CAT is the only competitive exam in our country that has been evolving catching upto all the necessary standards. Although it may be beneficial to official bodies, it has proven to be overwhelming to aspirants who have been preparing for months without getting the score they deserve. Be it VARC, DILR, or Quants, every section has changed from many questions to the level of difficulty. Therefore, every year CAT aspirants are suggested to see the past trends of the exam to study at par with the evolving exam pattern. In this blog, we will discuss the major and hidden changes in all three sections of the exam. This includes frequent topics, level of difficulty, question structures, approach, and many more.Â
CAT VARC Trend Analysis
Over the years, VARC has changed a lot, now it is not just a shift but an upgrade in the section. There are no major structural changes, but the RCs have evolved significantly. The answer options became more closely worded, fonts were larger, and passages focused on a more complex understanding and diverse genres. As a result, students faced difficulty in selecting options, often losing confidence in their accuracy.
CAT VARC 5-Year Trend Breakdown
| Year | RC Genres | RC Question Types | VA Questions Type | Difficulty Level |
| 2020 | Science, Art & Culture, History, Psychology, Technology and Politics | Fact-based, Analytical, Inference-based | Para Jumble, Para Summary,Odd One Out | Moderate to Difficult |
| 2021 | Technology, Environment, Literature, Social Sciences | Critical Reasoning, Inference | Para Jumble, Para Summary, Odd One Out | Moderate to Difficult |
| 2022 | Management, Technology, Environment, Humanities | Fact-based, Inference-heavy | Para Jumble, Para Summary, Odd One Out, Sentence Insertion | Moderate |
| 2023 | Economics, Literature, Philosophy, Current Affairs | Complex Reasoning, Inference-based | Para Jumble, Para Summary, Odd One Out, Sentence Insertion | Moderate to Difficult |
| 2024 | Abstract, Social Issues, Science & Technology, History | Mixed – Analytical & Conceptual, Critical Reasoning, Inference-based | Para Summary, Odd One Out, Sentence Insertion | Moderate to Difficult |
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Over time, the genres of RC passages in the CAT have evolved significantly, covering subjects like economics, philosophy, and social issues, as well as abstract and emerging topics such as technology and current affairs. While the difficulty level has typically ranged from moderate to difficult, recent years have witnessed a rise in passage complexity, demanding deeper comprehension and sharper critical reasoning skills.
Generally, candidates from the engineering find the VARC section difficult compared to the other sections. iQuanta has launched a special module for such candidates who struggle in English and Grammar. This module has 40 videos on RC, 12 CAT VA videos with 10 VA questions, 7 strategy based videos. You also get access to 60+ videos with 30 hours of VARC niche content only for CAT.
CAT DILR Trend Analysis
The DILR section of the CAT is the most unpredictable one, with scores and percentiles varying each year. It is a key area where students can enhance their overall performance too. However, the section is now more challenging due to the reasoning-based DI sets and new categories of reasoning sets in the examination. Our point here is that all DILR sets now in the exam are combining different reasoning topics, for example, in CAT 2024, routes and networks were combined with mathematical reasoning, making it more time-consuming.
CAT DILR 5-Year Trend Breakdown
| Year | Type of Sets | Level of Difficulty |
| 2020 | Venn Diagram, Puzzle, Table & Graphs, Board Games, Selection & Distribution | Moderate to Difficult |
| 2021 | Selection & Distribution, Tables & Graphs, Puzzle, Arrangement, Mathematical Reasoning | Moderate |
| 2022 | Table & Graphs, Arrangement, Rank & Ordering, Venn Diagram, Games and Tournaments | Moderate to Difficult |
| 2023 | Puzzle, Arrangement, Mathematical Reasoning, Distribution, Scheduling, Routes and Networks | Moderate to Difficult |
| 2024 | Candlesticks, Mathematical Reasoning, Games & Tournaments, Bar Graph, Board Games, Bubble Chart, Distribution, Puzzle, Board Games, Table and Graphs | Moderate |
Even though the difficulty has been increased. Every year, the examiner drops an easy set, our job is to identify it and solve it in minimum time to save time to go through moderate sets deeply. Therefore, choosing the right set and solving it with the right approach can secure you a 99 percentile in DILR.Â
iQuanta has already launched 50 LRDI sets in the CAT LRDI inception module and now this year more quality CAT level LRDI sets will be added.
