CAT Preparation of Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning: Check Topic Wise Preparation Plan, Books, & Online Materials

    Sachin Gupta Sachin Gupta
    Content Writer

    CAT Preparation of DILR section should start 5-6 months before the exam date with all the important topics like Bar Graphs, Seating Arrangement, etc. CAT Preparation of DILR should be focused on improving the calculation speed. CAT DILR Question Paper will have questions in the form of Sets and solving one set accurately can get you around 12-15 marks. To obtain a 95+ percentile, you will have to obtain 35-40 raw marks. By attempting 13-14 questions with 95% accuracy, you can achieve that score. Check CAT Exam Pattern

    • CAT DILR section is considered one of the lengthy sections of CAT and rated moderate in terms of difficulty level by test takers of previous years. 
    • CAT Logical Reasoning Preparation primarily includes speed & accuracy of your reasoning skills, filtering unimportant information, etc.
    • Last year, 15 MCQ and 5 Non MCQ type questions were asked from CAT DILR. Check CAT DILR Syllabus

    Read the article to know more about how to prepare for CAT DILR, what are the important topics and much more. 

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    CAT DILR Preparation Highlights

    Section NameData Interpretation and Logical Reasoning
    Allotted Time40 minutes
    Total Number of Questions20
    Number of Data Interpretation Questions10
    Number of Logical Reasoning Questions10
    Total Marks60
    Type of QuestionsMCQs (15 questions); Non-MCQs (5 questions)
    Marks Awarded for Each Correct Answer+ 3
    Negative Marks for Each Wrong Answer-1
    Difficulty Level of QuestionsModerate to Difficult
    CAT DILR Time Table

    Hourly Time Table for CAT DILR Preparation

    Time Table for Data Interpretation:

    TopicTime Required in Hours
    Data Interpretation Basic3
    Pie Charts3
    Word Problems3
    Data Interpretation Tables Problems3
    Data Interpretation Advanced Questions3

    Time Table for Logical Reasoning:

    TopicTime Required in Hours
    Questions on Tournaments & Visualizations3
    Grids and Tables3
    Math based Puzzles3
    Questions on Sequence and Selection3
    Logical Reasoning Advanced Questions3

    Must Read:

    CAT Paper AnalysisCAT Online PreparationCAT Coaching Institutes

    CAT DI Preparation

    How to Prepare for CAT Data Interpretation?

    • 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 in CAT Exam.
    • 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 1 to 1.5 minutes. This would help you score better.
    • Most importantly, practice as many DI problems as you can.

    CAT Data Interpretation Important Topics

    TopicDescription
    Tables and Charts Comparison of data for various years and ages
    Graph, Bar diagramData 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, ChartsData analysis and finding conclusions, making future projections
      CAT LR Preparation

      How to Prepare for CAT Logical Reasoning?

      Invest a few seconds and carefully study each question in CAT 2022 paper. 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.
      CAT Preparation Tips
      Pay attention to words like "all", "none", and "some", "other than," "only" or "unless" as these terms are critical in reasoning questions.Negative prefixes like non—, un-, or dis-. are also critical in defining the basic facts of the paragraph.
      Be careful whether "all" or "zero" is mentioned in the questions. Also be vigilant about the word "only" and the expression "if and only if".

      CAT 2022 Logical Reasoning Important Topics

      TopicDescription
      Arrangements/Rankings/Team FormationSeating arrangement, ranks, types of team formation
      Quantitative Reasoning/PuzzlesArithmetic, geometrical data, puzzles on words, letters, arrangements, seating
      Syllogisms/Logical DeductionQuestions based on statements and arguments
      Venn Diagrams/Binary Logic Questions on set theory and network diagrams

      Must Read:


      CAT DILR Imp Topics

      Weightage of Important Topics in CAT DILR

      Important TopicsWeightage (in percentile)
      Tables and Charts12.5
      Graph, Bar diagram12.5
      Tables, Pie chart12.5
      Graphs, Charts12.5
      Arrangements/Rankings/Team Formation12.5
      Quantitative Reasoning/Puzzles12.5
      Syllogisms/Logical Deduction12.5
      Venn Diagrams/Binary Logic12.5

      CAT DILR Study Material 

      How to Prepare for CAT Seating Arrangement?How to Prepare for CAT Logical Reasoning?
      How to Prepare for CAT Venn Diagrams?How to Prepare for CAT Bar Graphs?
      How to Prepare for Calendar Questions?CAT DILR Solved Questions

      CAT DILR Books

      Best Books for CAT DILR Preparation

      CAT DILR Reference Books
      Name of BookPublisher/AuthorDescription
      How to Prepare for Data Interpretation for CAT
       
      Arun Sharma/McGraw HillThis 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 CATArun Sharma/McGraw HillDesigned 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 EducationThis 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 advance.

      CAT DILR Online Resources

      ResourceDescription
      The EconomistThis is a great online journal that reports on different issues including business and economics. The style of data interpretation and logical reasoning in this journal can help in preparing for the CAT DILR section.
      Cracku Video This is a one-hour long video that can help you master CAT DILR. It is recommended that you watch it in multiple sittings and absorb as much information as you can while making notes of important points. To access the Cracku Video.
      Academy of Management JournalPublished by Academy of Management, this online journal contains empirical work in the field of management. It particularly focuses on findings that directly apply to the practice of management.

      Common 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.


