CAT Exam Analysis 2022: Check Section-Wise CAT Analysis, Review & Difficulty Level of Slot 1, 2, 3 | CAT Mock Test Series 2024 PDF Download

CAT 2022 Analysis: Overall and Slot-wise

As we at Endeavor have been informing our students for some time, the changes in the CAT 2022 exam pattern are in line with expectations.
IIM Bangalore is conducting IIM, so some changes were inevitable. 

• Modification in the VARC section. IIMB loves logic-based questions such as Logical Continuation. So CAT 2022 has logical continuation questions instead of out-of-context questions.  
• This meant a change in the number of TITA questions in VARC from 5 to 3. 
• A more tricky LRDI section. IIMB recently changed its CAT score calculation matrix, giving the highest weightage to the LRDI section. That means the section would be challenging. And it is, with 4 sets of 5 questions each. Anybody targeting 12-14 attempts (at least 3 sets) needs significantly more effort than anyone targeting just 10 attempts (2 sets). 
• A well-balanced, secular QA section. Arithmetic (including Modern Math) comprises 50% of questions, which means QA becomes equally easy or difficult for students from any background (knowing that more Algebra and Geometry typically create some advantage for those with a math background). Also, a higher number of TITA questions (8 this year compared to 5-6 last year) 

But then, nothing else changed. 

• The VARC section still has 24 questions. 
• The LRDI section still has 20 questions. 
• The QA section still has 22 questions.

So here we go with our slot-wise analysis.  

CAT 2022 Exam Analysis – Slot 1

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC):

• Total Questions: 24 
• Type in the Answer to question: 3 
• Questions with negative marking: 21

Ideally, a candidate would benefit from investing in RCs rather than Logical Continuation, if the latter appeared as a surprise factor.
Around 16 attempts would be ideal, anything more (without sacrificing accuracy) would be great. Seems like the Good score (98%tile) for Slot 1 VARC will hover around 33-35 marks.

Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation (LRDI) 

• Total Questions: 20 
• Type in the Answer to question: 6 
• Questions with negative marking: 14 

LRDI section had 4 sets of 5 questions each. Every set required logical reasoning skills. Yes, there was nothing Easy in LRDI section.

9-10 attempts with at least 9 correct should take you to a good score of 25-27.

Quantitative Ability (QA)

• Total Questions: 22 
• Type in the Answer to question: 8 
• Questions with negative marking: 14

QA section clearly offered a choice for those who are aware of their strengths. If Arithmetic is your strength, you would be easily in the safe range for good attempts. Otherwise, you have to be smart enough to pick the easier ones from outside Arithmetic questions.

14 attempts, 11 correct would be sufficient to get a good score of 30-32

Overall CAT 2022 Exam Analysis – Slot 1

At first glance, it was likely that the CAT 2022 exam would lead to slightly lower overall scores, which we viewed as a positive development. The CAT exam has always been focused on strategy, and a high number of attempts is either a rarity or a sign of poor planning.

On CAT 2022 first slot, around 42-45 attempts with 80% accuracy should keep you in the 99%tile range.  

CAT 2022 Cut-Offs/Percentile Prediction – Slot 1

CAT 2022 Exam Analysis – Slot 2

IIM Bangalore finished its quota of surprises in the first slot and went on with the regular trend: making CAT tougher with each subsequent slot. Just as it had happened in CAT 2021, Slot 2 was again the toughest for CAT 2022. CAT 2023 aspirants can start their prayers to avoid Slot 2 next November.  

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC):

• Total Questions: 24 
• Type in the Answer to questions: 3 
• Questions with negative marking: 21

Back to the traditional strategy here – focus on a balance for RC and non-RC questions, get at least 12 attempts in RCs with at least 10 correct, 3-4 attempts in non-RCs, and get a score of 31+ anyhow. That should be a good score (98%tile) for Slot 2.

Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation (LRDI):

• Total Questions: 20 
• Type in the Answer to question: 6 
• Questions with negative marking: 14

LRDI section had 4 sets of 5 questions each. Every set required logical reasoning skills. One set with Scatter plots was the easiest, while the set on 3 Sales Representatives was extremely lengthy and time-consuming. The other two sets were moderate difficulty level.

11-12 attempts with at least 9 correct should take you to the good score of 24-26.   

Quantitative Ability (QA):

Algebra was very tough, whether the equations or functions questions. Modern Maths was an absolute trap – 3 out of 4 Progressions questions were tough. Geometry had 2 easy questions, while Arithmetic was majorly easy.

While this slot managed to shock people with Algebra and Modern Maths, owing to the normalization, the good score for this slot will not be much lower than that for Slot 1.

12+ attempts with at least 10 correct should yield a good score of 30.

Overall CAT 2022 Exam Analysis – Slot 2

Slot 2, similar to the previous year, proved to be a challenging time for test-takers, interrupting the mid-day nap. However, as is typically the case, a more difficult exam provides greater benefits during the normalization process.
So Slot 2 test-takers who feel they could not attempt as many as their friends who appeared in Slot 1, please check the comparison.

In CAT 2022 second slot, around 38-40 attempts with 80% accuracy should keep you in the 98%tile range.

CAT 2022 Cut-Offs/Percentile Prediction – Slot 2

CAT 2022 Exam Analysis – Slot 3

After the storm comes the calm. But those who have been through the storm, cannot appreciate the calm immediately. They feel that it is only a marginal improvement. That is what Slot 3 of CAT 2022 was. Arguably the easiest slot of the day, but not so easy that scores would jump a lot. Nope. Scores and cut-offs will increase only marginally.

Just an attempt by IIM B to help people sleep peacefully on a Sunday night, thinking it was not as bad as Slot 2.

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC):

• Total Questions: 24 
• Type in the Answer to questions: 3 
• Questions with negative marking: 21

If you could skip one passage completely, achieving a high good score in RCs was actually easier. But those who cannot claim a high accuracy in RCs, would be compelled to attempt all 4 passages. Fortunately, none of the passages were as difficult to read as one of the passages in each of the earlier two slots. And if RCs cannot be your strength, then you would be expected to literally ace the remaining 8 non-RC questions to stand a chance of scoring 98%tile.

In this slot, 17 attempts with 13 correct would gain you a good score of 35.

Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation (LRDI)

• Total Questions: 20 
• Type in the Answer to question: 6 
• Questions with negative marking: 14

The colorful bar graph for males and females was the easiest, while the game set was the most difficult. The other two had a mix of direct and indirect questions. But across three slots, this one had the most doable sets.

Many test-takers would have attempted 3 sets out of 4. That is why, a good score would be 26, with at least 10 correct out of 13-14 attempts.

Quantitative Ability (QA)

• Total Questions: 22 
• Type in the Answer questions: 8 
• Questions with negative marking: 14

The QA section might have felt difficult to many people, but it was actually very similar to the QA questions from last year, wherein the major effort lay in understanding what the question asks you to do. That analysis might have shaken some people’s confidence. But otherwise, clearly, the section was as doable as any QA section in the last 4 years of CAT.

A good score of 32 will require at least 14 attempts and at least 12 correct.

Overall CAT 2022 Exam Analysis – Slot 3

The Slot 3 of CAT 2022 has received mixed reactions from students and test preparation coaches. While some analysts have stated that it was as challenging as Slot 2, their cut-off predictions indicate otherwise.

We believe that Slot 3 was a fairly balanced slot, and smartest test-takers will be able to achieve the scores listed below comfortably.

CAT 2022 Cut-Offs/Percentile Prediction – Slot 3