Anisha has done MBA in Marketing from NMIMS And Executive Management(PMNO) from Harvard Business School. She has been instrumental in growing CATKing Digital with her experience with Marico and Henkel in the past.
The Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) component of the CAT Exam is regarded as a game-changer and the most unpredictable section. Therefore, even though most candidates for the CAT admit that the DILR portion is the most unexpected and challenging of the three, succeeding in this section with the correct strategy and frame of mind is far simpler. So, choosing the proper approach is crucial when preparing CAT DILR.
CAT Exam Overview
| Sections | Duration | No. of MCQ's | No. of Non-MCQs | Total |
| VARC | 40 Minutes | 20 | 4 | 24 |
| DILR | 40 Minutes | 12 | 8 | 20 |
| QA | 40 Minutes | 14 | 8 | 22 |
| Total | 2 Hours | 46 | 20 | 66 |
CAT 2024 DILR Important Topics
The Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) section of the CAT 2024 exam tests many important topics. To prepare for DILR, test-takers should concentrate on the following key areas:
Logical Reasoning:
- Seating Arrangement and Data Arrangement
- Blood Relations
- Syllogisms and Venn Diagrams
- Assumption and Binary Logic
- Clocks and Calendars
Data Interpretation:
- Puzzles
- Data Sufficiency
- Graphs Related
- Tables and Caselets
CAT Syllabus 2024 for DILR: High-Yielding Topics
The DILR section in CAT comprises two types of questions - Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning. Data Interpretation tests your ability to analyze complex data sets, while Logical Reasoning assesses your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The difficulty level of the DILR section varies each year and can be categorized as easy, moderate, or difficult based on the previous year's question paper.
| Topic | CAT 2020 | CAT 2021 | CAT 2022 | CAT 2023 | ||||||||
| Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | |
| Routes and Networks | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | 5 | - | - | - | 5 |
| Tables | - | 10 | - | - | 6 | - | - | - | - | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Scheduling, Optimization, and allocations | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | - | - | 5 | - | 5 | 10 | - | - |
| Bar Graphs | - | - | - | 4 | 4 | - | - | - | 5 | - | - | - |
| Grids | 10 | 8 | 6 | 6 | - | - | - | - | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Arrangments | - | - | - | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Word Puzzles | - | - | 4 | 4 | 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Games and Tournamnets | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Math Puzzles | - | - | 4 | - | - | 4 | - | 5 | 5 | - | 5 | 5 |
| Venn Diagrams | 8 | - | 4 | - | - | - | 5 | 5 | - | - | - | - |
| Pie Charts/Doughnut Charts | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Scatter Plot | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | - | - | - | - |
| Coding/Decoding | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Radar Chart | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Gantt Chart | - | - | - | - | - | 4 | - | - | - | - | 5 | - |
Know More About CAT:
- CAT exam, imp dates, and syllabus https://catking.in/cat-exam
- Daily routine for cat preparation https://catking.in/daily-routine-for-cat-preparation
- Toppers Strategy https://catking.in/cat-preparation-in-5-months-toppers-strategy
- Best Guide for Quantitative ability https://catking.in/best-guide-for-preparation-of-cat-quantitative-ability
|
Topics |
Free Resources |
Start your preparation today |
|
DI- Games and tournaments, Caselets LR- Arrangements, puzzles, Venn Diagram
|
1. CATKing Free CAT Resources https://catking.in/free-resources 2. CATKing DILR Tests (https://catking.in/mcq-category/dilr) 3. Free Mocks |
1. CATKing Courses https://courses.catking.in/courses/cat-turbo-2024 2. DILR Course https://courses.catking.in/courses/dilr-courses 3. eBooks and CAT Mocks |
How Should You Begin Your CAT DI & LR Section Preparation?
To begin preparing for Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, the candidate must first practice CAT Study material, books, or modules. The candidate should begin by solving basic concepts such as ranking, seating arrangement, quantitative reasoning, Venn diagrams, and so on. All of these topics contribute to the development of strong concepts and the attainment of maximum marks.
CAT Preparation Strategy at Various Levels
Candidates are at various stages of preparation, with some being beginners, intermediates, and experts. Candidates at various levels will need to prepare accordingly. Check out the CAT 2024 strategy below.
- Beginners: Students who have never solved puzzles or logical reasoning questions should start with these because they are the most basic sets of questions from study material or an online website.
- Intermediate: Candidates who are generally interested in solving questions can skip the basic set. They can directly increase the difficulty level of the sets by solving questions from ranking, arrangements, and even matrices.
- Expert: Candidates who have previously attempted CAT and are confident with basic concepts can begin their preparation by answering SIMCAT's previous year's questions. AIMCATs and CAT Mock tests are available.
Also read: Ultimate Guide for CAT exam preparation
Strategy for Taking Exam
Candidates who have completed the basic sets of questions must now devise a strategy for how they will proceed with the exam.
These are some examples:
Scan the test: Never start with the first set of practice papers or the mock tests that you get. Get habituated to spending 4-5 minutes reading through all of DILR's questions and selecting the few sets that can be solved quickly. Choose 1-2 sets that are simple to solve first, and then progress to more difficult sets.
Set Selection: LR DI sets have a difficulty level from easy to difficult. Determine the easiest sets to attempt first. Candidates must avoid leaving the easy sets and getting stuck on the difficult ones. Regular mocks with various types of sets will aid in determining the difficulty level. For example, the candidate should choose sets with fewer people or fewer variables in the questions and leave questions with a lot of information for later.
