CAT 2019 Question Paper with Answer Key, Download PDF
CAT 2019 was conducted by IIM Kozhikode on November 24, 2019, across 156 cities in two slots. The paper had 100 questions across VARC with 34 questions DILR and QA with 32 and 34 questions respectively within a 180-minute exam and is widely considered the hardest CAT paper of the last decade.
CAT 2019 Slot 1 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
CAT 2019 Slot 2 Question Paper and Answer Key PDF
CAT 2019 Exam Pattern
CAT 2019 exam pattern remained similar to 2017 and 2018, three sections, three hours, sectional time caps, and no movement between sections. The question split and marking scheme stayed consistent. What changed entirely was the depth of reasoning each question required.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Duration | 180 minutes (60 minutes per section) |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Sections | VARC (34) |
| MCQ Marking | +3 correct, −1 incorrect |
| Non-MCQ / TITA Marking | +3 correct, 0 incorrect |
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Normalisation | Yes, equated across Slot 1 and Slot 2 |
CAT 2019 Exam Analysis: Why It Was the Hardest Decadal Paper
CAT 2019 has changed the DILR difficulty level. The section had a measurable impact on overall percentile distributions, candidates who had scored above the 90th percentile in DILR in previous years reported struggling to confidently complete more than two sets the entire 60 minutes.
| Section | Questions | Difficulty | Key Observation |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 34 | Moderate | Five RC passages across a wide range of disciplines. Passages were long and dense but questions were fair in what they asked. All non-RC verbal questions were TITA. |
| DILR | 32 | Very High | Sets contained multiple interdependent conditions that had to be resolved simultaneously. Most sets could not be cracked unless the full logical framework was assembled first. Completing two or three sets cleanly was considered a strong performance that year. |
| QA | 34 | High | More non-routine problems than any previous CAT year. Several questions required two or three reasoning steps where a single formula would normally have been enough. Number theory and geometry both had non-standard setups that penalised template-based approaches heavily. |
CAT 2019 Score vs Percentile
CAT 2019 was exceptionally difficult, the raw scores required to hit top percentiles dropped significantly compared to previous years. If you are solving this paper as a mock, do not panic if your scores look lower than usual.Here is the realistic raw score distribution required for key percentile brackets in 2019:
| Percentile | VARC Raw Score | DILR Raw Score | QA Raw Score | Overall Raw Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9%ile | 72 | 54 | 68 | 190 |
| 99%ile | 58 | 42 | 50 | 156 |
| 95%ile | 46 | 32 | 37 | 122 |
| 90%ile | 38 | 26 | 30 | 102 |
In a normal CAT year, you typically need a much higher raw score for a 99 percentile. In 2019, clearing just 14-15 net correct questions in DILR (42 marks) could land you in the top 1% of the country.
CAT 2019 Most Repeated Topics and Question Pattern
CAT 2019 had the same broad topic areas as every other year. The distribution below reflects frequency of Most Repeated Topics and Question Pattern across both slots.
| Section | Most Repeated Topics | Example Question Types |
|---|---|---|
| VARC | Reading Comprehension (5 passages × 3–4 questions each), Para-jumbles (TITA), Para-summary, Odd Sentence identification | Multi-inference RC questions where two options appear equally valid; TITA para-jumbles with five sentences requiring precise logical order; paragraph completion testing both contextual and tonal fit |
| DILR | Multi-variable Scheduling, Constraint-based Distribution, Mixed DI (Tables + Conditions), Games/Tournaments with partial data | Eight-team round-robin results with deduction chains; distribution sets where cell values are inferable only after resolving others; scheduling sets with overlapping time-slot restrictions across multiple entities |
| QA | Arithmetic (Ratios, Percentages, TSD), Number Theory (Remainders, HCF-LCM), Algebra (Functions, Progressions), Geometry (Coordinate, Circles), Modern Maths (Probability, P&C) | Multi-step word problems with non-obvious algebraic setup; number theory questions requiring property-based logic rather than formula substitution; function composition and domain-range questions; probability with conditional events |
CAT 2019 vs Earlier Years: What Actually Changed
CAT 2019 represents a clear before-and-after in the exam's evolution. The table below shows specifically how the three sections shifted from 2016 through 2019, giving you context for where the difficulty came from and what it means for your own preparation strategy.
