CAT 2018 Question Paper Slot 1 & Slot 2 Analysis [Download PDF]

CAT 2018 was a particularly important lesson in exam strategy.
While VARC offered relatively approachable questions, Quantitative Aptitude challenged candidates with calculation-intensive and conceptually demanding problems. DILR tested the ability to identify manageable sets and solve them accurately under pressure.

In this article, you can download the CAT 2018 Slot 1 and Slot 2 question papers with solutions, understand the difficulty level of each section, compare both slots, and learn how to use these papers to improve your CAT preparation.

CAT 2018 Exam Pattern

CAT 2018 followed a three-section format, with a total of 100 questions and a sectional time limit of 60 minutes.

CAT 2018 marking scheme

• Correct answer: +3 marks.

• Incorrect MCQ answer: −1 mark.

• Incorrect TITA (Type In The Answer) answer: No negative marking.

• Unattempted question: No marks awarded or deducted.

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Understanding the marking scheme is important because CAT is not simply about attempting as many questions as possible. Accuracy, question selection, and time management all contribute to a strong performance.

Download CAT 2018 Question Papers & Solutions PDF

Practise both slots to understand the range of questions that appeared in CAT 2018. Each question paper has a corresponding solutions PDF to help you verify answers and understand the reasoning behind them.

How to use these resources: Attempt the question paper first under timed conditions. Once you have completed the paper, use the corresponding solutions PDF to check your answers and analyse the questions you found difficult.

Do not look at the solutions before attempting a question unless you are reviewing a previously attempted paper. The objective is to evaluate your actual problem-solving ability, not your ability to follow an explanation.

CAT 2018 Slot 1 Analysis

CAT 2018 Slot 1 presented a clear contrast between the sections.

VARC was comparatively approachable, DILR was moderately difficult, and Quantitative Aptitude was the section that demanded the greatest care.

These are broad assessments based on contemporary exam analyses, not official difficulty ratings.

1. VARC: Reading carefully mattered more than reading quickly

The VARC section contained 34 questions, including Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability questions.

The reading passages covered diverse themes, including the measurement of happiness, the environmental impact of plastic, elephant behaviour and trauma, and the inheritance of acquired characteristics.

The passages required candidates to identify the author's central argument, distinguish between stated information and inference, and evaluate answer choices carefully.

What CAT aspirants can learn:

• Read for the author's argument, not just individual facts.

• Identify the tone and purpose of a passage before answering questions.

• Eliminate options that exaggerate, distort or go beyond the passage.

• Practise para-jumbles, summaries and odd-sentence questions alongside RC.

The lesson from Slot 1 is straightforward: a relatively approachable VARC section can provide scoring opportunities, but careless interpretation can still cost valuable marks.

2. DILR: Choosing the right set was crucial

DILR contained 32 questions across data interpretation and logical reasoning sets. The section was more manageable than the particularly difficult DILR papers that candidates had encountered in some earlier CAT editions, but it still required disciplined set selection.

Candidates needed to interpret data, identify relationships between variables, and make logical deductions without spending too long on one difficult set.

What CAT aspirants can learn:

• Spend the opening few minutes scanning the available sets.

• Begin with sets whose conditions and data you can interpret confidently.

• Avoid committing too much time to a set that is not progressing.

• Practise translating lengthy information into tables, matrices and structured notes.

• Prioritise accuracy over the number of questions attempted.

A good DILR strategy is not about solving every set. It is about identifying the right sets and maximising the marks available within the sectional time limit.

3. Quantitative Aptitude: The biggest challenge of Slot 1

Quantitative Aptitude was widely regarded as the most challenging section of CAT 2018 Slot 1. Questions often demanded more than the direct application of a formula; candidates needed to connect concepts, calculate carefully and recognise when a question was consuming too much time.

Arithmetic, algebra and geometry were important areas of preparation, alongside number systems and other quantitative topics.

What CAT aspirants can learn:

• Strengthen conceptual understanding before increasing solving speed.

• Practise multi-step problems rather than relying exclusively on routine exercises.

• Learn to recognise when a calculation can be simplified.

• Do not confuse a familiar topic with an easy question.

• Move on when a question demands disproportionate time.

CAT 2018 reinforced an important principle: strong fundamentals matter, but knowing which questions to leave is also part of a good exam strategy.

Slot 1 takeaway

VARC offered comparatively accessible scoring opportunities, DILR rewarded careful set selection, and QA tested conceptual depth and problem-solving discipline. A balanced approach across all three sections was more valuable than maximising attempts in just one.

CAT 2018 Slot 2 Analysis

Slot 2 retained the same overall structure of 100 questions across VARC, DILR and Quantitative Aptitude. Its section-wise experience was broadly similar to Slot 1, although some candidates and exam analyses considered DILR slightly more challenging.

1. VARC: Comprehension and interpretation remained central

Slot 2 included passages on topics such as Saturn's rings and moons, performance metrics, public-service delivery, and other academic and social themes.

As in Slot 1, candidates had to understand the passage's main idea, distinguish evidence from assumptions, and select the option best supported by the text.

What CAT aspirants can learn:

• Build a daily reading habit across science, economics, society and management.

• Summarise each passage in a sentence before attempting the questions.

• Practise identifying the author's purpose and underlying assumptions.

• Review incorrect options to understand why they are less appropriate than the correct answer.

The goal is not merely to understand what a passage says, but also to understand what the author is trying to establish.

