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Vipra Shrivastava
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Updated on Nov 22, 2025 17:56 IST
In the last week before CAT 2025, practice DILR, VARC and Quants questions of previous years. Shiksha has shared in this article, sectional details of CAT 2021 question paper and downloadable PDFs of Slot 1, Slot 2 and Slot 3. Practice these CAT 2021 DILR, VARC & Quant Q

In the last week before CAT 2025, practice DILR, VARC and Quants questions of previous years. Get here CAT 2021 (Slot 1, 2, 3) DILR, VARC & Quant Questions PDF with Answers.

CAT 2021 question paper and answers PDF slot 1, 2, 3

CAT 2021 question paper and answers PDF slot 1, 2, 3

CAT 2021 question paper was moderately difficult and on the same lines as the exam usually is. The 66 questions were divided into VARC (24), DILR (20) and QA( 22). The question papers of all three slots had questions from same topics. Candidates, who will be appearing for CAT 2025 on November 30, should check out the CAT 2021 (Slot 1, 2, 3) DILR, VARC & Quant Questions as part of their exam strategy. Practicing old questions will help them strengthen grip over CAT topics and instill confidence.

Shiksha has shared in this article, sectional details of CAT 2021 question paper and downloadable PDFs of Slot 1, Slot 2 and Slot 3. Practice these CAT 2021 DILR, VARC & Quant Questions and know your strength and weakness.

Table of contents
  • CAT 2021 (Slot 1, 2, 3) Sectional Breakup
  • CAT 2021 (Slot 1, 2, 3) DILR Questions PDF with Answers
  • CAT 2021 (Slot 1, 2, 3) VARC Questions PDF with Answers
  • CAT 2021 VARC section Slot 1
  • CAT 2021 (Slot 1, 2, 3) Quants Questions PDF with Answers

CAT 2021 (Slot 1, 2, 3) Sectional Breakup

Check below sectional break up of the CAT 2021 question paper of slot 1, 2 and 3 combined:

CAT section

Number of questions

Important topics

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension

24

Reading comprehension,  parajumbles parasummary, para completion

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning

20

Reasoning based DI, Arrangement, Sets, Tables

Quantitative Aptitude

22

Remainder, Indices, Log, Equations, Functions, Maxima-Minima, Sequence & Series, Algebraic Expression, TSD-, T&W-, SI-CI, Percentage, PLD, Mixture, Averages, Ratios, P&C, Circle, Cuboid/Square, Coordinate Geometry

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Which CAT slot has the toughest question paper?
A: 
There is no pattern to which CAT question paper can be the toughest. The CAT question paper of every slot has unique questions. The examination body strives to maintain the same difficulty level of the paper across all slots but it may happen that a question can be more difficult from another. It is seen that, to keep the uniqueness of the question paper intact, the examination authority also changes the topic wise weightage a little bit across the exam slots. In most of the previous years, it is seen that the morning slot of the CAT exam is tougher than the rest two. However, candidates must not worry about the difficulty level of the slots as, the scores of all the candidates are normalised on a common scale to root out the possibility of advantage or disadvantage to any student due to difference in difficulty level. To know how the CAT scores are normalised, read this article: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/understanding-cat-normalization-process-blogId-9386.
Q:   From where can I download CAT question papers?
A: 

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.

Q:   Is it mandatory to attempt all the questions in CAT?
A: 

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. 

Q:   What is the difference between slot 1, 2 and 3 of CAT exam paper?
A: 

There is no difference between slot 1, 2 and 3 of CAT exam paper in terms of structure and patten. The sectional break up, marking scheme and time limit are the same in all slots. However, due to unique sets of questions in each slot leads to difference in difficulty levels. There is usually a slight difference in the CAT question papers of different slots. Sometimes, topic wise weightage of the questions also vary. To negate advantage or disadantage to candidates due to difference in difficulty level of slots, CAT scores are normalised for result preparation.

CAT 2021 (Slot 1, 2, 3) DILR Questions PDF with Answers

Check below slot wise DILR questions asked in CAT 2021 and get free PDF for practice with answers.

CAT 2021 DILR questions Slot 1

Here’s a brief overview of CAT 2021 DILR section Slot 1:

DILR

Set Type

No. of Questions

Difficulty Level

Bar graph on sales

DI

4

Moderate

Friends & Acquaintances

LR

6

Difficult

Smoothies

DI

4

Difficult

Journals

LR

6

Very Difficult

CAT 2021 DILR questions slot 2

Here’s a brief overview of CAT 2021 DILR section Slot 2

DILR

Set Type

No. of Questions

Difficulty level

Bar graph on Delivery times

DI

4

Easy-Moderate

Games & Tournaments/Distribution

LR

4

Moderate-Difficult

Pizza delivery ratings

LR

6

Difficult

Objects, Bundles & Values

DI

6

Very Difficult

CAT 2021 DILR questions Slot 3

Here’s a brief overview of CAT 2021 DILR section Slot 3

DILR

Set Type

No. of Questions

Difficulty level

Bar graph on Employee Schedules

DI

4

Easy-Moderate

Purity of Solutions

LR

4

Moderate

Javelin Throw

LR

6

Very Difficult

Question Evaluation

DI

6

Moderate-Difficult

You can download CAT 2021 DILR questions PDF with answers below.

CAT 2021 Question Paper DILR Questions PDF with Answers

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CAT 2021 (Slot 1, 2, 3) VARC Questions PDF with Answers

Check below slot wise VARC questions asked in CAT 2021 and get free PDF for practice with answers.

