The CAT exam is the gateway for admission to MBA courses at IIMs and top B-schools in India. It is an extremely competitive exam due to lakhs of participants competing against limited seats. One of the most common questions students ask is, ‘Is CAT getting tougher each year?’ Typically, the past trends revealed that the CAT question paper has been moderately difficult over the years. Apart from difficulty level, it has undergone various other changes as well in terms of paper pattern, number of questions, etc. To help, we have shared below the detailed analysis of the CAT question paper over the last 5 years for candidates’ reference. Read on to know ‘Is CAT getting tougher each year?’ and strategise accordingly for the upcoming exam.
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Is CAT Getting Tougher each year?
Understanding the actual CAT exam structure is essential before knowing about the overall and section-difficulty level of the CAT question paper in the last few years. This competitive exam consists of three sections, i.e. Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA). As per the recent update, the total number of questions was increased from 66 to 68 in CAT 2024. There were no changes in exam duration and marking scheme. Aspirants must review the previous exam analysis to identify which section was tougher and the overall difficulty level in the last 5 years. This will help them build an exam-oriented strategy to perform well under exam pressure. Further details about ‘Is CAT getting tougher each year?’ are discussed below to increase the candidate’s familiarity with the test structure.
Is CAT Getting Tougher each year? Trends & Questions Count
Familiarity with the distribution of questions across three sections is important to strategise effectively for the exam. Each subject consists of a different number of questions that aim to evaluate the candidate’s numerical aptitude, reasoning, comprehension, and various other skills and knowledge. Last year (2024), the total number of questions was increased to 68. Check the CAT question paper analysis from 2020 to 2024 regarding a number of questions tabulated below:
CAT Total Questions
| Year | Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | Quantitative Ability (QA) | Total |
| 2024 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 68 |
| 2023 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 66 |
| 2022 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 66 |
| 2021 | 24 | 20 | 22 | 66 |
| 2020 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 76 |
Is CAT Getting Tougher each year? Section-Wise & Overall Difficulty Level
Understanding the difficulty level of the CAT question paper can simplify your preparation. It helps you to set realistic targets and plan a robust strategy to score high marks in the exam. The level of questions in the CAT exam has generally ranged from moderate to difficult over the years. Let’s discuss the sectional and overall difficulty level of the CAT exam from 2020 to 2024 to assist aspirants in the right direction:
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CAT Exam Difficulty Level (2020 to 2024)
| CAT Year | Difficulty Level of Questions |
| 2024 | Moderate |
| 2023 | Difficult |
| 2022 | Moderate-Difficult |
| 2021 | Moderate-Difficult |
| 2020 | Moderate-Difficult |
CAT Section-Wise Difficulty Level (2020 to 2024)
| Section | CAT 2024 Difficulty Level | CAT 2023 Difficulty Level | CAT 2022 Difficulty Level | CAT 2021 Difficulty Level | CAT 2020 Difficulty Level |
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate | Moderate to Difficult | Moderate to Difficult |
| Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) | Moderate | Easy to Moderate | Difficult | Difficult | Difficult |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | Moderate | Difficult | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Overall | Moderate | Difficult | Moderate-Difficult | Moderate-Difficult | Moderate-Difficult |
Factors Contributing to CAT Difficulty Level
There are various factors considered responsible for contributing to the toughness of the CAT exam. Every year, the difficulty level of the CAT question paper varies due to several parameters. Some of them are listed below:
- Question Design and Format
- Increased Competition
- Unpredictability of question types and counts
- Number of Participants, etc.
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Is CAT Getting Tougher Each Year? FAQs
The overall difficulty level of the CAT question paper is typically moderate to tough, according to the previous CAT trends and analysis.
The difficulty level of the CAT exam differs every year. Aspirants can check past exam trends discussed on this page to determine which year the CAT exam was toughest.
In the CAT 2024 exam, the total number of questions was increased from 66 to 68.