| Year | VARC | DILR | QA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | RC-heavy, all verbal non-MCQs are TITA, long and dense passages | Sharpest difficulty spike in the CBT era; multi-layered constraint sets; completing two sets cleanly was a strong result | Non-routine across all topics; more reasoning-heavy than formula-heavy; number theory and geometry particularly demanding |
| 2018 | Moderate; accessible RC with close wrong options; all non-RC questions are TITA | Moderate–high; noticeable variation between Slot 1 and Slot 2; a mix of manageable and complex sets per slot | Moderate–high; standard topic coverage with traps in calculation-intensive questions |
| 2017 | Moderate–high; inference-driven RC; para-jumbles require precise sentence sequencing | High; unconventional set structures caused widespread time mismanagement across both slots | Moderate; Arithmetic and Algebra dominant; manageable under time with clean calculation habits |
| 2016 | Moderate; relatively accessible RC; broader margin for error in wrong-option elimination | Moderate; more standard set types; entry points to sets were clearer than later years | Moderate; formula-friendly; the ideal paper to build QA confidence and establish timing baselines |
How to Use CAT 2019 in Your Preparation
CAT 2019 offers valuable insights into the exam pattern, section-wise difficulty, and question trends. A detailed review of the paper can help aspirants better understand the skills and concepts assessed in the CAT exam.
- Understand the Exam Structure: Review the distribution of questions across VARC, DILR, and QA to understand the overall paper format.
- Identify Important Topics: Analyze the chapters and concepts that received notable weightage across sections.
- Examine Difficulty Distribution: Observe how easy, moderate, and difficult questions were spread throughout the paper.
- Study Question Types: Understand the different formats used to evaluate comprehension, logical reasoning, and quantitative aptitude.
- Compare with Other CAT Papers: Evaluate CAT 2019 alongside previous and subsequent papers to identify recurring trends and pattern changes.
Overall, CAT 2019 reflects the balanced and application-oriented nature of the CAT examination, making it a useful reference for understanding the exam's evolving pattern and section-wise demands.
| Relevant Link | |
|---|---|
| CAT Exam Pattern | CAT Syllabus |
| CAT Eligibility Criteria | CAT Moct test |
CAT 2019 FAQs
Ques: Why is CAT 2019 called the hardest CAT paper in recent memory?
Ans: DILR section had an unusually high density of multi-constraint sets where each question depended on resolving several interdependent conditions first. Unlike earlier years, most 2019 DILR sets required complete logical resolution before any question could be confidently attempted. QA simultaneously had a higher share of non-routine problems across all major topics.
Ques: How many correct attempts did 99 percentilers have in CAT 2019?
Ans: Given the difficulty, approximately 40–46 net correct attempts with minimal negative marking from wrong MCQs was estimated to place candidates at the 99th percentile after normalisation. That is considerably lower than the 50–55 typically needed in 2017 and 2018
Ques: Was Slot 1 or Slot 2 harder in CAT 2019?
Ans:Most post-exam analyses rated Slot 1 as relatively harder overall, particularly in DILR. However, both slots were significantly harder than any CAT paper from the three preceding years. IIM Kozhikode applied normalisation to equate percentiles between sessions, so the difficulty difference between slots did not affect final merit list positions.
Ques:What is the best way to practise CAT 2019 DILR without getting demoralised?
Ans: Attempt it in two phases. First, a full 60-minute timed attempt where you make genuine set-selection decisions under pressure. Then take every uncracked set and solve it completely without a time limit, building the solution methodically from scratch.
Ques: Should someone preparing for CAT 2025 or 2026 still bother solving CAT 2019?
Ans: Yes and it is one of the most important papers in the entire previous year set. The DILR design patterns that peaked in difficulty in 2019 have persisted in every subsequent CAT in some form.
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