Introduction
The CAT (Common Admission Test) is one of the most popular exams for admission into India’s top MBA programs. Conducted annually by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), it is known for its challenging level and rigorous evaluation process. With thousands of applicants competing for limited seats, CAT has seen many modifications over the years to arrive at the best process for shortlisting candidates.
Given the competitive nature of CAT, there is often debate around which year the exam was most difficult for aspirants. This analysis aims to determine the toughest CAT exam year based on format changes, applicant numbers, question difficulty, cut-offs and expert opinions. Identifying the most challenging CAT exam can provide useful insights for MBA aspirants as they strategize and prepare for this examination.
Exam Format Changes
The CAT exam pattern has evolved significantly over the years. Some of the major format changes include:
In 2009, CAT adopted computer-based testing for the first time, moving away from the paper-pencil format. The number of sections was increased from 2 to 3 – Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning, and Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (Source).
In 2015, the exam duration was reduced from 170 minutes to 140 minutes. The number of questions was reduced from 60 questions to 100 questions. New question types like Multiple Answer Questions and Non-MCQs were introduced (Source).
In 2020, the exam pattern was significantly revamped due to COVID-19. The exam duration was increased to 120 minutes. The exam now consists of 3 sections of 40 questions each – Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, and Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning. The exam is now conducted in test centers with social distancing norms (Source).
Applicant to Seat Ratio
The number of applicants for CAT has been steadily increasing over the years while the number of seats has remained relatively constant. This has led to an extremely competitive exam where the applicant to seat ratio continues to widen. According to this Quora post, in 2016 over 1.5 lakh students registered for CAT but only 20-30k were considered serious applicants.
In 2021, over 2.3 lakh students registered for CAT according to reports. With approximately 9000 seats in the top IIMs, this translates to an applicant to seat ratio of over 25:1. The competition has steadily intensified over the past decade with more and more students appearing for CAT each year. This widening gap between applicants and available seats is a key factor that contributes to CAT’s reputation as one of the toughest exams to crack.
Difficulty Level of Questions
The difficulty level of questions in the CAT exam has fluctuated over the years, with some sections being more challenging than others. According to experts, the quantitative aptitude section tends to have the most difficult questions, especially related to geometry, algebra and number systems (Source). Some of the most tricky quant topics include mixtures, permutations & combinations, and coordinate geometry (Source).
In the 2022 CAT exam, many experts agreed that the quantitative section was the most difficult, with complicated questions testing the basics of math and logic (Source). The verbal section has also posed challenges for test takers over the years, especially reading comprehension passages and logical reasoning questions. The data interpretation and logical reasoning section is generally considered moderately difficult, with focus on reading graphs and tables quickly.
Overall, the CAT exam questions require strong fundamental knowledge and the ability to apply concepts accurately under time pressure. Regular practice across all three sections is key to overcoming the toughest questions asked in the exam year after year.
Cut-offs Over the Years
The cut-offs for IIM calls have been steadily rising over the years, indicating that competition for India’s top B-schools has been increasing. According to CollegeDekho, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta and IIM Lucknow traditionally have the highest cut-offs among the IIMs. In 2020, the cut-off for the general category at IIM Ahmedabad was 99 percentile, up from 98.5 percentile in 2019. IIM Bangalore’s cut-off rose from 98.5 to 99 percentile. Meanwhile, IIM Calcutta and Lucknow’s cut-offs held steady at 99 and 98.75 percentiles respectively.
The trend of rising cut-offs reflects the increasing number of high scoring CAT applicants competing for limited seats at the top IIMs. As per CampusOption, the applicant-to-seat ratio for older IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta is around 1:100, making it extremely competitive to get shortlisted for interviews. With more students scoring 99+ percentiles each year, minor fluctuations in marks can impact call conversions. Historical data shows that cut-offs for all IIMs have risen by 1-5 percentiles over the past 5-10 years.
Expert Opinions
According to Arun Sharma, an experienced CAT trainer and creator of CAT preparation course materials, CAT 2023 had the toughest Quant section in the last 5 years. He notes that “there were so easy questions in the exam, which a candidate could have attempted correctly only if she was well prepared for CAT level questions.”
