The statement that usually is made by CAT takers is that Quant and Verbal were difficult but DILR was the most difficult and time consuming part. Number of candidates could solve hardly a few DILR questions in CAT 2014 in all the 4 sessions. Now, when not much remains the same in CAT 2015 except that it will be a computer based test and will remain the gateway to IIMs in 2016, the creation of new section comprising only DILR questions detached from their respective parent sections of Quant and Verbal as the 3rd section has turned higher focus on DILR preparation.
Instead of earlier 2 sections there will now be 3 sections in CAT 2015 on Quant with 34 questions; DILR with 32 questions and Verbal & RC (VRC) with 34 questions. Each of the 3 sections will have to be solved within the individually and equally divided time limit of 60 minutes without any facility to move from one section to another before completion of 60 minutes to the particular section.
DILR: The changed status
Candidates appearing in earlier exams prior to CAT 2015 used to pay less attention to questions on Data Interpretation and Logical reasoning as they were well aware that they had more questions at their disposal on Quantitative Aptitude and Verbal Ability, which they used to prepare well. The tricky, twisting and time consuming questions coming in sets on DILR were attempted on pick and choose basis, that too, if they could quickly be solved. Since one problem was followed by many questions, if a few could be answered correctly, the job was considered as done.
Attempting 20 questions on Quant, Verbal & Reading Comprehension passages was found more lucrative and high score getter than getting involved in the maze of DILR questions. On the top of it, there was no fear of losing marks if you didn’t attempt DILR questions as they were the part of other sections and not answering them wouldn’t pose any penalty nor you had to score individually in DILR sub-sections.
The situation stands changed in CAT 2015. The new DILR section now is as important as other 2 sections in CAT 2015 as sectional cut offs announced by IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow and other IIMs for DILR section are the same as applicable for Quant and VRC sections. If you have to score 85 percentile in Quant and VRC sections, you will have to score 85 percentile minimum in CAT 2015 in DILR section also to get shortlisted by IIMs. The actual cut off percentile in DILR section in CAT 2015 may be higher than the announced cut off, depending upon the merit status and scoring pattern.
DILR: Need to focus more
No longer can you skip DILR question sets. You have to prepare and practice to achieve the high standards as you do in Quant and Verbal sections. Please remember any laxity in practice & preparation to achieve high score in DILR section can bleak your admission chances in IIMs who are not concerned only about the high over all percentile but need high and balanced sectional percentile also.
If you score a percentile of 97 in Quant; 96 in VRC but lag behind to 79 in DILR, despite scoring a high percentile of 97 or 98 in CAT 2015, you will not get shortlisted by IIMs as they need a minimum of 80 to 85 percentile in each of the 3 sections.
DILR: Section to push scores up
Those who can crack more questions on Data Interpretation and Logical reasoning in CAT 2015 will be able to score very high getting an edge over their peers.
Questions on Data Interpretation and LR in CAT 2015 could prove to be the prime factors to push your score up or pull the same down according to the ability with which the section is attempted in 60 minutes. The questions in DILR section are always more time consuming as well as require more skills to crack.
Most of the DILR questions are in a set of 4-5 questions following a problem set. The questions are expected to be based on tricky information rich problems in the form of bar diagrams, graphs, tables on Data Interpretation while questions on Logical Reasoning will need greater practice work on Seating arrangement, family tree, direction, rows, arguments, statements among others. Remember practicing the right approach to solve the questions could be the key to score high.
Expect 4-5 Non-MCQs in DILR section
Candidates are both curious and confused as to what will be the shape of DILR Non-MCQ type of questions in DILR section. CAT Centre 2015 has already announced that every section in CAT 2015 will have Non-MCQ type questions. No answer options for these questions will be available and candidates will have to solve and type the answers of these Non-MCQs on computer screen.
In a set of 4-5 questions on DILR problem, it is very much possible that 2 may be MCQs and other 2 are Non-MCQs.
If you are not in the habit of jumping to answer options without solving the question, it will be better to answer Non-MCQs as the wrong answers to Non-MCQs will not carry any negating marking while there will be a penalty of one-third mark for MCQs.
The best approach is to prepare and practice well on DILR questions, get rid of your weaknesses and solve more questions with no answer options given. You can ace the Non-MCQs very well with this strategy.
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