Analysis of CAT data from 2020-2024 shows that a shift of 1-2 marks in DILR can increase the percentiles by 5-8 points. If you score in the 25-32 mark range, then you can expect a 95-99 percentile depending on slot difficulty.
CAT 2025 is expected to have 22 questions in the DILR section with a mix of Data Interpretation (DI) and Logical Reasoning (LR) sets, increased TITA (Type In The Answer) questions, and a moderate to difficult difficulty level.
With registrations dropping from 3.28 lakh to 2.95 lakh this year, the competition is going to shift, making score-to-percentile predictions even more critical.
CAT Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) PYQs
| Data Interpretation CAT PYQs | Geometry CAT PYQs |
|---|---|
| Logical Reasoning CAT PYQs | Table CAT PYQs |
| Data Sufficiency CAT PYQs | Sentence Arrangement CAT PYQs |
| Data Analysis CAT PYQs | Critical Reasoning CAT PYQs |
Also Read:
- Top 5 Tips to Maximise Your CAT 2025 Score in the Last Week
- CAT Marks Vs Percentile Trends for the Last 4 Years

Key Summary
- Score Requirements: 31-32 marks for 99%ile, 24-25 marks for 95%ile
- Difficulty Shift: Moderate-difficult expected after 2024's easier pattern
- Question Count: 22 questions
- Strategic Focus: 2-3 complete sets with 85%+ accuracy
- Topic Emphasis: Games & Tournaments likely to increase
- Registration Drop: 10% fewer candidates, but top slots remain competitive
DILR Score vs Percentile in CAT 2025- Expected
Based on expert predictions and previous year analysis, here's the expected DILR score vs percentile for CAT 2025:
- In DILR, if your score went from 24 to 31 marks, then you can expect the shift in your percentile from 95th percentile to 99+, showing a small score jumps have a major impact on rankings.
- Scoring 44-48 marks requires solving 15-16 questions with 90%+ accuracy, achievable only when candidates identify the right sets and maintain high accuracy under moderate–difficult levels.
- Percentiles below 90 can still be secured with 6-10 correct attempts; the accuracy should be around 60-70% for the DILR section.
Also Read: How to Manage Sectional Time in CAT 2025
| Percentile | Expected Score (Marks) | Approximate Attempts Needed | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9+ | 44-48 | 15-16 questions (90%+ accuracy) | Moderate-Difficult |
| 99-99.5 | 31-32 | 10-11 questions (85%+ accuracy) | Moderate-Difficult |
| 95-98 | 24-25 | 8-9 questions (80%+ accuracy) | Moderate |
| 90-94 | 18-20 | 6-7 questions (75%+ accuracy) | Moderate |
| 85-89 | 14-16 | 5-6 questions (70%+ accuracy) | Easy-Moderate |
| 80-84 | 11-13 | 4-5 questions (65%+ accuracy) | Easy-Moderate |
| 70-79 | 7-10 | 3-4 questions (60%+ accuracy) | Easy |
Topper Tips to Attempt DILR in CAT
- CAT 2021 Topper Sarthak advises CAT aspirants to practice more mock tests for DILR. Read Full Interview
- CAT 2021 Topper Aakash Chaudhary (99.72 percentile in DILR) solved 700+ LRDI sets before the exam. This gave him an upper hand in managing time for this section. Read Full Interview
Read DILR Preparation Tips by more CAT Toppers 2021:
| CAT Topper Aman Goel | CAT Topper Ashna Dawar | CAT Topper Chetan Bhatt |
|---|---|---|
| CAT Topper Ritik Gupta | CAT Topper Aditya Bansal | CAT Topper Ritik Gupta |
Ques: What score is predicted for 99 percentile in CAT 2025 DILR?
Ans. CAT 2025 requires an expected section-wise score of 31-32 marks for DILR to achieve 99 percentile. This is lower than 2024's requirement of 38 marks, indicating moderate difficulty returning after last year's easier pattern.