Move On: When answering CAT questions, it is critical to leave out any questions for which they do not have an answer. Some questions are not meant to be answered because they are difficult, so candidates should not waste time answering them.
How Do You Prepare For The DILR Section Of The CAT Exam?
Time Management
Time management is essential for success in a highly competitive exam like the CAT, where even a single mark can have a significant impact on your percentile score. The following pointers will assist aspirants in answering as many questions as possible in the DILR section within the sectional time limit of 60 minutes.
- Click on the option "View Question Paper" at the beginning of the DILR section in the CAT question paper. Make sure not to spend more than 1-2 minutes scanning through all of the questions.
- Scanning the questions will help you determine which sets to attempt first and which sets to line up to solve later.
- If solving a set will take too long, avoid doing it at the start. When beginning the DILR section, it is always a good idea to solve the less time-consuming sets.
- Don't avoid answering non-MCQ questions.
How to Answer CAT DI and LR Exam Questions?
Before attempting CAT DILR, familiarize yourself with the time limits for each section of CAT 2024. Candidates should not just focus on practicing an increasing number of DILR questions for the CAT. Some of the critical steps in answering DILR questions are as follows:
Analyze the questions:
Before beginning CAT 2024 preparation, candidates should be familiar with the important DILR Sections. You should be able to answer CAT questions within the time limit if you are familiar with the CAT syllabus. It is always risky to choose the type of sets that can be solved with a high frequency because of the given sectional time limit.
Know the tricks to solve:
Different sections have different tricks to solve. Different tricks in various publishers' or coaching institutes' study material will aid in answering questions correctly. To save time and effort, candidates must solve the questions using a well-planned strategy. You will notice that you can get higher accuracy when you use such tricks to solve the DILR questions.
Build a Mental Legend:
The DILR section will include questions such as arrangement, puzzles, Venn diagrams, and so on. These topics are difficult to remember while answering the entire question. Before becoming confused, the candidate must learn all of the abbreviations and symbols. The main goal is to avoid confusion and mistakes.
Decode constraints:
DILR questions for CAT have more to them than meets the eye. This deceives the students. It is extremely beneficial to find the hidden meaning while solving the CAT DILR section.
Improve performance:
After analyzing performance, the candidate should work on increasing speed and focusing on mental calculations to consume time for DI questions.
Practice Set| CAT Previous year question
Set: Game Show
A new game show on TV has 100 boxes numbered 1, 2, ....., 100 in a row, each containing a mystery prize. The prizes are items of different types, a, b, c, ....., in decreasing order of value. The most expensive item is of type a, a diamond ring, and there is exactly one of these. You are told that the number of items at least doubles as you move to the next type. For example, there would be at least twice as many items of type b as of type a, at least twice as many items of type c as of type b, and so on. There is no particular order in which the prizes are placed in the boxes.
Q1. What is the minimum possible number of different types of prizes?? (TITA)
Ans. 2
Q2. What is the maximum possible number of different types of prizes?? (TITA)
Ans. 6
Q3. Which of the following is not possible?
a. There are exactly 30 items of type b.
b. There are exactly 75 items of type e.
c. There are exactly 60 items of type d.
d. There are exactly 45 items of type c.
You ask for the type of item in box 45. Instead of being given a direct answer, you are told that there are 31 items of the same type as box 45 in boxes 1 to 44 and 43 items of the same type as box 45 in boxes 46 to 100. What is the maximum possible number of different types of items?
Ans. D
FAQs about CAT DILR Section Preparation:
1. What makes the DILR section of CAT challenging?
- The DILR section of CAT is challenging due to its unpredictability and the diverse range of questions it presents, including puzzles, arrangements, and data interpretation.
2. How can I score 99%ile in the CAT DILR section?
- To score 99%ile in the CAT DILR section, it's crucial to develop a strategic approach, practice regularly with CAT study material and mock tests, and focus on time management during the exam.
3. What are some high-yielding topics in the CAT DILR syllabus?
- High-yielding topics in the CAT DILR syllabus include games and tournaments, caselets, arrangements, puzzles, and Venn diagrams.
4. How should I start preparing for the CAT DILR section as a beginner?
- Beginners should start with basic concepts such as ranking, seating arrangement, and quantitative reasoning, and gradually progress to more complex topics.
5. What is the best strategy for time management during the CAT DILR section?
- Effective time management involves scanning the questions, selecting sets to attempt based on difficulty, and not spending too much time on any single question.
6. How can I improve my performance in the DILR section of CAT?
- Improving performance in the DILR section requires regular practice, analyzing mistakes, focusing on mental calculations, and familiarizing oneself with different solving techniques.
7. Are there any specific tricks or shortcuts for solving DILR questions?
- Yes, there are various tricks and shortcuts available for solving DILR questions efficiently, such as identifying patterns, making educated guesses, and using elimination techniques.
8. What should I do if I encounter a question I can't solve during the exam?
- If you encounter a difficult question during the exam, it's best to skip it and move on to other questions rather than wasting time. You can always come back to it later if time permits.
9. Where can I find free resources and practice sets for CAT DILR preparation?
- Free resources and practice sets for CAT DILR preparation are available online on platforms like CATKing, which offer study material, mock tests, and courses specifically designed for CAT aspirants.
10. How important is it to practice the previous year's CAT DILR questions?
- Practicing previous year CAT DILR questions is essential as it helps familiarize oneself with the exam pattern, question types, and difficulty level, thus improving overall preparedness for the exam.
ENROL NOW!
