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Data Interpretation Set 1 |
4 |
Moderate-Difficult |
| Logical Reasoning Set 1 |
4 |
Moderate |
| Data Interpretation Set 2 |
6 |
Moderate-Difficult |
| Logical Reasoning Set 2 |
6 |
Moderate |
Download: CAT 2021 Question Paper DILR Questions
DI and LR topics of CAT 2021 Question Paper
Check the below table for areas and topics of DILR sets of CAT question paper 2021:
| CAT 2021 Slot 1 |
CAT 2021 Slot 2 |
CAT 2021 Slot 3 |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Download: CAT 2021 Question Paper QA Questions
CAT 2021 Question Paper: PDF Download
The official CAT 2021 question paper was released along with the offiicial answer key. Candidates can check below question paper and answer key of CAT 2021 exam:
| CAT 2021 Question Paper Slot 1 and Answer Keys | Click Here |
| CAT 2021 Question Paper Slot 2 and Answer Keys | Click Here |
| CAT 2021 Question Paper Slot 3 and Answer Keys | Click Here |
CAT 2021 Question Paper: Quantitative Ability
The Quantitative Ability section of CAT 2021 was dominated by Arithmetic in all three slots. Given below is the break-up of Quantitative Ability section of CAT question paper 2021:
| Quantitative Aptitude Topics |
Number of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic |
11 |
Easy |
| Algebra |
5 |
Easy |
| Geometry & Mensuration | 3 | Easy-Moderate |
| Number System |
2 |
Moderate |
| Modern Math |
1 |
Easy-Moderate |
CAT 2021 Question Paper Slot 1: Quantitative Aptitude
Check below topic-wise break-up and difficulty levels of the questions asked in Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT 2021 Slot 1:
| Quantitative Aptitude Topics |
No. of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| ERPV |
3 |
Moderate |
| Geometry |
3 |
Easy - Moderate |
| Percentages, Profit & Loss |
2 |
Moderate |
| Time & Work |
2 |
Moderate |
| Progressions |
2 |
Difficult |
| Quadratic Equations |
2 |
Moderate - Difficult |
| AMA |
2 |
Moderate |
| SI-CI |
1 |
Easy |
| Logarithms and Indices |
1 |
Moderate |
| Functions & Graphs |
1 |
Moderate |
| Time & Distance |
1 |
Easy |
| Inequalities & Modulus |
1 |
Moderate |
| Numbers |
1 |
Moderate |
CAT 2021 Question Paper Slot 2: Quantitative Aptitude
below topic-wise break-up and difficulty levels of the questions asked in Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT question paper 2021 Slot 2:
| Quantitative Aptitude Topics |
No. of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| Mensuration |
3 |
Moderate |
| Percentages, Profit & Loss |
3 |
Moderate |
| AMA |
3 |
Easy-Moderate |
| Progressions |
2 |
Moderate-Difficult |
| Time & Work |
2 |
Easy-Moderate |
| Logarithms |
1 |
Easy |
| Time & Distance |
1 |
Moderate |
| Quadratic Equations |
1 |
Moderate |
| Functions & Graphs |
1 |
Moderate |
| Inequalities & Modulus |
1 |
Moderate |
| Indices |
1 |
Difficult |
| Miscellaneous |
1 |
Difficult |
| P&C |
1 |
Difficult |
| Special Equations |
1 |
Difficult |
CAT 2021 Question Paper Slot 3: Quantitative Aptitude
Check below topic-wise break-up and difficulty levels of the questions asked in Quantitative Aptitude section of CAT question paper 2021 Slot 3:
| Quantitative Aptitude Topics |
No. of Questions |
Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|
| ERPV |
4 |
Moderate - Difficult |
| Geometry & Mensuration |
4 |
Moderate-Difficult |
| Indices & Logs |
2 |
Difficult |
| Percentages |
2 |
Moderate |
| Time & Work |
2 |
Moderate |
| Inequalities |
1 |
Difficult |
| Special Equations |
1 |
Difficult |
| sequence |
1 |
Difficult |
| SI CI |
1 |
Difficult |
| Time & Distance |
1 |
Moderate |
| Averages |
1 |
Moderate |
| AMA |
1 |
Moderate |
| Function |
1 |
Moderate |
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CAT question papers are released within a week of the exam in the form of a PDF as a response sheet and answer key. Candidates who have appeared for the test are able to access the CAT question paper and answer key. The question paper of every slot is released on the same day along with candidate response sheet and official answer to all question. If any candidate needs previous year CAT question papers for preparation purpose, then they can download them from Shiksha website. We have hosted last five years' CAT question papers for aspirants to download and practice. These official CAT question papers are available for download free. You can download the CAT question paper PDFs at this link: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/cat-exam-question-papers Candidates must check and practice the latest CAT question paper to know the latest exam pattern and difficulty level.