Ques: How many questions should I attempt in DILR for CAT 2025?
Ans. Accuracy matters more than attempts; even 50% attempts with 80% accuracy in DILR can fetch 95 percentile plus. Focus on solving 2-3 complete sets with high accuracy rather than attempting all sets with errors.
DILR Score vs Percentile in CAT 2025: Expected Slot-wise DILR Predictions
Following the cycle where CAT 2024 was one of the easiest papers in the last 10 years, CAT 2025 is expected to be a moderate level across three sessions:
- Slot difficulty varies sharply across the day, with Slot 2 expected to be the toughest (a higher score needed for each percentile) and Slot 3 expected to be the easiest, where candidates need 3-5 fewer marks to hit the same percentile.
- Across all slots, the gap between 95 to 99 percentiles remains consistent at around 6-8 marks, showing a accuracy matters most rather than attempts.
Also Read: CAT Exam Common Mistakes to Avoid and Section-Wise Strategies
Slot 1 (Morning Session) - Expected
| Percentile | Expected Score | Difficulty Level | Question Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 46-48 | Moderate | 20 questions |
| 99 | 32-34 | Moderate | 20 questions |
| 95 | 25-27 | Moderate | 20 questions |
| 90 | 19-21 | Easy-Moderate | 20 questions |
| 85 | 15-17 | Easy-Moderate | 20 questions |
Slot 2 (Afternoon Session) - Expected
| Percentile | Expected Score | Difficulty Level | Question Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 48-50 | Moderate-Difficult | 20 questions |
| 99 | 33-35 | Moderate-Difficult | 20 questions |
| 95 | 26-28 | Moderate-Difficult | 20 questions |
| 90 | 20-22 | Moderate | 20 questions |
| 85 | 16-18 | Moderate | 20 questions |
Slot 3 (Evening Session) - Expected
| Percentile | Expected Score | Difficulty Level | Question Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 | 44-46 | Easy-Moderate | 20 questions |
| 99 | 30-32 | Easy-Moderate | 20 questions |
| 95 | 23-25 | Easy-Moderate | 20 questions |
| 90 | 17-19 | Easy | 20 questions |
| 85 | 13-15 | Easy | 20 questions |
Check: What Percentile is 37 marks in CAT
Ques: Which CAT 2025 slot is expected to be tougher for DILR?
Ans. Slot 2 is predicted to be tougher with a moderate-difficult level requiring 33-35 marks for 99 percentile, while Slot 3 may be easier with a 30-32 mark requirement. Normalisation ensures fairness across slots despite difficulty variations.
Ques. How many DILR questions will CAT 2025 have?
Ans. The CAT 2025 DILR section is expected to have 20 questions across 4-5 sets, potentially returning to 20 questions from 2024's 22 questions. Each set will have 4-5 questions with varied difficulty levels.
DILR Score vs Percentile in CAT 2024
The CAT 2024 DILR section had 22 questions across 5 sets, with approximately 38 marks needed to achieve 99 percentile. This marked a significant increase from CAT 2023's requirement of 27.39 marks.
Here's the actual performance data from CAT 2024:
| Percentile | Actual Score (Marks) | Approximate Attempts Needed | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9+ | 52-57 | 17-18 questions (90%+ accuracy) | Easy-Moderate |
| 99-99.5 | 38-40 | 13-14 questions (85%+ accuracy) | Easy-Moderate |
| 95-98 | 28-32 | 10-11 questions (80%+ accuracy) | Easy-Moderate |
| 90-94 | 22-26 | 8-9 questions (75%+ accuracy) | Easy |
| 85-89 | 18-21 | 7-8 questions (70%+ accuracy) | Easy |
| 80-84 | 15-17 | 6-7 questions (65%+ accuracy) | Easy |
| 70-79 | 10-14 | 4-5 questions (60%+ accuracy) | Easy |
Ques: What was the actual 99 percentile score in CAT 2024 DILR?
