You all must’ve heard a saying, “DILR is the maker or breaker” – sahi kehte hai log!
Having experienced both sides of the story, I learned it the hard way, costing me another attempt. From 74.59 percentile (raw: 8 marks, which also seemed like a blessing in disguise as I was expecting a 0) to 99.57 percentile (raw: 46 marks), the journey was no less than a roller coaster.
But what changed? How did I manage to take that high jump? How did I become a DILR addict from someone who used to fear it and run away from practice?
Well, the answer lies in the very last statement. All I did in my first attempt was run away from practice. I used to believe that people good at it were born with that talent, and I am not among them. I considered them out of my league and accepted that I would always score low in this section. Well, the same was reflected on the D-day, when I was not able to crack even a single set properly. I still remember that feeling of constantly switching between sets and still not being able to find “the set” that would help me clear the cutoffs. I knew I ruined the paper, but I also knew that this was NOT ME. I can’t give up without even trying. Thus, I decided to repeat and give it my all. I didn’t know where to start and what to do; all I knew was I had to work hard and have no regrets.
Note From Editor -> Free CAT Mocks 2025: Daily Sectionals!
Okay, here’s a secret: DILR is the easiest section to master. And, before you say, it’s easy for you to say because you have scored great, well now, you know my backstory. So, let’s talk about how to do so. Tighten up your seatbelts, people, as from here, you might embark on your journey of growth. If you are a repeater, good for you, as you have the unfair advantage. But I will be talking from the POV of a first-timer who has no idea about the process.
STEP 1: Know the Demon
Kyunki dushmanon ki taakat ka andaaza hona chahiye!
Start by giving a mock or sectional (I’d suggest going for any slot of CAT’24) to see aakhir ye DILR hai kya yaar! Do not worry about your marks and percentile; just give your best and focus on the post-mock analysis. Note down the areas you are strong and weak in, time spent on the set, whether you were able to crack the set or not, and even if you did, whether you were correct with your logic, etc. This will give you a rough idea about the section and where you currently stand.
STEP 2: Base building
Kyunki baby ka nahi pata – lekin DILR ko base pasand hai!
I would bifurcate this step into 2 parts, which you have to do simultaneously. This step would take you a month but ensures that the efforts from the coming 6 months are built on a strong base to let your castle stand still and strong.
2A: Theory: Prepare a list of the topics in DILR (note: there is no defined syllabus, so don’t consider it as the ultimatum), and try to grasp the theoretical knowledge. It can be from your coaching, YouTube videos or any other source. I’d suggest going for 2-3 hour marathon/revision videos for each topic so that you will know how to start. This would take you around 15-20 days.
2B: Practical: Warm up before the actual marathon. Practice easy- to medium-level sets (150-200) from miscellaneous topics so that you get to apply your knowledge gained from 2A and kickstart your actual practice sessions smoothly. I would suggest taking it easy during 2A days (2-3 sets per day) and then, once you are done with it, increasing the frequency to 5-6 sets per day. Don’t get scared; each set barely takes 10 minutes (no generalization intended).
Suggested Source:
- Anastasis Shankar 200 sets YouTube playlist
- Aptitude Jab YouTube playlist
- Cracku Daily Targets
- Level 1 & 2 sets from practice books (coaching/Arun Sharma/etc.)
STEP 3: The real deal
Kyunki boond boond se sagar banta hai!
Now, as you have ensured a strong base, start building the castle. Move on to the higher, actual CAT level sets and work on them (having said that, there is no specific CAT LEVEL).
Time yourself and solve at least 4-5 sets daily. Yes, it might seem overwhelming initially, because, let’s admit, you will face days where one set might take you an hour with no result, but with time, you will start enjoying it and will look forward to the next set of challenges to be faced. Always keep track of the timer and maintain an analysis sheet of your response to different genres. Also, don’t be fixated on your favourite sub-section (mine was LR) or any favourite sub-topic (mine was seating arrangement), and always have a mixed set of sets to solve every day. It will ensure that you cover all the topics. This step will go on till your CAT DAY - yes, you heard it right! Be it from a practice source, mock, sectional or past year paper, you have to ensure you complete your daily target. Target 450-500 sets till CAT from this step.