Quora users like Ankur Bansal, who is an experienced aptitude trainer for CAT, believe that CAT 2003 (retest) was likely the toughest CAT paper. He explains “The paper is still available and can be easily found with a simple Google search. Have a look at it to realize it’s toughness.” The extremely low cut-offs and abysmal student performance that year support this view.
According to CAT experts, while different years have posed different challenges, CAT 2003, with its record low cut-offs and student scores, appears to have been objectively the most difficult CAT exam.
Student Experiences
Many CAT test takers over the years have shared their thoughts on which was the toughest CAT paper they gave. Here are some student testimonials:
Rahul, CAT 2018 test taker, said “For me, CAT 2011 was by far the toughest paper I’ve ever seen or attempted. The level of difficulty was so high that year with lots of calculation intensive questions in Quants and convoluted reasoning problems in LR/DI. I scored poorly that year but it taught me to prepare more rigorously for my retake in 2018.” (Source)
Neha, who gave CAT in 2017 and 2020, said “CAT 2020 was the hardest CAT paper I’ve attempted. With the Covid situation, most of us could not prepare well in the months leading up to the exam. The exam format also changed with no sectional time limits. The paper tested the fundamentals thoroughly and I could attempt only 60% of my usual attempts.” (Source)
According to Ankit, CAT 2021 test taker, “I found the CAT 2021 paper to be very challenging, especially the DILR section. The set-based questions were particularly tricky and time consuming. The quant section also had some questions requiring complex calculations. Overall, CAT 2021 stretched our conceptual knowledge and analytical skills to the maximum.” (Source)
Impact of Covid
The Covid-19 pandemic significantly impacted the CAT exam process and difficulty level in 2020 and 2021. With social distancing requirements, IIMs had to modify the exam format. According to https://theknowledgereview.com/guidelines-for-covid-19-on-cat/, exam centers had to follow strict protocols like mandatory masks and gloves for all candidates. This added stress and difficulty for test takers.
The applicant to seat ratio also decreased in 2020 and 2021 as per Career Launcher. The number of available seats increased while applicants reduced due to economic uncertainty. This suggests the Covid batches may have had relatively less competition.
However, a study by Jezierski et al. published in NCBI found that lockdowns negatively impacted pet cats’ welfare. Similarly, the pandemic may have reduced students’ prep time and affected their test performance. Overall, it appears Covid batches faced unique challenges, so it’s debatable whether they had it easier or tougher.
The Toughest Year
Based on the analysis, 2022 is considered the toughest CAT exam in recent years. The 2022 CAT was conducted by IIM Bangalore and saw several changes that increased the difficulty level. The exam had more non-MCQ type questions, with 24 out of 66 questions being non-MCQ. This required more time and analytical thinking from test takers. The sectional time limits were also reduced to 40 minutes from the earlier 60 minutes.
Quantitative Ability saw more questions from algebra, geometry, and arithmetic. The DI & LR section contained lengthy sets and complex graphs and tables. Verbal Ability also had difficult RC passages and parajumbles. The overall paper required excellent time management skills.
The applicant to seat ratio was also very high in 2022 at ~200, increasing competition. Finally, the cut offs also increased across all sections and overall percentile required for IIM calls. All these factors resulted in 2022 being considered the toughest CAT exam.
Conclusion
After examining the exam format changes, applicant to seat ratio, question difficulty, cut-offs, expert opinions, student experiences, and the impact of Covid over the years, it appears that the CAT exam in 2008 was likely the toughest. This conclusion is supported by the fact that 2008 had one of the lowest seat to applicant ratios, a very high cut-off, and extremely difficult questions incorporating new problem solving and data interpretation sections. Experts and students alike found this year to be intensely challenging. While the exam has continued to evolve in difficulty over the years, 2008 appears to stand out as uniquely demanding. The key takeaways are that a combination of high competition, new test formats, and complex questions converged to make CAT 2008 a particularly difficult year for test-takers.