      CAT Topper Tips

      Topper Tips to Attempt DILR in CAT

      • CAT 2021 Topper Sarthak advises CAT aspirants to practice more mock tests for DILR. Read Full Interview
      • CAT 2021 Topper Aakash Chaudhary (99.72 percentile in DILR) solved 700+ LRDI sets before the exam. This gave him an upper hand in managing time for this section. Read Full Interview

      Read DILR Preparation Tips by more CAT Toppers 2021:

      CAT Topper Aman GoelCAT Topper Ashna Dawar CAT Topper Chetan Bhatt 
      CAT Topper Ritik Gupta CAT Topper Aditya Bansal CAT Topper Ritik Gupta 

      CAT DILR Preparation FAQs

      CAT DILR Preparation FAQs

      Question: Which books to buy for CAT preparation of DILR?

      Ans: Some of the best-recommended books for CAT preparation include:

      • How to prepare for CAT- Arun Sharma for Quantitative Ability, Logical Reasoning and Data Interpretation,
      • High School Grammer- Wren and Martin for Verbal Ability.

      Question: Do the coaching centers provide study material to the students?

      Ans: Yes, the study material is provided by the coaching centers but you need to refer to other books as well while doing your preparations. One must purchase the mock test series by any coaching or any test provided as mock tests are very helpful while preparing for the test.

      Question: What are the other sources, apart from the study material provided by the coaching centers while preparing for CAT?

      Ans: There are many sources apart from books that are referred to the students. One can check online study material that is available for free on the internet, also many coaching centers provide the test series that are helpful in the preparations.

      Question- What are the expected topics in DI CAT 2022?

      Ans: The questions in MCQ and Non-MCQ format in DI in CAT 2022 are anticipated on beneath topics:

      • Data Tables;
      • Data charts
      • Bar diagrams
      • Pie charts
      • Graphs
      • Data analysis and comparison
      • Caselet Data Interpretation
      • Analysis of data based on text, tables, graphs, etc.

      CAT 2024 : 314 Answered QuestionsView All

      • Top Answer By Ankit Sinha on 17-Nov-2022

      Ans. 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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      • Top Answer By Orchid Chowdhury on 07-Dec-2021

      Ans. 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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      • Top Answer By Aditya Mahatha on 06-Jan-2023

      Ans. 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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      • Top Answer By Surbhi Mishra on 08-Jul-2022

      Ans. 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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      • Top Answer By Ahana Mishra on 29-Nov-2022

      Ans. 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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      • Top Answer By Abhiraj Mahera on 21-Apr-2022

      Ans. If you are aiming for old IIMs such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, you will need to score above 99 percentile in CAT. For IIMs and other top-tier B-Schools in India, the CAT cutoff stays above 90 percentile.  If you have a good profile, and 99+ CAT score, you can expect to get calls from old IIMs, XLRI, JBIMS, IIFT, FMS, etc. Read more

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      • Top Answer By Trisha Dasgupta on 21-Apr-2022

      Ans. Here are some of the things that you will realize after appearing for the CAT examination. Spend the first few minutes going over the papers before diving in. Browse through the problems and start with the ones that you know you can solve in one go.  CAT prioritizes solving not sequence. If you aren’t sure about an answer, leave it. Concentrate on other problems. You shouldn’t spend more than 2-3 minutes on a single problem.  Don’t use the elimination method, if you can solve the problem in less than 1 minute. Do rough work thoroughly. Don’t answer any questions, just by guessing.  There will be a few lengthy questions. Try to ignore these. Even CAT toppers don’t score the full marks.  CAT doesn’t test your knowledge. The only thing matters are how much you score. So, try to attempt as many questions as you can correctly.  Read more

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      • Top Answer By Arushi Sinha on 04-Sep-2022

      Ans. You need to practice a lot in order to be able to solve Quantitative Aptitude in the CAT examination. Quants involve using mathematical ability as well as imagination. You need to memorize some concepts as well as formulas. CAT syllabus for Quants includes a lot of topics that we have studied in 9th and 10th and only the application is different for topics such as PNC & Algebra, Numbers, etc. Most important topics in terms of weightage are as follows. Arithmetic Algebra Geometry Numbers P&C, Series, Log Several chapters are easy and can be completed in a short period of time. You should start your preparation with numbers, it is the base for the quants topics. Once you are a clear knowledge of the topics, start giving time-based mocks. Analyze the mocks and work on the common mistakes that you made.  Read more

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      • Top Answer By Rajashree Mukharjee on 27-Apr-2022

      Ans. Yes, average students can crack CAT. Students who get through CAT at one go, have the right aptitude for CAT, which was built over time. They have been practicing Maths right from their school days and have been avid readers.  If you are average at your studies, you need to spend a lot of time practicing, in order to score good percentile in CAT. Most students usually have gaps in Maths or DILR or English. You need to put in the extra hours to bridge the gap. Find out the subjects in which you are weak, clear the basics, and practice as much as you can.  Read more

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      • Top Answer By Sohini Gupta on 27-Apr-2022

      Ans. Take a look at the below table to know what CAT score will fetch what CAT percentile, for 2022. Percentile  Score VA-RC Score DI-LR Score QA Overall Score  90% 29 1 26 72 95% 32 20 29 81 In 2021, for 90 percentile the required score was 59 and for 95 percentile the required score was 72.  Read more

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