Which CAT sections were historically tougher in different slots?

Based on past year trends and expert analysis, different sections have been observed as tougher in specific slots. For instance, in some years, Slot 2 saw a tougher DILR, Slot 3 had challenging QA, and Slot 1 faced a tricky VARC section. These observations highlight that variations usually occur in one section, but the overall exam toughness across slots remains largely comparable due to normalization.

Can I choose my CAT exam slot?

No, you cannot choose your preferred CAT exam slot. The slot (morning, afternoon, or evening) is randomly assigned to candidates by the conducting IIM. This approach is taken to efficiently accommodate the large number of test-takers on a single day and to ensure impartiality in the examination process, as the scores are later normalized across all slots.

CAT Exam Toughest Slot: Is It Real? Analysis & Normalization

CAT Exam Slot Difficulty: Is There a Toughest Slot?

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The CAT exam is one of the toughest MBA exams in India, and is the only gateway for admission to the 21 IIMs. The CAT exam is conducted in 3 slots (Morning, Afternoon, and Evening), and each slot varies in difficulty level by a slight margin. However, a common question raised by students is - “Which is the toughest slot in the CAT exam?” The question is common owing to the fact that the students do not have any option to choose the slot and it is randomly assigned by the conducting IIM.

Now to answer the question, it may be said that there is no perfect answer to this, but usually it is observed that the evening slot is comparatively difficult than the other two. However, to avoid any dispute in aspirants and to reach a common ground, the CAT scores are normalised via the CAT normalization process and these normalised scores are printed in the CAT scorecard.

To understand more about the slots in CAT and the difficulty levels, let us deep dive into the article, and students are advised to scroll further.

Check CAT 2024 paper analysis here

CAT Slot System Explained

CAT is usually conducted in three sessions on a single day to accommodate the large number of test takers. Each slot has -

The same number of questions (typically 66 in recent years)
The same duration (120 minutes total)
The same sectional structure:
- Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC)
- Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR)
- Quantitative Ability (QA)

CAT Result → Read More

Is there a tough slot in CAT exam?

While the IIMs aim to keep all slots of comparable difficulty, slight variations do exist. Some years have seen -

Slot 2 with tougher DILR
Slot 3 with challenging QA
Slot 1 with a tricky VARC section

However, these differences are not extreme, and normalization (equating scores) is done to ensure fairness across all slots.

Also view → CAT 2023 paper analysis

Normalization Process: Leveling the Field

To address these slot-wise differences, CAT authorities implement a normalization algorithm, which adjusts raw scores based on the relative difficulty level of each slot. This ensures the following.

No advantage or disadvantage based on slot
Fair percentile ranking across the board

Historical Trends: What Past Data Shows?

As per past year trends, a brief analysis of the CAT exam difficulty level is presented in the table below.

Year	Slot	Observed Toughest Section	General Observation
2023	Slot 2	DILR	Logical sets were calculation-heavy
2022	Slot 1	QA	Lengthy questions, time-consuming
2021	Slot 3	VARC	RCs were abstract and tricky
2020	Slot 2	DILR	Difficult puzzles, fewer attempts
2019	Slot 1	QA	Tough questions even for toppers

Note: These observations are based on student feedback and expert analysis.

Student Perception vs Reality

Many aspirants feel their own slot was the hardest — this is a psychological bias. The pressure, fatigue, or topic familiarity can affect individual experience. Hence, difficulty is subjective and often blown out of proportion immediately after the exam.

What do experts say on this matter?

Coaching experts like TIME, IMS, and Career Launcher usually publish slot-wise analysis. According to them:

Variations are usually in one section only
Overall toughness across slots is marginal
Percentile shifts due to slot differences are negligible due to normalization

Should Slot Timing Influence Preparation or Strategy?

No, CAT slot timing should not at all affect your preparation strategy, due to the following reasons.

You can not choose your slot (randomly assigned)
You must prepare to tackle any difficulty level
Final percentiles are adjusted to balance any disparities

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the toughest slot in the CAT exam?

While there is no definitive answer, the evening slot is often observed to be comparatively more challenging than the morning or afternoon slots. However, the CAT authorities use a normalization process to adjust scores, ensuring fairness across all slots. This means your final normalized score printed on your scorecard accounts for any minor difficulty variations. So, no slot gives you an unfair advantage or disadvantage.

What is the CAT normalization process?

The CAT normalization process is an algorithm used by exam authorities to adjust raw scores. Its main purpose is to account for slight differences in difficulty levels across the various exam slots. This ensures that no candidate is unfairly advantaged or disadvantaged based on the slot they appeared in. It guarantees a fair percentile ranking for all test-takers, leveling the playing field regardless of their assigned slot.

How are CAT exam slots structured?

The CAT exam is typically conducted in three slots: morning, afternoon, and evening, all on a single day. Each slot has the same overall structure: the same number of questions (around 66 in recent years), the same total duration of 120 minutes, and identical sections – Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).

Should CAT slot timing influence my preparation strategy?

No, the CAT slot timing should not affect your preparation strategy at all. The exam slot is randomly assigned, meaning you cannot choose it. Therefore, you must prepare thoroughly to tackle any level of difficulty across all sections. Moreover, the final percentiles are adjusted through the normalization process, which balances out any potential disparities in slot difficulty, ensuring a fair outcome for everyone.

Do CAT exam slots truly vary in difficulty level?

While IIMs aim for comparable difficulty across all slots, slight variations can occur, with one section potentially being tougher in a particular slot. However, these differences are not extreme. Often, candidates feel their own slot was the hardest due to psychological bias or exam pressure. Experts confirm that overall toughness across slots is marginal, and the normalization process effectively handles these minor variations.