CAT 2021 Question Paper: Slot 1, 2, 3 (PDF With Solution)

CAT 2021 Question Paper Pattern

Particulars	Details
Exam Date	28 November 2021 (Sunday)
Number of Sessions	3 (Slot 1, Slot 2, Slot 3)
Mode of Exam	Computer-Based Test (CBT)
Total Questions	66
Sections	VARC (24), DILR (20), Quant (22)
Duration	120 Minutes (40 minutes per section)
Marking Scheme	+3 for correct answer, –1 for wrong MCQ, 0 for TITA

Upcoming CAT Exams:

• CAT 2026
• CAT 2027

Download CAT 2021 Question Paper PDF (All Slots)!

Don’t waste time searching for different links. We’ve compiled all three slots of CAT 2021 question papers in a single PDF for you. Practice them like real mocks, analyze your performance, and sharpen your preparation with authentic exam-level questions.

Slots:

• CAT 2021 Slot 1 Question Paper
• CAT 2021 Slot 2 Question Paper
• CAT 2021 Slot 3 Question Paper

Download All Slots PDF

CAT 2021 Question Paper – Slot 1 Analysis

Check below the analysis of CAT 2021 slot 1 question paper:

Sections	Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Good Attempt
VARC	Moderate to Difficult	24	15–16
DILR	Difficult	20	10–12
Quant	Difficult	22	12–14

Mentor’s Insights:

Slot 1 was the most challenging of CAT 2021. Both DILR and Quant were on the tougher side, testing depth of concepts and patience. VARC was moderate to difficult, demanding careful comprehension. 

For aspirants, the key learning is to stay calm when multiple sections feel heavy—maximize accuracy instead of chasing attempts.

CAT 2021 Question Paper – Slot 2 Analysis

Check below the analysis of CAT 2021 slot 2 question paper:

Sections	Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Good Attempt
VARC	Moderate	24	16–18
DILR	Moderate to Difficult	20	10–12
Quant	Difficult	22	10–12

Mentor’s Insights:

Slot 2 balanced things slightly, but Quant still posed significant challenges. DILR was moderate to difficult, requiring smart set selection. VARC was moderate and became the scoring area for many. 

This slot shows that your ability to identify “easy wins” in VARC or DILR can make a huge difference in overall percentile.

Explore additional free resources for CAT Exam:

Free CAT Mock Test PDF	CAT VARC Mock Test
CAT Quant Mock Test	CAT DILR Mock Test

CAT 2021 Question Paper – Slot 3 Analysis

Check below the analysis of CAT 2021 slot 3 question paper:

Sections	Difficulty Level	No. of Questions	Good Attempt
VARC	Moderate	24	15–17
DILR	Difficult	20	10–11
Quant	Moderate	22	13–15

Mentor’s Insights:

Slot 3 was relatively better balanced. VARC and Quant were moderate, while DILR stayed tough as expected. Students who distributed time well and didn’t overinvest in DILR saw better results. 

The lesson here: always walk into CAT with a flexible strategy and avoid overdependence on a single section.

Practice with CAT PYQs:

CAT 2025 Question Paper	CAT 2024 Question Paper
CAT 2023 Question Paper	CAT 2022 Question Paper
CAT 2021 Question Paper	CAT 2020 Question Paper
CAT 2019 Question Paper

CAT Question Paper 2021: Slot-Wise Comparison

Section	Slot 1 (Difficulty / Good Attempts)	Slot 2 (Difficulty / Good Attempts)	Slot 3 (Difficulty / Good Attempts)
VARC	Moderate to Difficult / 15–16	Moderate / 16–18	Moderate / 15–17
DILR	Difficult / 10–12	Moderate to Difficult / 10–12	Difficult / 10–11
Quant	Difficult / 12–14	Difficult / 10–12	Moderate / 13–15
Overall Paper	Toughest among the three	Balanced but heavy in Quant	Relatively manageable

Why Solve CAT 2021 Question Paper?

1. Get Familiar with Real CAT Exam Pattern

By attempting the CAT 2021 question paper, you experience the actual format—sectional timing, difficulty distribution, and question framing. This exposure helps you build confidence and align your preparation with the real CAT exam pattern rather than relying only on mock tests or coaching material.

2. Strengthen Core Concepts

Working on CAT 2021 papers allows you to apply fundamentals in Quant, VARC, and DILR the way IIMs test them. You will realize which concepts need revision and how to approach exam-level problems effectively. This makes your preparation sharper and more exam-oriented.

3. Improve Speed and Accuracy

We all know speed matters in CAT. Solving the CAT 2021 paper under timed conditions helps you improve both speed and accuracy. By practicing regularly, you learn when to attempt, when to skip, and how to manage precious 40 minutes in each section.

4. Identify Strong and Weak Areas

The CAT 2021 paper acts like a diagnostic test. When you solve it, you clearly see which sections you excel at and which need extra focus. This targeted analysis ensures that you spend your preparation time wisely, strengthening areas that can boost your percentile.

5. Build Exam Temperament and Confidence

Practicing CAT previous year papers like CAT 2021 builds the mental toughness you need on exam day. When you sit for the real test, you won’t panic at tricky questions. Instead, you’ll feel prepared, calm, and confident—exactly how toppers approach the CAT exam.

How to Use CAT 2021 Paper for Preparation?

1. Solve in Exam-Like Conditions

Attempt the CAT previous year papers with a strict timer—120 minutes, 40 minutes per section. This simulates the real exam pressure and helps you build stamina for handling the test day environment.

2. Do a Deep Analysis After Each Attempt

Don’t just check scores. Review every wrong and skipped question to identify if the mistake was due to concept clarity, calculation speed, or time pressure. This detailed analysis is where true learning happens.

3. Compare All Three Slots

CAT 2021 had three slots with slight variations in difficulty. By solving all slots, you experience a wider range of questions. This helps you adapt quickly in case your slot in the real CAT is tougher than expected.

4. Refine Section-Wise Strategy

Use CAT 2021 papers to polish strategies for VARC, DILR, and Quant. Practice selective reading in RCs, structured approach in DILR sets, and smart question filtering in Quant. This sharpens both accuracy and efficiency.

5. Reattempt to Track Progress

Don’t just solve CAT 2021 once. Reattempt it after a month to measure improvement in accuracy and speed. If your score goes up, you know your preparation is moving in the right direction.

More important resources for CAT exam:

CAT Exam Syllabus	CAT Quant Syllabus
CAT DILR Syllabus	CAT VARC Syllabus
CAT Cut Off	CAT Admit Card
CAT Answer Key	CAT Score vs Percentile
CAT Eligibility Criteria	CAT Exam Pattern
Best books for CAT	CAT Exam Analysis
CAT Practice Questions	CAT Quant Questions
CAT VARC Questions	CAT Reading Comprehension Questions
CAT Verbal Ability Questions	CAT Study Material
CAT Results

Discover additional preparation resources for CAT Exam:

• CAT 2025 Slot-1 Analysis
• CAT 2025 Slot-2 Analysis
• CAT 2025 Slot-3 Analysis

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