CAT 2025 Exam Analysis: Difficulty level, section-wise review, last year comparison

As reported by the conducting body, approximately 2.58 lakh candidates appeared for the exam out of 2.95 lakh registered, eligible candidates. The overall attendance was approximately 86 per cent.

CAT 2025 Live Updates: Slot 1 vs. slot 2, which was more difficult?

Initial student reactions from test centres suggest that the CAT 2025 Slot 1 paper that was “manageable but slightly more difficult” than last year’s Slot 1. This year’s test comprises 66 questions across Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Ability (QA).

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As per the marking scheme, candidates will receive three marks for each correct answer, lose one mark for every incorrect answer, and face no penalty for questions not-attempted.

CAT 2025 Slot One (8:30 am – 10:30 am)

CAT 2025 Overall Difficulty: ‘Tricky’, marginally tougher than last year

According to Gautam Puri, Co-founder and MD of Career Launcher, CAT 2025 Slot 1 had a total of 68 questions to be attempted in 120 minutes, with the overall paper described as “quite tricky” and more difficult than last year. While VARC and QA were broadly at par with last year’s CAT, DILR saw a slight jump in difficulty.

A comparative snapshot of the exam pattern was also shared by Ramnath Kanakadandi, Senior Course Director at T.I.M.E., who noted that there were no major pattern or question-type surprises this year, and the total number of questions remained the same as last year’s CAT. Section-wise breakup as analysed by Kanakadandi –

CAT 2025 VARC: Slot 1 exam analysis

According to Puri, the VARC section in Slot 1 was similar to last year’s CAT, containing 24 questions (4 TITA and 20 MCQs) to be done in 40 minutes. Passages were dense but questions largely centred on central ideas, making the section doable.

Additional insights from Kanakadandi show a more granular breakdown. The section had mixed sequencing of Reading Comprehension and Verbal Ability questions, similar to last year. There were 4 RC passages with 4 questions each, of moderate difficulty with one difficult passage. RC topics included:

–Income Inequality & Economic Growth

–Electronic Music

–Law & Mental Health

–Noise & Social Order

In Verbal Ability, there were — 2 Para Formation questions (returning after a year’s gap); 2 Para Summary questions; Sentence Placement questions

Para Odd One Out questions, including a newer presentation where candidates had to eliminate the odd statement and then arrange the remaining in logical order.

The VA subsection was of moderate difficulty with a couple of challenging items.

CAT 2025 DILR section: Slot 1 exam analysis

Puri noted that the DILR section was marginally more difficult than last year, with 22 questions, of which 11–12 were TITA. Around 10 attempts would be considered a strong performance.

T.I.M.E.’s analysis further breaks down the five sets asked in Slot 1:

T.I.M.E.’s analysis highlights that the Spider + Bar set was the most approachable and should have been prioritised. Other caselets were time-consuming, with two leaning towards the difficult side. He added that attempting a second caselet after Spider + Bar would have significantly increased time pressure.

CAT 2025 QA: Slot 1 exam analysis

As per Puri’s evaluation, QA was similar in pattern and difficulty level to last year’s CAT, dominated by number-based questions. Around 11–12 solid attempts could play a decisive role in percentile outcomes.

According to T.I.M.E., QA had 22 questions covering the usual CAT mix:

–Majority from Arithmetic and Algebra

–Only one question each from Numbers and Modern Math

–Three questions from Geometry

–There were no surprises in terms of pattern or topic distribution.

The early impression from CAT 2025 is that the first session posed a slightly higher challenge than last year, particularly due to a trickier DILR segment.

While VARC and QA remained aligned with expected patterns, students attempting Slot 1 appeared unanimous that the paper required careful selection of questions and tighter time management.

Student’s take on CAT 2025 Slot 1

Test-takers reported an overall experience that largely mirrored expert analyses, particularly in terms of section-wise difficulty patterns. Speaking to Indianexpress.com, Kunal Roy, a candidate appearing from the eastern region, described the Slot 1 paper as moderately difficult.

On Quantitative Ability (QA), Roy found the section moderate in difficulty, observing that geometry questions were relatively easier and could be solved swiftly. While some problems were straightforward, others involved multiple steps—an observation consistent with expert assessments of a mixed-difficulty QA section.

Regarding Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), Roy described the section as “a bit on the difficult side,” noting it demanded considerable time to work through. The Logical Reasoning sets, in particular, proved tougher than the Data Interpretation ones—a view that aligns with expert commentary placing DILR toward the higher end of the difficulty spectrum.

For Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Roy mentioned that while the Reading Comprehension passages appeared daunting at first glance, the questions themselves were relatively manageable. He also noted the return of Parajumbles and welcomed their inclusion. Overall, he felt VARC “looked a bit on the easier side,” which corresponds with expert assessments positioning VARC in the easy-to-moderate range for Slot 1.

CAT 2025 Slot Two (12:30 pm – 2:30 pm)

CAT 2025 Slot 2 Exam Analysis: Difficulty level and expert insights

According to T.I.M.E., the overall structure of Slot 2 of CAT 2025 on 30 November remained identical to last year, with 68 questions spread across three sections and no changes in pattern or sequencing.

CareerLauncher also described the slot as moderately challenging but comparatively more approachable than Slot 1, particularly because DILR offered a better spread of solvable sets.

CATKing noted that several of their predicted themes appeared in this slot, including a ChatGPT-based passage and another centred around animals.

