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The Common Admission Test (CAT) 2025, conducted by IIM Kozhikode on 30 November 2025, has concluded, and aspirants gearing up for CAT 2026 (to be conducted by IIM Indore on 29 November 2026) are turning to the slot-wise analysis to plan their preparation. The CAT exam analysis is a vital tool for aspirants aiming to decode the intricacies of the test. This analysis not only helps identify the strengths and weaknesses of the various slots but also sheds light on trends in sectional weightage, expected cutoffs, and time management strategies.
This article presents a comprehensive CAT exam analysis 2025, exploring slot-wise difficulty levels, exam patterns, and key insights to help you optimise your CAT 2026 preparation strategy.
By the end of this blog, you will know
- The difficulty levels and key variations across the different CAT 2025 slots.
- Insights into the exam pattern and which slot is easy in CAT?
- Predictions for percentile scoring and cutoffs based on CAT exam analysis.
CAT Exam Analysis 2025: Overall Analysis
The CAT 2025 paper, conducted by IIM Kozhikode, retained the 68-question structure introduced in 2024, while shifting the difficulty mix across slots and sections.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the exam, including significant trends, recent data, and expert observations.
1. Slot 1 was the most balanced of the three, with VARC and QA tilted easy-to-moderate and DILR pegged as the most challenging section of that slot.
2. Slot 2 came in slightly tougher than Slot 1, with QA marginally harder and DILR easing off compared to Slot 1.
3. Slot 3 turned out to be the most difficult overall, primarily because of a time-consuming, calculation-heavy QA section and a tougher DILR set.
4. The exam pattern remained identical to CAT 2024: three sections (VARC, DILR, QA), 68 questions, 120 minutes total with 40 minutes per section.
5. Owing to the spread in slot-wise difficulty, normalisation is expected to play a decisive role in the final scaled scores and percentiles.
6. Over 2.57 lakh candidates appeared across the three slots of CAT 2025, keeping the competition for top IIMs intense.
7. VARC and QA were broadly in line with CAT 2024 levels, while DILR was reported as slightly tougher on average.
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CAT Exam Analysis 2025: Exam Pattern
As CAT continues to be one of the most competitive management entrance exams, the pattern has stabilised at 68 questions across three sections.
Here’s a table providing a breakdown of the CAT 2025 exam pattern, which will also serve as the baseline for CAT 2026 unless IIM Indore notifies any change.
| CAT Exam 2025 Components | CAT Paper 2025 Pattern |
|---|---|
| Total Number of Questions | 68 |
| Number of MCQs | 48 |
| Number of TITAs | 20 |
| Number of Sections | 3 |
| Sections | VARC, DILR and QA |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours |
| Time Allotted per Section | 40 minutes |
| Slots for Exam | 3 Shifts |
| Mode of Exam | Computer-Based Exam |
| Medium of Instruction | English |
| Types of Questions | MCQ and TITA |
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CAT Exam Analysis 2025: Section-Wise Analysis & Difficulty Level
The CAT Exam Analysis 2025 provides insights into the nature and difficulty of each section, helping CAT 2026 aspirants assess the areas they need to focus on and fine-tune their strategies.
Below is a breakdown of the CAT 2025 exam analysis of the Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA) sections.
CAT Exam Analysis 2025: VARC Section
The VARC section continued to test candidates’ ability to understand and analyse written content under time pressure.
1. Question Composition
The section retained four reading comprehension passages and a mix of para summary, para completion and odd-one-out questions, with no para jumbles — mirroring the CAT 2024 structure.
2. Difficulty Level
Across slots, VARC was reported as moderate, with broadly readable but lengthy passages. Difficulty was roughly in line with CAT 2024.
CAT Exam Analysis 2025: DILR Section
DILR remained the most decisive section in CAT 2025, with the widest swing in difficulty across the three slots.
1. Question Composition
Candidates faced five sets — typically two sets of five questions and three sets of four questions — for a total of 22 questions, consistent with CAT 2024.
2. Difficulty Level
DILR ranged from moderate (Slot 2) to difficult (Slots 1 and 3). Overall, the section was rated slightly tougher than CAT 2024 and remained the key differentiator for percentiles.
CAT Exam Analysis 2025: QA Section
The QA section in CAT 2025 was largely consistent with CAT 2024, though Slot 3 tilted noticeably harder.
1. Question Distribution
Arithmetic and algebra continued to dominate the Quantitative Ability section, with a smaller share of geometry, number system and modern maths questions.
