CAT 2024 Question Paper PDF (Slot 1, 2, 3) Download with Solutions & Analysis

Download the official CAT 2024 Question Paper PDFs for Slot 1, Slot 2 and Slot 3 from the links below. You’ll also find the section-wise question breakup (VARC/DILR/QA), slot-wise difficulty highlights, and a step-by-step guide to access the official CAT 2024 response sheet and answer key.

Download CAT 2024 question paper PDFs for all slots in one place. Use these CAT question paper 2024 to check your VARC, DILR and QA performance and understand how the questions were covered across the CAT Syllabus, along with section-wise insights and answer key/solutions.

Download FREE Study Material for CAT 2026 by Supergrads

Key Takeaways

• Pattern & structure of the CAT 2024 sample question paper
• Slot-wise & section-wise difficulty of CAT 2024 paper
• Good attempts & key topic trends
• How to download CAT 2024 question paper PDF with solutions
• How to use CAT question paper 2024 effectively for CAT 2026 Preparation Purpose. 

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CAT 2024 Exam Overview

The CAT 2024 exam was conducted in three slots on 24 November 2024. The paper had 68 questions from VARC, DILR and QA, with 40 minutes given for each section. Here’s a quick look at the main details of the exam:

Particulars	Details
Exam Name	Common Admission Test (CAT) 2024
Conducting Institute	Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
Exam Mode	Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Exam Date	24 November 2024
Duration	120 Minutes (40 minutes per section)
Total Questions	68
Sections	VARC, DILR, QA
Marking Scheme	+3 for correct answer, -1 for incorrect MCQ, 0 for unattempted
Purpose	Admission to MBA/PGDM programs in IIMs and other B-schools

What Are the Key Changes in the CAT 2024 Question Paper Pattern?

The CAT 2024 question paper was slightly different from the previous year, mainly in the number of questions. The exam time and section-wise time limit stayed the same, but DILR had more questions and VARC continued to have a strong focus on Reading Comprehension.

• The total number of questions increased from 66 to 68.
• DILR had 22 questions, compared with 20 earlier.
• VARC had four RC passages, along with other VA questions.
• The exam duration stayed the same at 120 minutes, with 40 minutes for each section.

These points are based on the CAT 2024 exam pattern and expert analysis.

CAT 2024 Question Paper: Key Highlights

The CAT 2024 question paper followed the familiar 3-section structure but with a small twist in the total number of questions.

CAT question paper 2024 Parameters	Details
Exam name	Common Admission Test (CAT) 2024
Conducting body	IIM Calcutta
Exam date	24 November 2024 (Sunday)
Mode	Computer‑Based Test (CBT)
Slots	3 (Slot 1, Slot 2, Slot 3)
Total duration	120 minutes (2 hours)
Sectional time limit	40 minutes per section
Total questions	68 questions
Sections	VARC, DILR, QA
Question types	MCQs + TITA (Type In The Answer)
Marking scheme	+3 for correct, –1 for incorrect MCQ, 0 for TITA / unattempted
Overall difficulty	Moderate across slots

How Many Questions Were There in Each Section of the CAT Question Paper 2024?

The distribution stayed consistent across all three slots: VARC, DILR and QA: 

CAT 2024 Question Paper Sections	No. of Questions	Weightage (Marks)
Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC)	24	72
Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)	22	66
Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	22	66
Total	68	204

Practice CAT 2024 Sample Questions and Answers

1) If the price of a product increases by 20% and the quantity sold decreases by 10%, what is the overall change in revenue?

A. 6% increase
B. 8% increase
C. 10% increase
D. No change

Answer: B. 8% increase

2) The ratio of ages of A and B is 4 : 5. After 8 years, the ratio becomes 6 : 7. What is A’s present age?

A. 24
B. 32
C. 40
D. 48

Answer: B. 32

3) A can finish a job in 12 days, B in 18 days. Working together, how many days will they take?

A. 6
B. 7.2
C. 8
D. 9

Answer: B. 7.2 days

4) A bag contains 5 red, 3 blue, and 2 green balls. What is the probability of drawing a blue ball?

A. 1/5
B. 3/10
C. 1/3
D. 3/5

Answer: B. 3/10

5) The average of 10 numbers is 50. If one number 100 is replaced with 40, what is the new average?

