DILR Syllabus for CAT

CAT 2024 - Exam Pattern

CAT 2024 is most likely to follow the two-hour pattern of the CAT 2023, 2022, 2021 & 2020 exams. Will update more details once the notification of the exam is released in August 2024. 

CAT 2023

Total questions: 66
(VA – 24 qns, DILR – 20 qns, QA – 22 qns)
20 out of 66 questions were Non-MCQs (4 in VA, 8 in DILR, 8 in QA)

Total time: 120 minutes with a section-time limit of 40 minutes for each of the 3 sections

Marking scheme:
3 marks for the correct answer & -1 for the wrong answer
(No negative marks for Non–MCQ questions)

CAT 2022

Total questions: 66
(VA – 24 qns, DILR – 20 qns, QA – 22 qns)
17 out of 66 questions were Non-MCQs (3 in VA, 6 in DILR, 8 in QA)

Total time: 120 minutes with a section-time limit of 40 minutes for each of the 3 sections

Marking scheme:
3 marks for the correct answer & -1 for the wrong answer
(No negative marks for Non–MCQ questions)

CAT 2021

Total questions: 66
(VA – 24 qns, DILR – 20 qns, QA – 22 qns)
18 out of 66 questions were Non-MCQs (5 in VA, 5 in DILR, 8 in QA)

Total time: 120 minutes with a section-time limit of 40 minutes for each of the 3 sections

Marking scheme:
3 marks for correct answer & -1 for the wrong answer
(No negative marks for Non–MCQ questions)

CAT 2020

Total questions: 76
(VA – 26 qns, DILR – 24 qns, QA – 26 qns)
19 out of 76 questions were Non-MCQs (5 in VA, 6 in DILR, 8 in QA)

Total time: 120 minutes with a section-time limit of 40 minutes for each of the 3 sections

Marking scheme:
3 marks for correct answer & -1 for the wrong answer
(No negative marks for Non–MCQ questions)

CAT 2019 - 2015

Total questions: 100
(VA – 34 qns, DILR – 32 qns, QA – 34 qns)
26 out of 100 questions were Non-MCQs (7 in VA, 8 in DILR, 11 in QA)

Total time: 180 minutes with a section-time limit of 60 minutes for each of the 3 sections

Marking scheme:
3 marks for correct answer & -1 for the wrong answer
(No negative marks for Non–MCQ questions)

CAT 2024 – DILR Syllabus

Broadly, the CAT syllabus, in terms of the topics tested in the DILR section of CAT is as follows

Logical Reasoning

  • Seating Arrangement (linear, circular, grid etc)
  • Distributions
  • Selections
  • Venn Diagrams
  • Order & Sequencing
  • Binary Logic
  • Puzzles
  • Cubes
  • Syllogysms
  • Logical Connectives
  • Quantitative Puzzles
  • Analytical Puzzles
  • Cryptarithmetic
  • Weights and Balances

Data Interpretation

  • Tables
  • Line Graphs
  • Bar Graphs
  • Pie Charts
  • Special Graphs
  • Combination of Charts
  • Games & Tournaments
  • Caselets
  • Routes & Networks
  • Reasoning Based DI
  • Quant Based Reasoning

Additional Topics

For XAT, SNAP, NMAT

  • Blood Relations
  • Directions
  • Calendars
  • Clocks
  • Critical Reasoning
  • Statements & Assumptions
  • Statements & Conclusions
  • Course of Action
  • Input-Output
  • Letter & Number Series

Decision Making

This is a special & very important section which appears only in the XAT exam.  21 out of 75 questions in XAT are from Decision Making.

We will be covering Decision Making extensively, in our DILR for All MBA Exams course