The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2024, conducted by IIM Calcutta, continued its examination schedule today, November 24, 2024, with the second slot concluding at 2:30 PM. Much like Slot 1, this session adhered to a structured pattern but introduced some nuances in difficulty levels and question types across sections. This blog provides a comprehensive breakdown of the CAT 2024 Slot 2 Analysis, including the exam structure, section-wise analysis, good attempts, and expected percentiles, empowering candidates to analyze their performance and refine their strategy for Slot 3 or future CAT exams.
Understanding InsideIIM's CAT 2024 Percentile Predictor
CAT 2024 Slot 2 Analysis: Paper Pattern Overview
The CAT 2024 Slot 2 paper was structured similarly to Slot 1, with a total of 68 questions distributed across three sections, each with a 40-minute time limit. The marking scheme remained consistent:
- +3 marks for every correct answer.
- -1 mark for incorrect answers (MCQs only).
- No negative marking for TITA (Type In The Answer) questions.
Sectional Breakdown:
| Section |
No. of Questions |
MCQs |
TITA |
Time (mins) |
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
24 |
22 |
2 |
40 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) |
22 |
12 |
10 |
40 |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) |
22 |
14 |
8 |
40 |
| Total |
68 |
48 |
20 |
120 |
CAT 2024 Slot 2 Section-Wise Analysis and Ideal Attempts
1. Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
The VARC section in Slot 2 was moderately challenging, with a slight focus on Reading Comprehension (RC). Much like Slot 1, para jumbles were absent, replaced by summary and para completion questions.
Key Features:
- Reading Comprehension (RC):
- 4 passages (~450–500 words each).
- Topics included Spices Trade, Peer Review, Externalities, and Carnivore-Human Conflict.
- Difficulty: Easy to Moderate.
- Verbal Ability (VA):
- 3 Summary (MCQ), 3 Para Completion (MCQ), and 2 Odd Sentence (TITA).
- Difficulty: Moderate.
Ideal Attempts:
| Percentile |
Attempts (with ~80% accuracy) |
| 99+ |
15–16 |
| 95+ |
12–14 |
2. Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
The DILR section in Slot 2 followed a similar structure to Slot 1 but included five sets instead of four. Candidates found it relatively easier than the DILR section in CAT 2023.
Key Features:
- Set Topics:
- Bar Graph (Frequency Distribution): 5 questions, Moderate.
- Scatter Plot (x/y-axis - PAT/ES): 5 questions, Easy to Moderate.
- Grid-Based Number Arrangement: 4 questions, Moderate.
- Roots & Network (Maxima-Minima): 4 questions, Moderate-Difficult.
- Data Arrangement (Students & Coaches): 4 questions, Easy to Moderate.
Ideal Attempts:
| Percentile |
Attempts (with ~85% accuracy) |
| 99+ |
13–14 |
| 95+ |
10–11 |
3. Quantitative Ability (QA)
The QA section in Slot 2 leaned towards a moderate difficulty level, with a dominance of Arithmetic questions, followed by Algebra and Geometry.
Key Features:
- Question Distribution:
- Arithmetic: 8 questions (Easy-Moderate).
- Algebra: 5 questions (Moderate).
- Geometry & Mensuration: 3 questions (Moderate).
- Modern Math: 3 questions (Easy-Moderate).
- Number System: 3 questions (Moderate-Difficult).
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Ideal Attempts:
| Percentile |
Attempts (with ~80% accuracy) |
| 99+ |
8–9 |
| 95+ |
6–7 |
CAT 2024 Slot 2: Expected Percentile vs Score
| Percentile |
VARC Score |
DILR Score |
QA Score |
Overall Score |
| 99.9 |
50 |
46 |
46 |
118–123 |
| 99.5 |
42 |
40 |
41 |
103–108 |
| 99 |
38 |
37 |
33 |
92–95 |
| 95 |
23 |
27 |
16 |
57–59 |
| 90 |
20 |
21 |
13 |
47–49 |
Comparison With Slot 2 Vs Slot 1
| Section |
Difficulty Level (Slot 1) |
Difficulty Level (Slot 2) |
| VARC |
Easy-Moderate |
Moderate |
| DILR |
Easy-Moderate |
Easy-Moderate |
| QA |
Moderate |
Moderate |
CAT 2024 Slot 2 at a Glance: Conclusion
The CAT 2024 Slot 2 paper largely mirrored the structure of Slot 1 but presented moderate challenges in the VARC and QA sections, with DILR being more approachable. Candidates who focus on accuracy and smart question selection are likely to perform well.
Stay tuned for live updates on Slot 3 analysis and expected percentile trends. Use this analysis to gauge your performance and plan your next steps strategically.