A. 44
B. 46
C. 48
D. 50

Answer: B. 46

6) A train 120 m long passes a pole in 6 seconds. What is the speed of the train?

A. 60 km/h
B. 72 km/h
C. 80 km/h
D. 90 km/h

Answer: B. 72 km/h

7) A sum becomes ₹1320 in 2 years at 10% simple interest. What is the principal?

A. ₹1000
B. ₹1100
C. ₹1200
D. ₹1250

Answer: B. ₹1100

8) How many 3-letter words can be formed from the letters A, B, C, D without repetition?

A. 12
B. 18
C. 24
D. 36

Answer: C. 24

9) What is the LCM of 12 and 18?

A. 24
B. 30
C. 36
D. 48

Answer: C. 36

10) A mixture contains milk and water in ratio 3:1. If 4 liters of water is added, the ratio becomes 3:2. What was the original quantity of the mixture?

A. 8 L
B. 12 L
C. 16 L
D. 20 L

Answer: C. 16 L

CAT 2024 Question Paper: Difficulty Level

The CAT 2024 question paper was moderate overall, but the difficulty level varied from one slot and section to another.

Sections	Difficulty (Overall)	Key Observations
VARC	Moderate (varied by slot)	4 RC passages + VA questions (para jumbles, summary, odd-one-out). Slot 2 felt easier, Slot 3 was considered the toughest in VARC.
DILR	Easy–Moderate to Moderate	Mixture of 4- and 5-question sets; a couple of time-consuming sets in Slot 2 & 3.
QA	Moderate, concept-heavy	Arithmetic dominated, followed by Algebra, with a few Geometry & Number System questions.

For CAT 2026 aspirants, this clearly tells you: you can’t ignore Arithmetic, RCs, and standard DILR caselets.

CAT 2024 Slot 1, Slot 2 and Slot 3 Question Papers: Difficulty Level

Based on expert reviews, the difficulty level varied slightly across the three CAT 2024 slots. Here’s a quick comparison of the slots. This gives you a simple idea of which sections were easier or more time-consuming in each slot.

Slot	Overall Difficulty	VARC	DILR	QA	Good Attempts (Approx.)
Slot 1	Moderate (slightly easieser)	Moderate	Easy–Moderate	Moderate	~45–47
Slot 2	Moderate	Easy–Moderate (easiest VARC)	Moderate (some lengthy sets)	Moderate	~45–47
Slot 3	Moderate (trickiest overall)	Moderate–Difficult (toughest VARC)	Moderate but time-consuming	Moderate	~45–47

In short:

• Slot 1: The paper was mostly balanced and a little easier to handle.
• Slot 2: The questions were manageable, but DILR took more time.
• Slot 3: VARC was the toughest section, while DILR and QA were moderate but time-consuming.

Are CAT 2024 Entrance Question Papers Available with Solutions?

Yes. Most popular MBA prep platforms like Supergrads provide a CAT 2024 question paper with solutions PDF for all three slots.

Good solutions should explain:

• QA: Show the steps used to reach the answer.
• DILR: Explain how to approach and solve the set.
• VARC: Show why an option is correct and why the other options can be ruled out.

Don’t just check the final answer. Go through the solution to understand the method and avoid making the same mistake again.

Why Should You Solve the CAT 2024 Question Paper for CAT 2026?

Here’s why this single paper is a goldmine:

• Understand the real CAT exam pattern – You see exactly how IIMs currently set the paper.
• Gauge actual difficulty – More accurate than random mock tests.
• Spot trending topics – For example, Arithmetic & Algebra in QA, caselets in DILR, RC-heavy VARC.
• Improve time management – Sectional time limits feel different when you solve an actual paper.
• Practice with authentic questions: including CAT previous year papers – the closest possible benchmark to the real CAT exam

In short, if you’re serious about CAT 2026, not solving the CAT 2024 sample question paper is basically leaving free marks on the table.

Was the CAT 2024 Exam Question Paper Tougher Than Previous Years?

From multiple analyses:

• Overall, CAT 2024 was moderate and was considered slightly easier than CAT 2023 by many experts, particularly in DILR & QA.
• VARC difficulty was similar to recent years, with Slot 3 VARC being the most challenging.
• Compared to older patterns (like 2021), CAT 2024’s overall difficulty was in a similar ballpark.