CAT 2025 Slot 2: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension

As per T.I.M.E., Slot 2 followed the mixed sequencing of RC and VA questions exactly as seen in CAT 2024, with four reading comprehension passages carrying four questions each. CATKing confirmed that at least two of these sets matched their pre-exam predictions, specifically a passage involving ChatGPT and another with an animal theme. Across institutes, the reading comprehension portion was assessed as moderate, with one passage posing relatively higher difficulty due to dense writing and close options.

The Verbal Ability subsection retained its standard structure with Para Formation, Para Summary, Sentence Placement and Odd One Out questions. T.I.M.E. highlighted that the distribution was consistent with last year and that difficulty remained moderate, with a couple of tricky items. According to CareerLauncher, VA required careful reading but did not contain unexpected twists, and the overall section was manageable for well-prepared candidates.

CAT 2025 Slot 2: Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning

T.I.M.E. stated that Slot 2 contained 22 questions distributed across five sets, maintaining the same structure as Slot 1 but differing noticeably in themes. CareerLauncher observed that the slot included a scheduling-based set, a routes or pathways set, and a network-graph set. CATKing also reported the presence of these themes and emphasised that this mix allowed for higher attempt potential than in Slot 1, since fewer sets carried extreme difficulty.

T.I.M.E. added that unlike Slot 1, Slot 2 did not have a single standout “must attempt” set; instead, two sets were relatively easier and could be identified with careful reading. CareerLauncher noted that one network-based set was time-consuming but the rest were solvable with a systematic approach. Across sources, the consensus is that the section was moderate to moderately difficult, though still easier than Slot 1.

CAT 2025 Slot 2: Quantitative Ability

T.I.M.E. reported that there were no structural surprises in Slot 2 QA, with the section featuring 22 questions from the standard mix of Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Numbers and Modern Math. Arithmetic and Algebra dominated. CATKing highlighted that Time & Work and Geometry had a strong presence in this slot and noted the absence of Probability questions. CareerLauncher commented that a few Algebra questions were lengthy but doable and that the section rewarded candidates who managed time carefully. Geometry included typical CAT-style problems involving triangles and circles, while Arithmetic continued to offer quicker scoring opportunities.

Across institutes, QA was rated as moderate with some calculation-heavy items, but remained predictable in terms of topic coverage.

CAT 2025 Slot 1 vs Slot 2 overall view

Slot 2 of CAT 2025 can be characterised as more balanced than Slot 1. VARC emerged as the most accessible section of the slot, while DILR required structured navigation but offered better attempt opportunities compared to the morning session. QA remained steady, moderately difficult and rooted in familiar areas.

CATKing’s observation that certain predicted RC themes appeared in this slot was corroborated through student reports and other institute analyses. Students with strong time management were likely to have recorded higher attempts in Slot 2 than earlier in the day.

CAT 2025 Slot Three (4:30 pm – 6:30 pm)

CAT 2025 Slot 3 Exam Analysis: Difficulty level and section-wise review

The final slot of CAT 2025 concluded at 6:30 pm, marking the end of this year’s three-session exam conducted by IIM Kozhikode. According to Career Launcher’s Gautam Puri, student reactions indicated that Slot 3 was moderate to difficult, closely aligned with the overall difficulty of CAT 2024 but marginally tougher in parts. Candidates noted that while VARC remained accessible, DILR posed steady challenges and QA emerged as the most demanding section of the day.

Slot 3 followed the same structure as the earlier sessions, with 68 questions across three sections to be attempted in 120 minutes. Initial estimates highlight that smart question selection was essential, particularly in QA, where difficulty escalated compared to the morning and afternoon sessions.

CAT 2025 VARC: Slot 3 exam analysis

Slot 3’s VARC section was rated easy to moderate, similar to both Slot 1 and Slot 2. Candidates worked through 24 questions in 40 minutes, with a mix of reading comprehension passages and verbal ability questions consistent with the established pattern.

Students estimated that 8–9 net correct answers would likely correspond to the 90 percentile range, reflecting a relatively manageable section despite occasional dense passages.

CAT 2025 DILR: Slot 3 exam analysis

DILR in Slot 3 was reported as moderately difficult, matching the overall tone of the day but more demanding than VARC. The section comprised 22 questions, and many candidates highlighted the need for careful prioritisation, as certain caselets required extended time to break through.

Early performance indicators suggest 5–6 solid correct attempts would place a candidate around the 90 percentile. Students noted that while the structure was predictable, the logical depth and data complexity were higher than expected.

CAT 2025 QA: Slot 3 exam analysis

The QA section in Slot 3 was described as difficult, and for many test-takers, it was the toughest section not only of the slot but of the entire day. The section had 22 questions, and the distribution leaned more heavily toward concepts requiring multi-step reasoning under time pressure.

Most candidates agreed that 5–6 correct answers may be enough for the 90 percentile, pointing to the sharp increase in difficulty compared to earlier slots.

Based on preliminary calculations, a candidate scoring 25–27 net correct across all three sections in this slot may reach the 99 percentile, reflecting the overall challenging nature of the session.

Overall CAT 2025 exam difficulty across three slots

Across all three slots, CAT 2025 maintained a moderately difficult profile, slightly tougher than CAT 2024. While VARC remained broadly consistent and marginally easier in parts, DILR emerged as the most challenging section of the test this year. QA also oscillated toward the tougher side, particularly in Slot 3, which recorded the highest level of difficulty for the section.

Final assessment across sections (all slots combined):

–VARC: Similar to CAT 2024 but marginally easier overall

–DILR: Clearly more difficult than CAT 2024

–QA: Similar to CAT 2024 but slightly more challenging

With the completion of Slot 3, CAT 2025 is expected to show tighter score ranges across percentiles, especially in DILR and QA, given the elevated difficulty levels reported throughout the day.