CAT 2024 Question Papers, Download PDF with Video Solutions

CAT 2024 Question Paper PDF

The CAT 2024 exam was conducted by IIM Calcutta on November 24, 2024. The exam was held at 389 test centres across 170 cities in India and was conducted in three slots on the same day. Around 2.93 lakh candidates appeared for the examination out of approximately 3.29 lakh registered eligible candidates.

CAT 2024 introduced a small but important change in the exam pattern. The total number of questions increased from 66 in CAT 2023 to 68 in CAT 2024, primarily because the DILR section increased from 20 to 22 questions. The total exam duration remained 120 minutes, with 40 minutes allotted to each section.

For aspirants preparing for CAT 2026, solving the CAT 2024 question paper is extremely useful. It helps candidates understand the recent CAT exam pattern, section-wise difficulty, question types, topic weightage and the level of decision-making required under timed conditions.

Here is a quick overview of the CAT 2024 exam pattern:

Note: Each correct answer carries 3 marks. For an incorrect MCQ answer, 1 mark is deducted. TITA or Type In The Answer questions do not have negative marking.

CAT 2024 Slot-Wise Question Papers

CAT 2024 was conducted in three slots on November 24, 2024. All three slots followed the same basic structure of 24 VARC questions, 22 DILR questions and 22 QA questions. However, the difficulty level and question mix varied across the slots.

Candidates can practice CAT 2024 papers through Cracku's slot-wise solved question papers, which include detailed explanations and video solutions.

Slot 1 (Morning): The first slot was generally considered easy to moderate compared with CAT 2023. VARC was moderate, while DILR provided several manageable opportunities for candidates who selected their sets carefully. QA was moderate, with Arithmetic and Algebra contributing a significant share of questions.

Slot 2 (Afternoon): Slot 2 was considered moderate overall and slightly more challenging in some areas. VARC was relatively manageable, while DILR required careful set selection. QA included questions from Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Functions, Logarithms and Number System concepts.

Slot 3 (Evening): Slot 3 was also broadly moderate, although VARC was considered relatively more challenging. DILR was manageable with good set selection, while QA was comparatively approachable for candidates with strong fundamentals. Cracku's analysis rated Slot 3 at around a moderate overall difficulty level.

Because CAT is conducted in multiple slots, the raw scores of candidates are subjected to the CAT normalisation process. This adjusts for differences in difficulty across slots before scaled scores and percentiles are calculated.

CAT 2024 Difficulty Level and Section-Wise Analysis

Overall, CAT 2024 was considered easier than CAT 2023, although the difficulty varied across sections and slots. The increase in DILR questions from 20 to 22 was one of the major structural changes in the paper.

Here is a broad section-wise overview:

Good attempts are only indicative and depend heavily on accuracy and the difficulty of the candidate's particular slot. Cracku's CAT 2024 analysis broadly placed good attempts around these levels.

VARC (Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension)

CAT 2024 VARC had 24 questions in each slot. Reading Comprehension continued to dominate the section, with four passages followed by verbal ability questions.

One notable CAT 2024 change was the absence of Parajumble questions. Instead, candidates encountered question types such as Para Summary, Odd Sentence Out and Para Completion or sentence-placement questions.

The RC passages covered a wide range of themes. Slot 1 included passages related to craftsmanship, behavioural economics and digital content, while other slots included themes related to technology, research, human-animal conflict, language and artificial intelligence.

VARC was broadly moderate, although Slot 3 was considered relatively tougher than Slots 1 and 2.

DILR (Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning)

DILR was one of the biggest talking points of CAT 2024 because the number of questions increased from 20 to 22.

Candidates received five sets carrying a combination of four and five questions. The section included logical arrangements, tournament-based problems, charts, tables, data interpretation and other multi-condition reasoning sets.

Compared with CAT 2023, many candidates found CAT 2024 DILR more manageable. However, this did not mean every set was easy. Selecting the right two or three sets remained crucial.

The section again demonstrated an important CAT strategy: candidates do not need to solve every DILR set. Identifying the most approachable sets during the first few minutes can significantly improve the final score.

QA (Quantitative Ability)

CAT 2024 QA had 22 questions across all three slots. Arithmetic and Algebra remained the two most important areas, while questions from Geometry, Number System and Modern Mathematics also appeared.

Arithmetic topics included percentages, profit and loss, ratios, averages, time and work, time speed distance, mixtures and simple and compound interest.

