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CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning Syllabus 2022: Check DILR Syllabus, Pattern, Weightage of Topics, Study Materials, Preparation

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Sachin Gupta

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CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning Syllabus includes topics like puzzles on words & letters, seating arrangements, blood relations, etc. As per CAT test-takers, the difficulty level of questions asked from CAT DILR syllabus is moderate to high. 

Read the article to know more about CAT DILR syllabus, the weightage of important topics, and much more.

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CAT DILR Exam Pattern (Updated)

Section Name Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
Allotted Time 40 minutes
Total Number of Questions 20
Number of Data Interpretation Questions 8-10
Number of Logical Reasoning Questions 8-12
Total Marks 60
Type of Questions MCQs, Non-MCQs
Marks Awarded for Each Correct Answer + 3
Negative Marks for Each Wrong Answer -1
Difficulty Level of Questions Moderate to Difficult

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CAT DI Syllabus

CAT DILR Syllabus 2022

Candidates can check the sectional syllabus of CAT DILR provided in the tables below: 

CAT Data Interpretation Syllabus

Topic Description
Tables and Charts  Comparison of data for various years and ages
Graph, Bar diagram Data analysis, comparison of various years, groups, and classes
Tables, Pie chart  Decoding and determining the data of missing period, taking clues, and interpreting the missing links
Graphs, Charts Data analysis and finding conclusions, making future projections

CAT LR Syllabus

CAT Logical Reasoning Syllabus

Topic Description
Arrangements/Rankings/Team Formation Seating arrangement, ranks, types of team formation
Quantitative Reasoning/Puzzles Arithmetic, geometrical data, puzzles on words, letters, arrangements, seating
Syllogisms/Logical Deduction Questions based on statements and arguments
Venn Diagrams/Binary Logic  Questions on set theory and network diagrams

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CAT DILR Important Topics

Weightage of Important Topics in CAT DILR

Important Topics Weightage (in percentile)
Tables and Charts 12.5
Graph, Bar diagram 12.5
Tables, Pie chart 12.5
Graphs, Charts 12.5
Arrangements/Rankings/Team Formation 12.5
Quantitative Reasoning/Puzzles 12.5
Syllogisms/Logical Deduction 12.5
Venn Diagrams/Binary Logic 12.5

CAT DILR Study Material

Best Books for CAT DILR Preparation 2022

Books for CAT 2022 preparation are mentioned in the table below: 

CAT DILR Reference Books
Name of Book Publisher/Author Description
How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT Arun Sharma/McGraw Hill This new comprehensive book by Arun Sharma on Data Interpretation is aimed at effectively equipping aspirants to answer all possible types of questions that may be asked on this subject.
How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT Arun Sharma/McGraw Hill Designed and written by Arun Sharma, ‘How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT’ is a detailed text dedicated exclusively to equipping students to answer all kinds of questions that can be asked in CAT on Logical Reasoning.
Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT Nishit K. Sinha/ Pearson Education This book has fundamental and advanced topics of DILR along with examples for a better explanation. The levels of preparation in this book are - foundation, moderate, and advanced.
Read More Best Books for CAT
CAT DILR Preparation

Preparation Tips from CAT Toppers 

CAT Exam Pattern 2022

Candidates must check CAT exam pattern 2022 for all sections including DILR:

CAT exam section Total number of questions Total MCQs (Negative marking) Total Non-MCQs (No negative marking)
Section-1: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) 24 19 5
Section-2: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) 20 12/ 15 8/ 5
Section-3: Quantitative Ability (QA) 22 14 8
Total 66 45 21

Click here for CAT 2022 Exam Pattern in detail


CAT DILR Analysis

Difficulty Level of CAT DILR Question Paper

Candidates can check CAT DILR Paper Analysis of 2021 to get an idea about the difficulty level of VARC question papers. 