Ans. Around 38 marks were required for 99 percentile in the CAT 2024 DILR, which required solving 13-14 questions. This was significantly higher than 2023's requirement of 27.39 marks due to the easier difficulty level.
Ques: How many students found the CAT 2024 DILR section manageable?
Ans. Most students could attempt 2-3 complete sets out of 5 sets in the CAT 2024 DILR. The section was rated easy to easy-moderate, with 3 sets being doable and 2 sets time-consuming or calculative.
CAT Question Paper PDF (DILR 2024)
| CAT DILR Slot | Question Paper | Answer Key |
|---|---|---|
| CAT Question Paper PDF 2024 (DILR Slot 1) | Download PDF | Click Here |
| CAT Question Paper PDF 2024 (DILR Slot 2) | Download PDF | Click Here |
| CAT Question Paper PDF 2024 (DILR Slot 3) | Download PDF | Click Here |
CAT 2025 vs CAT 2024: Complete DILR Comparison
Here's a comparison between the expected 2025 and actual 2024 patterns:
| Parameter | CAT 2025 (Expected) | CAT 2024 (Actual) | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Questions | 20 questions | 22 questions | 2 questions less |
| Number of Sets | 4-5 sets | 5 sets | May return to 4 sets |
| 99 Percentile Score | 31-32 marks | 38 marks | 6-7 marks lower |
| 95 Percentile Score | 24-25 marks | 28-30 marks | 4-5 marks lower |
| 90 Percentile Score | 18-20 marks | 22-24 marks | 3-4 marks lower |
| Difficulty Level | Moderate-Difficult | Easy-Moderate | Tougher expected |
| Doable Sets | 2-3 sets expected | 3 sets actually | Similar pattern |
| Time Pressure | Higher expected | Moderate | More challenging |
| Organizing IIM | IIM Kozhikode | IIM Calcutta | Different approach |
| Registrations | 2.95 lakh | 3.28 lakh | 10% drop |
Check: CAT Score Vs Percentile: Check Section-Wise, Slot-Wise & Previous-Year Detailed Analysis
Ques: Will CAT 2025 DILR be tougher than CAT 2024?
Ans. Yes, following the cycle where CAT 2024 was one of the easiest papers, CAT 2025 is expected to be of moderate difficulty across sections. The 99 percentile cutoff may drop from 38 to 31-32 marks.
Ques: How will the question count affect the DILR strategy?
Ans. With the expected 20 questions versus 2024's 22, students should focus on 2-3 complete sets with 85-90% accuracy. The reduction means each question carries slightly more weight in percentile calculations.
Section-wise Cutoffs for Top IIMs (2025 Expected vs 2024 Actual)

Check: CAT DILR Mock Test: Free Mock Test Series, Topic, Sectional, Full CAT Mock Tests
| DILR Slot 1 Official Paper 2024 - CAT 15 Day Test Series | DILR Slot 2 Official Paper 2024 - CAT 15 Day Test Series | DILR Slot 3 Official Paper 2024 - CAT 15 Day Test Series |
Ques: Which DILR topics should I focus on for CAT 2025?
Ans. Games and Tournaments may see increased weightage (20-25%) in 2025 after moderate representation in 2024. Arrangements, Tables, Bar Graphs, and Complex Caselets remain consistently important, contributing 60-70% of questions.
Ques: How many DILR practice sets are needed for CAT 2025?
Ans. Practising 25+ expected DILR sets across different topics and difficulty levels can greatly help build skills and confidence for the exam. Aim for 150-200 total sets, with varying levels of complexity.
To sum up, the DILR section will continue to be the most unpredictable section of CAT 2025. Success depends not just on answering all questions by guessing rather it depends on the accuracy. With moderate-difficult paper expected after 2024's easier pattern, you must prepare for challenging logical reasoning sets while maintaining confidence on exam day.
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