The CAT VARC section is dominated by RC questions. Out of 24 questions about 14-16 are based on Reading Comprehension passages and the rest of them are based on parajumbles, para completion, etc.
CAT has about 12-16 RC question. Since, it is not mandatory to solve all the questions, candidates can maximize their scores by leaving out the questions related to the passage they find the toughest. There is negative marking in CAT so candidates must ensure that they mark only the correct options or do not mark any option at all.
The key change in CAT question paper 2024 was increase in number of questions in DLIR section. Till 2023, the DILR section used to have 20 questions. In 2024, it had 22 questions. The time limit for it was the same and no other section had less questions. Which means, in CAT 2024, candidates had to attempt 68 questions instead of 66 to solve in the same time (120 minutes). DILR sectional time limit was 40 minutes as in previous years. There was no other change in CAT 2024, the difficulty level was same as previous years.
No, it is not mandatory to attempt all the questions in CAT. Candidates can choose to attempt questions as per their preparation. It is not possible also to attempt all the questions due to time limitation and difficulty level. Reading dense RC passages often take up a lot of time. In DILR and QA too, some questions are time taking and calculation intensive due to which not much time is left in hand to attempt all questions. The aim of every test taker should be to attempt about 2/3rd of the total questions in all the sections of CAT.
Data Interpretation or DI is a sub part of CAT's second section DILR. This section has 20 -22 questions (until 2023, the totla number of DILR questions was 20, and in 2024 the number of questions was 22). Both Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning questions have equal number of questions. Candidates must make sure that they prepare for both topics well as the weightage is equal and if they are ill prepared for either of the two, their score will get affected.
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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Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered 3 days ago
Yes, CAT is a compulsory entrance exam for all candidates who are a resident of India to qualify for PGPM admissions at IIM Shillong. For NRI candidates, the GMAT is the mandatory entrance exam to qualify for IIM Shillong PGPM admissions. Candidates also need to fulfill the eligibilty criteria for P
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
The CAT cutoff for IIM Shillong PGPM admissions 2026 ranges from 50 - 75%. The general and EWS category candidates are required to score at least 75% in CAT exam to qualify for the PI round for IIM Shillong admissions.
The SC category is required to score 60% while the remaining categories are only r
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
Yes, students can get into IIM Ahmedabad without appearing for CAT. However, this is applicable for courses other than flagship PGP/ MBA programme. Students seeking to join programmes, such as the BPGP or executive programmes. For those courses, students need valid scores of other accepted exams.
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Contributor-Level 10
Answered 3 days ago
LIBA Chennai does accept CAT scores for admission to PGDM courses. However, it is not compulsory. Aspirants can also apply for PGDM with XAT scores. Candidates applying for PGDM (Gulf/ FN/ OCI) programme can also appear for LIBA Admission Test. Selected candidates also need to pass WAT followed by G
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 3 days ago
N.L. Dalmia offers scholarships based on entrance exam scores of the candidates. Below is the criteria for scholarship based on CAT scores:
| Category | Scholarship |
|---|---|
| >90 percentile | INR 6.50 lakh |
| 85 to 89.99 percentile | INR 4.06 lakh |
| 80 to 84.99 percentile | INR 3.25 lakh |
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered a week ago
One should keep 9 months for CAT preparation, but it is possible to prepare in six months too provided the plan is focussed and exhaustive. For a six month preparation plan, one will need to dedicate 8 to 10 hours daily.
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
CAT is one of the accepting exams for admission to MBA at ISMR Pune. However, it is not compulsory. Aspirants with a score in CMAT, MAT, XAT, MAH MBA CET, etc. can also get admission. Candidates selected based on their entrance exam scores also need to pass the personal interview round for admission
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 2 weeks ago
No, CAT scores are not compulsory for admissions into MBA course at Chhatrapati Shahu Institute of Business Education and Research. The institute accepts other national/ state level management entrance exams too. The names of the accepted entrance examinations are: XAT/ MAT/ ATMA/ MAH MBA CET.
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 2 weeks ago
No, CAT scores are not compulsory for admissions into MBA course at GLA University, Mathura. The university also considers scores from other management entrance exam and one university level entrance exam too. The names of the other accepted entrance exams are: MAT/ XAT/ UPSEE.
C
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
No, CAT scores are not important for enrollment into Masters of Business Administration course at Chitkara University. Because CAT is not the only scores which are considered by the university, it also accepts the scores of MAT/ XAT/ NMAT/ CMAT.
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