The CAT question paper 2018 was similar to that of CAT 2017 concerning the overall difficulty level and exam structure. The CAT 2018 exam was conducted in two shifts across 147 cities in India. Out of 2,40,338 registered applicants, 2,09,405 appeared for the exam.
As per the analysis of the CAT 2018 Question Paper, The QA section proved challenging to many aspirants, as it was lengthy and difficult, while the DILR section turned out to be moderately difficult. The VARC section was relatively easier. With the difficulty levels of the CAT Exam varying year after year, aspirants must make it a practise to solve the CAT previous year’s papers regularly to master speed and accuracy.
In this article,
- CAT 2018 Question Paper PDF Download
- CAT 2018 Question Paper format
- Marking scheme for CAT 2018 Question Paper
- CAT 2018 Question Paper Analysis
CAT 2018 Question Paper PDF Download
The CAT 2018 question paper with solutions PDF is provided here to help the CAT candidates experience an exam setting environment and analyse their performance. The DILR and QA sections were both quite lengthy and complex, which contributed to the overall difficulty of the paper. CAT 2018 question papers with solutions PDF are provided below for all the slots, and for all the sections.
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CAT 2018 Question Paper & Answer Key – Slot 1 |
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Subject |
Downloadable Link |
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VARC |
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DILR |
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QA |
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CAT 2018 Question Paper & Answer Key – Slot 2 |
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Subject |
Downloadable Link |
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VARC |
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DILR |
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QA |
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CAT 2018 Question Paper Format
The CAT 2018 exam was convened by IIM Calcutta under two slots. As in CAT 2017, there were no changes in the exam structure and the question paper format.
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Name of the Section |
No. of Questions Section-wise |
Time Allotted for each Section |
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Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) |
34 |
60 minutes |
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Quantitative Aptitude (QA) |
34 |
60 minutes |
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Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) |
32 |
60 minutes |
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Total |
100 |
180 minutes |
Marking scheme for CAT 2018 Question Paper:
A good understanding of the marking scheme goes hand-in-hand with systematic preparation. The marking scheme remained the same for MCQs with +3/-1 pattern. Only the MCQs were subject to negative marking, whereas, marks were not deducted for the non-MCQs.
CAT 2018 Question Paper Analysis
The overall CAT Question paper 2018 was similar to that of the previous year, except for some minor structural changes in the VARC section. Below is a sectional break-up of the question paper according to the level of difficulty and question type.
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Sections |
Level of Difficulty |
Total No.of.Questions |
MCQ |
TITA |
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VARC |
Moderately Easy |
34 |
27 |
7 |
|
Quants |
Moderate-Difficult |
34 |
22 |
12 |
|
DI-LR |
Moderate-Difficult |
32 |
24 |
8 |
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Total |
Moderate |
100 |
73 |
27 |
CAT 2018 Question Paper Slot 1
Out of the three sections in CAT 2018, VARC was the easiest. The difficulty level of DILR and QA ranged from moderate to difficult. There were 8 DILR sets which had 4 questions each. A few of the questions in DILR were complex and time-consuming. There were 34 questions in QA ,that included 12 TITA questions. Most of the questions in QA were based on arithmetic and geometry. Overall, This year’s QA proved much tougher than last year’s CAT due to the lengthy questions that required intense calculations.
Explore, CAT 2018 Exam Analysis.
CAT 2018 Question Paper Slot 2
Slot 2 of CAT 2018 was comparatively easier than Slot – 1. The difficulty in DILR and QA were the same. VARC consisted of 34 questions, with 24 Reading Comprehension-based questions and 10 Verbal Ability questions. The topics of the RC passages were familiar. The passages were also easy to read. The VARC section was easier than expected.
Also Explore: CAT 2022 | CAT Exam Pattern | CAT Logical Reasoning 2022 | CAT Exam Syllabus | CAT Mock Tests | CAT Sample Papers
Frequently Asked Questions on CAT Question paper 2018
Why is it important to solve CAT Past year papers?
Analysing and working on the previous year question papers help aspirants evaluate their performance on the test. The performance level increases as they solve more papers. Candidates can get a better clarity on the type of questions and the difficulty level of each paper.
How long is the CAT Score valid?
CAT scorecards are valid for a period of one year. Candidates then have to take the following year’s CAT test for admissions into B-Schools.
What is the overall difficulty level of CAT 2018 ?
The difficulty level of CAT 2018 was similar to that of the previous year. The difficulty level ranged from Moderate to Difficult. The VARC section proved to be easier among all the slots.