Remember: “tough vs easy” doesn’t really matter - percentiles are relative. What matters is how efficiently you handle the level given.

Which Topics Dominated the CAT 2024 Question Paper in VARC, DILR and QA?

Based on section-wise analyses, here's how the CAT 2024 exam paper looked topic-wise:

VARC Section (24 Questions)

Topic Type	Details
Reading Comprehension (RC)	4 passages from philosophy, social sciences, business/economy, and abstract themes
Para Jumbles	TITA-based questions
Summary Questions	Short passage summary-based
Odd One Out Sentences	Identify the out-of-context sentence

Prep takeaway:

• Make RC your core strength – build both speed and accuracy.
• Practice daily para-based verbal reasoning (para jumbles, summary, odd-one-out)

DILR Section (22 Questions)

Aspect	Details
Number of Sets	4–5 sets per slot
Questions per Set	4–5 questions
Arrangements & Seating	Circular and linear arrangements
Venn Diagrams	Set overlaps and grouping
Games & Tournaments	Match-based and point-table sets
Scheduling & Distribution	Time, task, and resource allocation

Prep takeaway:

• Don’t chase all sets build the skill to pick 2–3 doable sets fast.

QA Section (22 Questions)

Topic Area	Key Topics Covered
Arithmetic	Percentages, Profit & Loss, Time-Speed-Distance, Time & Work, SI & CI
Algebra	Linear equations, Quadratic equations, Inequalities, Progressions
Geometry & Mensuration	Limited but scoring questions
Number System	A few conceptual questions

• A few questions from Geometry & Mensuration and Number System.

Prep takeaway:

• Start with Arithmetic: Build a strong base in Arithmetic before moving on to Algebra.
• Pick a Few Topics from Geometry & Modern Maths: Focus on 1–2 topics you are comfortable with and use them as extra scoring areas.

How Many Good Attempts in CAT 2024 Question Paper for a 99+ Percentile?

The number of good attempts can vary depending on the slot and accuracy. However, experts generally considered around 45–47 accurate attempts to be a strong performance in CAT 2024 and could lead to a very high percentile, including the 99+ range.

For each section, experts suggested the following approximate number of good attempts:

Section	Good Attempts (Approx.)
VARC (Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension)	17–18
DILR (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning)	12–13
QA (Quantitative Ability)	13–14
Overall	45–47

These are approximate indicators, not rigid cut-offs percentile also depends on how others performed in your slot.

How Should You Use the CAT 2024 Question Paper for Preparation?

Here’s a simple 5-step process you can follow:

Take a full mock Test under the exact exam conditions

• 120 minutes total
• 40 minutes per section
• No pausing, no phone, exam-like environment

Evaluate your performance properly

• Check your raw score using any CAT 2024 solution PDF.
• Separate mistakes into: conceptual, silly, and guess-gone-wrong.

Make a Section-wise Error Log

• VARC: Note which RC passages or VA questions you found difficult.
• DILR: Mark the sets where you spent too much time or made mistakes.
• QA: Write down the topics where you struggled, such as Time & Work, Progressions, or Geometry.

Re-solve the Questions

• Go back to the questions you got wrong or skipped.
• Try them again without checking the solution first. Once you have attempted them, compare your approach with the expert solution.

Revisit the paper after 2–3 weeks

• Attempt again to check improvement in accuracy, speed and comfort.

What Should You Do After Analysing the CAT 2024 Question Paper?

Once you’ve solved and analysed the CAT 2024 exam question paper with solutions, don’t stop there. Use it as a launchpad:

Update Your Preparation Plan

• Give more time to topics that were asked more often in CAT 2024, such as Arithmetic, Reading Comprehension, and common LRDI sets.

Choose Mocks Carefully

• Choose CAT Mock Tests that are close to the actual CAT pattern and difficulty level. Avoid spending too much time on unusually difficult or random mocks.

Practice previous year CAT papers

• Move backwards: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, etc.
• This helps you understand how patterns evolve while concepts remain broadly similar.

Regularly revisit CAT 2024

• Every few weeks, pick one slot again and try to beat your previous performance same paper, better results.

Analysing the CAT question paper 2024 in depth not only gives you clarity on the exam pattern but also helps you build a sharp, targeted strategy for CAT 2026.