2. Difficulty Level
QA was easy-to-moderate in Slot 1, moderate in Slot 2, and the toughest in Slot 3 owing to calculation-heavy, time-consuming questions.
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CAT Exam Analysis 2025: Slot-Wise Analysis, Difficulty Level, & Number of Good Attempts
CAT 2025 saw over 2.57 lakh aspirants appear across three slots, vying for a spot in India’s top management schools. With an ever-growing pool of aspirants, it’s important to understand how each slot performed in terms of difficulty.
Let’s break down the slot-wise analysis based on candidate feedback, difficulty levels, and the number of good attempts needed to secure a strong percentile.
CAT Exam Analysis 2025: Slot 1
The table below shows the overall breakdown of the CAT Slot 1 analysis, including the number and type of questions and the exam’s difficulty level.
| CAT Exam 2025 Sections | Number of Questions | Questions | MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions) |
TITA (Type in The Answer) |
Difficulty Level | Good Attempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 4 RC Passages (16 Qs), Para summary, Para completion, Odd one out | 22 | 2 | Moderate | 16-18 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 2 Sets of 5 Questions, 3 Sets of 4 Questions | 12 | 10 | Moderate-Difficult | 9-10 |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | Algebra - 5-6, Arithmetic- 10-11, Geometry- 3, Number System- 2, Modern Maths- 1 | 14 | 8 | Easy-Moderate | 13-14 |
| TOTAL | 68 | 48 | 20 | Moderate |
CAT Exam Analysis 2025: Slot 1 Difficulty Level
The CAT 2025 Slot 1 paper was the most balanced of the three slots. Here's a quick overview of the exam's difficulty across various sections.
1. VARC
VARC in Slot 1 was rated moderate, with readable but lengthy RC passages and a familiar question mix.
2. DILR
DILR was the toughest section of Slot 1, leaning moderate-to-difficult and acting as the key differentiator within this slot.
3. QA
QA in Slot 1 was easy-to-moderate, with arithmetic and algebra accounting for the bulk of the questions.
CAT Exam Analysis 2025: Slot 2
The table below provides a breakdown of the CAT exam 2025 — Slot 2, including the number of questions and the exam’s difficulty level.
| CAT Exam 2025 Sections | Number of Questions | Questions | MCQs - (Multiple Choice Questions) |
TITA - (Type in The Answer) |
Difficulty Level | Good Attempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 4 RC Passages (16 Qs), Para summary, Para completion, Odd one out | 22 | 2 | Moderate | 15-17 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 2 Sets of 5 Questions, 3 Sets of 4 Questions | 12 | 10 | Moderate | 10-12 |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | Algebra - 5-6, Arithmetic- 10-11, Geometry- 3, Number System- 2, Modern Maths- 1 | 14 | 8 | Moderate-Difficult | 10-12 |
| TOTAL | 68 | 48 | 20 | Moderate |
CAT Exam Analysis 2025: Slot 2 Difficulty Level
CAT 2025 Slot 2 came in slightly tougher than Slot 1, primarily because of a marginally harder QA section. Here’s a brief breakdown of the difficulty level across the sections.
1. VARC
In Slot 2, VARC was largely on the same lines as Slot 1 — moderate, with no para jumbles and a focus on reading comprehension.
2. DILR
DILR was the easiest among the three slots in Slot 2, with most sets rated moderate and a couple seen as relatively approachable.
3. QA
QA in Slot 2 was moderate-to-difficult, a touch tougher than Slot 1, with arithmetic and algebra still dominating the section.
CAT Exam Analysis 2025: Slot 3
The table below shows a breakdown of the CAT Slot 3 analysis, including the number and type of questions and the exam’s difficulty level.
| CAT Exam 2025 Sections | Number of Questions | Questions | MCQs - (Multiple Choice Questions) |
TITA - (Type in The Answer) |
Difficulty Level | Good Attempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 4 RC Passages (16 Qs), Para summary, Para completion, Odd one out | 22 | 2 | Moderate | 15-17 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 22 | 2 Sets of 5 Questions, 3 Sets of 4 Questions | 12 | 10 | Difficult | 8-10 |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | Algebra - 5-6, Arithmetic- 10-11, Geometry- 3, Number System- 2, Modern Maths- 1 | 14 | 8 | Difficult | 9-11 |
| TOTAL | 68 | 48 | 20 | Moderate-Difficult |
CAT Exam Analysis 2025: Slot 3 Difficulty Level
Overall, the CAT 2025 Slot 3 exam was the toughest of the three slots, with both QA and DILR turning out to be calculation-heavy and time-consuming. Here's a detailed look at the difficulty level in each section.
