CAT DILR Syllabus 2024: Important Topics, Topic-wise Weightage

Updated By Shivangi Ahirwar on 22 Aug, 2024 16:51

26 days Remaining for the exam

The CAT syllabus covers topics from three sections- VARC, QA, and DILR. IIMs don't have any fixed syllabus, so the test-takers must prepare for the exam based on the topics asked in past years. The questions covered in the exam test a candidate's mathematical, aptitude, reasoning, and basic English skills.

Tell us your CAT score & access the list of colleges you may qualify for!

Predict My College

CAT DILR Syllabus 2024

The CAT DILR Syllabus 2024 assesses a candidate's ability to think logically, understand, analyze and decipher complex data presented in various forms like tables, graphs, charts, etc., and make logical conclusions on the basis of the data or information provided. The important topics for CAT DILR evaluate if a candidate is well-versed in data analysis, data sufficiency, logical reasoning, and problem-solving. Data Caselets, Seating Arrangement, Blood Relation, Graphs, Tables, Word and Letter Puzzles, and more are covered under the DILR syllabus for CAT exam. The DILR section will be divided into four sets of two questions each (two sets of six and two sets of four). The total number of questions in this section is 20 (12 MCQs & 8 TITA). Since these sets are categorized as easy, moderate, and difficult, it becomes essential for students to be able to determine which set to solve and which not. 

The DILR CAT syllabus 2024 aims to assess if an individual possesses the essential skills for management and leadership roles by evaluating his/her aptitude for handling situations that are driven by complex data and making sound and informed decisions or logical deductions while under pressure. Candidates aiming to appear for CAT 2024 must be aware of the CAT DILR syllabus 2024 and CAT DILR topic wise weightage to prepare for the exam effectively. Find the detailed CAT DILR syllabus 2024 and the important DILR topics for CAT below.

Upcoming Management Exams :

  • XAT

    Exam date: 05 Jan, 2025

Start Free Mock Test Now

Get real time exam experience with full length mock test and get detailed analysis.

Attempt now

CAT DILR Syllabus 2024 Highlights

One of the most difficult and unpredictable sections among the trinity (QA, VARC, and DILR), this section encourages candidates to use logical reasoning and critical thinking skills to solve problems and draw conclusions based on given information. The ability to analyze and evaluate data accurately, identify patterns, trends, and relationships within the data enhances one’s analytical skills. The main highlights of the DILR syllabus for CAT have been provided in the table below:

Particulars

Details

Sectional Time Allotted for CAT DILR

40 minutes

Total Number of DILR Questions 

20 questions (reduced from 24)

Number of Questions Asked from Data Interpretation

8 - 10 questions

Number of Questions Asked from Logical Reasoning

8 - 12 questions

Total Number of MCQs in the CAT DILR Section

12 questions

Total Number of Non-MCQs

8 questions

Questions Without Any Negative Marking

8 questions

Total Maximum Marks of the DILR Section

60 marks

Type of Questions in the CAT DILR Section

  • MCQs (Multiple-Choice Questions)
  • Non-MCQs / TITA (Type-In The Answer)

Overall Difficulty Level

Moderate to Difficult

CAT DILR Marking Scheme

  • Marks Awarded for Every Correct Response: +3 
  • Marks Deducted for Each Wrong Answer: -1
  • No negative marks for Non-MCQs

Important DILR Topics for CAT 2024

Here are some important DILR topics for CAT 2024:

Seating Arrangement

Syllogisms & Venn Diagrams

Blood Relations

Clocks & Calendars

Matching puzzles

Assumptions

Data Structures

Direction Sense

Statements

Sets

Bar Graph

Coding-Decoding

Tables & Caselets

Binary Logic

Family Tree

Data Arrangement

Data Sufficiency

Proposition

Pie Charts

Games & Tournaments

Distribution

Games Betting

Logic-based DI

Logic-based Tables

Important Topics in CAT DI 2024 

The difficulty level of the CAT DI section ranges from easy to moderate. Candidates may check the important topics for CAT DI 2024 below:

  • Tables
  • Bar Graphs
  • Line Charts
  • Pie Charts
  • Caselets
  • Data Analysis
  • Data Sufficiency
  • Combination of two or more types of graphs
  • Data Comparison of different years, groups, and classes, and ages
  • Analysis of the given data, drawing conclusions, and predicting the future
  • Comprehending the missing linkages in the information provided, solving and obtaining the data of the missing parts, and taking clues

