TITA CAT Questions are Non-MCQ Questions where candidates have to write a small answer for a given question. TITA Questions in CAT help the candidates to score better marks as there is no negative marking in this section. Candidates who will be appearing for CAT 2023 must appear for TITA 2022.

CAT Question Paper has two types of questions i.e. MCQ and TITA/ Non-MCQ. According to the current CAT exam pattern, out of 100 questions, approximately 28 will be non-MCQs. Specifically, there will be 10 TITA questions each in both the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VA-RC) section and the Quantitative Aptitude (Quants) section, while the Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DI-LR) section will have only 8 TITA questions.

There will be no negative marking for TITA questions in CAT 2023 and the correct answers will get you +3 marks. With no options to choose from, TITA questions tend to be slightly more time-consuming than MCQ-type questions. Read the article to learn more about CAT TITA Questions, the right approach to solving the TITA questions, and much more. 

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What are TITA/Non-MCQ Questions in CAT?

• IIM Ahmedabad chose to introduce non-MCQs/ TITA in the CAT 2015. Non-MCQs are termed as TITA Type in the answer type questions are the ones that do not present 4 options before the candidates. Instead, CAT aspirants have to type in the correct answers in a text box provided on the screen using a keyboard on their own.
• In the absence of negative marking in the case of TITA questions, top scorers, as well as experts, suggest attempting as many such questions as possible, keeping an eye on the watch is also suggested at the same breath.
• The catch of the TITA question is that due to low accuracy and lack of options to help guesswork, it could just cost the candidates very valuable time. You must ensure not to get carried away by the lure of scoring a neat 45-60 marks without the fear of negative marking and spend more time on TITA questions that leave you very little time to answer the rest of the paper.

Number of CAT Non-MCQ Questions

Candidates must go through CAT TITA Question Pattern so that it would help them to prepare for this

Number of TITA/Non-MCQ Questions in CAT

• To give you a fair idea as to how many TITA questions to expect in the upcoming CAT session, in the table below, we tabulate the section-wise number of TITA questions that have been asked in previous year CAT question papers. 
• It is worthwhile to mention here that as per last year’s trend, out of 66 questions in the CAT exam, there are 24 questions in VARC, 22 in QA,  and 20 in DILR. Also Check CAT Paper Analysis 
• Each question carries 3 marks while each wrong answer to multiple-choice questions attracts a penalty of -1/4 mark.

TITA/Non-MCQs Previous Years Analysis

Quick Links:

• CAT Quantitative Aptitude Syllabus
• CAT Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension Syllabus
• CAT Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning Syllabus

How to Attempt CAT TITA Questions?

The difficulty level of the TITA questions in CAT varies from section to section. Also, there is no uniform strategy to tackle such questions. You would do well to select questions based on your expertise as well as those that are less time-consuming. In the table that follows, we present an analysis of TITA questions based on experts’ views and previous years’ paper analysis:

Approach For CAT VARC TITA Questions

Read How to Prepare for CAT VARC?

Approach For CAT DILR TITA Questions

Read How to Prepare for CAT DILR?

Approach For CAT QA TITA Questions

Read How to Prepare for CAT QA? 

Expert Tips to Solve TITA/ Non-MCQ Questions

Here are some expert tips for tackling TITA (Type in the Answer) Questions in CAT:

1. Regular Practice: Ensure that you practice TITA Questions regularly as they can be time-consuming if not approached correctly. Familiarize yourself with the CAT syllabus and essential formulas through consistent practice. Practicing chapter-wise will boost your confidence in various topics and enhance your conceptual clarity, which is crucial for answering non-MCQ questions.

2. Avoid Guessing: Unlike Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), TITA Questions require you to arrive at the answer independently without any answer choices to guide you. Therefore, focus on attempting only those questions for which you have a high level of confidence in finding the correct answer.

3. Skip When Unsure: If you encounter challenging questions or are unsure about the answer, it is better to skip them. Keep in mind that TITA Questions in CAT do not carry any negative marking. Skipping such questions will allow you to utilize your time more efficiently and focus on the questions you can confidently answer.

4. Solve Previous Year Questions: It is essential to practice previous years' CAT TITA Questions extensively. This will not only boost your confidence but also familiarize you with the question types commonly asked in the exam.

5. Analyze Your Preparation: By solving past year questions, you can assess your preparation strategy. It allows you to identify your mistakes and weaknesses, allowing you to improve and refine your approach.

6. Give Mock Tests: Regularly take CAT Mock Tests that include TITA Questions. Mock tests provide an exam-like experience, helping you become familiar with the pattern and format of TITA Questions in CAT. Online mock test series, like BYJU'S Exam Prep, can be helpful for practice and self-assessment.

7. Boost Your Knowledge: Consistent practice and mock tests will enhance your knowledge base, which is crucial for performing well in the exam. As you become more adept at handling TITA Questions, your confidence will increase, and you'll be better equipped to tackle the actual CAT exam with less nervousness.

