The Common Admission Test (CAT) is renowned for giving surprise elements in the paper. Moreover, its difficulty level also keeps evolving every year. Every year, the CAT aspirants try to anticipate and prepare for what the challenging surprise element can bring. For those who will be appearing for CAT 2024, especially as a CAT repeater, the main question arises ‘Was CAT 2023 tougher than CAT 2022?’
This blog exactly dives into a detailed CAT 2023 vs CAT 2022 comparison. We will also highlight the differences in the difficulty levels, section-wise performance, and overall trends.
Also Read, CAT Exam Analysis 2024, Section-wise Slot 1, 2, 3 Analysis
CAT 2023 vs CAT 2022 Overview
Both, CAT 2023 and CAT 2022 had the same structure:
| Three Sections | Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA) |
| Total Duration | 2 hours (40 minutes per section) |
| Total Questions | 66 (VARC:24, DILR: 20, QA:22) |
Having said that, there still were some subtle changes in the CAT difficulty level and question distribution that affected the performance of the candidates.
| Year | Total Questions | Duration | Marking Scheme |
| CAT 2023 | 66 | 2 hours | +3 for correct, -1 for wrong |
| CAT 2022 | 66 | 2 hours | +3 for correct, -1 for wrong |
Also Read, CAT Answer Key 2024, Check Download Link, Release Date
CAT 2023 vs CAT 2022: Section-Wise Difficulty Comparison
Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
| Aspect | CAT 2023 | CAT 2022 |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate | Moderate |
| Passage Length | Lengthier passages with abstract themes | Balanced themes, easier comprehension |
| Key Challenges | Tricky RC options, time-consuming questions | Straightforward RCs but challenging VA |
Overall, in CAT 2023, aspirants said that the RCs were tougher due to abstract topics and nuanced options. This furthermore also increased the time pressure.
Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
| Aspect | CAT 2023 | CAT 2022 |
| Difficulty Level | Tough | Moderate to Tough |
| Set Distribution | 4 sets (1 easy, 1 moderate, 2 tough) | 4 sets (2 moderate, 2 tough) |
| Key Challenges | Time-consuming logical sets | Balanced sets with predictable difficulty |
CAT 2023 featured more difficult logic-based sets that tested the ability to prioritize time effectively.
Quantitative Ability (QA)
| Aspect | CAT 2023 | CAT 2022 |
| Difficulty Level | Difficult | Moderate to Easy |
| Focus Areas | Arithmetic-heavy with fewer Geometry questions | Arithmetic and Algebra with simple calculations |
| Key Challenges | Tricky application of concepts | Conceptually straightforward |
CAT 2023 focused heavily on the Arithmetic part, overpowering the Geometry part. This made CAT 2023 more challenging especially for those candidates who rely on other topics.
Also Read,CAT Result 2024, Expected Release Date, Download Link
CAT 2023 vs CAT 2022 Difficulty Level Analysis
Let us analyze the difficulty level comparatively:
| Section | CAT 2023 Difficulty | CAT 2022 Difficulty | Trend |
| VARC | Moderate to Tough | Moderate | Tougher in 2023 |
| DILR | Tough | Moderate to Tough | Slightly Tougher |
| QA | Difficult | Moderate to Easy | Slightly Tougher |
| Overall | Moderate to Tough | Moderate | More challenging |
CAT 2023 emerged as slightly tougher than CAT 2022, with DILR and VARC posing significant challenges.
How is CAT 2023 Difficulty Compared with Past Year?
Comparing CAT 2023 with previous years (2021, 2020), the exam maintained its standard format but varied in question difficulty. Here's a year-wise trend:
| Year | Overall Difficulty | Key Highlights |
| 2023 | Moderate to Tough | Challenging DILR, abstract VARC themes |
| 2022 | Moderate | Balanced across sections |
| 2021 | Moderate to Easy | Easier QA and VARC |
| 2020 | Tough | Lengthy DILR, abstract RCs |
CAT 2023 vs CAT 2022: Sectional Cutoffs
VARC Sectional Cutoffs
| Percentile | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Marks | Correct Attempts | Marks | Correct Attempts | |
| 99 | 40 | 13-14 | 40 | 13-14 |
| 95 | 29 | 10 | 28 | 9 |
| 90 | 23 | 8 | 24 | 8 |
| 85 | 19 | 6-7 | 21 | 7 |
| 80 | 17 | 5-6 | 17 | 5-6 |
DILR Sectional Cutoffs
| Percentile | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Marks | Correct Attempts | Marks | Correct Attempts | |
| 99 | 27 | 9-10 | 30 | 10 |
| 95 | 19 | 6–7 | 21 | 7-8 |
| 90 | 16 | 5-6 | 18 | 6-7 |
| 85 | 14 | 4-5 | 14 | 4-5 |
| 80 | 12 | 4 | 13 | 4 |
QA Sectional Cutoffs
| Percentile | 2023 | 2022 | ||
| Marks | Correct Attempts | Marks | Correct Attempts | |
| 100 | 49 | 16-17 | 57 | 19 |
| 99.9 | 38 | 12-13 | 47 | 15-16 |
| 99 | 27 | 9-10 | 33 | 11 |
| 95 | 20 | 6-7 | 22 | 7-8 |
| 90 | 14 | 4-5 | 17 | 6 |
| 85 | 10 | 3-4 | 15 | 5 |
Also Read, CAT Response Sheet 2024
CAT 2023 vs CAT 2022: Key Insights
- Time Management: Candidates struggled more in CAT 2023 due to abstract RCs and challenging DILR sets.
- Scoring Trends: Higher normalization might favor those performing well in tougher sections.
- Preparation Adjustments: For future CAT aspirants, analyzing CAT 2023 patterns can help refine strategies.
Conclusion
Analysis of the CAT 2023 vs CAT 2022 exam highlights some subtle yet impactful changes in difficulty levels. CAT 2023 was moderately tougher, with abstract RCs and a challenging lot of DILR sets drawing attention. Aspirants should focus on understanding sectional trends and rectifying time management skills to produce good performance in the forthcoming CAT exams.
Patience, along with proper analysis of patterns and strategic preparation, can help aspirants touch a high percentile irrespective of variance in difficulty levels.