CAT 2021 VARC section Slot 1

Here’s a brief overview of CAT 2021 VARC section Slot 1:

Passage

Number of Questions

Readability

Overall Difficulty Level

Mayan Civilisation

4

Difficult

Difficult

Utopia and Dystopia

4

Difficult

Very Difficult

Marshmallow experiment

4

Moderate

Difficult

Evolution of Tea as a drink

4

Moderate

Moderate

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   What is the latest CAT exam pattern?
A: 

As per the latest CAT exam pattern, there will be 68 questions. The format will be MCQ and non-MCQ. VARC will have 24 questions, DILR will have 22 questions and QA will have 22 questions. Each question will carry 3 marks and there will be negative marking of -1 for incorrect answer. Sectional time limit will be 40 minutes.

Q:   What is the marking scheme of CAT?
A: 

CAT has 68 questions. Each question carries three marks. There is negative marking of minus one for incorrect attempts. There is no deduction of marks for unanswered questions. Total marks in 204.

Q:   What is the sectional time limit in CAT?
A: 

In CAT exam, each candidate gets 120 minutes to solve the paper. There are three sections in CAT Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning and Quantitative Aptitude. For each section 40 minutes are allotted as sectional time limit. For PwD candidates, the sectional time limit is 53.20 minutes per section. Candidates have to complete each section within the given time limit. Since the CAT is an online mode exam, the test screen will move from first section to the next section automatically as soon as the time limit gets over. Thus candidates have to be mindful of the on-screen timer and pre-decide the number of questions to solve in each section. The Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension section of CAT has 24 questions, Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section has 22 questions and Quantitative Aptitude section has 22 questions. It is not mandatory to solve all the questions in CAT so candidates can devise a strategy to use 40 minutes per section as per their strength and weakness.

Q:   Is the structure of CAT mock test same as the actual exam?
A: 
CAT mock tests are a replica of the actual CAT exam. It is so because the purpose of the mock test is to prepare the candidate for a speed based test which requires quick decision making and quick calculation with 100 per cent accuracy. This can be achieved only if the candidates has been in such an environment multiple times. In the CAT mock test, candidate has to solve equal number of questions as the CAT exam, in the same time limit. This, helps them in mastering the art of solving 66 questions in 120 minutes with much ease and confidence. The CAT mock tests have questions of same or higher difficulty level than the actual exam. In many unofficial mock tests, the questions are of previous CAT exams. Candidates must solve a variety of mock tests so that they are well versed with CAT questions of all types and varieties.

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CAT 2021 VARC section Slot 1

Here’s a brief overview of CAT 2021 VARC section Slot 2:

Passage

Number of Questions

Readability

Overall Difficulty Level

Language/ Indigenous people

4

Difficult

Difficult

Why Fiction Trumps Truth

4

Moderate

Moderate

Colonialism/Nationalism

4

Difficult

Difficult

Knowledge and problems of knowledge is a scandal to philosophy

4

Very Difficult

Very Difficult

CAT 2021 VARC section Slot 3

Here’s a brief overview of CAT 2021 VARC section Slot 3:

Passage

Number of Questions

Readability

Overall Difficulty Level

Nanotechnology

4

Moderate

Moderate

Language Instinct

4

Moderate

Moderate

Time Accuracy Entropy

4

Moderate

Difficult

Unconscious and Psychoanalysis

4

Difficult

Very Difficult

You can download CAT 2021 VARC questions PDF with answers below.

CAT 2021 Question Paper VARC Questions PDFs with Answers

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CAT 2021 (Slot 1, 2, 3) Quants Questions PDF with Answers

Check below slot wise Quantitative Aptitude questions asked in CAT 2021 and get free PDF for practice with answers.

CAT 2021 Quants questions Slot 1

Here’s a brief overview of CAT 2021 Quants section Slot 1:

Topic

No. of Questions

Difficulty Level

ERPV

3

Moderate

Percentages, Profit & Loss

2

Moderate

SI-CI

1

Easy

Time & Distance

1

Easy

Time & Work

2

Moderate

Numbers

1

Moderate

Geometry

3

Easy - Moderate

Progressions

2

Difficult

Logarithms and Indices

1

Moderate

Functions & Graphs

1

Moderate

Quadratic Equations

2

Moderate - Difficult

Inequalities & Modulus

1

Moderate

AMA

2

Moderate

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CAT 2021 Quants questions Slot 2

Here’s a brief overview of CAT 2021 Quants section Slot 2:

Topic

No. of Questions

Difficulty Level

Time & Work

2

Easy-Moderate

Time & Distance

1

Moderate

Logarithms

1

Easy

Progressions

2

Moderate-Difficult

Mensuration

3

Moderate

Quadratic Equations

1

Moderate

Functions & Graphs

1

Moderate

Inequalities & Modulus

1

Moderate

Percentages, Profit & Loss

3

Moderate

Indices

1

Difficult

Miscellaneous

1

Difficult

AMA

3

Easy-Moderate

P&C

1

Difficult

Special Equations

1

Difficult

CAT 2021 Quants questions Slot 3

Here’s a brief overview of CAT 2021 Quants section Slot 3:

Topic

No. of Questions

Difficulty Level

AMA

1

Moderate

Averages

1

Moderate

ERPV

4

Moderate - Difficult

Function

1

Moderate

Geometry & Mensuration

4

Moderate-Difficult

Indices & Logs

2

Difficult

Inequalities

1

Difficult

Special Equations

1

Difficult

Percentages

2

Moderate

sequence

1

Difficult

SI CI

1

Difficult

Time & Work

2

Moderate

Time & Distance

1

Moderate

You can download CAT 2021 Quants questions PDF with answers below.

CAT 2021 Question Paper QA Questions PDF with Answers

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About the Author
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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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