NinetynineMost important topics for CAT DILR
The most important CAT DILR topics, by questions asked from 2017 to 2025, are Charts & Tables (130), Quant-based Puzzles (127), Grids & Matrices (67). The top five cover 74% of all 576 DILR questions. The full ranking, trends and an example PYQ for each topic follow.
Key facts
- Charts & Tables is the most-asked CAT DILR topic since 2017, with 130 of 576 questions (23%).
- No DILR topic appeared in all 24 papers; the most consistent is Charts & Tables (20 papers).
- Quant-based Puzzles, Routes & Networks are rising in CAT DILR: asked more often per paper in 2022–2025 than in 2018–2021.
- Grids & Matrices, Venn & Set Puzzles, Scheduling, Selection & Distribution, Arrangements, Games & Tournaments have been asked less often per paper since 2022.
Which DILR topics does CAT ask most?
Ranked by questions asked across all 24 papers. "Per paper" columns compare the last four years with the four before, because papers got shorter after 2019.
| # | Topic | Questions | Share of section | Per paper 2022–2025 | Per paper 2018–2021 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charts & Tables | 130 | 23% | 5.3 | 5.4 | steady |
| 2 | Quant-based Puzzles | 127 | 22% | 5.9 | 4.4 | rising |
| 3 | Grids & Matrices | 67 | 12% | 2.3 | 3.2 | falling |
| 4 | Venn & Set Puzzles | 60 | 10% | 2.0 | 3.2 | falling |
| 5 | Routes & Networks | 41 | 7% | 2.4 | 0.4 | rising |
| 6 | Scheduling | 41 | 7% | 1.3 | 2.2 | falling |
| 7 | Selection & Distribution | 41 | 7% | 0.8 | 2.4 | falling |
| 8 | Arrangements | 40 | 7% | 0.7 | 2.4 | falling |
| 9 | Games & Tournaments | 29 | 5% | 0.4 | 2.4 | falling |
What should I study first for CAT DILR?
Start with the top five: Charts & Tables, Quant-based Puzzles, Grids & Matrices, Venn & Set Puzzles, Routes & Networks. Real examples to try first:
- Charts & Tables: CAT 2025 Slot 3 DILR Set 5, CAT 2025 Slot 3 DILR Set 3, CAT 2025 Slot 3 DILR Set 1
- Quant-based Puzzles: CAT 2025 Slot 3 DILR Set 2, CAT 2025 Slot 2 DILR Set 1, CAT 2025 Slot 1 DILR Set 2
- Grids & Matrices: CAT 2025 Slot 2 DILR Set 2, CAT 2025 Slot 1 DILR Set 5, CAT 2024 Slot 2 DILR Set 3
- Venn & Set Puzzles: CAT 2024 Slot 1 DILR Set 2, CAT 2023 Slot 3 DILR Set 3, CAT 2022 Slot 3 DILR Set 1
- Routes & Networks: CAT 2025 Slot 1 DILR Set 1, CAT 2024 Slot 3 DILR Set 5, CAT 2024 Slot 2 DILR Set 1
DILR rewards set selection as much as solving: knowing which set types you crack fastest lets you pick two or three good sets out of the four or five in the section.
Which DILR topics can I give less time?
Selection & Distribution (41 questions, in 9 of 24 papers), Arrangements (40 questions, in 8 of 24 papers), Games & Tournaments (29 questions, in 6 of 24 papers) are the least asked. Less time is not no time: one or two questions on them is common, and they are often the easier ones in a paper.
How do I practise these topics from previous year papers?
Work topic by topic through the real questions: every topic page lists all CAT questions on it, newest first, with answers and worked solutions. Then take full papers under time so you also practise choosing what to attempt. A full plan for using PYQs.
Method: counted from all 24 CAT papers 2017–2025 (1,830 questions), each tagged with one topic. How the data is built.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important topic in CAT DILR?
Charts & Tables, asked 130 times in 24 CAT papers from 2017 to 2025.
How many DILR questions come in CAT?
22 per slot in CAT 2025, in 40 minutes. Papers from 2017 to 2019 had 32.
Are the important DILR topics the same every year?
Mostly. Charts & Tables, Quant-based Puzzles, Grids & Matrices have led throughout, but per-paper counts shift; see the trend column above and the year-by-year table on the topic weightage page.