Important Topics in CAT LR 2024

The difficulty level of the CAT LR section ranges from moderate to high. Candidates may check the important topics for CAT LR 2024 below:

  • Ranks
  • Puzzles
  • Syllogisms
  • Binary Logic
  • Venn Diagrams
  • Blood Relations
  • Direction Sense
  • Cubes and Dice
  • Coding-Decoding
  • Logical Sequence
  • Data Arrangement
  • Clocks & Calendars
  • Seating arrangement
  • Number & Letter Series
  • Quantitative Reasoning
  • Types of Team Formation
  • Assumptions & Assertions
  • Arguments and Statements
  • Syllogisms/Logical Deduction

Also Read:

Tips to Answer Logical Reasoning Questions in CAT 2024

How to Approach CAT 2024 Question Paper?
How to Prepare for CAT DI & LRImportant Topics for CAT 2024

CAT DILR 2024 Topic-wise Weightage

Aspirants for the CAT 2024 exam must refer to the following table to know the weightage of the important topics included under the DILR section:

Important Topics

Number of Questions Asked

Weightage (in Percentile)

Difficulty Level

Good Attempts

Routes and Networks

5 questions

6.1%

Moderate to Difficult

3-4 questions

Tables

5-10 questions

10.6%

Easy to Moderate

4-5 questions

Scheduling, Optimization, and Allocation

5-10 questions

15.8%

Moderate to Difficult

3-4 questions

Bar Graphs

4-5 questions

5.6%

Easy to Moderate

4-5 questions

Grids

5-10 questions

17.6%

Moderate to Difficult

3-4 questions

Arrangements

5-6 questions

7%

Moderate to Difficult

3-4 questions

Word Puzzle

4-6 questions

5.9%

Moderate to Difficult

3-4 questions

Math Puzzles

4-5 questions

12.6%

Moderate to Difficult

3-4 questions

Venn Diagrams

4-8 questions

7.7%

Easy to Moderate

4-5 questions

Scatter Plot

5 questions

2.9%

Easy to Moderate

4-5 questions

Gantt Chart

4-5 questions

2%

Easy to Moderate

4-5 questions

Radar Chart

3-4 questions

1.8%

Easy to Moderate

4-5 questions

Smoothies (DI)

4 questions

5.9%

Moderate

2-3 questions

Researchers and Publishing

6 questions

5.9%

Moderate to Difficult

3-4 questions

Friends, Strangers, and Acquaintances

6 questions

5.9%

Easy to Moderate

4-5 questions

Horizontally stacked column graph (product, shipment days)

4 questions

5.9%

Moderate

2-3 questions

Games and tournament-based

6 questions

5.9%

Moderate to Difficult

3-4 questions

Online food delivery rating parameters

6 questions

5.9%

Moderate

4-5 questions

Graph-based – easy to solve

4 questions

5.9%

Easy to Moderate

3-4 questions

Javelin Tournament

6 questions

5.9%

Moderate

3-4 questions

Pure and Impure Solutions

4 questions

5.9%

Moderate to Difficult

2-3 questions

Review of Academic Questions

6 questions

5.9%

Easy to Moderate

4-5 questions

Weightage of Important Topics in CAT DILR Syllabus Over the Years

The weightage of each topic in the CAT previous year question papers have been provided in the table below.

Name of the Topic

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

Arrangements

18%

10%

14%

13%

19%

25%

Grouping & Conditionality

20%

10%

25%

6%

6%

0%

Games & Tournaments

17%

17%

8%

13%

0%

0%

Puzzles

5%

10%

14%

19%

19%

25%

Scheduling

0%

7%

0%

6%

0%

0%

Miscellaneous

10%

7%

0%

6%

6%

0%

DI - Reasoning Based

10%

10%

17%

19%

19%

31%

DI - Calculation Based

10%

10%

14%

13%

31%

19%

DI - Observation Based

10%

19%

8%

6%

0%

0%

Top Management Colleges :

Best Books to Cover CAT DILR Syllabus 2024

In order to prepare effectively for the DILR section of the CAT 2024 exam candidates must refer to the CAT best books 2024 mentioned below. The most important feature of these books is that all the topics of data interpretation and logical reasoning have been covered exhaustively and after each topic has been explained, sample questions of varying difficulty levels are provided that will enable the candidates to assess their level of preparation. The best books to cover the important topics in the CAT DILR syllabus 2024 are:

  • A Modern Approach to Logical Reasoning by RS Agarwal
  • CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri
  • How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for CAT by Arun Sharma
  • How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma
  • Data Interpretation & Data Sufficiency for CAT by Ananta Ashish
  • Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT by Nishit Sinha

Also Read:How Much Time is Required to Prepare for CAT 2024?

