CAT 2015 Paper Analysis : SLOT 2 Paper Analysis
The CAT paper in the second slot was very similar to the one in the first Slot!
| Section | No. of MCQs | No. of non-MCQs | Total no of Qns | Total Marks |
| Section I – Verbal & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 10 | 34 | 102 |
| Section II – Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 24 | 8 | 32 | 96 |
| Section III – Quantitative Aptitude (QA) | 24 | 10 | 34 | 102 |
| Total | 72 | 28 | 100 | 300 |
*MCQ – Multiple Choice Questions
The first cut analysis said that the Second Slot (Afternoon session) paper was marginally easier than the paper in Slot 1 (Forenoon session paper). However, when one analyses the attempts that students seem to have made in both the sessions, there is a marginal decrease in the average attempts in the Second Slot Vs First Slot.
Summary of Cut offs
| Section | Total no of Qns | Total Marks | Cutoff (85%ile) |
| VARC | 34 | 102 | 37 |
| DILR | 32 | 96 | 28 |
| QA | 34 | 102 | 44 |
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)
The paper had 5 passages of RC with 24 questions in total (all MCQs) and 10 questions of Verbal Ability all of them were non-MCQs.
The RC passages appeared slightly longer than the ones in the first slot. However, the questions were similar and most students coming out of the exam informed that the RCs were doable comfortably.
In Verbal area however, there were 5 ParaJumbles as compared to 4 in the first slot. 2 Odd Para Jumble and 3 Alternative Summary questions made up the rest of the question in Verbal area.
Cutoff at 85 %ile is therefore expected around the same mark as for Slot 1 , i.e., around 44 to 45 marks.
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)
The DILR section in Slot 2 was slightly easier than the one given in Slot 1. However, the Data Interpretation area was longer and tougher and hence students may have wasted quite a bit of time on the same.
Students reported that at least two sets in LR were doable and would therefore add to the overall cutoffs and marks for this section.
A good student could have attempted around 16 to 18 questions in this section
The Cutoff is expected to be closer to 28 or 29 as against 24/25 for the Slot 1.
Quantitative Ability
The Quantitative Ability Section of the Slot 2 (Afternoon Session) was almost an exact replica of the questions in Slot 1 (Forenoon Session).
Once again, there was a huge emphasis on Arithmetic and Geometry (18 questions out of 34).
A good student aspiring to get into the top B Schools would have attempted upwards of 17 questions.
The cutoff can be high and could be closer to 44 marks.
Overall Analysis
The CAT 2015 paper (Both Slot 1 and Slot2) was relatively difficult than the CAT 2014 paper (all papers put together). Between the two papers in both the slots, the papers were more or less similar and hence the overall marks will not differ by more than 3 marks!
As said earlier in the analysis of the first slot, the IIMs are clearly trying to strive for a diverse representation of students at the IIMs. The relatively easier Quant and Verbal/RC puts almost everyone on an even keel. The joker in the pack is DILR and whoever has kept the cool in the exam and tried solving the easy ones, would be getting very good percentiles.
MARKS & PERCENTILE ANALYSIS for SLOT 2
VistaMind team has put together a preliminary analysis of the Marks required for various percentiles in each section as well as the overall marks required.
| Percentile | VARC | DILR | QA | Overall |
| 99% | 60 | 49 | 70 | 174 |
| 95% | 50 | 37 | 59 | 140 |
| 90% | 43 | 32 | 51 | 122 |
| 85% | 37 | 28 | 44 | 105 |
| 80% | 35 | 20 | 38 | 91 |
| 70% | 30 | 17 | 30 | 75 |
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