Algebra included equations, inequalities, functions, logarithms and sequences in different slots.

The overall QA difficulty was moderate, although individual questions ranged from straightforward to highly time-consuming. Cracku's analysis placed good attempts at approximately 12 to 15 questions depending on the slot, with Slot 3 being comparatively more approachable in QA.

How to Download CAT 2024 Question Paper PDF?

IIM Calcutta did not provide CAT 2024 as a conventional standalone question-paper booklet immediately after the exam. Candidates were able to view their actual questions and responses through the CAT candidate response sheet.

Cracku also provides CAT 2024 slot-wise solved papers with detailed solutions, allowing aspirants to practice the questions even if they did not appear for CAT 2024.

To practice CAT 2024 papers:

• Open the CAT previous year papers section on Cracku.
• Select CAT 2024 from the available exam years.
• Choose Slot 1, Slot 2 or Slot 3.
• Attempt the entire paper under timed exam conditions.
• Check the detailed written and video solutions after completing the test.
• Download the available question paper or solution PDF for revision.

The CAT 2024 candidate response sheet was released on November 29, 2024, while the provisional answer key was released on December 3, 2024. The objection window closed on December 5.

IIM Calcutta released the CAT 2024 final answer key on December 17, 2024, and the CAT 2024 result was declared on December 19, 2024.
Also Read: CAT 2025 Question Papers, Download PDF with Video Solutions

How to Use CAT 2024 Question Paper for Preparation?

Solving the CAT 2024 question paper can give CAT 2026 aspirants a realistic understanding of what the examination currently demands. However, simply looking at the solutions is not enough. The paper should be attempted like an actual mock test.

• Attempt it under actual CAT conditions: Set aside 120 uninterrupted minutes and follow the exact 40-minute sectional limit. Do not move between sections.
• Analyse VARC question selection: CAT 2024 showed that VARC question types can change. Parajumbles were absent, so aspirants should prepare concepts rather than depending on a fixed yearly pattern.
• Practice DILR set selection: CAT 2024 had five DILR sets and 22 questions. Instead of trying to solve every set, identify which sets offer the best return for your time.
• Focus on Arithmetic and Algebra for QA: These continued to account for a large share of CAT Quant questions. Strong fundamentals in these areas can provide a reliable scoring base.
• Separate conceptual errors from selection errors: After solving the paper, identify whether you lost marks because you did not know the concept or because you selected a difficult question and spent too much time on it.
• Check questions you left despite being solvable: These are particularly important because they reveal problems in question selection rather than knowledge.
• Re-attempt difficult questions without a timer: Once your timed analysis is complete, solve skipped or incorrect questions again without pressure. This helps identify whether the problem was conceptual or related to time management.
• Compare all three CAT 2024 slots: Do not practice only one slot. Solving Slots 1, 2 and 3 exposes you to different RC themes, DILR set structures and QA difficulty levels.
• Use TITA questions strategically: Since TITA questions do not carry negative marking, candidates can attempt them when they have a reasonable method or estimate. However, they should not waste valuable time blindly guessing.
• Compare CAT 2024 with CAT 2023 and CAT 2025: Studying papers across multiple years helps candidates distinguish long-term CAT trends from changes that occurred in only one year.

The CAT 2024 question paper is particularly useful because its 68-question, 120-minute format is close to the recent CAT pattern. Combining CAT 2024 papers with CAT 2025 question papers, sectional tests and full-length CAT mocks can help CAT 2026 aspirants improve question selection, accuracy and time management.

Rather than treating previous year papers only as practice material, analyse them as a guide to how CAT tests decision-making. Understanding which questions to attempt, which sets to leave and how to distribute your limited sectional time can be just as important as knowing the underlying concepts.

Conclusion: Why CAT 2024 Question Paper PDF Matters

The CAT 2024 Question Paper PDF is a valuable resource for aspirants who want to understand the latest CAT exam structure, question types, difficulty level, and section-wise trends. Practising all three slots can help students get familiar with the actual exam environment and improve their approach to VARC, DILR, and QA.

Instead of only solving the paper, candidates should analyse their accuracy, question selection, time management, and mistakes after each attempt. Combining the CAT 2024 Question Paper with other CAT previous year papers, sectional tests, and full-length mocks can make preparation more focused and exam-oriented. The key is to use every paper as a learning tool, not just a score-checking exercise.