  • Total questions from DILR: 20
  • Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
  • Good Attempt: 14-15 questions

CAT DILR Slot 1 Analysis

Set Description of DILR Set Number of Questions Difficulty Level Good Attempts
1 Bar Graph 4 Moderate 2-3
2 Smoothies (DI) 4 Moderate 2-3
3 Researchers and Publishing 6 Moderate to difficult 3-4
4 Friends, Strangers, and Acquaintances 6 Easy to Moderate 4-5

CAT DILR Slot 2 Analysis

Sets Description of DILR Set Number of Questions Difficulty Level Good Attempts
Set 1 Horizontally stacked column graph (product, shipment days) 4 Moderate 2-3
Set 2 Games and tournament-based 6 Moderate to Difficult 3-4
Set 3 Online food delivery rating parameters 6 Moderate 4-5
Set 4 Graph-based – easy to solve 4 Easy to Moderate 3-4

CAT DILR Slot 3 Analysis

Set Description of DILR Set Number of Questions Difficulty Level Good Attempts
1 Bar Graph 4 Moderate 2-3
2 Javelin Tournament 6 Moderate 3-4
3 Pure and Impure Solutions 4 Moderate to difficult 2-3
4 Review of Academic Questions 6 Easy to Moderate 4-5

Download CAT DILR Question Papers

Slot Number CAT Question Paper with Solutions
CAT Question Paper & Answer Keys 2021
CAT DILR Slot 1 Download
CAT DILR Slot 2 Download
CAT DILR Slot 3 Download
CAT Question Paper & Answer Keys 2020
CAT DILR Slot 1 Download 
CAT DILR Slot 2 Download 
CAT DILR Slot 3 Download 
CAT Question Paper & Answer Keys 2019
CAT DILR Slot 1 Download 
CAT DILR Slot 2 Download 
CAT Question Paper & Answer Keys 2018
CAT DILR Slot 1 Download 
CAT DILR Slot 2 Download
CAT Question Paper & Answer Keys 2017
CAT DILR Slot 1 Download
CAT DILR Slot 2 Download

CAT DILR Preparation Tips 2022

CAT Data Interpretation Preparation Tips

  • Work to improve your ability to comprehend voluminous data.
  • Familiarize yourself with different forms of charts.
  • Improve your skills in analytical maths.
  • Practice increasing your pace while solving problems.
  • Learn to calculate the percentage increase or decrease or the comparison ratio. This will be an effective time-saving skill.
  • Regularly solve DI sets that require reasoning skills and grow your knowledge of these sets.
  • Have a good understanding of the DI sets by answering as many questions as possible well in advance.
  • Do not leave out DI sets that seem big on data volume. More data does not automatically mean a difficult set.
  • Do not try to solve all the problems at once. Try to answer a bulk of easy questions and a few difficult ones at a time.
  • Attempt questions that you can answer confidently in 2 to 2.5 minutes. This would help you score better.
  • Most importantly, practice as many DI problems as you can.

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CAT Logical Reasoning Preparation Tips

  • Invest a few seconds and carefully study the question. A quick clarification of why any option is right or wrong would go through your mind. If you are willing to practice this tip in sample questions of logical reasoning, you can do well in the actual examination.
  • Do not presume or use any information which is not provided to you by the question. This is not an assessment of how much you generally know about a topic. Consider only the information given when choosing among the alternative answers to each reading passage.
  • Carefully read the factual passage and the instruction for sentence completion. Both have to be taken into account when making your choice.
  • Be sure to carefully read all answer options before eliminating or choosing one of them.
  • In questions that ask you to choose a valid conclusion, always choose the one conclusion that certainly follows from the information given to you. In questions that ask you to find the incorrect alternative, select the one conclusion that definitely does not fit the Information given to you.
  • Once you read the factual details each question gives, pay particular attention to words like "all", "none", and "some". Other terms like "other than," "only" or "unless" are also relevant. These terms will play a critical role in deciding exactly the facts to be used in your reasoning.
  • Please pay attention to negative prefixes like non—, un-, or dis-. These may be critical in defining the basic facts of the paragraph.
  • You should also be very cautious of any answer choices containing the "all" or "zero" quantifiers. In general, these terms are not indicators of incorrect answer choices in the sample practice questions and the real CAT evaluation. They will appear in choices for both correct and incorrect answers.
  • Be vigilant about the word "only" and the expression "if and only if".

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Mistakes to Avoid while attempting CAT DILR Section

  1. Not formulating a proper study strategy

Students often tend to jump into the preparation of random topics without establishing a proper study plan. It is important to go through the syllabus and understand the weightage of the most important topics. In the CAT DILR section, all topics have an equal weightage. Therefore, plan to study your strong areas before moving on to the weak areas. This will give a confident start in preparation.

  1. Not attempting a sufficient number of practice questions

Students usually solve one mock test in one month. However, to prepare intensely and score well in the CAT DILR section, you have to attempt at least one mock test every week. Continuously solve problems relating to CAT DILR. This will give you the practice to increase the speed and accuracy required for solving questions from this section.