Tip: Revise your sets
People only suggest it for QA and VARC, but when I heard from a senior mentor to apply it to the DILR as well, I was shocked. But when I implemented it, it acted as a catalyst in my preparation.
Have records of some good sets that you have solved in the past and practice them during your final leg of preparation alongside PYQs (i.e. October and November). This will ensure you have the logic fresh in your mind, which might help you on D-day. It's okay if you practice it without the timer. (Don't worry about the memory bias; you have practiced tons of sets after you solved it for the first time, you won't remember the logic and answers)
Suggested Source:
- Past year mocks and sectionals (most important yet underrated, will cover the major chunk of practice)
- Current mocks (give according to the coaching schedule)
- Current sectionals (give at least 25-30)
- Level 3 sets from practice books (coaching/Arun Sharma/etc.)
- Past year papers (during the latter stage of preparation, like October onwards, mandatorily cover all slots from 2017 to 2024, will give you around 100 quality sets to practice from)
STEP 4: Strategize
Kyunki yuddha mai rananeeti bhi zaroori hai!
This is the most underrated step. People do practice, but what differentiates a 95 percentiler from a 99 percentiler is the STRATEGY and how they approach the paper. Because DILR is not less than a mind game. Thus, knowledge will not suffice; you should know where to use your sword and where to use your shield! You should create a strategy for how to select the sets (because not every set is meant to be solved during those 40 minutes), how to select the right questions, and how to divide time between the sets.
Following were the strategies I made and followed throughout the mocks, sectionals and even on the D-day, and they worked wonders for me:
1. Set selection
- Check the Set type
- Check constraints
- Check questions and options
- Make a sequence
2. Use questions and options to crack the sets (get clues)
3. Use each line of the set and constraint; there is no useless sentence in a set
4. Check the finished table with constraints and ensure that it satisfies 100% of them (not even a single one should be compromised)
5. Don’t make all cases beforehand (if multiple)
6. Check for sitters in other sets to get those extra marks
7. Solving half the set is okay if it's taking time
8. MOVE ON TIME (it is an art you need to learn to master DILR)
Ideal way of solving the paper:
1. Set selection (5-7 mins; it's not a waste of time)
2. Start with the set 1 of your sequence (not paper)
2.1 Able to crack some logic in 2 minutes: Give more time
2.2 Solved further in 3 mins: give more time and stick to it
2.2.1 No direction in 3 mins: kindly move on to set 2 and so on
2.2.2 Not able to crack logic in 2 minutes: move onto set 2 and so on
DO NOT PANIC IN EITHER OF THE SITUATIONS; IT IS NATURAL TO GET STUCK
3. If you have buffer time, look for sitters in the unsolved tough sets
4. Focus on the analysis and work on your shortcomings.
STEP 5: Shine on the D-day
I don’t think so you need a Kyunki here!
Whatever had to be done was done; now just relax and calm your mind. The best strategy to have is to have no strategy. Trust me, there is no particular CAT level you should be prepared for. Just keep the basic outline in mind and tweak according to the level of difficulty of the paper. This also comes with an important note of not fixating on the targeted number of sets to be solved.
In a paper like the one from 2023, 27 marks would ensure a 99th percentile, but in 2024, you had to score 38 marks to achieve the same feat. So, try to maximize and make the most out of the paper. This will ensure you are flexible enough to handle any difficulty posed to you. Most importantly, after the paper, pat your back and come out with a smile, because no matter what the result is, you know the efforts you put into it for the last few months, and that’s what matters.
All the best for your journey; I hope that DILR makes your CAT!
