Permutations and Combinations is one of the most consistently tested QA chapters in CAT, appearing in 14 of 18 slots across 2020–2025. With an average of 1.1 questions per slot at Easy-Moderate difficulty, it contributes meaningfully to your QA score in almost every paper.
| Year | Slot | Questions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 | 2 | Moderate |
| 2020 | 2 | 2 | Easy |
| 2020 | 3 | 1 | Easy-Moderate |
| 2021 | 1 | 1 | Easy |
| 2021 | 2 | 1 | Moderate |
| 2021 | 3 | 1 | Moderate-Difficult |
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | Easy-Moderate |
| 2022 | 2 | 1 | Moderate |
| 2022 | 3 | 1 | Moderate-Difficult |
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | Easy |
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | Moderate-Difficult |
| 2024 | 2 | 1 | Easy-Moderate |
| 2024 | 3 | 1 | Easy |
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | Easy |
High frequency and manageable difficulty make Permutations and Combinations one of the best return-on-investment chapters in CAT QA. If you can achieve solid proficiency here, the marks contribution across multiple slots adds up significantly.
Permutations and Combinations has appeared in 14 of 18 CAT slots from 2020 to 2025, averaging 1.1 questions per slot at Easy-Moderate difficulty. It is one of the most reliably tested chapters in CAT QA.
Based on slot data, Permutations and Combinations appears to have become slightly more accessible in recent papers (2023–2025) compared to earlier years (2020–2021). This can reflect both IIM's question design and the evolution of the question paper.
Yes — high frequency and manageable difficulty make Permutations and Combinations a top-priority chapter. It appears in almost every slot and the questions are approachable with thorough preparation. This is one of the safest bets for marks in CAT QA.