How Tough was CAT 2023 as Compared to CAT 2022?

by Pankaj Rathore Tue 26 Nov 2024 06:02 PM 92
How_Tough_Was_CAT_2023_as_Compared_To_CAT_2023

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is renowned for giving surprise elements in the paper. Moreover, its difficulty level also keeps evolving every year. Every year, the CAT aspirants try to anticipate and prepare for what the challenging surprise element can bring. For those who will be appearing for CAT 2024, especially as a CAT repeater, the main question arises ‘Was CAT 2023 tougher than CAT 2022?’

This blog exactly dives into a detailed CAT 2023 vs CAT 2022 comparison. We will also highlight the differences in the difficulty levels, section-wise performance, and overall trends.

Also Read, CAT Exam Analysis 2024, Section-wise Slot 1, 2, 3 Analysis

CAT 2023 vs CAT 2022 Overview

Both, CAT 2023 and CAT 2022 had the same structure:

Three SectionsVerbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA)
Total Duration2 hours (40 minutes per section)
Total Questions66 (VARC:24, DILR: 20, QA:22)

Having said that, there still were some subtle changes in the CAT difficulty level and question distribution that affected the performance of the candidates.

YearTotal QuestionsDurationMarking Scheme
CAT 2023662 hours+3 for correct, -1 for wrong
CAT 2022662 hours+3 for correct, -1 for wrong

Also Read, CAT Answer Key 2024, Check Download Link, Release Date

CAT 2023 vs CAT 2022: Section-Wise Difficulty Comparison

Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)

AspectCAT 2023CAT 2022
Difficulty LevelModerateModerate
Passage LengthLengthier passages with abstract themesBalanced themes, easier comprehension
Key ChallengesTricky RC options, time-consuming questionsStraightforward RCs but challenging VA

Overall, in CAT 2023, aspirants said that the RCs were tougher due to abstract topics and nuanced options. This furthermore also increased the time pressure.

Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)

AspectCAT 2023CAT 2022
Difficulty LevelToughModerate to Tough
Set Distribution4 sets (1 easy, 1 moderate, 2 tough)4 sets (2 moderate, 2 tough)
Key ChallengesTime-consuming logical setsBalanced sets with predictable difficulty

CAT 2023 featured more difficult logic-based sets that tested the ability to prioritize time effectively.

Quantitative Ability (QA)

AspectCAT 2023CAT 2022
Difficulty LevelDifficultModerate to Easy
Focus AreasArithmetic-heavy with fewer Geometry questionsArithmetic and Algebra with simple calculations
Key ChallengesTricky application of conceptsConceptually straightforward

CAT 2023 focused heavily on the Arithmetic part, overpowering the Geometry part. This made CAT 2023 more challenging especially for those candidates who rely on other topics.

Also Read,CAT Result 2024, Expected Release Date, Download Link

CAT 2023 vs CAT 2022 Difficulty Level Analysis

Let us analyze the difficulty level comparatively:

SectionCAT 2023 DifficultyCAT 2022 DifficultyTrend
VARCModerate to ToughModerateTougher in 2023
DILRToughModerate to ToughSlightly Tougher
QADifficultModerate to EasySlightly Tougher
OverallModerate to ToughModerateMore challenging

CAT 2023 emerged as slightly tougher than CAT 2022, with DILR and VARC posing significant challenges.

How is CAT 2023 Difficulty Compared with Past Year?

Comparing CAT 2023 with previous years (2021, 2020), the exam maintained its standard format but varied in question difficulty. Here's a year-wise trend:

YearOverall DifficultyKey Highlights
2023Moderate to ToughChallenging DILR, abstract VARC themes
2022ModerateBalanced across sections
2021Moderate to EasyEasier QA and VARC
2020ToughLengthy DILR, abstract RCs

CAT 2023 vs CAT 2022: Sectional Cutoffs

VARC Sectional Cutoffs

Percentile20232022
MarksCorrect AttemptsMarksCorrect Attempts
994013-144013-14
952910289
90238248
85196-7217
80175-6175-6

DILR Sectional Cutoffs

Percentile20232022
Marks

Correct

Attempts

Marks

Correct

Attempts

99279-103010
95196–7217-8
90165-6186-7
85144-5144-5
80124134

QA Sectional Cutoffs

Percentile20232022
MarksCorrect AttemptsMarksCorrect Attempts
1004916-175719
99.93812-134715-16
99279-103311
95206-7227-8
90144-5176
85103-4155

Also Read, CAT Response Sheet 2024

CAT 2023 vs CAT 2022: Key Insights

  • Time Management: Candidates struggled more in CAT 2023 due to abstract RCs and challenging DILR sets.
  • Scoring Trends: Higher normalization might favor those performing well in tougher sections.
  • Preparation Adjustments: For future CAT aspirants, analyzing CAT 2023 patterns can help refine strategies.

Conclusion

Analysis of the CAT 2023 vs CAT 2022 exam highlights some subtle yet impactful changes in difficulty levels. CAT 2023 was moderately tougher, with abstract RCs and a challenging lot of DILR sets drawing attention. Aspirants should focus on understanding sectional trends and rectifying time management skills to produce good performance in the forthcoming CAT exams.

Patience, along with proper analysis of patterns and strategic preparation, can help aspirants touch a high percentile irrespective of variance in difficulty levels.

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