CAT 2021 Exam Analysis by Endeavor. Get Sectional Analysis, Expected cut off, Percentile Projection

Endeavor Careers Posted on November 26, 2021

CAT 2021 Exam Analysis, CAT 2021 Analysis, CAT 2021 Slot 1 Analysis

Welcome to the CAT 2021 Exam analysis page. Select the slot and jump to the respective exam slot analysis:

Quick links to jump to respective slots cut-offs

Detailed Video Exam Analysis and Cut-Offs of CAT 2021 Slots 1, 2 & 3.

CAT 2021 Slot 1 First Impression

CAT 2020 Exam Analysis – Slot 1

Amidst all the speculation surrounding the number of questions in each sectional in the aftermath of the announcement by CAT authorities, the dust seems to have settled on 24 questions of VARC, 20 questions of DILR, and 22 questions of QA. Undoubtedly, the reduced number of questions has been delightfully welcomed by students.

There were, however, mixed responses regarding the overall difficulty level of the slot with VARC being regarded as easy to moderate, DILR as moderate to difficult, and QA as easy to moderate. Overall, the paper can be regarded as moderate.

The conduction of Slot 1 was also smooth with very good social distancing and Covid 19 norms observed. Apart from a couple of students reporting challenges faced with slow computers that cost them precious time, overall, students have reported a good experience.

The overall CAT 2021 Slot 1 paper pattern was as follows:

Sectional	Total questions	Non-negative key-in questions	Time per sectional	Marks per question (Correct/Incorrect)
VARC	24	5	40 mins	+3, -1
DILR	20	5-6	40 mins	+3, -1
QA	22	6-7	40 mins	+3, -1
Total	66	16-18	120 mins	198

The sectional, in-depth CAT 2021 Slot 1 Exam analysis is as follows:

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC):

VARC with a total of 24 questions had 4 RCs of 500 to 600 words, 3 Key-in Para jumbles, 3 Summary, 2 Out of Context. One RC was to do with Tea history, the second to do with a scientist’s experiments on Cuttlefish, the third RC, a slightly dense Utopian-Dystopian, individualism-collectivism discussion, and the fourth RC, an analysis of Mayan artwork and their appreciation and regard for all objects around them. Each RC had 4 questions. The questions types were a slight departure for CAT 2020 -with inferences ruling the roost, with a lone weaken and parallel reasoning question. There was also an unusual ‘which of the following can be a complement to the passage’ question.

Clearly, a notch easier than CAT 2020.

CAT 2021 Slot 1 VARC – Difficulty level

Question Type	Number of Questions	Non-MCQ/Non Negative	Difficulty -level
RC 1: History of Chinese Tea	4	–	Easy
RC 2: Testing the Marshmallow theory on Cuttlefish	4	–	Moderate
RC 3: Utopian and Dystopian ideas	4	–	Difficult
RC 4: The Mayan regard for all objects around them	4	–	Difficult
Key-in Parajumbles	3	3	Moderate
Summary	3	–	Easy to Moderate
Out of Context	2	2	Moderate

Good attempts: 18 with 80-85 % accuracy.

Overall difficulty level: Easy to Moderate

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR):

DILR had 20 questions with 4 sets- 2 sets of 6 questions each, and 2 sets of 4 questions each. The set with a bar graph seemed to be the easiest with 4 questions. The second set, the one on raw material production and sales with 4 questions was moderate. The third set on acquaintances and missing data had 6 questions, and was moderate to difficult; and the fourth one on magazines, publishers, and cities with 6 questions, was a lengthy set.

CAT 2021 Slot 1 – DILR – Questions Distribution

Topic	Number of Questions
Bar Graph (Easy)	4
Raw material, production and sales based (Moderate)	4
Acquaintances – missing data based (Moderate to difficult)	6
Magazines, publishers and cities (Moderate but lengthy)	6

CAT 2021 Slot 1 – DILR – Difficulty level

Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Expected Attempts
Easy	4	4
Moderate	10	7
Difficult	6	1
Total	20	12

Good attempts: 11-12 questions with 80-85% accuracy.

Overall difficulty level: Moderate to Difficult

Quantitative Aptitude (QA):

With a total of 22 questions, QA had a predominance of Arithmetic and Geometry. Profit and Loss, SICI, Time and Work, Time, Speed Distance, Permutation-Combination accounted for about 10-11 questions. Most of these questions were very much doable and can be regarded as easy to moderate. Algebra had less representation, and the Algebra questions can be regarded as moderate to difficult.

Good attempts: 15 questions with 80-85% accuracy.

CAT 2021 Slot 1 – QA – Questions Distribution

Topic	Number of Questions
Arithmetic (P&L, SICI, Ratio, Average, Alligation, T&W, TSD)	9
Algebra (LE, QE, Log, Function, Inequality)	6
Geometry (Triangles, Quads & Polygons)	4
Modern Maths (P&C, Progressions)	3

CAT 2021 Slot 1 – QA – Difficulty level

Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Expected Attempts
Easy	13	11
Moderate	7	4
Difficult	2	0
Total	22	15

Good attempts: 15 questions with 80-85% accuracy.

