The Indian Institutes of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad has successfully conducted all the three slots for the Common Admission Test (CAT) 2021. The final slot of CAT 2021 was held from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Right after the completion of the examination, various subject experts and coaching institutes have come up with the paper analysis of the final shift. As per the candidates, slot 3 of CAT had a moderate-level difficulty.
Like slot 1, and slot 2, the third slot was also relatively easy. When we say easy, it means that it was at a difficulty level that was comparable to last year, there were no surprises, and no anomalies.
Although some candidates found the paper easy, many claimed it to be a lengthy one. Before getting into the details, let’s take a look at the prime highlights of CAT 2021: SLOT 3.
- There were a total of 66 questions in the final slot
- 24 questions were asked from Verbal Ability
- DILR had 20 questions
- QA saw 22 questions in the paper
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension
There were four Reading Comprehensions (RCs), of which, 2 were easy while 2 were comparatively tougher.
- One RC was on language.
- Then there was one on ‘X-Men Comics’, which was easy.
- Experts claim that the RC on “unconscious” was toughest.
- And then there was one RC on time management which was okayish.
- The style of questions was inference-based and not much factual. There were four parajumbles questions, two questions on parasummary and two questions on the odd one out. Ideal attempts in the VARC section should be 18.
- Under VA, there were 4 questions on parajumbles, 2 on parasummary, 2 on odd one out.
DILR
There was one set in the DILR section that was easy, one set moderate and two sets that had a moderate to high level of difficulty. Candidates claimed that the set on javelin throw was difficult and time-consuming as well. A graph-based DI chart was given in slot 3 which was doable. Though the condition-based puzzle that had 6 questions was tricky, if the table was made correctly, then candidates could get it correct. Nevertheless, the ideal attempts in the DILR section are 13 to 14 questions.
Quantitative Aptitude
Although QA had a higher difficulty level, it was easier as compared to slot 2. There were 10 to 11 questions from the arithmetic part that comprised simple and compound interest, time and work, profit and loss, averages, percentages, etc. While some candidates claimed that the QA section in slot 3 was difficult, experts are of the opinion that it was doable. However, the questions were lengthy and many faced difficulty with that. The overall style of the questions was very well-structured. Candidates aiming for a 99 percentile can have more than 43 questions as a safe attempt.
Overall Analysis of CAT 2021
As compared to the previous year, CAT 2021 was slightly on the lower side. Candidates having a score of 65 are likely to get a 90 percentile. The ones who will score 50% marks are likely to get 99 percentile. The standard of the Mathematics potion was seen to be on the upper side this time.