Mistakes to Avoid in CAT DILR 2024

The CAT DILR section can be one of the toughest portions of the entire CAT question paper. Therefore, aspirants must make sure they are fully-prepared for this section and avoid any anniversary mistake possible. Take a look at the mistakes to avoid in CAT DILR section mentioned below:

  • Not Knowing CAT DILR Syllabus: Candidates must be intimately familiar with the DILR syllabus for CAT. Not knowing all the important DILR topics can be detrimental to candidate’s performance. Since the only way to ace this section of CAT is by rigorous practice, candidates must make sure they are well-aware of all the important topics, concepts, and questions related to the topics with the most weightage.

  • Missing Regular Revisions: In addition to rigorous practice sessions, candidates must also revise already learned topics to ensure they do not forget previously covered areas.

  • Not Taking Mock Tests: One of the biggest mistakes candidates can make is to not attempt mock tests for CAT. Mock tests are key to understanding a candidate’s personal strengths and weaknesses.

  • Not Reading Questions Carefully: A common mistake made by many aspirants, not reading the DILR questions in CAT carefully can lead to drastic mistakes and time loss which can be detrimental to a candidate’s overall CAT score and percentile.

How to Prepare for the CAT DILR Syllabus 2024

Candidates should develop their ability to quickly understand and interpret large amounts of data to solve the DI questions. Candidates should devote enough time to understand various types of charts, including bar charts, pie charts, etc. and try to understand the patterns, trends, and relationships between different variables. They must enhance their problem-solving approach to solve questions involving arrangements, comparisons, puzzles, etc. It is crucial to improve one’s ability to do mental calculations using techniques such as approximation, estimation, and simplification. Usage of shortcuts is necessary to prevent wastage of time in the CAT DILR section. Candidates should strengthen their analytical math handling abilities and increase their problem-solving speed.

Before selecting the appropriate option, it is important that candidates thoroughly read all of the available options and learn to eliminate the obviously incorrect options to narrow down their choices. In order to improve their speed and accuracy, aspirants are suggested to attempt at least one CAT mock test per week after which they must evaluate their performance, identify their weak areas, and make efforts to strengthen them. Candidates must avoid over-approximating or making assumptions while answering the questions since it may result in inaccuracy.

Related Links: 

How to Prepare for CAT VARC

Know How VARC is Evaluated in CAT

CAT Study Plan for Students in Final Year of Graduation

How to Prepare for CAT Quantitative Ability (QA)

CAT 2024 Syllabus for Other Sections

Candidates preparing for CAT 2024 must also check out the syllabus for Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension and Quantitative Ability provided below.

CAT VARC Syllabus 2024

CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus 2024

Want to know more about CAT

FAQs about CAT Syllabus

How should I prepare for the CAT Data Interpretation questions?

Out of the two parts of the sections, candidates preparing for the CAT Data Interpretation should focus on honing their interpretation skills. Here, candidates will be asked to read different infographic charts and tables including Graphs/Bar Diagrams, Tables and Pie Charts, Charts and Graphs, and much more. Candidates should be able to read, analyse and interpret the data given through these mediums.

What topics are important in the CAT Logical Reasoning syllabus?

As the name suggests, the important topics in CAT Logical Reasoning syllabus will include topics evaluating the candidate's logical and analytical thinking capabilities. Some of the important topics include Syllogisms/Logical Deduction, Quantitative Reasoning/Puzzles, Arrangements/Rankings/Team Formation, and Venn Diagrams/Binary Logic among many other similar topics related to Logical Reasoning for the CAT exam.

Which are the best books for CAT DILR syllabus?

There are a number of different books that should be used when preparing for the CAT DILR syllabus 2023, some of which include Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT by Nishit Sinha, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for the CAT by Nishit Sinha, CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning by Gautam Puri, How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT by Arun Sharma and much more.

What are the preparation tips for CAT DILR Syllabus?

Regardless of the preparation strategy you have adopted for the CAT DILR section, it is important to ensure that you enhance your data interpretation skills for large data, as well as their mathematical reasoning skills as well for the CAT DI section. Meanwhile, candidates should focus on quickly but thoroughly reading passages, and making accurate and correct assumptions for the CAT LR section.

Is CAT DILR syllabus considered tough?