Overall difficulty level: Easy to Moderate

Endeavor students found that all sectionals were very much in sync with the EOMs (Endeavor Open Mock CATs) that they had taken. In terms of question numbers, difficulty levels, and question types, EOMs were a great simulation.

Here are the predicted scores versus percentiles of CAT 2021 SLOT 1:

Percentile	VARC	DILR	QA	Overall
80%ile	26	14	26	52
90%ile	31	19	31	63
95%ile	35	23	35	75
98%ile	39	27	39	91
99%ile	47	32	47	96
100%ile	61	41	61	132

CAT 2021 Exam Analysis – Slot 2

Once again, Slot 2 continued the well-received run of 24 questions of VARC, 20 questions of DILR, and 22 questions of QA.

The overall difficulty level of the slot was termed moderate with VARC being regarded as easy to moderate, DILR as moderate to difficult, and QA as easy to moderate.

The conduction of Slot 2 was also smooth with very good social distancing and Covid 19 norms observed. The arrangements were seamless, the different reporting timings given to candidates ensured that crowding at the centers was avoided. Overall, students reported a good experience.

The overall CAT 2021 Slot 2 paper pattern was as follows:

Sectional	Total questions	Non-negative key-in questions	Time per sectional	Marks per question (Correct/Incorrect)
VARC	24	5	40 mins	+3, -1
DILR	20	5-6	40 mins	+3, -1
QA	22	7-8	40 mins	+3, -1
Total	66	17-19	120 mins	198

The sectional, in-depth CAT 2021 Slot 2 Exam analysis is as follows:

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC):

Once again, the sectional had the same number and distribution of questions. The RCs were just a slight notch denser in language and ideas. The RCs covered topics like the decline of languages, the relationship between truth and power, nationalism and colonialism in the Indian context, and knowledge and skepticism. While the questions types were predominantly inferential, the ‘if false’, ‘if true’ questions of CAT 2020 returned in this slot.

The 8 VA questions again were not difficult but the Parajumbles were not smooth sailing with difficulties in linking sentences. The Summary questions were moderate to attempt. About 5 attempts were definitely possible.

CAT 2021 Slot 2 VARC – Difficulty level

Question Type	Number of Questions	Non-MCQ/Non Negative	Difficulty -level
RC 1: Decline of Languages	4	–	Easy
RC 2: Relationship between truth and power	4	–	Moderate
RC 3: Nationalism and Colonialism in the Indian context	4	–	Difficult
RC 4: Knowledge and skepticism	4	–	Difficult
Key-in Parajumbles	3	3	Moderate to Difficult
Summary	3	–	Moderate
Out of Context	2	2	Moderate

Good attempts: 16-17 questions with 80-85% accuracy.

Overall difficulty level: Easy to Moderate

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR):

DILR had 20 questions with 4 sets- 2 sets of 6 questions each, and 2 sets of 4 questions each. The challenge of selection of Slot 1 continued in Slot 2, with 2 sets of 6 questions each, and 2 sets of 4 questions each. While students were tempted to attempt the sets with 6 questions, the sets with 4 questions were the easier ones. Both the Bar graph set and the Games and tournaments sets were easy. The most challenging was the set of distribution of 10 objects among 5 friends.

CAT 2021 Slot 2 – DILR – Questions Distribution

Topic	Number of Questions
Bar Graph (Easy)	4
Games and Tournaments (Easy)	4
Rating of the delivery boy on 4 parameters (Moderate)	6
Distribution of 10 objects among 5 friends (Difficult)	6

CAT 2021 Slot 2 – DILR – Difficulty level

Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Expected Attempts
Easy	4	4
Moderate	10	7
Difficult	6	1
Total	20	12

Good attempts: 11-12 questions with 80-85% accuracy.

Overall difficulty level: Moderate to Difficult

Quantitative Aptitude (QA):

With a total of 22 questions, QA again had a predominance of Arithmetic. With 9 questions based on Arithmetic, and 3 Geometry questions, students found a respite in QA once again. There were only 2 questions of Modern Maths. The difficulty level marginally increased in comparison to slot 1, bringing the expected attempts down by 1 question compared to slot 1.

CAT 2021 Slot 2 – QA – Questions Distribution

Topic	Number of Questions
Arithmetic (Percentage, SICI, Average, Partnership, Alligation, T&W, TSD)	9
Algebra (Equations, Log, Function, Inequality)	6
Geometry (Triangles, Quads & Polygons)	3
Modern Maths (P&C, Progressions)	2
Numbers	2

CAT 2021 Slot 2 – QA – Difficulty level

Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Expected Attempts
Easy	12	10
Moderate	5	3
Difficult	5	1
Total	22	14

Good attempts: 14 questions with 80-85% accuracy.