  1. Not analyzing the results of practice questions

While attempting practice questions for CAT DILR, make sure that you analyze your performance. This will help you identify your weak areas so that you can work on them.


Sample Questions of CAT DILR

Direction for questions 1 – 4: Read the information given below and solve the questions based on it.

The following table gives the result of the due north soccer competition. Matches were played round-robin (each team playing against another once) and the teams that participated were Bihar, Punjab, and Haryana. The table has some data missing

- Match played Won Drawn Lost Goals for Goals against
Bihar 2 - 1 - 2 4
Punjab 2 - - - 3 7
Haryana - - - - - 1

Q1. What is the total number of matches played in the competition?

  1. 3
  2. 6
  3. 9
  4. None of these

Q2. What did the scorecard read in favor of Punjab in the Punjab-Haryana match?

  1. 1. 2-5
  2. 1-5
  3. 1-4
  4. 1-6

Q3. How many matches did Punjab lose?

  1. 0
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 0 or 1

Q4. How many goals did Haryana score? 

  1. 5
  2. 1
  3. 3
  4. 7

Download more CAT Question Papers


CAT DILR FAQs

CAT DILR FAQs

Ques: What is CAT data interpretation and logical reasoning?

Ans. CAT Data interpretation and logical reasoning is one of the 3 sections in CAT exam. It is designed to test the analytical skills, decision-making, and data interpretation ability using limited information. Data interpretation involves analyzing given data while logical reasoning involves the use of logic to arrive at a conclusion.

Ques. How much time is required to prepare for CAT DILR? 

Ans. CAT DILR preparation should ideally begin at least 3-4 months before the exam date. Candidates have to give in at least 3-4  hours every day. It is essential to solve mock tests and sample papers to check the level of preparedness.

Ques: What is the most important topic in DILR?

Ans. All the topics in DILR are equally important because they carry equal weightage. The topics are - Tables and Charts, Graph, Bar diagram, Pie chart, Arrangements/Rankings/Team Formation, Quantitative Reasoning/Puzzles, Syllogisms/Logical Deduction, and Venn Diagrams/Binary Logic.

Question: How to prepare for CAT Logical Reasoning?

Ans. To prepare well for CAT LR, one should follow the below-mentioned steps:

  • Solve previous year question papers to get an idea of the type of questions asked in CAT exam.
  • Refer to 1-2 good books by Arun Sharma or Nishit K Sinha for practicing questions.
  • Solve sectional and overall mock tests and sample papers

Ques: What are the best books to prepare for CAT DILR?

Ans. The best books to prepare for CAT DILR are -

  • ‘How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT’ by Arun Sharma
  • ‘How to Prepare for Logical Reasoning for the CAT’ by Arun Sharma
  • ‘Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation for CAT’ by Nishit K. Sinha
  • Verbal & Non-Verbal Reasoning by R S Aggarwal

Ques: Is ‘How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT’ good for CAT DILR preparation?

Ans. Yes, ‘How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT’ by Arun Sharma is good for DILR. It explains Data Interpretation tricks and concepts adequately along with offering practice questions for students.

Ques: How many questions should I attempt to get a 95+ percentile in DILR?

Ans. Although it depends on the level of difficulty of CAT exam; based on the previous year's exam analysis, to get a 95+ percentile in DILR, you need to attempt 14-15 questions with 95% accuracy.

Ques: Where can I find the best DILR preparation resources online?

Ans. The best online resources for CAT DILR preparation include online study channels and coaching institutes like BYJUs, Career Launcher, T.I.M.E, Unacademy, Hitbullseye, IMS India, and more. Apart from these, you can also refer to online youtube videos to learn short tricks to solve di sets in less time.

Ques. Is there any sectional time limit for the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section in CAT 2022?

Ans. Yes, the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning section in CAT 2022 exam has a sectional time limit of 40 minutes. In fact, each of the sections of CAT exam- DILR, VARC, and QA has a sectional time limit of 40 minutes.

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.

CAT 2023 : 314 answered questions

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Ques. Should I join IIM-Kozhikode or give CAT again or try for PGPX next year with 3 years of work-ex?

