CAT Analytical Reasoning Questions With Solutions PDF Download

Overview: Boost your preparation with 20+ most important CAT analytical reasoning questions with answers. Learn what mistakes you should avoid while solving them.

CAT Analytical Reasoning questions assess a candidate's ability to interpret complex data, identify patterns, and apply logical deduction to solve problems, forming a critical part of the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) section of the exam.

These questions in the CAT exam 2026 present scenarios with specific rules, constraints, or relationships, requiring test-takers to analyze and derive conclusions based on the given information.

The problems are designed to evaluate critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making under time pressure, skills essential for management studies and professional roles.

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Read on to know important CAT Analytical Reasoning Questions with Answers! 

Common CAT Analytical Reasoning Question Types

The CAT Analytical Reasoning section includes diverse formats such as:

CAT Analytical Reasoning Questions Type	Description
Seating Arrangements	Linear and circular arrangements involving positions and relative placements.
Puzzles and Games	Complex scenarios like tournaments, scheduling, or distribution-based puzzles.
Blood Relations	Questions testing understanding of family hierarchies and relationships.
Venn Diagrams and Set Theory	Problems involving overlapping categories and logical classifications.
Coding-Decoding and Series	Tasks requiring pattern recognition in sequences or coded messages.
Direction Sense and Input-Output	Questions based on spatial orientation or process flow analysis.

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What are CAT Analytical Reasoning Questions?

CAT Analytical Reasoning questions are a part of the CAT (Common Admission Test) exam that test your ability to analyze information, identify patterns, and draw logical conclusions.

They usually appear under the DILR section (Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning) and focus more on how you think rather than what you’ve memorized.

CAT Analytical Reasoning Questions with Answers

Instructions: Five people—Abhi, Bablu, Chintu, Dubey, and Eisha are travelling in five different trains—Rajdhani Express, AP Express, Shatabdi Express, Duronto Express, and Howrah Express—to five different destinations Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Kolkata. The following information is known:

1. Rajdhani Express does not go to Mumbai.
2. Abhi's train, the Howrah Express, and the train to Mumbai start at different times.
3. Chintu is travelling in neither the Rajdhani Express nor the Howrah Express.
4. Bablu, who is traveling in Shatabdi Express, is not going to Mumbai.
5. Eisha's train starts after the train to Delhi.
6. Abhi's train, Rajdhani Express, and the train to Hyderabad start at different times.
7. Neither Rajdhani Express nor Howrah Express goes to Kolkata.
8. AP Express does not go to Delhi.
9. Dubey is going to Bangalore.
10. Neither AP Express nor Duronto Express is going to Kolkata.

1. Who is travelling in the Duronto Express?

1. Abhi
2. Bablu 
3. Chintu 
4. None of these

Correct Answer: 1) Abhi

Check: Logical Reasoning Questions for CAT

2. Which of the following is a true statement?

1. Abhi is going to Bangalore.
2. Shatabdi Express goes to Mumbai. 
3. Eisha is traveling in AP Express.
4. Bablu is traveling to Kolkata.

Correct Answer: 4) Bablu is travelling to Kolkata.

3. Which of the following train-destination combinations is correct?

1. Rajdhani - Delhi
2. AP - Mumbai 
3. Duronto - Bangalore 
4. Howrah - Delhi

Correct Answer: 2) AP - Mumbai

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4. Howrah Express is going to which destination?

1. Bangalore
2. Delhi 
3. Hyderabad 
4. Mumbai

Correct Answer: 3) Hyderabad

Instructions: Six students—A, B, C, D, E, and F—have to choose 2 subjects each out of Physics, Chemistry, Maths, and Economics, such that no two students choose the same pair of subjects.

A) C, D, and F have one subject in common. Similarly, A, E, and F also have one subject in common. In both cases, the common subjects are neither Maths nor Economics.

B) The subjects chosen by A were entirely different from D.

C) One subject chosen by A matched with one of the subjects of B, and this subject was not Economics.

D) One of the subjects of C was Physics.

5. Which subjects have been chosen by C?

1. Maths, Physics
2. Chemistry, Physics 
3. Economics, Physics 
4. Cannot be determined

Correct Answer: 1) Maths, Physics

6. Which of the subjects is common between B and F?

1. Maths
2. Physics
3. Chemistry
4. None of these

Correct Answer:1) Maths

7. Which of these subjects were chosen by D?

1. Chemistry, Economics 
2. Economics, Physics 
3. Maths, Economics 
4. None of these

Correct Answer: 2) Economics, Physics

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8. For how many students can the two subjects they have chosen be determined?

1. 4 
2. 6 
3. 5 
4. 3

Correct Answer: 2) 6

Instructions: K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, U, and W are ten members of a department. A team is to be formed from these members, subject to the following conditions:

1. A team must include exactly one of P, R, and S.
2. A team must include either M or Q, but not both.
3. If a team includes K, then it must also include L, and vice versa.
4. If a team includes one of S, U, and W, it must also include the other two.
5. L and N cannot be members of the same team.
6. L and U cannot be members of the same team.

9. Who cannot be a member of a team of size 3?

1. L
2. M 
3. N 
4. P

Correct Answer: 1) L

10. What is the size of the largest possible team?

1. 8 
2. 7 
3. 6 
4. 5

Correct Answer: 4) 5

11. In how many ways can a team be constituted so that it includes N?

1. 2 
2. 3 
3. 4 
4. 5

Correct Answer: 3) 4

Six people—A, B, C, D, E, and F—are sitting in a row facing north. The following conditions apply to their arrangement:

1. B is sitting between A and C.
2. D is not sitting at either extreme end.
3. E is not an immediate neighbor of A or D.
4. F is sitting to the immediate right of D.
5. C is not an immediate neighbor of F.