1. VARC
VARC in Slot 3 was moderate, broadly comparable to Slot 1 and Slot 2, with the same blend of RC and short-format questions.
2. DILR
DILR in Slot 3 was the most challenging across all three slots, with sets that required careful set selection and tight time management.
3. QA
QA in Slot 3 leaned difficult, with several time-consuming, calculation-intensive questions that pushed up the bar for a strong percentile.
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CAT Exam 2025: Marking Scheme
The CAT 2025 Marking Scheme follows the pattern used in recent years, designed to assess candidates on a range of skills across three sections. The same marking scheme is expected to continue for CAT 2026.
Here’s a table highlighting the CAT exam 2025 marking scheme.
| CAT 2025 Type of Question | For Correct Answers | For Incorrect Answers |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) | +3 | -1 |
| Type in the Answer (TITA) | +3 | 0 |
CAT Exam Analysis 2025: Slot-Wise Difficulty Level
CAT 2025 saw a clear variation in difficulty levels across its three slots, with normalisation expected to play a key role in the final scaled scores.
Here is a table with a closer look at the slot-wise CAT exam analysis 2025.
| Section (CAT 2025) | Most Difficult | Moderately Difficult | Least Difficult |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | Slot 2 | Slot 1/Slot 3 | - |
| DILR | Slot 3 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 |
| QA | Slot 3 | Slot 2 | Slot 1 |
CAT Exam Score vs Percentile 2025 (Expected)
In CAT 2025, score-to-percentile mapping is crucial for those targeting specific IIMs or other top B-schools, and it offers a useful benchmark for CAT 2026 aspirants.
The table below shows how a typical raw CAT 2025 score corresponds to the expected percentile.
| CAT Percentile | VARC score | DILR score | QA score | Overall score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.9 %ile | 48 | 36 | 40 | 102 |
| 99.5 %ile | 44 | 32 | 30 | 89 |
| 99 %ile | 40 | 28 | 27 | 80 |
| 98 %ile | 36 | 25 | 23 | 71 |
| 95 %ile | 30 | 19 | 18 | 57 |
| 90 %ile | 25 | 16 | 15 | 49 |
| 85 %ile | 21 | 13 | 12 | 40 |
| 80 %ile | 19 | 11 | 10 | 36 |
| 75 %ile | 17 | 10 | 9 | 31 |
| 70 %ile | 15 | 9 | 8 | 29 |
CAT Exam Analysis 2024 - CAT 2024 Difficulty Level
In CAT 2024, the exam was generally rated easier than CAT 2023, with the question count moving up from 66 to 68.
The table below provides a slot-wise CAT 2024 difficulty snapshot for historical reference.
| Section (CAT 2024) | Most Difficult | Moderately Difficult | Least Difficult |
|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | Slot 2 | Slot 1 | Slot 3 |
| DILR | Slot 1 | Slot 2/3 | - |
| QA | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
CAT Exam Analysis 2023
CAT 2023 followed the standard pattern, requiring candidates to complete 66 questions within a total of 2 hours.
The table highlights the CAT 2023 exam pattern.
| Section Name | Total Questions | Time Limit | Score for 99%ile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) | 24 | 40 Minutes | 39 |
| Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR) | 20 | 40 Minutes | 29 |
| Quantitative Ability (QA) | 22 | 40 Minutes | 33 |
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CAT Exam Analysis 2022
For the CAT 2022 exam, a few key observations were made, including changes in the pattern and difficulty levels. The below table provides a snapshot of CAT 2022's structure and difficulty levels.
| Section | No of questions | Non-MCQ Questions | Time in Minutes | Difficulty Level | Ideal Score/Attempts for 99 %ile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VARC | 24 | 5 | 40 | Moderate | 35-38 (15-18) |
| DILR | 20 | 5 | 40 | Moderate | 28-30 (10-12) |
| QA | 22 | 8 | 40 | Easy | 39-42 (15-17) |
| Total | 66 | 18 | 120 | 97-99 (42-48) |
The CAT 2025 exam underlined how variation in slot-wise difficulty can move scaled percentiles, with Slot 3 emerging as the toughest. With IIM Indore conducting CAT 2026 on 29 November 2026, understanding the CAT exam analysis and recognising patterns in the difficulty levels can help you prepare strategically. By focusing on the structure and key elements like time management and accuracy, you can enhance your chances of performing well.
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