● Top Answer By Ankit Sinha on 17 Nov 22

Before taking any decision, you must go through all three options that you have in great detail. There are a few reasons why you should not go for IIM-Kozhikode. First, the fees are extremely high, estimated to be around Rs 19.00 lakh. Second, the average package offered at IIMK is around 16-17L, and you will earn more than that after two years. But, once again, if you are desperate for an MBA, you can enroll in IIMK, which comes with the 'IIM' label, which will be very useful in the long run. Give CAT once more. You only need to get a high CAT score and then leave the rest up to their selection process. Second, CAT is extremely unpredictable. With proper preparation, you can achieve excellent results. So, if you're willing to work another year and are confident enough to take the CAT, this is the perfect way to take it. You should look into PGPX from ISB or elsewhere. This option is appealing, but it requires hard work and careful consideration. If you enjoy working in IT and want to advance quickly, this is the path to take....Read more

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Ques. What is the admissions procedure for IIM after CAT results?

● Top Answer By Orchid Chowdhury on 07 Dec 21

Every IIMS and other management colleges make a shortlist based on the percentile after CAT result is declared. With percentile, IIMs also consider other factors like academics, category, gender factor, diversity, etc. The list is made for the second round i.e. GD/PI or WAT/PI.  GD/WAT will have a generic topic. There can be a topic from current affairs. PI is taken by some of the faculty and alumni of the institute. In institutes like FMS, there is an extempore after PI.  After these rounds, a final shortlist is made with weightage given to GD/PI or WAT/PI performance and CAT percentile. Individual IIMs also have some additional factors. The offer letters are then sent out to top candidates in each category up to the maximum number of seats. The rest candidates are waitlisted. As students choose admissions, the waitlist continues to change. ...Read more

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Ques. Should I take IIM-Kashipur/IIM-Raipur or take the CAT &/or GMAT again?

● Top Answer By Aditya Mahatha on 06 Jan 23

I know this decision is a bit difficult to make. What you need to keep in mind is that these two colleges should not be compared to other great IIMs or even ISBs. Those B Schools are at another level and cannot be on par with Kashipur or Raipur. To facilitate a better decision, I will mention the circumstances of these B Schools then you can choose after considering all options. IIM Indore and IIM Kashipur: Both these colleges are not worth a year drop as they will help you earn only an extra 1.5-2 LPA. Moreover, in the coming years, Kashipur and Raipur will have almost the same brand value as that Indore and Kozhikode. IIM Ahmedabad, Calcutta, Lucknow and Bangalore: All these top IIMs are definitely worth a year's drop provided that you are confident enough to cope with the cutoff. All these IIMs consider your academics while selecting so if that is your reason for the year drop I don’t think it will help. There is no surety of admission even after a percentile of 100.  ISB: This one is at a whole different level and is in the category of elite B Schools like UCB, NYU, HBS, etc. The top-notch faculty offers amazing pedagogy at relatively low fees. CAT is sufficient for IIMs. But if you want to go for ISB, a work experience of 4+ years and a GMAT are a must. ...Read more

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Ques. What is the IIM selection process in detail? What is the advantage of having job experience or being a fresher in the IIM selection process?

● Top Answer By Surbhi Mishra on 08 Jul 22

IIMs shortlists students for admission based on their CAT score. The second step of selection is GD-PI. For final selection, students are usually shortlisted based on their past academic performance, entrance examination score, and performance in GD-PI. IIMs also consider other factors such as work experience, gender diversity, academic diversity, etc. while shortlisting students. Weights given to these factors are different for different IIMs.  Having relevant work experience can certainly help you get a shortlist. ...Read more

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Ques. What kind of profile is required to clear the CAT interview for IIM Ahmedabad?

● Top Answer By Ahana Mishra on 29 Nov 22

Everyone knows that IIM A values diversity over grades. There have been students who were not even waitlisted at IIM K but were at IIM A due to their extremely unique profiles. If you want to build a profile for IIM A, strive for originality. Do something that no one else is doing, such as starting a blog, having a strong digital presence on Instagram, writing on Quora, and so on. Consider what students with a 99 percentile typically do, such as being brilliant in academics and receiving a call from IIM Ahmedabad. Choose a domain in which these students are unlikely to excel and excel in that domain. Furthermore, activities such as writing a blog or hosting a YouTube channel will undoubtedly help you, in the long run, to secure summer and final placements during your MBA. As a result, you will gain valuable insights and hands-on experience with various social media tools such as SEO, SEM, Analytics, and so on....Read more

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