Overall difficulty level: Moderate

Here are the predicted scores versus percentiles of CAT 2021 SLOT 2:

Percentile	VARC	DILR	QA	Overall
80%ile	24	15	16	49
90%ile	29	20	23	60
95%ile	33	24	28	71
98%ile	36	28	34	86
99%ile	43	33	40	90
100%ile	56	42	50	125

CAT 2021 Exam Analysis – Slot 3

While Slot 3 continued the well-received run of 24 questions of VARC, 20 questions of DILR, and 22 questions of QA, the overall difficulty level of the slot veered a little towards moderate to difficult with VARC rated as moderate to difficult, DILR as moderate to difficult, and QA as moderate to difficult.

The conduction of Slot 3 was also smooth with very good social distancing and Covid 19 norms observed. The arrangements were seamless, and the different reporting timings given to candidates ensured that crowding at the centers was avoided. Overall, students reported a good experience.

The overall CAT 2021 Slot 3 paper pattern was as follows:

Sectional	Total questions	Non-negative key-in questions	Time per sectional	Marks per question (Correct/Incorrect)
VARC	24	5	40 mins	+3, -1
DILR	20	5-6	40 mins	+3, -1
QA	22	6	40 mins	+3, -1
Total	66	16-17	120 mins	198

The sectional, in-depth CAT 2021 Slot 3 Exam analysis is as follows:

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC):

The sectional had the same number and distribution of questions. However, the difficulty level of two of the RCs shot up a little making selection of RCs challenging. Two RCs – the one on Time keeping and entropy, as well as Robotics and Nano Sentinels were moderate to read, but the options were quite close. The ‘keywords’ question returned along with the ‘if false’, ‘if true’ questions of CAT 2020.

The 8 VA questions again were not difficult but the Parajumbles were not smooth sailing with difficulties in linking sentences. The Summary questions also had quite close options. About 4-5 attempts were possible.

CAT 2021 Slot 3 VARC – Difficulty level

Question Type	Number of Questions	Non-MCQ/Non Negative	Difficulty -level
RC 1: Time keeping and increasing entropy	4	–	Easy to Moderate
RC 2: Robotics and Nano Sentinels	4	–	Moderate
RC 3: Language as an instinct-Chomsky’s ideas interpreted by Pinker	4	–	Difficult
RC 4: The study of unconscious and its impact on other fields	4	–	Difficult
Key-in Parajumbles	3	3	Moderate to Difficult
Summary	3	–	Moderate
Out of Context	2	2	Moderate

Good attempts: 15-16 questions with 80-85% accuracy.

Overall difficulty level: Moderate to Difficult

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR):

DILR had 20 questions with 4 sets- 2 sets of 6 questions each, and 2 sets of 4 questions each. The challenge of selection posed in Slot 1, and Slot 2 continued yet again, with 2 sets of 6 questions each, and 2 sets of 4 questions each. One of the sets with 4 questions, the Bar graph on employees and projects was easy with quick to understand data and some really easy questions. The Pure and Impure mixtures set was quite tempting with very less data, but required a sound understanding of the process mentioned of verifying impure mixture. The most challenging was the set of javelin throwing distances with lengthy data.

CAT 2021 Slot 3 – DILR – Questions Distribution

Topic	Number of Questions
Bar Graph on employees and projects (Easy)	4
Detection of Pure and Impure Mixtures (Moderate to Difficult)	4
Question creators and reviewers (Moderate)	6
Javelin throwing distances (Difficult)	6

CAT 2021 Slot 3 – DILR – Difficulty level

Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Expected Attempts
Easy	4	4
Moderate	8	6
Difficult	8	1
Total	20	11

Good attempts: 11 questions with 80-85% accuracy.

Overall difficulty level: Moderate to Difficult

Quantitative Aptitude (QA):

With a total of 22 questions, QA continued the predominance of Arithmetic and Geometry. With 9 questions based on Arithmetic, and 4 Geometry questions, it appeared like the sectional would offer a respite to students. But, alas! This was deceptive simplicity. The questions were heavy on calculations and required time. The sheer length of the sectional brought down students attempts making the sectional a challenging one.

CAT 2021 Slot 3 – QA – Questions Distribution

Topic	Number of Questions
Arithmetic (P&L, SICI, Ratio, Average, Alligation, T&W, TSD)	9
Algebra (LE, QE, Log, Function, Inequality)	6
Geometry (Triangles, Quads & Polygons)	4
Modern Maths (P&C, Progressions)	2
Numbers	1

CAT 2021 Slot 3 – QA – Difficulty level

Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Expected Attempts
Easy	10	8
Moderate	6	4
Difficult	6	1
Total	22	13

Good attempts: 13 questions with 80-85% accuracy.

Overall difficulty level: Moderate to Difficult

Here are the predicted scores versus percentiles of CAT 2021 SLOT 3:

Percentile	VARC	DILR	QA	Overall
80%ile	22	14	15	46
90%ile	27	19	21	55
95%ile	30	23	26	66
98%ile	33	27	31	80
99%ile	40	32	36	84
100%ile	51	41	45	116