I categorised all 312 DILR questions from CAT 2021-2025. Tables alone are 20% of the section.
DILR splits 59% DI / 41% LR + Arrangements. Tables are the single dominant format at 20% of the section. The year-on-year volatility is real: 2021 was 72% LR, 2023 was 83% DI. Neither type is safe to skip.
The data
All 312 DILR questions from CAT 2021-2025 (15 slots). Broad split: 59% Data Interpretation, 41% Logical Reasoning, Arrangements and Scheduling combined.
Topic breakdown
| Topic | Questions | % of DILR |
|---|---|---|
| Data Interpretation | 183 | 59% |
| Logical Reasoning | 66 | 21% |
| Arrangements | 43 | 14% |
| Scheduling / Sequencing | 20 | 6% |
Questions by category (312 total)
Data Interpretation: 183 questions (59%)
| DI Format | Questions | % of DILR |
|---|---|---|
| Tables | 61 | 20% |
| Bar & Line Graphs | 26 | 8% |
| Scatter Plot | 13 | 4% |
| Networks & Routes | 11 | 4% |
| Venn Diagrams | 9 | 3% |
| Mixed / multi-set DI | 63 | 20% |
DI format breakdown (183 DI questions)
Tables alone are 20% of the entire DILR section, nearly 1 in 5 questions. Reading complex multi-row, multi-column tables with layered conditions is where marks are won and lost.
Logical Reasoning, Arrangements and Scheduling: 129 questions (41%)
| Format | Questions |
|---|---|
| Matrix Arrangements | 29 |
| Scheduling / Sequencing | 20 |
| Logical Reasoning Puzzles | 15 |
| Routes & Networks | 15 |
| Circular Arrangements | 7 |
| Distribution / Allocation | 6 |
| Relations | 6 |
| Voting | 5 |
| Tournaments | 8 |
Matrix-based arrangements (29) are the single most frequent LR format, and the Arrangements topic as a whole (43 questions) is now larger than Scheduling and most pure-LR types.
How the section has shifted year by year
| Year | Total Qs | DI | DI % | LR + Arr % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 60 | 17 | 28% | 72% |
| 2022 | 60 | 30 | 50% | 50% |
| 2023 | 60 | 50 | 83% | 17% |
| 2024 | 66 | 46 | 70% | 30% |
| 2025 | 66 | 40 | 61% | 39% |
DI vs LR+Arrangements share by year (%)
No year is typical. 2021 was 72% LR, a shock for DI-focused candidates. 2023 was 83% DI. You cannot safely deprioritise either type.
Three things that surprised me
1. Tables dominate more than any other single format.
61 questions in 5 years, 20% of all DILR. Practise reading complex tables fast: multi-row, multi-column data with conditions. This is where time is won and lost.
2. Scatter Plots are a permanent feature now.
13 questions since 2021, roughly 1 per slot. Most older mock tests do not include scatter plot sets. If your mocks are pre-2021, this is a genuine blind spot.
3. 2021 was 72% LR, the inverse of 2023.
If you have been preparing primarily post-2021 papers, your LR exposure is skewed. A mixed diet including 2021 slots is necessary to prepare for the full variance range.
Suggested time allocation (100 hours for DILR)
| Focus area | Hours | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tables-based DI | 25 | Highest frequency (61 questions) |
| Matrix Arrangements | 15 | 29 questions; most frequent LR format |
| LR Puzzles & Distribution | 15 | Always present; high variance years |
| Scheduling / Sequencing | 12 | 20 questions; pure LR-style sets |
| Bar, Line & Mixed Charts | 12 | 26+ questions across formats |
| Scatter Plot & Venn | 11 | Growing and consistent formats |
| Networks & Routes | 10 | 15+ questions across DI and LR |
Do not skip any major format entirely. A single unusual year can wreck a result if preparation has been one-dimensional.
Put this into practice
Solve CAT DILR PYQs — filtered by topic, with full solutions.