CAT Quants Trend Analysis
The Quantitative Aptitude section of the CAT exam is the most challenging for achieving a high percentile. This section often features creative application questions, making accuracy crucial. However, recent trends suggest that Algebra and Geometry are being weighted more heavily, as well as a higher difficulty level in Arithmetic.
Furthermore, examiners are now introducing surprise elements by adding more variable-based questions to force you to go beyond the basics, reducing assumption-based questions to follow the right approach rather than shortcuts, and introducing trap questions to hurt your ego for focusing on one question while forgetting about other easy questions.
CAT Quant 5-Year Trend Breakdown
| Topic | Number of Questions in the last 5 years | Trend Summary |
| Arithmetic | 2020: 8-102021:92022:8-102023:82024:8 | The number of Arithmetic questions remains the same, but the difficulty has increased. The focus has shifted to calculation-heavy and concept-based applications, making Arithmetic more challenging. |
| Algebra | 2020:6-72021:7-82022:72023:6-72024:8-9 | More variable-based questions have been introduced, requiring students to think beyond the basics. The use of concise language also makes Algebra questions harder to interpret. |
| Geometry | 2020:32021:42022:32023:4-52024:4 | Geometry, a vast topic, is appearing more frequently in the exam. Questions now extend beyond just Mensuration and Triangles, requiring students to cover a broader range of concepts. |
| Number Systems | 2020:1-32021:1-22022:32023:1-22024:1-2 | CAT 2024 Number System questions were easy, but their real-life context made it harder to determine the appropriate concept to apply. |
| Modern Maths | 2020:1-22021:12022:1-22023:1-22024:1-2 | Even though the number of questions remains low, easy-to-moderate questions are appearing, giving aspirants a better scoring opportunity. |
Non-Engineer’s Quants Module
iQuanta has launched a non engineer’s module that is specially customised for aspirants who find maths extremely difficult. The topics are aligned with NCERT class 6-10 syllabus that clears all core concepts and you get all the required guidance starting from the basic level questions to advanced level questions. No other coaching institute has such a customized module.
How iQuanta can help you score a 99+ percentile in CAT?
1. Top-Quality Faculty
Learn from experienced mentors who scored 99+ percentile in CAT multiple times combined with years of experience and understand the latest trends in the exam. Their guidance ensures conceptual clarity and strategic problem-solving techniques.
2. Instant & 24/7 Doubt Solving
Unlike traditional coaching, iQuanta offers real-time doubt resolution, ensuring you don’t waste time stuck on a concept. With 24/7 support, you can ask queries anytime and get immediate solutions.
3. Exclusive New-Pattern Questions & Resources
Stay ahead of the competition with access to the latest limited topper resources, including quality questions, iQuanta books, AI mocks, and analysis.
4. AI Mocks + Analysis
Attempt mock tests the same as the real CAT exam, training your muscles to get used to exam pressure, and difficult problems. These mocks are tailored to your preparation level, focusing on questions from topics you’ve completed to help you feel confident during the exam. Additionally, leverage the power of AI to analyze your mocks with a creative dashboard that will show your strengths and weaknesses to work on.
5. Application-Based Classes: Focus on conceptual application rather than rote learning. We provide 20-25 new types of questions every day that require concept clarity and creative application in combination with time limits to experience real exam heat. These sessions help you tackle tricky problems that require deeper analytical skills.
6. Customized Plans for Engineers & Non-Engineers: iQuanta offers tailored learning strategies to help engineers overcome their VARC fear and non-engineers strengthen their Quant fundamentals, ensuring they compete on equal footing with engineering students.
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