CAT 2026 preparation for DILR will require you to dedicate quality time as both DI and LR require consistent practice over a period of time. Moreover, if you need a good overall CAT score, you need a minimum of 95 percentile in DILR. So, start early. Read here how to score 26+ marks & get 95+ percentile in CAT DILR.
Tips to score high in CAT DILR
CAT DILR is the second section of the question paper. Having handled dense VARC passages, candidates can feel bogged down by another set of mentally taxing questions. Yes, CAT Data Interpretation questions sets are data heavy and require a clear head. So are the Logical Reasoning sets. The biggest challenge of CAT DILR is that both sub sections have equal number of questions (11 each) thus; you cannot ignore one for another.
To handle 22 DILR questions, you need to master a varied range of questions. So, start early. You would need atleast 6-9 months to prepare for the CAT exam, if you wish to score above 95 percentile. Each of the three sections will require detailed study and practice. CAT DILR will require special emphasis as there are no formulae or theorems. It is entirely based on practice. Here is a suggested CAT 2026 DILR Strategy to Score 26+ Marks & Get 95+ Percentile.
- CAT 2026 DILR Topics
- CAT Data Interpretation
- CAT Logical Reasoning
- CAT 2026 DILR Strategy to Score 26+ Marks
- CAT 2026 DILR Strategy to Get 95+ Percentile
CAT 2026 DILR Topics
First of all understand the dominance of topics in this section. CAT syllabus includes multiple topics, but questions are not asked from all of them. So, check previous years’ CAT question papers to find out the dominant topics and patterns.
| CAT 2025 Slot 1 – DILR questions |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Set Description |
No. of Questions |
Doable |
Difficulty Level |
| DILR - Ticket based |
5 |
2 |
Moderate |
| Circular arrangement |
4 |
1-2 |
Difficult |
| Radar graph- Import/Export |
4 |
4 |
Easy |
| DILR - Taps |
4 |
2 |
Moderate to Difficult |
| AR based arrangement |
5 |
2-3 |
Moderate |
| CAT 2025 Slot 2 – DILR questions |
|||
| Set – Topic/ Area |
No of Questions |
Doable |
Difficulty Level |
| Point Graph (Sustainability Index) |
4 |
2-3 |
Easy -Moderate |
| LRDI: Bar Graph (Set Theory) |
5 |
2 |
Difficult |
| Hoops and Balls (Arrangement Based) |
4 |
2-3 |
Easy-Moderate |
| Training Based (Ordering & Scheduling) |
4 |
1 |
Moderate-Difficult |
| Pollution Index (AQI Based) |
5 |
1-2 |
Moderate-Difficult |
| CAT 2025 Slot 3 – DILR questions |
|||
| Set – Topic/ Area |
No of Questions |
Doable |
Difficulty Level |
| Export Import Trade Based(P,X,C Row ) |
5 (3 TITA) |
2 |
Moderate - Difficult |
| Currency, Travel (4 Countries) |
5 (3 TITA) |
0 |
Difficult |
| Step Graph |
4 |
2-3 |
Easy |
| Table Based (6 Friends - Calls in a Math) |
4 TITA |
2 -3 |
Moderate |
| AR Circular Arrangement (Game Passing the Back) |
4 |
4 |
Easy |
Download: Last 5 year’ CAT question papers
CAT Data Interpretation
Tables, graphs and pie charts are often based on percentage, ratio, routes and networks, comparisons, etc. The CAT DI questions may require a lot of calculation. Most of the questions are in a set of 4-5 questions and each may require you to find value of a different entity. So, your approach towards DI during CAT 2026 preparation phase should be to have complete control on quick calculation. This can be achieved by memorizing Mathematical tables, Square, Square roots, Cube, Cube roots, etc.
CAT Logical Reasoning
Blood Relations, Number Series, Syllogism, Direction Sense, Coding-Decoding and Assumptions are the most common topics of CAT Logical Reasoning. Preparation for this section is entirely based on practice. The more puzzles you will solve, the better you’ll get at CAT LR. Lately, CAT has moved to comprehension based reasoning questions. Which means you need have good English comprehension skill to understand the question. So, again, the solution is practice.
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CAT 2026 DILR Strategy to Score 26+ Marks
CAT DILR section has 22 questions, which make a total of 66 marks. About 10-12 attempts with maximum accuracy is considered good in this section. So, you target should be a minimum of 8-10 attempts with 100 % accuracy to score 95+ marks. Despite rigorous preparation and n number of mock test practice, some questions in the CAT 2026 may still look daunting. Stay away from those.
Out of total DILR sets (usually 5-6), select the ones you can solve correctly. It is not necessary to attempt all the questions of a given set. Solve only those which you can accurately. Meaning, if you can solve only 2 out of 4 questions of a DI set, solve those only. Don’t waste time on questions which you are not sure of and move to the next set. There is sectional time limit of 40 minutes, so keep a check on the timer.
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CAT 2026 DILR Strategy to Get 95+ Percentile
- Practice DILR sets of previous years’ CAT exams for best results. The questions in CAT 2026 can be similar.
- Practice sectional CAT mock tests to master DILR questions. Evaluate your strength and weakness with the mock test result.
- Read the questions and calculate how many questions per set will get you to your target score of 26-30 marks. Also check which questions, you can solve quickly and accurately in each set. Divide 40 minutes accordingly.
- Do not risk negative marking. Stay away from the set or questions you have even a slight doubt about.
- To aim for 26+ marks in CAT DILR, target 8-10 questions with maximum accuracy out of 22.
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Commonly asked questions
Difficulty level in CAT exam is not specific to any of the three slots. The difficulty level across slots may vary every year. Know how the CAT scores are normalised: https://www.shiksha.com/mba/articles/understanding-cat-normalization-process-blogId-9386.
While candidates belonging to Science and Engineering background do have an edge over Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), it is not impossible for students from non-Science background to crack this section of an MBA entrance exam. They do need to prepare harder which includes going back to study fundamentals of Mathematics such as Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry and Mensuration.
With regular practice and understanding of the question types and topics, candidates, irrespective of the educational background, can crack this section. Aspirants must note that it is important to identify the weak areas and improve on them to get a stronghold on this section. For Logical Reasoning, a good amount of practice of sample questions will be enough.
Yes, it is possible to prepare for DILR with self study. To score well in this section is to follow a strategy. First step is to go through previous years question papers and know various topics. Refer top books for DILR preparation. Practice adequate number of DILR questions with the help of mock tests, sample papers and previous years' papers.
Commonly asked questions
The CAT cut offs for IIM Bangalore hovers between 97-100 percentile. The qualifying CAT cut off required for being eligible for IIM Bangalore's Written Ability test (What) and Personal Interview PI is 85 percentile for General category students, whereas for SC candidates, it is 70 percentile. For ST candidates, it is 65 percentile and for PwD candidates it is 60 percentile. Given below are the sectional and overall qualifying CAT cut offs for IIM Bangalore.
- General category: 80 VARC 75 DILR 75 Quantitative Aptitude 85 (Overall)
- NC-OBC category: 75 VARC 65 DILR 65 Quantitative Aptitude 75 (Overall)
- EWS category: 70 VARC 65 DILR 65 Quantitative Aptitude 75 (Overall)
- SC category: 65 VARC 60 DILR 60 Quantitative Aptitude 70 (Overall)
- ST category: 55 VARC 55 DILR 55 Quantitative Aptitude 65 (Overall)
- PwD category: 50 VARC 50 DILR 50 Quantitative Aptitude 60 (Overall)
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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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