2. DILR: Set selection remained the deciding factor

Slot 2 included data interpretation and logical reasoning problems that required candidates to organise information and establish relationships between different conditions. Some sets were more time-consuming than others, making prioritisation important.

What CAT aspirants can learn:

• Identify sets with a clear starting point and manageable conditions.

• Organise data before beginning calculations.

• Check whether one deduction unlocks several questions in the same set.

• Avoid repeatedly revisiting an unproductive set.

• Review the logic behind every incorrect answer rather than memorising the final result.

The important skill is recognising which set offers the best use of your remaining time.

3. Quantitative Aptitude: Fundamentals under pressure

Quantitative Aptitude remained a major challenge in Slot 2. Questions demanded conceptual clarity, careful calculations and the ability to connect different mathematical ideas.

Arithmetic, algebra and geometry continued to be relevant preparation areas. Merely memorising formulas was insufficient for questions that required several steps to reach the answer.

What CAT aspirants can learn:

• Revisit the fundamentals of arithmetic, algebra and geometry.

• Practise questions that combine concepts rather than testing them individually.

• Estimate the likely calculation effort before committing to a question.

• Maintain a record of errors caused by conceptual gaps, calculation mistakes and poor time management.

• Build speed through repeated, accurate practice rather than rushing through unfamiliar problems.

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Slot 2 takeaway

Slot 2 reinforced the importance of a consistent preparation strategy. VARC required close reading, DILR rewarded logical organisation, and QA demanded mathematical confidence and selective problem-solving.

CAT 2018 Slot 1 vs Slot 2: Quick Comparison

The difficulty comparison is indicative. Individual experiences vary depending on a candidate's strengths, and there is no universal conversion between the raw scores of the two slots.

The central lesson is that both slots tested the same broad capabilities but offered different combinations of questions and challenges. Practising both helps you prepare for variation rather than becoming comfortable with just one paper.

How to Practise CAT 2018 Papers Effectively

Simply downloading a previous year's paper will not improve your CAT performance. The improvement comes from attempting it seriously, reviewing your mistakes and changing your preparation accordingly.

Step 1: Attempt the paper under exam conditions

Set aside 180 uninterrupted minutes. Follow the sectional time limits and avoid using calculators, notes or solutions.

Record your answers and the questions you chose to leave.

Step 2: Check the solutions

After completing the paper, use the relevant solutions PDF to verify every answer.

Do not review only the incorrect questions. Also examine questions you guessed correctly or solved with excessive effort. A correct answer obtained through an unreliable method may not be repeatable under exam pressure.

Step 3: Maintain an error log

Classify each mistake into one of these categories:

• Conceptual gap: You did not understand the underlying concept.

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• Calculation error: Your approach was correct, but the arithmetic went wrong.

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• Misinterpretation: You misunderstood a passage, question or condition.

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• Time-management error: You spent too long on a question or selected the wrong set.

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• Risky attempt: You guessed without sufficient justification.

This classification makes it easier to decide what to practise next.

Step 4: Compare your performance across both slots

Once you have attempted both papers, compare your section-wise scores, accuracy, time spent and unattempted questions.

Ask yourself:

• Which section consistently limits my overall performance?

• Which question types take longer than expected?

• Am I losing marks because of concepts or because of execution?

• Which questions should I have skipped earlier?

• Are my mistakes repeating across both papers?

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Your answers should determine your next revision cycle.

Step 5: Reattempt selected questions

After reviewing the solutions, revisit the questions you struggled with after a short gap. Try to solve them independently without looking at the explanation.

If you can reproduce the reasoning, you are more likely to have learned the concept. If not, revisit the underlying topic before moving to more difficult problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where can I download the CAT 2018 question papers?

You can access the CAT 2018 Slot 1 and Slot 2 question papers using the download links provided above.

2. Are CAT 2018 solutions available for both slots?

Yes. Separate solutions PDFs are provided for Slot 1 and Slot 2. Use the corresponding solution document after attempting each paper to review the answers and explanations.

3. How many questions were there in CAT 2018?

CAT 2018 had 100 questions: 34 in VARC, 32 in DILR and 34 in Quantitative Aptitude.

4. Which was the toughest section in CAT 2018?

Quantitative Aptitude was widely regarded as the toughest section in both slots. DILR was also challenging for candidates who struggled with set selection and time management.

5. Was CAT 2018 Slot 1 tougher than Slot 2?

The overall difficulty was broadly comparable. Some analyses considered Slot 2 DILR slightly tougher, but individual experiences varied. It is more useful to practise both papers than to rely on a single slot's perceived difficulty.

6. Why should I solve previous-year CAT papers?

Previous-year papers help you understand question styles, practise under timed conditions, evaluate your accuracy, identify conceptual gaps and develop a more effective question-selection strategy.

7. Should I solve CAT 2018 before taking mock tests?

You can solve it once you have covered the relevant fundamentals. Treat it as a timed diagnostic exercise, then use your results to decide which concepts and question types need additional practice.

Start Practising CAT 2018 Today

CAT preparation is not just about solving more questions. It is about learning to solve the right questions accurately, recognising your weaknesses and improving your decisions under time pressure.Download both CAT 2018 question papers, attempt them under exam conditions, and review the solutions carefully. Use the lessons from both slots to refine your preparation strategy and build confidence for the next stage of your CAT journey.

Prepare smarter with ViaCareers. Practise consistently, learn from every mistake, and approach your next mock with a clearer strategy.