12. Who is sitting at the extreme left end of the row?

1. E 
2. A 
3. B
4. C

Correct Answer: 1) E

13. Who is sitting to the immediate left of C?

1. A 
2. B
3. F 
4. D

Correct Answer: 2) B

14. If A and F swap their positions, who will be sitting to the immediate left of C?

1. A
2. B 
3. F
4. D

Correct Answer: 2) B

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15. Which of the following pairs represents the people sitting at the extreme ends of the row?

1. E, C
2. E, F
3. D, B 
4. F, C

Correct Answer: 1) E, C

Eight people—P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, and W—are sitting around a circular table, facing the centre. Each of them works in a different bank: SBI, PNB, BOB, UBI, ICICI, HDFC, Axis, and Yes Bank, but not necessarily in the same order.

1. The person from SBI sits opposite the person from ICICI.
2. P sits second to the right of the person from ICICI.
3. The person from Axis Bank is an immediate neighbour of the person from SBI.
4. Q sits third to the left of P.
5. The person from UBI sits opposite the person from HDFC.
6. The person from BOB sits second to the right of the person from PNB.
7. R is neither from SBI nor from UBI. R is an immediate neighbour of T.
8. S is from Yes Bank and sits opposite W.
9. V is neither from UBI nor from PNB.
10. The person from BOB is not an immediate neighbour of P.

16. Who sits third to the right of the person from HDFC?

1. Q
2. V
3. T
4. U

Correct Answer: 4) U

17. Which bank does P work for?

1. PNB
2. SBI
3. Axis
4. BOB

Correct Answer: 1) PNB

18. Which of the following is the correct pair of the person and the bank he/she works for?

1. U - SBI
2. Q - BOB
3.  V - Axis
4.  T - ICICI

Correct Answer: 3) V - Axis

19. How many people are sitting between T and W, when counted in a clockwise direction from T?

1. One
2. Two
3. Three
4. Four

Correct Answer: 4) Three

20. Four of the following five are alike in a certain way based on their seating position and thus form a group. Which is the one that does not belong to the group?

1. P - SBI
2. R - PNB
3. U - HDFC
4.  V  ICICI

Correct Answer: 2) R - PNB 

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Instructions: Five movies—A, B, C, D, and E—are scheduled to be screened on five different days of the week, starting from Monday to Friday. The movies are of five different genres: Action, Comedy, Drama, Thriller, and Sci-Fi.

1. Movie A, which is a Drama, is screened on Thursday.
2. The Comedy movie is screened immediately before the Thriller movie.
3. Movie B is screened on Monday.
4. Neither Movie C nor Movie E is the Thriller movie.
5. Movie D is of Action genre and is screened immediately after the Sci-Fi movie.

21. Which movie is screened on Wednesday?

1. B
2. C
3. D
4. E

Correct Answer: 4) E

22. What is the genre of Movie C?

1. Comedy
2. Thriller
3. Sci-Fi
4. Action

Correct Answer: 1) Comedy

23. On which day is the Thriller movie screened?

1. Monday
2. Tuesday
3. Wednesday
4. Friday

Correct Answer: 4) Friday

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24. Which of the following is the correct movie-day-genre combination?

1. B - Monday - Thriller
2. C - Tuesday - Sci-Fi
3. E - Wednesday - Action
4. A - Thursday - Drama

Correct Answer: 4) A - Thursday - Drama

25. How many movies are screened between the Sci-Fi movie and Movie C?

1. Zero
2. One
3. Two
4. Three

Correct Answer: 1) Zero 

Mistakes to Avoid while Solving CAT Analytical Reasoning Questions 2026

Here’s some friendly, conversational guidance to help you avoid common mistakes while solving CAT Analytical Reasoning Questions 2026

• First things first, always read the problem carefully. It might sound simple, but missing just one small condition can throw off your whole answer.
• Forget about trying to memorise shortcuts or formulas. Analytical Reasoning is all about thinking logically and understanding the problem, not about quick tricks.
• Don’t get stuck trying to organise your preparation by topics too rigidly. The CAT doesn’t ask questions in neat little boxes, they mix everything up, so practising mixed sets is key.
• Use diagrams, charts, or tables to visualise the problem. It’s so much easier to crack complicated puzzles when you draw things out.
• Be ready for surprises! The CAT syllabus isn’t fixed, so questions can come from anywhere. Stay flexible and open to learning any new exam pattern.
• Pay close attention to the tiniest details. Sometimes the smallest word in the problem changes everything, so don’t skim through.
• Take your time and don’t rush. Logical deduction takes patience, so it’s better to be slow and sure than fast and wrong.
• When you practice CAT mocks, don’t just move on after finishing. Spend time reviewing your mistakes—they’re your best teachers.
• Keep your mind fresh and stay patient. Analytical Reasoning tests your endurance as much as your brainpower, so avoid burnout.
• Finally, have a clear plan and stick to it. Don’t skip basics; build your foundation well, and keep revising regularly.

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Conclusion

Mastering CAT Analytical Reasoning questions is essential for candidates aiming to excel in the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) section of the exam. The diverse types of questions, ranging from seating arrangements to puzzles and blood relations, challenge candidates' critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. 

By carefully analysing the provided scenarios and applying logical deduction, test-takers can effectively navigate these complex problems. By practicing with a variety of question types and understanding the underlying principles, candidates will enhance their skills, boost their confidence, and increase their chances of success in the CAT examination. 

Ultimately, strong analytical reasoning skills not only contribute to academic achievement but also lay a solid foundation for future management studies and professional roles.