CAT 2017 Slot 1 Analysis: Easy CAT on predictable lines

CAT 2017 Slot 1, which began at 9AM today on November 26, 2017, got over a few minutes back. As expected, total number of questions were 100. VARC section was of 34 questions, DI LR with 32 questions and Quantitative Ability section had 34 questions. DILR was the toughest section, while Quantitative was easy with more Arithmetic questions, Verbal and RC were moderately difficult. Overall, Cut offs are expected to go up.

• Register for CAT 2017 Percentile Predictor.
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CAT 2017 Slot 1 Analysis

Overall analysis

• CAT 2017 Slot 1 exam paper was on easier side and similar to last year’s CAT.
• Non-Engineers to benefit from lower difficulty in Quant section
• Overall Cut off levels to go up from last year

CAT 2017 Exam: Slot 1 Paper Pattern Sectional Overview 

Section	No. of MCQs	No. of non-MCQs	Total no of Qns	Total Marks	Score Cut off for 95%
Section I – Verbal & Reading Comprehension (VARC)	27	7	34	102	57-59
Section II – Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR)	24	8	32	96	29-31
Section III – Quantitative Aptitude (QA)	23	11	34	102	55-57
Total	74	26	100	300	142-145

1. Verbal and Reading Comprehension:

• Total Questions: 34
• 24 questions on Reading comprehension in 5 passages MCQ type
• 10 questions in Verbal out of which 7 were Non-MCQ type
• Section difficulty was moderate

Analysis of Type and Content of questions in VARC
According to experts who took the exam today, following types of questions appeared in this section:

Reading Comprehension

• Number of RC passages: 5 (2 short, 3 long)
• Short RC passage followed by 3 questions each; Long RC passage followed by 6 questions each
• Format of RC based questions: MCQs with 1/3 negative marking

RC passages were based on the topics like:

• Loss of Jobs due to closing of small shops (stores) but compensated by Malls
• North India getting preferred to East India in past few hundred years
• How Gutenberg Press brought revolution and changed the world with printing of books, pamphlets, literature and helped the people become free from traditions imposed by clerics.
• Other topics were also based on modernization, Geographical Diversification of Maps

Verbal Ability

• Format of Verbal questions:  7 Non-MCQs, 3 MCQs
• Jumbled Paragraphs: 4 questions each comprising 5 Jumbled Sentences:Time consuming
• Odd Sentence Out: 3 questions with jumbled sentences out of which one sentence in each question has to be picked as ‘Odd sentence out’
• Para Summary: 3 questions were on choosing the correct sentence summarising the short paragraph. Each question was on different topic.

2. Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning:

• Total Questions: 32; All questions in sets of 4 questions each
• 16 Questions on DI
• 16 on LR
• 8 Non MCQs
• Section difficulty was high; this will be make or break section for top B-schools

Analysis of Type and Content of questions in DILR

According to experts who took the exam today, following types of questions appeared in this section:

Data Interpretation (DI)

• Format of questions: 12 MCQs and 4 Non-MCQs
• Number of problems: Each of the 4 Problem was followed by a set of 4 Questions

Topics of DI problems:

• Happiness Index: 4 questions based on Table
• Kids Learning in Rural Areas: Data table based 4 questions.
• Flight operation
• 1 question set had inherent data on which 4 questions each was based

Logical Reasoning (LR)

• Format of questions: 12 MCQs and 4 Non-MCQs
• Number of problems: 4
• Each problem was followed by a set of 4 questions

Topics of LR problems:
Question sets were based on:

• Seating Arrangement
• Direction sense for Cars
• Ordering items
• Burgers/Fries/ Ice Cream

3. Quantitative:

• Total Questions: 34
• More questions on Arithmetic
• 11 Qs were Non-MCQ type
• Section difficulty level was easy

Analysis of Type and Content of questions in Quant section
According to experts who took the exam today, following types of questions appeared in this section:

Analysis of Type and Content of questions in Quant:

• Arithmetic (10 questions) on Percentage, Profit & loss, Speed-distance, Time & Work (increase in manpower reduction in days of work to complete the project); Ratio and others
• Geometry (3 problems based on Concepts)
• Higher Math
• Probability (Bayes Theorem)
• Number System, Permutation and Combination
• Integers
• Algebra

To summarize, well prepared students who took CAT 2017 Slot 1 Paper would be happy and relieved that paper is on expected lines. IIM Lucknow, the Convener of CAT 2017, will be happy that exam was held successfully across the country.

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on CAT 2017 exam Analysis