Quick Links:

• CAT Mock Test 
• CAT Quantitative Analysis Question Papers
• CAT DILR Question Papers
• CAT VARC Question Papers

CAT 2023 TITA Question Samples

Each section in CAT 2023 has its own set of TITA questions. Candidates are required to fill in the answers by typing it out by keypad. Given below are some samples for CAT 2023 TITA Questions

Ques 1:

A: Despite the strong performance of the economy in 2010-11, the outlook for 2011-12 is clouded by stubborn and persistently high inflation and rising external risks.

B: The three key macroeconomic concerns before the Union Budget 2011-12 were high inflation, high current account deficit (CAD), and fiscal consolidation.

C: Additionally, there was an expectation that the government would restart the reform process.

D: While the Budget sets a lower nominal gross domestic product (GDP) growth target of 14%, we believe that the real GDP growth target of 9% factored in the Budget is on the optimistic side.

E: The Budget has attempted to address all these issues, albeit through small steps.

1. BCEAD
2. CBAED
3. DACEB
4. ADCEB

Ans: Option A

Ques 2:

The passage given below is followed by four summaries. Choose the option that best captures the author's position.

North American walnut sphinx moth caterpillars (Amorpha juglandis) look like easy meals for birds, but they have a trick up their sleeves — they produce whistles that sound like bird alarm calls, scaring potential predators away. At first, scientists suspected birds were simply startled by the loud noise. But a new study suggests a more sophisticated mechanism: the caterpillar's whistle appears to mimic a bird alarm call, sending avian predators scrambling for cover. When pecked by a bird, the caterpillars whistle by compressing their bodies like an accordion and forcing air out through specialized holes in their sides. The whistles are impressively loud — they have been measured at over 5O dB from 5 cm away from the caterpillar — considering they are made by a two-inch-long insect.

1. North American walnut sphinx moth caterpillars will whistle periodically to ward off predator birds - they have a specialized vocal tract that helps them whistle.
2. North American walnut sphinx moth caterpillars can whistle very loudly; the loudness of their whistles is shocking as they are very small insects.
3. The North American walnut sphinx moth caterpillars, in a case of acoustic deception, produce whistles that mimic bird alarm calls to defend themselves.
4. North American walnut sphinx moth caterpillars, in. a case of deception and camouflage, produce whistles that mimic bird alarm calls to defend themselves.

Ans 2: Option 3

Ques 3:

A: These were mainly bulwarks against winter, the hoarded dregs of more plentiful seasons.

B: The first was the earliest mince pies, which saw cooked, shredded meat, dried fruits, alcohol with its preservative qualities and perhaps a few spices or herbs, all encased in large pies.

C: Subsequently, people baked this into a kind of pie, adding bread-crumbs for bulk, eggs to bind it, and upping the dried fruits and called it 'plum pudding'.

D: The pudding seems to have had two principal forerunners.

E: The second main pudding was a pottage or soup called frumenty, a fast dish involving cracked wheat, currants and almonds which was ladled out at the start of a meal.

1. ECDAB
2. BAECD
3. DACEB
4. DBAEC

Ans 3: Option D

Ques 4: How many pairs of integers (x, y) exist such that x² + 4y² < 100?

1. 95
2. 90
3. 147
4. 180

Ans 4: 

y will lie in the range [-4, 4]

When y = 4 or – 4, x will lie in the range [-5, 5] = 11 values. Total pairs = 22

When y = 3 or – 3, x will lie in the range [-7, 7] = 15 values. Total pairs = 30

When y = 2 or – 2, x will lie in the range [-9, 9] = 19 values. Total pairs = 38

When y = 1 or – 1, x will lie in the range [-9, 9] = 19 values. Total pairs = 38

When y = 0, x will lie in the range [-9, 9] = Total 19 pairs.

Total pairs = 22 + 30 + 38 + 38 + 19 = 147 Option 3.

Ques 5: A test has 20 questions, with 4 marks for a correct answer, –1 mark for a wrong answer, and no marks for an unattempted question. A group of friends took the test. If all of them scored exactly 15 marks, but each of them attempted a different number of questions, what is the maximum number of people who could be in the group?
[1] 3
[2] 4
[3] 5
[4] more than 5

Ans 5: 

c + w + n = 20

4c – w = 15

Adding the two equations, we get 5c + n = 35

c(max) = 7, when n = 0 & w = 13

c(min) = 4, when n = 15 & w = 1

Maximum number of people who could be in the group = Number of possible values of ‘c’ = 4. Option B

Ques 6:

How many integers x with |x|< 100 can be expressed as x=4−y34x=4−y34 for some positive integer y?

1. 0
2. 3
3. 6
4. 4

Ans 6: 

x=4−y34=1−y34x=4−y34=1−y34
y³ = 4(1-x) = 4 – 4x
x = 0 or -3 or -15 or -53
No. of valid values of x = 4. Option D

Ques 7: Reading Comprehensions (Topics provided below)

• Different Types of Aggression
• Piracy
• Visual Culture
• Renewable Energy