Requiring a high level of accuracy in answering the different questions correctly, the CAT DILR syllabus can be considered tough, however, this will be subjective to each candidate. To easily score high in the section, candidates must focus on improving their quick thinking and fact-checking skills as these will save you valuable time while ensuring accuracy.

How many questions are asked in CAT DILR?

Candidates attempting the CAT DILR section will be asked to attempt 2 questions that have been divided into 5 sets. With only 45 minutes to complete the section, candidates must hone their critical and analytical thinking capabilities to ensure that they are able to correctly and accurately answer all the questions in the section, subsequently, allowing them to score high in this year’s exam.

What are the different types of questions I will be asked in CAT DILR?

There are primarily two types of questions asked in CAT DILR sections, viz, MCQs and Type in the Answers. While the MCQ questions may seem easy to attempt, it is also easy to make mistakes in these questions. As there is negative marking for incorrect answers, it is important to ensure that your accuracy and speed in answering the questions is on-point to ensure the best score possible.

When should I start preparing for the CAT DILR syllabus 2024?

You should start preparing for the CAT DILR syllabus 2024 at least 9 months before the exam is scheduled to be conducted. Since data analysis is the focus of data interpretation, candidates should develop their ability to quickly interpret large amounts of data, and become familiar with various types of charts, including bar charts, pie charts, etc.

What is the difficulty level of the CAT DILR section?

The overall difficulty level of the CAT DILR section ranges from moderate to high. The questions on Data Interpretation are usually easy to moderate. However, the difficulty level of the questions on Logical Reasoning varies from moderate to high.

What is the weightage for different topics in the CAT DILR Syllabus 2024?

The weightage for different topics in the CAT DILR Syllabus 2024 are as follows:

  • Math Puzzles (4-5 questions): 12.6%
  • Routes and Networks (5 questions): 6.1%
  • Tables (5-10 questions): 10.6%
  • Scheduling, Optimization, and Allocation (5-10 questions): 15.8%
  • Grids (5-10 questions): 17.6%
  • Venn Diagrams (4-8 questions): 7.7%

View More
View All Questions

Related Questions

Do college dekho gives specialisation on hr and marketing in mba

-Chahak AgarwalUpdated on October 04, 2024 04:52 PM
  • 1 Answer
Jayita Ekka, Content Team

Dear student,

Certainly. Collegedekho can help you get admission in a college that offers specialisation on MBA in HR and Marketing in MBA. You can connect with us at hello@collegedekho.com or call us at 18005729877 for admission. 

Ideally, you should have a valid MBA score from any of the Management entrance exams in India and basis your score/ merit, you can get admission in MBA in Marketing and HR. Since you have not mentioned any location preference, here is list of MBA colleges in India for information. 

READ MORE...

Are best of 5 and sports marks not considered in IIM PI forms? Also, I graduated from Telangana State where 12th marksheet contains both Inter 1st and 2nd yr marks, so what marks should I fill in the form?

-Subodh JoshiUpdated on October 04, 2024 04:42 PM
  • 1 Answer
Shivangi Ahirwar, Content Team

Dear Student,

The extracurricular achievements (sports, organizational, and social) at school, college, state, national, and international levels are considered in the IIM Personal Interview Form. However, the criteria and weightage vary as per the IIM. While some IIMs consider the best of 5, some only consider the best of 3 achievements. When filling out the personal interview form for the IIMs you are interested in, make sure to check all the details and requirements as specified.

Having graduated from Telangana State, you need to enter your 2nd-year Inter marks in the IIM personal interview form. Apart from these details, …

READ MORE...

Instead of my first name, I wrote my full name in CAT 2024 application form. Can I face any problem due to this?

-lekhika patidarUpdated on September 13, 2024 02:18 PM
  • 1 Answer
Subhashri Roy, Content Team

Dear Aspirant,

Writing your full name instead of your first name in the 'First Name' field on the CAT 2024 application form is unlikely to cause a significant problem unless there are spelling errors. IIMs don't allow candidates to make changes to their names once the application form is submitted. During the CAT application form correction, you can only edit your test city preferences, photograph, and signature. It's always recommended to follow the specific instructions provided by the exam authority. As per the CAT 2024 registration guidelines, the candidate's name should be the same as mentioned on the 10th/SSC …

READ MORE...

Still have questions about CAT Syllabus ? Ask us.

  • Typical response between 24-48 hours

  • Get personalized response

  • Free of Cost

  • Access to community

Related News

Related Articles

Top